Lot 183

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Description:

Robert Morris, Declaration Signer, ALS Re: American Shipping Soon-to-be-Captured by French; and 4 Years before His Imprisonment for Debt

1p autograph letter signed by Robert Morris (1734-1806), Declaration of Independence Signer and Revolutionary War financier, as "R Morris ~" at center right. Dated December 9, 1794. On bifold watermarked laid paper. The inner sheets are blank. The integral address leaf is docketed. Unevenly water stained. A minor closed tear and isolated area of loss corresponding to the red wax seal located on the integral address leaf. Else very good. 7.125" x 9.5".

Robert Morris wrote John (Jonathan) Nicholson (1758-1800), his future business partner, regarding the ships "Betsey" and "Eliza" in late 1794. (Along with James Greenleaf, Morris and Nicholson would form the North American Land Company in 1795.) It is unclear in what capacity Morris wrote Nicholson. Morris's 3-year-long term as U.S. Agent of Marine (the precursor of the Secretary of the Navy) had just ended on November 1, 1784, so perhaps Morris was writing to Nicholson regarding personal business affairs.

Morris had over 40 years of mercantile experience. He was a partner of Willing, Morris & Co., a Philadelphia-based merchant house. The concern managed a thriving import and export trade from and to the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, India, and after 1784, China.

Morris wrote in part:

"The Betsey Cap Percival arrived at Boston + the Eliza arrived at Salem are two of the Vessells we loaded for France have you an letters from the Captains or owners to announce that they have brought back the money for their cargoes.

Yours &c

R Morris ~".

The historical record indicates that the "Eliza", commanded by Captain Wesley (Westley) Percival, would be captured by French revolutionaries a little over five months later off the coast of southwestern France. (The loss of the "Eliza" is listed under French Spoilation claims filed in the Congressional Records; see attached image. "Eliza" was captured on May 26, 1795 by the "Monarque" and "Sphinx" near Rochefort, France.)

The outcome of the "Betsey" is more unclear, both because of late eighteenth-century spelling variations, and also because of the surprising popularity of that ship's name. Yet it is possible that the "Betsey" suffered the same fate as the "Eliza". The same Congressional Record Series lists no fewer than three ships named "Betsy", "Betsey", and "The Betsy", captured by French vessels between 1793-1801. Would the loss of the "Eliza"-- and possibly the "Betsey"-- have negatively impacted Morris's mercantile interests, and eventually contributed to his financial losses and future imprisonment for debt?

In 1798, just four years after he wrote this letter, Morris was confined in the Prune Street Prison in Philadelphia. The over-extension of his personal wealth during the Revolutionary War, several dubious business projects, and the construction of an elegant L’Enfant-designed Philadelphia mansion dubbed “Morris’s Folly” had led to Morris's bankruptcy and imprisonment for debt. He would languish here for another three years before the passage of the Bankruptcy Act of 1800 would pave the way for his release.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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June 24, 2020 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

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