Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution Part 21

JOHN MORTON.

Courage and perseverance, unaided by wisdom and sound discretion, often lead men into unforeseen and unantic.i.p.ated difficulties. Combined--they are the fulcrum and lever of action. Guided by a wise discretion, with talent to conceive and boldness to execute, the weak become strong and effect wonders at which they look with astonishment after the mighty work is accomplished. To these combined qualities of the Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution we owe the blessings of liberty we now enjoy more than to the physical powers of our nation at that time.

Compared with the fleets and armies of the mother country at the eventful era when the Declaration of our Independence was adopted, the available force of the Colonies dwindles to insignificance. The one a giant in the pride of his glory--the other an infant just bursting into life. The one a Goliah clad in bristling armor--the other a pioneer boy with a puerile sling. The one with a veteran army and navy united in panoply complete, well clothed, fed and paid--the other with scattered fragments of raw recruits, a few light vessels--the men poorly equipped, sparingly fed, worse clothed and seldom paid. Without referring the successful termination of the revolutionary struggle to the wisdom and perseverance of the patriots, who, under G.o.d conceived, planned and executed the n.o.ble work it would be an unsolved enigma.

John Morton was proverbial for his discreet, wise, courageous and persevering course of life. He was a posthumous child born in Ridley, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, in 1724. His ancestors came from Sweden at an early period and settled on the bank of the Delaware river near Philadelphia. John's father, of the same Christian name, married Mary Richards when he was very young and died before his majority. The widow subsequently married with John Sketchly an intelligent Englishman who proved a good husband and kind step-father. To him John was princ.i.p.ally indebted for his substantial English education, having enjoyed the advantages of a school but three months. Being a good mathematician and skilful surveyor, his step-son became perfect master of this important branch of science, which, more than any other, is calculated to lead a man into precision of thought and action. Based on invariable truth and lucid demonstration, never resting on false premises, always arriving at incontrovertible conclusions, it gives a tone to the mental powers calculated to produce the most salutary results. Education is incomplete without mastering mathematics.

Young Morton continued with his faithful guardian until manhood dawned upon him, aiding in the business of agriculture and surveying, constantly storing his mind with useful knowledge--testing theory by practice. In 1764 he was commissioned a justice of the peace and shortly after was elected to the a.s.sembly of his native state. He soon became conspicuous and was subsequently speaker of the House during several sessions. He took a deep interest in the welfare of his country and was a member of the Congress a.s.sembled at New York in 1765 to concert measures for the repeal of the odious Stamp Act. He concurred in the strong and bold appeals of that body which virtually kindled the fire of the Revolution. Although smothered for a time it was never extinguished until it consumed the last vestige of British power in America and expired for want of fuel. In 1767 he became the sheriff of his county which station he ably filled for three years. He was then appointed president judge of his district and gained the admiration and esteem of the entire community. About this time he performed a very sensible act by marrying Anne Justis of the State of Delaware who was worthy to be the wife of a patriot and contributed largely to his happiness through life.

When the dread clarion of war was sounded from the heights of Lexington the indignation of the people in his neighborhood was so roused that they at once raised a battalion of volunteers and elected Judge Morton colonel. He was compelled to decline the epic honor having been recently appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. In July 1774 he was made a member of the Congress that convened in Philadelphia the following September. The grand object of that Congress was to make a last and n.o.ble effort to effect a reconciliation between the two countries and heal instead of increasing the unfortunate breach. To this end men of cool deliberation, deep thought, matured judgment, profound wisdom and pure patriotism were selected for this important work on which depended the destiny of themselves and unborn millions. When the delegates a.s.sembled a deep and awful solemnity seemed to pervade every mind. No noise was heard but the still murmuring of the rushing blood, the beating of anxious hearts and the quick respiration of those who had congregated. The proceedings were opened by prayer. Every soul seemed to commune with the spirits of another world as by vesper orisons. After the address to the throne of grace the same awful silence reigned. Still nothing was heard but the rush of the purple stream and the throb of anxious hearts. Trembling tears and quivering lips told the emotions of many a bosom--too full to be expressed, too deep to be fathomed, too strong to be endured. At length the mighty spirit of Patrick Henry burst forth in all the sublimity of its native majesty and broke the mighty spell. In bold and glowing colors, shaded with dignified sincerity--painted upon the canvas of eternal justice with the pencil of unerring truth--he delineated American rights and British wrongs. When he closed every patriot responded a hearty--AMEN. Their mouths were opened, their burdens lightened--they breathed more freely.

