STANZAS,
fTrom the Portuguese of Ccmoins
-15AVV the virtuous man conttnd
With life's unnumberM woest
And he was poor-withdut a friend-
. Press'd by a thousand foes.
I saw the passidh3''pliant slate
Tn gallant trim and gay ;
dlis course was pleasure's placid wafe,
, His life a summer's day.
:And I was caught in folly's snare,
' And jbln'd her giddy train ; ;
"ISut found her soon the nurse of care,
"And punishment ar.d'pain -
There surely is some guididg'pow'r
Which rightly suffers wrong ;
ilives vice to-bloom its little hour,
But virtue late and lbng.
, Continued Jroni the' iecond pttge.
The paper above alluded to is as follows':
No, 11.
"Remarks on the Letter of June 27, 1804.
Whether the 'observations on this letter
are designed merely to -Justify thejTtJsuIt
"'which i indicated in the close of the letter,
br may "be intended to give an opening for
rendering1 any thing explicit which may have
bseri deemed vague heretofore, can only be
judged of by the sequel. Allahy rate it ap
pears to me necessary not to be mtiunder---stood,
--.'far. Pendleton is therefore author!-.
' i:ed to say that in the course of the" present .
discussion, written or verbalj there has been
"Ao intention to evade, defy or insult," but a
sincere disposition to avoid extremities if it
-.could be done with' propriety. With tins
;Yiew Gen. H. had been ready to enter a
frank and free explanation on any and every
"'Subject' of a specific-nature ; but not to an
rswer a general and ibstract enquiry, embra
cing a period too long foi any accurate re
( Collection, and exposing him to u.iplcasa'nt
Ciiticisms HFrom or Unpleasant discussions
with ahy" and every person, -who may have
understood him in -an unfavorable sense.
This (admitting that 'he could answer in a
manner the most satisfactory to Col. 'Burr) '
he should deem- inadmissible, in principle
and precedent, and humiliating in practice.
To this therefore he can never submit, i're
: -q-ient allusions has been made to slanders
said to be -in circulation. Wh :ther they are
openly or in whispers they have a form and
-a shape, and might be specified.
If the alternative alluded to in the close
cf the letter is definitively tendered, it must
tie accepted ; the time, place and manner to
be afterwirds regelated. I should not think
it right in the mkisfof a Circuit Court to
withdraw my services from those who 'may
hfve confided important interet to me, and
expose themto the embarrassment 6T seeking
other counsel, who may not have time to be
t sufficiently instructed in their cause. I thall
also Vant a" little tiTnj to make some. arrange
ment respecting my own affairs.
The fallowing paper, in the hand-writing
of General Hamilton,' was inclosed with his
will anrl some other paper in a packet ad
dressed to one of his executors which was'
of course not to .Ivive been delivered but in
Case of this mehncholy event hat has hap
pened. As it contains his motives and re
flections on the causes that have 'led to this
fatal caUsirdphe it is deemed proper to com
municate it to the public.
. ' - jvVl3.
On my expected in'enicw with Col. Burr,
I think it proper to male home remarks ex
planatory of my conduct, m-itives and vie'v.s.
1 wii certainly desirous of avoiding this
interview, for the most rodent reasons.
I. My religious an I m jr.il principles are
strongly opposed to the practice of duelling,
an! it -would ever give mj pain to be obliged
to shed the tlood of a fellow creature in a
private corr.bM fori-idden by the laws.
2 My wife and children are extremdy
dear to me, and my life is of the utmost im
j)frtnce tolim. msfjjusj'icSiJi.
5.1 feel a sense ot obligation towatds my cre
dit of mydirer, ifit hadfeally befn proper
for me to submit to be soepjefidried y but I
was sincerely of opinion this could not be,
and in this opinion I was confirmed by that
Dt a very moderate and judicious fricmd wTiom
I. consulted. Besides that Col. Burr appear-
! ed to assume, in the first instance, a tone un-
Tiecessariiyperemptory and menacing, and m
the second, positively offensive.. Yet I wish
ed, as far as might be practicable, to leave a
door open to accommodation. This,-1 think,
will be Inferred from the written communi-
' cation made by me tnd my direction, and
would e confirmed by the conversations be
tween Mr. Van Ness arid, myself, whkh a
rose out of the subject. , .
