Complete Works. Hamilton Alexander
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Название: Complete Works
Автор: Hamilton Alexander
Издательство: Bookwire
Жанр: Языкознание
isbn: 4064066394080
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Bushrod Washington.
In 1849 Hamilton MSS. were purchased by the government. From the time of her husband's death almost to her own in 1854 Mrs. Hamilton was constantly engaged in writing to the leading Federalists all over the country and making inquiries to enable her to ascertain all the facts she could. Besides corresponding she made long journeys to carry out her quest with more or less success. She wrote to her daughter Mrs. Holly, in Philadelphia, in 1832:
"I have my fears I shall not obtain my object. Most of the contemporaries of your father have also passed away. I have since you left this, seen Mr. S. Kane, he is doing all he can, as is Mr. Clymer."
Shortly before her death a friend wrote as follows: "The widow of Alexander Hamilton has reached the great age of ninety-five and retains in an astonishing degree her faculties and converses with much of that ease and brilliancy which lent so peculiar a charm to her younger days. And then, after passing the compliments and congratulations of the day, insists upon her visitors taking a merry glass from General Washington's punch bowl, which, with other portions of his table set, remains in her possession." At this time she showed a great deal of physical vigor, walking from her own house in H Street to visit her old friend. Judge Cranch, three miles away, on Capitol Hill, in the city of Washington. Her last illness was a comparatively short one, and until a few days before her death her mind was perfectly dear.
Mrs. Hamilton could never forget the behavior of Monroe when he, with Muhlenberg and Venables, accused Hamilton of financial irregularities at the time of the Reynolds incident. Many years afterward, when they were both aged people, Monroe visited her and an interview occurred which was witnessed by a nephew, who was then a lad of fifteen. "I had," he says, "been sent to call upon my Aunt Hamilton one afternoon. I found her in her garden and was there with her talking, when her maid servant came from the house with a card. It was the card of James Monroe. She read the name, and stood holding the card, much perturbed. Her voice sank, and she spoke very low, as she always did when she was angry. 'What has that man come to see me for?' escaped from her. 'Why, Aunt Hamilton,' said I, 'don't you know, it's Mr. Monroe, and he's been President, and he is visiting here now in the neighborhood, and has been very much made of, and invited everywhere, and so—I suppose he has come to call and pay his respects to you.' After a moment's hesitation, 'I will see him,' she said.
"The maid went back to the house, my aunt followed, walking rapidly,. I after her. As she entered the parlor Monroe rose. She stood in the middle of the room facing him. She did not ask him to sit down. He bowed, and addressing her formally, made her rather a set speech—that it was many years since they had met, that the lapse of time brought its softening influences, that they both were nearing the grave, when past differences could be forgiven and forgotten—in short, from his point of view, a very nice, conciliatory, well-turned little speech. She answered, still standing, and looking at him, "Mr. Monroe, if you have come to tell me that you repent, that you are sorry, very sorry, for the misrepresentations and the slanders, and the stories you circulated against my dear husband, if you have come to say this, I understand it. But, otherwise, no lapse of time, no nearness to the grave, makes any difference.' She stopped speaking, Monroe turned, took up his hat and left the room."
In this connection it may be said that the oft-repeated story of the meeting of Mrs. Hamilton and Aaron Burr, many years later on an Albany steamboat, is a fiction, but it was probably suggested by the Monroe incident.
Chapter V
Courtship and Marriage
The years from 1779 to 1783 included a most interesting period of American history, and in this brief space a number of events occurred which not only directly concerned Hamilton, but also his father-in-law. In the late spring of 1780 Sir Henry Clinton had captured Charleston and returned to New York, leaving Cornwallis in command, who reorganized the British forces and defeated Gates at Camden in September of that year, putting the latter to inglorious flight. Even Greene, who was considered the best general of the American army, and who had been sent to succeed Gates, was twice defeated, once at Guilford Courthouse and again at Hobkirk Courthouse, in South Carolina. Later Cornwallis proceeded northward, making a junction with Arnold, who had espoused the British cause and escaped to the man-of-war Vulture after eluding Hamilton who was sent to capture him near West Point. Arnold, however, was sent to New York to join Clinton who had become alarmed. Washington, whose good generalship was always evident, with the aid of Rochambeau, made a pretended assault upon that city, with the result that Clinton was so embarrassed that he hastily sent to Cornwallis, begging for additional help. The next step was the advance of the American army into Virginia where, with the co-operation of the French fleet under DeGrasse and the French allies under Rochambeau, the attack was made upon Cornwallis who had intrenched himself at Yorktown, It is hardly necessary to refer to the surrender of the brave English leader, or the details of the siege or battle; suffice it to say that Hamilton's conduct had much to do with the success of the American forces, and gained for him a great deal of his military reputation.
Clinton was yet in New York, but the Patriot army, still further reduced by its late experience, preferred to play a waiting game, and no attack was made. Meanwhile General Schuyler had been active in the north, but through a conspiracy and the action of an incompetent and prejudiced Congress, he was suspended and deprived of his command by Gates.
Profiting by Schuyler's partially accomplished work. Gates forced the surrender of Burgoyne; he, however, ultimately met with reverses and his own triumph was short-lived. When puffed up with ambition he later attempted not only to undermine and supplant Washington with the help of the notorious Conway Cabal, but essayed a military role which was a failure, and was subsequently ignominiously defeated by Cornwallis. In this connection a letter written by General Schuyler to Hamilton throws much light upon the disordered state of affairs in the upper part of the State of New York.
Philip Schuyler to Alexander Hamilton
Saratoga, November 12, 1780
My dear Sir: Both your favors of the 17th and 22d I had the pleasure to receive about the latter end of the month, since which this place has been a scene of Confusion and distress, the Inhabitants flying for shelter to the Interior part of the state, and the Militia moving up with a tardiness which has given me more real Concern than the Enemy's depredations have done, as It evinces either disaffection in too many, or that they are heartily tired of the Contests. I fear there is too much of both.
I hope General Green will reach Virginia in time to Collect a body of troops and bring matters into proportion before the troops you suspect to be destined from N York for Virginia arrive there, as by the affair of the 6th of August Gen. Gates has lost the command in that quarter, I Consider rather favorable to us, for certain I am that his want of abilities would have proved extremely prejudicial to us, I sincerely wish he may never command, at any Important post.—
The disaster which the British have experienced in the Spanish dominions on this continent will I hope rid Spain of her fears and Induce unanimity in the Court of Madrid. A peace at this Juncture between Spain and Britain would very Materialy Injure our cause.
I am exceedingly sorry to find that a certain expedition was not agreeable to Count De Rochambeau and the more so as I know how Impracticable It is to prosecute one without the immediate aid of the French troops. I believe the Gallic commander has private Instructions to the Contrary, otherwise I think he would not forego a command in which he would reap many laurels with little trouble, for as to success СКАЧАТЬ