As an illustration of his good nature and the phil- I osophy with which he bore the infliction, it is related I that a pious friend who called upon him to otter his I condolenc' , also informed him that the accident I was a blessing in disguise, as it would diminish the [ inducements for seeking the pleasures and dissipations of life, and give him ample time for pious meditation. iMurris replied : " My good sir, you argue the matter so handsomely, and point out so clearly the advantages of being without legs, that I am almost tempted to part with the other." In the house at Morrisania, [ built by Mr. Morris in later years, are still to be I seen the imprints of his wooden stump made by ' him in going up and down stairs. To another , friend he said : " Oh, sir, the loss is much less , than you imagine ; I shall doubtless be a steadier ' man with one leg than with two." In 1781 RobcrP

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

Morris, superintendent of the finances, appointed Gouverneur assistant superintendent, at the enormous sahiry of eighteen hundred and fifty dollars per annum. He served in that cai^acity for nearly three years. He also acted as one of the commissioners for the exchange of prisoners of war in 1782. In 1783-84 he returned to New York, the treaty of peace having been signed, and visited his mother at Morrisania after an absence of nearly seven years. The estate had sufiered much by the dej^redations of tlie troops on both sides. Timber had been cut off of four hundred and seventy-four acres of woodland and used for ship building, artillery and fire-wood. De Lancey's corps had been quartered on the property, and had erected seventy huts and cultivated the land, burning the wood for fuel.