The Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. 2 - Online Library of ...
The Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. 2 - Online Library of ...
The Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. 2 - Online Library of ...
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<strong>Online</strong> <strong>Library</strong> <strong>of</strong> Liberty: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Diary</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Letters</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Gouverneur</strong> <strong>Morris</strong>, <strong>vol</strong>. 2<br />
to me last summer desiring I would <strong>of</strong>ficially pledge the United States as security for<br />
certain sums due by his estate <strong>and</strong> which, not being exactly within the line marked out<br />
for the creditors <strong>of</strong> emigrants, might not be allowed in liquidation, <strong>and</strong> she stated that<br />
his honor <strong>and</strong> hers stood pledged, etc. You will readily conceive that I did not comply<br />
with that request, but at the same time your goodness will feel that a flat denial would<br />
add sorrow to distress. In this dilemma I informed her that it was inconsistent with the<br />
dignity <strong>of</strong> governments to appear in such affairs; moreover, I had not any right to<br />
dispose <strong>of</strong> the public property, but, as far as my own would go for her relief, she<br />
might count on every aid in my power. Not to fatigue you with a long story, this<br />
engagement ended by paying her in November last one hundred thous<strong>and</strong> livres when<br />
the assignats were at par (or, indeed, for silver, under par) <strong>and</strong> when, by the obstacles<br />
thrown in the way <strong>of</strong> all negotiations, it became to me an object <strong>of</strong> very serious<br />
inconvenience. However, I had taken the engagement, <strong>and</strong> it was necessary to keep it<br />
or break my word. When she was brought up to Paris she sent a person to me to<br />
communicate her situation <strong>and</strong> that <strong>of</strong> her children, <strong>and</strong> to propose an advance <strong>of</strong><br />
credit to the amount <strong>of</strong> one hundred <strong>and</strong> fifty thous<strong>and</strong> livres in order to complete<br />
some arrangements which they had imagined at Chavagnac. This advance I declined,<br />
not only because the plan they had formed appeared to me unwise but because I had<br />
not the money to dispose <strong>of</strong>. Being hard pressed for an opinion <strong>of</strong> consolatory nature<br />
to those poor children, I authorized the person employed to assure them <strong>of</strong> my<br />
conviction that the United States would take care <strong>of</strong> them. This I cannot doubt <strong>of</strong>, <strong>and</strong><br />
I flatter myself that they may all <strong>of</strong> them be yet united at some future day in our<br />
hospitable regions, <strong>and</strong> that they will have cause to speak with gratitude <strong>of</strong> the bounty<br />
<strong>of</strong> America.”<br />
In August the new Minister from the United States to France arrived; his advent was<br />
an inexpressible relief to <strong>Morris</strong>, <strong>and</strong> in the following letter, <strong>of</strong> August 14th, to Robert<br />
<strong>Morris</strong> he gave vent to his feelings on the subject.<br />
“Presenting my successor, which I did yesterday, to the Commissioners, has given me<br />
more pleasure than any event for many months. As soon as the ceremonial is adjusted<br />
for his reception, I shall be relieved from a burden which has pressed on my<br />
shoulders, <strong>and</strong> which I am happier to be rid <strong>of</strong> than you can easily conceive. I am<br />
preparing for my departure, but as yet can take no step, as there is a kind <strong>of</strong><br />
interregnum in the government <strong>and</strong> Mr. Monroe is not yet received, at which he grows<br />
somewhat impatient. <strong>The</strong> intelligence you give me respecting myself is particularly<br />
pleasing. I desired much to be recalled, but I would not ask it because I conceived my<br />
honor concerned in seeing the thing through. My only remaining wish is that the<br />
measure may be as useful to the United States as it is pleasing to me.”<br />
After seeing his successor installed <strong>and</strong> disposing <strong>of</strong> his house at Paris, Mr. <strong>Morris</strong>’s<br />
intention was to return at once to America; <strong>and</strong> with this object in view he sought, <strong>and</strong><br />
after much difficulty found, a sea-worthy ship to take himself <strong>and</strong> his effects across<br />
the Atlantic. But events in Europe were so interesting at this moment, <strong>and</strong> promised<br />
so much excitement <strong>and</strong> stir for the future, that he suddenly changed his plans, <strong>and</strong><br />
determined to stay at least another year in Europe <strong>and</strong> watch the great play enacting<br />
on that stage. This year lengthened itself into quite four years before he embarked for<br />
America.<br />
PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 37 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/1170