No More Learning

The life of Alexander Hamilton.
Hamilton, John C. (John Church), 1792-1882. New York, D. Appleton, 1840
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? University of Virginia Library
E302 6 H2;H26;1840 V. I
? i_p The lite of Alexander Hamilton
CX 000 375 M70
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? LIBRARY OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
PRESENTED BY
'. r. CORCORAN
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? THE
LIFE
'JS*
ALEXANDER HAMILTON,
BYHISSON ,
JOHN C. -HAMILTON.
genus unde Latioum,
Albanique patres, atque altee mosnia Romse.
VOL. I.
n - -< /
NEW-YORK:
D. APPLETON & CO. , 200 BROADWAY.
1840.
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? E
30? .
? G
731. 1.
V. . l
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1834, by John C. Hamilton, in the
Office of the Clerk of the Southern District of New-York.
University Press.
JOHN F. TROW, PRINTER,
114 Nassau-street.
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? PREFACE.
It is generally known, that the charge of pre-
paring a Biography of Alexander Hamilton
has been committed to different gentlemen of dis-
tinguished abilities, by whom, from various and
sufficient causes, it was not performed.
After the lapse of many years, I was requested
to undertake this work; but a deep conviction of
my incapacity, the want of the necessary prepar-
atory studies, and a distrust of the natural bias of
my feelings, prompted me to decline it.
An earnest appeal was then made by me to an
individual, whose eminent qualifications indicated
him as the most appropriate Biographer of his
friend,obut without success. Thus often disap-
pointed in an object of very dear interest, the
request was renewed from a quarter which I felt
I had not the right to refuse; and I yielded a
reluctant, though, I fear, it will be deemed a too
ready assent.
After these pages had been laid aside for fu-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-08-20 04:04 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uva. x000275470 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? IV PREFACE.
ture revision, and while engaged in researches
relating to this subject, it was ascertained that a
hurried narrative was in progress.
An anxiety to prevent the promulgation of new
errors, and the earnest wishes of my friends, in-
duced me to waive the benefits of a more delibe-
rate examination; and I consented to commit
this production to the press, imperfect as it is.
J. C. H.
Man-York, February 1,1S34.
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? CONTENTS
FIRST VOLUME.
CHAPTER I.
Birth, Parentage, and Education of Hamilton--Letter to Edward Stevens
-- Enters a Counting House -- Early Studies--Visits St Eustacia--Writes
a discription of a Hurricane -- Repairs to America -- Joins a Grammar
School at Elizabethtown -- Early Poetical Efforts -- Visits Dr. Witherspoon
-- Enters King's College--Writes for the Press, . . . . p. 1
CHAPTER II.
Early stand of New-York in defence of her rights-- Causes and course of
her Opposition -- Address of A Son of Liberty--Imprisonment, Trial, and
Triumph of Mc Dougal -- Popular Violence--Arrival and Destruction of
Tea in the harbour of New-York--Great Public Meeting, . . p. 13
CHAPTER III.
Hamilton visits Boston -- Defence of the Ministry, by A. W. Farmer --
Full Vindication--View of the Controversy, by A. W. Fanner-- The Farm-
er Refuted-- Ministerial Assendancy in New-York -- Unsuccessful Oppo-
sition by Schuyler and Clinton--Popular Violence -- Election of a Provin-
cial Convention -- Battle of Lexington -- Excitement throughout the Conti-
nent--Measures of the Opposition in New-York--Remarks on the duebec
Bill -- Hamilton joins a Volunteer Corps--Commotions in New-York, p. 25
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? VI CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
Disasters in Canada--Hamilton appointed a Captain of Artillery--Letter
to the New-York Convention -- Battle of Long Island -- Retreat to Harlem
-- Retreat through New-Jersey -- Hamilton appointed Aid-de-Camp of
Washington -- Members of the General StaffJ . . . . p. 51
CHAPTER V.
Correspondence with the New-York Convention -- Negotiations for an
Exchange of Prisoners -- Prospects of the Campaign of 1777 -- Letter of
William Duer -- Letter of Hamilton to Dr. Knox -- Hamilton's first Mission
to Congress -- Landing of Howe -- Battle of Brandywine -- Advance of the
Enemy--Hamilton's second Mission to Congress -- Letter to Hancock --
Mission to Philadelphia-- Second Letter to Hancock -- Fall of Philadelphia
-- Position of the Hostile Armies, p. 65
CHAPTER VI.
Alarms of the State of New-York -- Letter to the Convention -- Council
of War--Hamilton's Mission to General Gates -- Letters to Gates--Letters
to Washington--Meritorious Conduct ofGovernour Clinton -- Fall of the
Fortifications on the Delaware -- Army Enters Winter Quarters, . p. S9
CHAPTER VII.
