Complete Works. Hamilton Alexander

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СКАЧАТЬ a vast expenditure of paper, ink, and blotting sand; and some of his characteristic letters are presented. His attentions to Miss Schuyler met with the hearty approval of her father, who wrote to him as follows:

      You cannot my dear Sir, be more happy at the connection you have made with my family than I am. Until the child of a parent has made a judicious choice his heart is in continual anxiety; but this anxiety was removed the moment I discovered on whom she had placed her affections. I am pleased with every instance of delicacy in those who are dear to me, and I think I read your soul on that occasion you mention. I shall therefore only entreat you to consider me as one who wishes in every way to promote your happiness, and I shall.

      Shortly after this he wrote to his future mother-in-law the following:

       Alexander Hamilton to Mrs. Philip Schuyler

      Madam : The inclosed letter came to hand two days ago, and I take the earliest opportunity of forwarding it. I cannot forbear indulging my feelings, by entreating you to accept the assurances of my gratitude for your kind compliance with my wishes to be united to your amiable daughter.... I leave it to my conduct rather than expressions to testify the sincerity of my affection for her—the respect I have for her parents—the desire I shall always feel to justify their confidence and merit their friendship. May I hope Madam, you will not consider it as mere profession, when I add, that though I have not the happiness of a personal acquaintance with you, I am no stranger to the qualities which distinguish your character—and these make the relation in which I shall stand to you, not one of the least pleasing circumstances of my union with your daughter. My heart anticipates the sentiment of that relation and wishes to give you proof of the respectful and affectionate attachment with which I have the honor to be

      Madam

      Yours

      Alexander Hamilton.

      Hd. qr. Apnl 14. 80.

      But few letters remain which enable us to mark the advance of Hamilton's wooing, but a little verse is in my possession which was found in a tiny bag hanging from his wife's neck after her death, and which she had evidently always worn, and it was quite probably given to her when they were together this winter. What is apparently a sonnet was written upon a piece of torn and yellow paper, fragments of which had been sewn together with ordinary thread.

      ANSWER TO THE INQUIRY WHY I SIGHED

      Before no mortal ever knew

      A love like mine so tender—true—

      Completely wretched—you away—

      And but half blessed e'en while you stay.

      If present love [illegible] face

      Deny you to my fond embrace

      No joy unmixed my bosom warms

      But when my angel's in my arms."

      The letters written to his sweetheart varied much in their nature—some were ardent and full of the extravagant language of the time, others were of greater interest to the historical student of to-day, because in narrative form they gave a graphic idea of the happenings at this important period. It is impossible to separate them, and, as the dates are sometimes omitted, identification is difficult. It is hoped, however, that their presentation will at least afford some idea of what Hamilton felt and did during the time he was paying his addresses to Elizabeth Schuyler.

       Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Schuyler

      MORRISTOWN, July 2, 1780.

      I have been waiting, my love, for an opportunity of writing to you but none has offered. I sit down to have a line ready for a sudden call which will be enclosed to Col. Hay. The enclosed was sent to you at Morristown, but missed you, as it contains ideas that often occur to me I send it now. Last evening Dr. Cochran delivered me the dear lines you wrote me from Nicholsons. I shall impatiently long to hear of your arrival at Albany and the state of your health. I am perfectly well proof against anything that can assail mine. We have no change in our affairs since you left us. I should regret the time already lost in inactivity if it did not bring us nearer to that sweet reunion for which we so ardently wish. I never look forward to that period without sensations I cannot describe.

      I love you more and more every hour. The sweet softness and delicacy of your mind and manners, the elevation of your sentiments, the real goodness of your heart—its tenderness to me—the beauties of your face and person—your unpretending good sense and that innocent symplicity and frankness which pervade your actions, all these appear to me with increasing amiableness, and place you in my estimation above all the rest of your sex.

      I entreat you, my charmer, not to neglect the charges I gave you, particularly that of taking care of yourself and that of employing all your leisure in reading. Nature has been very kind to you, do not neglect to cultivate her gifts and to enable yourself to make the distinguished figure in all respects to which you are entided to aspire. You excel most of your sex in all the amiable qualities, endeavor to excel them equally in the splendid ones. You can do it if you please, and I shall take pride in it,—It will be a fund too to diversify our enjoyment and amusements and fill all our moments to advantage.

      I have received a letter from Major Laurens soliciting an interview, on the Pennsylvania Boundary. The General had half consented to its taking place. I hope to be permitted to meet him, if so I will go to Philadelphia and then you may depend, I shall not forget the picture you requested. Yours, my angel, with inviolable fidelity—

      Alex. Hamilton.

      July 4.

      It is now the fourth and no opportunity has offered. I open my letter just to tell you your Papa has been unwell with a touch of the Quinsy, but is now almost perfectly recovered. He hoped to be at Head Quarters today. He is eight miles off. I saw him last evening and heard from him this morning. I mention this least you should hear of his indisposition through an exaggerated channel and be unnecessarily alarmed.

      Affectionately present me to your Mamma.

      Adieu my love.

      The engagement of Elizabeth Schuyler certainly created a stir among her young friends, and Kitty Livingston, a boon companion, in a letter written from Lebanon, June 20,1780, says: " If you should see the Col. present my compliments and tell him I hope to see him on the Banks of Hudson near Claremont where Flora shall mix his Laurels with Flowers and Pomona heap him with fruit."

      Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler were engaged some time during 1779, but were separated for a great part of the time, and the courtship was interrupted by long journeys undertaken by him, and by the occurrence of important conferences, or of dramatic events of the most thrilling character. He had been sent to Perth Amboy to exchange prisoners, and undoubtedly the social courtesies for the time prevailed. Doubdess many of the English officers who toasted Elizabeth Schuyler and her sister had, at an earlier period, accepted General Schuyler's hospitality at Albany or Saratoga.

      Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Schuyler

      Amboy, Mar. 17, 1780.

      Thursday afternoon.

      My dearest girl: I wrote you a hasty letter two days ago, since which I have had the happiness of hearing you were well by Colonel Webb, and did not forget me when he was coming away. Every moment of my stay here becomes more and more irksome, but I hope two or three days will СКАЧАТЬ