Robert Morris to John Jay, 4 February 1777
Philad a . Feb y . 4 th 1777
Dear Sir:
Your favour of the 7 th Ult o came safe to hand, 1 Timothy Jones is certainly a very entertaining, agreable Man, one woud not judge so from any thing contained in his cold insipid letter of the 17 th Sept r . unless you take pains to find the Concealed beauties therein, 2 The Cursory observations of a Sea Captain wou–d never discover them, but transferred from his hand to the penetrating Eye of a Jay the Diamonds Stand Confessed at once, it puts me in mind of a Search after the Philosophers Stone, but I believe not ^ one ^ of the followers of that Phantom have come so near the Mark as you my Good Friend. I handed a Copy of your discoverys to the Committee, which now Consists of Harrison, R. H. Lee, Hooper, Doct r . Witherspoon Johnson, you, & Myself 3 & honestly told them who it was from because, measures are necessary in Consequence of it; but I have not rec d . any directions yet– I shou–d never doubt of the Success of measures Conducted by such able heads as those that take the leads in your Convention, I hate to pay Compliments, and would avoid the appearance of doing it, but I cannot refrain from saying I love Duane, admire M r . Livingston, & have an Epithet for you if I had been writing to another.
I am stationed here with M r . Walton of Georgia and my Colleague M r Clymer as a Committee of Congress for transacting all Continental business that may be proper &. necessary at this place abundance of it we have &, I believe we dispatch about – ths of that damn–d trash that used to take up ¾ ths of the debates in Congress; and give them no trouble about the matter, but we have this day wrote them pressingly to come back 4 whether they will or not is uncertain as I am told some of them are attached to the place, other execrate it. I do not revile Condemn their flight from hence as I should have done had I been at the distance you are, but I cannot spare time to explain myself for I write in haste & proceed to unfold a little business I want to trouble you with–
Major West the Nephew of my Friend Will West was taken Prisoner at Fort Washington he had made a kind of bargain with M r . Elliott late Coll r . of New York to get exchanged for M r . Jauncey jun r . and I represented the matter to Congress, who very wisely passed the inclosed Resolve, 5 the agreeement was that if Major West cou–d make interest with Congress, M r Elliott wou–d do the needfull with Gen l . Howe to effect this exchange at least so I understand it. West is an active good Officer, & has great interest in our back Country that wou–d enable him to recruit fast– M r Jauncey I fancy may as well be in N York as Connecticut and I wish you wou–d forward this business of Exchange if you think it right My Comp ts To M r Duane & M r Livingston and I hope they will join you in it–
I wish you had done with your Convention You are really wanted exceedingly in Congress, they are very thin, Hooper gone of[f] with a Fever– Tom Nelson with an appoplectic complaint, when I say gone off; I dont mean to the other World, only to another part of this, one to Virginia & Tother for N o Carolina. Harrison has barely weathered it, but he is mending. T. Johnson passed through here a few days ago a General for the Camp. 6 Maryland is not represented Jersey &. Delaware seldom are, your state & this not so fully as they ought. We shall have a New appointment here soon. I wish it may do honor to us, but much I fear the reverse from the Names now talked off Adieu my D r Sir God Bless you, & grant Success to America in the present Contest, with Wisdom and Virtue to Secure Peace & happiness to her Sons in all future Ages. I am with true regard Your most Obed t Servant,
Rob t Morris
John Jay Esq r .