I am of opinion, that the right of the city to the north

No. 4.--Twenty-ninth of January, 1706. Recorded ther, I believe this old plan has remained time immemoin the Rolls Office, Philadelphia. Patent book A. vol.rial in the office of the Surveyor General, and has always 3, page 361. been referred to as an authentic paper. Patent from Edward Shippen, Griffith Owen, Thomas No. 4.-This patent is now in my possession, and I Story, and James Logan, Proprietary Commissioners to consider it as the most powerful evidence of the city's the Mayor and Commonalty of the city of Philadelphia. | title to the public squares; it bears date more than nine. Reciting, "That whereas upon an application made ty years ago, when William Penn the founder of the from the Mayor and Commonalty of the city of Phila- province was alive. It is to be considered in a legal delphia in the said province, to my present Commis-point of view, as the declaration of William Penn, sioners of property or the proprietary deputies herein (contained in one of his most solemn acts of authority, after named, that they would grant some convenient to wit, a patent under the great seal) that at the original piece of ground for a common and public burying plotting of the city, there were certain squares intended place for all strangers or others who might not so con- for public use, and that the square described in the paveniently be laid in any of the particular inclosures ap- tent was one of them. propriated by certain religious societies for that purpose- It was my intention to have taken time and made My said commissioners, by their warrant under their greater researches in the several public offices; but unhands and seal of the province, bearing date the twenty-derstanding from some Members of the Common Couneighth day of the eleventh month last past, required the cil, that they were desirous of acting upon the subject, Surveyor to the said city, to lay out for the use afore. I can only add to the foregoing statement, that I believe said, a certain square therein mentioned, being one of several very ancient surveys may be found, calling for those squares which at the original plotting of the said city the public square in the centre of the city as a boundary; were intended for public uses," which accordingly was but I have not yet found that there are any such surveys surveyed and laid out the fifth day of the Fourth month referring in the same manner to either of the squares on last past, under the bounds and limits here following, the north or south sides. that is to say, a certain square of ground, being in breadth five hundred foot, and in length also five hun-east and other squares is good, and may be established dred foot, bounded on the north with Walnut street, on the east with Sixth street from the river Delaware, on the south with a street forty foot in breadth, and on the west with another street likewise of the said breadth of forty foot. And whereas the said Mayor and Commonalty have requested I would confirm the same to them by patent, know ye, that I, favoring the said request, and for better accommodating the said city as aforesaid, I have thought fit to grant, and do by these presents for me, my heirs and successors, give, grant, release and confirm to the Mayor and Commonalty now being and to their successors for ever, all that, the said piece or square of ground, bounded and limited as above expressed, together with all ways, waters, casements, liberties, profits, commodities, and appurtenances to the said piece or square of ground or to any part or parcel thereof belonging, or in any wise appertaining, to have and to hold the said piece of ground and premises hereby granted, with the appurtenances, to the said Mayor and Commonalty, and their successors for ever, to the only uses herein after following, and to no other use whatsoever; that is to say, for a common and public burying place for the service of the city of Philadelphia, for interring the bodies of all manner of deceased persons whatsoever, whom there shall be occasion to lay therein, and for the further improvement of the said burying place, I do hereby grant full and free liberty to the Mayor and Commonalty and their successors, to inclose, fence, plant, build, or by any other ways or means whatsoever, to improve the aforesaid piece of ground hereby granted and premises as the said Mayor and Commonalty or their successors from time to time shall

see convenient."

OBSERVATIONS.

Nos. 1, 2, 3.-This plan of the city has been generally considered as the work of Thomas Holme, and has been received as evidence in the Supreme Court on several trials. Thomas Holme was the first Surveyor-General in Pennsylvania, and arrived here, probably from England, in the summer, 1683.