I am not" sure whether i'under all the" cir
cumstances, I did:hot go farther in fhe at
tempt to "accommodate than a punctilious
delicacy will justify. If so, 1 hope the mo
tives I have stated will excuse me.
' It i not my design,' by what' I hate" said,
to affix anvr odium on the conduct of Colonel
Burr, in this case He doubtless,. has heard
of animadversions of mine which bore very
hard upon him; and it is probtfbte, "that, ,as
usual, they were accompanied -with some
falsehood, lie may have suppoBed himself
under a necessity of acting as he ,has done.
I hope the grounds of his proceeding hate
;' been such at to satisfy his own conscience.
I trust, atthe.sSme time, that the warld
" will do me the justice "to: believe, that I have
not censured him on light .grounds'nor from
unworthy inducements. I certainly- have
' had strong reasons for what I may have said,
though it is'possible that in some particulars,
I may have been influenced by misconstrue-
V'pn'or misinformation. Itls also my ardent
wish that I may have heen more n ,'staken j
than I think 1 have been, and that he, by the j
same future conduct, may shew himself wor-
'thy of all confidence and esteem, and prove
ati'Ornament and blessing to the country.
As well because it is possible that I may
have injured Col. Burr, however convinced
myself that mv opinions and declarations have
been well founded, as from my general prin
ciples and' temper in relation to si mi lav af-fairs-I
have resolved, if our interview is con
ducted In the usual manner, and it pleases
Cod to- give me the Opportunity, to reserve'
and throw ainay mv first fire, and I have
thoughts even of reserving rny'"second fire J
and thus giving a double opportunity tor
Col. Bnrr to" pause and to reflect; '
It is not, however, my intention to enter
into any explanations on the ground Apol- ,
ogyv from principle, I hope, rather than
pride, ts out of the tplcfslioh. s
To those, who, ..with me, abhorring the .
practice of duelling Ynay think that'I ouglit !
on no account to have added to tht' number !
of had examples, I answer that my relative
situation, as well in public as private, enfor- ,
cing all the considerations which constitute (
what men of the world denominate honour,
imposed on me (as I thduglu) a peculiar ne
cessity to decline the call. The -ability to be
in' future useful, whether ' in resisting mis
chief or effecling good in those crisei of our
public offairs, which seem likely to happen
would j)bably be irseparabljfrom ajCon
formity with public frcjudice'in this particu
lar. A. H.
tm the foregoing letters and papers, the
Kditor will make no comment -He submits
them to the heart and understanding of every'
reader.
GEN. HAMILTON'S WILL;
the fffced sale of my property, ft,ay be in
Te dcfntC siffercr. I did not think niv-
Udf at liberty as a man of probity, lightly tc
expose them to this hanrd.
4. I m conscioos of no i tr7 to Colnnrl
B'irr, disinct from political nppo'uion,whichj
as I trust, has proceeded from pure and op
right motive.
Lastly, I shall hatard much, and rn psi
Mv giin nnhing by the iisuc of the inttr
llit it was, at I conceive, Impossible for
met moil h. '
' There were tit'imie difficulties In the be
pinning, and ctiU embarrassmenti. fiom
the mannerof ptceedin on the part of Col.
Bur.'
Intrinsic, because not to he denied",
tiiat my a'iiinidvtrM...ivp Hit- politic! prin.
ciplc, chmrrl(.r nn,i tn.w (lf (u jrrf
htte r'riTuv rtrr t and on diffe-
rent orcasmm, !, in comm' it -vith many f.
thrrs.liAVf-tmd rtr in,r.ir.,1,le' j'riiicUnu
on rarticuhr insi.nc t.f the pntate coil
di'rtitf ibis (leniltm in.
In proportion as tlifsc "fflp-ssion are in.
trttaincd with Mnnrity an I Mticred with mo.
l.tr ntd rH i-iici! H. h ntlht ap;!ir
to me cnnimrndjilt., wnulil he the dnulty
(miil they rem l,bc run .tr.l bv etid-r.e nf
their beitifrronffius) f rxplanaiion t,rko.
I04V. Th? ihsavow.il ryjuiitdor meby Col.
