Preface Pg 1

 

 

 

During A Period Of Forty Years I Was Intimately Acquainted With

Colonel Burr, And Have Reason To Suppose That I Possessed His Entire

Confidence. Some Time After His Return From Europe In 1812, On

Different Occasions, He Suggested Casually A Wish That I Would Make

Notes Of His _Political Life_. When The Memoirs And Correspondence Of

Mr. Jefferson Were Published, He Was Much Excited At The Statements

Which Were Made In His Ana Respecting The Presidential Contest In

Congress In 1801.

 

 

He Procured And Sent Me A Copy Of The Work, With A Request That I

Would Peruse The Parts Designated By Him. From This Time Forward He

Evinced An Anxiety That I Would Prepare His Memoirs, Offering Me The

Use Of All His Private Papers, And Expressing A Willingness To Explain

Any Doubtful Points, And To Dictate Such Parts Of His Early History As

I Might Require. These Propositions Led To Frequent And Full

Conversations. I Soon Discovered That Colonel Burr Was Far More

Tenacious Of His _Military_, Than Of His Professional, Political, Or

Moral Character. His Prejudices Against General Washington Were

Immoveable. They Were Formed In The Summer Of 1776, While He Resided

At Headquarters; And They Were Confirmed Unchangeably By The Injustice

Which He Said He Had Experienced At The Hands Of The

Commander-In-Chief Immediately After The Battle Of Long Island, And

The Retreat Of The American Army From The City Of New-York. These

Grievances He Wished To Mingle With His Own History; And He Was

Particularly Anxious To Examine The Military Movements Of General

Washington On Different Occasions, But More Especially At The Battle

Of Monmouth, In Which Battle Colonel Burr Commanded A Brigade In Lord

Stirling'S Division. I Peremptorily Refused Entering Upon Any Such

Discussion; And, For Some Time, All Communication On The Subject

Ceased.

 

 

Colonel Burr, However, Renewed The Conversation Relative To His

Memoirs, And Agreed That Any Thing Which Might Be Written Should Be

Confined To Himself. With This Understanding I Frequently Visited Him,

And Made Notes Under His Dictation. I Never Asked Him A Question On

Any Subject, Or In Relation To Any Man Or Measure, That He Did Not

Promptly And Willingly Answer. On His Part There Was No Desire Of

Concealment; Nor Did He Ever Express To Me A Wish To Suppress An

Account Of Any Act Of His Whole Life. So Far As I Could Judge, His

Only Apprehensions Were That "_Kind Friends_," As He Sometimes Termed

Them, By Attempts At Explanation, Might Unintentionally Misrepresent

Acts Which They Did Not Understand.

Preface Pg 2

I Devoted The Summer Of 1835 To An Examination Of His Letters And

Papers, Of Which There Is An Immense Quantity. The Whole Of Them Were

Placed In My Hands, To Be Used At My Discretion. I Was Authorized To

Take From Among Them Whatever I Supposed Would Aid Me In Preparing The

Contemplated Book.

 

 

I Have Undertaken The Work, Aware Of The Delicacy And Responsibility

Of The Task. But, If I Know Myself, It Has Been Performed With The

Most Scrupulous Regard To My Own Reputation For Correctness. I Have

Aimed To State Facts, And The Fair Deductions From Them, Without The

Slightest Intermixture Of Personal Feeling. I Am Very Desirous That A

Knowledge Of Mr. Burr'S Character And Conduct Should Be Derived From

His Miscellaneous Correspondence, And Not From What His Biographer

Might Write, Unsupported By Documentary Testimony. With This View Many

Of His Private Letters Are Selected For Publication.

 

 

I Entertain A Hope That I Shall Escape The Charge Of Egotism. I Have

Endeavoured To Avoid _That_ Ground Of Offence, Whatever May Have Been

My Literary Sins In Other Respects. It Is Proper For Me, However, In

This Place, And For A Single Purpose, To Depart From The Course

Pursued In The Body Of The Work. It Is A Matter Of Perfect Notoriety,

That Among The Papers Left In My Possession By The Late Colonel Burr,

There Was A Mass Of Letters And Copies Of Letters Written Or Received

By Him, From Time To Time, During A Long Life, Indicating No Very

Strict Morality In Some Of His Female Correspondents. These Letters

Contained Matter That Would Have Wounded The Feelings Of Families More

Extensively Than Could Be Imagined. Their Publication Would Have Had A

Most Injurious Tendency, And Created Heartburnings That Nothing But

Time Could Have Cured.

