“All Persons that have any Demands on the Honourable Sir. 
     Peter Warren, are desired to carry their accounts to his
     Lady, to be adjusted, and receive Payment.”

Sir.  Peter was, as we have seen, not a person who could sit still and peacefully do nothing.  Inactivity was always a horror to him; even his domestic happiness and his wholesome joy in his wife and daughters could not entirely fill his life when he was not at sea.  His first naive and childish pleasure in his immense fortune was an old story, and the King couldn’t provide a battle for him every moment.  The real events of his life were war cruises, but in between he began to take a hand in the politics of New York.  He was high in favour with the English Throne—­with some reason, we must admit—­and he didn’t mind stating the fact with the candour and doubtless the pride of a child of nature, as well as—­who knows?—­a touch of arrogance, as became a man of the world, and an English one to boot!

His brother-in-law, James de Lancey, was Chief Justice, and at sword’s point with Clinton, the Governor of New York.  De Lancey boasted politely but openly that he and Sir.  Peter had twice as much influence in England as had Clinton, which was probably quite true.  Clinton was desperately afraid of them both.  Just when Clinton felt he was making a little headway Warren was called to London to enter Parliament as the member for Westminster.  This gave him more prestige than ever, and the Governor moved heaven and earth to discredit him in the eyes of the Lords of Trade in London.  But just then heaven and earth were personified by the British Crown and Court, and they turned deaf ears to Clinton and listened kindly to the naval hero who had made himself so prime a favourite.  Clinton firmly expected and fervently feared that Warren’s influence would mean his eventful overthrow and not until our hero’s death did he ever draw a breath that was free from dread.

After the Revolution some of the De Lanceys lost their lands because of their loyalty to the Crown, but in Sir.  Peter’s time the sun shone for those who stood by the King.

But the day came speedily when Sir.  Peter sailed away to return no more, and I am sure every tree in Greenwich and every cobblestone in New York mourned him!

It was in 1747 that our hero was summoned to London, to enter Parliament and from that time on was a bright particular star in English society.  Known as “the richest man in England,” he was a truly magnificent figure in a magnificent day.  Lady Warren, who was still a beauty and a wit, was a great favourite at Court, and writers of the day declared her to be the cleverest woman in all England.  Think of what golden fortunes fell to the three Warren girls, who were now of marriageable age!