Burr, in a general ai.d indefinite loim, was
In rws yAS;F. or COfi, Ames. .1, At-F.x-
A N dk a Hmiltow, of the city of New ork,
(Counsellor at Law, do muke this my Last
Will and Testament, as follows
First. I appoint John B. Church. Nicho
las Fish, and Nathaniel 1'cndUton, of the city
n foresaid, K.sqnircs, to be Kxecutors and
Trustees of this my Will, and I devise to
thtm. their heirs and assigns, as joint tenants
and not as tenants in common, all my estate
real and personal whatsoever, arid wheresoe
ver, upon trust at their discretion, to sell and
dispose of the same, at such time and times,
In such manner, anJ eponsuch ttrmsas they
.IhesiuVuui-i-and.uirvUor khall think fa, and
oiit of the prdcteds to pay all the debts which
I shall owe at the I. me of my decease ; in 1
whole, if the fund be sufficient, proportional. !
ly, if it fthall be insufiicient, and the reiiiducf
If any there shall be, to pay and deliver to my
e y.cellcnt and dear wife F.lirabcth Hamilton.
.Though If it should please God to spare
my" life, 1 may look for a cofsldcrablc sur
plus mil of my present property j yet if he
should speedily call me to ihe eternal orld,
forced sal?, as it usual may possibly render
tl insuflkietil to pay my debt. I pray God
that something may remain for the mainte
nance and education of my dear wife and
children. But should Hon the contrary hap
pen, that there is Mot enough for the pay.
ment of my debts, I entreat my dear children, "
if they, or any of them, should ever be able,
to nuke up ti e deficiency, I Without hesita
tion commit to their delicacy a wish which it
dictated bf my own. .Though conscious that
I hate too far saeiificed the Interests of my
family to puMIc avocation, and on this ac
count have the t claim in burthen my
chihlrtrj, yet 1 tnisl In Hair magnanimity id
apprrria'e as the? ought, this my request.
In so unfatorahlc att tnnt of things, the sup
port f their deir mother, with the most re
spectful and tmder atieittiun, is a duty, all
the sncrcdncsl tf whit h they will feel.
1'ri.liably her own patrimonial resources will
preserve her from indigence. B'it in all si
tuations they arc charged lo bear in mind
that she has Wen to themHh moil devoted
ud the best f mother.
'In tet!ttRy trhefeoft hatVbee3io sub-
' icrlbed tiif tendlieintirday of JuTyV
.-vin the year of bur' Lord 'cine thousand;
tight hurtdred and fou.f. , ' .' '
ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
Signed, sealed, published and declared
- as and for his last will and testament,
ih our presence who have sribscribed
.the same in his presence, the words
John B. Church being" above interlined.
dqminick p. blake.
Graham burrill.
thed; b: valleau.
Kew'.Yok, Surragaie' Offi:e, ff. ' i6 h Jo y, iBsa. .
I do hereby certify the preceding to be a "
true copy of the original Will of Alexander
Hamilton, deceased, now on file in':my office.
SILVAN US MILLEH, Surrogate. '
rPROM THE AM'RIcAifClTrLEX. '
' General Hamtlton's FfffiB"Ai ;
bn Saturday last thre remains of this gen
tleman were interrsd, . feccompanied "with
military rspnours'in the family vault, Tiini
ty,churchf ard. Although the period "which
erapsed between his death and his" funeral
was but short, yet the lively recollection 'of
his revolutionary services--'--lui acth5wledg
ed superior genhis-his transcendant talents
his-' prfvate "Vorlh his sterling th'tegriiy,
ahd the amiable frankness' of his heart, ex-'
'cited in our1 citizens an uncommon cordiality
ahd vigour to testify their high sensef these
vyirtuesby every-;demohstraiion of res'pectT- -There,
was a very general suspension of bu
siness, and the streets were uncommonly
crowded with spectators. .
In conformity to previous arrangements,
the procession was 'formed in Robinson-street
where the deteased General lay, aboutt2 o'
clock. " 'The following was the order.
Thertillery.
The 6th regiment of militia. . '
IJank companies. -Cincinnati
society.
A numerous train of clergy of all denom
inations. The CORPSE, tith pall bearers.
The general's h appropriately dressed.
His children and relatives. ' .
Physicians.. "
Governcur Morris, the funeral orator, m
his carriage.
The gentlemen of the bar.
The lieutenatit-governor of the state, in his
carriage. .' '
Corporation of the city of Ne w-Vftrk.
Resident agents of foreign powers.
.Officers of otir army and navy.
