AND THE FEDERALIST PARTY 113 



young friend unjustly was shown by his sending an 

 aide to him a few moments afterward, with what was 

 virtually an apology and a request that he would 

 reconsider his decision. Hamilton, however, had for 

 some time wished to leave the staff for a place in the 

 line, and now that the matter had taken this shape 

 he preferred to let it remain so. Any resentment he 

 expressly disclaimed, and it does not appear that the 

 cordial friendship between the two men was in the 

 least disturbed by this little episode. Hamilton pres- 

 ently obtained the opportunity which he coveted, and 

 in the Yorktown campaign commanded a body of 

 light infantry in Lafayette's division, at the head of 

 which he stormed one of the British redoubts with 

 signal valour. This was the end of his military career. 

 On his mission to General Gates he had become ac- 

 quainted with Elizabeth, daughter of General Schuy- 

 ler, and their marriage took place on the I4th of 

 December, 1780. In the spring of 1782, as soon as 

 it became evident that the war was over, Hamilton 

 removed to Albany, and in July was admitted to the 

 bar. 



Other business than law practice, however, came up 

 to occupy his attention. We have seen how forcibly 

 the weakness of the government and the need for 

 revenue had been brought home to Washington's staff 

 officer. He had pondered deeply on these subjects, 

 and had already conceived the scheme of an alliance 

 of interests between the federal government and the 

 moneyed class of society. One of the instruments by 

 which the alliance was to be effected was a national 

 bank, which was to be a corporation in private hands, 

 but to some extent supported and controlled by Con- 



