Excerpt from The Life of Jedidiah Morse, D.D No small embarrassment has been experienced in the preparation of this Memoir, partly from a difficulty of selecting from the multiforrn labors of Dr. Morse those which are most worthy of an enduring record. And partly from the irrrmcnse mass of material out of which such a record was to be formed. So numerous and intimate were his relations with passing events, that his life might have easily been made the germ of the general history of his time; brrt as nothing so extensive as that was contem plated, it has only remained to select those facts' and experiences in his life which have proved of the greatest interest, introducing only so much of the history of the period as was necessary to illustrate their connections. SO rich and varied and extensive was his correspondence, that several selections of letters might have been made, shedding light upon the principal events of his life, that would have been scarcely inferior, in point of interest, to those which are scattered through this volume. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

As Richard Moss reveals in this compelling biography, Morse was caught in a personal dilemma that reflected the larger tensions within his society. On the one hand, he played the role of self-sacrificing minister - a role drawn from the expectations of his father and the Connecticut traditions in which he was reared. In this capacity, he adopted the language of Christian Republicanism and sought to defend the virtues of communitarian village life, austerity, and deference to the Federalist leadership. On the other hand, Morse recognized the opportunities offered by the emerging liberal, capitalist culture. As an author and speculator, he amassed a small fortune and became enmeshed in a web of financial gambles that ultimately ruined him.

Excerpt from A Narrative of the Controversy Between the Rev. Jedidiah Morse, D.D. And the Author The harsh expressions, he or any of my other friends might have used on this occasion, were, as the referees intimate, owing to a generous sympathy and the publick will judge, whether such conduct in Dr. Morse did not warrant some gseverity of rebuke. Mr. Higginson zealously espoused my cause and part ly by his influence, the publication of the edition con tracted for at Cushing and Appleton's by Dr. M. Was suppressed, and a second edition of my abridgment was now printed. The threat in Dr. M.'e letter was, how ever, at length substantially executed, by the publication of an edition of 4000 copies at N ewburyport, in 1808. This was not indeed called an abridgment, but was said only to be shortened. The price, however, was reduced to 6s9. This act, as soon as it became known, excited a general sentiment of indignation in the publick. It became necessary. Therefore, for Dr. M. To appear wil ling to'ofi'er an investigation; and he accordingly proposed to submit his conduct towards me to a reference, pledg. Ing himself to redress my wrongs, to the satisfaction of three gentlemen, named by himself. To this propo 'sal I promptly acceded, and it was accordingly arrang ed in December, 1808; the three gentlemen, named by Dr. M. Being Hon. Judge Davis, Judge Dawes, and Hon. Mr. Dexter, to all of whom I was personally nu known. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.