Trenton; for without the all-powerful "means," even the valour of the commander-in-chief would have been unavailing.

His knowledge of financial concerns, and his unwearied zeal, were of immense value. He borrowed money to meet pressing demands, on his own responsibility, when the state of the public treasury was such that the government could not procure a loan. Judge Peters of Philadelphia, who was a personal friend of Morris, and a cordial co-operator with him in the struggle for freedom, has left on record the following characteristic anecdote:

"In 1779 or 1780, General Washington wrote to me a most alarming account of the condition of the military stores, and enjoined my immediate exertions to supply the deficiencies.

"There were no musket-cartridges but those in the men's boxes, and they were wet; of course, if attacked, a retreat or a rout was inevitable. The board of war had exhausted all the lead accessible, having caused even the spouts of the houses to be melted, and had offered, abortively, the equivalent in paper, of two shillings per pound for lead. I went on the evening of the day on which I received this letter, to a splendid entertainment given by Don Mirailles, the Spanish minister. My heart was sad, but I had the faculty of brightening my countenance even under gloomy disasters; yet, it seems, not sufficiently adroitly at that time. Mr. Morris, who was one of the guests, accosted me in his usual blunt and disengaged manner

"I see some clouds passing across the sunny countenance you assume; what is the matter?"

?

"After some hesitation I showed him the general's letter.

He played with my anxiety, which he did not relieve for some time. At length, however, with great and sincere delight, he called me aside, and told me that the Holkar privateer had just arrived at his wharf, with ninety tons of lead, which she had brought as ballast. 'You shall have my half of this fortunate supply,' said Mr. Morris; 'there are the owners of the other half;' indicating gentlemen in the apartment.

"Yes; but I am already under heavy personal engagements, as guaranty for the department, to those and other gentlemen.' 'Well,' rejoined Mr. Morris, 'they will take your assumption with my guaranty?

"I instantly, on these terms, secured the lead, left the entertainment, sent for the proper officers, and set more than one hundred people to work during the night. Before morning a supply of cartridges was ready and sent off to the army."

In 1781, Mr. Morris was unanimously elected by Congress to the office of "Superintendent of Finance." This office he had, in effect, long enjoyed, and practically filled.

Mr. Morris, in his reply to President Washington, on the subject of this appointment, writes as follows:

"So far as the station of superintendent of finance, or indeed any other station or office, applies to myself, I should, without the least hesitation, have declined an acceptance; for, after upwards of twenty years' assiduous application to business, as a merchant, I find myself at that period when my mind, body, and inclination, combine to make me seek for relaxation and ease. Providence has so far smiled on my endeavours as to enable me to prepare for the indulgence of those feelings in such a manner as

would be least injurious to the interests of my family. If, therefore, I accept this appointment, a sacrifice of that ease, of much social enjoyment, and of my material interests, must be the inevitable consequence."

"Putting myself out of the question, the sole motive is the public good; and this motive, I confess, comes home to my feelings. The contest we are engaged in, appeared to me, in the first instance, just and necessary; therefore I took an active part in it; as it became dangerous, I thought it the more glorious, and was stimulated to the greatest exertions in my power, when the affairs of America were at the worst.”

In the continuous history of this distinguished American merchant, we have a remarkable example of what probity, firmness, integrity, and zeal, may accomplish. What it achieved for himself was great. He rose to wealth and honour, and might have attained to greater worldly distinctions had it not been for his own moderation and virtuous reserve. As superintendent of finance, one of his first acts was to establish a national bank; while by his own personal credit alone, he supplied nearly the whole munitions of war, during the struggle of his fellow countrymen for independence.

In one of his letters written at this trying period, Mr. Morris says, "The late movements of the army have so completely drained me of money, that I have been entirely obliged to pledge my personal credit very deeply in a variety of instances, besides borrowing money from my friends, and advancing, to promote the public service, every shilling of my own."

During the time that Mr. Morris was engaged in public

service, he gave over his own business concerns to the hands of others, that he might exclusively fix his attention upon his official duties. He adopted as an invariable rule, never to recommend any one to office. In consequence of this he did not secure a band of pensioned defenders and supporters. He stood almost alone to bear the brunt of the complaints and imprecations of unsatisfied claimants.

His character as a merchant was marked by sterling honesty-this was the basis of all his success. His enterprise and foresight formed only the valuable auxiliaries to these.

At the conclusion of the war he was among the earliest who engaged in the East India and China trade. For this purpose he dispatched the ship Empress, Captain Green, from New York to Canton, and it was the first American vessel that ever appeared in that port.

His enterprise led him to make another attempt, which was then a novel one. With the aid of Mr. Gouverneur Morris he marked out a passage to China, termed an "out of season" passage, round the south cape of New Holland. This was safely accomplished by Captain Read, in the ship Alliance, in six months, which was then considered a remarkably short passage. It was quite astonishing to the most experienced navigators, and the lords of the British admiralty made application to Mr. Morris, to learn the route of the ship.

While thus active and enterprising, Mr. Morris was generous and liberal in dispensing his money for the good of others. Not only did he sacrifice to the public good in various ways, but his ear was open to the demands of suffering humanity, and his ready hand extended for its

relief. His hospitality was proverbial, and this hospitality, though cordial, was said to be "without the slightest tinge of ostentation." In domestic life he was kind and cheerful, and in his friendships, warm and devoted.

Robert Morris was remarkable for his independence and decision of character. He never cringed to human being, or courted the countenance of living man. His patience and perseverance were indomitable, and his hopefulness, even under the most gloomy circumstances, unfailing.

These were the elements of his success. Integrity, enterprise, foresight, activity, liberality, benevolence, kindness, independence, decision, patience, perseverance, hopefulness, and we must add, promptness, boldness, and punctuality-devotion to his own business, and a sincere desire to aid others in promoting their interests.

CHAPTER VII.

DECISION OF CHARACTER.

"I shall remember,

When Caser says-do this, it is performed."

SHAKSPEARE.

THERE are certain qualities which are essential to the success of the man in business, the origin of which is directly traceable to the supreme standard of human conduct, as set forth in the divine law. Of these are honesty, integrity, truthfulness, self-restraint, and self-denial. But there are