Part 2

To Alexander Hamilton. Office of Finance, October 5th, 1782, 275

Circulation of his notes.

To B. Franklin. Office of Finance, Oct. 7th, 1782, 278

Shipment of money.

To George Washington. Office of Finance, October 15th, 1782, 279

Impossibility of supplying money for the army.

To the Governor of North Carolina. Office of Finance, October 7th, 1782, 280

Specific supplies cannot be received in the place of money.--Objection to the imposing of any restrictions on the exportation of certain articles, for the purpose of facilitating the obtaining of those articles by the United States.

To Major General Greene. Office of Finance, October 17th, 1782, 283

Supplies for the army.--Disposition of the States to furnish specific supplies.

George Washington to Robert Morris. Head Quarters, October 18th, 1782, 285

Expenses incurred in forwarding information to the Marquis de Vaudreuil, at the request of M. de la Luzerne.

Circular to the Governors of the States. Office of Finance, October 21st, 1782, 286

Unable to fulfil his engagements with the contractors.--Compelled to enter into new contracts on less favorable terms.--The want of revenue increases all branches of the expenditure.--The war is protracted by the want of resources.

To the Governor of Rhode Island. Office of Finance, October 24th, 1782, 291

Negligence of the States to meet the requisitions of Congress.--Loans, or military collections of supplies the only alternative.--Loans cannot be obtained without the establishment of funds.--These may be raised by laying the impost recommended by Congress.--Answer to the objections to that measure.

To B. Franklin. Office of Finance, October 27th, 1782, 296

Assumes the debt of Virginia, contracted for supplies from France.

To the Governor of Cuba. Philadelphia, November 27th, 1782, 297

Requesting his assistance in negotiating bills at Havana.

To Thomas Barclay, in Paris. Office of Finance, December 5th, 1782, 298

Enclosing Acts of Congress appointing him Commissioner to settle the accounts of the United States in Europe.--Method of proceeding to be adopted.--Account of Beaumarchais.--Heads under which the accounts must be stated.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, December 12th, 1782, 306

Reporting a bill regulating the rates at which foreign coin shall be received at the treasury.

George Washington to Robert Morris. Head Quarters, December 20th, 1782, 308

Inscription on the cannon to be presented to the Count de Rochambeau.

To B. Franklin. Office of Finance, January 11th, 1783, 309

Has overdrawn on Mr Grand.--Difficulties in raising supplies.--Is obliged to extend his drafts still further.

To B. Franklin. Office of Finance, January 13th, 1783, 312

Supplies.--Payment of the salaries of the foreign Ministers.

To Mr Grand. Office of Finance, January 13th, 1783, 314

Amount of bills issued on Europe.

To M. de la Luzerne. Office of Finance, January 13th, 1783, 316

Explanation of the excess of drafts on Mr Grand over the funds in his hands.--Necessity of further aid for the current year.

To John Adams. Office of Finance, January 19th, 1783, 322

Wishes to be informed of the state of the loan in Holland.

To the President of Pennsylvania. Office of Finance, January 20th, 1783, 323

Pennsylvania has not complied with the requisitions of Congress.

To George Washington. Office of Finance, January 21st, 1783, 324

Suspicions of illicit transmission of money for commercial purposes under pretence of relieving prisoners.--Secret service money.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, January 24th, 1783, 325

Resigning his office, on the ground that the debts are increased without any provision for the payment of them.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, February 26th, 1783, 327

Desires permission to make known his resignation.

To George Washington. Office of Finance, February 27th, 1783, 327

Informing him of his resignation.

To William Carmichael, in Madrid. Office of Finance, March 4th, 1783, 329

Drawing on him to the amount of the bills protested by Mr Jay.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, March 8th, 1783, 330

On the payment of the public debt.--Justice requires that it should be paid.--Power of Congress in this respect.--The States should be required to pay their quota of the debt, or to comply with a general plan adopted by Congress.--Method of making the apportionment.--The collectors must be appointed by the United States.--The revenue must continue till the extinguishment of the debt.--Objections to the impost.--Land tax.--Plan of terminating all accounts open between the United States and the individual States.

