ROBERT MORRIS.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Office of Finance, September 20th, 1781.
Sir,
I am honored with your Excellency's letter of this date, and most sincerely wish my situation was such as to justify a promise of aid, equal to the present necessities; I mean the necessities that will be created by the call of the militia at this time, but unluckily the late movements of the army have so entirely drained me of money, that I have been obliged to pledge my personal credit very deeply in a variety of instances, besides borrowing money from my friends, and advancing, to promote the public service, every shilling of my own. In this situation I was preparing an application to the honorable Council and Assembly for relief from my advances, from the State of Pennsylvania, and this will be the more necessary, as this alarm whilst it lasts will cut off all possibility of recruiting the treasury. Those who possess hard money will keep it, and those who have demands will become more eager for payment, therefore, all I can promise is the use of my credit, and an exertion of any influence I may have in favor of such measures as may be deemed necessary. At the same time I do not recede from my first opinion, that the enemy do not meditate any attack on this city.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.[45]
FOOTNOTES:
[45] September 21st. At one o'clock I waited on the President of the State of Pennsylvania, at his house in Market Street, and met there Mr Peters and Mr Cornell, of the Board of War, General St Clair, General Irvine, and General Irwin, of the militia. This conference lasted a considerable time, and in its consequences took up the rest of the day. I gave it as my opinion, that Sir Henry Clinton did not intend for this city, nevertheless, as the inhabitants are alarmed and uneasy, I agreed to the propriety of being prepared, although I lamented the expense such preparations would put us to. I advised the placing a garrison at Mud Island, and putting that place in a posture of defence, and mentioned the plan proposed to me by Mr Paine, of collecting immediately one quarter's rent from all the houses in Philadelphia, in order to have an immediate supply of money to defray the expenses, &c. Diary.