In May 1775 Judge Morton took his seat in Congress and was re-elected in November. In July 1776 he closed his congressional career. Before leaving, he placed a brilliant star upon the bright escutcheon of his name by voting for and signing the chart of our Liberty--the manifesto of freemen against the usurpations of tyranny. During the time he was in Congress he was highly esteemed as a cool deliberate discreet man--purely patriotic and anxious to do all in his power to promote the righteous cause of his bleeding country. He weighed well the consequences of severing the bonds that bound the Colonies to the mother country. Unsustained, the Declaration of Independence was probable death to many--a more severe slavery for the survivors. To all human appearance the patriots must be crushed by the physical force of their enemies then pouring into the country by thousands and sweeping everything before them like a mighty torrent. There were five delegates from his colony. Two of them were bitterly opposed to the measure and two in favor, which gave him the casting vote. On him depended the enhanced misery or happy delivery of his country. When the final moment arrived he cast his vote in favor of the important instrument that should prove either the death warrant or the diploma of freedom. Some of his old friends censured him severely for the bold act and were so strongly tinctured with toryism that they would not be reconciled to him when he lay upon the bed of death. Such were the strong party feelings during the Revolution. His dying message to them was worthy the sage and Christian. "Tell them that they will live to see the hours when they shall acknowledge it to have been the most glorious service that I have ever rendered to my country." The truth of his prophecy has been most happily verified so far as his services were concerned--if the other part has not do not go in mourning for its failure.

When the Articles of Confederation were under discussion in Congress Judge Morton was frequently chairman of the committee of the whole and presided with great ability and dignity. In April 1777 he was attacked with a highly inflammatory fever which terminated his life in a few days in the midst of usefulness with fresh honors awaiting him as time rolled onward. His premature death was deeply mourned by his bereaved companion, eight children, a large concourse of bosom friends, the members of the bar, his a.s.sociate judges, the State legislature, Congress and by every patriot of his country.

As a private citizen Judge Morton possessed an unusual share of esteem.

He was endowed with all the amiable qualities that enrich the domestic circle and social intercourse. As the crowning glory of his fair fame he professed and adorned the religion of his Lord and Master and died triumphing in faith. His dust reposes in the cemetery of St. James'

Church in Chester, Pa. His examples are worthy of the closest imitation--his brief career admonishes us of the uncertainty of human life--his happy death is an evidence of the truth of unvarnished piety.

THOMAS NELSON.

Honesty is a virtue that commands universal respect. Like many others this term has lost much of its original force. When Pope p.r.o.nounced an honest man the n.o.blest work of G.o.d--he included purpose, word and action in all things, under all circ.u.mstances, at all times. He alluded to a man whose purity of heart placed him above every temptation to violate the original laws of integrity that emanated from the high Chancery of Heaven. He referred to a man whose every action through his whole life should pa.s.s the scrutiny of Omniscience unscathed and stand approved by the great Jehovah. Such a man is a n.o.ble work indeed worthy of the highest admiration and closest imitation. He would not take an umbrella or a newspaper from the owner without liberty. He is honest for the sake of this virtue--not from _policy_, the essential oil of dishonesty in disguise. Honesty that is based only on self interest is as unsafe as a keg of powder in the fire room of a steamboat. We have too much _policy_ in morals and religion. It is cunning without wisdom, cowardice with hypocrisy, fear of man--not G.o.d. The devil preaches religion from policy and the man who is honest only from _policy_ is no better. Anecdote to the point. The Chinese philosopher Confucius met an insane woman with a pitcher of water and f.a.ggot of fire and asked her how she intended to use them. She replied--"With the fire I will burn up heaven--with the water I will put out h.e.l.l--we shall then know who are good for the sake of goodness."

The Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution who persevered to the end were remarkable for integrity and freedom from self interest. None of them were more so than Thomas Nelson, born at Yorktown, Virginia, on the 26th of December 1738. He was the son of William Nelson whose father came from England at an early period and located at Yorktown. The father of Thomas was a wealthy merchant and planter. He filled many public stations with great ability. During the interval between the administration of Lord Bottetourt and Lord Dunmore, he presided over the Colony _ex officio_, being then President of the Executive Council.

At the age of fourteen Thomas was placed under the tuition of Mr.

Newcomb whose school was near Hackney, England. He graduated at Trinity College under Dr. Beilby Porteus, the bright literary ornament of that time and afterwards Bishop of London. Guided by the master genius of this finished scholar, accomplished gentleman and pious divine, Mr.

Nelson traced the fair lines of science and explored the avenues of literature. The principles of strict virtue and stern integrity were deeply impressed upon his mind and governed his actions through life.

After spending eight years at the cla.s.sic fountain in England he returned to his native home highly improved in mind and person. He entered upon the enjoyment of a large real estate and over one hundred and thirty thousand dollars in money. Not selfish at heart--unwilling to enjoy so much alone, as in duty bound he led to the hymenial altar Lucy--daughter of Philip Grimes of Brandon and settled happily and quietly at his native place. His house became the seat of domestic felicity and hospitality.

For a long time great intimacy existed between the leading men of Virginia and England. This arose from consanguinity and the wealth that enabled the most prominent men of the Old Dominion to educate their sons in the mother country. For more than a century an interchange of good feelings and kind offices were kept up. The sons who were educated in Great Britain imbibed the same ideas of Independence as those which were the boast of the n.o.blemen of that kingdom and very properly felt themselves ent.i.tled to as much confidence from the King as a native resident of Albion. For this reason, when the British ministry put the car of oppression in motion in Virginia, her wealthy and n.o.blest sons were the most vigorous opposers of regal power. The very fact of former intimacy charged this opposition with stronger bitterness. The very chivalry that the proud Britons had taught the sons of the Old Dominion was brought to bear upon the hirelings of the crown with the force of an avalanche.

In 1774 Mr. Nelson was elected to the House of Burgesses and took a bold stand in favor of liberal principles. He was one of the eighty-nine members who a.s.sembled at a tavern the day after Lord Dunmore dissolved them and formed themselves into an a.s.sociation of non-intercourse with Great Britain. At the next election he was again returned. He was a member of the two conventions that appointed Congressional delegates in 1774-5. He supported the bold measures proposed by the daring Henry from which many of the patriots at first recoiled with terror and amazement.

He had no ear for the siren song of peace when the sh.o.r.es of his country were darkened by foreign fleets and armies. At the convention in March 1775 the following resolutions were proposed by Patrick Henry and pa.s.sed. The first germ of our militia system then burst from embryo.

"Resolved--That a well regulated militia, composed of gentlemen and yeomen, is the natural strength and only security of a free government--that such a militia in this colony would forever render it unnecessary for the mother country to keep among us, for the purpose of our defence, any standing army of mercenary soldiers, always subversive of the quiet and dangerous to the liberties of the people and would obviate the pretext of taxing for their support. That the establishment of such a militia is at this time peculiarly necessary by the state of our laws, some of which have already expired and will shortly be so and that the known remissness of government in calling us together in legislative capacity renders it too insecure in this time of danger and distress to rely that opportunity will be given of renewing them in general a.s.sembly or making any provision to secure our inestimable rights and liberties from those further violations with which they are threatened.

