'vT'''.nnVT
1 . - , '
I ...
X
From the Repertory
Tie s lowing Sketch . wai prepared immediately
after the death of tbi tvee to be lamented 'Mxtit
HAMILTON,
V - ' cvdt lately read to a ftleff company f frienit f
ft i ,; : wBofi'defiri it ufublibtd. "'i&ifgl
1 f TURS are so many persons, rliy, frism
various; causes posses only A a superficial
- -kooT,ylcdge of the character of emtnefittnen
tt it is to bl! expectedv the Extraordinary
rnarksof grief manifested bj the public on"
the death of General Mamilton, will to some
. ' appear atrancc anu to oinera excessive. A
that culd tjot reach ras at'leogth almo&t
lladv to adore hi'm.Vt i&UK'-'' .ii'S
It is indeed no inriigihed wound that 'inflict
io keen an anguish. tSincethe cws of hii
death. the noval and straiigr events of Eu
rope have succeededeach other unregarded,
the nation has been enchained to it$ subject,'
and broods over its grief, whkh is m6re
deep thanjeldquent,Vwhichi though dumb,
can mak Itself leel wuhouutterancei and
which doe not , merely pass; Tmtj . m
electrical shdekat the same instant smites
and astonishes, is it passes, JlVom CkTorgia;
to ixew-nampsrure
of artive usefulness has placed him, we find I times according to hi anxious forebodincsV v
luui nui, iiiuic rcuiai nauij uisiinguiancu oy inu nis energies micrprcicu an uiai pe lava
the'extentthan by the varietyand versatility according to the suppdsed Intesest of tKctr:
of his talents; '' In evrv' dUCc he made it -baittf. ;.vC?.v.'';vSvft--' '&-!;t?yt:?
,; mencaT they may savr has produced many f -,TJicre. is a kind of Force nut upon our
; great men some are dead, arid others re. I thoughts by this disaster' that deuina ind
: i -.I- . cj I - " i a1 i.j .
as. u wiui scusc oi uyiijQn ana surprise, I moap i cspienqenc vinucs mat are .now lose,
for a loss, that, by the lot of human nature,' except to membryi aiid there tliey will dwell
nasaiieaay oecome laminar, ana wny mourn j lorevtr
so much, a if all was lost, when Ve hav I : ."'The writer would deserve the fime ola
. - -i --,' l - . . . I j it' f i r' -t i - i
to many great men leit i r " r v . , puouc oeneiactor,: wnot couia cxnimt. me
t But although General Hamilton has, for character of HMttTOM with the truth and
same years, withdrawn from public '-office' forcethat all who intimately knew,him cbn-
to the oarfand his been in some "measiire, ceived it Vhts example would then take the
out of the view" and contempfation ?of his same ascendant as his tale)its. The portrait
cbuntrymen, there was neerthelesslti splen- alno, howtyer exqiiisitely Enished, could
dour in his character that could not be con- not inspire genius where it is not but if the;
-tracted within the ordinary 'sphere ' of. his" world should again have posses'sifot' o( flo(
-cmpioyroentsi-f---; t ...-; i rare a, gut,A.ii,.injgnt awa&en u wnere u
lyre j it is as Her 'cities,: treacherously advantages f aud rOTrenejr toaome popular ;f '
slain in w&jnlils 4U.4iobe.' Jaa -prejudices,' wliicK he'woufd havf.ydowDfi.
leavbg the Vorld; overrunrwith;monstcr8v
inat we.mostdfepiy'deplere him.'S them. Jje knew that factiontf have ever m
xi is
:v:-i early.lifv -we passioveithough bis the endjpreVaiiedm iree.&alejii, arid'abft:
heroic; spirit in Jhe armj:,' has turnisbed a saw "tip security (and who living can ee any .. , ,(
theme, that' is der to patriotism, and will adequate ?) U
be'iacred wglofy; iitoy.whijh.be: l6Kev&'for wti'cfe He'',wji'$ ;' j?
