1From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 20 April 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Gouverneur Morris, 20 April 1776. Morris’s letter to GW of this date is endorsed in Stephen Moylan’s writing: “ansd Same day.”
2From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 25 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your obliging favor of the 18th Inst., only Yesterday evening. I thank you much for the explanatory hints it contains and could have wished it had come to hand a little sooner. I have many things to say to you, but as the Express, who will deliver you this, is going with dispatches that will not admit delay, I shall content myself with taking notice of one matter, that appears to me...
3From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 18 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 15th Inst. gave me singular pleasure—I thank you for the agreeable intelligence it contains; which (tho not equal to my wishes) exceeds my expectation, & is to be lamented only for the delay, as the evils, consequent of it, will, soon (as I have often foretold) be manifested in the moving state of the Army, if the Departments of Quarter Master and Commissary will enable us to...
4To George Washington from Gouverneur Morris, 27–28 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have a Word to say to you upon the Subject of Promotion which we have just now finished or rather unfinished at least if that Matter was before in an unfinished Situation. That famous incomprehensible Baltimore Resolution (unluckily perhaps) introduced a very tedious Debate which terminated at Length by rejecting the whole of what the Committee reported with relation to the Promoting of...
5From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 29 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for your favors of the 21st & 23d Instt both of which have come to hand since my last to you —had such a chapter as you speak of, been written to the rulers of Mankind, it would, I am perswaded, have been as unavailing as many others upon subjects of equal importance—we may lament that things are not consonant to our wishes, but cannot change the nature of Man; & yet, those who are...
6From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 24 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
Whether you are indebted to me, or I to you a Letter I know not, nor is it a matter of much moment—The design of this is to touch, cursorily, upon a Subject of very great importance to the well being of these States; much more so than will appear at first view—I mean the appointment of so many foreigners to Offices of high rank & trust in our Service. The lavish manner in which Rank has...
7From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 5 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favoured with your Letter of the 31st Ulto—The one you allude to, came to hand about five days before. I thank you for your very polite and friendly appeal, upon the Subject of half bounty in solid Coin. The measure, I have no doubt, would produce an Instant benefit, so far as the engaging drafts &ca might be concerned; but I am certain, many mischievous and pernicious...
8From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 4 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
My public Letters to the Presidt of Congress will inform you of the Wind that wafted me to this place —nothing more therefore need to be said on that head. Your Letter of the 8th Ulto contains three questions & answers—to wit—Can the Enemy prosecute the War? Do they mean to stay on the Continent? And is it our interest to put impediments in the way of their departure? To the first you answer...
9From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 27 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I thank you for your favor of the 11th which I received by the last Post. You know when a House is on the move and packing up, all the family are commonly busy—and all is hurry—so it is when an Army is changing it’s ground for new Quarters. This circumstance must plead my excuse for not going fully into your Letter. You are certainly right in your position that we must act according to our...
10From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 20 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 14th Instt by Colo. Morgan, and have had a good deal of conversation with him respecting our affairs to the Westward. I wish matters had been more prosperously conducted under the command of Genl McIntosh—This Gentlemn was in a manner a stranger to me, but during the time of his residence at Valley forge I had imbibed a good opinion of his good sense—attention...
11George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 8 May 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
Middlebrook [ New Jersey ] May 8, 1779 . States reasons for favoring a campaign in South. Discusses distressing state of the Army. Df , in writings of George Washington and H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Morris was a delegate to Congress from New York.
12From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 8 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Monsieur Gerard did me the honor to deliver me your favour of the 26th—I shall always be obliged to you, my dear Sir, for a free communication of your sentiments on whatsoever subject may occur. The objects of your letter were important. Mr Gerard I dare say has made it unnecessary for me to recapitulate what passed between him and myself and has informed you of the alternative I proposed for...
13From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 6 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 21st ulto did not reach me till a longer time after its date, than is usual between this and Philadelphia. I cannot for a variety of reasons which will occur to you, undertake to designate the persons who shd receive the provision of Congress—or to fix upon the Sums which might be adequate. They are points of too great delicacy for me to interfere in. The Committee on the...
