A Love Letter from Alexander Hamilton to His "Nut-Brown Maid"
Author(s): Richard Brookhiser
Source: Magazine of History, Vol. 18, No. 4, Sex, Courtship, and Dating (Jul., 2004), pp. 49-52
Published by: Organization of American Historians
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25163703
Accessed: 17/04/2010 16:21
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Teaching American History With Documents
From the Gilder Lehrman Collection
A
Love
Letter
from
to His
Alexander
Hamilton
"Nut-Brown
Maid"
Richard Brookhiser
to Elizabeth
letter from Alexander Hamilton
Tlhis
written
October
1780, reflects
and recipient
6,
homestretch?author
were
months.
They
the
Schuyler,
second-eldest
a well-suited,
"nut-brown
courtship
would
heading
be married
Schuyler,
its
down
in two
yet asymmetrical
pair.
was
fortune's
favorite.
She was
maid,"
the
already
America's
had
and
even
manner
greatest
since
and
his
was
however,
a
of
was
Hamilton
in
23, he was
members
of
the young
age
the most
talented
of
on whose
staff he
George Washington,
as a comer.
him
His
looks, his
spotted
in life,
added
charm
and dash. His
station
uniform
he
one
Alexander
generation.
1777, had
more
much
earlier,
years
that he was
showing
worked
Colonel
competent.
more
favored?at
had
problematic
an
illegitimate
been
than
his
living
come
The
speaks
welcomed
Schuylers
The
To
handler,
shared
second
sex.
It also
on
place
in one of
also
of Hamilton's
first
staff,
interesting
that
and
comment
peers,
from
Martha
on his libido. Miss
himself.
him'"?i.e.,
before
now,"
Mrs.
the
is saturated
that
of
Hamilton
would
she
survived
him.
But Hamilton
to
Schuyler did not
future
"is to study
'the way
keep her husband
would
as Hamilton
postscript,
an
-
an
promises
from
he witnessed
be spent
firsthand.
in the public
The
arena.
to Elizabeth
Hamilton
Schuyler,
in New Jersey, Octo
Army's headquarters
letter and other
historical
documents
important
States
Hamilton
and the founding
of the United
Col. Alexander
the Continental
6, 1780. This
to Alexander
relating
at the New-York
will be on display
28, 2005.
2004
February
(From
at The New-York
Historical
deposit
Historical
in New
Society
10,
September
on
Collection,
York City, GLC 773)
Society,
Lehrman
the Gilder
bright for the
stray?and
historian
Made
tember
curator
Modern
Alexander
of the exhibition
at the New-York
America
10, 2004-February
Hamilton:
Historical
(1999)
The
Man
Society
(Sep
28, 2005)
with
it. Many
Washington
till the premature end of his life, and keep his memory
fifty years
end
foreshadows
signature
Hamilton
jokes,
letter
from
ber
and
it.
paragraph
"Your business
the
10, 2004
Richard Brookhiser is author ofAlexander Hamilton, American
he would
The
enjoyed
A
written
Who
on mores.
in
America,
The
with
families.
sidelight
at all obscene,
being
the young
lovers have already
last
troubles.
of Washington's
acquaintances
to mind
The
an
and
2005).
intrudes
Modern
(September
story?
Hamilton
Though
whim.
passing
him
showered
without
John Adams, would
seem
a son-in-law,
the
old American
by marriage.
was
some
"family"
States's
the United
offers
paragraph,
implies
this
as
an
life
Made
Society
both of which
John Andre,
Major
life of these two young people would
Document:
luck.
enacts
courtship,
assimilation
him
his
place
letter
the
to keep
and
brilliance,
and
mobility,
of a "secret wedding,"
upward
praise.
add a
by work,
and their
letter,
28,
Who
Historical
account of the flight of Benedict Arnold and the hanging of his British
Indies. Everything he had achieved in his adopted American home
land had
The Man
Hamilton:
at the New-York
February
Public
a few
Only
in the West
fiance's.
orphan
in Alexander
exhibition
congressman,
general,
Schuyler,
as Eliza and
was
known
Betsey,
spirited girl, and the charitable work of her later life would show her
to be principled
some
respects
in a 1797
would
be given
grievous
infidelity
spectacular
publicity
in which,
in order to refute a charge
of corruption,
Hamilton
pamphlet
to adultery
would
admit
and to paying
blackmail.
The
ardent
letter
most
reprinted here and that astonishing pamphlet will both be on display
Elizabeth
of Philip
daughter
landowner.
also
Elizabeth,
wealthy
a
The Gilder
Lehrman
cal Society
in New
Collection,
York
City,
on
deposit
holds more
at the New-York
than
60,000
Histori
documents
detailing the political and social history of the United States. For
on
the collection
and
the educational
and
programs
Institute
Lehrman
publications
History,
of the Gilder
of American
check us out online at <http://www.gilderlehrman.org/>,
call 646
or write to 19W.
44th St., Ste. 500, New York, NY10036.
366-9666,
information
his
OAH Magazine of History
July 2004
49
Using This Document
in the Classroom
on
Based
Goal
to add to their
The goal of this lesson plan is for students
of Hamilton's
knowledge
the man.
about Hamilton
accomplishments
by
more
learning
will
students
this,
add
are many
can
teachers
There
category.
