in Brunswick.-Returns to Altona.-Lafayette's release from Ol- Mr Morris commences another tour to the South of Germany.— Francfort, Ratisbon, Munich.-Count Rumford.-Mr Morris returns to Altona.-Duke of Orleans.-His concealment in Switzerland — Letters from the Countess de Flahaut to Mr Morris concerning him. They travel together to Hamburg-The Duke's travels in Mr Morris's voyage to America.-Arrival in New York.-He retires to Morrisania.-Chosen to the Senate of the United States.—Engaged in a cause at the bar with Hamilton.-Presidential election.-Part taken by him as a Senator.-His tour to Canada.-His political opinions. Orations and political writings.-General Morean.-Mad- LIFE OF GOUVERNEUR MORRIS. CHAPTER I. THE MORRIS FAMILY IN AMERICA.-BIRTH AND EDUCATION OF GOUVER LAW WITH WILLIAM ON THE FINANCE OF VISIT TO EUROPE. NEUR MORRIS-HIS COLLEGE ORATIONS.-STUDIES RICHARD MORRIS was the original stock of a family, which, for more than a century, through the popular and commanding talents of some of its members, exercised a controlling influence in the political events of New York and New Jersey. His descendants have now become numerous in both those States, and have spread into other parts of the Union. Wearied with the unsettled condition of affairs in England, brought about by the wars of Cromwell, in whose armies he is said to have been a distinguished leader, he turned his views to America, and came over first to the West Indies, and shortly afterwards to New York. Here he purchased an estate near Haerlem, ten miles from the city, containing more than three thousand acres of land. By the Governor's with manorial privi original grant this domain was invested VOL. I. 1 leges, and called - Morrisania. The first proprietor of the Manor of Morrisania died in 1673, leaving an only son, named Lewis, an infant and an orphan, his mother having died a few months before. Being thus left, when he was not yet a year old, without parents or any other natural protectors, the government of the colony appointed guardians to take care of him and the property left by his father. Not long afterwards his uncle came to America and settled at Morrisania.* He took his young nephew under his charge, and finally made hin heir to his fortune. The early years of Lewis Morris, the nephew, were wild and erratic. On one occasion, having committed some offence of youthful extravagance or folly, which he knew would displease his uncle, he strolled away to the southern colonies, and thence to the West Indies, where he supported himself for some time as a scrivener. Soon satisfied with the pleasures of wandering, and tired of a life of dependance and privation, he returned again to his uncle's roof, where he was received with kindness. Endowed with strong natural powers, and fond of distinction, he entered at an early age upon a public career. He was one of the Council of New Jersey, and a judge of the Supreme Court of that colony, and also for several years member of the Assembly, and Chief Justice of New York. In this latter colony he was at one period a popular leader in the party of the Assembly and people, in opposition to the Governors, who, as in most of the other colonies, generally continued to keep up a quarrel with the people, by their arbitrary abuse of power and exactions of *This uncle's name was Lewis Morris. There is a contract on record dated the tenth of August, 1670, in which Richard Morris is styled a merchant of New York, and his brother Lewis a merchant of Barbadoes. By this contract Lewis Morris agreed to come and settle on his brother's lands at Morrisania, but he seems not to have arrived for that purpose till after the death of the latter. money. During the last eight years of his life, Mr Morris was Governor of New Jersey. He had twelve children, four sons and eight daughters. Of these sons the two eldest, Lewis and Robert Hunter, walked in the steps of their father, and became emulous of public service and notoriety. Lewis resided at Morrisania, and at an early age was a member of the New York Legislature, supporting, as his father had done before him, the rights and privileges of that body, and the interests of the people. During the latter years of his life he was Judge of Vice Admiralty for New York, having jurisdiction also by his commission over all maritime affairs in Connecticut and New Jersey. Robert Hunter Morris was for more than twenty years one of the Council, and Chief Justice of New Jersey. He visited England and obtained the appointment of Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania, which post he held about two years in one of the most boisterous and troublesome periods recorded in the history of that province. The inroads of the French and Indians on the frontiers, and the disastrous effects of Braddock's defeat, were among the evils that beset his administration; to which may be added his unceasing and stormy contest with the Assembly, in endeavoring to maintain the proprietary prerogatives against the determined opposition of the legislative body, the general voice of their constituents, and above all the powerful weight of the talents and influence of Franklin. Lewis Morris last mentioned, son of the Governor of New Jersey, had eight children, of whom four were sons, Lewis, Staats Long, Richard, and Gouverneur, and four daughters, Mary, Sarah, Euphemia, and Catherine. The eldest son, Lewis, was a graduate of Yale College. He took an early and decided part with the advocates for freedom at the beginning of the Revolution, was a member of the Old Congress from New York, and a signer of the declaration of independence. Staats Long Morris was an officer in the British army, and married the Dutchess of Gordon. He was at one time a member of Parliament, and lived and died in England. Rich ard Morris was Judge of Vice Admiralty, and afterwards Chief Justice of New York. GOUVERNEUR MORRIS, the subject of the present memoir, was the youngest son by a second marriage, and born at Morrisania January thirty-first, 1752. Very little is known of his early years, and whether as a boy he was remarkable for precocity, or dulness, or mischief, there is neither record nor tradition to inform us. Rumor speaks of his fondness for rural sports, and the delights he enjoyed in rambling over his paternal domains in that species of exercise and amusement. When quite a child he was put to live in the family of a French teacher, M. Tetar, at New Rochelle, where he acquired the basis of the French language, which in after life he wrote and spoke with nearly as much fluency and correctness as his native tongue. His father died before he was twelve years old, leaving him to the care of his mother. The second marriage of his father seems not to have been well received by the family, and especially by the elder children. Hence a breach was made in the bonds of family union and sympathy, which was not healed for many years, and which contributed to estrange the second wife and her young charge from the interests of the other branches of the family. But as she was left with ample provisions by her husband, neither she nor her children experienced any other inconvenience from these dissentions, than the privation of those endearments, which are the result of reciprocal good feeling and kindness between those, who are bound together by the ties of consanguinity. She applied herself to the management of her affairs, and the education of her son.* * The following is an extract from his father's will, which is dated November nineteenth, 1760. It is my desire that my son Gouverneur Morris may have the best education, that is to be had in England or America.' There is a whimsical clause in this will, which may perhaps be characteristic of its author. |