My office is new, and I am young in the execution of it. Communications from men of genius and abilities, will always be acceptable, and yours will ever command the attention of, Sir, your obedient humble servant,
ROBERT MORRIS.
TO MAJOR GENERAL PHILIP SCHUYLER.
Philadelphia, May 29th, 1781.
Dear Sir,
You will probably have heard that Congress have done me the honor to bestow their confidence, by appointing me to the important station of Superintendent of Finance of North America; a station that makes me tremble when I think of it, and which nothing could tempt me to accept, but a gleam of hope, that my exertions may possibly retrieve this poor distressed country from the ruin with which it is now threatened, merely for want of system and economy in spending, and vigor in raising the public moneys. Pressed by all my friends, acquaintances, and fellow citizens, and still more pressed by the necessity, the absolute necessity, of a change in our monied system, to work salvation, I have yielded, and taken a load on my shoulders, which it is impossible to get clear of without the faithful support and assistance of those good citizens, who not only wish, but will promote the service of their country. In this light I now make application to you, Sir, whose abilities I know, and whose zeal I have every reason to believe. The object, however, before me, is not of such magnitude as to require any great exertion of either at present, although it is of sufficient importance to induce the invocation.
General Washington is distressed for want of an immediate supply of flour, and as I am not even yet fairly entered on the execution of my office, and when I do, have to meet an empty treasury, and a totally exhausted credit, it must be some time before funds can be created or money be commanded for any purpose whatsoever; and as I do not know any gentleman of such resources as General Schuyler, he seems the most likely of all men to give assistance under the present circumstances. I must, therefore, request that you will take the most speedy and effectual measures to deliver to the order of his Excellency, General Washington, one thousand barrels of flour, which I am sure you will purchase and cause to be transported on the most reasonable terms that are practicable. No time must be lost, but the flour must be sent down in the parcels as fast as procured. The Pennsylvania Bank had all the flour they supplied to the army, secured with outside lining hoops on each head of every barrel, and the weight and tare marked on each cask. If you were to cause this to be done, and add to the mark your name, it would save a waste of flour, oblige the Issuing Commissary to take notice of an account for the weights as well as barrels, and teach the army to think that they are indebted to your exertions for a seasonable supply.
I have the means of raising hard money to pay for this flour, and the charges on it; but the longer time I am allowed to do it, the more I can consult the public interest. I take it for granted, that you can, upon your own credit and engagements, either borrow the money for a few months, necessary to accomplish this business; or that you can make the purchases on such credit, without giving higher prices; and for your reimbursement, you may either take me as a public or a private man, for I pledge myself to repay you with hard money wholly, if required, or part hard and part paper, if you so transact the business. In short, I promise, and you may rely that no consideration whatever, shall induce me to make a promise, that I do not see my capability to perform, that I will enable you to fulfil your engagements for this supply of flour, if you find it convenient, you may draw on me for hard money or paper, payable in such sums, and at such times, as you can conceive may not be inconvenient, judging by what I have said on this subject. Should good bills on France be wanted, at about —— hard money your currency, for five livres tournois, I will furnish them, drawn or endorsed by myself, for the whole, or any part of this purchase.
I hope we shall hereafter supply our army by contracts, and your information and observations on this subject would be very obliging. Perhaps if you are not fully employed otherwise, you might start some worthy man under your patronage, that might render essential service to the public, with proper advantage to himself and connexions in this line.
I am, Dear Sir, yours, &c.