Particulars of Washington's appointment as Commander-in-Chief--Origin
of the Cabal--Its Progress, Measures, and Defeat, . . .
After the lapse of many years, I was requested
to undertake this work; but a deep conviction of
my incapacity, the want of the necessary prepar-
atory studies, and a distrust of the natural bias of
my feelings, prompted me to decline it.
An earnest appeal was then made by me to an
individual, whose eminent qualifications indicated
him as the most appropriate Biographer of his
friend,obut without success. Thus often disap-
pointed in an object of very dear interest, the
request was renewed from a quarter which I felt
I had not the right to refuse; and I yielded a
reluctant, though, I fear, it will be deemed a too
ready assent.
After these pages had been laid aside for fu-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-08-20 04:04 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uva. x000275470 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? IV PREFACE.
ture revision, and while engaged in researches
relating to this subject, it was ascertained that a
hurried narrative was in progress.
An anxiety to prevent the promulgation of new
errors, and the earnest wishes of my friends, in-
duced me to waive the benefits of a more delibe-
rate examination; and I consented to commit
this production to the press, imperfect as it is.
J. C. H.
Man-York, February 1,1S34.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-08-20 04:04 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uva. x000275470 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CONTENTS
FIRST VOLUME.
CHAPTER I.
Birth, Parentage, and Education of Hamilton--Letter to Edward Stevens
-- Enters a Counting House -- Early Studies--Visits St Eustacia--Writes
a discription of a Hurricane -- Repairs to America -- Joins a Grammar
School at Elizabethtown -- Early Poetical Efforts -- Visits Dr. Witherspoon
-- Enters King's College--Writes for the Press, . . . . p. 1
CHAPTER II.
Early stand of New-York in defence of her rights-- Causes and course of
her Opposition -- Address of A Son of Liberty--Imprisonment, Trial, and
Triumph of Mc Dougal -- Popular Violence--Arrival and Destruction of
Tea in the harbour of New-York--Great Public Meeting, . . p. 13
CHAPTER III.
Hamilton visits Boston -- Defence of the Ministry, by A. W. Farmer --
Full Vindication--View of the Controversy, by A. W. Fanner-- The Farm-
er Refuted-- Ministerial Assendancy in New-York -- Unsuccessful Oppo-
sition by Schuyler and Clinton--Popular Violence -- Election of a Provin-
cial Convention -- Battle of Lexington -- Excitement throughout the Conti-
nent--Measures of the Opposition in New-York--Remarks on the duebec
Bill -- Hamilton joins a Volunteer Corps--Commotions in New-York, p. 25
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? VI CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
Disasters in Canada--Hamilton appointed a Captain of Artillery--Letter
to the New-York Convention -- Battle of Long Island -- Retreat to Harlem
-- Retreat through New-Jersey -- Hamilton appointed Aid-de-Camp of
Washington -- Members of the General StaffJ . . . . p. 51
CHAPTER V.
Correspondence with the New-York Convention -- Negotiations for an
Exchange of Prisoners -- Prospects of the Campaign of 1777 -- Letter of
William Duer -- Letter of Hamilton to Dr. Knox -- Hamilton's first Mission
to Congress -- Landing of Howe -- Battle of Brandywine -- Advance of the
Enemy--Hamilton's second Mission to Congress -- Letter to Hancock --
Mission to Philadelphia-- Second Letter to Hancock -- Fall of Philadelphia
-- Position of the Hostile Armies, p. 65
CHAPTER VI.
Alarms of the State of New-York -- Letter to the Convention -- Council
of War--Hamilton's Mission to General Gates -- Letters to Gates--Letters
to Washington--Meritorious Conduct ofGovernour Clinton -- Fall of the
Fortifications on the Delaware -- Army Enters Winter Quarters, . p. S9
CHAPTER VII.
Particulars of Washington's appointment as Commander-in-Chief--Origin
of the Cabal--Its Progress, Measures, and Defeat, . . . p. 117
CHAPTER VIII.
Organization of the American Army -- Insubordination of the Militia --
Arrival of Foreign Officers--Letter of Hamilton to Duer--Appointment of
Inspector-General -- Letter of Hamilton to Duer -- Plan for the Employment
of the Indians -- Rejection of the Conciliatory Bills--Letter to General
Greene--Hamilton appointed to Negociate Exchange of Prisoners, p. 165
CHAPTER IX.
Military Prospects--Howe leaves Philadelphia--Crosses the Delaware--
Hamilton moves with the Advance -- Letters to Washington--Suspicious
Conduct of General Lee -- March of the Enemy--Battle of Monmouth--
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? CONTENTS. Vll
#
Exertions of Washington's Staff--Result of the Action -- Enemy moves to
Amboy-- Trial and Sentence of Lee -- Duel between Lee and Laurens,
p. 189
CHAPTER X.