George Washington to Robert Morris. Head Quarters, March 8th, 1783, 336

Regretting his resignation.--Apprehensions of the consequences.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, March 10th, 1783, 337

Enclosing an estimate of the public debt on the 1st of January, 1783.

To Major General Greene. Office of Finance, March 14th, 1783, 338

Reasons of his resignation.--Provision for the public debt.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, March 17th, 1783, 339

No further aid can be expected from Europe.--Loan in Holland.--Probable amount of money on hand.-- Expenditure.--Extinction of the public credit.-- Defence of himself from the charges brought forward in the newspapers.

To the Receivers of Continental Taxes in the several States. Office of Finance, April 7th, 1783, 344

Enclosing an account of the receipts and expenditures during his administration.

Circular to the Governors of the States. Office of Finance, April 7th, 1783, 345

Enclosing statements of the receipts and expenditures for 1781 and 1782.

To a Committee of Congress. Office of Finance, April 14th, 1783, 345

Settlement of accounts.--Payment of the army.

To Alexander Hamilton. Office of Finance, April 16th, 1783, 347

Marine agency.--Necessity of economy in the expenditure.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, April 23d, 1783, 348

Enclosing specimens of a coin for the proposed mint.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, May 1st, 1783, 349

Correcting erroneous statements of a committee of Congress appointed to confer with him relative to his continuance in office.--Reasons for his resignation.--Motives for consenting to continue in office.--Conditions of this consent.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, May 3d, 1783, 355

Consenting to continue in office.

To M. de la Luzerne. Office of Finance, May 6th, 1783, 355

Requesting an advance of money in America.

Circular to the Governors of the States. Office of Finance, May 12th, 1783, 356

Further supplies from France are not to be expected.--Confusion of the accounts.--Anticipation of the revenue.--Necessity of supplies from the States.

To Thomas Barclay, Agent for settling the Public Accounts in Europe. Office of Finance, May 12th, 1783, 359

Confusion in the accounts occasioned by the bills drawn by Congress on the Ministers in France, Spain, and Holland.--Settlement of the accounts.

To B. Franklin. Office of Finance, May 12th, 1783, 360

Confusion produced by the bills drawn by Congress.--Amount of the bills.

To a Committee of Congress. Office of Finance, May 15th, 1783, 362

Account of the state of the financial department.--Resources foreign and domestic.-- Expenses of the army.--Political and military motives for disbanding the army immediately.

To Major General Greene. Office of Finance, May 16th, 1783, 367

Calumnies against public officers.

To B. Franklin. Office of Finance, May 26th, 1783, 369

The people is never ready to tax itself.

To B. Franklin. Office of Finance, May 26th, 1783, 370

Urging a renewal of application for aid.--The taxes shall be devoted, as far as possible, to the repayment of any advances.--Situation of the finances.

To M. de la Luzerne. Office of Finance, May 27th, 1783, 372

Requesting his interposition with his Court in favor of the application for further aid.

To George Washington. Office of Finance, May 29th, 1783, 373

Misrepresentations of his motives and conduct.--Exertions to procure pay for the army.

Circular to the Governors of the States. Office of Finance, June 5th, 1783, 375

The army has been paid in notes.--Incumbent on the States to furnish means of discharging them.

Circular to the Governors of the States. Office of Finance, July 11th, 1783, 376

Necessity of supplies from the States to meet the notes issued to the army.

Report to Congress relative to the Pay of the Army. Office of Finance, July 15th, 1783, 378

Method of discharging the notes issued by the Superintendent of Finance.--Amount advanced to the army.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, July 18th, 1783, 380

Recapitulation of the circumstances connected with the payment of the army.--Reason for presenting these facts in the form of a letter.

To Mr Grand. Office of Finance, July 25th, 1783, 386

Requesting that his bills may be honored, although exceeding the funds in Mr Grand's hands.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, July 28th, 1783, 387

Urging a reduction of the public expenditure.--The civil list.

