Complete Works. Hamilton AlexanderЧитать онлайн книгу.
young woman who afterward became Mrs. Cruger, had a romance of her own, and met and evidently fascinated the Chevalier de Colbert, who had inherited the great Georgia lands from Comte d'Estaing, who was one of Hamilton's early friends, and in pressing his suit he wrote Hamilton the following interesting letter, in which he asked the latter to intercede for him:
The Chevalier de Colbert to Alexander Hamilton
London, this 7th May, 1800.
It is with great pleasure, Monsieur, that I learn from a letter from die Vicomte D'Orléans, that, confirming the choice already made by the public, the President has appointed you to fill the position of Commander-in-chief of the army, left vacant by the death of General Washington, so that what I told you a month ago is already partly realized, time will bring the rest, and I am very sure that in whatever post Fortune places you, you will justify the discrimination that put you there. The trumpet of war has once more sounded, the Austrians are boasting of great successes in Italy, and they certainly must have had some as they have taken Bocheta, which must entail the capture of Genoa, but the French declare they have had brilliant victories on the Rhine.
We must expect exaggeration on both sides; in one or two months at the earliest shall we be able to foretell upon which side Fortune will declare itself.
Condé's army, paid by England, is marching upon Italy, where it is to don the White Cockade and the old French uniforms; they have orders to make as many recruits as they can.
From what Monsieur le Comte d'Artois told me yesterday, Monseigneur le Due D'Angouleme has left Mittau for Italy to join Monseigneur le Prince de Condé.
General Abercromby leaves here for the Mediterranean with 4,000 men; it seems that England intends to raise an army in order to attack the South of France, where malcontents are numerous; it is said that the Russians who are in Italy will join them, they also talk of a descent upon Normandy to cause a diversion; all that will I think, depend upon the successes that the Austrians or the French will have on the Rhine and in Italy. In the meantime all the emigres are returning to France, I am expecting letters that will decide my course; I know that the sale of my property in Normandy has been forbidden; three months hence I shall know how I stand. You know why I long for wealth. Ah! my dear General, do not be so much my enemy and hers as to allow them—by taking advantage of her submission and respect for her father—to force her into contracting any bonds, that, if her heart be not entirely changed, will make her wretched, and drive me to despair, if, as I hope, I can soon offer her the competence that would satisfy hers and my desires. I know too that Mr. Ch. and you think I am too old. I see very well that you do not know die French. The warmth of their blood prolongs their youth. Away from her I love her as much as all your Americans put together; near her I love her J and shall love her as at twenty, and I could love well.
Moreover you are experienced enough, and she is reasonable enough to know that all the transports of love are often only too shortlived with young men, and that similarities of taste, friendship and confidence are the true foundations of happiness.
Such being the case, I have thirty—perhaps forty years in which to try to contribute to hers, and you know whether I desire it. You may remember that when I left you you told me that time might bring happy changes; I replied that I should have the perseverance and courage that sooner or later overcome fate. I shall have them to the end, and I assure you that before long I shall be able in uniting the little she has by right to what I shall have—to offer her, if not so brilliant a lot as I could wish, at least one that need give her no anxiety for the future.
I have neither time nor inclination to reproach you for your silence. Mme. Ch. who so kindly led me to hope for news of her, has also completely forgotten me. Some one must have played me a very nasty, dirty trick to blacken me in her eyes; it is a fine game to speak evil of the absent. Assure her that that is not what we do here when I am with the Princesse de Craon and Bonné, a young woman who is with her, and who is very fond of Mdlle Kitty; she has begged me to send her two books of music, one of which is of her own composition. I am entrusting to some one who is going to Philadelphia, I send it to you as well-meaning people will not fail to think that this packet encloses something else. You can reassure them, and may open the Scroll before the whole assembled family. Adieu, man général, now that you have an army do not take advantage of your superiority to ingloriously fight a Soldier who has nothing but love on his Side, and who has everything to struggle against. With every respect and assurance of my unchanging attachment,
Le Chev. de C.
Hamilton's ultimate resignation from, the Treasuryship caused a great deal of commotion in the family, and much discussion on the part of General Schuyler, Mrs. Church, and his friends at large. As has been stated, he left public office impoverished, and when he was thirty-seven, and but ten years before his death. It is apparent from his letters that this step was a hard one to take, as his entire life and interests had been merged in the public trust he did so much to organize, and which has altered so little in more than one hundred years. The following letters that passed between himself and his sister-in-law, to whom he often turned, graphically convey his motives and feelings:
Alexander Hamilton to Angelica Church
Philadelphia, December 8, 1794.
You say I am a politician, and good for nothing. What will you say when you learn that after January next, I shall cease to be a politician at all? So is the fact. I have formally and definitely announced my intention to resign at that period, and have ordered a house to be taken for me at New York. My dear Eliza has been lately very ill. Thank God, she is now quite recovered, except that she continues somewhat weak.
My absence on a certain expedition was the cause.
You will see, notwithstanding your disparagement of me, I am still of consequence to her. Liancourt has arrived, and has delivered your letter. I pay him the attention due to his misfortunes and his merits. I wish I was a Croesus; I might then afford solid consolations to these children of adversity, and how delightful it would be to do so. But now sympathy, kind words, and occasionally a dinner, are all I can Contribute. Don't let Mr. Church be alarmed at my retreat. [All is well with the public. Our insurrection is most happily terminated. Government has gained by it reputation and strength, and our finances are in a most flourishing condition. Having contributed to place those of the Nation on a good footings 1 go to take a little care of my own; which need my care not a little.
Love to Mr. Church. Betsey will add a line or two. Adieu.
And again later, after the actual resignation:
Albany, March 6, 1795.
To indulge in my domestic happiness the more freely, was with me a principal motive for relinquishing an office in which 'tis said I have gained some glory, and the difficulties of which had just been subdued. Eliza and our children are with me here at your father's house, who is himself at New York attending the Legislature. We remain here till June, when we become stationary at New York, where I resume the practice of the law. For, my dear sister, I tell you without regret what I hope you anticipate, that I am poorer than when I went into office. I allot myself full four or six years of more work than will be pleasant, though much less than I have had for the last five years.
Angelica Church to Elizabeth Hamilton
London, Feb. 24, 95.
I sincerely congratulate you my dear Eliza on the resignation of our dear Hamilton & on your return to New York where I hope to pass with you the remainder of my days, that is if you will be so obliging as to permit my Brother to give me his society, for you know how much I love & admire him.
I do not by this Ship write to my amiable, but you will thank him for his letters. I was very proud to have the American Ministers intreating me for information from America. I did boast of very long letters & give myself some airs of importance. Mr Jay is very desirous of getting to his fireside, & Mrs. Pinckney preparing for Spain.
The Churches eventually arrived in New York Hamilton secured a house and expended upon it large sums to fix it for the occupancy of his rather exacting sister-in-law,