that the last enemy that shall be conquered is Death." Death is herein personified and represented on his dying bed. This scene is in a solitary place, and the time midnight. An amiable, majestic youth who has but lately suffered from his aggression, Death having carried off his beloved wife, with a noble fortitude and humanity entertains him, although an enemy; thus carrying into practice the divine precept, "If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink." The poem concludes with some reflection on the impropriety of too great an attachment to this present life, and incentives to such moral virtue as may assist in conducting to a better one. He describes it as a "fearful vision at the midnight hour." "Such was the dream the sage Chaldean saw Disclosed to him that felt heav'n's vengeful rod Such was the ghost, who through deep silence cry'd, 'Shall mortal man be Juster than his God?'” The poem contains one hundred and thirty-six stanzas, having been increased from the original seventythree. The latter stanzas contain the moral, "What is this Death, ye deep read sophists, say? "The towering Alps, the haughty Appenine, Sooner or later must to ruin go. "Hills sink to plains, and man returns to dust, "Too nearly join'd to sickness, toils and pains, (Perhaps for former crimes imprison'd here) True to itself the immortal soul remains, And seeks new mansions in the starry sphere. "When Nature bids thee from the world retire, Existing always, always to be blest." Both of these poems have been changed since originally written in Santa Cruz, and they have been lengthened considerably, the former being increased from fifty-two to one hundred and nine stanzas, and the latter, as we have already stated, from seventy-three to one hundred and thirty-six stanzas. Most of Freneau's poems have been greatly changed in later editions of his works. He was given to reviewing, which exhibits the care he bestowed upon his productions; but which perhaps caused them to lose some of their original bouquet, if we may use this word in such connection. It is doubtful if so much revision is beneficial to such spontaneous productions as poetry is supposed to be, and marked by more or less of inspiration. Revision usually being done in moments in which that fire burns low, if at all, it would not be surprising if the various parts of such a whole would seem to be somewhat lacking in harmony of sentiment. In his "House of Night" Freneau has acknowledged this fact, although he was not alluding to reviewing: Stranger, believe the truth experience tells,— Than those which o'er the sober brain diffus'd Returning northward, Philip stopped at the Bermudas; and remained there some six months as a guest of the governor. The reason of his prolonged stay in these islands may be accounted for by the numerous sonnets addressed to the fair Amanda, the amiable daughter of his host. And while Philip sipped the governor's wine and basked in the smiles of his fair daughter, his first pure love, fair Liberty, lay bleeding in the dust; and the pen he had vowed to her service was employed in depicting the charms of her rival. W Chapter Sixth HILE Philip was still a collegian, and even indeed a schoolboy, his cousin, John Morin Scott, whom we have already mentioned, was actively engaged in the affairs of the colony, and had already formed ideas of its future freedom. Perhaps, indeed, it was from him that Philip drew some of his enthusiasm on the subject, as, being considerably his senior in years, Scott's opinions would have great weight with his fatherless young cousin. Morin Scott was in reality Philip's father's cousin, their mothers, Mrs. André Freneau and Mrs. Scott, being sisters. Both of these men were gifted with the enthusiastic nature of their French parentage; but Morin Scott was not so easily carried away by his feelings as was his young cousin, whether it was from the fact of his early education having been in less exciting times, thus giving him time to learn selfcontrol before the soul-stirring events that immediately preceded the Revolution, or from his habits of logical thought engendered by his steady application to his profession. It may have been partly due to the mixture of Scotch blood in his veins, his father being a descendant of the ancient Scotch barons of Ancram.1 Morin Scott's birth antedated Philip's some twentytwo years; he was graduated from Yale College in the year 1746, and had finished his law course before Philip was born. His marriage took place about the time of his cousin's birth. Scott's wife was Helena, daughter 1 Miss Scott of Ancram, whose name appears amongst the British poets, was a member of this family. of Peter Rutger and Elizabeth Williams,1 the daughter of a naval officer of the Port of New York; their children were: Mary, born July 17, 1753; Louis Allaire, afterwards Secretary of State, born February 11, 1754; John Morin, Jr., born May 9, 1755, and baptized by the Reverend Aaron Burr 2 June 15, 1755; and Peter Rutger born July 6, 1756. Scott was a stanch whig in the ante-bellum days, and was devoted to the interests of his country; he was considered one of the most eminent lawyers of the time. We find his name in O'Callaghan's "Documentary History" as being retained by Jacob Daller, who arrived in New York in the year 1765 and invited himself into the pastorate of the French Church, threatening the Consistory to carry the matter into court if they did not receive him. Trouble ensuing, Morin Scott and William Smith 3 were retained by the aforesaid self-appointee, who was advised by them to submit his difference with the church to arbitration. The Consistory threatened the lawyers for the act and asked for an interview, which was held in the room of the Consistory. After a long and painful process of litigation and personal antagonism Mr. Daller set out for London the year following. In 1754 we find Scott's name in the records of the French church, of which he does not seem to have been a member, as a witness, along with his cousin André Freneau, Jr., to the marriage of their mutual cousin Marie Allaire; the marriage being held at the house of the bride's parents. As we have stated in a preceding chapter, Governor Dongan, upon assuming the administration, had given the colony its first Legislative Assembly; which con 1 This lady was step-daughter to Col. Fred. Philipse, the last proprietor of Philipse Manor of Philipseburgh. 2 Father to Aaron Burr the vice-president. 3 William Smith married a daughter of John Adams. |