This plan of the city wherein five public squares are laid down, may be considered as an authentic document, and the most ancient (known) piece of evidence of the city's right to the squares. This plan must have been made by Thomas Holme, Surveyor-General, from an actual survey of the city previously made by him; and that it was made by the order of William Penn, the evidence is very strong, as it appears from the letter above referred to and other evidence, that he was then in this country, and in his letter refers to a Plan, which, in all human probability, was the one now spoken of. Fur

in a Court of Justice. The documents above referred to, make a sufficient foundation whereon a jury at this day (upon legal principles) ought to presume, that there was an ancient proprietary grant for those squares to the use of the citizens of Philadelphia, which, from the accidents of time, is now lost. And the same documents, I think, will amount to a covenant or agreement on the part of the first proprietor, to stand seised of those squares for the use of the citizens of Philadelphia.

The commonwealth, as it now represents the proprietary rights, must (if the legal estate to those squares is vested in it,) hold the same for the use of the citizens, as the proprietors did.

I give this opinion, with the exception as to that part of the north-east square within the limits of the patent from John Penn of the fourteenth of December, 1763. If the patentees can show that they are fair purchasers, for a valuable consideration, without notice of the rights of the citizens; for such part it may be very doubtful whether or not the possession can be recovered from them.

ALEXANDER WILCOCKS, Recorder.
Philadelphia, June 5th, 1797.

SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF ROBERT MORRIS.
BY JAMES MEASE, M. d.

Published originally in the Philadelphia edition of the
Edinburg Encyclopædia.

Robert Morris was the son of a respectable merchant of Liverpool, who had for some years been extensively concerned in the American trade; and while a boy, he was brought by his father to this country, in which it appears he intended to settle. During the time that he was pursuing his education in Philadelphia, he unfortunately lost his father, in consequence of a wound received from the wad of a gun, which was discharged as a compliment by the captain of a ship consigned to him, that had just arrived at Oxford, the place of his residence, on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay; and he was thus left an orphan at the age of fifteen years. In conformity with the intentions of his parent, he was bred to commerce, and served a regular apprenticeship in the counting house of the late Mr. Charles Willing, at that time one of the first merchants of Philadelphia. A year or two after the expiration of the term for which he had engaged himself, he entered into partnership with Mr. Thomas Willing. This connection, which was formed in 1754, continued for the long period of thirty-nine years, not having been dissolved until 1793. Previously to the commencement of the American war, it was, with

out doubt, more extensively engaged in commerce, than any other house in Philadelphia.

During the rapid march of Cornwallis through New Jersey, in pursuit of the American army, Congress, as a Of the events of his youth we know little. The fact measure of security, removed to Baltimore, and requestjust mentioned proves, that although early deprived of ed Mr. Morris to remain as long as possible in Philadelthe benefit of parental counsel, he acted with fidelity, phia, to forward expresses to them from General Washand gained the good will of a discerning and wealthyngton. The daily expectation of the arrival of the young friend, the son of his master. The following anec-enemy in the city, induced Mr. Morris to remove his fadote will show his early activity in business, and anxiety to promote the interests of his friend. During the absence of Mr. Willing at his country place near Frankford, a vessel arrived at Philadelphia, either consigned to him, or that brought letters, giving intelligence of the sudden rise of flour at the port she had left. Mr. Morris instantly engaged all that he could contract for, on account of Mr. Willing, who, on his return to the city next day, had to defend his young friend from the complaints of some merchants, that he had raised the price of flour. An appeal, however, from Mr. Willing to their own probable line of conduct, in case of their having first received the news, silenced their complaints.