_Resolved_--That this Colony be immediately put in a state of defence and that ---- be a committee to prepare a plan for embodying, arming and disciplining such a number of men as may be sufficient for that purpose."

These resolutions were warmly supported by Mr. Nelson regardless of the certain destruction of a large portion of his property in case of an open rupture with mother Britain. The resolutions were carried and July fixed for the division of the Colony into military districts. From that time Virginia presented a bold front against the unwarranted pretensions and insolent a.s.sumptions of power on the part of the crown officers. In July the Convention again a.s.sembled and divided the Colony into sixteen military districts--the Eastern to immediately raise a regiment of six hundred and eighty men rank and file, the others to raise a battalion of five hundred men each--all to be at once armed and held in readiness to march at any moment. The Convention further directed the raising of two regiments of regulars of one thousand and twenty privates each--the first to be commanded by Patrick Henry, the other by Thomas Nelson.

Virginia stands number one in the organization of a military system independent of mother Britain--a system that now pervades the United States.

On the 11th of August this Convention met again and elected Mr. Nelson and others to the Continental Congress in which he look his seat on the 13th of September following. He was an industrious and efficient member of many important committees but rarely took part in debate. By the following extract from his letter to Gov. Page dated 22d January 1776 it appears he was one of those who early agitated the question of Independence. "I wish I knew the sentiments of our people upon the grand points of Confederation and Foreign Alliance--or in other words--of Independence--for we cannot expect to form a connexion with any foreign power as long we have a womanish hankering after Great Britain and to be sure there is not in nature a greater absurdity than to suppose we can have any affection for a people who are carrying on the most savage war against us." On the 13th of February following he wrote to the same gentleman in the following strong language--"Independence, Confederation and foreign alliance are as formidable to some members of Congress--I fear a majority, as an apparition to a weak enervated woman. Would you think we have some among us who still expect honorable proposals from the administration! By heavens! I am an infidel in politics for I do not believe were you to bid a thousand pounds per scruple for honor at the court of Great Britain that you would get as many as would make an ounce. We are now carrying on a war and no war. They seize our property whenever they find it either by land or sea and we hesitate to retaliate because we have a few friends in England who have ships. Away with such squeamishness say I."

By this language we can judge of the ardent feelings that moved this friend of equal rights to n.o.ble and G.o.d-like action. It was the pure fire of patriotism fanned to a brilliant flame by a just indignation against a tyrannical and insolent foe. It was a fire that reflected a genial heat upon those around it and increased in volume as time rolled onward. Like separate particles of metal in a crucible, one member after another yielded to the power of the patriotic flame until all were united in one liquid ma.s.s and on the 4th of July 1776 the mould of LIBERTY was filled. When opened to the admiring view of a gazing world a new and purely original table of law and government was presented enriched with the embossments of equal rights and equal justice. On this fair tablet, more beautiful than mosaic work, Mr. Nelson engraved his name in bold relievo. Here we might leave him with glory enough for one man. But he had then just entered the vestibule of his useful career.

His whole soul and body were enlisted in the glorious cause. He worked on, hoped on and hoped ever. He was again returned to Congress but was compelled to retire in May in consequence of a dangerous attack of brain fever that for a time threatened to impair his mental powers.

Fortunately for the cause of Independence his health was restored.

During the ensuing August the British fleet entered the capes for the purpose of chastising the rebels of the Old Dominion. A general rally of the military was the immediate consequence. Mr. Nelson was made Brig.

General and commander of all the Virginia forces. The appointment was popular--the inc.u.mbent competent. His appearance among the people inspired confidence. The troops rallied around him like affectionate children around a fond parent. Learning how the land lay the fleet went its way for that time and waited for a more convenient season. The soldiers again became citizens.

In October of that year Gen. Nelson took his seat in the legislature of his state and took an active part in the deliberations of that body.