14From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 10 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 28th Ulto I met with on my way to these quarters, where I arrived on the 6th Instt. The suggestions contained in it required no apology, as it gives me pleasure at all times to know the sentiments of others upon matters of public utility—Those however which you have delivered relative to an enterprize against the enemy in New York, exhibit strong evidence how little the...
15From George Washington to Henry Knox, 11 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Whereas a proposition was made by me on the 6th day of December last to General Sir Henry Clinton to the following effect "That Commissioners mutually appointed should meet at such time and place as might thereafter be agreed upon for the purposes of obviating all difficulties in exchanges—for liquidating the expenses of maintaining prisoners and for making solid arrangements for providing for...
16From George Washington to Henry Knox, 11 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
The powers of equal date herewith authorise you to proceed to Elizabeth Town in the State of New Jersey in order to meet Commissioners on the part of the enemy on Friday the 15th inst. for the purposes in the powers fully recited. You will consider the settlement of accounts, for the subsistence of Prisoners of all descriptions from the commencement of the War, to —obtaining payment or...
17From George Washington to Henry Knox, 13 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Messrs are delegated by the Merchants of this City to apply a sum of Money which has been raised by subscription to the relief of the Marine Prisoners in New York belonging to the Port of Philad. They are directed to consult you upon the most proper and efficacious mode of answering the benevolent intentions of the subscribers—The Gentlemen do not propose going themselves into New York—The...
18From George Washington to Henry Knox, 14 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I enclose to you, an Extract of a Letter of the 7th Inst. from Sir Henry Clinton, by which it appears, he had for certain reasons, thought proper to nominate different Persons for Commissioners from those he had first named; & that, he wished to postpone the time of the meeting untill the 10th of April; I have written to him respecting the inconveniences which will be occasiond by delaying the...
19From George Washington to Henry Knox, 19 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 16th reached me last Evening. I do not see that any alteration is necessary in your instructions relating to Mr Laurens—From what we yet know, he is not at liberty to leave England and therefore as much a prisoner in fact as before the extension of his limits. I am with great Regard Gentn Yr most obt servt DLC : Papers of George Washington.
20From George Washington to Henry Knox, 24 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I received last Evening at this place, your favor of the 22d with the several Enclosures—it gives me satisfaction to find that you are so soon to proceed upon the business of your commission; in the mean time, I propose being at Morris Town on the 26 Inst. where I shall probably have the pleasure of seeing you—I am Gentlemen. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
21From George Washington to Henry Knox, 28 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have had intimations, that under the idea of the cessation of Hostilities within certain limits, a number of People intend to come over from New York to our Lines—to prevent all intercourse of this kind is the principal design of this Letter—Sir Wm Howe on a former occasion proposed that a neutrality should take place to a certain distance from the spot where our Commissioners were to...
22From George Washington to Henry Knox, 30 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of yesterday’s date came to my hands just as I was leaving Mr Lots house; your Messenger came on with me to be the bearer of this. Altho the information I had recd & communicated in my Letter of the 28th that a number of people intended coming over from the Enemy’s Lines under the idea of the cessation of hostilities, might not be well founded when it is understood of characters...
23From George Washington to Henry Knox, 20 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your Letter of the 16th of April by General Forman. Convinced, from the state of facts which has been exhibited to me, that justice, expediency & necessity require satisfaction should be obtained for the Murder of Captain Huddy; I have in the first instance made a representation to Sir Henry Clinton & demanded that the Officer who commanded the Party, or if he was not...
24From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 30 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
It is with great pleasure, I make use of the earliest occasion to acknowledge the receipt of your several Dispatches, by Colonel Smith, which contain an ample account of your Proceedings in consequence of the Commission you were charged with, by me. I have also received from Sir Henry Clinton an abstract of the same negociations as stated by his Commissioners. From the whole aspect of the...
25From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 5 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
General Washington’s compliments to Mr Governr Morris. If Mr Morris should have postponed his report, respecting the business entrusted to him by Mrs Lloyd, ’till information could be had from hence, of the conveyance of her Packet to Mr White; the General prays him to present his compliments with it, and assure her, that the packet went by a returng Flag in less than 24 hours after it came to...
