Gallatin was an ardent partisan of the President, and declares, himself, that he undertook his task of exposing Hamilton, and bringing his lofty head low, with great zest and thoroughness. But his hunt for “blunders” and venality merged soon into a labor of love. Upon his just and comprehensive mind, Hamilton’s perfect system, day by day, revealed itself. By the time he had mastered its details, and measured its completeness, he was filled with admiration. “In the honest enthusiasm of a truly great mind he went to Mr. Jefferson and said: ‘Mr. President, I have, as you directed, made a thorough examination of the books, accounts and correspondence of my department, from its commencement. I have found,’ said the conscientious Secretary, ‘the most perfect system ever formed. Any change under it would injure it.’ Hamilton made no blunders, committed no frauds; he did nothing wrong.” Albert Gallatin marked his administration by a series of reports regarding the best method of canceling the national debt, the proper policy of disposing of the public lands, and the legality and necessity of establishing a national bank. Thus, contrary to his original intention, he associated himself with Morris and Hamilton as one of the three founders of the financial policy of the nation. By the year 1804, the business of the Treasury had so increased, that an effort was made toward the erection of a building, to become the especial depository of the records. An idea may be given of the demands of the infant government and its notions of economy, in the facts that this vaunted fire-proof public building is much smaller than an unpretentious private dwelling of the present time, and that it cost less than the sum of twelve thousand dollars. Mr. Madison, on his accession to the Presidency, retained Mr. Gallatin at the head of the Treasury. On March 1, 1809, an act of Congress directed that all warrants drawn on the Treasury by the Secretaries of the different executive departments, should designate the appropriation to which they were charged. June 18, 1812, war was declared, and Congress was convened in special session, to consider the necessities of the Treasury. Out of the legislation which followed, came our present internal revenue laws. Mr. Gallatin, after having held his office longer than any of his predecessors, resigned, and went on a foreign mission. A period of extreme money depression succeeded his resignation. August 24, 1814, the British troops entered Washington, and, with the Capitol and other public buildings, burned the Treasury. The business of the Treasury, for a considerable time afterwards, was carried on in what was known as “the Seven Buildings,” in the western part of the city. George N. Campbell, of Tennessee, Mr. Gallatin’s successor, attempted to negotiate a loan of twenty-five millions of dollars, but failed, and resigned his office. The national credit was at its lowest ebb.