Plan of operations for the year 1779 -- Harrassing Inroads of the Enemy--
Attempt to Capture General Wahsington -- Projected Reprisal on Sir Henry
Clinton--Capture of Stoney Point--Letters of Duane and Steuben -- Arri-
val of French Fleet -- Mission of Du Portail and Hamilton--Hamilton to
President of Congress--Laurens to Hamilton, . . . p. 209
CHAPTER XI.
State of Public Credit--Financial Expedients--New Emission -- Defect-
ive Administration by Committees and Boards -- Anonymous Letter of Ham-
ilton to Robert Morris -- View of the State of the Currency -- Remedies
Suggested -- First Plan of a Bank of the United States -- Sufferings of the
Army -- Proposals to Confer Extraordinary Powers on Washington -- Expe-
dition to Staten Island -- Mission of Hamilton for the Exchange of Prisoners
-- Letters to Committee of Co-operation -- Arrival of French Army-- Wash-
ington proceeds to Hartford--Capture of Andi6 -- Letter of Hamilton to
Laurens, p. 241
CHAPTER XII.
Hamilton to Sears -- Hamilton to Duane -- Battle of Camden -- Appoint-
ment of Greene to the Southern Command--Harrison to Hamilton -- Greene
to Hamilton--Project of appointing a Dictator and Vice-Dictators -- Con-
templated Attack upon New-York -- Hamilton asks a Separate Command--
Suggests Special Mission to France--La Fayette to Hamilton--Marriage
of Hamilton, p. 281
CHAPTER XIII.
Mutiny in the Army -- Hamilton Projects a Plan for its Supply -- Schuyler
to Hamilton--Mission of Laurens to France -- Instructions -- Hamilton re-
signs as Aid--Letter to Schuyler--La Fayette to Hamilton--Hamilton
asks a command in the Line--Washington's Reply--La Fayette to Hamil-
ton-- Organization of Executive Departments--Conventions at Springfield,
Philadelphia, and Hartford-- Proposals of an Impost, a Census, and a Conti-
nental Judicature -- Hamilton to Robert Morris--Financial Views -- Projects
a National Bank -- Observations on the Policy of Banking--Plan of a Bank
-- Morris to Hamilton--Bank of North America -- The Continentalist,
p. 323 .
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? VU1 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIV.
Washington proceeds to Newport--Army moves to Dobb's Ferry--Ha-
milton obtains a Command -- Arrival of De Grasse -- Interview of Robert
Morris with Washington--March of the American Army--Letters of Ha-
milton-- Position of Lord Cornwallis -- Americans approach York Town--
Its Siege -- Attack and Capture ofEnemy's Redoubts--Surrender of York
Town--Return of American Army--Washington visits Congress--Hamil-
ton repairs to Albany, p. 373
CHAPTER XV.
Prospects of Peace--Hamilton to Washington-- Hamilton to Meade--
Commences Study of the Law--Writes a Manual on the Practice--Letter
of Robert Morris to Hamilton and Reply--Appointed Continental Receiver
--Interview with a Committee of the New-York Legislature -- Resolutions
for a General Convention-- Appointed a Delegate to Congress -- Letter to
Robert Morris--Plans a System of Taxation-- Letter to Meade -- To Mor-
ris-- Address to the Public Creditors -- Hamilton resigns the Office of Con-
tinental Receiver, p. 393
Errata. -- Tagc 56, line 18 -- for " Chatham" -- " tho King. " Pago 159, line 4-- for " in
vain; and"--"too late; for" --lino 5--for "one"--"three. " Pago 384, lino 9 --for "<<ug-
gcits" -- " and indicates. "
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? THE LIFE OF
ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
CHAPTER I.
Alexander Hamilton was born in the island of Nevis,
on the eleventh of January, seventeen hundred and fifty-
seven. On his father's side his origin was Scottish, and
his lineage may be traced in "the Memoirs of the House
of Hamilton,"* through the Cambuskeith branch of that
House to a remote and renowned ancestry.
His grandfather, "Alexander Hamilton of Grange," (the
family seat situate in Ayrshire,) about the year seventeen
hundred and thirty, married Elizabeth, the eldest daughter
of Sir Robert Pollock, and had a numerous issue, of whom,
James, his fourth son, was the father of the subject of this
memoir.
Being bred a merchant, and the West Indies opening an
extensive field to commercial enterprise, he left Scotland
for St. Christopher's, where, though at first successful,
* "Historical and Genealogical Memoirs of the House of Hamilton, with
Genealogical Memoirs of the several branches of the family. " By John An-
derson, Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh. 1825.
Vol. i. 1
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? THE LIFE OF
through a too generous and easy temper he failed in bu-
siness, and was, during the greater part of his life, in re-
duced circumstances.