 

 

As Soon As They Came Under My Control I Mentioned The Subject To

Colonel Burr; But He Prohibited The Destruction Of Any Part Of Them

During His Lifetime. I Separated Them, However, From Other Letters In

My Possession, And Placed Them In A Situation That Made Their

Publication Next To Impossible, Whatever Might Have Been My Own Fate.

As Soon As Colonel Burr'S Decease Was Known, With My Own Hands I

Committed To The Fire All Such Correspondence, And Not A Vestige Of It

Now Remains.

 

 

It Is With Unaffected Reluctance That This Statement Of Facts Is Made;

And It Never Would Have Been Made But For Circumstances Which Have

Transpired Since The Decease Of Colonel Burr. A Mere Allusion To These

Circumstances Will, It Is Trusted, Furnish Ample Justification. No

Sooner Had The Newspapers Announced The Fact That The Memoirs Of

Colonel Burr Were To Be Written By Me, Than I Received Letters From

Various Quarters Of The Country, Inquiring Into The Nature Of The

Revelations That The Book Would Make, And Deprecating The Introduction

Of Individual Cases.

Preface Pg 3

These Letters Came To Hand Both Anonymously And

Under Known Signatures, Expressing Intense Solicitude For Suppression.

 

 

Under Such Circumstances, Am I Not Only Warranted In These Remarks,

But Imperiously Called Upon To Make Them? What Other Mode Remained To

Set The Public Mind At Ease? I Have Now Stated What Must For Ever

Hereafter Preclude All Possibility For Cavil On One Part, Or Anxiety

On The Other. I _Alone_ Have Possessed The Private And Important

Papers Of Colonel Burr; And I Pledge My Honour That Every One Of Them,

So Far As I Know And Believe, That Could Have Injured The Feelings Of

A Female Or Those Of Her Friends, Is Destroyed. In Order To Leave No

Chance For Distrust, I Will Add, That I Never Took, Or Permitted To Be

Taken, A Single Copy Of Any Of These Letters; And, Of Course, It Is

Quite Impossible That Any Publication Hereafter, If Any Should Be Made

Of Such Papers Or Letters, Can Have Even The Pretence Of Authenticity.

 

 

The Author.

 

 

New-York, November 15Th, 1836.

Chapter I Pg 4

 

 

 

The Grandfather Of Colonel Aaron Burr, The Subject Of These Memoirs,

Was A German By Birth, And Of Noble Parentage. Shortly After His

Arrival In North America, He Settled In Fairfield, Connecticut, Where

He Purchased A Large Tract Of Land, And Reared A Numerous Family. A

Part Of This Landed Estate Remained In The Possession Of His Lineal

Descendants Until Long After The Revolutionary War. During Colonel

Burr'S Travels In Germany, In The Year 1809, Various Communications

Were Made To Him, Orally And In Writing, By Different Branches Of The

Burr Family, Some Of Whom Were Then Filling High And Distinguished

Scientific And Literary Stations.

 

 

His Father, The Rev. Aaron Burr, Was Born In Fairfield, On The 4Th Day

Of January, 1715, And Was Educated At Yale College. In A Manuscript

Journal Which He Kept, And Which Has Been Preserved, He Says, "In

September, 1736, With Many Fears And Doubts About My Qualifications

(Being Under Clouds With Respect To My Spiritual State), I Offered

Myself To Trials, And Was Approved As A Candidate For The Ministry. My

First Sermon Was Preached At Greenfield, And Immediately After I Came

Into The Jerseys. I Can Hardly Give Any Account Why I Came Here. After

I Had Preached For Some Time At Hanover, I Had A Call By The People Of

Newark; But There Was Scarce Any Probability That I Should Suit Their

Circumstances, Being Young In Standing And Trials. I Accepted Of Their

Invitation, With A Reserve, That I Did Not Come With Any Views Of

Settling. My Labours Were Universally Acceptable Among Them, And They

Manifested Such Great Regard And Love For Me, That I Consented To

Accept Of The Charge Of Their Souls.

 

 

"A.D. 1738-39, January The 25Th, I Was Set Apart To The Work Of The

Ministry, By Fasting, Prayer, And Imposition Of Hands. God Grant That

I May Ever Keep Fresh Upon My Mind The Solemn Charge That Was Then

Given Me; And Never Indulge Trifling Thoughts Of What Then Appeared To

Me Of Such Awful Importance. The Ministers Who Joined In This Solemn

Transaction Were Mr. Dickinson, Who Gave The Charge, And Mr. Pierson,

Who Preached. Mr. Dickinson, Who Presided At This Work, Has Been Of

Great Service To Me By His Advice And Instruction, Both Before And

Since My Ordination.