intimate friend, who had made up his mind to stay in mily to the country; while he took up his abode with an the city at every hazard. At this time, December 1776, he received a letter from General Washington, who then lay with his army at the place now called New Hope, above Trenton, expressing the utmost anxiety for the supply of specie, to enable him to obtain such intellition of the enemy on the opposite shore, as would augence of the movements, and precise position and situaoccasion induced the General to send the letter by a conthorise him to act offensively. The importance of the fidential messenger. The case was almost hopeless from the general flight of the citizens: but a trial must be made, and Mr. M. luckily procured the cash as a personal loan, from a member of the Society of Friends, whom he met, when in the greatest possible anxiety of mind, he was walking about the city, reflecting on the most likely means or person, by which, or from whom it was to be obtained. This prompt and timely compliance with the demand, enabled General Washington to gain the signal victory at Trenton over the savage Hessians; a victory which, exclusively of the benefits deri ved from its diminishing the numerical force of the enemy by nearly one thousand, was signally important in its influence, by encouraging the patriots, and checking the hopes of the enemies of our cause; and by destroying the impression which the reputed prowess of the conquered foe, and the experience of their ferocity over the unprotected and defenceless, had made upon the people. Upon another occasion, he became responsible for a quantity of lead, which had been most urgently required for the army, and which most providentially arrived at the time when greatly wanted. At a more advanced stage of the war, when pressing distress in the army had driven congress and the commander in chief almost to desperation, and a part of the troops to mutiny; he supplied the army with four or five thousand bar. rels of flour, upon his private credit; and on a promise to that effect, persuaded a member to withdraw an intended motion to sanction a procedure which, although common in Europe, would have had a very injurious ef fect upon the cause of the country: this was to author ize General Washington to seize all the provisions that could be found within a circle of twenty miles of his camp. While U. S. financier, his notes constituted, for large transactions, part of the circulating medium. Many other similar instances occurred of this patriotic interposition of his own personal responsibility for supplies, which could not otherwise have been obtained.

Few men in the American colonies were more alive to the gradual encroachment of the British government upon the liberties of the people, and none more ready to remonstrate against them, than Mr. Morris. His signature on the part of his mercantile house to the non-importation agreement, as respected England, which was entered into by the merchants of Philadelphia in the year 1765, while it evinced the consistency of his principles and conduct, at the same time was expressive of a willingness to unite with them in showing their determination to prefer a sacrifice of private interest to the continuance of an intercourse, which would add to the revenue of the government that oppressed them. The extensive mercantile concerns with England of Mr. Morris's house, and the large importations of her manufactures and colonial produce by it, must have made this sacrifice considerable. His uniform conduct on the subject of the relative connexion between England and the Colonies, his high standing in society, and general intelligence, naturally pointed him out as a fit representative of Pennsylvania in the national councils, assembled on the approach of the political storm; and he was accordingly appointed by the legislature of Pennsylvania, in November 1775, one of the delegates to the second congress that met at Philadelphia. A few weeks after he had taken his seat, he was added to the secret committee of that body, which had been formed by a resolve of the preceding congress and whose duty was "to contract for the importation of arms, ammunition, sulphur, and saltpetre, and to export produce on the public account to pay for the same." He was also appointed a member of the committee for fitting out a naval armament, and specially commissioned to negociate bills of exchange for congress; to borrow money for the marine committee, and to manage the fiscal concerns of congress upon other occasions. Independently of his enthusiastic zeal in the cause of his country, of his capacity for business, and knowledge of the subjects committed to him, or his talents for managing pecuniary concerns, he was particularly fitted for such services; as the commercial credit he had established among his fellow citizens probably stood higher than that of any other man in the community, and of this he did not hesitate to avail himself whenever the public necessities required such an evi- The exertion of his talents in the public councils, the dence of his patriotism. These occasions were neither use of his credit in procuring supplies at home, of his few nor trifling. One of the few remaining prominent personal labour as special agent, or congressional commen of the revolution, and who filled an important and mittee-man, and of those in his pay, in procuring others most confidential station in the department of war, bears from abroad, were not the only means employed by him testimony that Mr. Morris frequently obtained pecuniary in aiding the cause in which he had embarked. The and other supplies, which were most pressingly required | free and public expression of his sentiments upon all for the service, on his own responsibility, and apparently upon his own account, when, from the known state of the public treasury, they could not have been procured for the government.

