ROBERT MORRIS - MANUSCRIPT DOCUMENT UNSIGNED 08/12/1797 WITH PETER LOHRA - HFSID 1770

[ROBERT MORRIS] and PETER LOHRA. Partly Printed Document signed: "Peter Lohra N. P.", 1p, 8x9½. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1797 August 12. In full (handwritten portion in italics; spelling in original): "Be it known, That on the Day of the Date hereof, I, Peter Lohra, Notary Public for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by lawful Authority duly Commissioned and Sworn, residing in the City of Philadelphia, in the said Commonwealth, at the Request of Mr. James Glintworth went to the Compting house of Robert Morris drawer of the original promissory note whereof the above is a true copy [not included] and there exhibited the same to a man and demanding payment received for answer that the said note could not be paid at present, wherfore I left notice of the nonpayment thereof at the Compting house of John Nicholson the indorser. Whereupon I, the said Notary, at the Request aforesaid, have and do hereby solemnly protest against the Drawer of the said Promissory Note, and all others concerned for all Exchange, re-Exchange, Costs, Damages and Interest suffered and to be suffered for want of Payment thereof." Notarized, with seal at lower left. Docketed (unknown hand) on verso. Robert Morris (1734-1806) was a Philadelphia merchant and financier and a delegate to the Continental Congress (1775-1778). Although voting against independence, which he considered premature, Morris worked diligently on military procurement, playing a key role in keeping George Washington's army supplied. He was U.S. Superintendent of Finance (1781-1784) under the Articles of Confederation, cutting expenses and raising revenue, often borrowing in his own name, to keep the new government solvent. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and was George Washington's first choice to be Secretary of the Treasury, declining the offer and serving instead in the U.S. Senate (1789-1795). Financially ruined by speculative investments, he was imprisoned for debt (1798-1801) and lived his remaining years in obscurity and poverty. Slightly soiled. Slightly frayed at edges. Paper separated at all but 1-inch of upper horizontal fold 1-inch at each edge of lower horizontal fold. Overall, fine condition.