 

 

"In November, 1739, I Made A Visit To My Friends In New-England, And

Again In March, 1740. In The Following August Gust I Was In A

Declining State Of Health, And By The Advice Of My Physicians Visited

Rhode Island. From Thence I Proceeded To Boston. On The 19Th Of

September I Heard Mr. Whitefield Preach In Dr. Colman'S Church. I Am

More And More Pleased With The Man. On The 21St, Heard Him Preach In

The Commons To About Ten Thousand People. On Monday, Visited Him, And

Had Some Conversation To My Great Satisfaction. On The 23D, Went To

Hear Him Preach In Mr. Webb'S Church, But The House Was Crowded Before

Mr. Whitefield Came. The People, Especially The Women, Were Put Into A

Fright, Under A Mistaken Notion That The Galleries Were Falling, Which

Caused Them To Hurry Out In Such A Violent Manner, That Many Were

Seriously Injured And Five Killed. The Same Day, Mr. Whitefield

Preached At Mr. Gee'S Church.

Chapter I Pg 5

In The Evening He Preached At Dr.

Sewall'S Church. On Saturday I Went To Hear Him In The Commons; There

Were About Eight Thousand Hearers. He Expounded The Parable Of The

Prodigal Son In A Very Moving Manner. Many Melted Into Tears. On The

4Th Of October, Being On My Return To New-Jersey, I Arrived At

Fairfield, Where I Remained Two Days With My Friends."

 

 

In The Year 1748, Governor Belcher, Of New-Jersey, By And With The

Approbation Of His Majesty'S Council, Granted A Charter To The College

Of New-Jersey, Subsequently Known As Nassau Hall. This College Was

Opened In Newark, The Students Living In Private Families. The Rev.

Aaron Burr Was Appointed The First President. In The Year 1754 Or

1755, The Trustees Commenced Erecting The College In Princeton; And In

1757 It Was So Far Completed That The Students, About Seventy In

Number, Were Removed To The Building.

 

 

In, June, 1752, President Burr, Being Then In His 38Th Year, Was

Married To Esther Edwards, The Daughter Of Jonathan Edwards, A

Distinguished Metaphysician And Divine. He Was The Second President Of

Princeton College, Being Called To That Station On The Decease Of His

Son-In-Law, President Burr. Thus, The Father Of Colonel Aaron Burr,

And The Grandfather On His Mother'S Side, Were, In Succession, At The

Head Of That Seminary Of Learning.

 

 

President Burr Was Alike Celebrated For His Eloquence And Piety; But,

Withal, He Possessed No Inconsiderable Degree Of Eccentricity. His

Courtship And Marriage Partook Of It. Miss Edwards, After The

Preliminaries Were Arranged, Was Brought To New-Jersey To Be Married.

The Occurrence Created Much Conversation, And Gave Rise To Some

Newspaper Commentary. The Following Is Extracted From The New-York

Gazette Of The 20Th Of July, 1752.

Chapter I (A Letter To A Gentleman From His Friend) Pg 6

 

 

 

"July 7Th, 1752

 

 

"Sir,

 

 

"As You Are A Known And Peculiar Votary To The State Of Celibacy, I

Judged It Would Do You No Disservice To Acquaint You Of A Late

Occurrence, Which Sufficiently Evidences, That After The Most Mature

Consideration, Some Of Our Wisest And Best Men Do Prefer The

Endearment Of The Nuptial Bed.

 

 

"About Eight Days Since, The Rev. Aaron Burr, President Of The College

Of New-Jersey, Was Married To A Daughter Of The Renowned Mr. Jonathan

Edwards, Late Of Northampton. She Is A Young Lady Of About Twenty-One.

Her Person May Be Called Agreeable; Her Natural Genius Seems To Be

Sprightly, And, No Doubt, Is Greatly Improved By A Very Virtuous

Education. In Short, She Appears To Be One Every Way Qualified To Make

A Man Of Sense And Piety Happy In The Conjugal Relation. As To The

Courtship Or Marriage, I Shall Not Descend To Particulars; But Only

Observe, In General, That, For Some Centuries, I Suppose There Has Not

Been One More In The Patriarchal Mode.

