I intend to
increase it gradually to ten times that sum. The only difficulty is to
get it into action now that people have but little money and less
confidence. I should be glad to see your name in the list of
subscribers to an institution, that I believe will be permanent.

I ever am, Dear Sir, yours, &c.

ROBERT MORRIS.

* * * * *

TO THE GOVERNOR OF HAVANA.

Philadelphia, July 17th, 1781.

Sir,

The favorable attention shown to me by your Excellency in my private
character, has excited those sentiments of esteem and respect, which
now impel me to ask your assistance for my country.

The United States of North America, are at the present moment,
possessed of more strength in men, arms, and ammunition, than when
they first ventured to wage war with Great Britain. The means of
subsistence are abundantly equal to our own wants, and will
essentially contribute to the relief of our friends. A variety of
causes, too numerous to be detailed, in the compass of a letter, have
combined to destroy the credit of that paper money, which has enabled
us hitherto to support the war. It has therefore become necessary to
provide the means for paying the expenses to be incurred hereafter.
Our people are not yet inured to taxation, neither has the revenue,
which this country is capable of affording, been drawn fairly or fully
into use. The derangement of our credit and finances, consequent upon
the loss of faith in our paper, rendered it necessary for Congress to
create a Superintendent of the Finances of the United States, in
order, that he might regulate and settle the present debts, point out
new funds, with the best means of collecting them, and superintend the
public expenditures, so as to prevent as much as possible all excess
or abuse. This arduous task is assigned to me, by a unanimous choice
of that honorable body; and nothing could have induced me to undertake
it, but my perfect conviction, that it is necessary that some person
should undertake the work of reformation and economy. I have engaged
in this business with the sole view of saving my country, and
therefore think myself entitled to seek support from all who are
really friends to her independency, and particularly from those
nations, which have become parties in the war.

I have commenced my administration with