New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-26

A c0ILEC1IoN OF THE FACTS AND Docu-
MAJoR GENERAI. AI!EXANDER HhMfi IL
viii WI T THH vS SSMNSG 6KArI6ssE JH
MONS MONS , AND EUhoGIE t i, THAT HAVE TiEES
AND CHARACTER BY the Editor OF ''The
ton. Aif1in Co.
The approaching centenary Of the death of
Hamilton makes especially appropriate this re-
print OF Coleman's Collection No romantic at
tempt OF the novelist TO portray the tragedy OF
this most fascinating and perhaps greatest OF
American statesmen can rival in vividness and
pathos these simple, quaint, old fashioned rec
ords- William Coleman. the first Editor Of THE
Evening Post" was a personal and party friend
OF Hamilton He had been for time a law
partner OF Aaron Burr, but had been set up in
journalism by Hamilton and his associates
when, In 1901, they desired the establishment Of
Federalist organ After the death OF Hamil-
ton Coleman undertook to gather In permanent
form account OF the duel and the circun-
stances which led to It. In yindication OF his
patrons memory. He did this 1udiciousy, and,
n spite OF the bitterness Of the time. his work
3 unmarried by any undisnified animadversions
on Bur any other lack OF self-restraint The
collection begins with the correspondence pre-
ceding the duel. account of the meeting and
Hamltons touching letter expressing his horror
of the custom, his for accepting the chal-
lenge and his determination not to injure Burr.
letter OF DR.. Hosack- the surgeon, tells the
medical history OF the case and contains an af-
fecting picture OF Hamilton IN his last hours
suffering terribly, sensible Of his situation and
deeply affected. yet self-controlled. looking at
his seven children assembled at his bedside and
comforting his distracted wife with the repeated
Injunction: Remember. my Eliza, you a
Christian"
Immediately being brought to New-York
Hamilton sent for Bishop Moore and asked for
the communion, saying that he had long in
tended to unite with the church. The bishop
did not, under the circumstances, wish to be
precipitate, and went away without complying
with the request The Rev. Dr. Mason, Of the
Reformed Church, then sent for but he
said that he forbidden to administer the
sacrament privately. and at a second interview
Bishop Moore met Hamilton's wishes. Both
clergymen published records Of their interviews
Hamilton's reception into the Episcopal Church
made natural his burial IN Trinity Church yard
Otherwise. instead Of tomb still standing IN
the financial heart OF America, whose prosperity
Is due TO him more than to any other one man.
all signs OF his resting place might be obliter-
ated by the buildings which most Of
the old cemetery sites
The funeral was marked by universal signs Of
mourning. At the church door Gouverneur Nor
country memorial orations were listened to and
resolutions passed OF them all the most ia
NOUS IN after times was that delivered at the
North Dutch Church, OF Albany. by Eliphalet
Mott, afterward president OF Union College
then only thirty-one years old. This address
on the SIN OF duelling attracted wide attention
and next to the sorrow awakened by the sacri-
Zee Of Hamilton himself was probably the most
powerful influence OF the time for the discour-
agement of the barbarous custom. 1t is rarely
read now but for years parts OF it were to be
found In almost every school reader, and to be
heard In defamation from almost every school
platform
The collection contains several memorial
sketches Of Hamilton. including the brilliant
personal Characterization published anonymous
IL in a Boston journal, which is supposed TO
have been the work OF Fisher Ames. A large
number Of elegiac verses also included. but
they are more curious than interesting.
THE OTECT