your good intentions; and for these, and the pains you
have taken, I not only think, but on all proper occasions shall say,
the public are also indebted to you.

My office is new, and I am young in the execution of it.
Communications from men of genius and abilities, will always be
acceptable, and yours will ever command the attention of, Sir, your
obedient humble servant,

ROBERT MORRIS.

* * * * *

TO MAJOR GENERAL PHILIP SCHUYLER.

Philadelphia, May 29th, 1781.

Dear Sir,

You will probably have heard that Congress have done me the honor to
bestow their confidence, by appointing me to the important station of
Superintendent of Finance of North America; a station that makes me
tremble when I think of it, and which nothing could tempt me to
accept, but a gleam of hope, that my exertions may possibly retrieve
this poor distressed country from the ruin with which it is now
threatened, merely for want of system and economy in spending, and
vigor in raising the public moneys. Pressed by all my friends,
acquaintances, and fellow citizens, and still more pressed by _the
necessity_, the _absolute necessity_, of a change in our monied
system, to work salvation, I have yielded, and taken a load on my
shoulders, which it is impossible to get clear of without the faithful
support and assistance of those good citizens, who not only wish, but
will promote the service of their country. In this light I now make
application to you, Sir, whose abilities I know, and whose zeal I have
every reason to believe. The object, however, before me, is not of
such magnitude as to require any great exertion of either at present,
although it is of sufficient importance to induce the invocation.

General Washington is distressed for want of an immediate supply of
flour, and as I am not even yet fairly entered on the execution of my
office, and when I do, have to meet an empty treasury, and a totally
exhausted credit, it must be some time before funds can be created or
money be commanded for any purpose whatsoever; and as I do not know
any gentleman of such resources as General Schuyler, he seems the most
likely of all men to give assistance under the present circumstances.
I must, therefore, request that you will take the most speedy and
effectual measures to deliver to the order of his Excelle