1From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, August 1775 (Jay Papers)
I have rec d your Letter of the 28 th Ult. and take the earliest opportunity wh. has offered of answering it. The Principles on which you account for hav g delayed Notices of Tryal on the West Chester Causes merit my Acknowledgm ts You need be under no apprehension of Non Suits in case you sh d . prevail upon yourself to postpone the Tryal which I confess I cant forbear wishing may be the...
2From 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.”
3James Duane to Robert R. Livingston, John Jay, Gouverneur Morris, and Robert Yates, 19 April 1777 (Jay Papers)
We arrived in this City on Wednesday afternoon. If you talk seriously to its Inhabitants you’l find them full of the Expectation of ^ a Visit from ^ Gen l Howe’s but examine their Conduct and the Appearance of everything about you, & you cannot but conclude that they are in a State of the most perfect Tranquility and Security. Talk to them about the scandalous depreciation of the continental...
Your Letter of the 26 Instant was this Evening delivered to me. When I was called last from Convention, a Clause in the Report of the form of Government had been by a [ illegible ] very great Majority agreed to, instituting a Council for the appointm t of military and many civil Officers, including Clerks of Courts ; and tho’ I publicly advocated and voted for that Clause, you express much...
5From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 12 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received the pleasure of your favour of yesterday’s date. The reasons you assign for the interval of silence on your part are admitted as sufficient; though I regret that the principal one exists—the combination of the tories for a general insurrection. But perhaps on the scale of policy I ought rather to congratulate you on the event: That there are too many tories in your state as...
6From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 19 May 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I this moment received the favour of your letter of the 16th instant. I partly agree and partly disagree with you respecting the deficiencies of your constitution. That there is a want of vigor in the executive, I believe will be found true. To determine the qualifications proper for the chief executive Magistrate requires the deliberate wisdom of a select assembly, and cannot be safely lodged...
7From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 6 July 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your favour of the 4th, by express. If I recollect how far my last went, it did not announce the return of the enemy from Westfield to Amboy, nor their evacuation of that place since. After resting and refreshing themselves a night, they decamped the following day and proceeded to Amboy from which place they went to Staten Island as expeditiously as they could; where they still...
8From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 21 July 1777 (Jay Papers)
The Situation of Tryon County is both shameful & deplorable Such abject Dejection & Despondency as mark the Letters we have rec d . from thence disgrace human Nature. God knows what to do with or for them. Were they alone interested in their Fate, I should be for leaving their Cart in the Slough till they w d . put their Shoulders to the Wheel. Be more cautious in your Letters to the Council....
9From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 22 July 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Your favour of the 18th ⟨from Saratoga reached me⟩ yesterday. Your pronouncing Fort Edward among the other forts indefensible surprises me a little, as it is intirely contrary to the representations of several Gentlemen of judgment, who have had an opportunity of seeing and considering its situation, by whom we have been taught to believe, that it would be an excellent post, at least ⟨for⟩...
10From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 1 September 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Agreeable to the intention of the Council I have delivered their inclosed letter to His Excellency who after perusing it has sealed and forwarded it to Mr. Hancock. The relieving Fort Schuyler is a very happy and important event, and will concur with the two happy strokes given by Harkemar and Stark to reverse the face of affairs and turn the scale against Mr Burgoigne. I hope Capt...
11From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 17 March 1778 (Jay Papers)
Your Favor of the 1 st . Feb y came to Hand last week. It gives me Pleasure to hear you was then at H d Q rtrs . especially on Business so important & perplexed. It is Time that Inquiries and I may add ^ as well as ^ Punishments sh d . become more frequent. I wish better, or rather more use was made of Courts Martial. Why is the the Inquiry directed to be made into the Causes to which
12From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 14 April 1778 (Jay Papers)
Your Favor of the 16 Ult o . was delivered to me two Days ago by Maj r . Morris— it makes the third I have had the Pleasure of recieving from you since your Departure, altho the Letters I have written to you amount to double that Number. The Session of the Legislature is at an End, a weak perplexed wrangling one it has been. No Wonder—little application within or without Doors but you know...
13From 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...
14From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 29 April 1778 (Jay Papers)
My last to you was written ab t a Week ago— I am now engaged in the most disagreable part of my Duty—trying Criminals— They multiply exceedingly. Robberies become Frequent. The Woods afford them Shelter & the Tories Food. Punishments must of Course become certain, & Mercy dormant—a harsh System repugnant to my Feelings, but nevertheless necessary. In such Circumstances Lenity would be Cruelty,...
15From 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...
16From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 20 May 1778 (Jay Papers)
Accept my thanks for the last letter I received from you, and the papers inclosed in it. The report of Congress on the subject of Lord North’s Bills was too strikingly marked with Morris not to be known by his friends to have been produced by his pen. Your history of that business gives me pleasure, as it acquits you of certain paragraphs which I could not understand the propriety of,...
17To 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...
18From 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...
19From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 3 June 1778 (Jay Papers)
Your two letters of the 28 th . April were delivered a few days ago on my return from Albany—another of the 23 d . of May came to hand last night. On the future conduct of a certain General towards this State, will depend the countenance he may meet with in it. My endeavours shall not be wanting to render his situation as happy and agreeable as his behaviour may merit; and I am with you of...
20From 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...
21From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 29 August 1778 (Jay Papers)
Your friendly letter of the 16 th . instant was delivered to me yesterday. I am well apprized of the situation of the gentleman you mention, and sincerely hope that his conduct may, on inquiry, be found such as to justify the opinion which I have long entertained of him. I wish for many reasons to have a personal interview with him. It will probably be long before the duties of my office will...
22From 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...
23From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 13 September 1778 (Jay Papers)
My last to you was from the White Plains and was dated the 29 th . August. I know not who was the bearer, and consequently cannot conjecture whether you have received it. It was in answer to yours of the 16 th . of the same month. Inform me from time to time of the dates of such of my letters as you receive, I shall do the like. The resolution of Congress on the report of inquiry respecting...
24From 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...
25From John Jay to Gouverneur Morris, 21 October 1778 (Jay Papers)
Your favors of the 8 th ., 22 d & 27 th . of September and last of all, of the 26 th . Aug st . by Doct r . M c Knight are come to hand. While the far greater part of mankind derive pleasure from discord between friends, you derive credit from feeling and acting differently. What your information may have been, or from whom received I cannot conjecture. It was not entirely well or ill founded....
26From 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...
27From 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...
28George 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.
29From 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...
I address this Letter to you both because I have not time by this opportunity to write to each separately. In a few Days I shall write you both particularly. M r . Gerards being about to sail happily prevailed upon Congress to proceed rapidly & unanimously in arranging their foreign Affairs— Young Coll Laurens is going Secretary to Doct r Franklin, and had the general approbation of Congress...