On this occasion, the opponents of the Secretary's measures found an unexpected and formidable champion in James Madison. That gentleman had sided with Hamilton in the Convention, and shared with him and Jay in the labours and honours of the Federalist. He had fought manfully for the establishment of the Constitution, had partaken largely of the favour and confidence of Washington, and was peculiarly obnoxious to the Anti-Federalist party. But he now sat in the House of Representatives, in which he was ambitious of the post of leader, and his constituents in Virginia were strongly opposed to some of Hamilton's plans. Agriculturists, and often in need of money, they had been forced to part with their government bonds or certificates at a great sacrifice; and they now resented as an injustice, that the speculators, who had purchased these securities, and who chiefly belonged to the Northern States, should be placed in so much better a position than themselves, and profit by the losses they had sustained. They likewise urged, that the North had the larger share of State debts to transfer to the Federal account, and they protested against additional burdens being entailed on the South, by the assumption of obligations to which they were not already liable.

Madison made himself the interpreter of these views, advocated a discrimination between the original holders of the debt and its present possessors, and resisted the principle of the assumption of the State debts by the Union. Had he succeeded in his opposition, Hamilton's whole scheme must have miscarried, and the credit of America have been ruined for many a day. But the friends of a just settlement of the debt, amongst whom Fisher Ames was honourably distinguished, were fortunately in the majority, and resolutions were at length passed in accordance with Hamilton's report. Once more the statesman had triumphed in the face of unnumbered difficulties, and, however bitter the enmity he had provoked, he felt certain of the ultimate success of his financial measures. That success was yet to come, more brilliant than could have been anticipated, to justify his prescience, and consecrate the work of his genius. "He smote the rock of the national resources," says Daniel Webster, and abundant streams of revenue gushed forth. He touched the dead corpse of the Public Credit, and it sprang upon its feet. The fabled birth of Minerva from the brain of Jove was hardly more sudden or more perfect, than the finan

cial system of the United States, as it burst forth from the conceptions of Alexander Hamilton."

But, before he finally accomplished his object, another actor appeared upon the scene, who was destined to play an important part in the subsequent history of his life.

CHAPTER XII.

THOMAS JEFFERSON.

T has been already said, that the post of Secretary

IT

of State was offered to Jefferson, and as he had now arrived in New York, to undertake the duties of his office, it is time to introduce this singular personage to the notice of the reader.

THOMAS JEFFERSON was born in Virginia, on the 2d of April, 1743. He was the son of a planter of considerable wealth, and descended from a family of Welsh origin. He was educated at Williamsburg, and, while at college, appears to have had the reputation of a shrewd, lively, pleasant fellow, who, in spite of his tall, gaunt figure, red hair, harsh features, and freckled face, was welcome in most companies, and somewhat of a favourite with the ladies. seems early to have adopted a light and easy phi

He

losophy, with sceptical views in religion, to have

cultivated a taste for literature and music, and to

have acquired the habits and address of a man of the world. Within a few years of leaving college, he was called to the bar, and obtained a seat in the Assembly of Virginia, where, fired by the eloquence and enthusiasm of Patrick Henry, and always strongly attracted by a popular cause, he threw himself heart and soul into the struggle with England. But it was less by speeches and open demonstrations, than by schemes concocted in private, and the dexterous management of the "corresponding committees," that he was able to render good service to the Colonies. It is said that, when at school, he used to put forward other boys to ask for whatever he himself wanted; and he continued through life the same tactics-preferring to remain in the background and pull the wires, rather than engage actively in personal or political combats.

His services were, however, well known; he was elected a delegate to the General Congress, and, when it was determined to break finally with England, he was appointed one of the committee to prepare the Declaration of Independence. Both Adams and Franklin pressed him to undertake its composition, and, as he was always ready with his pen, he consented to make the draft. It contained some extrava