Tee | Burns, Miss Lawson’s Recollections. 279 
nearly in the country, so that the old Lutheran pastor could see 
his apple orchard from his pulpit. Many years ago, a gentleman 
much interested in Wilson, was anxious to have his remains trans- 
ferred to Laurel Hill Cemetery, a beautiful and picturesque place 
on the banks of the Schuylkill; he consulted my father who saw 
no objection but on applying to Mr. Ord, who was the sole sur- 
viving executor, he positively refused to permit the removal.” 
“Rider, the artist who undertook the coloring of Wilson’s first 
edition, was a Swiss painter in oils; he understood water colors 
however, but to facilitate his work, spoiled a great many copies by 
using opaque colors both in Wilson’s and afterwards in Bonaparte’s 
works. Of course none of this trouble was felt in the same way by 
Bonaparte, although he complains bitterly of Rider.” 
George Ord, Wilson’s biographer and editor of the latter volumes 
of his work Miss Lawson knew personally. Of him she writes: 
“Mr. Ord was a very singular person, very excitable, almost 
of pure nervous temperament. Proud, shy and reserved toward 
‘strangers; but expansive and brilliant with his friends; an elegant 
belles-lettres scholar and when he chose, shone in conversation. 
In his moral character and his business relations he was one of the 
most upright of men. He had many excellent qualities, was a 
strong partizan and was charming in conversation when it pleased 
him to be so. Hehad much of the nervous grace of a woman when 
he spoke on literary or sentimental subjects. I remember my 
father laughing heartily when I was about nine years old; I said 
I thought Mr. Ord conversed like a woman, and being asked why 
I thought so, I said: because he could show off all his knowledge 
to the best advantage. He particularly detested children and the 
fear of intruding on him accompanied me all his life. He would 
get in a.temper of rage at times. Father, who valued his good 
qualities, never very steadily opposed him; but my mother had 
many arguments with him. I have seen him snatch up his hat 
and rush out of the house, declaring he would never enter again, 
and the next Sunday he would walk in to tea a usual as if nothing 
had happened. He took tea at our house every Sunday for years. 
He was very much respected but not very much loved. He would 
often speak very rudely to gentlemen, and more than once father 
was consulted as to whether Mr. Ord should receive a challenge 
for what he said, but father was always a peacemaker.”’ 
