The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1849-02-02


Yorktown; then CORVALLIS may be hem
ed in by the French feet by sea, and the
American and French armies by land and
will ultimately be compelled to surren-
der" "Send my troops to Yorktownp
said Washington, appearing surprised at
the suggestion-"how am | to get them
therel One of my difficulties about at.
tacking New York arises from the want
OF funds to transport my troops thither.
How, then, can | muster the means that
will be requisite to enable them to march
TO Yorktown" "You must look to me
tor funds" rejoined Mr.. Morris. "And
how are you to provide them?" said
Washington THAT" said Morris, 81
am unable at this time to tell you. bu; |
will answer with my head, that if you
will put your army in motion, will sup
ply the means of their reaching York
town" After few moments reflection,
Washington said:-"On this assurance of
yours, Mr.. Morris, such is my confidence
in your ability to perform any engage
ment you make, | will adopt your sug-
gestion."
Paul Jones made Mr.. Morris his execu-
tor and bequeathed him as a token of his
high regard, the sword he had received
from the King of France. Mr. Morris
gave it to Commodore Barry, with re-
quest that it should fall successfully into
the hands of the oldest commander of the
American navy. .-...
The close of the Revolution, must have
found him in possession of immense
wealth, exceeding that by far of any in
dividual citizen of the United States.
But he was destined to sudden reverse
offortue. There followed the Revolution
mania for land speculation, as great per-
haps, in proportion to the number of per-
sons to participate in it, as one that has
! been witnessed in our own times. Mr.
Morris participated largely in it; invest
ing in large tracts of wild land, as they
came into market, in different parts of the
United States; realizing for time vast
r profits upon sales. A reaction ensued
which found him in possession of an i'm
mense landed estate, and largely in deb
for purchase money. From the opulance
that we have been speaking of, he was
reduced to poverty; and ultimately, some
j. mercless creditors, made him for a Ions
time the tenant ola prison.
lthas been stated that his misfortune
were partly owing to sacrifices he made
: during his financial agencies in the Revo
luton. This error is corrected in let
ter with which the author has been favor
ed. from surviving son ofhis, the ven
cradle Thomas Morris, Esq. a residen
of the city of New York-"My father
) pecuniary losses were not owing to hi
a public engagements in the war Of Inde
T pendence Heavy as those engagement
i were, (the last two years oflhe war hav
ing been supported almost entirely b.
l. his advances and by his credits,) he wa
eventually reimbursed by the public"
II The author has in his possession tw
n autograph letters, from Mr.. Norris ad
= dressed to "Mr. Benjamin Barton" tn
father of the late Benz Barton. TIL
-" first was written but few weeks afte
l. the treaty with the Indians, on the Gene
see river, at which the Indian title wa
m ex,ingnished to all the lands in this State
west of Phelps and Gorham's Purchase
1t is inserted entire:-
Hills NEAR PHILADELPHIA, Oct. II. 1897
SIR-I received your letter da ted at Newarl
10 the l2lh inst, only yesterday, aud am sorry
n see thereby the several unfortunate accidents yo
@ have met with and particularly as your atia
N have become deranged the reby. In conseqenC
=, fthe purchase lately made by the Indians, ol
I'll surveyors will Immediately set TO work aud su
1t vcy nnday out that country. And as my So
Is Thomas, who lives at Cnnondaigue. Ontar
10 county will have principal share in selling land
aud establishing settlements there. | think VI
had better apply to him; but your application vi
be time enough by or belOre next spring. wht
lie comes to Albany in the winter, 10 meet in Il
~ Legislature.
~ You did not furnish me with an account of Il
u number you sent down, which wish you wou
T. do with the cost thereof.
% am, sir, your obedien: servant.
~ ROBT, MORRIS.
! Il AT the date of this letter, he was
-, Merchant Prince" living in affluenc,
nf waiting for the purchase and intended sa
~ ~ and settlements of vast tracts of Ian
:, Upon him had devolved the fnancierl
in in for our country in period of peril an
~ =, embarrassment When the army of Was
~ ~ ington unpaid, we're lacking food al
" raiment, murmuring as they well mig
n be, it was his purse and credit that mo
than once prevented its dispersion, az
III the failure of the glorious ach ievement
~ ~ Independence. His ships were on Il
IN oceon, his notes Of hand forming Gu
~ ~ rency, his drafts honored every where
Ire mong capitalists in his own country, al
y. many ofthe marts of commerce in Euror
eff A reverse offortune, ,saddening to tho,
n. who are now enjoying the blessings
as which he so eminently contributed, WI
N. could wish that no cloud had gathered
nd round the close of so useful life, inte
of vened between the dates of the two le
n. te:s. The second one is dated "Phil
ID. delphiO, Dec. IL, 1S00,' and after d
q. posing of some business enquiries tn
lal had been made, closed as follows:-
"You have now the cearest inform
"a. ton can give you. have been fl
III. quently applied to about this affair." b
"a hope there is an end to it. If, howevt
,r. you should find it necessary to write
in. gain, be good enough to pay the posta
bv of your letters, for l hare not u cent
ID. spare from tie means IF Subsistence.
no am, sir, your very obedient servant,
w. ROBERT MORRIS