Desiring to give more attention to his pri vate interests Hamilton resigned from the Cab inet 31 Jan. 1795. He declined the office of Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court and returned to his law practice in New York city where he was at once acknowledged the leader of the bar. But he still continued to take an active interest in political affairs. In 1794 Chief Justice John Jay (q.v.) was nom inated by Washington as envoy extraordinary to negotiate a commercial treaty with Great Britain. With Lord Granville a treaty was drawn up known as Jay's Treaty (q.v.), the terms of which were so hard and unjust that when the treaty was published there was a vio lent outburst of indignation. Hamilton, how ever, in a series of essays signed 'Camillus,* defended the treaty as the best obtainable and after a severe struggle in Congress it was rati fied. Washington thoroughly appreciated the judgment and genius of Hamilton, often con sulted him on Important matters, and received much help from him in the preparation of his messages and speeches. The aFarewell Ad dress would have been less perfect as a com position,a says Renwick, Thad it not passed through the hands of Hamilton.a Hamilton had supported John Adams (q.v.) for the Presidency, but Adams was jealous of the power and influence of Hamilton over mem bers of the Cabinet, and made war upon him, expelling his friends from office and assailing him personally. Hamilton blamed Adams for the loss of the elections in New York State, and denounced him bitterly. Adams was renom inated in 1800 for the Presidency, but he was beaten by Jefferson, and the Federalist party never won another election. Owing to a de fective clause in the Constitution (see JEFFER SON-Bun Iminionuo) the election was thrown into the House of Representatives, Jefferson and Burr having received an equal number of votes. Hamilton exerted his great influence with the Federalists and Jefferson was elected. In 1804 the Federalists nominated Aaron Burr (q.v.) for governor of the State of New York. The contest was a bitter one and again Hamilton was instrumental in Burr's defeat, and the latter challenged him to a duel on the ground of an alleged insult. Under the idea that the
continuance of his personal influence and the peculiar condition in which the affairs of the country were at the time demanded his accept ance of the challenge, he consented to meet Burr, and the duel was fought at Weehawken, N. J., 11 July 1804. Hamilton was wounded and died the following day, universally mourned by his countrymen. Four sons and four daugh ters were born to Hamilton; his widow survived him for 50 years, dying at the age of 97. Both are buried in Trinity churchyard, New York city.
American history presents no more striking character than Alexander Hamilton. He was not popular, nor did he strive after popularity, but his memory and achievements are imper ishable. He lived for the public good. Elo quent and refined, able and brilliant, the em bodiment of devotion, integrity and courage, he has left as deep a mark upon our political institutions as any other statesman America has produced. For his writings, etc., consult Ford, W., 'Bibliotheca Hamiltonie (1886); Lodge, H. C., 'Works of Alexander Hamilton (9 vols., New York 1885-86; 12 vols., ib. 1904) ; and for his life, Atherton, G., 'The Conqueror' (New York 1902) ; ib., 'A Few of Hamilton's Letters' (New York 1903) ; Choate, J. H., 'Abraham Lincoln and Other Addresses' (New York 1910) ; Culbertson, S. W., 'Alexander Hamil ton' (New Haven 1911) ; Fox, F. T., 'A Study in Alexander Hamilton) (New York 1911) ; Hamilton, A. M., 'The Intimate Life of ander (New York 1910) ; his son Hamilton, J. C., 'History of the Republic of the United States as Traced in the Writings of Alexander Hamilton and his Contempo raries' (7 vols., New York 1857-64; 4th ed., 7 vols. Boston 1879) ; the same author's un finished to 1787 'Life of Alexander Hamilton) (2 vols., New York 1836-40); Lodge, H. C., 'Alexander Hamilton) in American Statesmen Series (Boston 1882) ; Morse, J. T., 'Life of Alexander Hamilton' (2 vols., Boston 1876) ; Oliver, F. S., 'An Essay on American Union' (London 1906) ; Shea, G., 'Life and Epoch of Alexander Hamilton' (New York 1879).