If you weren't aware, the two of us love history. One of the very first things we bonded over was Hamilton the musical. We loved the songs, the characters and whole message it sends out about honouring history and the legacies of those who came before us.
The musical is pretty much sung-through and the lyrics are fast, witty and modern. But are they historically accurate? We've trawled through the original letters to see if we could spot any similarities. Here are a few we've found:
Helpless
Laughin' at my sister, cuz she wants to form a harem
On 30th July 1794, Angelica wrote to Eliza saying "... by my Amiable you know that I mean your Husband, for I love him very much and if you were as generous as the old Romans, you would lend him to me for a while." Those Schuyler sisters were very close...
Is this true? Did Peggy confide in Hamilton? On 3rd September 1780, a young and rather insecure Hamilton wrote to his fiancée, Eliza, saying "You see I give you an account of all the pretty females I meet with: you tell me nothing of the pretty fellows you see. I suppose you will pretend there is none of them engages the least of your attention... When your sister returns home, I shall try to get her in my interest and make her tell me of all your flirtations." So yes, Hamilton and Peggy were close. In fact, Hamilton was at Peggy's bedside when she died.
Satisfied
He will never be satisfied, I will never be satisfied
Angelica wrote to Hamilton from London on 4th February 1790, talking of how upset she was to be away from those she loved. She said "You are happy my dear friend to find consolation in "words and thoughts." I cannot be so easily satisfied..." The letter itself is actually rather sad. Angelica spoke of an "irresistible apathy" that had taken hold of her mind. Being away from America, away from her family and friends, and her dearest, Alexander, genuinely made Angelica depressed.
That Would Be Enough
Will you relish being a poor man's wife?
Despite all the ambition and occasional arrogance, Hamilton sometimes lacked confidence. He was a penniless orphan, with no rank or station, whereas Eliza Schuyler was from a prominent family. In August 1780, while he was still courting Eliza, he wrote the following to her, checking she knew exactly what she was letting herself in for. "Do you soberly relish the pleasure of being a poor mans wife? ... Will you be able to see with perfect composure your old acquaintances flaunting it in gay life, tripping it along in elegance and splendor, while you hold a humble station and have no other enjoyments than the sober comforts of a good wife?"
Non-Stop
In the musical, this is Angelica telling Hamilton what her new husband is like. In real life, Angelica was already married when she met Alexander. On 2nd October 1787, she wrote a letter to Hamilton telling him that her husband loved politics, indeed he desired to be an MP in the House of Commons, but added "where [she] should be happy to see him if he possessed your Eloquence."
Sadly, Hamilton didn't write to Angelica as often as she did him. One of his letters to her said "You have been much better to me My Dear friend since you left America, than I deserved, for you have written to me oftener than I have written to you. I will make no apology; for I am sure you will attribute it to any thing else rather than to a defect of pleasure in writing to you." Smooth, Ham.
Take a Break
And there you are, an ocean away
Hamilton and Angelica often wrote of how much they pined for each other. Take that as you will... On one occasion Alexander wrote to Angelica, "I confess for my own part I see one great source of happiness snatched away... But an ocean is now to separate us."
Best of wives and best of women!
The musical is pretty much sung-through and the lyrics are fast, witty and modern. But are they historically accurate? We've trawled through the original letters to see if we could spot any similarities. Here are a few we've found:
Helpless
 |
| Original London Cast - Rachelle Ann Go and Jamael Westman, as Eliza and Alexander |
I'm just saying if you really loved me, you would share him
On 30th July 1794, Angelica wrote to Eliza saying "... by my Amiable you know that I mean your Husband, for I love him very much and if you were as generous as the old Romans, you would lend him to me for a while." Those Schuyler sisters were very close...
Peggy confides in me, Angelica tried to take a bite of me
Is this true? Did Peggy confide in Hamilton? On 3rd September 1780, a young and rather insecure Hamilton wrote to his fiancée, Eliza, saying "You see I give you an account of all the pretty females I meet with: you tell me nothing of the pretty fellows you see. I suppose you will pretend there is none of them engages the least of your attention... When your sister returns home, I shall try to get her in my interest and make her tell me of all your flirtations." So yes, Hamilton and Peggy were close. In fact, Hamilton was at Peggy's bedside when she died.
