who have had the effrontery to come forward with complaints and charges against them: That it must be well known to your Honours, that for these 200 years back, the Right Hand and the Left have invariably deserted their stations, and thrown every thing into disorder: That, instead of adhering to the most simple and natural rules, they have uniformly neglected them; in so much so, that all strangers coming to this city have been astonished at the circumstance, and never once imputed the fault to your Remonstrants, but to the obstinacy and stupidity of the Petitioners who complain: That it appears to the Remonstrants that the only cause that can possibly be assigned for this extraordinary conduct, is a deplorable want of common sensibility in the part of the Petitioners; that instead of acuteness, they posses a numbness or torpidity, which deprives them of all perception of propriety, regularity, and order; and leads them, like a drunk man, or an idiot, jostling a gainst every thing which otherwise they might easily avoid, and which, notwithstanding the inconvenience they every moment experience, disposes them sluggishly and insensibly to proceed on, day after day, with the same stupidity: That, till this unhappy defect, (whether natural or acquired) be rectified, it appears evident to your Remonstrants, that nothing effectual can be done to establish either regularity, order, method, or convenience in this city, and that instead of expedition, dispatch, and correctness, nothing but confusion, delay, and imperfect execution will prevail.

May it therefore please your Honours, to exculpate the Remonstrants from the unjust charges brought against them by the Petitioners, and to establish such laws and regulations as may seem most likely to remedy the defects, and eradicate the evils re

presented by your Remonstrants; and oblige the Right Hand and the Left henceforth to respect the Walls of this City, and thereby restore comfort and convenience to the inhabitants.

And your Remonstrants, and all lovers of order and regularity, will pray &c.

Signed by all the Walls of the
Streets, Lanes, and Squares
in the City and Suburbs of
Edinburgh, the 1st day of
January, in the year of our
Lord 1806.

Memoirs of the late GENERAL HA,

MILTON.

From British Public Characters.

THE late Alexander Hamilton

was descended from a respectable Scotch family, settled for some centuries in the county of Ayr. His grandfather, Alexander Hamilton of Grange, married Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir Robert Pollock, of Pollock, in Renfrewshire, by whom he had a numerous progeny. In consequence of the feudal laws, which confer all on the eldest; the General's father, who happened to be a fourth son, was of course obliged to seek his fortune abroad. He accordingly removed to the West Indies, and having settled in the island of St Vincent, married an American lady.

Alexander, the fruit of this alliance, was sent to his mother's relations at New York, for his education; and having been placed at Columbia College, in that State, made great progress in his studies.

The war having commenced while he was in one of the upper classes, like many other school-boys, he became ambitious to distinguish himself; and, having made some progress in mathematics, he determined to apply himself to that branch of tactics

more

more immediately connected with ge

ometry.

Having accordingly raised a company of matrosses, or artillerymen, Captain Hamilton took the field, and conducted himself in such a manner as to obtain the notice of the Commander in chief. In consequence of this he was taken into General Washington's family as an aide-de-camp, and served under him until the capture of Lord Cornwallis's army rendered all the hopes and efforts of England unavailing.

At the close of the war he betook himself to the practice of the law, in which he made a brilliant figure, as well as in the legislature of the state of New York, and the congress of the United States.

He at this time wrote his Phoion,' a work which, like all his other performances, discovered a strong mind, enriched by application to study.

He made great efforts to conciliate the citizens of the United States with those royalists who remained in America at the evacuation of New York; for his politics were always of the liberal cast. By this means he rendered essential service to his country, by encreasing the number at least of its citizens; and obtained for himself the esteem and affection of those who had been opposed to him in politics while the contest lasted.

At the promulgation of the new constitution, he is said to have united with Mr Jay and Mr Madison in publishing the work called "The Federalist."

But although it be difficult to say whether he shone mest in the character of a soldier, a lawyer, or a politician, his arrangement of the finances of the United States has been the subject of the highest and most general commendation. It will scarcely be credited by the next generation, that a debt, which was selling in the market at the depreciated rate of

12 per cent. should be raised by his administration to 140-an extreme price, to be sure, at which it did not stand long; but at 120, millions were sold even in London; and from that day to the present no debt in Europe has maintained or deserved a better credit.