Circular to the Governors of the States. Office of Finance, July 28th, 1783, 389

State of the finances.--Reduction of expenses.-- Misrepresentations of his motives.

Report to Congress respecting transferable Certificates. Office of Finance, July 31st, 1783, 393

Reasons why the debts of the treasury have not been evidenced by transferable certificates.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, August 1st, 1783, 394

Amount and proportions of the payments by the States.

To Messrs Willink & Co. Office of Finance, August 6th, 1783, 396

Amount and nature of drafts on them.--Desires that they may be met at all events.

George Washington to Robert Morris. Head Quarters, August 6th, 1783, 397

Advances of money required for transporting cannon and stores to the upper posts.

To George Washington. Office of Finance, August 12th, 1783, 399

To the Paymaster General. Office of Finance, August 12th, 1783, 399

Embarrassed situation of the finances.

To Elbridge Gerry. Office of Finance, August 26th, 1783, 400

Different requisitions of Congress.--Objections to the proposition for changing the mode of settling accounts.--Objections to the proposal to relinquish any part of the requisitions.

George Washington to Robert Morris. Rocky Hill, August 30th, 1783, 406

The design of occupying the western posts is relinquished.

To George Washington. Office of Finance, September 2d, 1783, 406

Expressing his satisfaction at the relinquishment of the design of occupying the western posts.

Circular to the Commissioners of Accounts. Office of Finance, September 4th, 1783, 407

Instructing them to make inquiries illustrative of the state of the country in its geographical, moral, political, and commercial relations.

To John Adams. Office of Finance, September 20th, 1783, 411

Insufficiency of the confederation.--General satisfaction with the peace.

To B. Franklin. Office of Finance, September 20th, 1783, 413

Prejudices against France.--Causes of the return of American commerce to Great Britain.--Fatal influence of the British navigation act on the commerce of England.--The true interest of the European powers is to open the West India ports to American vessels.--Remissness of the people in paying taxes.--Debt due the Farmers-General.

To Arthur Lee. Office of Finance, Oct. 4th, 1783, 418

Facts relating to a contract with Mr Deane, concerning shipments on the public account.

To M. de la Luzerne. Office of Finance, October 15th, 1783, 420

Case of M. Holker.

To Messrs Willink & Co. Office of Finance, October 23d, 1783, 420

Sum requisite above the estimated amount of the taxes.--Present rate of exchange favorable to the United States.--Plan adopted for drawing the sum desired.

To the Farmers-General of France. Office of Finance, November 4th, 1783, 423

Plan adopted by Congress for the payment of the sums due the Farmers-General.

Report to Congress on an Extract from the Journals of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania. 424

Relative to the mode of proceeding of the commissioner for settling the accounts of the State.

To John Adams. Office of Finance, November 5th, 1783, 436

Approves his plan of remittances from the United States.--The interference of the Dutch government in the loan is not desirable.

To Messrs Willink & Co. Office of Finance, December 31st, 1783, 437

Giving them notice of his drawing bills on them, and requesting their acceptance at all events.

To Messrs Willink & Co. Office of Finance, December 31st, 1783, 439

The apprehensions which impede the loan are groundless.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, January 13th, 1784, 441

Confused state of the accounts of the secret and commercial committees.

To Messrs Le Couteulx & Co. Office of Finance, January 13th, 1784, 443

Requesting them to meet certain bills.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, January 16th, 1784, 444

Transmitting a demand for supplies advanced to American prisoners.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, January 21st, 1784, 445

Claims of individuals for damages done by the army.--Plan of an Act relative to this subject.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, January 24th, 1784, 449

Proposing the appointment of a commissioner for settling the claims of individuals for services rendered, or supplies furnished in Canada.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, February 2d, 1784, 451

To Messrs Le Couteulx & Co. Office of Finance, February 12th, 1784 452

Draws bills on them, and remits tobacco.

To Mr Grand. Office of Finance, February 12th, 1784, 454

Requests him to meet certain bills if necessary.