Among several facts in point, the following may be mentioned:

In the first year in which he served as a representa tive in congress, he signed the memorable parchment containing the Declaration that forever separated us from England, and thus pledged himself to join heart and hand with the destinies of his country, while some of his colleagues, who possessed less firmness, drew back and retired from the contest. He was thrice successively elected to Congress, in 1776, 77, and '78.

The messenger was captain Howell, afterwards for several years Governor of New Jersey.

† See particulars related by Judge Peters, in Garden. Debates on the renewal of the charter of the Bank. of North America, p. 49. Philadelphia, 1786.

occasions, in the almost daily and nightly meetings of on the part of De Grasse, produced an agitation in the the zealous; in the interchange of friendly intercourse high minded and honourable chief, which those who with his fellow citizens, and the confident tone of ulti- witnessed it "can never forget." Most fortunately Mr. mate success which he supported, served to rouse the Morris, and Mr. Peters, the secretary of war, had arrived desponding, to fix the wavering, and confirm the brave. | the day before, as a committee from Congress, to assist Besides, the extensive commercial and private corres- the general in his preparations for the attack on New pondence which he maintained with England, furnished York, and the embarrassing situation of affairs being laid him with early intelligence of all the public measures before them, they gave such consolation and promises of resolved on by the British government, the debates in aid, each in his particular department, as to encourage parliament, and with much private information of im- his hopes, and calm his mind. The utmost secrecy was portance to this country. These letters he read to a enjoined on both, and so faithfully observed, that the few select mercantile friends, who regularly met in the first intelligence congress had of the movement of the insurance room at the Merchants' Coffee house, and army, was the march of the troops, on the third of Septhrough them the intelligence they contained was diffu- tember, through Philadelphia. It was not, however, sed among the citizens, and thus kept alive the spirit of until it had passed the city 15 miles, that Mr. M. was opposition, made them acquainted with the gradual pro- relieved from his anxiety respecting his promise to Gen. gress of hostile movements, and convinced them how Washington of a competent pecuniary supply to effect little was to be expected from the government in respect the transportation of the army. His object, for this to the alleviation of the oppression and hardships against end, was the loan of the French military chest, and the which the colonies had for a long time most humbly, proposition was made to the French minister Luzerne, earnestly, and eloquently remonstrated. This practice, who refused in the most positive manner to assent. His which began previously to the suspension of the inter- persuasive talents succeeded in part with count Rochamcourse between the two countries, he continued during beau, and at Chester, whither Mr. Morris, had gone in the war: and through the medium of Friends, on the company with General Washington, it was obtained. It continent, especially in France and Holland, he received is probable that the joy naturally felt on meeting at that for a time the despatches which had formerly come di- place an express from the marquis Fayette, announcing rect from England. the arrival of count De Grasse in the Chesapeake, with an assurance from Mr. Morris that our army could not move without funds, hastened the negotiation of this fortunate loan.

The increasing and clamorous wants of the army, particularly for provisions, and the alarming letter written by the commander in chief to congress on the subject, on being communicated to Mr. Morris, induced him to propose to raise an immediate fund to purchase supplies, by the formation of a paper money bank; and to estabfish confidence in it with the public, he also proposed a| subscription among the citizens in the form of bonds, obliging them to pay, if it should become necessary, in gold and silver, the amounts annexed to their names, to fulfil the engagements of the bank. Mr. Morris headed the list with a subscription of 10,0007; others followed, to the amount of 300,000l. The directors were authorised to borrow money on the credit of the bank, and to grant special notes, bearing interest at six per cent. The credit thus given to the bank effected the object intended, and the institution was continued until the Bank of North America went into operation, in the succeeding year.* It was probably on this occasion, that he purchased the four or five thousand barrels of flour above mentioned, on his own credit, for the army, before the funds could be collected to pay for it.†

