1From 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...
2From 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,...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 24 May 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof, Mr. Barnes, is, as I understand, the representative of the company concerned in the steam navigation of the late Mr. Rumsey, was the attorney of Mr. Rumsey here, and goes now to Europe to secure the benefit of his discoveries to those entitled to them. In times like these he may need your protection as a stranger, and at all times would merit it as a man of worth and...
4From 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...
5From 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...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 11 September 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
My late letters to you have been of Aug. 16. 23. and 26: and a duplicate of the two first will accompany this. Yours lately received are Apr. 4. 5. 11. 19. May 20. and June 1. being Nos. 26. to 31. I have little particular to say to you by this opportunity which may be less certain than the last.—The North Western Indians have refused to meet our Commissioners unless they would agree to the...
7From 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...
8From 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...
9From 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...
10Enclosure: 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...
11From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 13 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The insulated state in which France is placed with respect to all the world almost by the present war, has cut off all means of addressing letters to you through other countries. I embrace the present occasion by a private individual going to France directly, to mention that since the date of my last public letter, which was April 24. and which covered the President’s proclamation of Apr. I...
12Enclosure: 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...
13From 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...
14Enclosure: 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...
15Enclosure: 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...
16Enclosure: 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...
17From 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...
18From 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...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 26 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed papers should have been annexed to the documents of my letter of Aug. 16. but were omitted by inadvertence. They are therefore now inclosed to you separately. I have the honor to be with great esteem & respect Dr Sir your most obedt. servt. Mr. Genet’s answer to the address of the citizens of Philada. do. lately to do. at New York. The above contain his declaration that France did...
20Enclosure: Commissaries of the French Treasury to Gouverneur Morris, 16 November 1792 (Hamilton Papers)
En reponse Monsieur à la lettre que vous nous aves fait L’honneur de nous Ecrire le 14 de ce mois, nous avons celui dernier dire que les Etats unis de l’Amerique ont été Credités sous les Livres a la Tresorerie Pour la datte du 5 Septembre dernier a la Somme de L. 6,000,000. pour le produit des Bco. f 1,625,000. a raison de 34 ⟨–⟩ ⅌ 8d. remis le dit Jour par Mess. Wilhem & Jan Willink, &...
21From 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...
22Enclosure: 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...
23From 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...
24From 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...
25From 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...
26From 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...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, [23] August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter of the 16th. instant, with it’s documents accompanying this, will sufficiently inform you of the transactions which have taken place between Mr. Genet, the Minister of France, and the government here, and of the painful necessity they have brought on, of desiring his recall. The letter has been prepared in the view of being itself, with it’s documents, laid before the Executive of...
28Enclosure: 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,...
29From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 12 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Nos. 8. to 13. inclusive have been duly received. I am sensible that your situation must have been difficult during the transition from the late form of government to the reestablishment of some other legitimate authority, and that you may have been at a loss to determine with whom business might be done. Nevertheless when principles are well understood, their application is less...
30Enclosure: 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...
31From 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...
32From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 24 April 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Robert Leslie a watchmaker of this city goes to establish himself at London. As his curiosity may lead him to Paris, I take the liberty of asking your patronage of him, so far as may be necessary to enable him to see what may be serviceable to him in his way. He is without exception one of the greatest mechanics I have ever known in any country, he is modest, and of pure integrity, and...
33Enclosure: 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...
34Enclosure: 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...
35From 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,...
36From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 8 April 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
My letters of the 12th. and 15th. of Mar. with your newspapers and laws were to have gone in the care of a gentleman bound to London. The papers and laws being bulky, he had sent them on to New-York, being still here himself. In the mean time Mr. Dupont’s departure for France directly takes place. Of course I deliver to him the letters beforementioned and the present one. Whether we shall be...
37From Thomas Jefferson to Gouverneur Morris, 3 October 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Duplaine, Vice-Consul of France at Boston, having by an armed force, opposed the course of the laws of this country within the same, by rescuing out of the hands of an officer of justice a vessel which he had arrested by authority of a precept from his court, the President has thought it necessary to revoke the Exequatur by which he had hitherto permitted him to exercise his functions...
38Enclosure: 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...
39Enclosure: 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....
40Enclosure: 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...
41From 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...
42Enclosure: 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...
43Enclosure: 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...
44From 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...
45From 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...
46Enclosure: 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...
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...
48From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, 25 July 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, July 25, 1793. On October 17, 1793, Morris wrote to Hamilton and acknowledged the receipt of “yours of the 25th. of July.” Letter not found. ]
49From 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...
50From 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...