an insolent Coxcomb, who rarely dined in good Company where there was good wine, without getting silly, and vapouring about his Administration, like a young Girl about her brilliants and trinketts
John Adams on Alexander Hamilton. [source]
This is the cutest fucking thing I have read about Alexander Hamilton today and that is saying a lot.
Adams goes on to say, rather incoherently:
From some Windows in my House I see the Capitol in Boston: not only its Dome and Steeple, but the whole body of the Building: from other Windows the view is obstructed by Trees Houses &c, in other Mens lands and there might be Pallaces and Temples. If I should swear I would cutt down all those Trees and burn all those sacred Temples and gorgious Palaces, in order to clear my View and actually attempt and accomplish some of this destruction, I should be an Emblem of the Bairn of Nevis.
Dude, he’s been dead for two years. You need to fucking chill. I also enjoy this about Washington from this letter (also to Benjamin Rush):
Talents? You will Say, what Talents? I answer. 1. An handsome Face. That this is a Talent, I can prove by the Authority of a thousand Instances in all Ages: and among the rest Madame DuBarry who said Le veritable Royaute est la Beauté 2. A tall Stature, like the Hebrew Sovereign chosen because he was taller by the Head than the other Jews. 3 An elegant Form. 4. graceful Attitudes and Movements. 5. a large imposing Fortune consisting of a great landed Estate left him by his Father and Brother, besides a large Jointure with his Lady, and the Guardianship of the Heirs of the great Custis Estate, and in Addition to all this, immense Tracts of Land of his own Acquisition.
George Washington: people just liked him because he was hot and rich. Okay, fair enough, I guess.
(via roselerner)