Robert Morris letter signed ("Robt Morris"). Two pages on one leaf, 7.5" x 12", Office of Finance [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]; January 23, 1782. Docketed. Robert Morris, Superintendent of Finance of the U.S. Government, discusses financial matters with John Hancock, Governor of Massachusetts. Letter by Morris (1734-1806) to Governor Hancock requested payment of taxes in bank notes rather than in silver or gold. The letter reads, in full: "The Minister of War who is on his way to Boston will have the Honor to deliver your Excellency this Letter. As he has sundry Objects of the Public Service in view which will require Money, he asked of me a Credit on the several states; and I should certainly given him that Credit if it had been consistent with those General Rules which are absolutely necessary for conducting properly the Public Business. The derangement of accounts at present will show so clearly the consequences of the contrary practice, as must alone force conviction. I have therefore made him an advance of Money in Order on my Cashier, which Order or Bank Notes I shall prefer receiving in Taxes to silver or Gold, because they are of more determinate value; as their [sic] is no necessity of weighing or Examining whether they are light or Adulterate, and especially as they can be transported with facility. Should there be any money in your Treasury which is I hope the case, you will oblige me by exchanging those notes and remitting them hither in payment of the taxes. General Lincoln will be a safe Conveyance for the purpose should no other Offer. It is not my view to confine this exchange to those which he carries, on the contrary, I shall be glad always to receive that kind of money, and of consequence that the Treasury exchange it continually for any Persons who being holders may prefer the precious metals." Signed, "Robt Morris". Robert Morris (1734-1806), widely known as the "financier of the American Revolution," was one of the Founding Fathers and signers of the Declaration of Independence. He served as the Superintendent of Finance from 1781 to 1784 and is considered, along with Alexander Hamilton, to be a founder of the United States financial system. It was Morris who recommended Hamilton for the post of Secretary of the Treasury after declining it himself. After the Revolutionary War he became deeply entrenched in land speculation and formed a partnership with John Nicholson to create the North American Land Company. It proved a spectacular disaster for both men. Morris was imprisoned in debtors' prison for three years and was only released in 1801 after the passage of the Bankruptcy Act of 1800. Nicholson himself died there in 1800. Also included is a hand-colored steel engraving of Morris by Johnson, Fry & Co. and an engraved portrait of Hancock. Condition: Separated along last horizontal fold. Archival tape repair to other horizontal folds. Chipping at edge touching one letter of text. Light scattered soiling and foxing. Foxing chiefly to docketing slip. HID03101062020 © 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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