 

 

"I Hope, Sir, That This Instance, Both As To Matter And Form, Will

Have Its Genuine Influence Upon You, And As Well Bear A Part In

Convincing You That Wedlock Is Incomparably Preferable To The Roving

Uneasiness Of The Single State, As To Direct You, When You Are

Choosing Your Mate, That, Instead Of Acting The Modern Gallant, Wisely

To Imitate This Example, And Endeavour To Restore Courtship And

Marriage To Their Original Simplicity And Design.

 

 

"Philogamus."

 

 

At Different Times Colonel Burr Received Friendly Anonymous And Other

Communications, Recommending To Him The Practice Of A Religious Life.

It Is A Remarkable Fact, That In Almost Every Such Instance He Is

Referred To The Letters Of His Mother. From A Communication To Him,

Written By A Lady, The Following Is Extracted. If It Should Meet Her

Eye, As It Probably Will, It Is Hoped That She Will Pardon This

Freedom. Her Name Is Suppressed, And Will Not Be Known, Unless Through

Her Own Instrumentality.

 

 

"My Dear Sir,

 

 

"I Trust The Purity Of The Motives By Which I Am Actuated Will Find An

Apology In Your Bosom For The Liberty I Assume In Addressing You On A

Subject Which Involves Your Eternal Interest.

 

 

"Here, In The Wilds Of -----, I Have Found An Extract Of A Letter,

Written By Your Inestimable Mother Nearly Sixty Years Ago, Of Which

You Are The Principal Subject; And A Transcript Of Which I Shall

Enclose For Your Perusal. Perhaps You Will Think Me A Weak,

Presumptuous Being; But Permit Me, Dear Sir, To Assure You, This Does

Not Proceed From A Whim Of The Moment. It Is Not A Mere Transient Gust

Of Enthusiasm. The Subject Has Long Been Heavy On My Mind. I Have More

Than Once Resolved To Converse With You Freely; To Tell You How My Own

Feelings Were Affected Relative To Your Situation; But My Faltering

Tongue Refused To Obey The Impulse Of My Soul, And I Have Withdrawn

Abruptly, To Conceal That Which I Had Not Confidence To Communicate.

But Meeting (I Believe Providentially) With This Precious Relic Has

Determined Me. I Will Write, And Transmit It To You. I Am Too Well

Convinced Of The Liberality Of Your Sentiments; But I Still Believe

You Retain An Inherent Respect For The Religion Of Your Forefathers.

 

 

"I Have Often Reflected On Your Trials, And The Fortitude With Which

You Have Sustained Them, With Astonishment. Yours Has Been No Common

Lot. But You Seem To Have Forgotten The Right Use Of Adversity.

Afflictions From Heaven 'Are Angels Sent On Embassies Of Love.' We

Must Improve, And Not Abuse Them, To Obtain The Blessing. They Are

Commissioned To Stem The Tide Of Impetuous Passion; To Check

Inordinate Ambition; To Show Us The Insignificance Of Earthly

Greatness; To Wean Our Affections From Transitory Things, And Elevate

Them To Those Realities Which Are Ever Blooming At The Right Hand Of

God. When Affliction Is Thus Sanctified, 'The Heart At Once It Humbles

And Exalts.'

 

 

"Was It Philosophy That Supported You In Your Trials? There Is An Hour

Approaching When Philosophy Will Fail, And All Human Science Will

Desert You. What Then Will Be Your Substitute? Tell Me, Colonel Burr,

Or Rather Answer It To Your Own Heart, When The Pale Messenger

Appears, How Will You Meet Him--'Undamped By Doubts, Undarkened By

Despair?'

 

 

"The Enclosed Is Calculated To Excite Mingled Sensations Both Of A

Melancholy And Pleasing Nature. The Hand That Penned It Is Now Among

'The Just Made Perfect.' Your Mother Had Given You Up By Faith. Have

You Ever Ratified The Vows She Made In Your Behalf? When She Bade You

A Long Farewell, She Commended You To The Protection Of Him Who Had

Promised To Be A Father To The Fatherless." The Great Augustine, In

His Early Years, Was An Infidel In His Principles, And A Libertine In

His Conduct, Which His Pious Mother Deplored With Bitter Weeping. But

She Was Told By Her Friends That 'The Child Of So Many Prayers, And

Tears Could Not Be Lost;' And It Was Verified To Her Happy Experience,

For He Afterward Became One Of The Grand Luminaries Of The Church Of

Christ. This Remark Has Often Been Applied To You; And I Trust You

Will Yet Have The Happiness To Find That 'The Prayers Of The

Righteous' Have 'Availed Much.'