Inall thetfifferent stiona in whicKalife ever readvto dev6tehislife.hesboke atallt; z. :l)
- k
apparenr mat nn Qtner tnan could have nuea nut ne ever ejttorted conndence, even r;v i i
It so well; and,. jn times bT crifical impor. when be mostpfovoiiTdopposftlOT
tance, in which aloae he desired employ- Impossible'to deny that hewas'a pafriot ' ' 1Zs? f
ttient,; hts' services were justly deemed ab- J and sucb a patriot,?as,? Seeking neither'pb-
60iuteiyvlndispen9able? ' , As Secretary' -of 1 pu'arity nqr office,' without artifice, without
Indeed inorgaoizing the Federal Govern
ment in .1789, every man of either sc'nse or
candour yill alio w, the difficulty ' seerned
greater thdn the .If'st rate abilities could suri
roount. :The event has shewn that his abi
tnies iuded of him -bvu themselvesV Bo ;
oiwuuiu .u aiuuviu w ci l. nil ov ivc9, nicy '
would hot find: it 'in f A hearts to believe
that they'Weredlsinterestedr1."'t' ;JH
'-f
-r ,-;i h
i
..It i witb reauy great men as wtn great .weeps,; as by a spark irom heaven s own aU
literary worfes the excellence of both is best tar : ' for, surch', if there is an tlun like
tested bythe extent ahd diirablenesa of their divinity in man, tt is in his '.admiration of
impression.. ; l be public has not suddenly, 1 virtue,
but after .an experience of five and twenty But who alive can exhibit this portrait ?
years; taken that impression of thejustcele- j Itour age,ohthatJupposuioivmore fruitful
bri ty of 'A lex An deb. "Hamilton, that nn- than any otlif r had produced two IlAattL
'thing hut his .'extraordinary intrinsic merit Toxsone' of thenv might then have depicted
could have made, Jind stillJesTOtild have; th othen 'iyj'dUn?atyrg
J: marl f Affnl atifl rnlinfi'inul da tnniv ' Tn miief it'rHurrl - H tint Triv 'arwl
liiies were greater than those difficulties j-1 '7 tney weretie-
it- .-.J-r- i ' I. ...i,tr--i.. 1 vertnelesS' no otherwise reouired than bv-
- - - mi w mil, in vw mail j i - a a - - i i -
ini.tmionwas'themostVi.eindWhenev5W
(kent.' the most iemilar that evtr ai en, WWf thft specuc e,pt;that national; ; . f
trusved with the flair, of a nation. Great r1 aftd Ito v-
rncp ur inrni. nicr Mungcaiumny, ana
tfiumpahtly .' .tirhi6untin'g'(an''nrelenu
persecution,' he retired from, office, with
cleaii though empty bands, as rjch as repu
Tation and ani unblemished integrity could
make him ' " ' " -h - '.
Some have plausibly, though erroneously,
as was Wiishington's merit, much of it in
plan, much m execution, will of course de
vpiye upon hii minister. :;;-'V -
this case, it is safe and correct to judge by
6 ' As a' Lawyer, his comprehensive genius
reached the pi iociplesoT his profession; he
compassed its eitentf.be fathomed its oro-
"d;lrMps rven more. m.harly;tind: inferred from the grelt extent of his abift
"alone,.; with all it8;inspiration( cpuld have e'7anmeru.nary rules oif Us practice. . that his ambition was inordinate: ; This
! f
effects. We sometimes calculate the height transfused its whole ieryidspul; into the V"" mos.1 men!,jaiBr atte W1fh, ilim is a'mistake. Such roetias have a" painful
mc i " ., . i o v w : consciousness mat
of a" mountain by roeasurincr the lehRih of I picture, add swelled its lineament, into
its shadow v' i;"H t vSH: The writer's mind, expanding with bis own.'.
