In the next generation, the sons of Lewis held the elevated stations of judge of the court of vice admiralty, chief justice of New Jersey, and lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania. One of these, Lewis Morris-the judge-was the father of the patriot whose life and character it is now proposed to deli

neate.

LEWIS MORRIS, the subject of this memoir, was born at Morrisania in the year 1726, and was the eldest of three brothers, of whom one, Staats, was a general officer in the British service, and member of parliament. Richard was judge of vice admiralty, and chief justice of the state of New York, and Gouverneur was a distinguished orator and member of Congress.

Lewis received the sort of education usually given at that period to the sons of gentlemen, but with only the limited advantages which a residence in the country afforded.

At the age of sixteen he was sent to Yale College, where, under the care of the learned and pious Dr. Clap, he was taught the learned languages and mathematics; and his youthful mind was imbued with the lessons of morality and religion.

He was graduated as Bachelor of arts at the public commencement in 1746, and returning immediately to his paternal acres, he devoted himself assiduously to the theory and practice of agriculture. This particular period has been called the golden of the colonies. Certainly a remarkable degree

age

of tranquillity and plenty, of peace and prosperity, was then enjoyed. The yoke of government sat lightly-the power of internal legislation was exercised with little restraint, by the colonial legislatures -the authority of the crown was scarcely felt or seen, and the means of comfortable subsistence were within the easy attainment of all men.

At this happy æra Lewis Morris passed from youth to manhood;-he was one in whom both for his illustrious descent and connexions, and for his large possessions, the eyes of the whole province of New York were turned—and he was, according to the tradition that reaches us-richly endowed with all the most prepossessing and attractive graces of person and manners.

Such attributes become the scorn of advanced years, and history cares little for them, but they are the glory of youth-it may, therefore, be worth recording, that Lewis Morris possessed a lofty stature, a singularly handsome face, and the most graceful demeanor, with a temperament so enthusiastic and ardent, and a disposition so benevolent and generous, as to render him in his native province the universal favourite of his coevals.

The town, however, with all its attractions of society and pleasure, could not draw him away, except occasionally, from the care of his estate at Morrisania, where he became a farmer on a very large scale of agricultural operations, which he carried on with spirit and success.

He was early in life blessed in a very happy matrimonial connexion with Miss Mary Walton, a young lady of large fortune and amiable character, who became the mother of six sons and four daughters.

Mr. Morris was of a cheerful as well as a sanguine temper, seldom allowing external circumstances, however vexatious in their nature, to depress his spirits; he was, also, a zealous friend, and fortunate in his friendships, no one of which he had ever reason to repent of or withdraw.

Such was the peaceful and prosperous condition of his life when the troubles of his country began. Of his brothers, one was high in military rank in the service of the king, and married to the dutchess of Gordon, and another successful in his profession, and judge of the vice admiralty court.

Possessing an extensive estate in the immediate vicinity of the city, surrounded by a numerous offspring, a large circle of friends and no enemies, in the interesting pursuits of agriculture, the education of his children, and the exercise of liberal and elegant hospitality, he found ample and delightful occupation. The disputes between the colonies and royal government promised no improvement in his means of happiness, but brought in effect, a blight upon his felicity which nothing could compensate but the consciousness of deserving the gratitude of his country and of posterity.

The act of parliament, usually called the stamp act, elicited no where more emphatic denunciations than

at New York; where it was lamented as a calamity and upbraided as an oppression, in every form of public and private expression. The newspapers were decorated with black borders and awful emblems of death -the publication of them suspended or threatened— letters, speeches, resolves of public meetings-all the indications of a universal and sincere sense of wrong and injury abounded. In all this Mr. Morris bore his part. He was a private individual, and not disposed to put himself unnecessarily forward; and as nothing more than complaint was at this time in comtemplation, he very willingly allowed others to take the lead in the outcry, reserving his energies for the time of action. The early repeal of the obnoxious act allayed the ferment, and contentment again prevailed for a short period.

In the year 1767, the province of New York was put to a severe trial of her spirit and firmness by the act requiring additional supplies to be given to the king's troops. This imposition was very partial in its operation, only those places where parts of the royal army were quartered, being subjected to its influence. Upon New York it operated with particular severity and inconvenience, and was an invasion of the right of property almost as gross as that which had been attempted in the stamp act.

On the subject of this law, and on the question of submitting to it, Mr. Morris was decided and unreserved. He did not hesitate to pronounce it unconstitutional, tyrannical, and not to be submissively

borne-and he joined in promoting the spirit which induced the colonial legislature to refuse their compliance.

This was a bold, perhaps a rash measure, for the single unsupported colony of New York. The aggression had not been made the subject of consultation among the colonies, and New York alone could not reasonably hope to resist the power of Great Britain. The fearless spirit then exhibited, however, though prematurely and fruitlessly shewn, was highly honourable to the people of that colony, and makes amends in history, for the supineness with which New York was subsequently charged.

The result of so unequal a contest was such as might have been foreseen. After a few months of contumacy the province found itself obliged to submit, the royal troops were supplied with the salt, vinegar, beer and cider called for by the military requisition; and a sullen silence, on the part of the inhabitants was supposed by the British government to be indicative of satisfaction.

At this time, the colony most seriously embroiled with the royal authority was that of Massachusetts, but the others were by no means unconcerned spectators, and when, at length, the severe measures were successively adopted-of the revival of the statute of Henry the eighth, for sending persons charged with treason to England for trial-the closing of the port of Boston, and the bill authorizing the king's officers to send to England any person in Massachusetts ac

VOL. IX.-R