Military & naval officers of foreign powers.
Militia officers of the state.
The various officers of the respective
!tanles. '
Chamber of cornhnerce and merchants.
Wardens of the ' port,' and masters of ves
Bels In the harbour.
The president, professors and studenta of
Columbia college.
Tammany society. . .
Mechanic society.
Marine society. '
Citizens in general. .
The : military marched' wltrTanlr.j reversed
ahd exhibited a very sjlendid ectacle.
Thus formed, the procession, which was
'numerous, extensive, and respectable." moved
with sAlemn step, accompsnied with the
awful tolling of the bells, and the .firing of
Tninute guns from the batter)', through
Beekman, Pearl and Whitehall streets, and
up Broadway to Trinity church, where the
military halted, opened to the right and left
and c'ame to order with reversed urms. The
rear of the procession marched through the
avenue, thus formed, lo'lhe front of Trinity
church, where Mr. Morris was to deliver the
funeral oration to the immense concourse of
assembled ahd anxious spectators.1
Within the elegant portico of this venera
ble temple, was erecfed a stage covered with
a carpet, and furnished with two chairs ; one
fo the orator who sat in the middle the
ether for Mr, John U. Church, a relative
and executor'bf the deceased. Around the
stage, uno'h the ground,' .stood the afflicted
"relatives and assochtt of the gcnefal ; the
I Washington that excellent judge of lm
"Kan nature, perceivecriils virtues ; apprecta-
tted.his talents; entrusledTilrn;. with his con
fidence, and made him Tjis qpscrni fnnd.
" At "the battle of Yorkt Tie displayed alibei
his'Valovr and bis ho'manity. The excesse
'of the gallant army "opposed tto us,, had exci
ted emotions of resentmetit in the American
soldier, which rcquiredis superior mind'
to repress." At the head of a' rrlorn hope he
attacked the redoubt of the enemy and was
victorious. .That occurrence gave us peace.
"His studious'ne'ss ; his ' Comprehensive
mind" ; his wisdom ; Jfds eloquence, called
him to the convention which originated your
constitution nd presented you with a nation
al code. Here, I saw T.im labour indefatiga
bly for his country's good -"His soul was abv
sorbed in considering what 'would best estab
lish and preserve well regulated liberty
When the" labours of the convention wern
closed, be frankly -expressed a doubt of
fitness of the constitution to maintain,,
.neeessaw energy, public freedom. H
lied, however, my countrymen, on yo
'doro ; votir' virtit" : but more on tlv
ruling power before whom we are s;
' assembled.
I1 Washington, with whom he had
and by whose Side he had travelled
, fcvery staure ot our revolutionary c
:'yashfngton, who saw his manly str
"in the convention, and best knew how to'
"mote his country's welfare, called him,
under the new constitution, to preside over
important department of government. Here,
he displayed all the tarents ot a great hnan-
' cicr, He organised the government, and
imparted to it a tone according with correct
' Motions of its stability, and the permanent in
terest and happiness Of the country. At this'
period we had no credit, but we had resour
ces. He revived our cre'dit', he fixed it up
on a sure and permanent tasis, and called our
resources into profitable and glorious activity.
But'he met with opposition and retired from
"publc life to the suit, of his profession, in .
which he became the ornament of the bar,
anda paragon of integrity to his clients.
The welfare"ofa numerous family called for
an exertion of his great professional talents.
k MeViaced with dangers from without,
Washington was. cabled fitun his Jieloved re-
tirehieht to the field. This great man had
not forgotten the young hero who, early in
the revolution, had attracted his notice. I
beseech ybu, my countrymen, to mark ano
ther instance of his discernment,affec.tion and
esteem. Ile"vicwed the deceased as worthy
of the Vecond In' command. He was ap
pointed major general of our army. Wash
ington deemed him,' in case of accident; per
haps the only man in whose hands, which"
, how lie cold in his coffin, the'sword and purse
of America codld be safely entrusted.
" He Ibildd incessantly with manly firm
ness against popular zea!,'and snatched you,
in spue of yourselves, fr6m impending ruin
His solicitude 'was for you ; for himself
he Teared not.
'Mle had been charged with ambition.-
Wen he retired from the army, of which
Re was major general, he declared he would.
never accept of an office unless his country
was endangered by actual ioreign invasion.
rirm to ins purpose , laiiniui 10 nimseu, nis
determinations 'were irreversible No power
could divert him from them. He was rigid '
and'inflexibre.