, It is not a party, for party distinctions, to peculiaf enthutacm, and glowing with kin-
the honour, bi our , citizens' be ; it ..aid, are, dred nreai would theu have strmtched to the
;OttfdaDed.'byhoyen.tir it' a.tjatfoo. that '4imei5lons.of'hrs'.attbject. ,' - ,
weeps I for its bereaveithent. We weepas j Such is the infirmity of human nature it
j the. Uomans did wet the ashes of German- is very, dithcult lot man, w ho : is crcatly
icus.;, :ltisathougnrlul,'Iorebodingsorrow I me superior ot,bs associates to pre.en'
that take, possession of the heart, and sinks I their, friendship- without abatement. -Ytt
- it with no coynteifelted beayinessiVV j though he cnuld ot possibly conceal his sn
fl&l. V & . . " , J' . Id H.Z 9 T . -1 I Z.-. ' i
Jt;s here proper and not invidious to re- j
fAs a statesman, he was not more distin-
guiehed by the grta t extent of his vie w A
than by the caution with which he provided
at amst impeclimcnts and the watchfulness
of his care oVe r righ t and the liberty of the
subject. Id non' of the' 'many revenue bills,
which he framed, though committees rev
ported tl:thr,:is there to be found a siiiple
clause that favors oTdespotic power ; not
pr iority, he was' so little loclintdtodisplay W that the s.igcst champions of Liw and Yu
their stations happen to
b; far morejexalted than their talents,rare
generally the most anbitious. . HamivTok,
on the contrary, though be had many com- -petitors,
had no rivals; for he did not thirst :
for power j nor would be, as it was well
known, descend to oflide , Of sc6urse,i he,
suffered co pain from envy when bad men
rose, though 1 he felt anxiety orjthe public.
He was perfectly content and at ease in pri
vate life. ; Of what was he ambitious ? JNot
,-(
X.
mark, that as; the emulation excited by; con. it, he was so, much at ease in its possession be.rty.wouuVon. thai groundi hesitate ' ap- of wealtlj jrno man held it cheaper.i3!Was
nucng greauanair commonly trains ana pnat no jealousy or envy cniiieu nis bosom ! TcT't ;. n-; i vv Hot popularity ft hat weed ot the dungnill,-
In
exhibits creat talents,1 it is seldom the case I When' his friends obtained 'praise : he was
thatthe .taiiysiand soundest judgment of a so entirely the friend of hiiriends, o'mag-
; great barn's merit is to;tMe gained, exclusive." nahiniious, so superior,'; or more properly,
iy, from bis associate, in counsel or in acti- so insensible tq all exclusive slfishntss of
on-PcSQiir conspicuous merit them- spirit, so franlf, so ardent, yet so.'litUe;ovcr-
.elpcj re, wt ullfrequently, bad judges & b'eanngiso much trusted, admired, belbv
.till worse.- wtoe'$slhotiv this '"pblntT,. often"- ed, almost ?.dored, tlut hjipbver ovcr their
It is rare that a man who owes so much he knew', whrn rankest,; was nearest to wi-
t o nature descends to. st ek . more fi tm . in- thering. There" is'-tio doubt- that, being x
dustry. Bur he st emed to depend on in- conscious of his powers, he desired glory,
dustrv, as if nRture had done-nothing for which to most men is too inaccessible tobe "
nip.; iis uauiis oi mvcsvigauon were very an oujeci qi aesirc. uui, leciing ms own
rtmarkablt; his mind seemed to cfrng to his force, and that he was tall -enough to reach
buhject tUl heh Helicon, he longed '
i . l l. l. r i : . i i. : -j '
- 'rr,
. V
rivals, sometimes enemies, almost always 1 affections was, entire, and lasted tbf ouch his 1 uncornmon' scEeriontv of "his veasonihtr
. unjusV and sill oftencr envious or cold; j life Aveclo not-btlieve that; he left any j pdwtrs ; a supericiisy that-termed to be J tality. A vulgar ambition could as little
the opinions' they give, to 'the feiablic'k',' as 1 worthy -roan his foe, who had ever been his r ar.gmenuH Irom evtrv source, and to be for- I comprehend as satisfy his views ; be thirst-
-lweU ,asJb08 ed only for that fame that virtue would not
reives, are, or course, discoloured Witn me j nave not always me rrauiest discernment 1 wit, imagination ' and eicqutnce. ' v J hese
hue bf, their prejudices and resentments. ! of character. , Perhaps he1 was sometimes were embellished and enforced bv his tern-.
