ch even young Hamilton joined, but his
mistake was very natural in view of the fact that he only knew that
Hamilton had deserted the college and espoused the devil's cause; and not
having heard his remarks, but seeing him standing on his steps haranguing
a crowd, thought surely he was endeavoring to work up mischief against his
old preceptor, who had once plucked him in Greek.

It seems to have been the intention of his guardians that the limit of
young Hamilton's stay in America was to be two years, and by that time his
education would be "complete," and he would return to the West Indies and
surprise the natives.

But his father, who supplied the money, and the mystical kinsmen who
supplied advice, and the kind friends who had given him letters to the
Presbyterian clergymen at New York and Princeton, had figured without
their host. Young Hamilton knew all that Nevis had in store for him: he
knew its littleness, its contumely and disgrace, and in the secret
recesses of his own strong heart he had slipped the cable that held him to
the past. No more remittances from home; no more solicitous advice; no
more kind, loving letters--the past was dead.

For England he once had had an almost idolatrous regard; to him she had
once been the protector of his native land, the empress of the seas, the
enlightener of mankind; but henceforth he was an American.

He was to fight America's battles, to share in her victory, to help make
of her a great Nation, and to weave his name into the web of her history
so that as long as the United States of America shall be remembered, so
long also shall be remembered the name of Alexander Hamilton.

* * * * *

What General Washington called his "family" usually consisted of sixteen
men. These were his aides, and more than that, his counselors and friends.
In Washington's frequent use of that expression, "my family," there is a
touch of affection that we do not expect to find in the tents of war. In
rank, the staff ran the gamut from captain to general. Each man had his
appointed work and made a daily report to his chief. When not in actual
action, the family dined together daily, and the affair was conducted with
considerable ceremony. Washington sat at the head of the table, large,
handsome and dignified. At his right hand was seated the guest of honor,
and there were usually several invited friends. At his left sat Alexander
Hamilton, ready with quick pen to