256 THE FEENCH BLOOD IN AMEEICA 



union of such cohesive force that a half century later the 

 fibres of civil Mar, burning with increasing fury for four 

 years, could not melt it. 



From Public Broad aud deep he laid the foundation principles. 



Pra^cti°ce *^ Aud thcu, havlug done his duty at personal sacrifice, he 

 left public life to practice his profession and make a 

 living for his family. New York never had a more 

 brilliant lawyer. Chancellor Kent said, " Hamilton rose 

 to the loftiest heights of professional eminence. He was 

 a very great favourite with the merchants of New York, 

 and was employed in every important and every com- 

 mercial case." He was marked by profound penetration, 

 power of analysis, comprehensive grasp, strength of un- 

 dertaking, firmness, frankness, and integrity. It was 

 said he could win any case he undertook, right or wrong ; 

 but he took only the case he considered right. Socially 

 he was as popular as professionally. He was fascinating 

 in his personality, was generous, polished, a brilliant 

 conversationalist. In the prime of life, only forty-four, 

 a great career seemed to lie before him, with no height 

 that he might not reach. 



IheEnd^^^^ Thcu Came the tragic end. Aaron Burr, longtime a 

 political opponent, made cause of offense, and challenged 

 Hamilton to a duel. Burr thirsted for revenge, Hamil- 

 ton felt no ill-will, tried to avoid the duel, but at length 

 felt compelled to accept the challenge, which resulted in 

 his death. It was nothing less than cold-blooded murder, 

 and Burr the assassin. It is well said that not until Lin- 

 coln fell was the country again so shocked and stricken 

 with horror. Burr, like Booth, fled, pursued by the 

 anathemas of his countrymen. He had robbed the coun- 

 try of one of its greatest men, one who had rendered in- 

 valuable service at a critical time, and who deserves the 

 honour and enduring remembrance of Americans. On 

 his monument in Boston are carved these words, "Alex- 

 ander Hamilton, Orator, Writer, Soldier, Jurist, Finan- 

 cier." Senator Henry Cabot Lodge says of him, "In 



