“If Clinton were sure of figuring as powerfully in a national government as he does in the state of New York, he would withdraw his opposition,” said Livingston, contemptuously.  “He has been Governor for nine years.  New York is his throne.  He is a king among the common people, who will elect him indefinitely.  Were it not for Hamilton, he would be New York, and the awful possibilities lying hidden in the kernel of change haunt his dreams at night.  You embarrassed him in a manner that rejoiced my heart, Mr. Marshall.  I beg you will do me the honour to dine with me to-night.  I beg to assure you that your fame is as known to me as were I a Virginian.”

“I’ll accept the invitation with pleasure,” replied Marshall, whose manners were all that his attire was not.  “I shall be glad to talk with you on many subjects.  To-morrow I shall pay my respects to Mr. Hamilton.  His has been a trying but not a thankless task.  He has addressed himself to the right class of men all over the country, winning them to his sound and enlightened views, giving them courage, consolidating them against the self-interested advocates of State sovereignty.  That he has so often neglected a legal practice which must bring him a large income, as well as sufficient personal glory, out of a sincere pity for and patriotic interest in this afflicted country, gives New York deep cause for congratulation that she was in such close communication with that Island of his youth.  I wish that fate had steered him to Virginia.”

“Surely you have enough as it is,” said Duane, laughing:  “Washington, yourself, Patrick Henry, Jefferson, Madison, Randolph.  Spare us Hamilton.  We shall need him badly enough.  The Clinton faction is very strong.  That the Hamilton embraces the best spirits of the community means that it is in the minority, and needs the unremitting exercise of his genius to counteract the disadvantage in numbers.”

“I think that what I admire most in Hamilton,” remarked a newcomer, a small dark man of vivid personality, “are his methods of manipulation.  He picks out his own men, Duer, Troup, Malcolm, has them sent to the legislature, where they blindly and indefatigably obey his behest and gain the consent of that body to the convention at Annapolis, then see that he is elected as principal delegate.  He goes to Annapolis ostensibly to attend a commercial convention:  while its insufficient numbers are drowsing, he springs upon them an eloquent proposal for a national convention for reforming the Union, and forces it through before they know what they are about.  Certainly Mr. Hamilton is a man of genius.”

“Do I understand.  Mr. Burr,” said Jay, from his glacial height, “that you are impugning the purity of Mr. Hamilton’s motives?”