ncy, General
Washington, one thousand barrels of flour, which I am sure you will
purchase and cause to be transported on the most reasonable terms that
are practicable. No time must be lost, but the flour must be sent down
in the parcels as fast as procured. The Pennsylvania Bank had all the
flour they supplied to the army, secured with outside lining hoops on
each head of every barrel, and the weight and tare marked on each
cask. If you were to cause this to be done, and add to the mark your
name, it would save a waste of flour, oblige the Issuing Commissary to
take notice of an account for the weights as well as barrels, and
teach the army to think that they are indebted to your exertions for a
seasonable supply.

I have the means of raising hard money to pay for this flour, and the
charges on it; but the longer time I am allowed to do it, the more I
can consult the public interest. I take it for granted, that you can,
upon your own credit and engagements, either borrow the money for a
few months, necessary to accomplish this business; or that you can
make the purchases on such credit, without giving higher prices; and
for your reimbursement, you may either take me as a public or a
private man, for I pledge myself to repay you with hard money wholly,
if required, or part hard and part paper, if you so transact the
business. In short, I promise, and you may rely that no consideration
whatever, shall induce me to make a promise, that I do not see my
capability to perform, that I will enable you to fulfil your
engagements for this supply of flour, if you find it convenient, you
may draw on me for hard money or paper, payable in such sums, and at
such times, as you can conceive may not be inconvenient, judging by
what I have said on this subject. Should good bills on France be
wanted, at about ---- hard money your currency, for five livres
tournois, I will furnish them, drawn or endorsed by myself, for the
whole, or any part of this purchase.

I hope we shall hereafter supply our army by contracts, and your
information and observations on this subject would be very obliging.
Perhaps if you are not fully employed otherwise, you might start some
worthy man under your patronage, that might render essential service
to the public, with proper advantage to himself and connexions in this
line.

I am, Dear Sir, yours, &c.

ROBERT MORRIS.

_P. S._ Remember, that I put