"On the 21st of February I received a letter from the President of Congress, enclosing the resolves of the 20th, whereby I was unanimously elected the Superintendent of Finance of the United States. This appointment was unsought, unsolicited, and dangerous to accept, as it was evidently contrary to my private interest, and if accepted must deprive me of those enjoyments, social and domestic, which my time of life required, and to which my circumstances entitled me; and a vigorous execution of the duties must inevitably expose me to the resentment of disappointed and designing men, and to the calumny and detraction of the envious and malicious. I was therefore determined not to engage in so arduous an undertaking. But the solicitations of my friends, acquaintance, and fellow citizens, a full conviction of the necessity, that some person should commence the work of reformation in our public affairs, by an attempt to introduce system and economy, and the persuasion, that a refusal on my part, would probably deter others from attempting this work, so absolutely necessary to the safety of our country; these considerations, after much reflection and consultation with friends, induced me to write a letter to the President of Congress, dated the 13th of March, 1781." * * * * * PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS. _March 20th._ A letter of the 13th instant from Robert Morris was taken into consideration, and it was _Resolved_, that the United States in Congress assembled do not require him to dissolve the commercial connexions referred to in the said letter. _March 21st._ The consideration of the letter of the 13th instant, from Robert Morris being resumed, a motion was made, and it was _Resolved_, that the Superintendent of Finance be, and he is hereby empowered to appoint and remove at his pleasure, his assistants in his peculiar office or chamber of business in immediate connexion with him; it being first determined by the United States in Congress assembled, that such assistants so to be appointed are necessary, and what the salary of each shall be. _Ordered_, that the remainder of Mr Morris's letter be referred to a committee of three. The members appointed were Messrs Houston, Burke, and Wolcott. * * * * * TO THOMAS BURKE, WILLIAM HOUSTON, AND OLIVER WOLCOTT, COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS. Date Uncertain. Gentlemen,