our liberties do not occupy conspicuous places in that hallowed and consecrated room, Where the patriot's eye may turn to see, The hero band of Liberty, Who struck for freedom and their God, And broke the despot's iron rod. CHAPTER XXIV. ROBERT MORRIS "Within The hands of men entirely great, IN the progress of our historical reminiscences we have arrived at one of those patriots whose name stands conspicuously brilliant on the scroll of our country's fame-that of ROBERT MORRIS. As a financier of the Revolution, his qualifications were unexcelled. He was born in Lancashire, England, in January, 1733. His father was an able and highly esteemed merchant in Liverpool, and extensively engaged in the trade with the American Colonies. When Robert was a small child, he was left in the care of his grandmother, and his father came to this country, settled at Oxford, on the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay. Providing himself with the necessary conveniences and comforts of life, he sent for his family, and when they arrived Robert was about thirteen years of age. He was placed in one of the schools at Philadelphia, but the deficiencies of his teacher afforded him but slight advantage in the attainment of knowledge. On being chided by his father for his tardiness in learning, he remarked-" Why, sir, I have learned all that he could teach me." Young Morris was placed in the counting-room of Mr. Charles Willing, one of the leading merchants of Philadelphia, when he was fifteen years old, and about the same time he became an orphan by the sudden decease of his father. A ship having arrived from Liverpool, consigned to Mr Morris, the elder, he invited several friends to an en tertainment on board. was fired, and a wad Morris upon the arm. The wound was severe, mortified, and in a few days put an end to his existence. Young Morris was much esteemed by Mr. Willing, who gave him every advantage his business afforded; and at the death of his master and friend, he had all the requisite qualifications for a finished and thorough business man. As an evidence of his general good conduct, it is related that Mr. Willing, on his deathbed, said to him: "Robert, always continue to act as you have done." When they retired a salute from one of the guns hit Mr. In 1754 Mr. Morris formed a mercantile business partnership with Mr. Thomas Willing. The firm soon became the most extensive importing house in Philadelphia, and rapidly increased in wealth and standing. After the passage of the Stamp Act and the Tea Act, non-importation agreements became general in the commercial cities of the Colonies. One of the measures adopted by the Colonists to force Great Britain to do them justice, was that of American merchants every where agreeing not to import any thing from the mother country. This had a powerful effect upon Parliament, (for in the Lower House the mercantile interest was strongly represented,) and led to the modification of several stringent measures. The agreements, of course, seriously affected merchants here, and therein their patriotism was made peculiarly manifest. Willing and Morris, notwithstanding the great loss of business it would occasion, not only cheerfully entered into the plan, but did all in their power to induce others to do likewise. But it was not until the tragedy at Lexington aroused the fiercest indignation of the Colonists, and extinguished all hope of reconciliation, that Mr. Morris took an active part in public affairs. It is said by Lossing, that Mr. Morris and a number of others, members of the St. George's Society, were at dinner, celebrating the anniversary of St. George's day, when the news of the battle of Lexington reached them. Astonishment and indignation filled the company, and they soon dispersed. A few remained and discussed the great question of American freedom: and there, within the festive hall, did Robert Morris and a few others, by a solemn vow, dedicate their lives, their fortunes, and their honor, to the sacred cause of the Revolution. That event called him forth, and in November of the same year, he was elected by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, a delegate to the General Congress. His business talents were at once appreciated in that body, and he was placed upon the "secret committee,”* and also a committee to devise ways and means for providing a naval armament. In the spring of 1776, Congress chose him a special commissioner to nego *The duties of the secret committee consisted in managing the financial affairs of the government. It was a position of great trust, for they frequently had funds placed in their hands to be disposed of according to their discretion, like the “secret service money" of the present day, placed in the hands of the President, with discretionary powers, it being inimical to the general good to take public action upon such disbursements. tiate bills of exchange, and to take other measures to procure money for the government. Mr. Morris was again elected to Congress on the 18th of July, 1776, fourteen days after the Declaration of Independence was adopted; and being in favor of the measure, he affixed his signature thereto on the 2d of August following. His labors in Congress were incessant, and he always looked with perfect confidence to the period when peace and independence should crown the efforts of the patriots. Even when the American army, under Washington, had dwindled down to a handful of half-naked, half-famished militia, during the disastrous retreat across New Jersey, at the close of 1776, he evinced his confidence that final success would ensue, by loaning at that time, upon his individual responsibility, $10,000. This materially assisted in collecting together and paying that gallant band with which Washington recrossed the Delaware, and won the glorious victory at Trenton. When Congress fled to Baltimore, on the approach of the British across New Jersey, Mr. Morris, after removing his family into the country, returned to, and remained in Philadelphia. Almost in despair, Washington wrote to him, and informed him that to make any successful movement whatever, a considerable sum of money must be had. It was a requirement that seemed almost impossible to meet. Mr. Morris left his counting-room for his lodging in utter despondency. On his way he met a wealthy Quaker, and made known his wants. "What security canst thou give?" asked he. "My note, and my honor," promptly replied Mr. Morris. The Quaker replied: "Robert, thou shalt have it." It was sent to Washington, the |