During the session a bill was brought before the House sequestering British property and authorizing those of the Colonists who were in favor of Liberty and owed subjects of Great Britain, to pay the amount into the public treasury. If the wives and children of such subjects remained in the state the Governor was authorized to pay them certain portions of this money for their support. With all his indignity against mother Britain, his sense of justice induced him to oppose the bill because it violated individual contracts. He became roused and made an able and eloquent speech against the measure and closed with the following emphatic language--"For these reasons I hope the bill will be rejected--but whatever be its fate--_so help me G.o.d_ I will pay _my_ debts like an honest man."

On the 2d of March 1778 Congress made an appeal to the patriotism of the wealthy young men of the several states urging them to raise a troop of light cavalry at their own expense. When this proposition was received in Virginia Gen. Nelson sent a circular to all the young gentlemen of fortune in the state recommending them to rush to the rescue in person and to open their purses to other high-minded young men who were poor in money but rich in patriotism. A company of seventy was promptly raised in that state and elected Gen. Nelson to command them. He proceeded with his charge to Baltimore and reported his youthful band to the brave Pulaski who received the young volunteers with admiration and delight.

From that place the company proceeded to Philadelphia where the General and the young gentlemen soldiers received the applause and thanks of Congress. As their services were not needed at that time they returned home. Their expenses were princ.i.p.ally paid by Gen. Nelson without any charge to government. For his services during the war he took no pay and expended a large portion of his fortune in the cause of freedom.

On the 18th of February 1779 he again took his seat in Congress and labored so intensely in the committee rooms that he brought on another attack similar to the former and was compelled to return home in April.

Relaxation from business and domestic quiet soon restored his health. In May the British made a descent upon Virginia and marked their course with relentless cruelty and destruction. Gen. Nelson at once took the field and marshalled his troops near Yorktown. The enemy dared not approach him and filed off. During that short campaign he was a father to his soldiers and supplied them with food from his own funds. He distributed his laborers and servants among the poor families of the militia from his neighborhood to labor during the absence of the men. He was as benevolent as he was patriotic and brave. For the state he raised large sums upon his own credit for which he was remunerated but in part.

This was done freely without any noise or boasting. He was good for the sake of goodness--honest for the sake of honesty--not from policy or to be seen of men.

In the spring of 1781 Virginia was the scene of murder, rapine and ruin.

Judas Arnold and Lord Cornwallis were sweeping over the state like a tornado. Gen. Nelson was constantly in the field doing all in his power to arrest the savage career of the merciless foe. He became the hero of the Old Dominion. In June of that year he was elected governor of the state. He at once entered upon the duties of his office and bent his whole energies on raising troops to resist the enemy. About that time La Fayette arrived with a body of regulars. Gov. Nelson joined him in the field and placed himself and his troops under command of the Marquis.

Everything in his power he grasped to aid his bleeding country. He placed his work horses and negroes in the public service. In the midst of these struggles a circ.u.mstance occurred that was exceedingly trying to his n.o.ble soul. By the const.i.tution the governor could act only in concert with the Council. Two of that body had been taken prisoners by Tarleton--two had resigned when most needed. A quorum could not be raised. The crisis required prompt and decisive action. In this dilemma he proceeded to act as if a quorum of the Council was present. Long after he had retired to private life and at a time when he was sinking under disease, some wretches, who would be only scavengers in Pandemonium, made this a ground of complaint against him. A just legislature put the matter forever at rest by pa.s.sing a special law sanctioning every act of the governor during his administration under the circ.u.mstances alluded to. Ingrat.i.tude is the prime minister of Satan--revenge its secretary.

By the vigilance of Governor Nelson and La Fayette Lord Cornwallis was snugly ensconced in Yorktown. A dark cloud hovered over his military fame. Awful forebodings haunted his blood-stained imagination.

