362 The Story of The Bronx 



around on a wooden leg. A religious friend called upon him 

 one day to sympathize with him on the loss of his leg, and to 

 toll him it was all for the best, as it was an act of Divine wis- 

 dom; to whom Morris replied: "My good sir, you argue the 

 matter so handsomely, and point out so clearly the advantages 

 of being without legs, that I am almost tempted to part with 

 the other." 



During the war, his mother remained a loyalist and occupied 

 the manor-house at Morrisania, or a house in New York. He 

 did not see her for seven years ; but during that time, both he 

 and his half-brother, Lewis, corresponded with her whenever 

 opportunity offered, an act which called forth the denuncia- 

 tions of their enemies, who even impugned their loyalty to 

 the cause for which they were both doing so much. 



In 1788, Morris left for an extended tour in Europe, and 

 was in Paris during the distressing events preceding the French 

 Revolution. His advice was sought by Louis XVI. and his 

 ministers, and he drew up for his Majesty an address from the 

 throne. Had his judgment in other matters been followed, 

 the Terror might have been averted and Louis allowed to die a 

 natural death, or, at least, to have abdicated peacefully. 

 Morris was at last made minister to the Court of Versailles, 

 and he remained in Paris during the whole of the Reign of 

 Terror, being the only foreign representative that did so. His 

 experiences read with all the interest and excitement of a 

 romance; and many times his life was in danger from the 

 blood-thirsty mob and its leaders, whom he treated with the 

 aristocratic contempt and brusqueness so peculiar to him, 

 whose effect was often more irritating than soothing; yet he 

 came safely through. After his supersession as minister by 

 Monroe, in August, 1794, at the request of the Directory as 

 a set-off to Genet's recall, Morris made an extended tour of 