 

 

"One Favour I Would Ask: When You Have Done With This, Destroy It,

That It May Never Meet The Eye Of Any Third Person. In The Presence Of

That God, Before Whom The Inmost Recesses Of The Heart Are Open, I

Have Written. I Consulted Him, And Him Only, Respecting The Propriety

Of Addressing It To You; And The Answer He Gave Was, Freedom In

Writing, With A Feeling Of The Deepest Interest Impressed Upon My

Heart.

 

 

"Z. Y"

Chapter I (Extract Of A Letter From Mrs. Burr To Her Father) Pg 7

President Edwards.

 

 

"Princeton, Nov. 2, 1757.

 

 

"Honoured Sir,

 

 

"Your Most Affectionate, Comforting Letter, By My Brother, Was

Exceedingly Refreshing To Me, Although I Was Somewhat Damped That I

Should Not See You Until Spring. But It Is My Comfort In This

Disappointment, As Well As Under All My Afflictions, That God Knows

What Is Best For Me And For His Own Glory. Perhaps I Depended Too Much

On The Company And Conversation Of Such A Near, And Dear, And

Affectionate Father And Guide. I Cannot Doubt But All Is For The Best,

And I Am Satisfied That God Should Order The Affair Of Your Removal As

Shall Be For His Glory, Whatever Comes Of Me. Since I Wrote My

Mother'S Letter, God Has Carried Me Through New Trials, And Given Me

New Supports. My Little Son [1] Has Been Sick With The Slow Fever Ever

Since My Brother Left Us, And Has Been Brought To The Brink Of The

Grave. But I Hope, In Mercy, God Is Bringing Him Up Again. I Was

Enabled To Resign The Child (After A Severe Struggle With Nature) With

The Greatest Freedom. God Showed Me That The Child Was Not My Own, But

His, And That He Had A Right To Recall What He Had Lent Whenever He

Thought Fit; And I Had No Reason To Complain, Or Say God Dealt Hard

With Me. This Silenced Me. But How Good Is God! He Hath Not Only Kept

Me From Complaining, But Comforted Me, By Enabling Me To Offer Up The

Child By Faith. I Think, If Ever I Acted Faith, I Saw The Fullness

There Was In Christ For Little Infants, And His Willingness To Accept

Of Such As Were Offered To Him. 'Suffer Little Children To Come Unto

Me, And Forbid Them Not, For Of Such Is The Kingdom Of God,' Were

Comforting Words. God Also Showed Me, In Such A Lively Manner, The

Fullness That Was In Himself Of All Spiritual Blessings, That I Said,

Although All Streams Were Cut Off, Yet, So Long As My God Lives, I

Have Enough. He Enabled Me To Say--'Although Thou Slay Me, Yet Will I

Trust In Thee.' In This Time Of Trial I Was Led To Enter Into A

Renewed And Explicit Covenant With God, In A More Solemn Manner Than

Ever Before, And With The Greatest Freedom And Delight. After Much

Self-Examination And Prayer, I Did Give Up Myself And Children To God

With My Whole Heart. Never, Until Now, Had I A Sense Of The Privilege

We Are Allowed In Covenanting With God! This Act Of My Soul Left My

Mind In A Quiet And Steady Trust In God. A Few Days After This, One

Evening, In Talking Of The Glorious State My Dear Departed Must Be In,

My Soul Was Carried Out In Such Longing Desires After This Glorious

State, That I Was Forced To Retire From The Family To Conceal My Joy.

When Alone, I Was So Transported, And My Soul Carried Out In Such

Eager Desires After Perfection, And The Full Enjoyment Of God, And To

Serve Him Uninterruptedly, That I Think My Nature Would Not Have Borne

Much More. I Think I Had That Night A Foretaste Of Heaven. This Frame

Continued, In Some Good Degree, The Whole Night. I Slept But Little;

And When I Did, My Dreams Were All Of Heavenly And Divine Things.

Frequently Since I Have Felt The Same In Kind, Though Not In Degree.

Thus A Kind And Gracious God Has Been With Me In Six Troubles, And In

Seven. But, Oh! Sir, What Cause Of Deep Humiliation And Abasement Of

Soul Have I, On Account Of Remaining Corruption Which I See Working,

Especially Pride! Oh, How Many Shapes Does Pride Cloak Itself In!

