TO B. FRANKLIN.
Office of Finance, September 30th, 1784.
Dear Sir,
This is rather a late day to acknowledge your favors of the 25th of December and 15th of June last, but I have always intended in my acknowledgement of them to close our public correspondence, and I have always been disappointed in my expectation of being able speedily to quit this office. That period, however, so ardently desired, is at length nearly arrived, and while I look back on cares and dangers past, I feel an increased emotion of joy in the prospect of future hopes and expectations. But I cannot review the past scene without strong feelings of gratitude and respect for the able and active efforts, which you have made to support the finances of this country. I would to God that your just sentiments on property and taxation were as fully felt as they must be clearly understood in America; but time is as necessary to mellow the judgment of a country as of a man. Happy indeed shall we be if it produce that effect among us.
I am much obliged by your explanation of M. Chaumont's accounts, which are lodged at the treasury. If any insinuations have been made injurious to you upon your connexion with M. Chaumont, they have not reached me, and I am persuaded that none such can make any impressions which ought to give you pain.
I have not remitted bills for the salaries of foreign ministers, because the resolutions of Congress having varied, and Mr Grand having informed me that he should pay them, I have left it as an account unsettled to be arranged by Mr Barclay. And as I cannot doubt that the attachments will have been taken off, and as I have given Mr Grand a credit on the commissioners of the loan in Holland for four hundred thousand livres, and directed Messrs Le Couteulx to pay over to him a balance in their hands, I have no doubt that he will be in cash for the purpose. I agree with you that a fund ought to be set apart for contingencies, and had I continued, and been supported in my administration, such a fund should certainly have been provided. I am at the same time an enemy to contingent accounts, and therefore I should have urged the ascertainment of every allowance as far as possible, thereby curtailing the account of contingencies. But after all, it cannot be annihilated. Congress have hitherto made no determination on this subject. Indeed it is very difficult, and even almost disreputable for them to make arrangements of expenditure, while the means of expenditure are so shamefully withheld by their constituents. These things, however, will mend, at least I hope so.
I have already said that I expected the attachments laid on the public goods would be discharged. Your letter to the Count de Vergennes on that subject is perfect, and if that minister did not immediately obtain a compliance with your request, I presume it must have been occasioned by some circumstances purely domestic, which we in this country cannot guess at, for certainly nothing can be more astonishing than to find a subject countenanced in arresting the property of a sovereign power in this enlightened age, and in the country, which of all others has been most eminent for a sacred regard to the rights of nations.
From your last letters to your friends, I find that your return to this country is somewhat doubtful; I am therefore disappointed in one of the greatest pleasures, which I had promised myself. But, Sir, in whatever country you may be, and whether in public or in private life, be assured of my warmest and most respectful esteem, and that my best wishes for your happiness shall be clothed with the utmost efforts in my power to promote it on every proper occasion.
I am, Sir, with perfect respect, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.