of Congress, its loss of the confidence of this country and of Europe, the necessity for an executive ministry, and stated that the time was past to indulge in hopes of foreign aid.  The States must depend upon themselves, and their only hope lay in a National Bank.  There had been some diffidence in his previous letter.  There was none in this, and he had a greater mastery of the subject.  In something like thirty pages of close writing, he lays down every law, extensive and minute, for the building of a National Bank, and not the most remarkable thing about this letter is the psychological knowledge it betrays of the American people.  Having despatched it, he wrote again to Washington, demonstrating that his case was dissimilar from those the Chief had quoted.  He disposed of each case in turn, and his presentation of his own claims was equally unanswerable.  Washington, who was too wise to enter into a controversy with Hamilton’s pen, did not reply to the letter, but made up his mind to do what he could for him, although still determined there should be no disaffection in the army of his making.

Meanwhile Hamilton received letters from Lafayette, begging him to hasten South and share his exile; from Washington, asking advice; and from members of the family, reminding him of their affection and regret.  Tilghman’s is characteristic:—­

Headquarters, 27th April.

MY DEAR HAMILTON:  Between me and thee there is a gulf, or I should not have been thus long without seeing you.  My faith is strong, but not strong enough to attempt walking on the waters.  You must not suppose from my dealing so much in Scripture phrase that I am either drunk with religion or with wine, though had I been inclined to the latter I might have found a jolly companion in my lord, who came here yesterday.  We have not a word of news....  I must go over and see you soon, for I am not yet weaned from you, nor do I desire to be.  I will not present so cold words as compliments to Mrs. Hamilton.  She has an equal share of the best wishes of

     Your most affectionate

     TILGHMAN.

The following was from Laurens:—­

I am indebted to you, my dear Hamilton, for two letters:  the first from Albany, as masterly a piece of cynicism as ever was penned; the other from Philadelphia, dated the second March; in both you mention a design of retiring, which makes me extremely unhappy.  I would not wish to have you for a moment withdraw from the public service; at the same time my friendship for you, and knowledge of your value to the United States, makes me most ardently desire that you should fill only the first offices of the Republic.  I was flattered with an account of your being elected a delegate from New York, and am much mortified not to hear it confirmed by yourself.  I must confess to you that at the present stage of the war, I should prefer your going into Congress, and from thence becoming a minister plenipotentiary