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.

his knees night and morning. I lived in the same room with him for some time, and I have often been powerfully affected by the fervor and eloquence of his prayers. He had read many of the polemical writers on religious subjects, and he was a zealous believer in the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. I confess that the arguments with which he was accustomed to justify his belief, have tended in no small degree to confirm my own faith in revealed religion." *

A hymn of some merit written at this time, entitled "The soul entering into bliss," is preserved. These earnest feelings were not tinged with melancholy. Constitutionally happy, he mingled gayly with his friends, and often, as Mulligan relates, "used to sit the evening with my family, writing doggerel verses for their amusement, and was always amiable and cheerful." His talent for satire was also exercised. "John Holt," who then published a whig paper in New York, Troup relates, “had, by his zeal in the American cause, drawn upon himself the invectives of all the ministerial writers. These invectives Hamilton burlesqued in doggerel rhyme with great wit and humor. He also presented me with a manuscript of fugitive poetry, which I considered as a strong evidence of the elasticity of his genius; and have often lamented that it was lost with my books and papers during the war."

This pastime was soon to end. Grave events were approaching which would impose on the youth of America the responsibilities of manhood. Boston, about to be beleaguered, had invoked its sister towns to unite in an exposition of their wrongs, and Massachusetts was echoing throughout its borders responsive voices of discontent.

* The excellent family of the Boudinots relate that he occasionally made a family prayer in their presence.

The precedent of New York, which had brought together the Congress of sixty-five, was now followed by Virginia,* recommending intercolonial committees of correspondence, but as yet without effect.

In England, the agreement not to import tea had been more seriously felt than was anticipated. An indirect supply to America was obtained chiefly in Dutch vessels, New York thus resuming in part its former commercial relations. Of revenue from this source, not five hundred dollars had reached the coffers of the crown. The East India Company were groaning under an immense accumulation. Unable to pay their annual bonus to the government, or their private debts, they sought relief in a permission to ship their teas free of duty, wherever they could find a market. This true policy was rejected, and it was resolved to maintain the tax upon the colonies. The relief actually granted to the East India Company was a drawback of the whole of the duties on teas which should be exported by it to America. While measures were being taken, in England, by the appointment of consignees to this company to carry this plan into effect, committees of correspondence were appointed by the patriots in America to defeat it. Philadelphia was earliest in action. She denounced any abettors of its introduction as enemies to their country, and required the consignees to resign. They yielded to the impressive command.†

On the same day, New York and Boston took similar measures. The consignees in New York resigned their

May, 1773.

Oct. 18, 1773.

Gordon not too accurate, i. 231. The States of New York and Pennsylvania had kept to their agreement, and had used all the teas the market demanded; but there had been imported into Boston, from the beginning of 1768 to the end of 1772, not less than 2,714 chests, by more than a hundred different persons.

VOL. I.-4

*

appointments. The persons selected to destroy the tea were notified to be prepared, and a few days after, the association of the "Sons of Liberty" was formally reorganized. Their first act was to pass resolves similar to those of Philadelphia. To insure their execution they declared "whoever shall transgress any of them, we will not deal with, or employ, or have any connection with him."†

The day prior to this reorganization, the expected tea ship arrived in Boston. It was hoped that the firm example of New York would induce the consignees to decline their office. Not so. The governor, though alarmed, was pledged to test the question, and the consignees parleyed. The people were determined. An immense meeting resolved that the tea should not be landed-that no duty should be levied on it-meanwhile two more tea ships arrived. The expostulations with the consignees were continued. Another mass meeting was held, and at its close, at a concerted signal, a party disguised as Indians rushed to the wharf. Having stationed guards to prevent other spoliation, they went on board the vessels and threw the tea chests into the bay. The strong necessity excused this destruction of private property. Expresses forthwith came to New York and to Philadelphia. The latter formally approved the procedure. At New York, the Sons of Liberty called the citizens together. They pledged their support to the other colonies, and appointed a committee of correspondence. Tryon and the city authorities interposed with an assurance that the tea, when arrived, should be lodged in the fort, to await orders for its delivery from the council or from the king. The citi zens rejected the proffer, insisting that the tea should not touch the shore.

*Nov. 29-called "Mohawks."

Handbill. N. Y. Society Library.

The New Year opened, but no countenance came from England, no hope was held out The king was more than ever bent upon coercion. The English people were true to their allegiance and to their pride. "The colonies," was the general voice, "must be reduced to submission." Even Pitt, now Lord Chatham, pronounced against them. Late in March, a bill reciting the commotions in Boston, closing its port, directing the armed vessels stationed there to compel the departure of ships approaching its harbor, until satisfaction were made for the tea destroyed, was under debate. Fox urged with his characteristic liberal sagacity, a total repeal of the obnoxious taxes. Burke, with all his pictured eloquence, warned in prophetic tones the consequences of the measure. "This bill," exclaimed Johnston, who had lived in America, "endangers a revolt. Its effect must be to produce a general confederacy to resist the power of this country in Parliament." London merchants offered to pay the loss, were the bill suspended. Monition, entreaty, argument, were vain.

The passage of this bill preceded but a short time an act, for the impartial administration of justice in the cases of persons questioned for acts done by them in the execution of the law for the suppression of tumults or riots. It authorized the governor of a colony to order trials in other colonies or in Great Britain, and protected the prosecutors and the witnesses-and this-though the indictments were for murder. The act was to take effect in June, and to continue three years. Soon after was the act for the better regulating the government of Massachusetts bay. It invaded the charter of that colony, interdicted town meetings, except when held for the election of town officers or unless permitted by the governor, gave to him the appointment and removal of the sheriffs who were to impanel juries. Then came a law rendering