If with
philologists he is deemed a man of merit, it may with equal justice be
said that he is to be recognized by medical men as an author of
importance, for his _History of Pestilence_.

Next I may note William Coleman, usually called in earlier days, by his
antagonist Cheetham, Field-Marshal Coleman. Mr. Bryant, the able editor of
the _Post_, in his biography of the first fifty years of that prominent
gazette, has well described him. He was a sensitive man, of great tenacity
of opinion, which he cherished by intercourse with many of the leading
patriots and politicians who were among us some thirty years ago. He
almost leaned on the arm of the inflexible Timothy Pickering, and had, in
his younger days, held communion with Hamilton, John Wells and Rufus King.
I shall never forget how the death of the immortal Hamilton subdued his
feeling. When Gouverneur Morris delivered his felicitous eulogy from the
portals of old Trinity Church, over the dead body of the noble martyr,
with grief in every countenance, and anguish in every heart, Coleman's
acuteness of feeling paralyzed every movement of his frame, and drowned
every faculty of his mind. While on this topic, the decease of Hamilton, I
may state an anecdote, the import of which can be readily understood. It
was not long prior to the time of his death that the new and authentic
edition of _The Federalist_ was published by George F. Hopkins. Hopkins
told me of the delicacy with which Hamilton listened to his proposition to
print a new edition of these papers. "They are demanded by the spirit of
the times and the desire of the people," said Hopkins. "Do you really
think, Mr. Hopkins, that those fugitive essays will be read, if
reprinted?" asked Hamilton; "well, give me a few days to consider," said
he. "Will this not be a good opportunity, Gen. Hamilton," rejoined
Hopkins, "to revise them, and, if so, to make, perhaps, alterations, if
necessary, in some parts?" "No, sir, if reprinted, they must stand exactly
as at first, not a word of alteration. A comma may be inserted or left
out, but the work must undergo no change whatever."

A few days had elapsed when, on the next interview, General Hamilton
agreed to the reprint, with the express condition that he himself must
inspect the revised proofs. Not a word was ever altered. "You think
something of the papers?" says Hamilton to the printer. "Mr. Hopkins, let
them be issued. Heretofore, sir, I have given the people common mi