salaries of the civil list more punctually paid than their own. To
enter into arguments on this occasion will be unnecessary, for I am
persuaded that your Excellency must be of opinion with me, that
unless the civil list is paid neither civil or military can exist at
all.
I am well persuaded of your Excellency's desire to promote the success
of those measures I have taken, because I am sure you are convinced
that their tendency and my intentions are all directed to the public
good. Indeed, my Dear Sir, you will hardly be able to form an adequate
idea of the earnestness with which I desire to relieve you from the
anxieties you must undergo. But when the several gazettes shall have
announced the sums received for this year's service, and I am well
convinced that the whole did not on the 1st of June amount to twenty
thousand dollars; when it is recollected that our expenses at the rate
of eight millions annually, are near twenty thousand dollars a day;
and when it is known that the estimates on which the demand was
founded do not include many essential branches, among which the Marine
and Foreign Affairs are to be numbered; surely it cannot be a matter
of surprise that the army are not paid; surely the blame is to fall on
those from whose negligence the evil originates. But I will not give
you the pain of hearing me repeat complaints, which you know to be but
too well founded.
I pray you to believe, that I am, Sir, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
TO EDWARD CARRINGTON, IN VIRGINIA.
Office of Finance, June 6th, 1782.
Sir,
I have received your letter of the 26th of May, from Richmond. It does
by no means surprise me, after some other things which have happened,
that an opposition is made to receiving my notes in taxes. I am
indifferent about the event of those deliberations, which may be had
on that subject. If they choose rather to tax in coin, I shall be
content, for the coin will answer my purposes as well as the notes,
which were only intended to anticipate the revenue, and supply that
want of money, which is not a little complained of, and particularly
in Virginia. The views of those who oppose their circulation, I will
not guess at, but I hope they may be virtuous and honorable motives,
in which case, I shall only pity a want of understanding to discover
the true interests of their country.
I am, your most obedient, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
TO THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Office of Finance, June 7th, 1782.
Sir,
I received this morning the letter you did me the honor to write on
the 6th. Congress have asked from the several States a five per cent
duty on goods imported, and on prizes and prize goods, as a fund for
paying the principal and interest of their debts. This fund, when
granted, will not be sufficient, and it is not yet granted by all. I
expect, however, that the requisition will speedily be complied with.
I shall not cease urging it, and also such further revenues as may be
sufficient for the purpose. When they shall have been obtained, they
will be duly applied in liquidation of the public debts; but until
that period arrives, neither the principal nor the interest of such
debts can be paid.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
TO DANIEL JENIFER, OF MARYLAND.
Office of Finance, June 11th, 1782.
Sir,
I have received the letter which you did me the honor to write on the
31st of last month. I am so habituated to receive apologies instead of
money, that I am not surprised at the contents of it. If complaints of
difficulties were equivalent to cash, I should not complain that the
quotas are unpaid. But unluckily this is not the case, and if the
States really mean to prosecute the war, something more must be done
than merely to pass declaratory resolutions; for no man can be found
who will for such resolutions supply food to our army. I am well
persuaded, that the difficulties which any State labors under, proceed
more from impolitic laws than any other source; for as to the taxes
required, they are very moderate, when compared either with the real
wealth of the people, or the former expenses which they have borne.
How far the quota asked from your State, is or is not proportionate,
it is not my business to determine. I presume it is right; but let it
be as high as it may, I am persuaded that when your specifics are
turned into specie, and the various expenses attending such mode of
taxation are paid, if the net amount be compared with the property
taken from the people according to this simple proportion, (as the
whole tax laid is to the net amount brought into the treasury, so is
the price of wheat, tobacco, or any other article fixed in the law, to
a fourth number to be found,) if, I say, this comparison be made, it
will appear that the people have sustained a greater loss, than any
disproportion in their quota could amount to.