--.-rv.-out-tno. oooy;oi tne people, wtio cannot j toasuauen ana tQCiiavisn m oe stowing his I per ana manners, uy nis lame and his yir
: "feel a spirit of rivalship twgrdltbdst 'whom. i'tonnoti'Ci?"? ' b is inanly spirit;' disdaining j tufs. Jt is diflicult inthe midst of snchva
- they see. ielevated by, nature and education artifice, suspected none : but while the pow- rious excellent e,' to ; ay , in what particular
sour above tjjiHieajis are hiocqulta- er of his friei ''tKffectGs-.. grestnesa. was most mahi-.
ble, and,' supposing acorape, tent time and b limits,'-and really had nooei'-'kixre'spect-. :!'fvst h: 'No. man ujSrc promptly discerned
.ODDortUmtv for information on the subiect t(i those ith'mps which' were of a tiature tn truth no man niore clearlv disniavefrn i' t
irtbre intelligent judges. rEvenparty ran-;! be yielded, no man, nor the Roman Cam was not mtrtly made visible, ll6?emtd to
... - " '' LL..j.J.-.4VIJ tr . 5. I - jtl-H
I t
4:
J--!S:ICourv1eaKr-tff maim-the hvinp-scorns eve rvnb i rit" t WmT&ichl w i'ta tltumi oattdn.. from hisHinis.'
..-str4i the slain. v The most hostile passions "tfial rtQcbedt-' bronly seeme'dttduch,'..in- But prompt and clearj ayeas.tfevid:as'
" - are :.oothed''bi'; ha'fned:lpiiie.TaUHpf their, tegrjiy and honor. With hini, itwas not Dcmsthenesfiike Cicero full of resource;
: antagonist. Thesv If not sOonciV the very enough to be unsuspected, his bosom would he was hot less remarkable for the copious-
blush to confer, nor time t6;convy teUJAi t 1
end of his course. : AVZJ&?.,:-:"3
: i ne ouiy uruinary ciisnnciiunxonicowe
confess he did aspire wra. military Vand for?
that, in the event of a foreign war, he would 7
have been solicitous.- He undoubtedly dis-
covered the predominance of a soldici's feel-
ihgs'y and all that honor, in the character
of a soldiery was at home in his heart.' Tils
m
earty educatjQn was jji:
first. fervours of;Ju3tgeniu'i'''weie''poud ' .;
forth.' & his earliest 8t most cordial friendi"""tttrlUl
.... i if
multitude will' fairly decide On character, have glowed like a furnace at. its own whislness' and completeness of hisargumtnt,that
according to theifexperiencebf ltsi
sion i and as tongas virtue. not unirequent- nave seemea to inmoeiow praise, cs sucivnis
: ly for a time obscured, ' is ever respectable f habits & nature',ltl.at.the peifutiiary tt inptati
when "distinctly seen, 'they cannot withhold, 1 60s, which inany others can" only with great
and they will hbttict meir adnliration.f
.....Jftheoi' the popular estimation is ever to,
b& taken for the true one," the uncommonly
r Pfbund ; public; sorrow, for thp t death of
: . AtEXsnntR. H am VlTov, sufficiently ex
1 plains and vindicates itself ;Hb-'had hot
- made himself, dear to" the pasViohs of . the
. multitude bv condescendine iti defiance-bf
"-Vhi.botiftr-jinri fkn4'c1yw-n'bprme- their,. I hot fdf wantof Mntletfessorroodc.ty:'
. ' instrument'' He is not lamented because a -r'TTie tears that flow i on this fond recital
skilful flitteref is noS mute forever. , h
. . was by the practice ;of hoart, by wearing w ith the remembrance of the man, gnjws
the levi ty or
! Pite of its" mahVn
iiv. ...t..i,t.j - 4 r.r; -V" T? '1 : '..'" . e t ." -r i "'."13" ITTii'icT. -"iili.
was py bold and inflex We -adherence to I the ian;ot us loss. xt gvepiy. .iaments.