His report on this subject to the House of Representatives will remain at all times a monument of that versatility of genius, by which he was enabled to combine the drudgery of official detail with the luminous ideas of general policy; and it will be remembered, to his honour, of which he had the highest notions, that his fingers were never soiled by any personal gain in these transactions, which offered so great and evident an opportunity, and by which his country was so much enriched.

On those subjects which agitated the government of the United States during the late war in Europe, when it was necessary to observe so nice a conduct to avoid insult, or rather to obtain redress for injuries received on the one hand, and to keep clear of the contest on the other, his publications under the signature of "Pacificus," had an evident tendency to calm the public mind; nor can it be doubted that his councils in the cabinet of the United States had their due weight in promoting the bloodless mode of adjusting differences without compromising the honour of the nation, in which that infant country has set an example so worthy the imitation of other states.

In his natural disposition, General Hamilton may be said to have been a man of more ambition than pride; he wished to stand prominently in the public opinion, but was not over solicitous for official situations; he quitted the secretaryship of the treasury for private life, and resumed the profession of the law for subsistence; but there have been no great occa sions in which, though a private citi

zen, his talents have not been called forth. It is said that he had a pen chant towards monarchy, and it is not improbable that he wished a change in the constitution, that would add something to the strength of the executive government. His manners were so condescending and sociable, and he sought information, even on the subjects of his own official reports, from all ranks of citizens, with so much ease and affability, that in other times and countries he would have been a dangerous citizen.

In the year 1780 he married the second daughter of the late General Schuyler, by whom he had several children, and thus became connected with one of the most respectable families in the state.

He is not supposed to have died rich, for his expences while in public life are known to have exceeded the revenue assigned by the constitution of the United States. His practice as a lawyer was indeed lucrative; yet as he entertained a scorn for wealth, it cannot be supposed that he took the readiest way to amass riches.

The particulars of his death are too well known; but we shall here subjoin an account of his funeral, which it will be seen was conducted in such a manner as to be connected with the politics of the day.

In conformity to previous arrange ments, the procession was formed in Robinson street, where the deceased General lay, about twelve o'clock. The following was the order: the artillery-the 6th regiment of militia -flank companies-Cincinnati Society-a numerous train of clergy of all denominations-the Corpse, with pall bearers-the general's horse appropriately dressed his children and relatives physicians Governor Morris, the funeral oratør, in his carriage the gentlemen of the bar the Lieutenant Governor of the State, in his carriage-corporation of the city of New York-resident a

gents of foreign powers-officers of the army and navy-military and naval officers of foreign powers-militia officers of the state-the various officers of the respective banks-chamber of commerce and merchants— wardens of the port, and masters of vessels in harbour-the president, professors, and students of Columbia college- Tammany Society - Mechanic society-Marine society-citizens in general.

The military marched with arms reversed, and exhibited a very splendid spectacle. Thus formed, the procession, which was numerous, extensive, and respectable, moved with solemn step, accompanied with the awful tolling of the bells, and the firing of minute guns from the battery, through Beekman, Pearl, and White-hall streets, and up Broadway to Trinity church, where the military halted, opened to the right and left, and came to order with reversed arms. The rear of the procession marched through the avenue tbus formed to the front of Trinity church, where Mr Morris was to deliver the funeral oration to the immense concourse of assembled and anxious spectators.

Within the elegant portico of this venerable temple was erected a stage, covered with a carpet, and furnished with two chairs; one for the orator, who sat in the middle, the other for Mr J. B. Church, a relative and executor of the deceased. Around the stage, upon the ground, stood the afflicted relatives and associates of the General, the members of the Cincinnati, the clergy, and all who with decency could approach it. The scene was impressive; and what added unspeakably to its solemnity, was the mournful group of tender boys, the sons, once the hopes, and joys of the deceased, who, with tears gushing from their eyes, sat upon the stage, at the feet of the orator, bewailing the loss of their parent!

When

When all things were arranged, and the din of arms and the bustle of the crowd had subsided, Mr Morris rose, and having approached the front of the stage, under which the corpse of General Hamilton was placed, addressed the audience as follows:

65 You are not to expect in me the public orator; you will find nothing but the lamenta tions of a bewailing friend.

"His life (pointing at the corpse) was one of honour and glory. When our revolution began, his fame was heard of before his person was seen. "Washington, that excellent judge of human nature, perceived his virtues, appreciated his talents, entrusted him with his confidence, and made him his bosom friend.