On the occasion of the important, and as regarded

In the year 1781, Mr. Morris was appoin ted 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 sup plies, or deservedly enjoyed more of the public confi dence. As the establishment of the office of finance, and the appointment of Mr. Morris to fill it, form an epoch in the 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 substitute to carry on the war, induced congress, from time to time, to issue paper bills of credit to an immense amount. For a time, the enthusiastic zeal and public spirit of the people induced them to receive these bills as equal to gold and silver; but, as they were not convertible into the fate of the Union, the decisive measure of the atsolid cash at will, and no fund was provided for their retack on Cornwallis, the energy, perseverance, and finan- and with it the loss of public credit. "In the beginning demption, depreciation followed, as a necessary result, cial talents of Mr. Morris were eminently conspicuous. of the year 1781, the treasury was more than two milBy previous agreement, the French army, under count-lions and a half in arrears, and the greater part of the Rochambeau, and the French fleet under De Barras, with that expected to arrive under De Grasse from the debt was of such a nature, that the payment could not West Indies, were to assist the American army in an at- be avoided, nor even delayed: and therefore Dr. Franktack 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 command-tested," and a vital stab thereby given to the credit of ers, induced an immediate change of measures, and it was determined by General Washington if possible to proceed 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

lin, then our minister in France, was under the necessity of ordering back from Amsterdam monies which had been sent thither for the purpose of being shipped to America. If he had not taken this step, the bills of exchange drawn by order of congress must have been pro

lic as well as private distress existed; "public credit had the government in Europe. At home, the greatest pubgone to wreck, and the enemy built their most sanguine the treasury was so much in arrears to the servants in hopes of overcoming us upon this circumstance:" and the public offices, that many of them could not, without payment, perform their duties, but must have gone to gaol for debts they had contracted to enable them to Of ninety-six subscribers who gave their bonds, five live." To so low an ebb was the public treasury redu only are alive, viz. Charles Thompson, Thomas Leiper, ced, that some of the members of the board of war deWm. Hall, John Donaldson, and John Mease. For theclared to Mr. Morris, they had not the means of sending original list, and account of the bank, see the Pennsyl vania Packet for June, 1781.

Debates on the Bank of North America. p. 49.

Debates on the renewal of the charter of the Bank of North America p. 49.

The de

an express to the army. The pressing distress for pro-and never did any one more faithfully discharge the vavision among the troops at the time, has already been rious complicated trusts with greater despatch, economentioned. The paper bills of credit were sunk so low my, or credit, than the subject of this sketch. in value, as to require a burthensome mass of them to tails of his management of the office of finance may be pay for an article of clothing But the face of things seen in the volume which he published in the year 1785.* was soon changed. One of the first good effects per- It is well worth the inspection of every American. The ceived, was the appreciation of the paper money; "this preface, in particular, should be read attentively, as he was raised from the low state of six for one, to that of will from it form some idea of the state of public affairs, two for one, and it would have been brought nearly, if as to money, at the time; of the difficulties attending not entirely to par, had not some measures intervened, the revolutionary struggle on that account, and the means which, though well meant, were not judicious." The by which our independence was secured, or greatly proplan he adopted was, "to make all his negotiations by moted, and for the enjoyment of which he ought never selling bills of exchange for paper money, and after- to cease to be thankful. wards paying it at a smaller rate of depreciation than that by which it was received; and at each successive operation the rate was lowered, by accepting it on the same terms for new bills of exchange, at which it had been previously paid. It was never applied to the purchase of specific supplies, because it had been checked in the progress towards par, and therefore, if it had been paid out in any quantity from the treasury, those who received it would have suffered by the consequent depreciation.

A slight reflection will show the arduous nature of the duties which he undertook to discharge.

