Arthur Lee to St. George Tucker

Mr. David Ross has a Note of hand for some money I lent in France to a Capt. Taylor decd. His Executor has repeatedly promised payment, but never performd. I therefore suppose it will be necessary to have recourse to legal means for obtaining it. Be so good as to ask Mr. Ross for the note, & if the Executor will not pay it in a reasonable time, you will oblige me by taking such legal measures as may compel him. I Enclose you a Note for a small Sum long due from Capt. Wm. Green, son of Col. Green, the payment of which I beg you will obtain.

Congress are yet at Princeton. The Citizens here are signing an Address intended to effect their return to this City. As Mr. Robert Morris's undue & wicked influence depends so much upon the residence here, it is presumd that he will use his utmost authority for that purpose. But his influence has manifestly diminished since the removal from Philadelphia, & the fixing of Congress in any other place will I hope restrain it within due bounds. It is much suspected that he & his friends have been the prime movers of all the disturbances in the Army, for the purpose of enforcing the 5 per Ct. in the shape most parental of a corrupt influence in Congress of which he with reason expected to be the prime Minister. Naturally, I conceive, the Soldiers, had they not been otherwise tutord, woud have made their attempt upon him, as it is notorious that all the funds of the U.S. are in his hands.

Potomac & Delaware are the Competitors for the permanent residence of Congress. The offer of jurisdiction in two States, is, in reason, a very strong circumstance in favor of Potomac.

¹ But unhappily reason very rarely governs in these decisions. No account of the definitive treaty.

Adieu