The Intimate Life of Alexander Hamilton Author:Allan McLane Hamilton Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: -j a.£t ' f .. . j - - i . X i- --atx FAC-SIMILE LETTER OF MARTHA WASHINGTON was near a comfortable modern home, then occupied b... more »y the last Laird of the Grange, who died a year later, and who sat in the sunshine feeding his pigeons, and entertained his visitor with quaint stories in the manner of Stevenson or Crockett, while in the evening he and his family very formally brewed their toddy, and ate oatmeal biscuit, while the "simple and agreeable tipple occupied the party for an hour or so in lively chat."1 Hamilton's early life has been so often referred to by historians that there is little to add, except that from the first he displayed all the precocity which led to his subsequent early advancement, and this was undoubtedly stimulated by his helpless condition, and the necessity for doing something. As is known, when but fourteen he conducted the affairs of Nicholas Cruger in his absence, writing important business letters which, in themselves, showed a mature knowledge and ripeness of judgment. Alexander Hamilton to Henry Cruger St. Croix, February 2th, 1772. Henry Cruger, Esq. Sir: The Qth ultimo Capt. Robert Gibb handed me your favour dated December 1Qth, 17/1, covering Invoice and Bill of Lading for sundreys—which are landed in good order agreeable thereto. I sold all your lumber off Immediately at £16 luckily enough, the price of that article being now reduced to £12, as great quantitys have been lately imported from different parts of this Continent.—Indeed, there must be a vast Consumption this Crop—which makes it probable that the price will again rise—unless the Crops at windward should fall short—as is said to be the case,—whereby we shall fair to be Overstocked—the Oats and Cheese I have also sold, the former at 6 sh. ...« less