In November, 1801, several prominent Federalists, among them Hamilton, Troup, Richard Varick, Archibald Gracie, Samuel Boyd, and William Woolsey, established the New York Evening Post, which has remained in existence ever since. They were fortunate enough to command the services of William Coleman, a Bostonian and a clever and successful lawyer, who, for a short time, was a partner of Aaron Burr. So close was Hamilton's connection with the Post that pretty much everything in it relating to politics was ascribed to him, for it mercilessly attacked the Jeffersonians. Its columns were filled, not only with signed letters, but unsigned editorials and communications covering every political situation, and Coleman and Hamilton were ever on the outlook for the tricks of the other side. As illustrating the deliberation of their methods Hudson in his valuable work refers to the delay between the receipt of Thomas Jefferson's annual message in December, 1801, and its critical discussion five days later. After it had been digested it was gravely and forcibly torn to pieces in a letter signed Lucius Crassus, which was probably written by Hamilton.
Coleman was a pugnacious and witty adversary, and more than a match for Duane or Cheetham, both of whom were journalistic rivals, and upon one occasion expressed himself in the manner of the day as follows:
Lie on, Duane, lie for pay.
And Cheetham lie thou too.
More against truth you cannot say
Than truth can say 'gainst you."
This, or some other galling squib, led to the serious consequence of a challenge by Cheetham, the actual duel, however, being averted, as both antagonists were arrested by order of Judge Brockholst Livingston, but allowed to go free upon their promise to abandon the encounter. However, within a few days, a Captain Thompson accused Coleman of cowardice in the Cheetham matter, was challenged by the latter, and a duel was fought in Love Lane, which is now Twenty-first Street, with the result that Thompson was mortally wounded, and his antagonist returned to the Evening Post office "and got out the paper in good style, although half an hour late."
Coleman frankly admitted the influence of Hamilton in the conduct of the Post Hilliard says "Jeremiah Mason asked him (Coleman) who wrote or aided in the preparation of certain articles; Coleman replied that he made no secret of the fact that his paper was set up under the auspices of General Hamilton. I then asked him,' Does he write in your paper?' 'Never a word.' 'How, then, does he assist?' His answer was, 'Whenever anything occurs on which I feel the want of information I state matter to him, sometimes in a note; he appoints a time when I may see him, usually a late hour of the evening. He always keeps himself minutely informed on all political matters. As soon as I see him he begins in a deliberate manner to dictate and I to note down in shorthand; when he stops, my article is completed."'
The bitterness of invective indulged in by the rival journals of both parties has never been approached since. From May, 1803, to shortly before the duel with Burr the papers were filled with venomous attacks upon every one, including Hamilton and Burr. In an issue of the Portfolio, a Federalist sheet, June 5, 1804, appears the following: "Wanted, for the Aurora service, three fellows without ears, two with backs flagrant from the beadle, one traitor, and a couple of Deists, none need apply but who can come well recommended from Newgate, or their last place. N. B. Any young imp of sedition who would make a tolerable devil may have everything found him except his washing."
Angelica Church's continued unvarying interest in Hamilton's work is again shown in a letter written to her sister.
Angelica Church to Elizabeth Hamilton.
London, April 25, 1788.
At last my dear Eliza I have the best grounded hopes that we shall pass the remainder of our lives in the same city, how many happy evenings have I already past! from dwelling on my future happiness!
Colonel Beckwith tells me that our dear Hamilton writes too much and takes no exercise, and grows too fat. I hate both the word and the thing, and I desire you will take care of his health and his good looks, why I shall find him on my return a dull, heavy fellow!
He will be unable to Flirt as Robert Morris; pray, Betsey, make him walk, and ride, and be amused. You will see by some of Church's letters which have caused me to shed the most delicious tears of joy and gratitude, that it will not be long before we return to America.
Embrace poor dear Hamilton for me, it is impossible to know him, and not to wish him health and pleasure, and then I am really so proud of his merit and abilities, that even you, Eliza, might envy my feelings.
Adieu my dear friends, be happy.
And again later:
I am my dear Sister, extremely delighted with the hopes of seeing America happy, if the new constitution is acceded to we will enjoy it. I shall then have the prospect that my children will at least be happily settled in a country it has cost me so much to give up. Will you send me the newspapers regularly instead of sending me fruit, for it is generally spoiled, and the trouble getting it thro the custom house is immense, but the papers must be those that contain your husband's writings. Adieu my dear, embrace your master for me, and tell him that I envy you the fame of so clever a husband, one who writes so well; God bless him, and may he long continue to be the friend and the brother of your affectionate
Angelica.
Hamilton was an omnivorous reader, for everywhere among his papers long lists of books of reference are to be found of the most varied nature, ranging from the classics to the novels of the day, and it is certain that they all played a part in much that he did and wrote. In the library left by him are to be found these books, amongst others: Hume's "Essays," "The Letters of Pliny," "Œuvres Posthumes de Frédéric, Roi de Prusse," "Traité Générale du Commerce," "CEuvres de Moliére," "Histoire de Turenne," "Gil Bias," "De la Felicité Publique," Diderot and D'Alemberts "Encyclopédie Methodique," La Rochefoucauld-Lian-court's "Travels," Journal des Etats Généraux, "Plutarch's Lives," Hampton's "Polybius," Lord Chesterfield's "Letters," Voltaire, Winn's "History of America," Cicero's "Morals," Bacon's "Essays," Ralt's "Dictionary of Trade and Commerce," Montaigne's "Essays," Cudworth's "Intellectual System," "The Orations of Demosthenes," Hobbes's "Dialogues," Robertson's "Charles V," and Enticle's "History of the Late War", "The Works of Laurence Sterne," "The Works of Edward Gibbon," "The Connois-seur," Walpole's "Anecdotes," "Works of Sir Thomas Browne," Goldsmith's "Essays," "Hudibras," "The Works of St. Anselmo," "The Letters of Socrates and Rutherfurd's "Institutes."
His studious tastes and habits drew forth the famous comment of Talleyrand, who one night passed Hamilton's window and found him at work, and later wrote, " I have," he said, "seen a man who made the fortune of a nation, laboring all night to support his family."
He managed to devote a great deal of time to the study of the languages. Even as late as 1794 he further perfected himself in French with the aid of a Mr. Dornat, a Philadelphia teacher, although this seems a superfluity, for he always used this tongue in his talks with Volney, de Noailles, and the many other clever men who were driven from France, and who contributed to the charm of Philadelphia society. He subscribed for, and assiduously read. La Chronique Mensuelle, Le Trône Mensuel, and the Journal Etoile.
The Churches, who were in England, were ever on the lookout for literature that might be of use to him, and Mrs. Church, in writing to her sister from London, February 4, 1790, says: "I shall send by the first ships every well-written book that I can procure on the subject of finance. I cannot help being diverted at the avidity I express to whatever relates to this subject." She sent him Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations," and it is somewhat curious to find Sumner saying, that Hamilton did not seem to have been guided by the works of Adam Smith, although the "best-known book of this writer" was in his library, nor does he seem to have read Hume's economic writings, nor the financial essayists of the French. Though "he refers contemptuously to Turgot and Condorcet," who committed suicide by poison rather than go to the guillotine, he actually was influenced, according to one of his biographers, by John Law, who was an able but unscrupulous financier, the originator of the Mississippi Bubble, and responsible for much of the ruin of France during the reign of Louis XIV, When he wrote