In the early period of his reverses, he was supported by
his friends in Scotland, and in his advanced age, by his son
Alexander. He died in St. Vincents in the year seven-
teen hundred and ninety-nine, having declined, by the
advice of his physicians, the earnest solicitations of his son
to join him in the United States.
On his mother's side Hamilton's descent was French.
His maternal grandfather was a Hugonot, a race to which
America owes many of her most illustrious sons, who in this
remote region, and after a lapse of two centuries, proved,
during the war of independence, how proudly they had che-
rished the virtuous and determined spirit of their progeni-
tors.
His name was Faucette. In the general expatriation of
his protestant countrymen, which followed the revocation
of the edict of Nantes, he emigrated to the West Indies, and
settled in Nevis, where he successfully pursued the practice
of medicine.
He was a man of letters and of polished manners;
whether his original profession was that of a physician, or
it was assumed after his emigration, is not ascertained.
Hamilton was the offspring of a second marriage. His
mother's first husband was a Dane, named Lavine, who,
attracted by her beauty, and recommended to her mother
by his wealth, received her hand against her inclination.
The marriage proving unhappy, she applied for and ob-
tained a divorce, and removing to St. Christopher's, there
married the father of the subject of these notices, and had
by him several sons, of whom Alexander was the youngest.
His mother died when he was a child; but the traces of
her character remained vividly impressed upon his memory.
He recollected her with inexpressible fondness, and often
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? HAMILTON. 3
spoke of her as a woman of superior intellect, highly cul-
tivated, of elevated and generous sentiments, and of unusual
elegance of person and manner.
On her decease, the indigence of her husband threw their
only surviving child upon the bounty of his mother's rela-
tives, Mr. Peter Lytton and his sister, (afterwards Mrs.
Mitchell,) who resided at Santa Cruz, where he received
the rudiments of his education, commencing at a very ten-
der age.
As an instance of which, rarely as he dwelt upon his
personal history, he mentioned his having been taught to
repeat the Decalogue in Hebrew, at the school of a Jewess,
when so small that he was placed standing by her side on
a table.
Many endearing traits of that generous and independent
temper which were so conspicuous in his after life, appear-
ed during his childhood. Hence, though his superiority
occasionally awakened the envy of his comrades, it was
soon disarmed by the amenity of his manners.
There is reason to believe, from the low standard of edu^"
cation in the West Indies, that the circle of his early stu-
dies was very limited, probably embracing little more than
the rudiments of the English and French languages, the
latter of which he subsequently wrote and spoke with the
ease of a native.
It is not, however, to be inferred, that his boyhood was
spent in indolence ;--with a strong propensity to literature,
he early became a lover of books, and the time which other
youth employ in classical learning, was by him devoted
to miscellaneous reading, happily directed by the advice of
Doctor Knox, a respectable presbyterian divine, who, de-
lighted with the unfolding of his mind, took a deep interest
in his welfare.
The fervent piety of this gentleman, whose society he
frequently enjoyed, gave a strong religious bias to his feel-
/
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? 4 THE LIFE OF
ings; and the topics of their conversation, opened to him
an early glimpse of those polemical controversies which
have called forth the highest efforts of intellect.
In the autumn of seventeen hundred and sixty-nine, he
was placed in the counting house of Mr. Nicholas Cruger,
an opulent merchant, and most worthy man, then residing
at Santa Cruz. Foreign as such an avocation was to his
inclinations, he nevertheless gave to it all his habitual assi-
duity, and soon mastered its details; but the inward prompt-
ings of his mind looked far beyond it. He thought of im-
mortality, and fondly contemplated from his island home,
those fields of glory and summits of honour which displayed
themselves to his imagination from beyond the deep.
The kindness of an early friend preserved the following
letter, written at this time to his school-fellow, Edward
Stevens, in which his youthful aspirations are fully de-
veloped.
St. Croix, Nov. 11, 1769.
DEAR EDWARD,
This serves to acknowledge the receipt of yours per
Capt. Lowndes, which was delivered me yesterday. The
truth of Capt. Lightbowen and Lowndes' information is now
verified by the presence of your father and sister, for whose
safe arrival I pray, and that they may convey that satisfac-
tion to your soul, that must naturally flow from the sight of
absent friends in health; and shall for news this way, refer
you to them.
As to what you say, respecting your soon having the hap-
piness of seeing us all, I wish for an accomplishment of
your hopes, provided they are concomitant with your wel-
fare, otherwise not; though doubt whether I shall be pre-
sent or not, for to confess my weakness, Ned, my ambition
is prevalent, so that I contemn the grovelling condition of
a clerk, or the like, to which my fortune condemns
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? HAMILTON.