exertion & self denial resist, had no attraC'
tions iof bim- He was Very Very far .from
obstinate : .Yet as his frieiids assailed his
opinions-with less profound, thought than
he haq devoted to them, they were seldom
shaken by discussion, He defended them,
however, with as much niilxlncss as force,
and evinced that, il he did not yield, it was
rbniacy of party, but in deIlikV.Taterv" I'could weep too for my coun-
int " mVsrre&entatiort it trvl Which, mournful as it isV does not know
; ' truth, by loving his country better than him
" ".self, pfefernng.lts Interest, to' it-favOr, Bf
oti vuig n, wnen it was unwunng aau un-
tliatiUful,tin ''a 'manner tbat po other person
could, thathe roseTand the true popularity
when it turn's its eyes back, and sees what
Hamilton waTT-butmy soul stiffens-VulrTxwn
dispair when I think what Hamilton would
Haoelfcetu '-"r'4t 'tnSv 6 "i'i'r r-
His.social affections and his; private tir
the homage that is paid to virtue, followed lues are not, however,: ad properly the ob-
. . i w1 not in tne power 01 pv j'J f " vm.v. .w.VuUj
envy td pull him' down, but he rose, r as if and commandingqualities mat gave him his
somff force of attrattion "draw him to the J fame arid influence in the world. :It is not
skies.' He rose, and the" veryiprejudice I ai Apollo enchanting the shephercsrTith
eft little fori cavil, and nothing for doubt.
Somemenjake their strongest argument as
a weapon and use no bthvr' But he left
nothing touemqinre'dJormpFenothing-.
to be ansvefed.XHe not only disarmed his
adversaries pf their pretexts arid bbjections,
but he stripped them of all excuse forhaying
urged them ; he roniouniiedand subdued
4s well as convinced. He indemnified them,'
however, by making his discussion a com
plete map of his subiect ;" so that his opptv.
nentS might' Indeed feel ashamed of their .
mistakes, but they could not repeat them
In fact, it was no common effort that could
pi;eserveTareally able antagonist frbmbetom.'
inghis convert. "'For, the
Researches so disilttctly iresentedlo the tin.:
del-standing of others, 'was rendered almost
irresistibly cOinmanding.and impressive by.
the love, aqd reverence which it was ever ap
parent ne pruiounuiy cocnsiieu jur ii in ms
ownV'While patriotism glowed in his heart.
wisdom.blende', in his speech, her authori
ty with her chafes'. ; ' '. ' - .-..,' ' ( :-'
buch alsa isthetharactef ui his wntings :
judiciously. collected, they will btf a public
treasure. ''-'S?,: ;
; - No man ever disdained-duplicityi Or car-v
ried franirtes further than hev This gave
10 iu jMjityivat yjiyHuia iomc temporary
ships formed.- '- There he became enamour
ed of glory and was . admitted to :its em
brace.,
f; Those 'who knew hi m best, and especial
ly i n the army, will believe, that if occasion - "
had called him forth,' he was Qualified; be- ;
yonoVany roan of Uie age, to display the ta- f. .
lent, of a great Generals ?:-$- if'T-i '-.":rl'-i
- It may be very long before our coiintn? '' V: -1
win want sucn military taients. t w" pro
bably be much longer before it wijlagaia
possess imerti'-t";:-' hXiVi;V-T,''.'-,;Alai.
the great man, who was.' it aUtlhieis
so much the orhameiit of our country, sd
exclusively fittedin its extrmity, to be it
champiOo, js withdrawn to a purer Sctnord
. We are left fdibdless labours and una 'n
yaiung regret.. - ...?-;.:-'.-;i. .:'.. t
7 And peaceful slept h"i mighty HectiiiiatoSv' ' T" -;
IS
SO
rv. r: u.- i ' . t : ' v-.
. The most' substantial clorv of Aountrt? rtM if I
is in it's various irreat men. Its ntniimnt ir1 f
will depend on . its docili ty. V leaM front ,'r7' p
their exaniple. That nation is fated tq ig ' rs t '
nbminy and 8'eTitu4efor.vhichVuxH".t" i " - f ,
havdived in valn PoWermay belseizecf9!
u ";w8 uw i.yet oaroarousiand wcaiuv
may be enjoyed by one thafit finds or red
derrtordid t the one is the gift and the'spbri';
tif acildeiit,1 ani iStf'ctWii th;4jort fl