1From 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...
2From 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...
3From 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...
4From 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...
5From 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...
6VIII. Secretary of State to Gouverneur Morris, 12 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of May 29th . to the President of the United States has been duly received. You have placed their proposition of exchanging a Minister on proper ground. It must certainly come from them, and come in unequivocal form; with those who respect their own dignity so much, ours must not be counted at nought. On their own proposal formerly to exchange a Minister, we sent them one; they...
7From 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...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 26 November 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I have yet to acknowledge the receipt of your two favors of Apr. 10. and July 7. By the latter it would seem as if you had written an intermediate one which has never come to hand: and the letter of July 7. itself was not recieved till the 14th. of October, while I was in Virginia from which I am but just returned. The President is not yet returned, tho’ expected tomorrow.—The Declaration and...
9From 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...
10III. The Secretary of State to Gouverneur Morris, 17 December 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Since mine to you of August 12th. yours of July 3d. August 16th. and September 18th. are come to hand. They suffice to remove all doubts which might have been entertained as to the real intentions of the British cabinet on the several matters confided to you. The view of Government, in troubling you with this business, was either to remove from between the two Nations all causes of difference,...
11From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 26 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of Feb. 26. and Mar. 16. have been duly recieved. The conferences which you held last with the British minister needed no apology. At the time of writing my letter desiring that communications with them might cease, it was supposed possible that some might take place before it would be recieved. They proved to be such as not to vary the opinion formed, and indeed the result of the...
12From 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,...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 30 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
My letter of July 26. covered my first of exchange for a thousand dollars; and tho that went by so sure an opportunity as to leave little doubt of it’s receipt, yet for greater security I inclose a second. The tranquillity of our country leaves us nothing to relate which may interest a mind surrounded by such bruyant scenes as yours. No matter; I will still tell you the charming tho’ homespun...
14From 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,...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 23 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you that the President of the United States has appointed you Minister Plenipotentiary for the United States at the Court of France, which was approved by the Senate on the 12th. instant, on which be pleased to accept my congratulations. You will receive herewith your Commission, a Letter of Credence for the King sealed and a copy of it open for your own...
16From 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...
17Enclosure: 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,...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 10 March 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
My letter of Jan. 23. put under cover to Mr. Johnson in London and sent by a passenger in the British packet of February will have conveyed to you your appointment as Min. Plen. to the U.S. at the court of France. By the Pennsylvania Capt. Harding, bound to Havre de Grace, and plying pretty regularly between this place and that, you will receive the present letter, with the laws of the U.S....
19From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 28 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letter to you was of the 10th. of March. The preceding one of Jan. 23. had conveyed to you your appointment as Minister Plenipotentiary to the court of France. The present will, I hope, find you there. I now inclose you the correspondence between the Secretary of the treasury and Minister of France on the subject of the monies furnished to the distresses of their colonies. You will...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 29 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Being in want of an aid in my kitchen, and having at Paris had one who on occasion could supply his principal, I have desired my Maitre d’hotel to write to engage him to come to me. The inclosed letter to a Madame François is on that subject, and I have taken the liberty of desiring that the person (Henri by name) may present himself to you, in hopes that you will be so good as to direct him...
21From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 16 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of Mar. 28. Yours of Apr. 6. and 10. came to hand three days ago. With respect to the particular objects of commerce susceptible of being placed on a better footing, on which you ask my ideas, they will shew themselves by the inclosed Table of the situation of our commerce with France and England. That with France is stated as it stood at the time I left that country, when...
22Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 18 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Hague, June 18, 1792. “… I suppose you will before this have seen the commissaries of the Treasury, I will thank you to let me know whether you have settled with them the manner of counting the payments made from Antwerp. There will be a considerable sum at Amsterdam probably soon at the disposition of the U.S. for being applied to the French debt. I shd. suppose no time ought to be lost,...
23From 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...
24From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 22 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Your three letters of the 21st of March, 6th and 10th of April have been received, and gave me great pleasure. I accept your challenge to meet you in the field of mutual confidential communication; though I cannot always promise punctuality, or copiousness. I will however do the best I can. Will it not be a necessary preliminary to agree upon a Cypher? One has been devised for me, which though...
25Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 28 June 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Hague, June 28, 1792. “… On the 18th. inst. I write you also from this place & wait with much impatience to hear from you respecting what has been settled with the Commissaries of the treasury, as I mentioned to you in that letter there would be a considerable payment to be made them as soon as you shall have fixed the rate of the late payments & the mode in wch. the next shd. be made. I...
26Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 6 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Hague, July 6, 1792. “I recieved yesterday your letter of the 28th. of June, & am glad to find that the settlement with the commissaries of the treasury will soon be made. The extract of the letter from the sec. of the Treasury, which I in-closed to you in mine of the 28th. ulto. will shew you his desire relative thereto. I am happy that the business is now in your hands & am persuaded...
27Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 10 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Hague, July 10, 1792. “I have this inst. recd. your letter of the 5th as you there acknowlege the rect. of mine of the 28th. of June. I have nothing further to add, to what I said in that & my last letter, than simply to mention that the decree of the assembly on wch. you count seems to me not to have advanced the business at all. As far as I can understand it, it limits to four millions...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 12 July 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 16th. of June. Your favor of Apr. 25. from London was received yesterday just in time to be put into the hands of the President before he set out for Virginia. I shall follow him tomorrow, and not return till the last of September. Consequently I shall probably not write to you again before that date. The public papers will be regularly sent to you during my absence...
29Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 17 July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Hague, July 17, 1792. “The last post, (which brought your letter of the 9th.) arrived too late in the day for me to answer it, by the post of that day. I observe by it that you recd. a note from the minister desiring a rendezvous on the 6th. & that on the 9th. you had heard nothing further from him. He cannot have been collecting the accts. as you suppose for they were made out & stated...
30Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 23[–24] July 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Hague, July 23 [ –24 ,] 1792 . “In consequence of your letter of July 16. I have written to the bankers to desire them to furnish you the state of the payments they have made to France. I can inform you however in the mean time that they told me the statement made by the French treasury was just.… I in-close you two reciepts of the French agent at Antwerp which complete the payments made...
31Enclosure: The Commissaries of the French Treasury to Gouverneur Morris, 2 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Nous avons reçu, Monsieur, votre lettre du 30 juillet. Nous ferons volontiers recevoir à Amsterdam les ommes que les Etats unis sont dans l’intention de rembourser à la nation française à compte de leur dette, et nous en chargerons M M. Hoggeur Grand et Compe. les memes banquiers qui ont jusqu’à present suivi toutes les operations relatives à cet remboursement. A l’égard du taux du change...
32Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 4 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Hague, August 4, 1792. “… As to the loans at Amsterdam, I told you we had a right to re-imburse them, at will & some have except precisely the one of which you speak —& wch. is one sui generis —it is however only of 2. millions of florins I think, & was made by Mr. Adams at an int. of 4 p. cent—with certain reimbursements & premiums by lottery wch. augment the interest to about 6.—& wch....
33Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 7 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Hague, August 7, 1792. “I was obliged to answer with much precipitation your letter of the 30th. ulto recd. here the 4th. inst—as the post sat out from hence immediately after the arrival of yours. I hoped to have learned from you by the post of to-day what had been decided on between you & the commissaries or at least what was the answer which you expected from them at the departure of...
34Enclosure: The Commissaries of the French Treasury to Gouverneur Morris, 9 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Notre lettre du 2. de ce mois, Monsieur, ayant tardé à vous parvenir par des causes que nous ignorons, nous aurons attention pour que cet inconvenient ne se réprésente plus de vous faire porter celles que nous aurons l’honneur de vous ècrire. Les erreurs que vous croyez qui existent dans le compte que nous vous avons remis, donnent lieu à des recherches qui sont être faites; elles exigeront un...
35Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 17 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Hague, August 17, 1792. “The post of last tuesday brought here your two letters of Aug. 6. & 9. which shews that the first had been unfortunately too late for the post of that day. I was at Amsterdam when these letters arrived here & had directed such as arrived that day not to be sent to me, as I returned here the day after (wednesday). By a mistake however they were sent & crossed me on...
36Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 21 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Hague, August 21, 1792. “I hoped that the post of this day which has just arrived would have brought me a letter from you but it has not. I know therefore nothing further with respect to your arrangements with the commissaries than was contained in a simple paragraph, saying you had agreed with the commissaries for the present & desire one million &c. to be paid. Was the depreciation...
37Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 28 August 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Hague, August 28, 1792. “I recd. by the last post your letter of the 20th. & this moment that of the 23d. This letter proves to me that nothing has been done with respect to the depreciation as the livres wch. you mention make the exchange if I do not miscalculate 32½ which I suppose was the exchange existing at the time of your arrangement—of course the depreciation was not taken into the...
38Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 4 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Hague, September 4, 1792. “… Hogguer refuses to accept the money any other way than as has hitherto been practised, viz by giving a draught or bill on the commissaries of the treasury for the amt.—or on a reciept where it shall be expressed that at my requisition he engages himself to hold the money until the King’s free consent can be obtained for its disposal. He refuses even giving a...
39Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 7 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Hague, September 7, 1792. “… In my last I informed you of Hogguer’s refusing to recieve the payment you had agreed for with the commissaries in any other than the mode he has hitherto practised; namely by giving a draught for the amount on the national treasury; & of my finally (after the rect. of your letter) directing our bankers to make the payment to him, not withstanding my own...
40From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 13 September 1792. (Hamilton Papers)
The Legislature at their last Session having made provision for the paying off the Debt due to foreign Officers, the Interest of which is payable at the house of Mr. Grand, Banker, at Paris; and the President having authorized me to carry that provision into effect, I have concluded to commit such part of the business as is to be transacted at Paris to your Management; not doubting of the...
41Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 14 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Hague, September 14, 1792. “… I hasten merely to observe on that part of your letter in wch: you say that the observation cannot in any wise influence your conduct &c. Surely you do not mean after having carried the matter thus far & put it out of my reach to withdraw yourself from consummating the measure you adopted—under the idea now of being unauthorized—the measure itself never...
42Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 18 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Hague, September 18, 1792. “I answered in much haste & confusion in my last letter of the 14th. yours of the 9th. It would admit of a greater degree of developement, but it seems unnecessary in the present moment. I have recieved your letter of the 12th. in which you acknowlege the reciept of mine of the 7th & the only observation you make thereon is that you had previously sent to the...
43Enclosure: Pierre Henri Hélène Marie Lebrun-Tondu to Gouverneur Morris, 19 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Paris, September 19, 1792. “Je viens, Monsieur, de recevoir une lettre de M. Maulde, Ministre plenipotentiare de france à la haye, par laquelle il m’instruit de l’insinuation perfide que M. Short a faite à M. hoguer, Banquier à Amsterdam, en l’excitant à exiger une formalité, impraticable dans la circonstance, avant de remettre à la Trésorerie Nationale un fonds des 5. ous 6. cent mille...
44Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 21 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
The Hague, September 21, 1792. “I answered by the last post yours of the 12th. recd. that day & since that I am without hearing from you. The commissaries have acknowleged in their letter to our bankers the reciept of the draught for 1,625,000 florins, & say they will credit the U.S. therefore. I flatter myself however they mean for the value of the florins viz 6,000,000 livres & not the...
45Enclosure: Pierre Henri Hélène Marie Lebrun-Tondu to Gouverneur Morris, 27 September 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
J’ai reçu, Monsieur, la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 20. de ce mois, pour m’annoncer que les difficultés élevées à la Haye par M. Short sur le païement de seize cent vingt cinq mille florins de Banque avoient été applanies le 9. du courant, et que vous espérez qu’il ne résultera aucon inconvénient d’un délai de quelques jours. Après avoir réfléchi sur le motif qui vous...
46From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 15 October 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favor of July 10. No. 4. but no other No. preceding or subsequent. I fear therefore that some miscarriage has taken place. The present goes to Bordeaux under cover to Mr. Fenwick who I hope will be able to give it a safe conveyance to you. I observe that you say in your letter that ‘the marine department is to treat with you for supplies to S. Domingo .’ I presume you...
47From 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...
48Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 26 October 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
After more than four weeks interruption some of the French mails in arrear were recieved here yesterday & we had hoped therefore that this day, being the regular postday, would have brought us the rest—in this we have been disappointed, & of course conclude that the post communication with Paris is not yet freed from all its obstacles. I therefore send by the way of England my acknowlegement...
49Enclosure: William Short to Gouverneur Morris, 27 October 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
Notwithstanding the immense length & prolixity of my letter of yesterday it wd. have been continued if I had not been interrupted & detained until the hour of the post. You desire me to consider well before hand as to the obligations, whether I would wish to come to a settlement previously with the ministry, in fixing the value &c. If as you suppose the obligations are only three, nothing more...
50From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 7 November 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of the 15th. of Oct. since which I have recieved your Nos. 1. 2. 3. 5. 6. 7. Tho’ mine went by a conveyance directly to Bordeaux, and may therefore probably get safe to you yet I think it proper, lest it should miscarry, to repeat to you the following paragraph from it. ‘We are informed by the public papers that the late constitution of France, formally notified to us, is...