26From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 9 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your letter for Mr Elliott, went into New York a few days since by the Comy of Prisoners, who is now there. The Packet for Genl Dalrymple shall also go there; altho’ the Genl, by this time, may be in England. Genl Knox has Skinners Letter—Mrs Washington set out this day for Virginia by an upper Road—present me in the most acceptable manner to Mrs Morris & Miss Kitty Livingston—I do not forget...
27From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 7 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I asserted pretty roundly to you, but not more confidently than it was asserted to me, that General Dalrymple had Sailed for England. Since my return to this place I have seen a letter from him to Genl Knox which, at the same time that it contradicts both assertions, announces his speedy departure for the Albion shore. If he should remain in New York after this, charge it to his acct—not...
28From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 18 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
Congress having again directed me to propose to the British Commander in Cheif at New York the appointment of Commissioners to settle forthwith a General Cartel for the exchange of prisoners—taking care that the Liquidation of accounts and settlement of the Balance due for the maintanance of prisoners be provided for therein—I have this day communicated their resolution to Sir Guy Carleton and...
29From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 11 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I wrote on the 2nd instant to Mr R. Morris and requested that the accounts relative to the subsistence of Prisoners might be collected and forwarded—General Knox has since desired me to write to you for those particularly which were in the possession of yourself and him upon the prison Commission, and for the Calculations made by you at Boonetown of the probable Balance due America with any...
30From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 2 May 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 29th Ult. reminds me of an omission which I should be ashamed of, did I not conceive that my apology will be as satisfactory as it is just. The omission alluded to, is not acknowledging the receipt of your former favor which accompanied the Books, and thanking you for your care of them. The apology is, the hourly expectation of seeing you at this place on your return to...
31From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 28 November 1788 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 12th by the last Mail. I am much obliged by your offer of executing commissions for me in Europe, and shall take the liberty of charging you with one only. I wish to have a gold watch procured for my own use (not a small trifling, nor finical ornamented one) but a watch well executed in point of Workmanship; and about the size & kind of that...
32From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 13 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
In my first moments of leisure I acknowledge the receipt of your several favors of the 23 of February, 3 of March and 29 of April. To thank you for the interesting communications contained in those letters, and for the pains you have taken to procure me a watch, is all, or nearly all I shall attempt in this letter—for I could only repeat things, were I to set about it, which I have reason to...
33From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 13 October 1789 (Washington Papers)
My letter to you, herewith inclosed, will give you the Credence necessary to enable you to do the Business which it commits to your management, and which I am persuaded you will readily undertake. Your inquiries will commence by observing, that as the present Constitution of Government and the Courts established in pursuance of it remove the objections heretofore made to putting the United...
34From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 1 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you, dated the 13 of October, I have removed to a larger house (the one lately occupied by the Count de Moustier) —enlarged my table, and of course my Guests—let me therefore request the favor of you to add two pieces to the number of plateaux required in the above letter, and ornaments equivalent—for it will take these in addition to what I before asked, to decorate the...
35From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 15 April 1790 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you, dated March 1st I have been favored with your letter of the 24th of January accompanied by the surtout of Plateaux &ca. These came very safe—are very elegant—much admired—and do great justice to your taste—accept my thanks for the attention. Upon trial it appears that they need no addition, the intention therefore of this letter is to counteract, if it should arrive in...
36From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 7 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
This letter will be short—The intention of it being little more than to acknowledge the receipt of your several favors from London, dated the 7 and 13 of April and 1 and 2 of May, on the business which had been entrusted to you of a public nature; and of your other letters of the 12. of April and 3 of May, which more immediately related to my private concerns. Permit me to thank you, my good...
37From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 14 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
I have lately received a letter and my account from Wakelin Welch & Son of London, dated June 1st by which I perceive there was at that time a bala[n]ce of mine in their hands of only 95.16 Sterlg. This is a less sum than I imagined was there; and as their letter mentions their having informed you of the balance, and it is probable your draughts upon them may exceed that sum, exclusive of...
38From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 17 December 1790 (Washington Papers)
An official letter from the Secretary of State of this date—acknowledging the receipt of your public dispatches—will discover to you my sentiments on the views and intentions of the british Cabinet. If the exigencies of the national affairs of that Kingdom should excite dispositions in it favorable to a commercial treaty with the United States, and to the fulfilment of the treaty of peace, its...
