Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-01-31
FLOR the 1ntellIgenccr.l

A. YATES.
In this memoir the author labors to give, what
other memoirs have failed to do, a complete and
satisfactory, yet succinct and popular life of this
great man. TodO so, he prefaces MS that he
has "freely used and appropriated all TIE sOurc-
es of information which were accessible to him
on the subject" and that his "cndeavor has been
to describe Hamilton precisely as he was; nei-
Their to set down aught in malice, nor yet mn
fairly 10 cxtenuate" remember, says one au-
thor, the severe orderg given by Cromwell to the
/ Inner who executed his portrait, to paint him
as he was, and not to omit the warts which en-
/ beIlished his stern visage Such defects as
Hamilton really profcssed have not been over
looked The immortal statesman and orator
would himself have directed his biogTaphers
thus to write of him, had he lived to guide and
counsel them.
Alexander Hamilton was born in 1850, on the
West India Island, Nevis. On his fathers
side, his ancestors were Scotch,-On his moth
er's, French Hugenot His mother died while
he was vet yonns, and his father being in i'm
poverished circumstances, he was sent, by his
mothers relatives, to Vera Cruz, to be educated.
Here his superior intelligence and application to
his duties having attracted attention, and won
for him friends, he obtained means to complete
his studies in the U. s., and was sent, at the
early age of fourteen, to New York, and subSe-
ouently to the grammar school of Francis Bar
Der Here, such was his assiduity in his stud
lies, that he was prepared to enter college IN
about year after his arrival in this country.
! He applied first for admission to DIR. Wither-
spoon. President of Princeton College, with,
| however, this proviso that he might be advan-
ced from one class to another, not by the usual
gradations of progress, but as fast as his stud
les enabled him. This PrOviso could not be
granted, and with the regrets of the learned Dr.
for ''inasnuch, as he said, she was convinced
that the young gentleman would do honor to any
Seminary in which he should be educated.
Hamilton applied for, and was admitted to the
Freshmen class of then Kings, now Columbia
College OF his collegiate days, our author
gives us nothing further than than that he took
an active, and quite prominent part for lad
of seventeen, in the political discussions of the
times, both through public addresses and writ
ten dissertations. He continued to be support
ed in College by his friends until January, 1776,
when ne Joined an artillery company, which
was raised in the City of New York. He deyo-
ted part of his last remittance from his friends
towards recruiting this company, of which he
was made Captain. From this we may date his
public career. Having attracted the attention
of Geo. Washington by the value of his servi-
ces in the retreat from Brooklyn heights, and in
the engagements that followed until the army
went into winter quarters at Morristown, 1T7T,
he appointed him one of his aid-de-camp, with
rank of 1t. Col. He remainedin this relation
until Feb. 10, 1881, when an incident occurred
which occasioned their separation. We give it
in our authors words:
"Washington and Hamilton passed each other
on the stairs at the head quarters of the army,
then located at MorristOwn, in New Jersey
The general said he wished to speak to Hamil-
80 h., r,.nI.ld ,I-oit
on him Immediately. Hamilton went below and
delivered letter of Importance to Mr. Thigh
man, which was to be sent Immediately to the
Commissary, as it contained order of the
most pressing nature. As Hamilton re.ascended
the stairs, he was met by General Lafayette
The latter detained him few moments in con-
versation When Hamilton reached the head
of the stairs he met General Washington, who
had left his own apartment and came forward
to accOst him. He exclaimed in an angry tone,
Col Hamilton, you have kept me waiting for
you these ten minutes; must tell you, sir, you
treat me with disrespect.' Hamilton replied,
4 am not conscious of it sir; but since you have
thought it necessary to tell me so, we part
Very well, sir responded Washington, if it
be your choice
This separation, however, did not impair their
friendship, and in subsequent years, Hamilton
still stood first in the confidence of Washington,
for ability, integrity and patriotism"
After the close of the war, Hamilton retired
to the practice of law, but was speedily called
into public life again and was elected to Con-
gress in 1882. Here his superior abilities were
soon called into requisition. In commentator
of his fitness for the post, Washington wrote to
Cen Sullivan, delegate from New Hampshire,
that he could overture to advance, from a thor
nugh knowledge of him, that there were few
men to be found of his age, who have a more
general knowledge than he possesses; and none
whose soul is moro firmly engaged in the cause,
or who exceeds him in prObity or in sterling
virtue" Among the important resolutions
which he introduced and advocated in Congress,
was one to make the deliberations of the body
which were held with closed doors, public. This
measure was not only stoutly opposed but drew
upon him the most bitter censurc. The delegatci
from Rhode Island remarked that if the member
from New York wished to display his eloquencc,
he might address the people from the balcony.
other observations of a similar spirit were not
wanting from the members of that body. July,
1857, Hamilton was elected member of the New
York Legislature. His presence here was
marked by his usual industry and ability
Through his efforts, the city of New York is i
indebted "for the stately presence and benig-