who died the 12th of July, 1804, aged but 48. The widow, a splendid old lady, died only a few years since.

Alexander Hamilton is still alive. Had he been the son of a John Smith he would have been one of the most eminent men of the day. A great father is a heavy load for a son to carry. The sons of Clay, Web ster, Calhoun, Van Buren, and others I could name, were above, or at least equal to the ordinary run of men, but the contrast with their fathers placed them as below the mediocrity, in the opinion of mankind.

Mr. Hamilton's children are, of course, descended from the old Kortright race.

The Kortrights came to New York in a different way from the old Dutch settlers. That and other Dutch families, such as the Romaines, went to RioJaneiro, in Brazil, with Prince Maurice. They expected to remain and hold that country. They built forts, but finally they swapped off with the Portuguese, for Surinam and Curaçoa. Some of the Dutch would not remain, but came to New York.

The fourth daughter of Lawrence Kortright married a Captain Heyleger. They had a daughter. She married John Durant, a gentleman of leisure, and had two sons and two daughters. The eldest daughter married a son of Lorenzo Da Ponte, who is dead. His widow lives in New Orleans. The second daughter, Sarah, is in Florence, with her mother. They have joined the Roman Catholic Church. The two sons were living in New Orleans.

I have finished with the sons of the old merchant, Cornelius Kortright, who was killed in 1743. I now return to his daughters. His eldest, Helen, who was

born 11th April, 1739 (O. S) old style. At fifteen years old she had her growth, and was a large, rosycheeked, lovely girl. She had between that time and the day of her marriage several beaux, but they were kept at a respectful distance, and never allowed familiarity of any sort. Mothers were indulgent in the old times, also affectionate, and never attempted to deprive daughters of what was called the genteelest amusements in 1756. They loved to see their daughters dress well, and to be well attended. Girls were not allowed then to spend the day in idleness, visiting, or walking the streets. Their mornings were devoted to domestic work. Every branch of housework was not only inspected, but really performed by the daughters of a family. The afternoons and evenings were deemed sufficient for visiting and receiving visitors, and all other amusements. Ladies and gentlemen generally met every evening at each others' houses, and passed their time in innocent chat, or some pleasing pastime. One of this young lady's brothers had, as I have stated, gone to St. Croix, and got married, and the other was married in the city of New York. So she always selected some beau that she could adopt as a sort of brother. The first of her beaux was a Mr. Bryon, a young law student. At that time the celebrated Mr. Whitefield was expected in the city, on his way to Boston.

Mr. Whitefield first visited New York, in 1740. He was invited to preach at the Presbyterian Church in Wall street (north side, between Nassau and Broadway.) His preaching was a blessing to many. Thousands flocked to hear him. The church was erected in 1719. Whitefield's preaching forced them to build

galleries, and to enlarge the church one third in 1748. He was here several times between 1744 and 1748. The pastor of the Wall Street Church was the only one in this city that invited this great preacher to preach for him whenever in town. It was ten years before the Methodists got regularly started, in 1766, under old Parson Embury, in John street. Young Bryon was a great admirer of the goodness and great power of Whitefield as a preacher.

When the distinguished preacher arrived Mr. Bryon let his sweetheart know it. She went out to tea, and requested him to call for her to go to hear Parson Whitefield. She did not want her mother to know that she went to such a place. At that time religion was taught in Dutch. The talk in the Kortright family was in Dutch, although they spoke English. She did not wish to shock her mother's Dutch prejudices, or get refused permission to go and hear Whitefield. When she went into the meeting place, she for some time. could not prevail upon herself to open her eyes. When she did so she found the audience composed of some of the first people in the city. This was in 1756. Whitefield preached in the Wall street church several times to a crowded house.

Her next beau was a clergyman of the Episcopal Church, who came from Charleston, S. C., and was attached to Trinity. Whitefield had given her a great fancy for clergymen. But her new beau, after preaching in St. George's Chapel, then recently opened (1748) in Chapel street (Beekman,) one afternoon, offered himself, while escorting her home. She refused him she thought a good merchant as good as any of

the learned men ; and a few days previous, a Mr. C. D., who had just left the counting-house of one of the eminent merchants of this city in 1756, having served seven years, and being twenty-one years of age, and his father dead, and he entitled to it as an only son, began to pay his addresses to Miss Helen. He courted a year, and then went to Europe. While abroad he did not write. Meanwhile she refused six very eligible offers before she was 18. In fact, a young man would not pass muster in the city unless he had been refused by the beautiful Miss Kortright. All this while there was one beau that the mother liked. The daughter did not, and avoided him whenever she possibly could. If he called, she was busy and would not come down. Still he came. Then she began to wonder at his loving patience and forbearance under her scorn. One morning he caught her before she could escape from the recep tion room.

"Helen, why do you always fly from me? Why will you not give me an opportunity of declaring my attachment to you? Let this morning decide my fate."

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Very well, sir. I do not wish to keep any gentleman in a state of suspension. I cannot encourage your addresses. I esteem you, but I will tell you frankly, that I feel a preference for Mr. C. D., who is in Lon don; and if he returns with the same sentiments for me as when he left, I shall probably marry him." "Are you certainly engaged to him?"

"No, sir, not engaged verbally, but mentally." "Then, my dear Miss Helen, suppose you continu to be verbally engaged to me, and mentally to him.” "Would you marry any young lady under such cir cumstances?"

"Yes, you, with all my heart and soul."

"Would you risk your future happiness, ana marry a lady who prefers another?"

"Miss Helen, I will risk anything to obtain you, and I will be amply compensated for every risk, and it shall be the study of my life to make you happy."

The ice was broken, and they talked freely upon this subject. The lover in London did not come home. The New York lover was here, and finally consent was obtained, and on the 13th of July, 1758 (new style), Abraham Brasher, son of Luke and Judith Brasher, was married to the lovely Helen Kortright, by the Rev. Doctor Barclay, of Trinity Church.

Old Luke Brasher was born December, 1697. He married Judith Gasherie, in November, 1723, and Abraham was their only child surviving out of seven. He was born December, 1734.

Miss Helen Kortright had made conditions with her beau that as soon as they were married he should take her to New Rochelle, where her two youngest sisters, Margaret and Elizabeth, were at boarding school.

I ought to mention here, that Mary was left at home. She afterwards, January 29th, 1763, married Captain John Wilkinson Hanson. He was at one time Governor of the Danish Island at Santa Cruz. He so pleased the merchants, that when he resigned, they purchased a turreen of solid silver. It weighed 100 ounces. He died May 6th, 1785. His children both died early. Martha died in Santa Cruz 3d November, 1792. Robert died in 1796. Widow Mary lived at 50 Wall street as late as 1799. She died about 1826, aged 89.

Margaret, another sister, who was at the boarding