To Messrs Willink & Co. Office of Finance, February 12th, 1784, 455

Reasons for drawing on them beyond the funds in their hands.--Manner in which the bills may be met.

To Messrs Willink & Co. Office of Finance, February 12th, 1784, 459

The resources of America are not sufficiently known.

To B. Franklin. Office of Finance, February 12th, 1784, 461

Desires that some measures may be taken to meet his bills.--Intended remittances.

To B. Franklin. Office of Finance, February 13th, 1784, 463

Amount of the actual engagements of his Department.--General engagements for the public service.--Bills of exchange unpaid.--Debt to the national bank.--Means of payment.

To Thomas Jefferson. Office of Finance, February 25th, 1784, 468

Arrearages of requisitions.--Unfunded expenditures.--Estimate of the Civil List.

Proposed expenses of the Civil List, 476

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, March 17th, 1784, 478

Failure of the Dutch loan.--Bills protested for non-acceptance.--Amount of funds in Europe, and of bills drawn.--Necessity of prompt supplies.

To Jacob Read, member of a committee of Congress. Office of Finance, March 30th, 1784, 482

Advises a demand of the arrearages from the States, previous to making new requisitions.--Objections to the Loan offices.

To Thomas Jefferson. Office of Finance, April 8th, 1784, 485

The number of banks unfavorable to the plan of raising loans.--Objections to premiums on loans.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, April 29th, 1784, 486

Defence of his conduct in regard to the appointment of Receivers of taxes.--Objections to Loan offices.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, May 6th, 1784, 489

Amount of his engagements.--Requests the adoption of arrangements for administering the Financial Department.

To the Marquis de Lafayette. Office of Finance, May 19th, 1784, 490

Requesting his influence in establishing a free port in the Isle of France or Bourbon.--Commercial and political advantages of the measure.

To the Governor of Rhode Island. Office of Finance, June 21st, 1784, 493

Urging a compliance with the requisitions of Congress for funding the public debt.

To M. de Marbois, Chargé d'Affaires from France. Office of Finance, August 17th, 1784, 494

Arrangements for paying the interest on the French loans.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, September 30th, 1784, 496

Success of the Dutch loan.--Necessity of making proper provisions for the payment of the public debt.

To B. Franklin. Office of Finance, September 30th, 1784, 498

Payment of the salaries of the foreign Ministers.--Attachment of United States property in France.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, September 30th, 1784, 501

Services of M. de Lafayette.

Advertisement. Philadelphia, October 11th, 1784, 502

Announcing his having made arrangements for redeeming his public engagements and his notes in circulation.--Pledges his personal responsibility for the payment.

To the President of Congress. Office of Finance, November 1st, 1784, 502

Enclosing his commission as Superintendent of Finance.

THE

CORRESPONDENCE

OF

ROBERT MORRIS,

SUPERINTENDENT OF FINANCE.

VOL. XII

THE CORRESPONDENCE OF ROBERT MORRIS.

CORRESPONDENCE CONTINUED.

TO M. DE LA LUZERNE.

Office of Finance, November 3d, 1781.

Sir,

Agreeably to my promise, I have the honor to send you a copy of the circular letter, which I lately transmitted to the several States. This will be an additional proof of my desire to draw from among ourselves the necessary resources, and thereby to become truly independent. But the sincerity with which I have always spoken to you, and which I mean to preserve, and which the generous conduct of your Sovereign demands for his servants, that sincerity will not permit me to conceal my sentiments on what is to be expected.

The annual expenses of this country may certainly be reduced within narrower bounds, than they have hitherto been; perhaps it will be less than I myself have now an idea of. But still it must be considerable, if we mean, which we certainly do, to make becoming efforts in the common cause. Besides this, it will require a considerable revenue to provide the sinking fund for our public debt. As I consider national credit to be an object of the greatest magnitude and importance, so I think it necessary to bend every possible effort to the establishment and support of it. Provision for our debts is, therefore, the first object, and therefore must take place of every other demand.