Satisfied
 |
| Original Broadway Cast - Renée Elise Goldsberry as Angelica |
Angelica wrote to Hamilton from London on 4th February 1790, talking of how upset she was to be away from those she loved. She said "You are happy my dear friend to find consolation in "words and thoughts." I cannot be so easily satisfied..." The letter itself is actually rather sad. Angelica spoke of an "irresistible apathy" that had taken hold of her mind. Being away from America, away from her family and friends, and her dearest, Alexander, genuinely made Angelica depressed.
That Would Be Enough
 |
| Original Broadway Cast - Phillipa Soo and Lin-Manuel Miranda as Eliza and Hamilton |
Unable to provide for your life?
Despite all the ambition and occasional arrogance, Hamilton sometimes lacked confidence. He was a penniless orphan, with no rank or station, whereas Eliza Schuyler was from a prominent family. In August 1780, while he was still courting Eliza, he wrote the following to her, checking she knew exactly what she was letting herself in for. "Do you soberly relish the pleasure of being a poor mans wife? ... Will you be able to see with perfect composure your old acquaintances flaunting it in gay life, tripping it along in elegance and splendor, while you hold a humble station and have no other enjoyments than the sober comforts of a good wife?"
Non-Stop
He is not a lot of fun, but there's no one
Who could match you for turn of phrase
In the musical, this is Angelica telling Hamilton what her new husband is like. In real life, Angelica was already married when she met Alexander. On 2nd October 1787, she wrote a letter to Hamilton telling him that her husband loved politics, indeed he desired to be an MP in the House of Commons, but added "where [she] should be happy to see him if he possessed your Eloquence."
Don't forget to write
Sadly, Hamilton didn't write to Angelica as often as she did him. One of his letters to her said "You have been much better to me My Dear friend since you left America, than I deserved, for you have written to me oftener than I have written to you. I will make no apology; for I am sure you will attribute it to any thing else rather than to a defect of pleasure in writing to you." Smooth, Ham.
Take a Break
 |
| Original Broadway Cast - Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo and Renée Elise Goldsberry as Hamilton, Eliza and Angelica |
Do you have to live an ocean away?
Hamilton and Angelica often wrote of how much they pined for each other. Take that as you will... On one occasion Alexander wrote to Angelica, "I confess for my own part I see one great source of happiness snatched away... But an ocean is now to separate us."
In a letter I received from you two weeks ago
I noticed a comma in the middle of phrase
It changed the meaning. Did you intend this?
"You ladies despise the pedantry of punctuation. There was a most critical comma in your last letter," Hamilton wrote to Angelica in December 1787. Yes, it was Angelica who misplaced the comma first! "My dear, Sir..." she had said in the previous letter, implying that Alexander was her dearest. Of course, Alexander caught this; they were a match of minds, after all. Hamilton ended his reply with "Adieu ma chere, soeur," or "Farewell my dear, sister." Not quite as titillating as in the musical, but real proof of the flirty relationship they had. #commasexting - it's a thing, guys.
Best of Wives and Best of Women
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| The real Eliza Schuyler Hamilton |
Hamilton did indeed name Eliza this. He thought her exemplary, a model and paragon of virtue and morality. Shortly before his fateful duel with Aaron Burr, Hamilton penned his wife a final letter. It was only to be delivered to her should he be killed and was a way of expressing the deep guilt he felt for the "anguish" Eliza would be going through. He told her to "fly to the bosom of your God and be comforted," to root herself in her faith, something he knew was important to her. "With my last idea; I shall cherish the sweet hope of meeting you in a better world. Adieu best of wives and best of Women. Embrace all my darling Children for me. Ever yours A H"
Of course, there are many, many more references out there. These are only our selective favourites taken from Hamilton's prolific writings. There's enough for another blog post at least!
Of course, there are many, many more references out there. These are only our selective favourites taken from Hamilton's prolific writings. There's enough for another blog post at least!
So basically, Lin-Manuel Miranda is a genius.
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