Hamilton
that
to the
information
recent
consult
Alexander
(2004) and Richard
American
Hamilton,
in
information,
cluding Ron Chernow's Alexander Hamilton
Brookhiser's
Personal
of Alexander
biographies
for more
(1999).
Procedure
The
the
will
teacher
the lesson
begin
in which
board
students
is remembered
Hamilton
a Semantic
by drawing
are asked
to
today, using
categories
The
teacher
and Author.
cal, Military,
Economic,
Personal
and
entitled
another
category
mation
Hamilton's
personal
regarding
ask
on
Map
reasons
why
list
as Politi
such
will
life. The
then
for
students
Conclusion
ask
Hamilton's
illustrate
toward
feelings
Elizabeth
share
and
information
in Hamilton's
of
representations
students
the ways
about
discuss
ten
the
the ways
letter
love
seemingly
exemplifies
Teachers
should
passion.
and
in which
this
love
letter
provides
insights into the private life of aman held up to be a genius and
will
then distribute the letter and direct students to find sentences
that
will
expressed
timeless
add
infor
teacher
Students
derness
hero.
How
historical
Schuyler.
might
similar
figures
enhance
personal
our
letters
written
of
understanding
by other major
their lives?
Transcription of a letter from Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Schuyler, October 6,1780_
too intirely
to allow me
to think of any
I told you truly that I love you too much.
You engross
my
thoughts
thing else.
I
cannot
I
meet
I
in
when
close
intrude
dream?and
wake
mind
all
but
every
upon
my
you
my
eyes again
my
you
sleep.
only employ
day;
a little nut-brown
on your sweetnesses.
maid
like you?and
from
'Tis a pretty
that I am to be thus monopolized,
for ruminating
story indeed
by
a statesman
I believe
in my
if not to break,
into a puny
but I have
tried in vain,
lover.
soul you are an inchantress;
and a soldier metamorphosed
I have
You
told you,
and
not
Imake
to withdraw
to weaken
in spite of all my
from
maintain
efforts?and
after every new one,
the charms?you
your empire
myself
to you with
and clings
increased
attachment.
heart
still returns
my partial
allegiance
to me
I am more
and more
and impatient
under
the hard necessity
To drop figure my
dearer
every moment.
unhappy
lovely girl you become
an account
as I advance.
Harrison
has
received
of
the
death
of
his
father
and will
from you, and yet the prospect
that keeps me
just
lengthens
at least,
my
be obliged to go to Virginia. Meade's affairs (aswell as his love) compel him to go there also in a little time. There will then remain too few in
the family tomake it possible for me to leave it 'tillHarrisons return?but Ihave told him that Iwill not be delayed beyond November. Ihad
hoped themiddle would have given us to each other; but Inow fear itwill be the latter end. Though the period of our reunion in reality approaches
it seems
further
other
off. Among
causes
I dread
of uneasiness,
lest you
should
I yield
imagine,
too easily
to the barrs,
us
that keep
asunder;
but if you have such an idea you ought to banish it and reproach yourself with injustice. A spirit entering into bliss, heaven opening upon all
more
for the enjoyment,
ardently
long
a feeble
it
is
of my
picture
strong?
feeling:?no
arms we
in each others
give and take those
cannot
its faculties,
too
language
it when
wrapt
Indeed my
to taste the
I do my darling
Betsey,
can tell you how much
I love
caresses
delicious
which
love inspires
I ought
at least to hear from you
enough.
than
words
to me
often
you do not write
Betsey
return
I have written
twice
since
from Hartford.
you
my
a trifle; but Iwant
me
to know, whether
at
You will
such
for
about
you
laugh
consulting
so consult
or in a different
in my uniform
It will be just as you please;
habit.
your whim
the middle
hints
Dear
heaven
that awaits
and how
much
and marriage
by every
post
me
I long
sanctifies.
and
?
in your
last
your
bosom.
you will
only
Ismy
know
is as old
letter
as
of Sept.
If you mean
of it.
Tell my
our
to follow
Iwill
peggy
shortly
plan
of being
open
a
secretly
correspondence
married,
the
with
I am
her.
scruple
composing
ought
you would
and what
to appear
a piece,
you
intirely
of which,
the nuptial
benediction
my
receiving
think most
consistent
with
propriety.
to give
and you should
your own
begin
prefer
from
I have
the opinion
of her
qualifications,
I shall endeavour to prevail upon her to act the principal character. The title is "theway to get him, for the benefit of all single ladies who desire
to be married."
sure
she will
task of the
You will
have
two;
none.
though
if she has any objection
For your own part, your business
I verily believe
in your case
it will
ask her,
May I only be as successful
in pleasing you, and may you be as happy as I shall ever wish
A. Hamilton
October 6th. 80
I promised
you a particular
account
I am writing
of Andre,
one of the whole affair of which
Iwill
send
you
a part in this piece;
and tell her that,
taking
now
to keep him"?which
is to study
"the way
be an easy one, and that to succeed
effectually
to
a copy?.
50 OAH Magazine of History
July 2004
if I am not much
tomake you!
is said
you will
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to be much
only
have
in her,
the most
to wish
I am
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it sincerely.
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52 OAH Magazine of History
July 2004
Portrait
of Elizabeth
Schuyler
Hamilton
(Image
Donated
by Corbis-Bettmann.)