39From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 28 July 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have now before me your favors of the 22d of November—the 1st & 24th of December 1790—and of the 9th of March 1791. The Plateaux which you had the goodness to procure for me, arrived safe; and the account of them has been settled, as you desired, with Mr R: Morris. For this additional mark of attention to my wishes, I pray you to accept my thanks. The communications in your several letters,...
40From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 12 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 27th of may with its enclosures came duly to hand. During my absence on my late southern tour the proposals of Messrs Schweizer and Jeannerett, made their appearance here, as well through Mr Otto, Chargé des Affaires of France, to the Secretary of State, as through Mr Short, to the Secretary of the Treasury—In pursuance of certain arrangements, made previous to my departure,...
41From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 28 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
Private My dear Sir, Philadelphia Jany 28th 1792 Your favor of the 30th of September came duly to hand, and I thank you for the important information contained in it. The official communications from the Secretary of State, accompanying this letter, will convey to you the evidence of my nomination, and appointment of you to be Minister Plenipotentiary for the United States at the Court of...
42Enclosure: George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 28 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 30th. Sep. came duly to hand, and I thank you for the important information contained in it.—The official communications from the Secretary of State will convey to you the evidence of my nomination and appointment of you to be Minister Plenipotentiary for the United States at the Court of France; and my assurance that both were made with all my heart, will, I am persuaded,...
43From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 21 June 1792 (Washington Papers)
(Private) My dear Sir, Philadelphia June 21st 1792 Since writing to you on the 28th of January, I have received your several favors of the 27th Decr from Paris—4th of Feby, 17th & 21st of March, and 6th & 10th of April from London. I thank you very much for the interesting and important information contained in several of these letters, particularly that of the 4th of Feby. If the last...
44From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 20 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
(Private) My dear Sir, Philadelphia Octr 20th 1792 . Although your letter of the 10th of June, which I have received, did not paint the prospects of France in the most pleasing colours; yet the events which have since taken place give a more gloomy aspect to the public Affairs of that Kingdom than your letter gave reason to apprehend. A thousand circumstances, besides our distance from the...
45From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 25 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
(Private) My dear Sir, Philadelphia March 25th 1793. It was not ’till the middle of February that I had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 23d of October. If you, who are at the fountain head of those great and important transactions which have lately engrossed the attention of Europe & America, cannot pretend to say what will be their event—surely we, in this distant quarter, should...
46From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 13 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have before me your letters of the 28th of December 1792.—6th &10th of Jany & 14th of Feby 1793. To do any thing more at present than acknowledge the receipt of these letters, and thank you most cordially for the information—& opinions contained in them is out my power (especially as notice of the opportunity is short); for you will readily believe, my dear Sir, that, what with the current...
47From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 1 September 1793 (Washington Papers)
This letter will be presented to you by Mr Lear, whom I beg leave (if he should go to France) to recommend to your civilities. He is a person who possesses my entire friendship & confidence; and will not be found unworthy of your acquaintance, as he will have it in his power to give you an acct, which you may rely on, of the true Situation of things in this Country. Mercantile pursuits have...
48From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 19 June 1794 (Washington Papers)
(Private) My dear Sir, Baltimore June 19th 1794. The difficulty (under existing circumstances) of knowing what to write to you, had determined me to write nothing, but to let the matter rest altogether upon the public communications from the Secretary of State. Coming to this place, however, (on a flying visit to Mount Vernon) and finding the Vessel on which Mr Monroe is on board had not left...
49From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 25 June 1794 (Washington Papers)
(Duplicate) (Private) My dear Sir, Mount Vernon 25th June 1794 The sole object of the enclosed letter, was to evince to you, that notwithstanding your recall, you held the same place in my estimation that you did before it happened. I expected to have got the letter into Colo. Monroes hands before the Vessel in which he was, had left Potapsco River; but a fresh & fair wind coming up, prevented...
50From George Washington to Gouverneur Morris, 22 December 1795 (Washington Papers)
I am become so unprofitable a correspondent, and so remiss in my correspondencies, that nothing but the kindness of my friends in overlooking these deficiencies, could induce them to favor me with a continuance of their letters; which, to me, are at once pleasing, interesting, and useful. To a man immerced in debt, and seeing no prospect of extrication but by an Act of Insolvency, (in my case...