chiefly on moral topics, to which, at a later period, he resorted as a relaxation.

This talent decided his fortunes. In August seventeen hundred seventy-two, soon after he had returned from a commercial errand to St. Eustatia, the Leeward Islands were visited by a terrific hurricane. Before its terrors had worn off, and while its desolating effects were still visible, a description of it which appeared in the neighboring island of St. Christophers,* attracted general attention at St. Croix. Curiosity was awaket.ed, and it was traced to Hamilton. His wishes being consulted, it was determined to send him to New York to complete his education. It is related that on his voyage the vessel took fire, which was with difficulty extinguished. He arrived at Boston oct 1772 in October seventy-two, and proceeded to New York, where, through the kindness of his friend, Dr. Knox, he was introduced to Doctors Rogers, Mason, and other gentlemen of distinction.

Funds were provided by his relations, and he joined a grammar school at Elizabethtown, New Jersey, established under the patronage of Governor Livingston and Mr. Boudinot, of whose families he became a frequent inmate.

The principal of it was Francis Barber, an estimable man, who, full of Greek and Roman lore, fired by the prospect of distinction, broke up his school at the beginning of the Revolution, and entered the army. Rising to the rank of colonel, he was often and much distinguished. Among Hamilton's schoolfellows were Jonathan Dayton, afterwards speaker of the House of Representatives; Brockholst Livingston, subsequently a judge of the Supreme Court of the United States, and others who became of note.

* In Tiebout's paper, as stated. Five hundred houses were blown down in Santa Cruz.

Here his industry kept pace with his wider prospects. During the winter, while at the house of the governor, he frequently, wrapt in a blanket, labored until midnight, and in summer would resort at dawn to the quiet of a near cemetery, where he was often seen preparing his lessons for the day.

His habits of composition were continued. An elegy by him on the death of a young lady in whose family he was intimate, was remembered as possessing merit. He also composed a prologue and epilogue for a play which was performed by the officers of a body of British soldiers stationed in the vicinity. His friend, Mr. Boudinot, having lost an infant, he sat up to watch the corpse the night prior to its interment, and, during this gloomy office of friendship, wrote consolatory verses which were presented to its mother as a tribute of regard, and were long preserved with interest.

Before the end of the year he was deemed fit to enter upon his collegiate course, and after returning to New York, proceeded with Mr. Mulligan,* in whose house he lodged, on a visit to Dr. Witherspoon, the distinguished

* Hercules Mulligan, from whose written narrative many of the incidents of Hamilton's early life are derived, was a brother of Mr. Mulligan, of the firm of Kortwright and Company, to whom West India produce was consigned, to be sold and appropriated to the support of Hamilton. He had been very active in the earlier scenes of the Revolution, and outlived most of the Revolutionary race. He was chosen one of the Committee of One Hundred, and after the battle of Long Island, he, with many other whigs, left the city. A party of tories, it is related, seized him at midnight, threw a blanket over him, and carried him to New York, where he was detained. After Hamilton entered the family of Washington, Mulligan became the confidential correspondent of the commander-in-chief, furnished most important intelligence, and apprised him of a plot to seize him. When Arnold reached New York, Mulligan was seized and thrown into the Provost, in hopes of fixing on him the evidence of his having given information; but his skill was such that he was not detected. Upon the evacuation of that city, Washington complimented him by taking his first breakfast with this zealous patriot.

president of Princeton College. After a private examination, he expressed a wish to be admitted to either class which his attainments would justify, but with the condition that he might advance from class to class as rapidly as his exertions would enable him to do. This novel proposition surprised the president, and he promised to submit it to the trustees. Upon Hamilton's return to New York, an answer from the president regretted that the usages of the college forbade a compliance with his request, "inasmuch as he was convinced that the young gentleman would do honor to any seminary."

Failing in his object, he entered KINGS, now Columbia College, in the City of New York, an institution chartered by George the Second, "for the instruction of youth in the learned languages and the liberal arts and sciences," and with a large view of the future, expressly declared to be with "the good design of promoting a liberal education, and to make the same as beneficial as may be, not only to the inhabitants of the province of New York, but to all our colonies and territories in America."

Under its auspices, with the aid of a tutor, Hamilton prosecuted the plan he had marked out for himself, being received as a private student.

To his collegiate studies he soon added that of anatomy,* having entertained the idea of selecting the practice of medicine as his profession.

With his early companion Stevens, and his cherished and devoted friends, Robert Troup and Nicholas Fish, he joined a debating club, where, they relate, "he gave extraordinary displays of richness of genius and energy of mind."

"At this time," Troup writes, "the "General' was attentive to public worship, and in the habit of praying on He attended the Lectures of Dr. Clossey.