Retributive justice pierced his guilty conscience with a thousand viper stings. The cries of widows and orphans--the curling flames of hospitable mansions--the sweeping destruction of villages and towns--the dying groans of innocent victims--the d.a.m.ning fruits of his savage career, preyed upon his agonized soul like a promethean vulture. The die was cast. The siege was commenced. Washington was there. At the head of the Virginia troops was Governor Nelson--cool, brave, fearless, vigorous. His native town--his own mansion and properly were now to be razed to the ground. At first he observed the American batteries carefully avoid his house. The princ.i.p.al British officers had made it their head quarters for this reason. Learning it was out of respect for him he directed the gunners to point their cannon at his mansion. The first discharge after this order sent several shot through it--killed two of the officers and frightened the rest from a table well spread with edibles and wines. They were at dinner and feared no danger. The result of the siege was glorious and closed the war of the Revolution.

The following extract from the general orders of the ill.u.s.trious Washington of the 20th of October 1781 will best inform the reader of the estimate placed upon the services of Governor Nelson at that memorable siege.

"The General would be guilty of the highest ingrat.i.tude--a crime of which he hopes he shall never be accused, if he forgot to return his sincere acknowledgments to his excellency Governor Nelson, for the succors which he received from him and the militia under his command, to whose activity emulation and bravery the highest praises are due. The magnitude of the acquisition will be ample compensation for the difficulties and dangers they met with so much firmness and patriotism."

The fatigues of this campaign and his arduous gubernatorial duties proved too much for the physical powers of Governor Nelson. He again sunk under disease and resigned his office on the 20th November 1781 and retired from the public arena to private life. He spent the remainder of his days on a small estate he had gathered up from the wreck of his princely fortune, situated at Offly in the county of Hanover. His health continued to decline until the 4th of January 1789 when he was numbered with the dead. His obituary, written by his bosom friend Col. Innes, fully portrays the character of this devoted patriot and will best close this annal.

"The ill.u.s.trious Nelson is no more! He paid the last debt of nature on Sunday the fourth day of the present month at his estate in Hanover. He who undertakes barely to recite the exalted virtues which adorned the life of this great and good man will unavoidably p.r.o.nounce a panegyric upon human nature. As a man, a citizen, a legislator and a patriot, he exhibited a conduct untarnished and undebased by sordid and selfish interests and strongly marked with the genuine characteristics of true religion, sound benevolence and liberal policy. Entertaining the most ardent love for civil and religious Liberty, he was among the first of that glorious band of patriots whose exertions dashed and defeated the machinations of British tyranny and gave to united America freedom and independent empire. At a most important crisis during the late struggle for American Liberty, when this State appeared to be designated as the theatre of action for the contending armies, he was selected by the unanimous suffrage of the legislature to command the virtuous yeomanry of his country. In this honourable employment he remained until the end of the war. As a soldier he was indefatigably active and coolly intrepid. Resolute and undejected in misfortune, he towered above distress and struggled with the manifold difficulties to which his situation exposed him with constancy and courage. In the memorable year of 1781 when the whole force of the southern British army was directed to the subjugation of this State, he was called to the helm of government. This was a juncture which indeed 'tried men's souls.' He did not avail himself of this opportunity to retire in the rear of danger, but on the contrary took the field at the head of his countrymen and at the hazard of his life, his fame and individual fortune. By his decision and magnanimity he saved not only his country but all America from disgrace if not from total ruin. Of this truly patriotic and heroic conduct the renowned commander-in-chief, with all the gallant officers of the combined armies employed at the siege of York, will bear ample testimony. This part of his conduct even contemporary jealousy, envy and malignity were forced to approve and this, more impartial posterity, if it can believe, will almost adore. If, after contemplating the splendid and heroic parts of his character we shall inquire for the milder virtues of humanity and seek for the MAN, we shall find the refined, beneficent and social qualities of private life, through all its forms and combinations, so happily modified and united in him, that in the words of the darling poet of nature, it may be said,

'His life was gentle, and the elements So mixed in him, that nature might stand up And say to all the world--THIS IS A MAN.'"