" But He was not AMmrnv.'S. I declare in
the 'presence "of that Great Being, before "
whom we are now specially assembled, that
in all his conversations, in all his medita
tions, he was solicitous only for Ihe welfare
of his country. He was sincere apd affec
tionate. His heart, faithful to itself, never
knew how to conceal what it felt. He placed
it in his hand ; exhibited it to the people, and,
challenged rigid inspection. He kner
guilt ; lie knew riot how to dissemble ,
But although retired from office , he ne
ver Tor a moment In bisprivate'eaacityur.
fcred hit attention to be divcrteV, fromnublie
business, lie was a zealous f.endof i;hrt.
lie was attentive, watchful, a'.id active to w...
Wveit. He feared lest ptpular teal wuld
place me precious ucposr. In ,c ,incerc tr,,i un.
T
A
tn
!.cjubcri.otlheX1ncJnnatLlAllt.ckr4;y,a sourwliuudslle-drea.dedfaetiotisy-andwas-
! alt wlu with decency could approach it apprehensive ihat their collisions would in-
!i - . i .i.. .j.i '.i :a :. i t
i nc unit ai iinprenns , inu wui imvu i pre u. i or my k ricno, my Countrymen, I
Mnspfakably to its solcrf.nity, was the mourn. J - beseech you not to trust to trotiifon, Iahl
ful croupe of tender hoys, the s'ms.the tinee
liopes and toys of Ihe deceased, who, with
tears cushinir from their eyei. sat niton the
! Stage, at ihe feel of the orsmr, bewailing the
I loss of iheir parent I It was too mtirh the
i! stemevi x'werss the bloodiest villain, could
It hot resist the melting scene. 1 wish I could
; go on and describe the sensations I felt, ahd
. those which were manifest on every counte
'i nance.
When all things were arranged, and the
tli of arms snd Ihe bustle of the crowd had
fcubsidciK the orator ruse and pproached the
front of Ihe itatrc, tinder which ihe roups
ofCtNMAi. 11 a MiL"j rn wat placed. Mr.
Morris thus addressed his audience.
.Vou are nol to expeel In me the
public orator j you will fmu nothing but the
lamentations oi a ocwainng inenu.
"ins Hie, pointing al the corpse) wis one
tf honour and glory. When our revolution
began, his fame was heard of before his person
wai seen.
AltfcnifV t IoaJ mii i 1m flit. vt. frea, iV.
Y w i l oir r In KwS iK brrta, I ti an.
IW It Mif r h "idi. Tt', nft, tft
Sol asotf iStn Att ot . a. Wfc (ollo ia iSat'it
ia conWiat y i it itt(raf ai, .at cit&lv ta
Sif (T Mi idt-ti id, ndc4, t asiv ft, vl'h aa
fefcaHtfa' Sim, i'l,ol tSia. t4cc to iKff,Ur . I
tit (.am wtatoty ' Nocomm m a iKt ait
! U iaiaaatt. Ii u ii at U ilitrt4,
into; examine acts, and bv these 'mdie of nub
ile measures.
M YoursensibilitvU awatniil. T Mnnn'
enter Into a consideration of ihe causes that
have produced the melancholy event which
has brought us together. I will not I
ouRht not to endeavour to excite thsl indig
nation which you will feel. I pray you to re
press thai temper which might lead to acts
offensive to the majesty of laws. For myde.
crated and illustrious friend 1 beseech you to
be calm and tranquil. ( ,,
Respective collegians (addressing themf
In your academical pursuits remember that
Hamiliok was votlr patron. Imitats his
virtues ; revere Ids tslenls respect his gText
res. And you, pentlemen of the bar, which
lie illumined with his genius, study the ex
ample ht has left ef his exemplary integrity
to his client. He was the ornament of your
profession.
M And jou, brothers of the Society of the
Cincinnati, jou who knew him in the dayrr
fliction, remember his wisdom and elo.
mience in the cabinet, hit activity snd valour
in the field.
" And you, reverend clergy, sesompsny
the body of the defeased to the place of Its
interment, and perform your holy function! f
the last sadoffire."
f Yak Ta, Vtt'iaU, Wra CsrawaUit femi.
V