Sold – Gouverneur Morris Lists the Expenses of the American Embassy in Paris during the Reign of Ter

Morris was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, and was the author of some of its most significant language. The noble phrases of that document’s Preamble–“We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union” – sprang from his gifted mind. In 1789 he left for Europe, where he remained for a decade.  In 1790 he acted as a diplomatic agent for President Washington in London to resolve issues left unsettled by the peace treaty.

Then, on February 6, 1792, he replaced Thomas Jefferson as U.S. ambassador to France and was presented to the ill-fated King on June 3. Morris held this position until October 1794 and was thus the senior American in France during the bloody Reign of Terror. He displayed great personal courage as the only diplomat who refused to flee Paris as thousands were sent to the guillotine.

Autograph Document, unsigned, of a balance sheet containing a retrospective account of expenses incurred by Morris as ambassador in Paris and immediately afterward, with dates ranging from October 1, 1792 to March 27, 1796, all on a large ledger sheet with sums stated variously in American, French and British currencies. 

The left hand column lists 35 itemized expenses grouped under 9 dated entries, each item described in detail.  Some of the expenses were “My outfit as Minister Plenipotentiary…$900. Engraving and printing passports…$85. Subscriptions to sundry newspapers…$91.16. Packing up statue of General Washington…440 francs. My salary to 29 June 1794…$9000. My secretary’s salary from 8 Aug. 1792 to 30 June 1793…$1209. Postages to Mr. Livingston…90 francs. The balance of Counsel Delamotte’s expenditures on the…boat commanded by Capt. Culver…1093.10 francs.” There are three separate totals amounting to $10,388.02, $11,252.15 and $3,711.20 respectively. The right hand column shows multiple entries for funds drawn on “Bankers of the United States” at the time, and these paid the two larger sums. However, it appears that the final balance of $3,711.20 was the one remaining due to Morris more than a decade after his service, for funds he had personally advanced. Morris’s docket indicates that this is his retained copy of accounts he provided on May 28, 1809 to the Comptroller of the U.S. Treasury, apparently to seek reimbursement for that balance.