4 FRANCIS ORPEN MORRIS 



the wedding ceremony. Without any warning a 

 tall Indian, closely wrapped in a scarlet blanket, 

 appeared at the door of the banqueting-hall ; and 

 in measured tones gave utterance to these words : 

 " Your possessions shall pass from you when the 

 Eagle shall despoil the Lion of his mane." The 

 Indian vanished as suddenly as he came, but his 

 penetrating accents were never forgotten by those 

 whom they mainly concerned. Later events proved 

 the truth of the Indian's forecast. 1 



Before his marriage, Roger Morris had built for 

 himself a handsome mansion upon his estate on 

 Manhattan Island, near New York. There he 

 brought his young bride, and there his children 

 (two sons and two daughters) were born. His 

 military career, however, did not yet come to a 

 close. In 1759 he served in the campaign of that 

 year under General Wolfe at Louisburg, and was 

 present at the taking of Quebec in command of 

 grenadiers. He remained on active service till the 

 conquest of Canada was completed and the Indians 

 around the western lakes were subdued. For meri- 

 torious services he received the rank of lieutenant- 

 colonel, and in 1764 he left the army and retired 

 to his seat, Mount Morris, on Manhattan Island. 

 For some time he served as a member of the Execu- 

 tive Council of the province of New York. Mrs. 

 Morris was the original from whom Fenimore 



1 This account of the wedding is the same as that told by Angevine 

 (son of the favourite coloured valet of Philipse), who was sexton of St. 

 John's Church at Yonkers for forty-five years. 



