The confidence of his fellow-citizens was again shown, in his election as one of the representatives From Phila delphia, in the first Congress that sat at New-York after the ratification of the federal compact by the number of states required thereby, to establish it as the grand basis of the law of the land.
It adds not a little to the merit of Mr. Morris to be able to say, that notwithstanding his numerous engagements as a public orprivate character, their magnitude, and often per plexing nature, he was enabled to fulfil all the private du ties which his high standing in society necessarily impos ed upon him. His house was the scat of elegant, but unos tentatious hospitality, and his domestic affairs were ma naged with the same admirable order which had so long, so proverbially distinguished his counting-house, and the offices of the secret committee of Congress, and that of Finance. This happy union of well-conducted official and domestic concerns, was owing, in the first case, to his own superior talents for despatch, and method in busi ness, and, in the last, to the qualifications of his excel lent partner, the sister of the esteemed bishop of Penn sylvania, Dr. White. An introduction to Mr. Morris, was a matter of course, with all the strangers in good society, who for half a century visited Philadelphia, either on commercial, public, or pi ivate business, and it is not saying too much to assert, that during a certain period, it greatly depended upon him to do the honours of the city : and certainly no one was more qualified or more willing to support them. Although active in the acquisition of wealth as a merchant, no one more freely parted with his gains, for public or private purposes of a meritorious nature, whether these were to support the credit of the government, to promote objects of huma nity, local improvement, the welfare of meritorious in dividuals in society, or a faithful oommercial servant The instances in which he shone on all these occasions were numerous. Some in reference to the three former
particulars have been mentioned, and more of his disin terested generosity in respect to the last could be given, were the present communication intended to be any thing more than a hasty sketch. The prime of his life was engaged in discharging the most important civil trusts to his country, that could possibly fall to the lot of any man ; and millions passed through his hands as a public officer, without the smallest breath of insinuation against his correctness, or of negligence,amidst the "de faulters of unaccounted thousands," or the losses sustain ed by the reprehensible carelessnesk or national agents.
From the foregoing short statement, we may have some idea of the nature and magnitude of the services rendered by Mr. Morris to the United States. It may be truly said, that few men acted a more conspicuous or useful part ; and when we recollect that it was by his exertions and talents that the United States were so often relieved from their difficulties at times of depression and pecuniary distress, an estimate may be formed of the weight of obligations due to him from the people of the present day. Justly, there fore, may an elegant historian of the American War say, " Certainly the Americans owed, and still ewe, as much acknowledgment to the financial operations of Robert Morris, as to the negotiations of Benjamin Franklin, or even the arms of George Washington.?" After the close of the American war, Mr. Morris was among the first in the States who extensively engaged in the East India and China trade. He died in Phila delphia, in the year 1806, in the 73d year of his age.