V

M.L.  Davis, the authentic biographer of Burr, tells this interesting anecdote concerning the Adams pamphlet:—­’

Colonel Burr ascertained the contents of this pamphlet, and that it was in the press.  The immediate publication, he knew, must distract the Federal party, and thus promote the Republican cause in those States where the elections had not taken place.  Arrangements were accordingly made for a copy as soon as the printing of it was completed; and when obtained, John Swartwout, Robert Swartwout, and Matthew L. Davis, by appointment met Colonel Burr at his house.  The pamphlet was read, and extracts made for the press.  They were immediately published.

When Hamilton read the voluminous extracts in the marked copies of the Democratic papers which he found on the table in his chambers in Garden Street, his first sensation was relief; subterranean methods were little to his liking.  He was deeply uneasy, however, when he reflected upon the inevitable consequences to his party, and wondered that his imagination for once had failed him.  Everyone who has written with sufficient power to incite antagonism, knows the apprehensive effect of extracts lifted maliciously from a carefully wrought whole.  Hamilton felt like a criminal until he plunged into the day’s work, when he had no time for an accounting with his conscience.  He was in court all day, and after the five o’clock dinner at home, returned to his office and worked on an important brief until eight.  Then he paid a short call on a client, and was returning home through Pearl Street, when he saw Troup bearing down upon him.  This old comrade’s face was haggard and set, and his eyes were almost wild.  Hamilton smiled grimly.  That expression had stamped the Federal visage since morning.

Troup reached Hamilton in three strides, and seizing him by the arm, pointed to the upper story of Fraunces’ Tavern.  “Alec,” he said hoarsely, “do you remember the vow you made in that room twenty-five years ago?  You have kept it until to-day.  There is not an instance in your previous career where you have sacrificed the country to yourself.  No man in history ever made greater sacrifices, and no man has had a greater reward in the love and loyalty of the best men in a nation.  And now, to gratify the worst of your passions, you have betrayed your country into the hands of the basest politicians in it.  Moreover, all your enemies could not drag you down, and no man in history has ever been assailed by greater phalanxes than you have been.  It took you—­yourself—­to work your own ruin, to pull your party down on top of you, and send the country we have all worked so hard for to the devil.  I love you better than anyone on earth, and I’ll stick to you till the bitter end, but I’d have this say if you never spoke to me again.”

Hamilton dropped his eyes from the light in the familiar room of Fraunces’ Tavern, but the abyss he seemed to see at his feet was not the one yawning before his friend’s excited imagination.  He did not answer for a moment, and then he almost took away what was left of Troup’s breath.