Mr.  Eacker  at  first  took  no  notice  of  their  behavior.  At  the  end
of  the  play,  while  the  audience  were  waiting  for  the  after-piece  to
begin,  the  two  merry  young  blades  crowded  into  the  box  occupied
by  Eacker  and  his  friends,  where  they  at  once  began  to  make  sarcas-
tic remarks  upon  the  Fourth  of  July  oration  before  alluded  to,  and
it  was  but  too  evident  that  their  observations  were  intended  to  be
heard  by  the  person  who  was  the  subject  of  them.  Eacker's  patience
giving  way,  he  rose  from  his  seat  for  the  purpose,  as  he  said,  of
remonstrating  with  the  young  men.  As  he  stepped  into  the  lobby,
and  at  a  moment  when  his  back  was  turned  toward  his  assailants,
be  exclaimed,  speaking  to  himself,  —

"  It  is  too  abominable  to  be  publicly  insulted  by  a  set  of  d— d
rasc^s.''

Both  men  instantly  asked,  "  Whom  do  you  call  d— d  rascals  ?  "

Mr.  Eacker,  wishing  to  avoid  a  disturbance  in  so  public  a  place,
Baid  to  the  two  young  scai)egraces,  —

"  I  live  at  No.  50,  Wall  Street,  where  I  am  always  to  be  found.*'

**  Your  place  of  residence,"  said  young  Hamilton,  "  has  nothing
to  do  with  it."

Upon  which  the  young  men  rushed  at  one  another,  or,  at  least,  they
appeared  to  be  about  to  do  so,  when  one  of  their  friends  got  between
them,  and  compelled  them  to  keep  the  peace.  Eacker  urged  his
assailants  to  make  less  noise,  and  proposed  that  they  should  go  to  a
certain  tavern  near  by,  where  they  could  discuss  the  matter  more
conveniently.  To  the  tavern  they  went;  and  on  the  way  they  con-
tinued to  converse  in  a  hostile  tone.  When  they  reached  the  tavern,
both  tlie  young  men  insisted  upon  Mr.  Backer's  naming  the  individ*
aal  to  whom  he  had  applied  the  woid  rascal.
