Gouverneur Morris to John Jay, 16 August 1778
Philadelphia 16 th . Aug t 1778
Dear Jay.
We are at Length fairly setting about our Finances and our foreign Affairs. For the latter particularly I much wish you were here. Many Persons whom you know are very liberal of Illiberality– Your Friend Deane who hath rendered the most essential Services stands as one accused. The Storm increases and I think some one of the tall Trees must be torn up by the Roots.
I have not heard from you in a long Time. I did expect a letter by your Brother James but was disappointed. I am informed that he brought Letters from you to Nobody here. How happened that? A propos I will give you a little History.
Just before his Arrival, I saw a Letter from Arthur Lee speaking of him most disrespectfully. I was informed and induced to beleive that he was come to Congress charged with Lee–s Information & to promote his Designs. The Length of my Acquaintance with him required Nothing. But it was my Duty to take Care that your Brother did not render himself ridiculous. I felt more than I can tell at the Idea of a Connection between him and some Persons who I am confident you do from your Soul despise and abhor. In Consequence I waited of him. I told him candidly that I suspected him to be charged with Matter which was to militate much in favor of M r . Lee, that M r . Lee had in a Letter which would then shortly become public tradused him.– I had forgot to tell you that the Letter was to M r . Carmichael who (being accused before Congress by M r . Lee) shewed it in his own Defense to a Committee of which I was a Member.– And I stated the Ridicule which falls from being instrumental in forwarding the Views of a Man who had said of him that he was a Vilain. 1
He was as you may well suppose much obliged by this Instance of my Friendship and so far all was Right. So far I had saved him out of bad Hands. As the Devil would have it I was appointed one Member of a Committee to superintend an Entertainment given by the Congress to Monsieur Gerard. 2 Unfortunately the Line which by the general Sense of the Members of Congress ^ had been drawn ^ for Invitations excluded him. He was offended. He made Inquiries into the Reasons. You may readily imagine what some Folks would say on the Occasion. He inquired of me in a Stile which really put it out of my Power to give him satisfactory Answers. It is a Pity for his own Sake that he appeared to feel the Omission. To you the Reasons need not be assigned. I fear he is now in the Possession of those Gentlemen. I would dilate upon the Consequences but the Idea is painful to me and cannot be pleasant to you. I have only to add on this Chapter that I will save him if I can even from himself. The Mischeif is he is now in such Dudgeon that any Advances from me would produce the direct contrary Effect from what they ought. 3 Adieu my Friend. Remember me to our Friends. To your Wife particularly. Write to me oftener. In all Cases beleive me most sincerely yours
Gouv. Morris