You must not, however, suppose that Maryland is singular in
considering her quota too high, so far from it, that I believe every
State thinks so of its own quota, and would be very happy to apologise
to the world for doing nothing, with the thin and flimsy pretext, that
it has been asked to do too much.
You tell me your assembly would pledge any species of security in
their power to borrow money. I am persuaded that you think so, but you
must pardon me for holding a different opinion, besides that their
willingness in this respect can be of but little avail; for while such
extreme reluctance is shown to granting a sufficient revenue to pay
past debts, you must not expect that any persons will rely on promises
of future integrity. I believe your assembly, like all others on the
continent, means well, and therefore I am in hopes that they will act
well. But before they call on Hercules they must put their shoulders
to the wheel. It is a vain thing to suppose that wars can be carried
on by quibbles and puns, and yet laying taxes payable in specific
articles amounts to no more, for with a great sound they put little or
nothing in the treasury.
I know of no persons who want your specific supplies, and, if they
did, rely on it that they would rather contract with an individual of
any State than with any State in the Union. I have yet met with no
instance in which the articles taken in for taxes are of the first
quality, neither do I expect to meet with any; and so little reliance
can be placed on them, as to punctuality, that you may depend they
can never be sold but at a loss. This I have experienced. Somebody or
other will make a good bargain out of you, and the best you can make
is to sell before the expenses eat up the whole. This will be buying
experience, and perhaps it may prove a cheap purchase.
I am sorry that you are about to quit your office, and particularly
sorry for the want of health which leads you to that determination. I
had hopes that your endeavors would have brought things into order. I
shall expect to hear from you soon better tidings.
Yours, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
TO THE GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT.
Office of Finance, June 14th, 1782.
Sir,
Mr Merrill in a letter of the seventh instant informs me, that your
Excellency requested him to delay the publication of receipts for your
State. I am convinced, Sir, that you had good reasons for this
request, and wish it were in my power still further to gratify your
wishes. But I am under the necessity of insisting on the publication
for the following reasons--1st, To obviate the charge of partiality,
if made in one State and not in others. 2dly, To show the deficiency
of means granted for carrying on the war. 3dly, Thereby to exonerate
those who are immediately responsible. And, 4thly, to direct the
public to the real cause of our calamities.
Your Excellency well knows that it is common for representatives to
aim at popularity, by lessening or procrastinating the taxes of their
constituents. It is proper, therefore, that the people should know the
situation to which such conduct reduces them.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
TO JAMES LOVELL OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Office of Finance, June 16th 1782.
Sir,
I have received this day your letter of the sixth instant. I find the
publications of "_no receipts_" are by no means very pleasing. Men are
less ashamed to do wrong, than vexed to be told of it. Mr Merrill of
Connecticut delayed his publication in consequence of a request from
the Governor. This he informed me of by letter, and I enclose you a
copy of my answer. It contains some of the reasons why I insist on
such publications, and I send them to you because I think I can at
this distance perceive, that some men will desire to know those
reasons from you.
I know it will be alleged that from such publications the enemy will
derive information, but I am convinced they will gain all the
knowledge of that sort, which they want, without our newspapers; for
the collection of taxes is a matter of too great notoriety to be
concealed, and therefore I have long considered such arguments as mere
excuses to keep the people in ignorance, and deceive them under
pretext of deceiving their enemies.
I am, Sir, your most obedient, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Office of Finance, June 21st, 1782.
Sir,
I am informed that several of our officers have left behind them in
New York considerable sums of money unpaid, which had been advanced to
them while they were prisoners. The humanity of those, who have made
such advances, as well as the principles of justice, requires that
they should be repaid. But there is another reason which has
considerable weight on my mind. The establishment of a credit among
our enemies by the punctual payment of such debts will induce them
again to make advances, should the chance of war place any of our
unfortunate officers in a situation to render it necessary. I am
therefore to request of your Excellency (should you agree with me in
opinion) that you would take measures to cause the amount of those
debts to be particularly ascertained, in order that I may devise some
means of discharging them as soon as the state of the treasury will
permit.
I am, Sir, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
TO THE GOVERNOR OF RHODE-ISLAND.
Office of Finance, June 26th, 1782.
Sir,
Finding that your State has made advances of pay to their troops, it
becomes my duty to inform your Excellency, that Congress included in
their estimates, amounting to eight millions, the sums necessary for
paying the army; of consequence there can be no use in making such
payments by the several States. I must also observe, Sir, that
partial payments or supplies of any kind have been found by experience
to give general dissatisfaction, and therefore the determination to
discontinue them has been long since adopted.
The variety of accounts also is dangerous and expensive, and therefore
to be avoided. I might add other reasons why such payments by the
States cannot be admitted in abatement of their respective quotas. The
same reasons also operate against the admission of charges for
supplies of any kind, or certificates thereof as deductions from those
quotas. I have written to Mr Olney on the subject, the 23d instant;
and am now to pray your Excellency's attention and assistance to
prevent such irregularities in future. The more our operations are
simplified, the better will they be understood, and the more
satisfactorily will they be conducted. Congress have asked for men and
money. Those granted, they will ask for nothing more, and I persuade
myself, that if consistently with the confederation, they could
confine their requisitions to money alone, the people at large would
derive relief from it, the Legislature would act with greater ease,
and our resources be applied with greater vigor.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Office of Finance, June 29th, 1782.
Dear Sir,
I have received your favors of the 8th and 16th instant, the former
enclosing alterations proposed in the present mode of issues, and the
latter a copy of your circular letter to the States of the 4th of May.
I pray you to accept my thanks for these communications. I consent to
the alterations mentioned, and shall be very happy that harmony be
restored; for I do assure you that let the cause of disputes be what
it may, I am extremely sorry to find that any exist.
I find that you have misunderstood that part of my letter which
relates to the complaints of the officers. My design was not to oppose
any arrangement which might contribute to their convenience. I only
meant to show that their convenience having been consulted in the
first instance, the mode had excited uneasiness, and that the endeavor
to remove that uneasiness having excited complaint and remonstrance,
the direct compliance with the reasoning adopted by them would produce
greater hardship, than that which was complained of. Hence follows the
inference which was on my mind, that a spirit of accommodation alone
could place all parties at their ease, and I supposed that the
interest of the contractors on one hand, and the convenience of the
army on the other, would produce that accommodating disposition in
both. I am happy to find that matters are now in a train towards that
desirable end, and much lament that it has not sooner arrived.
I shall close what I have to say on this subject, by assuring you most
confidentially, that I will to the utmost of my power do justice, and
bring relief to both officers and soldiers, but as these things can
only be effected by exact method and economy, so I must pursue that
method and economy, as the only means by which the desired end can be
obtained.
With respect to the civil list, I shall say but one or two words. I
know well the connexion, which ties together all the public servants,
and I lament every comparison, which implies a distinction between
them. The civil list consists chiefly of persons whose salaries will
not do more than find them food and clothing. Many of them complain,
that with great parsimony they cannot obtain even those necessaries.
The difference then between them and the army, supposing the latter to
get but four months' pay out of twelve, is that both would be alike
subsisted, and the army would have an arrearage of eight months' pay
to receive at a future period, but the civil list would have to
receive nothing.
I am, my Dear Sir, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
TO B. FRANKLIN.
Office of Finance, July 1st, 1782.
Sir,
I have deferred until this moment my answer to your letters of the
4th, 9th, and 30th, of March, in expectation that I should have heard
from you by the Marquis de Lafayette. A vessel now about to depart
induces me to address you. I enclose an Act of Congress, by which you
are empowered to adjust the public accounts with the Court of France.
I wish this may be done, and the amount transmitted hither, that
arrangements may be taken for ascertaining the times and the modes of
payment. You will at the same time observe, that it is determined to
appoint a commissioner for liquidating and finally adjusting the
accounts of the public servants of Congress in Europe.
