Delaware was crossed, and victory won! Many instances of a similar nature are related, where the high character of Mr. Morris enabled him to procure money when the government could not, and his patriotism never faltered in inducing him to apply it to the public benefit.

In 1781, the darkest period of the war, Mr. Morris, in connection with other citizens, organized a banking institution in Philadelphia, for the purpose of issuing paper-money that should receive the public confidence, for the government bills were becoming almost worthless. This scheme had the desired effect, and the aid it rendered to the cause was incalculable. During that year, upon the urgent solicitation of Congress, Mr. Morris accepted the appointment of general financial agent of the United States, in other words, Secretary of the Treasury. It was a service which no other man in the country seemed competent to perform, and that Congress well knew. His business talent, and his extensive credit at home and abroad, were brought to bear in this vocation; and upon him alone, for a long time, rested the labor of supplying a famished and naked army and furnishing other necessary supplies for the public service. Congress, at that time, could not have obtained a loan of one thousand dollars, yet Robert Morris effected loans upon his own credit of tens of thousands. The Bank of North America was put in successful operation, and there is no doubt that these patriotic services of Robert Morris present the chief reason why the Continental army was not at that time disbanded by its own act. And it has been justly remarked, that: "If it were not demonstrable by official records, posterity would

hardly be made to believe that the campaign of 1781, which resulted in the capture of Cornwallis, and virtually closed the Revolutionary War, was sustained wholly on the credit of an individual merchant." At the time Washington was preparing, in his camp upon the Hudson, in Westchester County, to attack Sir Henry Clinton, in New York, in 1781, Mr. Morris and Judge Peters of Pennsylvania, were then at headquarters. Washington received a letter from Count De Grasse, announcing his determination not to sail for New York. He was bitterly disappointed, but almost before the cloud had passed from his brow, he conceived the expedition against Cornwallis, at Yorktown. "What can you do for me?" said Washington to Mr. Peters. "With money, every thing, without it, nothing," he replied, at the same time turning with anxious look toward Mr. Morris. "Let me know the sum you desire," said Mr. Morris; and before noon Washington's plan and estimates were complete. Mr. Morris promised him the amount, and raised it upon his own responsibility.

After the conclusion of peace, Mr. Morris served twice in the Legislature of Pennsylvania; and he was a delegate to the Convention that framed the Constitution of the United States. He was elected a Senator under that instrument, and took his seat at the first meeting of Congress in New York to organize the government in accordance with its provisions. In the selection of his cabinet, President Washington was very anxious to have Mr. Morris Secretary of the Treasury, but he declined. Washington asked him to name a candidate, and he at once mentioned General Alexander Hamilton. Mr. Morris served a

regular term in the United States Senate, and then retired forever from public life. By his liberal expenditures and free proffers of his private obligations for the public benefit, he found his ample fortune very much diminished at the close of hostilities; and by embarking the remainder in the purchase of wild. lands, in the State of New York,* under the impression that emigrants from the Old World would flow in a vast and ceaseless current to this "land of the free," he became greatly embarrassed in his pecuniary affairs, and it preyed seriously upon his mind. This misfortune, and the inroads which asthma had made. upon his constitution, proved a canker at the root of his bodily vigor, and he sunk to rest in the grave, on the eighth day of May, 1806, in the seventy-third

* In consequence of some old claims of Massachusetts to a large portion of the territory of the State of New York, the latter State, in 1786, in order to settle the matter, ceded to the former more than six millions of acres, reserving, however, the right of sovereignty. Massachusetts sold the larger portion of this tract to Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham, for one million of dollars; and in 1790, they in turn sold to Mr. Morris 1,204,000 acres, for sixteen cents per acre. He afterward resold this tract to Sir William Pultney. The original purchasers from Massachusetts, unable to fulfill their contract, surrendered to the State a large tract, to which the Indian titles had been extinguished. This tract Mr. Morris bought in 1796, and after selling considerable portions lying upon the Genesee River, he mortgaged the residue to Wilhelm Willink, of Amsterdam, and eleven associates, who styled themselves the "Holland Land Company." Mr. Morris was unable to meet his engagements, aud the company foreclosed, and acquired full title to the land. They opened a sales office in Batavia, Genesee County, which now exists, and they still own large tracts of land in Western New York.

year of his age, leaving a widow with whom he had lived in uninterrupted domestic happiness for thirtyseven years.*

* In 1769 Mr. Morris married Miss Mary White, sister of the late venerable Bishop White, of Pennsylvania.

CHAPTER XXV.

ELBRIDGE GERRY.

A patriot's valor beamed forth in his eyes,
And stern decision marked his every act.

IN gazing upon the many interesting relics in Independence Hall, the thoughtful lover of his country's history is pained to see that, while numerous elegant pictures and portraits of distinguished men grace the ample walls, there are many absent which should be there-very many who took active parts in the great struggle for Freedom and Independence-whose likenesses in some impressive form should have been placed there for the admiration of all who visit this consecrated spot. Among the absent is that of Elbridge Gerry-a man whose sternness and devotion to the cause of Freedom contributed in no small degree toward shaping the destinies of the rising Colonies, and inspiring the people with increased love for Independence. The birth-place of Mr. Gerry was the town of Marblehead, Massachusetts, on the 17th of July, 1744. His parents were in easy circumstances, his father being largely and successfully engaged in the mercantile business, and, therefore, was well prepared to give his son a thorough and useful education. Accordingly, when Elbridge had gone through his preliminary studies, he was placed in Harvard Col