From John Jay to Robert Morris, 16 September 1780
To Robert Morris
St. Ildefonso 16 Septr 1780
Dr Sir
Had I been ever so much disposed to be out of Humour with the Silence of my Friends I assure you it would all have given Way to the Pleasure with which I recd. your Letter of the 6th July—1
Perhaps an opportunity may yet offer for settling a Cypher— I shall attempt it within this Month in a Way I think will succeed.
Mrs. Jay has more Health than she has enjoyed this long time—she is now at Madrid, from whence ^I am sure^ Mrs. Morris may may expect a Letter from her.2 Kitty tells us she spent a very agreeable and ^winter^ but as I intend this for a shortly Letter, I wont I must omit repeating the many civil things she says of her Friends— I don’t like Johns Situation; it can produce Nothing worth having, unless the Honor of broken Bones ^is one^ may be reckoned so—
I am glad you told me what had become of Duer. He is an honest Man and I esteem him God knows I [illegible]—^the more is perhaps, as the older I
grow the more scarce I find them Reason I have to think them scarce^. I have never known him do a mean thing or say a false one. If he is wise he will stick to ^wont readily quit^ his Farm—
Gouvnrs. Leg has been a Tax on my Heart. I could find it in my H ^am almost tempted^ to wish he had lost something else. I am without [illegible] any thing ^have been able to hear very little^ of impor him. Many Letters for and from me Miscarry— I recieve very few.
I congratulate you on being so near the Hills—theres is not one [illegible] ^nothing like them here in any^ Sense in this Kingdom I shall have much to tell you when we ^I^ return ^but^ Paper must not be trusted—
Your Bank work &c. has a fine Effect here—3 I think I can see ^there are^ some Clever things in ^& abt^ that Business. America will be respectable & safe [illegible] Respectability [illegible] to your begging4 ^Indeed that is pretty much the Case lord knows^ with such things ^whatever^ you have a Hand in, provided always you follow your own ^unless when you Level are too civil to the^ Judgmt of others.
By some less precarious Conveyance I shall have the pleasure of saying many things to you and Mrs. Morris— Adieu my dear Sir nothing is more True than that I am Your affte Friend
remember me to my old Friends—
you know who they are—
Dft, NNC (EJ: 9320).
1. Robert Morris to JJ, 6 July, above.
3. On the Bank of Pennsylvania, see William Bingham to JJ, 1 July, above.
4. A recurrent theme in JJ’s correspondence at this time is his disinclination to beg or make “supplications,” as revealed in his conversation with Montmorin, 30 Aug., reported to Congress, 6 Nov. 1780, below.