But if we in-

The fabric

"The idea of introducing a monarchy or aristocracy into this country, by employing the
influence and force of a government, continually changing hands, towards it, is one of
those visionary things that none but madmen could meditate.
cline too much to democracy, we shall soon shoot into a monarchy.
of THE AMERICAN EMPIRE ought to rest on the solid basis of the consent of the People:
and the streams of national power ought to flow immediately from that pure original
fountain of all legitimate authority."- HAMILTON.

SECOND EDITION

REVISED AND CORRECTED

BOSTON

HOUGHTON, OSGOOD AND COMPANY
The Riverside Press, Cambridge

1880

Copyright, 1879,

By GEORGE SHEA.

All rights reserved.

RIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE:

STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY

H. O. HOUGHTON AND COMPANY.

THIS

ESSAY TO DELINEATE THE LIFE AND EPOCH

OF

ALEXANDER HAMILTON

IS INSCRIBED TO THE

LORD HOUGHTON,

SCHOLAR, POET, STATESMAN, MASTER OF THE ENGLISH TONGUE,

IN REMEMBRANCE OF PLEASANT SOCIAL HOURS,

AND

IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF HIS WARM KINDRED FEELINGS TOWARD

MY COUNTRY.