He was almost totally blind ; and that and his unusual corpulency unfitted him for the slightest personal opposition to or support of any political or military movements; while his fondness for gardening, in all its branches, to which the grounds of his MaDor-houseb, at Yonkera and Sleepy Hollow, bore ample testimony, and his domestic ties, and his unusual love of home, led him to prefer the quiet and retired life for which he was distinguished, instead of that more active and more public life to which, from his rank and standing and purity of character, he was so completely entitled.

1 General Washington to Governor Trumbull, "New-York, 11 August, "1776."

2 Hie Convention itself was, then, sittiDg in the old Dutch Church at Harlem ; but the General's correspondence, on the subject under consideration, had been, undoubtedly, with the Committee, who was nearer.

See, also, General Washington to General William Livingston, "Heab- " quarters, New- York, July 6, 1776, Five o'clock, P.M."

3 27ie Conv&ition to General Washington, "Tuesday, A.M., Augt. 13, "1776."

^Journal of the Convention, "Die Lunte, 8 ho., A.M., July 22, 1776 ;" the same, "Die Martis, 8 ho., A.M., July 23, 1776;" Hie Convention to tlus Deputation in the Continental Congress, "HAni.EM, 7 Augt., 1776 ;" etc.

^Journal of the Convention, "Friday afternoon, July 19, 1776;" the same, "DieSabbati, 4 ho., P.M., Augt. 24, 1776 ;" tlte same, "Saturday "morning, September 28, 1776 ;" etc.

Journal of the Convention, " Die Lunffi, 9 ho., A.M., July 22, 1776 ; " Joui-nal of the Committee of Safety, " At the house OF Mr. Odell, Philapse's Manor, Augt. 31, 1776 ; " etc.