Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-06
Morris, Financier, Was Prisoner Here

necessary TO the safety OF the Army, and TO
enable him 10 obtain such intelligence OF the
movements and precise position Of the enemy
On the opposite shore as would authorize him
TO acA extensively This pressing application.
and appeal to the feelings Of Mr. Morris which,
from the urgency Of the occasion. was dis
patched by . confidential messenger was re-
eeived at . time when compliance was almost
hopeless, owing to the general fight Of the
citizens. He frequently adverted to the mental
depression which he experienced on that trying
occasion, and to the means he employed to
relieve the necessities Of the commander in
chief. From the time he received the dispatch
until evening he revolved deeply and gloomily
in his mind the means through which he might
realize the expectations which had been formed
from his patriotism and influence: his usual
hour of retiring from the compiling room ar
rived, and as he was proceeding slowly and sor-
rowfully home, he accidentally met gentle
man of the Society of Friends, with whom he
was intimate, and who placed implicit conf
dence in his integrity. He inquired the news
from Mr.. Morris, who replied, The most i'm
portant news is that I require a certain sum
in specie, and that you must let me have it
His friend hesitated and unused for moment;
your security is to be my note and my honor
continued MIR. Morris-Robert, thou shalt have
it, replied the friend; and this personal loan.
causing prompt and tinlsly compliance with
the demand enabled Gen. Washington to gain
the signal victory the hireiag Hes:ians az
Trenton which not only diminished the nune:i-
cal force of the enemy, bat had the necessary
and impo tant results Of aninlating the spirit
of patriotism and checking the hopes and pre-
dictions of our enemies 1t also destroyed the
impression which the reputed proves Of the
conquered foe and the experience Of their
ferocity the unprotected and defenseless
had made among the people"
Even during the gloomy days OF 1771 when
the Army encamped at Valiey Forge, as a
member of the newly formed Committee of
Commerce, he visited Washington there, and
had private, confidential consultation with
the commander in chief to consider the best
and most practicable means for conducting a
Winter campaign with vigor and Success"
A YEAR or two later, during the most dis
" tressing period Of the war, Mr.. Morris
was approached by Richard Peters, who then
filled important and confidential position in
the Department of War, who informed Morris
of a letter he had received from Gen. Washing
ton giving most alarming account OF the scar
city of the military stores and urging inmedi-
ate exertions to supply the deficiencies. AS
afterward related by Judge Peters There
no musket cartridges but those in the mems
boxes, and they were vet; Of course, If attacked,
retreat or q rout was inevitable. We (the
BOARD of war; had exhausted all the lead ac-
cessible to Us, having caused even the Spouts
of houses to be melted and had offered aoor-
lively. the equivalent In paper OF two shillings
specie per pound for lead. I went. in the eve
ming Of the day on which received this letter.
to q splendid entertainment given by Don
Mirailes, the Spanish Minister. My heart was
sad, but had the faculty Of frightening my
countenance even under gloomy disasters; yet
IL seems then not sufficiently adroitly. Mr..
Morris who was one Of the guests, and knew
me wen, discovered some casual traits Of de-
preston He accosted in his usual blunt
and disengaged manner: I see some clouds
passing across the sunny eountenance you
sumo; what - the NATTER After some hest
tatson. I showed him the generals letter. which
had brought from the once with the inten-
ton Of placing II at home in private cabinet.
He played with my anxiety which he did not
relieve for some time. At length, however, with
great and sincere delight he called me aside
and told me that the Holkar privateer had just
arrived ct his wharf with 90 tons OF lead, which
she had brought Is ballast. 1t had been landed
at Martinique and stone ballast had supplied
It's place: but this had been put on shore and
the lead again taken In. You shall have my
half Of this fortunate supply; there are the
owners Of the other half Indicating gentlemen
in the apartment). Yes but I am already
under heavy personal engagements guarSn-
tee for the department to those and other gen.
tlemen.' Well rejoined Mr.. Morris, they will
take your assumption with my guarantee. I.
instantly on these terms, secured the lead. left
the entertainment, sent for the proper officers.
and set more than 100 people to work during
the night. Before morning a supply Of car
tridges was ready and sent on to the AIRY
I lPON another occasion when the Army was
~ desperately In need Of food he pledged
his own fortune for the payment Of several
thousand barrels Of -four in order to obviate
the necessity Of the commander in chief seizing
all the provisions Of the nearby country. Re-
garding this incident, = letter written by Mr..
Morris states: