The Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. 2 - Online Library of ...
The Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. 2 - Online Library of ...
The Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. 2 - Online Library of ...
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<strong>Online</strong> <strong>Library</strong> <strong>of</strong> Liberty: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Diary</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Letters</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Gouverneur</strong> <strong>Morris</strong>, <strong>vol</strong>. 2<br />
Genesee l<strong>and</strong>s has swept <strong>of</strong>f what I owed to him, without which I should have been<br />
considerably in his debt.”<br />
“<strong>The</strong> Chevalier d’Orléans comes to me [May 2d], <strong>and</strong> I deliver him a blank form <strong>of</strong><br />
attorney <strong>and</strong> a certificate <strong>of</strong> citizenship. General Dickinson, with whom I dine, seems<br />
desirous <strong>of</strong> knowing whether I intend to marry. I am told that Miss Dickinson’s<br />
family wish me to espouse her. She is spoken <strong>of</strong> as a very fine young woman, <strong>and</strong> I<br />
answer, in general terms, that such a thing is not impossible.”<br />
Here was an opportunity most congenial to the match-making mamma, <strong>and</strong> not to be<br />
lost, if possible. But this courtier was pro<strong>of</strong> for some years longer against the<br />
beseiging friendly enemy, <strong>and</strong> the charms <strong>of</strong> Miss Bayard <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> Miss Schuyler failed<br />
to carry the fortress that had already resisted the bl<strong>and</strong>ishments <strong>of</strong> the ladies <strong>of</strong><br />
France. <strong>Morris</strong> quietly went on with his work at <strong>Morris</strong>ania, <strong>and</strong> kept his house open<br />
to all comers, from the Chevalier d’Orléans <strong>and</strong> his suite to the poorest man who<br />
wanted a dinner. A propos <strong>of</strong> M. d’Orléans, <strong>Morris</strong> makes an entry in his diary to this<br />
effect:<br />
“Yesterday my coachman overturned M. d’Orléans’ chair, so I must dismiss him.”<br />
<strong>Morris</strong>’s friends pressed him hard to engage in public life; “which I decline,” he says,<br />
“though they assure me it is deemed necessary by all my friends. Hamilton tells me I<br />
must take an active part in our public affairs, for that the Anti-Federalists are<br />
determined to overthrow our Constitution. This is a painful idea, every way.” But,<br />
apparently, superintending the gathering in <strong>of</strong> the apples, the cutting up <strong>of</strong> hogs <strong>and</strong><br />
beef <strong>and</strong> storing them, wholly occupied <strong>Morris</strong>’s time, <strong>and</strong> the novelty <strong>of</strong> the work<br />
satisfied his ambition, for the moment at least. It was, however, not for long that he<br />
was allowed to indulge in these bucolic pursuits, so congenial to his taste, for on<br />
Thursday, December 19, 1799, the news <strong>of</strong> Washington’s death came, <strong>and</strong> at the same<br />
moment a request from the corporation <strong>of</strong> New York that <strong>Morris</strong> should pronounce<br />
the funeral oration. “This request,” he says, “is distressing, <strong>and</strong> I pray time till tomorrow<br />
to consider.”<br />
“On Sunday [December 29th] Mr. <strong>and</strong> Mrs. Hammond <strong>and</strong> the Chevalier d’Orléans<br />
<strong>and</strong> his brethren pass the evening here. I read my oration for them, as I am told no<br />
tickets will be given.”<br />
“At eleven o’clock this morning [December 31st] I go to St. Paul’s Church. <strong>The</strong><br />
procession does not arrive till after three, <strong>and</strong> we do not get away till six. Pronounced<br />
my oration badly.”<br />
“To-day [January 1st] I have a number <strong>of</strong> visitors, among them a deputation from the<br />
‘Cincinnati,’ to request a copy <strong>of</strong> my oration for the press. This morning I had already<br />
sent it, on a request <strong>of</strong> the Common Council, to the Recorder. Dine at General<br />
Hamilton’s. I hear that the anti-federal faction are to consider my oration as too cold.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> condition <strong>of</strong> public affairs very deeply interested <strong>Morris</strong>, notwithst<strong>and</strong>ing his<br />
disinclination to take an active part in them, <strong>and</strong> it was his earnest hope that<br />
PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 199 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/1170