A letter written to Edward Stevens from the West Indies during Hamilton's early employment at the counting
house.http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/burr/HamLettertoFriend.htm
Much, much thanks! That's the source of it, alright!
Some speculate, based solely on reports of their close resemblance, that Edward Stevens was Hamilton's half-brother.
Cannot imagine a 14 year old writing such a letter. Not the kind of prose I would have written at that age. But then, even his poetry surpasses the maudlin doggerel I did pen at about the same age. And of course, he did pretty much run that counting house. Quite a remarkable person, that Hamilton.