The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-08
$4,000

own strong box, but that was empty,
and he already exhausted all his visible
resources in equipping this expedition,
having paid out $4,000 cash OF MS own
funds and.issued notes against his private
! fortune to the amount of 81, 400, 600, and
besides 1t was hard money, not paper that
was now needed. H eknew not here to
turn to getit However, two days after
tie dinnev at his house he bethought him
in his extremity of Rochambeau, his re-
cent guest.
To him he went, and. CONTAINED by
! the sheer urgency of the case and re-
pressing his own sense of humiliation at
his errand by invoking his patriotism he
fairly touched the general, his late
guest, for loan of the needed sum. lie
explained that Washington absolutely re-
| ouired twenty thousand dollars to pacify
his troops, and pledged himself IN the
event the French war chest could spare
IL. 10 restore it at any date named. Ro-
cEambeau listened with the umost kind
illness, and begged Morris to meet him
when convenient at the house OF the
French minister, the Chevalier Caesar
Anne de Ia Luzerne, then resident IN
Philadelphia.
Morris accordingly called on him there
on the morning of September 5. Luzerne
, and General Chastellux. Rochambeaus
chief of staff, were present at the inter
view. After canvassing the subject they
all assured him Of their desire to COM
ply, but explained that their treasure
chest was not well filled just then. on
account of the drains upon It, THY had
money on the way from France. lately
landed at Boston, but 1t would take sew
eral weeks to get it; and although they
confidently expected money also by the
fleet Of De Grasse, that could not be
available until it arrived.
/, Fully sympathizing in Morris predic-
ament, however, they finally suggested
| that he go down to Chester and overtake
the fntendent and treasurer of the French
army. who that morning had gone on be:
fore, and promised if practicable. they
would see to it that those officers should
| furnish the money he required.
| Morris, taking with him Gouverneur
i Morris. his assistant in the office of fl.
nance. on account of his fuency in the
1 French tongue. set out on horseback al
| 3 o'clock in the afternoon for Chester
down the Delaware.
| On the way he received a message from
/ Washington, announcing the joyful news
| of De Grasses safe arrival in the Ches
| apeake on August 30, six days before.
1 This enabled the French treasurer tc
| make the loans desired. That evening al
| Chester. Rochambeau, who had just ar
/ rived. agreed to have his treasurer fur.
nish the money at the Head of the Elk
Morris was profuse in thanks, and en-
/ gagged to replace the sum on October 1st
/ Meantime the troops were murmuring
In consequence, Washington, on Septem
/ Der 9Th before he could know OF Morris
! success. appealed to him again, thus:
Head of the Elk. Sept. 6. 17S1.-Dear
/ Sir: Every day discovers to me the in
| creasins necessity of some money for the
troops I hope by this time you are pro
vided to give months pay. I find 1t o
the utmost Importance to hasten forward
myself to joint the Marquis de Lafeyett'
! as soon as possible may leave TINS II
! a few hours; I cannot do 1t, however
| without entreating you IN the "arines|
! terms to send on a months pay at leas
! with all the expedition possible. wisf
] it to come on the wings of speed I am
! dear sir, ETC., "