CHAPTER XXII.

FRANCIS LEWIS.

"Snatch from the ashes of your sires
The embers of your former fires,
And he who in the strife expires
Will add to theirs a name of fear

That tyranny shall quake to hear."-Byron's Giaour.

THE subject of this biographical sketch was one of that noble fraternity of patriots who had the boldness and lofty decision of purpose to strike a blow for the cause of Freedom; and, as a natural consequence, he signed the "Declaration of Independence," by which the Thirteen Colonies became "free and sovereign" States. Born in the town of Llandaff, Wales, in 1713, among the inspiring scenes and associations of that freedom-loving people, it was not strange that he should have inherited from infancy a deep-rooted hatred of all forms of despotic power and intolerance. And being the son of an Episcopal clergyman, and reared by a pious mother, under all the hallowed influences of Christian duty, he had early learned to look with contempt upon priestly usurpation. But he was, however, at a tender age, bereft of both father and mother by an afflictive dispensation, and he was then taken in charge by a maiden aunt, who it is affirmed, watched over him with all the care and solicitude of a fond and devoted parent. By this sad be

reavement he was, to a great extent, thrown upon the world-not, however, without warm and influential friends and relatives. Still young as he was, he keenly felt their loss, which, no doubt, operated largely in the formation of that character so marked and distinguished in his after life, and which won for him so much esteem and fame. He received, however, a portion of his education in Scotland, under the care and superintendence of another relative, and soon became proficient not only in his native tongue-the Ancient Briton--but also in the Gælic language, at that time mostly used in Scotland. He was afterward sent to Westminster by his uncle, who was Dean of St. Paul's, London, where his education was mostly completed.

His words seem'd oracles

That pierced their bosoms, and each man would turn
And gaze in wonder on his neighbor's face,
That with the like dumb wonder answer'd him.
You could have heard

The beating of your pulses while he spoke.

When he had received a competent education, he went through an apprenticeship with a merchant in the city of London. Most of his relatives were in pretty good circumstances; and when Francis arrived at the age of twenty-one years, he became the possessor of a considerable sum of money, which he invested in merchandise and sailed for New York, in which city he formed a business partnership. After having accomplished that arrangement, he left a portion of his goods with his partner in New York, and conveyed the remainder to Philadelphia, and established a branch of his business in that city, where he

remained some two or three years, and was remarkably successful in business. He then returned to New York for the purpose of making that city his permanent place of residence. He soon after became acquainted with, and married the sister of Mr. Ansley, his partner, by whom he had seven children. In his business relations, which constantly increased, and had grown to an extensive degree, he was ever prompt and upright, and won for himself a reputation abroad which few of the New York merchants had, with much longer experience and assiduity, attained. In fact his commercial pursuits kept him, much of his time, in Europe. But when the "French and Indian war," as it is designated, broke out, he became deeply interested in the welfare of the English Colonies, and therefore was an active partisan in the war. At Oswego he was the aid of Colonel Mercer, when Montcalm conquered and took possession of that fort, in August, 1757. Mercer was slain in that engagement, and in company with other prisoners, Mr. Lewis was carried to Canada. Thence he was sent to France, but was subsequently exchanged. That battle was very disastrous to the English-fourteen hundred men were made prisoners, and thirty-four pieces of artillery, a large quantity of ammunition and stores, and several vessels in the harbor, fell into the hands of the French. The fort was demolished and never rebuilt.

At the close of the war, in consideration for the valuable services he had rendered, he received five thousand acres of land from the British Government. During the administration of Mr. Pitt, Francis Lewis was distinguished for his republican views and no

tions, for which he was elected one of the delegates, for New York in the Colonial Congress of 1765. When the "Stamp Act" became a law, and non-importation agreements nearly ruined commerce, he retired from business to his country residence on Long Island, where

"The fields did laugh, the flowers did freshly spring,
The trees did bud and early blossoms bore,

And all the choir of birds did sweetly sing,

And told that garden's pleasures in their caroling."

But, as the true-hearted patriot, when his country needs wise counsel and men of bold and uncompromising integrity, he was not permitted to remain inactive in the political progress of affairs for any length of time. Consequently, the Convention of Deputies, in 1775, elected him a delegate to the General Congress. He was also elected a delegate for 1776, by the Provincial Assembly, and thus became one of the noble heroes whose signatures honor the Declaration of Independence. He was a member of Congress until 1778, and was always an active and efficient committee-man of that body.

The activity which Mr. Lewis manifested in the cause of Freedom, as a matter of course, made him a shining light for the resentment of the British and Tories, and while the former possessed Long Island, they not only destroyed his property, but had the brutality to confine his wife in a close prison for several months, without a bed or a change of raiment, whereby her constitution was ruined, and she died two years afterward. He was not much better dealt with by the Tories. And here it may not be improper

to remark, that the party names of Whig and Tory were first used in New York, in 1774, and rapidly spread throughout the Colonies. The name of Tory was applied to the American Royalists, and the name of Whig was assumed by the patriots. The origin of these names is somewhat obscure. According to

Bishop Burnett, the term Whig is derived from the Scotch word whiggam, an instrument used for driving horses. Those who drove the horses were termed Whiggamores, which was afterward abbreviated to Whig. The origin of the word Tory is not clear. It was first used in Ireland in the time of Charles II. Sir Richard Philips defines the two parties thus: "Those are Whigs who would curb the powers of the Crown-those are Tories who would curb the powers of the people."

Having attained to the age of nearly ninety years, and honored by the reverence and universal esteem of his countrymen, Mr. Lewis departed this life on the 30th of December, 1803, leaving behind him a name which can never be effaced from the scroll of history or honor. In regard to that noble patriot, there is a vacant niche in "Independence Hall," where his portrait ought long since to have been placed in company with others of that glorious retinue, who won for our country her Independence, and for us an inheritance of Freedom.

"In the long vista of the years to roll,

Let me not see my country's honor fade;

Oh let me see my land retain its soul !

Her pride in freedom, and not freedom's shade !"
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