236 
Wallis, the energy, perseverance, and 
financial talents, of Mr. Morris were 
eminently conspicuous. 
By previous agreement, the French 
army, under Count Rochambeau, and 
the French fleet under de Barras, with 
that expected to arrive under De Grasse 
from the West-Indies, were to assist ‘the 
American army in an attack upon New- 
York, the strong-hold of the British. 
At that time, the American army lay at 
Philipsburg on York island, waiting for 
the fleet under Count de Grasse, who 
changed the destination of his squadron, 
and entered the Chesapeake bay. The 
communication of this occurrence, by 
one or other of the two first-named com- 
manders, induced an immediate change 
of measures, and it was determined by 
General Washington if possible to pro- 
cced to the South; but the want of 
means to move the army, was a serious 
difficulty ; and this consideration, with 
the disappointment of his long settled 
plans and arrangements, and ‘in the 
breach of a positive engagement on the 
part of De Grasse, produced an agita- 
tion in the high-minded and honourable 
ehief, which those who witnessed it 
“can never forget.” Most fortunately 
Mr. Morris, and Mr. Peters the secre- 
tary of war, had arrived the day before, 
as a committee from congress, to assist 
the general in his preparations for the 
attack on New York; and, the embarras- 
sing situation of affairs being laid before 
them, they gave such consolation and 
promises of aid, each in bis particular 
department, as to encourage his hopes 
and calm his mind. The utmost se- 
erecy Was enjoired on both, and so faith- 
fully observed, that the first intelligence 
eongress had of the movement of the 
army, was the march of the troops, on 
the third of September, through Phila- 
delphia. It was not, however, until it 
had passed the city fifteen miles, that 
Mr. M. was relieved from bis’ anxiety 
respecting his promise to General Wash- 
ington of a competent pecuniary supply 
to effect the transportation of the army. 
His object, for this end, was the loan of 
the French military chest, and the pro- 
position was made to the French minis- 
ter Luzerne, who refused in the most 
positive manner to assent. His persvva- 
sive talents succeeded in part with 
Count: Rochambean; and at Chester, 
whither Mr. Morris had gone in com- 
pany with General Washington, it was 
obtained. It is probable that the joy 
naturally felt on meeting at thal place 
wi Express from the Marquis Tay cite, 
Memoirs of the Life of Robert Morv'ts. 
(Oct. T, 
announcing the arrival of Count de 
Grasse in the Chesapeake, with an assu- 
rance from Mr. Morris that our army 
could not move without funds, hastened 
the negotiation of this fortunate Joan. 
In the year 1781, Mr. Morris was 
appointed by congress ‘“superintendant 
of finance,” an office then for the first 
time established. This appointment 
was unanimous. Indeed, it is highly 
probable, that no other’ man in the 
country would have been competent to 
the task of managing such great concerns * 
as it involved; ‘for: none possessed, like 
himself, the happy expedient of raising 
supplies, or deservedly enjoyed more of 
the pnblic confidence.. As the esta- 
blishment of the office of finance, and 
the appointment of Mr. Morris to fill it, 
form an epoch in tlie history of- the 
United States, and in the life of that 
officer, it merits particular notice. 
It is well known that the want of a 
sufficient quantity of the precious metals 
in the country, for a circulating medium, 
and the absolute necessity of some sub- 
stitute to carry on the war, induced 
congress, from time to time, to issue pa~ 
per bills.of credit to an immense amount. 
For a time, the enthusiastic zal and 
public spirit of the people induced them 
to receive these bills as cqual to gold 
and silver; but, as they were not con- 
vertible into solid cash at will, and no 
fund was provided for their redemption, 
depreciation followed, as a necessary re- 
sult, and with it the loss of public credit. 
“In the beginning of the year 1781, the 
treasury was more than two millions 
and a half in arrears, and the greater 
part of the debt was of such a nature, 
that the payment could not be avoided, 
nor even delayed: and therefore. Dri 
Franklin, then our minister in “France, 
was under the necessity of ordering back 
from Amsterdam meneys which had 
been sent thither for the purpose ef 
being shipped to America. If-he had 
not taken this step, the bills of exchange 
drawn by order of congress must have 
been protested, and a vital stab thereby 
given to the credit of the government in 
Europe. At home, the greatest public 
as well as private distress existed ; 
public credithad gone to wreck, and the 
enemy built their most sanguine ‘hopes 
of .overcoming. us upon: this circum- 
stance:’"*» and) ‘the treasury was so 
much in arrears to the servants in the 
public offices, that many of them could 
* Debates on the renewal of the charter 
of the Bank of North America, p, 49. 
not,, 
