360 The Story of The Bronx 



during the whole war, notwithstanding which he rose to 

 high rank in the British service before his death. 



The manor-house of Lewis Morris, west of the Mill Brook, 

 stood until about 1891, when it was demolished by the New 

 York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad in making improve- 

 ments for the Suburban branch along the Harlem River and 

 Bronx Kills. It stood west of Brook Avenue, and was known 

 as "Christ's Hotel." 



The most famous of the Morris family was Gouverneur 

 Morris, who was born at Morrisania, January 31, 1752. As 

 a boy, he went for instruction to Dominie Tetard, from whom 

 he acquired a thorough knowledge and control of the French 

 language, as well as of other matters. In accordance with 

 his father's directions, he received the best education to be 

 obtained in America, and was graduated from King's College 

 in 1768, at the age of sixteen. Subsequently, he studied law, 

 and became one of the ablest and most brilliant lawyers in 

 America. Upon the approach of hostilities, he became a 

 member of the Provincial Congress, and, July 8, 1775, a 

 member of the Committee of Safety of Westchester County. 

 During the whole of the struggle with the mother country, 

 he was in the active service of his country, serving it in a 

 political capacity. He was a close friend and confidant of 

 Washington; and between him and Hamilton, there existed 

 the most intimate relations until the death of the latter as 

 a result of his duel with Burr. The oration over the body of 

 Hamilton, an oration famous for its power and pathos, was 

 pronounced by his friend, Gouverneur Morris. 



Morris was a member of Congress during the war, and he 

 was also a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1787. 

 As a member of the latter body, he framed the final draft of 

 the Constitution as submitted to the States for ratification ; 