JAMES OTIS.

Death is a source of terror to most persons. It should be a source of antic.i.p.ated joy to every reasonable being. Death is viewed as the great enemy of man. He is our best friend. Many Christians tremble at the thought of being folded in the arms of this friend who performs for us the last--the greatest kind office that can be awarded this side of eternity. Why should we treat death as an enemy? Is he an enemy who delivers us from pain, disappointment, folly, error, misery and all the ills of our earthly pilgrimage? Is he an enemy who transfers us from the land of delusive dreams, the region of phantoms and corroding cares--to an Elysium of substantial joys and enduring bliss? It is a _libel_ on DEATH to call him a foe--a king of terrors--an enemy.

Frail man comes into this world crying--cries on through life and is always seeking after some earthly object he intends to christen happiness when obtained. When he reaches the bubble it often bursts at the slightest touch--it never imparts unalloyed comfort. He is often mourning over the misfortunes that lie thickly along the road of life.

He is forced to learn there is nothing pure but Heaven. Within the restless mortal body there is an immortal soul that requires more than earth can give to satisfy its lofty aspirations. This soul hails death as the welcome messenger to deliver it from its ever changing decaying prison of clay--called MAN--on which time wages an exterminating war until DEATH breaks the carnal fetters--sets the prisoner free--opening the door of immortality--returning the redeemed spirit to its original abode of refulgent glory to go no more out for ever. To be terrified at the thoughts of death is to endure unnecessary fear and add to the discomforts of life. We should be in constant readiness to give this friend a hearty welcome. All who are wise will do so.

It is evident the Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution did not quail at the thought of sacrificing their lives upon the altar of LIBERTY. By the British and Tories the Declaration of Independence was called the death warrant of the signers. Had the first open opposers of the crown fallen into the hands of the royalists their lives would have been terminated in a summary manner. Among these was James Otis who was born at Barnstable, Ma.s.s. in 1725. He graduated at Harvard College when but eighteen years of age. He read law with Mr. Gridley--settled in Plymouth and became one of the most brilliant lights of the profession.

He was an uncompromising and fearless opposer of British wrongs--an able and unwavering advocate of American rights. In 1761 he appeared before the judges of the Supreme Court in defence of the people against the writs of a.s.sistance. His logic, eloquence and boldness astonished all who heard him. He insulated the people with patriotic fire that all the powers of mother Britain could never extinguish. Among others he was listened to by John Adams who often remarked--"Independence was then and there born." By the patriots of that day he was called the originator of the Revolution. He was the first man who placed his name to a bold and vigorous pamphlet which he wrote and published--exposing the innovations of the British ministry upon the chartered rights of the Colonies. He was threatened with arrest which only roused him to more vigilant action in defence of human rights. He was a member of the Congress that convened in New York in 1765. During that year he wrote his "Rights of the Colonies Vindicated"--which was a masterly production and published in London. He was of a warm temperament--impulsive--if hard pressed was sometimes harsh in his language. He was lashed severely by the ministerial organs which caused him to publish pungent strictures upon the conduct of several of the crown officers. Soon after these appeared he was attacked in a public room by a band of British ruffians led on by custom house commissioner Robinson, who nearly took his life. This occurred on the 5th of September 1769. So much was he injured that his reason soon fled for ever. He may appropriately be called the first mover and the first martyr of the American Revolution. He obtained a judgment of $20,000 against Robinson for the base a.s.sault and on receiving a written apology relinquished it.

His towering mental powers broke rapidly until he became a mental wreck.

The repeated blows upon his head had permanently deranged his brain.

Occasional lucid flashes would pa.s.s over his mind like brilliant meteors and pa.s.s as quickly away. He had often expressed a wish that he might be killed by lightning. That desire was granted on the 23d day of May 1783 while leaning on his cane at the door of Mr. Osgood. His body was taken to Boston and buried with every mark of respect attended by an unprecedented concourse of sympathizing freemen.