The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 12
History
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 12
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
It was with very great pleasure, Sir, that I paid the money you
desired, to Mr Adams, and I beg you to believe, that I shall at all
times be happy to facilitate your views. At present, the negotiation
happens by good luck to minister alike to your convenience and mine. I
am very sorry, that you did not make an earlier mention to me of your
demands for secret service. I would have anticipated your views, had
it not escaped my attention, for be the distresses of my department
what they may, this is of too much importance ever to be neglected. I
think it best in future, that a solid arrangement should be taken, and
for this purpose I will give directions to the Paymaster General
always to keep some money in the hands of his deputy, to answer your
drafts for contingencies and secret service. I have, as you will see,
taken methods to put the deputy in cash, and then your Excellency will
be relieved from any further care than the due application. I am,
however, to pray for the sake of regularity in accounts, that your
Excellency in the warrants would be so kind as to specify the
particular service when on the contingent account, and draw in favor
of one of your family on account of secret services, mentioning that
it is for secret service. I shall direct Mr Swanwick to endorse the
bills on you in favor of Mr Adams to the Paymaster General, whose
deputy will receive from your Excellency the amount.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
* * * * *
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Office of Finance, January 24th, 1783.
Sir,
As nothing but the public danger would have induced me to accept my
office, so I was determined to hold it until the danger was past, or
else to meet my ruin in the common wreck. Under greater difficulties
than were apprehended by the most timid, and with less support than
was expected by the least sanguine, the generous confidence of the
public has accomplished more than I presumed to hope.
Congress will recollect, that I expressly stipulated to take no part
in past transactions. My attention to the public debts, therefore,
arose from the conviction, that funding them on solid revenues was the
last essential work of our glorious revolution. The accomplishment of
this necessary work is among the objects nearest my heart, and to
effect it, I would sacrifice time, property, and domestic bliss.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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