While consuming himself for his country, Hamilton was harassed by the abuse of personal and political enemies, and suffering for the adequate means to support his family. While building up the financial system which was to redeem his country, the state of his own finances may be judged by the following letter from him to a personal friend, dated September 30, 1791: “DEAR SIR:—If you can conveniently let me have twenty dollars for a few days, send it by bearer. A. H.” The amount of personal toil he performed for the government was enormous. Talleyrand, who was at this time a refugee in Philadelphia, after his return to France, spoke with admiring enthusiasm of the young American patriot. In speaking of his experience in America, he once said: “I have seen in that country one of the wonders of the world—a man, who has made the future of the Nation, laboring all night to support his family.” Nobody believes that any servant of his country should be compelled to this, to-day, yet had not long-sufficed selfishness made them insensible to it, the over-greedy legislator of to-day might learn from the example of Alexander Hamilton a salutary lesson. After six years of personal service in the Treasury, amid personal and political opposition, greater than has ever assailed any one statesman; after seeing his financial system a part of the governmental policy of his country, Hamilton resigned his office, and resumed the practice of law in the city of New York. Established in that day of small things, in human judgment it seems impossible that the brain of one man could have devised a monetary system that would anticipate all the varied, conflicting and unexpected demands of a country as large and swiftly developed as ours. Yet, with slight modifications, the system of Hamilton has met all exigencies, saved the national credit, and assured the national prosperity through the deepest trials. It paid the national debt of the Revolution, and of 1812, and in the War of the Rebellion, when the governmental expenses of a single day were more than the national income for a whole year in Hamilton’s time, the foresight and genius of this man of thirty-three had suggested ways for the vast accumulation and disbursement. Personally, Hamilton was under middle size, slight, well-proportioned, erect and graceful. His complexion was white and pink, his features mobile, his expression vivacious, his voice musical, his manner cordial, his entire appearance attractive and refined. Alexander Hamilton was succeeded by Oliver Wolcott, Jr., as Secretary of the Treasury. The great act of Mr. Wolcott’s administration was the revision and completion of the laws relative to the collection of the revenue. He carried out, through his administration, the great fundamental principles of national finance established by Hamilton, and was re-appointed by John Adams.