The Minister here, in a letter to me of the 25th of May last, gives
the following state of moneys granted by France, viz.
"These advances have been made at the following periods, and are
payable with interest, according to the obligations and
acknowledgements of Dr Franklin.
"In 1778, 3,000,000
1779, 1,000,000
1780, 4,000,000
1781, 10,000,000
----------
Total 18,000,000
"From this sum must be deducted the
gratuitous subsidy of last year, 6,000,000
----------
Remains 12,000,000
"To this must be added,
1st. The produce of the loan in Holland, 10,000,000
2dly. The loan made by his Majesty for
the current year, 6,000,000
----------
"Capital of the debt due to His Majesty
by the United States, 28,000,000"
I think it right to send you this statement, on which I will make a
few observations. I could have wished that the whole of the moneys,
which the Court have furnished us had been what the greater part is,
_a loan_. I know that the United States will find no difficulty in
making payment, and I take this opportunity to give _you_ an
assurance, which is not meant for the Court, that I will endeavor to
provide _even now_ the means of repayment, by getting laws passed, to
take effect at a future period, or otherwise, as shall be most
convenient and agreeable to all parties, after the amount is
ascertained and the times of payment fixed. I wish it had all been a
loan, because I do not think the weight of the debt would be so great
as the weight of an obligation is generally found to be, and the
latter is of all others what I would least wish to labor under, either
in a public or private capacity. A still further reason with me is,
that there is less pain in soliciting the _aid_ of a loan, when there
is no expectation that it is to be a gift.
Prompted by such reasons, I could be well content, that the advances
made previously to the year 1778, were by some means or other brought
into this account. By Mr Grand's accounts is appears, that Messrs
Franklin, Deane and Lee, on the 1st of January, 1777, paid him five
hundred thousand livres; on the 28th of April, other five hundred
thousand livres; on the 4th of June, one million of livres; on the 3d
of July, five hundred thousand livres; and on the 10th of October,
other five hundred thousand livres; amounting in the whole to three
millions of livres. I suppose, that these sums were received of
private persons in like manner with those supplies, which were
obtained through M. de Beaumarchais, and if so they will be payable in
like manner with those supplies.
I have in a former letter estimated the yearly interest on Loan Office
certificates, payable in France at two million livres, consequently
taking in the months intervening between September and March, the
total amount from September the 10th, 1777, to March the 1st, 1782,
may be stated at nine million livres; which is just one half of the
supplies granted for the years 1778, 1779, 1780, and 1781.
A resolution now before Congress will, I believe, direct that no more
bills be drawn for this instant; but Mr Grand in his letter of the 4th
of March, tells me he has paid six million two hundred and thirtynine
thousand one hundred end eightysix livres, thirteen sous, four
deniers, in sixteen thousand eight hundred and nineteen bills, from
the 11th of February, 1779, to the 28th of January, 1782. His accounts
are now translating, and when that is completed, I shall transmit them
to the treasury, and I hope soon to have the accounts of the several
loan officers in such a train of settlement, that all these matters
may finally be wound up.
Should the Court grant six million livres more for the service of the
current year, making twelve million livres in the whole, which to tell
you the truth, I do expect, then the sum total in five years will be
forty million livres, or eight million annually. And when the occasion
of this grant is considered, the magnitude of the object, and the
derangement of our finances, naturally to be expected in so great a
revolution, I cannot think this sum is by any means very
extraordinary. I believe with you most perfectly in the good
dispositions of the Court, but I must request you to urge those
dispositions into effect. I consider the six millions mentioned to me
by the Minister here, and afterwards in your letters, as being at my
disposal. The taxes come in so slowly, that I have been compelled and
must continue to draw bills, but I shall avoid it as much as possible.