"At the battle of York, he displayed alike his valour and his humanity. The excesses of the gallant army opposed to us, had excited emotions of resentment in the American soldiery, which required his superior mind to repress. At the head of a forlorn hope he attacked the redoubt of the enemy, and was victo. rious. That occurrence gave us peace.

"His studiousness, his comprehensive mind, his wisdom, his eloquence, called him to the convention in which originated your constitution, and presented you with a national code. Here I saw him labour indefatigably for his country's good. His soul was absorbed in considering what would best establish and preserve well-regulated liberty. When the labours of the convention were closed, he frankly expressed a doubt of the fitness of the constitution to maintain, with necessary energy, public freedom. He relied, however, my countrymen, on your wisdom, your virtue, but more on the over ruling Power before whom we are solemnly assembled.

"Washington, with whom he had toiled, and by whose side he had travelled through every stage of our revolutionary contest;-Washington, who saw his manly struggles in the convention, and best knew how to promote his country's welfare, called him, under the new constitution, to preside over an important department of government. Here he displayed all the talents of a great financier. He organised the government, and imparted to it a tone according with correct notions of its stability, and the permanent interest and happiness of the country. At this period we had no credit; he fixed it upon a sure and permanent basis, and called our resources into profitable and glorious activity. But he met with op position, and retired from public life to the pursuit of his profession, in which he became the ornament of the bar, and a paragon of integrity to his clients. The welfare of a numerous family called for an exertion of his great professional talents.

"Menaced with dangers from without, Washington was forced from his beloved retirement to the field,

This great man had not forgotten the young hero who, early in the revolution, had attracted his notice. I beseech you, my countrymen, to mark another instance of his discernment, affection, and esteem. He viewed the deceased as worthy of being the second in command. He was appointed major-general of our army. Washington deemed him, in case of accident, perhaps the only man in whose hands, which now lie cold in his coffin, the sword and purse of America could be safely en. trusted.

"He toiled incessantly with manly firmness against popular zeal; and snatched you, in spite of yourselves, from impending ruin. His solicitude was for you; for himself he feared

not.

"He

"He had been charged with ambition. When he retired from the army, of which he was major-general, he declared he would never again ac cept of an office unless his country was endangered by actual foreign invasion. Firm to his purpose, faithful to himself, his determinations were irreversible. No power could divert him from them. He was ri gid and inflexible.

"But he was not ambitious. I declare, in the presence of that great Being before whom we are now specially assembled, that in all our conversations, in all his meditations, he was solicitous only for the welfare of his country. He was sincere and af. fectionate. His heart, faithful to itself, never knew how to conceal what it felt. He placed it in his hand; exhibited it to the people, and challenged rigid inspection. He knew no guile; he knew not how to dissemble.

sed and illustrious friend I beseech you to be calm and tranquil.

Respected collegians (addressing himself to them) in your academical pursuits, remember that Hamilton was your patron. Imitate his virtues, revere his talents, respect his greatness.

"And you, gentlemen of the bar, which he illuminated with his genius, study the example he has left of his exemplary integrity to his clients. He was the ornament of your profession.

"And you, brothers of the Society of the Cincinnati, you who knew him in the day of affliction, remember his wisdom and eloquence in the cabinet, his activity and valour in the field.

"And you, reverend clergy, accompany the body of the deceased to the place of its interment, and perform your holy functions, the last sad office you can now bestow.

SUPPLEMENT to a Tour thro' some of the Shetland Islands in 1804.

sound hands. He dreaded factions, and was apprehensive that their collisions would injure it. For my friends, my countrymen, I beseech you not to trust to profefion. Look into, examine facts, and by these judge of public measures.

"Your sensibility is awakened. I cannot enter into a consideration of the causes that have produced the melancholy event which has brought us together. I will not-I ought not to endeavour to excite that in dignation which you feel. I pray you to repress that temper, which might lead to acts offensive to the majesty of the laws. For my decea

1805.)

SINCE my remarks on Shetland

were published, a few inaccuracies have been pointed out to me, which I beg leave to correct :— -Some of my observations have, I find, been misconstrued; these I shall endeavour to render more plain :-- -And I shall interweave some additional articles of information which have lately come to my knowledge.

1. Nofs Ifland. In the Magazine for June last, p. 233. I have stated, that the tenant of Noss pays L50. of rent for the whole island. I am now informed that I should have said only L.40 5s. ; but this is evidently a matter of no importance.

In