Washington telegraph., 1855-06-06
Alexander Hamilton.

Alexander Hamilton was born in the is
land Of Nevis. in the British West Indies,
on the ltl Of January, 1857. He was of
Scotch blood or the paternal. and Of Gallic
on the maternal side He lost his mother
when a child, and his education was intrust-
ed 70 Presbyterian clergyman BY the rame
Of Knox. cf tie isiant! of st. Croix. At ,
years Of age. he was placed in the counting
room of q merchant OF that island, where his
talents and ambition soon displayed them
selves The following prophecy of the fu-
ture man is from letter written to fellow
clerk before he was Is Il contemn the
gr0yelling condition of {, clerk to which my
fortune condemns me, and would willingly
risk my life, though not my character, TO ex-
ait my station; mean, to prepare the way
for futuri;y''
In 1772. Hamilton came to New York,
and at the close of l773, entered Columbia
College, where he made extraordinary dis
plays Of richness Of genius and energy of
mind" Ii was during his college life that
the country was reused to the consideration
of British aggression and American indie
pendence He took strong and decided
revolutionary grounds, and wrote and spoke
in 80 clear and forcIble manner, as TO at
tract the attention OF the wisest minds en-
gagged in the controversy. DR.. Cooper,
princirsl Of the college, and several others
Of the ablest Tory writers. were confounded
By ''the profound principles, able reasoning.
and sound policy" of his essays, and would
not believe that they were the productions
of a youth of II. He also joined volun-
teer company of militia while in college, and
made himself familiar with all the tactics
and theory of war
In 1776. Hamilton was appointed to the
command of a company of artillery, and from
that time up TO 17Sl. he was in constant,
active service, mostly as aid to the comman-
derin-chief. In that capacity he won the
admiration and love of all his brother Off
GERS. and became. in Washington's own
words. ''his principal and most confidential
aid" Gen. Washington intrus;ed him with
the most delicate and difficult diplomatic du-
ties. and with nearly all his important cor
respondence- He rendered most essential
aid. by his advice and counsel. in restoring
the confidence OF the army, and improving
the currency. Indeed, there is scarcely
plan which was adopted by Congress du-
ring the Administration Of Washington.
which does not bear the mark Of his mighty
genius.
In 1870, he married the second daughter
Of Maj. Gen. Schuyler, and devoted his at
tention TO the Law. He rose rapidly in his
profession. and soon stood at the head of the
New York bar. He did not, however, re-
tire from the arena of political strife, and in
1872. took his seat in Congress, where his
genius and sound common sense were speed
lily felt. and ''the proceedings Of Congress
Immediately assumed new and more Wig
orous tone and character. He retired from
Congress in 1913, and resumed the practice
Of his profession in New York, where his
clear mind and lucid c,oquence won for him
the admiration of all.
But the services of such man could not
be well spared by the country at such
time. In 1886. he was sent to the General
Assembly OF New York, and was chosen bv
that body one Of the three New York dele
gates TO the General Convention recommen-
ded by Congress to be holden in Philadel-
phia, in May, 1887 His services as
member of that august body were exceed
ingly valuable and when, On the recon-
lnendation of the convention, the constitu-
tion was presented to the people for their
adoption. Hamilton. in conjunction with Mr
Jay and Mr. Madison, commenced and
completed that series of essays, composing g
the two volumes oe the FeRe5aList, as pro-
found in their logic as they are brilliant in
execution and patriotic in spirit Of these
eighty-fye papers. Mr. Jay wrote FIVE, Mr.
Madison twenty, and Mr. Hamilton the bal
ance.
On the adoption of the Constitution, Mr.
Hamilton Was called by Washington to the
head of the treasury department, where for
five years he exhibited the same zeal and fit
ness for office that had always marked his
career.
From this period until his untimely death
be divided his time between the duties OF
his profession and those OF public life
awaking general admiration by the bril-
liaDey Of his talents. and winning the re-
spect and esteem of all by his many am;a-
bic virtues
On the 18th of July. 1904, he fell in NOR
tai combat BY the hand of Aaron Burr. and
ali America and Europe mourned his un-
timely fate
United States Magazine.
/ A woman In Boston, recently, while uD-