In my letters of the 23d and 29th of May, of which I enclose copies,
are contained my sentiments as to M. de Beaumarchais' demand. Indeed,
if the sums paid to him and others for expenditures previous to the
year 1778, and the amount of the interest money, of which the
principal was also expended at that time, be deducted, the remaining
sum will be considerably less than thirty millions.
I must entreat of you, Sir, that all the stores may be forwarded from
Brest as soon as possible, and I shall hope that the Court will take
measures to afford you the necessary transports, so that they may come
under proper convoy. As to the cargo of the ship Marquis de Lafayette,
it is true, that some of it has arrived here from neutral ports, but
it is equally true that money was necessary to purchase it, and that
money is quite as scarce as any other article. If, however, all the
cargo of that ship was like some which I procured, the taking of her
has been no great loss, for the clothing was too small to go on men's
backs. The goods from Holland we still most anxiously expect. Would to
God that they never had been purchased. Mr Gillon, however, is at
length arrived, and I hope we shall have those matters, in which he
was concerned, brought to some kind of settlement.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
TO ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
Office of Finance, July 2d, 1782.
Sir,
I yesterday received your letter of the 17th of June, and am very
happy to find that you have determined to accept the office I had the
pleasure of offering to you.[8] I enclose the commission,
instructions, &c. together with a bond for performance of the duties,
which I must request you to fill up and execute, with some sufficient
surety, and transmit.
[8] Receiver of the Continental taxes for the State of New
York.
The complaint you make of the system of taxation in New York, might, I
believe, very justly be extended; for though it may be more defective
in some than in others, it is, I fear, very far from perfect in any. I
had already heard, that no part of the taxes were appropriated to
Continental purposes, but I expect that the Legislature will, when
they meet, make such appropriation, as well as lay new, and I hope
productive taxes, for the purposes of paying what may remain of their
quota.
It gives me a singular pleasure to find, that you have yourself
pointed out one of the principal objects of your appointment. You will
find that it is specified in the enclosure of the 15th of April. I do
not conceive that any interview will be necessary, though I shall
always be happy to see you, when your leisure and convenience will
admit. In the meantime, I must request you to exert your talents in
forwarding with your Legislature the views of Congress. Your former
situation in the army, the present situation of that very army, your
connexions in the State, your perfect knowledge of men and measures,
and the abilities which Heaven has blest you with, will give you a
fine opportunity to forward the public service, by convincing all who
have claims on the justice of Congress, that those claims exist only
by that hard necessity, which arises from the negligence of the
States. When to this you shall superadd the conviction, that what
remains of the war, being only a war of finance, solid arrangements of
finance must necessarily terminate favorably, not only to our hopes
but even to our wishes, then, Sir, the government will be disposed to
lay, and the people to bear these burdens, which are necessary, and
then the utility of your office and of the officer will be as manifest
to others as at present to me.
I am, with respect, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
TO M. JOLIE DE FLEURY.
Office of Finance, July 6th, 1782.
Sir,
I have received the letter which you did me the honor to write in
February last. It gives me very particular pleasure to find that my
operations are approved by a gentleman whose talents and situation
conspire together in giving the means and the power of forming a
proper judgment. I receive, Sir, with so much greater satisfaction
your promise to concur in promoting the success of my measures, as I
persuade myself that a true Frenchman must deeply interest himself in
the present American Revolution.
The indissoluble bands which unite our sovereigns, have connected the
success of that revolution with the glory of the King, and the
interests of his subjects. Being therefore alike prompted by that
animated zeal and attachment to your prince which forms a beautiful
trait in the French character, and by your own benevolence, you cannot
but pursue the road which leads to the establishment of our
independence. It is by these motives, Sir, that you are assured of my
confidence. I shall take the liberty to lay before you my
arrangements, as soon as they can be completed, in order that you may
possess the views of my administration.
I have the honor to be, with perfect esteem and respect,
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
TO MR GRAND.
Office of Finance, July 5th, 1782.
Sir,