property would fall to their heirs, with all the houses, barns, and other improvements thereon.  After a most thorough examination of the papers by the leading counsel of that day, Mr. Astor bought the rights of the heirs, in 1809, for twenty thousand pounds sterling.  At that time Roger Morris was no more; and Mary his wife was nearly eighty, and extremely infirm.  She lingered, however, for some years; and it was not till after the peace of 1815 that the claims of Mr. Astor were pressed.  The consternation of the farmers and the astonishment of the people generally, when at length the great millionaire stretched out his hand to pluck this large ripe pear, may be imagined.  A great clamor arose against him.  It cannot be denied, however, that he acted in this business with moderation and dignity.  Upon the first rumor of his claim, in 1814, commissioners were appointed by the Legislature to inquire into it.  These gentlemen, finding the claim more formidable than had been suspected, asked Mr. Astor for what sum he would compromise.  The lands were valued at six hundred and sixty-seven thousand dollars, but Astor replied that he would sell his claim for three hundred thousand.  The offer was not accepted, and the affair lingered.  In 1818, Mary Morris being supposed to be at the point of death, and the farmers being in constant dread of the writs of ejectment which her death would bring upon them, commissioners were again appointed by the Legislature to look into the matter.  Again Mr. Astor was asked upon what terms he would compromise.  He replied, January 19, 1819:—­

“In 1813 or 1814 a similar proposition was made to me by the commissioners then appointed by the Honorable the Legislature of this State, when I offered to compromise for the sum of three hundred thousand dollars, which, considering the value of the property in question, was thought very reasonable; and, at the present period, when the life of Mrs. Morris is, according to calculation, worth little or nothing, she being near eighty-six years of age, and the property more valuable than it was in 1813, I am still willing to receive the amount which I then stated, with interest on the same, payable in money or stock, bearing an interest of—­per cent, payable quarterly.  The stock may be made payable at such periods as the Honorable the Legislature may deem proper.  This offer will, I trust, be considered as liberal, and as a proof of my willingness to compromise on terms which are reasonable, considering the value of the property, the price which it cost me, and the inconvenience of having so long laid out of my money, which, if employed in commercial operations, would most likely have produced better profits.”

The Legislature were not yet prepared to compromise.  It was not till 1827 that a test case was selected and brought to trial before a jury.  The most eminent counsel were employed on the part of the State,—­Daniel Webster and Martin Van Buren among them.  Astor’s