Benyowski, or the Conspiracy of Kamskatka," and upon one occasion, "Paul & Virginia, the Plot from M. de St. Pierre's very popular novel of the same with new scenery and machinery never before exhibited, -- Dance by the Negroes, the Whole to Conclude with the representation of a Tornado in which Virginia is shipwrecked, who is seen struggling in the Water while the Ship is Burnt by Lightning."
In the New York Evening Post of March 8, 1802, there is an advertisement headed "The Theatrical Curiosity." "The Two Samuels which arrived a few days since from Senegal we understand will be introduced into the Triumphal Procession on Monday Evening at Mr. Cooper's Benefit, being it is presumed their first appearance on any stage."
Hamilton also attended the meetings of the Philharmonic Society, which were held at Snow's Hotel at 69 Broadway.
General Schuyler's visits to the Grange, during the latter part of his life, became less and less frequent because of his ill health. Referring to the illness of his little grandson, one of Hamilton's boys, he wrote from Albany, December 20, 1802: "I hope he is now perfectly recovered, and that I shall embrace him here, as Mr. Rensselaer says you intend to accompany the General in the next month when he must be here. This will afford us additional pleasure, and the journey be of service to you, and if the wound in my thigh and the Gout which has seized on one of my feet will permit, we will accompany you to the Grange, of whose beauties the Patroon speaks with rapture."
In this letter he refers to his grandson, Philip, his namesake, and writes: "It affords me great pleasure to be advised that he is attentive to his studies. I hope that he may make eligible Progress and become a man of Virtue." In April, 1804, a few months before Hamilton's death, he received a visit from Chancellor Kent who, in a letter to his wife, described his stay at the Grange:
"I went out with General Hamilton on Saturday, the 21st, and stayed till Sunday evening. There was a furious and dreadful storm on Saturday night. It blew almost a hurricane. His house stands high, and was much exposed, and I am certain that in the second story, where I slept, it rocked like a cradle. He never appeared before so friendly and amiable. I was alone, and he treated me with a minute attention that I did not suppose he knew how to bestow. His manners were also very delicate and chaste. His daughter,1 who is nineteen years old, has a very uncommon simplicity and modesty of deportment, and he appeared in his domestic state the plain, modest, and affectionate father and husband."
Hamilton's professional engagements about this time took him often to Albany, and he either went by sloop or mail stage, the latter leaving New York every morning at six and reaching Albany the third day after. The passengers, meanwhile, during the intervening nights lodged at Peekskill or Rhinebeck. This line was managed by William Vandervoort, and the stages departed from the corner of Cortlandt and Greenwich Streets. The proprietors of the stage line were Potter, Hyatt & Company. The fare charged was eight dollars for the entire journey, or six-pence a mile for way passengers. On these journeys Hamilton wrote frequently to his wife, and he was undoubtedly kept informed of all that went on during his absence. He certainly found time to direct those in charge of the improvements at home.
Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton
CLAVERACK, Oct. 14, 1803.
MY DEAR ELIZA: I arrived here this day, in about as good health as I left home though somewhat fatigued --
There are some things necessary to be done which I omitted mentioning to you. I wish the Carpenter to make and insert two Chimnies for ventilating the Ice-House, each about two feet square & four feet long half above and half below the ground to have a cap on the top sloping downwards so that the rain may not easily enter -- The aperture for letting in and out the air to be about a foot and a half square in the side immediately below the cap (see figure on the other side.)
Let a separate compost bed be formed near the present one, to consist of 3 barrels full of the clay which I bought, 6 barrels of black moulds 2 waggon loads of the best clay on the Hill opposite the Quakers plain this side of Mr. Verplanks
(the Gardener must go for it himself) and one waggon load of pure cowdung -- Let these be well and repeatedly mixed and pounded together to be made up of hereafter for the Vines.
I hope the apple trees will have been planted so as to profit by this moderate and wet weather. If not done, let Tough be reminded that a temporary fence is to be put up along the declivity of the Hill from the King's bridge road to the opposite wood so as to prevent the cattle injuring the young trees -- the fence near the entrance to the Helicon Spring ought for the same reason to be attended to -- The materials of the fence taken down in making the Kitchen Garden & some rubbish, which may be picked up will answer --
Remember that the piazzas are also to be caulked & that additional accommodations for the pidgeons are to be made --
You see I do not forget the Grange -- No that I do not; nor any one that inhabits it. Accept yourself my tenderest affection -- Give my love to your Children & remember me to Cornelia.
Adieu my darling
A. H.
Mrs. H.
To Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton,
No. 58
Partition Street.
PEEKSKILL, October 16. Saturday.
I have just arrived here and shall stay till tomorrow.
It has always appeared to me that the ground on which our orchard stands is much too moist. To cure this, a ditch round it would be useful, perhaps with a sunken fence as a guard. But this last may be considered at a future time.
If you can obtain one or two more laborers, it may be advisable to cut a ditch round the orchard -- three feet deep by three feet wide at the bottom. The clay that comes out of the ditch will be useful to give firmness to our roads and may be used for this purpose.
Yet you will consider this merely as a suggestion and do as you think best after you shall have ascertained whether
you can procure any better materials for the purpose. But remember that mere sand and stones will not answer.
Very affectionately my beloved,
Yrs, A. H.
Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton
at Haerlem,
New York.
I was extremely disappointed, my dear Eliza, that the Monday's post did not bring me a letter from you. You used to keep your promises better. And you know that I should be anxious of your health. If the succeeding post does not rectify the omission of the former, I shall be dissatisfied and pained.
Adieu my beloved, and be assured that I shall not lose a moment to return to you.
Yours tenderly,
A. H.
Saturday 2nd of October.
Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton
at Haerlem.
New York.
Sunday Morning.
I was much relieved, my dear Eliza, by the receipt yesterday morning of your letter of Monday last. How it came to be so long delayed I am unable to conjecture. But the delay gave much uneasiness in consequence of the imperfect state of health in which I had left you. I thank God you were better -- for indeed, my Eliza, you are very essential to me. Your virtues more and more endear you to me and experience more and more convinces me that true happiness is only to be found in the bosom of ones own family.
I am in hopes, that I may be able to leave this place sooner than I had counted upon, say on Friday or Saturday. But I may be disappointed and may be detained till Sunday morning. This at all events I trust will bring me home on Tuesday following. The stage is three days in performing the journey.
I am anxious to hear from Philip. Naughty young man! But you must permit nothing to trouble you and regain your precious health.
Adieu