The establishment of the Bank of North America forms a prominent item in the administration of Mr. Morris. The knowledge which he had acquired of the principles of banking, and of the advantages resulting to a commercial community from a well regulated bank of discount and deposit, in enabling merchants to anticipate their funds in cases of exigency, or of occasions offering well grounded schemes of speculation,† rendered a hint on the subject of the importance of a bank to the government enough; and he accordingly adopted it with warmth. Such an institution had been previously suggested, and as already said, an attempt at one, alIn old organized governments, where a regular rou-though with paper money, but backed by the bonds of tine of the department has been long established, and responsible men, had been made the preceding year. the details, as it were brought to perfection, by gradual The greater facilities which one with a specie capital improvement, derived from the experience and talents promised, in enabling the government to anticipate its of successive officers, little difficulty is experienced by revenue, and to increase the quantity of circulating methe new incumbent in continuing the customary train of dium, and promote trade, were forcibly impressed on operations. Simple honesty, attention to duty, and a his mind, and induced him to propose it to Congress. In careful progress in the path previously pointed out, are May, 1781, he presented his plan, which was approved all the requisites; but the state of public affairs, and es- by that body. Subscriptions were opened shortly after; pecially in the fiscal departments of the United States at but, in the following November, when the directors the time alluded to, furnished none of these helps.- were elected, "not two hundred out of a thousand had Every thing was in the greatest confusion; and a new been subscribed, and it was some time after the business system of accounts was not only required to be devised, of the bank was fairly commenced, before the sum rebut the means of supplying the numerous and pressing ceived upon all the subscriptions amounted to $70,000." wants of the public service to be discovered, and atten- Mr. Morris, no doubt, became sensible that such a capition paid to those wants. The task would have appalled tal would go but a little way in aiding him in his finanany common man; but the natural talents of Mr. Mor-cial operations for government, and at the same time acris, together with his experience and habits of despatch, commodate the trading part of the community. He derived from his extensive commercial concerns for a therefore subscribed $250,000 of the $300,000, (which long series of years, and an uncommon readiness, great remained of the money received from France,) to the assiduity and method in business, with decision of cha-stock of the bank, on the public account: $450,000 had racter, enabled him to surmount all the difficulties that been brought from France, and lodged in the bank, lay in his way. An inspection of an official statement of and he "had determined, from the moment of its arrival, his accounts, will at once show the serious nature of the to subscribe, on behalf of the United States, for those multifarious duties attached to the office, and the pres- shares that remained vacant; but such was the amount sure of his engagements: but an opportunity of so do- of the public expenditures, that notwithstanding the uting, even if wished for, can be had by few. Some idea most care and caution to keep this money, nearly one may be formed of them, when it is known, that he was half of the sum was exhausted before the institution required "to examine into the state of the public debts, could be organized." It was principally on this fund expenditures, and revenue; to digest and report plans that the operations of the institution were commenced; for improving and regulating the finances; and for es- and before the last day of March, the public obtained a tablishing order and economy in the expenditure of loan of $300,000 being the total amount of their then capublic money." To him was likewise committed the pital: This loan was shortly after increased to $400,000.† disposition, management, and disbursement of all the Considerable facilities were also obtained by discounting loans received from the government of France, and va- the notes of individuals, and thereby anticipating the rerious private persons in that country and Holland; the ceipts of public money; besides which, the persons who sums of money received from the different states; and of the public funds for every possible source of expense for the support of government, civil, military, and naval; the procuring supplies of every description for the army and navy; the entire management and direction of the public ships of war; the payment of all foreign debts; and the correspondence with our ministers at European courts, on subjects of finance. In short, the whole burthen of the money operations of government was laid upon him. No man ever had more numerous concerns committed to his charge, and few to a greater amount;

Debates on the renewal of the charter of the Rank of North America. p. 47.

†This word appears to have been coined during the revolution, and used as the opposite of depreciation.

A statement of the accounts of the United States of America during the administration of the superintendant of finance, commencing February, 1781, ending Nov. 1784.

Mr. Morris stated, in his speech on the renewal of the charter of the Bank of North America, that before the American war, he "had laid the foundation of a bank, and established a credit in Europe for the purpose. From the execution of the design, he was prevented only by the revolution." Debates, p. 37. * Debates on Bank, p. 48.

The sum total brought into the public treasury, from the several states, not amounting to $30,000 upon the last day of June.