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.