The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-10-08

to chat about lighter matters, not even to
talk horse but took up his hat gloves
and cane, and with another stately Good
morning, Colonel Pickering, went out, and
left the Secretary and his man to their
work"
pray tell me what salary your friend,
MIR. White, received"
"Three or four hundred dollars year,
The Secretary himself had fifteen hun
dred."
What chief clerk of any department of
Government, however well paid, feels call
ed upon nowadays, to labor like this old
time official?
asked Mr.. Gray what he thought OF
Robert Morris.
81 think what Washington thought of
him." he said-"that his talent for finan-
ciering and his patriotic devotion did very
much toward saving the nation.
"My father was Washington's coniiden-
tial courier, and have often heard him tell
of call made by the COMMANDMENT Chief
on Mr.. Morris at very critical time, and
how nobly it was responded to.
"rhc army was encamped near Trenton,
and was nearly out of supplies, and quite
out of money.
"One morning, my father was summoned
to Washington's tent, and the General said
to him: "Gray, in how short time could
you ride down to Philadelphia I want
you to take letter to Mr. Robert Morris,
and there is the utmost need for dispatch.
"My father named the shortest time posi-
bic for making the journey with fleet
horse.
wThen just take the best horse in the
army, and set off at once with this letter.
said Washington.
"Well, General, said my father, the best
horse know Of in the army is your chest
nut sorrel.'
"He did not expect that Washington
would allow him to take that horse, for it
was his favorite, but he said at once: Take
| him. And my father rode him to Phila-
delphia, and made good time with him.
when Robert Morris read the letter, he
asked: How soon can you start for Tren-
ton with my reply to General Washington,
Mr.. Gray9
GAS soon, sir, as I can get fresh horse,
said my father. 1T won't do to ride back
General Washington's chestnut sOrrel'
"Of course not" said Mr.. Morris Go to
my stable, and take the best horse you can
find. | am in haste to assure General
Washington that will do all can to meet
his Wishes"
"My father got safely back to head-quar-
tiers with the reply of Mr.. Morris He said
Washington's face lighted up when he read
it; but he must have known pretty much
what it would be, for he had every thing
ready for marching, and in five minutes
the drums beat and the buglcs sounded
and the whole army was in motion. You
see, he had written to Morris to supply
money and provisions, and Morris had CON
sented, and set to work with his energy
The morning after my fathers hurried Wis
it to Philadelphia, my mother returned
from market, at about six o'clock, saying
1T was well l went so early. fl had been
a half hour later, l should not have been
able to get IL pound of beef or bacon. Rob-
crt Morris is sending his men all about to
buy up provisions for the army"
"When, few months later she was one
night reused from sleep by the old watch
man crying under her window, Past
twelve o'clock, and Lord CORVALLIS is at
kenH she knew, and all our people knew
that Robert had a great deal to do in bring,
} ing about that surrender, which virtually
! ended the war. He had been the right
hand of Washington. Yet, while Wash
ington was President, Robert Morris was
confined in the old debtors prison in Phila-
delphia.
"What q shame !" one of us holly ex.
claimed. "Why did not Congress pay his
debts, and liberate one to whom the nation
owed so great debt2"
swell, that was not thought practicable
His liabilities were immense, and the pre-.
cedent would have been, perhaps, little
dangerous. He was rash manager of his
own affairs. He bore his misfortunes brave
ly, they say; but think he used to look
very sad as he walked up and down the
narrow prison-yard. Sometimes, remem.
Der, he seemed to be listening, in pleas
ant sort of way, to old Billy Wood, the
playactor, who was also in difficulties
Wood was an educated man, and good
company"
| questioned our friend as to his impress
sions of Lafayette, Jefferson, Hamilton, and
Burr But he had only seen them casually
and had very faint recollections of Them
Aaron Burr he remembered as "a little, al
ert man, with very bright, dark eyes"
0 those wonderful Edwards eyes, full
of power, and fate, and predestination =
tloSe Keen, eager, passionate eyeS-tney
seem to beam on unquenchably in the mem
DRY of all on whom their glance ever fell,
even carelessly and for q moment!
Whep Wendell Philips was child, Aaron
Burr was pointed out to him on Broadway,
| think. He did not then know much OF
the life and the genius, the sin and the sor-
row Of that famous and infamous old man,
but he felt and has never forgotten the
power of his eyes. Only to-day asked a
venerable relative who in his youth met
Aaron Burr, what he remembered him.
mot very much" he replied; "he was u
small man, very quick in his movements,
and with remarkable eyes,"
Mr.. Gray also, think described Jeher-
son as small, or as looking so, in compari-
son with Washington, that one grand and
lofty figure, that evidently stands apart and
unapproachablc in the long gallery of his
memory. He sees that figure still through
the identifying and exalting atmosphere
the rosy mist of childish love and rever-
ence after all, truer medium, doubtless