on the fatal
field of Weehawken, New Jersey.

At the first fire Hamilton sprang on his tip-toes, and, after a
convulsive movement, fell forward on his face. At the same time his
weapon was accidentally discharged, his missile flying wide of its mark.
Indeed, Hamilton did not fire; in reality, he had resolved not to return
his antagonist's fire, and never knew that his weapon was discharged, as
he was insensible when he fell. He died within thirty hours, and his
funeral was the most imposing ever witnessed in that day. Around the
name of Hamilton there glows a halo which has brightened in the ages.
Thus was America robbed of her brave soldier and pure statesman.

JAMES MADISON.

The subject of this narrative, James Madison, was born at King George,
Virginia, March 16th, 1751. His father was a planter, descended from
John Madison, an Englishman who settled in Virginia about the year 1656.
The maiden name of his mother was Eleanor Conway. He was the eldest of
seven children. He received a fairly good education but better still, he
applied himself very closely at college, so much so as to make him noted
in this respect; the result was seen in after years.

In 1772 he returned to Virginia and commenced a course of legal study.
He particularly studied up on public affairs, and in the spring of 1776
he was elected a member of the Virginia convention from the county of
Orange, and procured the passage of the substance of an amendment to the
declaration of rights, by George Mason, which struck out the old term
'toleration' and inserted a broader exposition of religious rights. In
the same year he was a member of the general assembly, but lost his
election in 1777, from his refusal to treat the voters, and the general
want of confidence in his powers of oratory. Thus, it is seen, that as
James Madison's natural abilities could not have been very marked, his
success was the natural result of GREAT EXERTION.

The legislature, however, on meeting in November of the same year,
elected him a member of the council of the State; and in the winter of
1779 he was chosen by the assembly a delegate to congress. He took his
seat in March, 1780, and remained in that body for three years. He
strongly opposed the issue of paper money by the States, and was in
favor of a formal recommendation on the part of congress against the
continuance of the system. As chairman of the committee to prepare
instructions to the ministers at Versai