e duties of the office
till the May following.

The high expectations of Congress, and of the country, were fully
answered by the ability and success with which Mr Morris administered
the affairs of this new Department. Funds were provided, and public
credit restored. He remained in office till November 1st, 1784.

Nothing can afford a stronger proof of his zeal, assiduity, and
unwearied labor, than the correspondence which he has left respecting
the transactions of his office. The letters here published are a
selection only from the large mass, which has been preserved. They
pertain chiefly to the foreign relations of the United States, either
as effected by European loans, or by the agency of the internal
resources of the country. In fact, all the financial operations of
Congress were more or less connected with their Foreign Affairs since
loans from abroad were necessary, and these could be produced only on
the strength of public credit and the means of sustaining it at
home.

THE

CORRESPONDENCE

OF

ROBERT MORRIS.

* * * * *

ORGANIZATION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

In Congress, February 7th, 1781.

Congress resumed the consideration of the plan for the arrangement of
the civil executive departments of the United States; and thereupon,

Resolved, That there be a Superintendent of Finance, a Secretary at
War, and a Secretary of Marine;

That it shall be the duty of the Superintendent of Finance, to examine
into the state of the public debts, the public expenditures, and the
public revenue; to digest and report plans for improving and
regulating the finances, and for establishing order and economy in the
expenditure of the public money; to direct the execution of all plans,
which shall be adopted by Congress respecting revenue and expenditure;
to superintend and control the settlement of all public accounts; to
direct and control all persons employed in procuring supplies for the
public service, and in the expenditure of public money; to obtain
accounts of all the issues of the specific supplies furnished by the
several States; to compel the payment of all moneys due to the United
States, and in his official character, or in such manner as the laws
of the respective States shall direct, to prosecute in behalf of the
United States, for all delinquencies respecting the public revenue and
expenditures; to report to