Complete Works. Hamilton Alexander
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as I would wish constantly in New York I cannot expect it from the prevailing party.
Hamilton was elected to Congress in November, 1782, and held this office for a year, meanwhile studying and acting as Receiver of Taxes. When finally devoted himself to law, he did not entirely relinquish his other affairs, for his interest in the young government was incompatible with more selfish concerns, so that from 1786, when he took part in the Annapolis Convention, to May, 1787, when the new convention was called to meet in Philadelphia, his practice was of secondary moment. In his own State he fairly lashed the obstructionists into line, the rout of Clinton and his followers taking place at the meeting in Poughkeepsie, and as a result he, with Yates and Lansing, were sent to Congress as delegates.
Hamilton lived in New York most of the time, and after his triumph in securing the adoption of the Constitution by his own State received the great ovation which his talents and labor had merited. The Federalists at first were by no means in harmony, and Clinton and his faction were loath to accept a new plan of government which would interfere with the exercise of local power and the continuance of existing privileges. Hamilton, almost alone, fought the majority, and by sheer endurance and obstinacy and unanswerable arguments won over many of his most stubborn adversaries. He did what was necessary to stir up public opinion and to bring all disorderly and warring elements into unity, so that the Constitution was ratified and New York tardily came into line in favor of a National Government. The victory was nowhere more appreciated than in his own State, and a great Federal parade and celebration took place in New York City, a miniature full-rigged ship being carried through the streets, which was typical of the Federal party, and bore the name "Hamilton."
The depleted condition of the Treasury at this time, and the same causes that led the unruly troops to rebel at an earlier period, must have existed to some extent throughout Hamilton's early tenure of office. His cash-books certainly indicate that he was practically obliged to equip his company of artillery out of his own pocket, and it is probable that he was helped by others, for he had no money, or at least very little. When he first had time to keep accounts, we find this borne out by various entries, but usually on the credit side.
MILITARY ACCOUNT
On September 13, 1789, when called to the Treasury, he still lived in New York, but later went to Philadelphia in August, 1790, where he resided until 1795, when he came back to his own city. After his resignation on the 31st of January, 1795, he went to the house of his father-in-law. General Schuyler, at Albany, and in the fall of that year returned to New York and again took up the practice of his profession. From a document, signed by Richard Varick, then the mayor of New York, in the Congressional Library, it is stated that he was extended the freedom of the city, and welcomed with great cordiality by all classes. On February 27, 1795, a banquet was given by the Chamber of Commerce to manifest its respect for Alexander Hamilton, the late Secretary of the Treasury. An account of the affair is thus given in a contemporary paper:
A splendid Dinner was given at their Hall in the Tontine Coffee House.
The Corporation on the festive occasion was honored by the Company of the Chancellor of the State, the Judges, the Speakers of the Assembly, the Recorder of the City, the President of Columbia College and many others present of which a great number were merchants. The company consisted of two hundred guests, the room not being large enough to accommodate more. Great decorum as well as conviviality marked the entertainment, and the Company expressed peculiar satisfaction in this opportunity of demonstrating their respect for a man who by discharging the duties of an important office, HAS DESERVED WELL OF HIS COUNTRY. A toast was drunk as follows:
1. President of the United States .... 3 cheers. 2. The Vice President and Congress .... " 3. The Governor of the State .... " 4. Agriculture .... 5. Commerce .... 3 cheers 6. Industry and Improvement .... " 7. Liberty and Law .... " 8. Social order and social happiness .... " 9. The People of the United States Brothers of one Family .... " .... " 10. General Wayne and the Army .... " 11. National Credit .... " 12. Integrity and Knowledge .... " 13. Patriotism and Honest Favour .... " 14. The Esteem of their Fellow Citizens an Inestimable reward, to those who have deserved well of their country—3 times .... 3 cheers.
Volunteer Toasts.
1. By the chair. The immortal memory of Baron Steuben.
2. By Mr. Hamilton. The merchants of New York, may
they never cease to have Honour for their commander. Skill for their Pilot and Success for their Port—9 cheers.
3. By the Chancellor. May Love and Honour be the Reward of Virtue.
4. By Judge Lansing. The Commerce of the City of New York.
5. By Judge Benson. The Honest Merchant.
After Mr. Hamilton had withdrawn. By the chair—Alexander Hamilton—9 cheers.
Hamilton, during the early years of his practice, lived at 57 Wall Street before' his removal to Philadelphia with the rest of the Cabinet. On his return in 1795 he occupied a small house at 56 Pine Street, and later moved to 58 Partition Street (now Fulton Street), then to Liberty Street, near Broadway. From there he went to 26 Broadway/ where he lived until 1802, when he built and occupied his country seat, nine miles above the city, which he called "The Grange," after the Scotch home of his ancestors.
From his letters to his wife at various times we find that she visited, in his absence, at the house of Dr. Cochran, as well as that of G. L. Ogden, at 69 Stone Street, and various other places.
When he lived at 26 Broadway, the west side of that thoroughfare below Trinity Church was, with one exception, built up and occupied by well-to-do and prominent persons. This exception was a small gun-shop on the south-west corner of Morris Street. On the east side all were private dwellings except two, one a shoemaker's shop at 28, and the other a small wooden house below that of Governor Jay. According to my uncle, James A. Hamilton, this was owned and occupied by Slidell, a German candle maker, the grandfather of John Slidell, who figured in the Civil War. This little man was often seen in the afternoon sitting on his wooden stoop, in apron and cap, smoking his pipe, with drip candles hanging in the window.
New York, in 1786, was a city containing 24,000 white males, almost three times as many as there were in 1756; and in 1796, 50,000. The Dutch element preponderated up to the commencement of the eighteenth century, and this was especially the case during the early years of Hamilton's practice. Brissot de Warville made many pungent comments upon the manners of the community, and in 1794 said: "Colonel Lamb, who was at the head of the Custom matters, envelopes all his operations in the most profound mystery, it is the effect of the Dutch spirit which still governs this City. The Dutchman conceals his gains and commerce; he lives but for himself." And again: "If there is a town on the American Continent where the English luxury displays its follies, it is New York. You will find there the English fashions. In the dress of the women you will see the most brilliant silks, gauzes, hats, and borrowed hair. Equipages are rare but they are elegant. The men have more simplicity in dress. They disdain gewgaws, but they take their revenge in the luxury of the table. Luxury forms already in this town a class very dangerous to society, I mean, bachelors. The expense of women causes matrimony to be dreaded by men."
Angelica Church wrote from London, March 4, in this connection, to her sister: "I would write you an account of fashion,'but I hear American ladies are at the head of everything that is elegant; give my love to Alexander, and tell him that some day when I am in very gay and witty humour I will write to him."
When in Philadelphia Hamilton lived, for a part of the time, outside of the city at the Hills, where Robert Morris had his magnificent country estate, but before this at the south-west corner of Walnut and Third Streets. Although the Hamiltons did not stay very long at one place, the Schuyler homestead at Albany was always open to them, as well as to the various children of the General, and it seems to have been a refuge in time of trouble and illness. Chastellux described his meeting with Alexander Hamilton and the wife at the father-in-law's house, probably at the time when he was preparing himself for his profession. Among the other French travellers who visited the Schuylers during