Page:Republican Court by Rufus Griswold.djvu/72

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THE REPUBLICAN COURT.

by, the details are certain to be right, Another mark of eminent genius is continually exhibiting itself in the striking originality of his views. There is nothing commonplace about his mind. Among great men, any where, Alexander Hamilton would be felt to be great. As an individual, he is a frank, amiable, and high-minded gentleman, who inspires his friends with the warmest personal attachment, while he rarely, if ever, fails to make his enemies both hate and fear him. Perhaps, however, instead of this sketch, it had been enough, in the beginning, simply to say that he once lived with General Washington, and secured his affection and confidence. He is married to a daughter of General Schuyler, and his wife is one of the most agreeable women in the city.

New Jersey has a very able representative: it is that gentleman, so plain and simple in his dress and manners — William Livingston. Not a man here abhors monarchical government more than he. He is one of the most forcible and elegant writers in this assembly, and his pen has been often used in vindicating the rights of his countrymen; indeed, it is said that the influence of his writings did much to arouse the militia of New Jersey to the feeling which caused them to rally, with such promptitude, when any alarm called the people to array themselves against the enemy. The British hated him most cordially,^[1] and would have been de-

↑ On one occasion — the twenty-eighth of February, 1779 — an attempt was made to capture him at his house. A party of British troops from New York landed at Elizabethtown Point, proceeded to Liberty Hall (as his residence was named), and breaking in its doors, at midnight, cried out for the "damned Governor!" Livingston had, however, left home several hours before, and was at this time sleeping at a friend's house, several miles away. After ascertaining his absence, the officer in command of the party demanded his papers. All his recent correspondence with Washington, Congress, and the state officers, was in a small box, in the parlor. One of his daughters, however, with great presence of mind appealed to the officer, as a gentleman and a soldier, representing that the box contained her private property, and promising that if it were protected she would show him what he wished. A guard being placed over it, the men were led into the library, where they filled their foraging bags with old law papers, of no value. After many menaces of violence, and of setting fire to the house, they finally departed, without securing the only plunder which would have rewarded their efforts.

[1] On one occasion — the twenty-eighth of February, 1779 — an attempt was made to capture him at his house. A party of British troops from New York landed at Elizabethtown Point, proceeded to Liberty Hall (as his residence was named), and breaking in its doors, at midnight, cried out for the "damned Governor!" Livingston had, however, left home several hours before, and was at this time sleeping at a friend's house, several miles away. After ascertaining his absence, the officer in command of the party demanded his papers. All his recent correspondence with Washington, Congress, and the state officers, was in a small box, in the parlor. One of his daughters, however, with great presence of mind appealed to the officer, as a gentleman and a soldier, representing that the box contained her private property, and promising that if it were protected she would show him what he wished. A guard being placed over it, the men were led into the library, where they filled their foraging bags with old law papers, of no value. After many menaces of violence, and of setting fire to the house, they finally departed, without securing the only plunder which would have rewarded their efforts.

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