ved, in the noble spirit of his friend, an excess of that deliwhich he himself cherished.

cacy

In the intercourse of these martial youths, there was a deep fondness of friendship, which approached the tenderness of feminine attachment. On the annunciation of his sad fate, Hamilton writes to La Fayette, -"Poor Laurens! he has fallen a sacrifice to his ardour, in a trifling skirmish in South Carolina. You know how truly I loved him, and will judge how much I regret him."

This simple tribute of affection, conveyed a deeper meaning than is expressed; for while his country deplored the untimely fate of this their favourite youth, cut off in the career of honour, his friend knew the deep wound he had received at an early period of his life, and that there was that upon his memory which made the latest moment the most desired of his existence.

CHAPTER XV.

[1782.]

AT the close of the year, Hamilton, as has been previously mentioned, returned to Albany.

There, amidst a circle of friends, to whom his social virtues more endeared him than the lustre of his reputation, he, whose lot from infancy had been cast among strangers, enjoyed all the happiness of finding in General Schuyler and his family a second parent, and new relatives.

In this hospitable abode he remained until the ensuing spring, mingling cheerfully with the small society of a place, where a simplicity of manners then prevailed, almost patriarchal; and strengthening the intimacy he had already formed with Schuyler, who saw, with pride, the developement of the powers of his mind, and with whom his life. was a continued scene of uninterrupted regard, harmony, and confidence.

Although no definitive opinion could be formed in the course of the winter, as to the conclusion of a treaty, and the measures of congress, prompted by the zealous exhortations of General Washington, indicated a determination to prepare for a vigorous prosecution of the war, which the proceedings of the English parliament, at the beginning of its session evinced no disposition to discontinue, yet the advices received by Colonel Hamilton from the Marquis De La Fayette, who was in close conference with the Ame. rican negotiators, and lending all his influence to promote their views, and from the Viscount De Noailles, of the tem per of the continental powers, with the situation of the British army in the northern states, gave little reason to expect an active campaign in that quarter.

The birth of a son imposed on him new obligations; and, influenced by these considerations, he determined to prepare himself for the duties of private life. He selected the profession of the law, - a pursuit which was justly deemed the most honourable in the country, and in which had been formed the largest number of its most conspicuous charac

ters.

On the first intimation of this purpose, his friends, unwilling to lose his services to the public, strongly urged him to defer his purpose. The idea of his being appointed a commissioner to conclude a peace, was suggested to him, and the slow advances of the legal profession, in an impoverished and inactive community were depicted, to deter him from making what was then deemed a sacrifice.

But his ideas of personal independence, induced him to decline the most generous offers of aid from Schuyler, and to the dark professional prospects which were held up, he replied, with a modest, but confident expression of his reliance on the certainties of perseverance.

With these views, he proceeded to Philadelphia, and, although his sole resources were in himself, addressed the following letters to General Washington, strongly illustrative of the pride and disinterestedness of his character.

HAMILTON TO WASHINGTON.

SIR,

I need not observe to your excellency, that respect for the opinion of congress will not permit me to be indifferent to the impressions they may receive of my conduct. On this principle, though I do not think the subject of the enclosed letter of sufficient importance to request an official communication of it, yet I should be happy it might in some way be known to the members of that honourable body. Should they hereafter learn, that though retained on the list of their officers, I am not in the execution of the duties

of my station, I wish them to be sensible, that it is not a diminished zeal which induces me voluntarily to withdraw my services, but that I only refrain from intruding them, when circumstances seem to have made them either not necessary, or not desired; and that I shall not receive emoluments, without performing the conditions to which they were annexed. I also wish them to be apprized, upon what footing my future continuance in the army is placed, that they may judge how far it is expedient to permit it. I therefore take the liberty to request the favour of your excellency to impart the knowledge of my situation, in such manner as you think most convenient.

I have the honour to be,

With perfect respect,

Your excellency's

Most obedient and humble servant.

HAMILTON TO WASHINGTON.

SIR,

Your excellency will, I am persuaded, readily admit the force of this sentiment, that though it is the duty of a good citizen to devote his services to the public, when it has occasion for them, he cannot, with propriety or delicacy to himself, obtrude them, when it either has, or appears to have, none.

The difficulties I experienced last campaign in obtaining a command, will not suffer me to make any farther application on that head.

As I have many reasons to consider my being employed hereafter in a precarious light, the bare possibility of rendering an equivalent, will not justify to my scruples, the receiving any future emoluments from my commission. I therefore renounce, from this time, all claim to the compensations attached to my military station during the war, or after it. But I have motives which will not permit me to resolve on

a total resignation. I sincerely hope a prosperous train of affairs may continue to make it no inconvenience to decline the services of persons, whose zeal in worse times was found not altogether useless; but as the most promising appearances are often reversed by unforeseen disasters, and as unfortunate events may again make the same zeal of some value, I am unwilling to put it out of my power to renew my exertions in the common cause, in the line in which I have hitherto acted.

I shall, accordingly, retain my rank, while I am permitted to do it ; and take this opportunity to declare, that I shall be at all times ready to obey the call of the public, in any capacity, civil or military, (consistent with what I owe to myself,) in which there may be a prospect of my contributing to the final attainment of the object for which I embarked in the service. I have the honour to be,

Very respectfully,

Your excellency's

Most obedient servant,

A. HAMILTON.

Philadelphia, March 1, 1782.

While at Philadelphia, he received a letter relating to the same subject, from his friend Colonel Meade, to which the following is a reply.

HAMILTON TO MEADE.

Philadelphia, March, 1782.

An half hour since brought me the pleasure of your letter of December last. It went to Albany and came from thence to this place. I heartily felicitate you on the birth of your daughter. I can well conceive your happiness upon that occasion, by that which I feel on a similar one.

Indeed, the sensations of a tender father of the child of a