Morris, Gouverneur (1752-1816) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01963 Author/Creator: Morris, Gouverneur (1752-1816) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 28 February 1783 Pagination: 2 p. ; 23.3 x 19.2 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Morris as Assistant Secretary of Finance to Major General Knox. References Knox's letter sent by General Lincoln. Is sending copies of Robert Morris's letter of resignation (not included here). Says this news should not be unexpected. Says he has three more months of "hopeless Slavery to encounter in this Office." Knox expressed a desire to help, but Morris says he does not know how he could use him. Mocks Congress, saying "It is not in them to conceive great nor to pursue just Ideas. Nature sparing in good Gifts has been prodigal of Littleness to them. And fortune has placed them in the Attitude of all others most calculated to display their Deformities." Hopes "the Guardian Genius of America" will intervene and rectify the situation, but says there is a "Callosity of Soul about them which must be seen to be conceived of."
Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
[draft]
Philadelphia 28 Feby. 1783 -
Dear Knox -
I have received your Letter by Lincoln, but I have not seen him. The same Person who takes this Letter will deliver to the Gen.l Copies of the Letters containing M.r Morris's Resignation. This intelligence will not I suppose be quite unexpected to reflecting minds. It is now the last Day of Feby. and of course I have three months more of hopeless Slavery to encounter in this office. I agree with you most perfectly in opinion that you ought to be used & [could] be obliged to employ yourselves, but it is hardly to be conceived what Instruments there are here to work with. It is not in them to conceive great nor to pursue just Ideas. Nature sparing in good Gifts has been [2] been prodigal of Littleness to them. And fortune has placed them in the Attitude of all others most calculated to display their Deformities. I hope and trust that the Guardian Genius of American which has so often drawn us from those Depths of Misfortune into which we had been precipitated by our own folly will once more interfere to sensor and to save. But how this is to be effected God knows. I almost despair of making them act with Desperation unless they should be plunged into a Situation which neither you nor I would wish for. There is a Callosity of Soul about them which must be seen to be conceived of - Adieu. Present me to Mrs Knox and remember me to all our friends -
Yours
Gouv Morris
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