“It is a great pity we have not a few less statesmen in our party and a few more politicians.  When we began life, only great services were needed; and the Opposition, being engaged in the same battle of ideas, fought us with a merely inferior variety of our own weapons.  But the greatest of our work is over, and the day of the politician has dawned.  Unfortunately, the party of this damned lag-bellied Virginian has the monopoly.  Burr is the natural result and the proudest sample of the French Revolution and its spawn.  But your personal influence is tremendous.  Who can say how many infuscated minds you will illumine when it comes to speech-making.  Don’t set your brow in gloom.”

“I have not the slightest intention of despairing.  The deep and never ceasing methods of the Jacobin Scandal Club have weakened my influence with the masses, however; no doubt of that.  Its policy is to iterate and reiterate, pay no attention to denials, but drop the same poison daily until denial is forgotten and men’s minds are so accustomed to the detraction, belittling, or accusation, that they accept it as they accept the facts of existence.  Jefferson has pursued this policy with my reputation for ten years.  During the last eight he has been ably abetted by Mrs. Croix, his other personal agents, and those of France.  Now they have enlisted Burr, and there is no better man for their work in the country.”

“They know that if you go, the party follows.  That is their policy, and may they spend the long evening of time in Hell.  But I believe you will be more than a match for them yet; although this is by far the most serious move the enemy has made.”  “I wish to Heaven I had persisted in the Great Convention until I carried my point in regard to having the electors chosen by the people in districts.  Then I should snap my fingers at Burr in this campaign, for he is an indifferent speaker, and political manipulation would count for very little.  With C.C.  Pinckney in the chair for eight years, I should feel that the country was planted on reasonably sure foundations.  It must be Adams and Pinckney, of course, but with proper harmony Pinckney will carry the day.  Rather Jefferson in the chair than Adams—­an open army that we can fight with a united front, than a Federal dividing the ranks, and forcing us to uphold him for the honour of the party—­to say nothing of being responsible for him.”

“Jefferson is the less of several evils—­Burr, for instance.”

“Oh, Burr!” exclaimed Hamilton.  “I should be in my dotage if Burr became President of the United States.  Personally, I have nothing against him, and he is one of the most agreeable and accomplished of men.  Theodosia half lives here.  Perhaps no man ever hated another as I hate Jefferson, nor had such cause.  He has embittered my life and ruined my health; he has made me feel like a lost soul more than once.  But better Jefferson a thousand times than Burr.  God knows I hate democracy and