Satan Is Also Busy Shooting His Darts; But, Blessed Be God, Those

Temptations Of His That Used To Overthrow Me, As Yet, Have Not Touched

Me. Oh To Be Delivered From The Power Of Satan As Well As Sin! I

Cannot Help Hoping The Time Is Near. God Is Certainly Fitting Me For

Himself; And When I Think It Will Be Soon That I Shall Be Called

Hence, The Thought Is Transporting.

 

 

"Your Dutiful And Affectionate Daughter,

 

 

"Esther Burr."

Chapter I Pg 8

Such Were The Parents Of Colonel Aaron Burr. Of The Natural

Guardianship And Protection Of Both He Was Deprived Before He Had

Reached The Third Year Of His Age. He Was Born On The 6Th Of February,

1756, In Newark, State Of New-Jersey. His Father Died In August, 1757,

And His Mother The Year Following, Leaving Two Children, Aaron, And

His Sister Sarah. She Subsequently Became The Wife Of Judge Tappan

Reeve, Of Connecticut. On The Decease Of His Father, Colonel Burr

Inherited A Handsome Estate.

 

 

In The Year 1760 Aaron Was Sent To Philadelphia, Under The Care Of An

Aunt And Dr. Shippen. For The Family Of The Doctor He Entertained A

High Degree Of Respect. He Frequently Spoke Of Them In The Kindest

Terms, And Recurred To This Early Period Of His History With Emotions

Of Gratitude For Their Care And Protection.

 

 

Boswell, In His Life Of Johnson, Remarks That, "In Following So Very

Eminent A Man From His Cradle To His Grave, Every Minute Particular

Which Can Throw Light On The Progress Of His Mind, Is Interesting."

Johnson Himself, In The Life Of Sydenham, Says "There Is No Instance

Of Any Man, Whose History Has Been Minutely Related, That Did Not, In

Every Part Of Life, Discover The Same Proportion Of Intellectual

Vigour."

 

 

These High Authorities Are Now Quoted In Justification Of Some Of The

Details Which Will Be Given In The Progress Of This Work, And Which,

In Themselves, May Appear Trifling And Unimportant.

Chapter I Pg 9

When Aaron Was

About Four Years Old, He Had Some Misunderstanding With His Preceptor,

In Consequence Of Which He Ran Away, And Was Not Found Until The Third

Or Fourth Day After His Departure From Home; Thus Indicating, At A

Tender Age, That Fearlessness Of Mind, And Determination To Rely Upon

Himself, Which Were Characteristics Stamped Upon Every Subsequent Act

Of His Life.

Footnote Pg 10

 

 

 

1. Col. Burr, At That Time About Twenty Months Old.

Chapter II Pg 11

 

 

 

In 1761 He Was Removed To Stockbridge, In Massachusetts, And Placed In

The Family Of Timothy Edwards, His Mother'S Eldest Brother. In 1762

His Maternal Uncle, Timothy, Removed To Elizabethtown, New-Jersey.

Aaron And His Sister Sarah Remained In The Family Until The Former

Entered College, And The Latter Became The Wife Of Judge Reeve. A

Private Tutor Was Employed For Them In The House Of Mr. Edwards. For A

Considerable Portion Of The Time, Judge Reeve Was Engaged In That

Capacity.

 

 

When About Ten Years Old, Aaron Evinced A Desire To Make A Voyage To

Sea; And, With This Object In View, Ran Away From His Uncle Edwards,

And Came To The City Of New-York. He Entered On Board An Outward-Bound

Vessel As Cabin-Boy. He Was, However, Pursued By His Guardian, And His

Place Of Retreat Discovered. Young Burr, One Day, While Busily

Employed, Perceived His Uncle Coming Down The Wharf, And Immediately

Ran Up The Shrouds, And Clambered To The Topgallant-Mast Head. Here He

Remained, And Peremptorily Refused To Come Down, Or Be Taken Down,

Until All The Preliminaries Of A Treaty Of Peace Were Agreed Upon. To

The Doctrine Of Unconditional Submission He Never Gave His Assent.

 

 

In 1769 Burr Entered Princeton College; Where, Owing To His Extreme

Youth And Smallness Of Stature, He Was Forced To Commence With The

Sophomore, Although, Upon Examination, He Was Found Qualified To Enter

The Junior Class. This Was A Source Of Extreme Mortification To Him,

And Especially As He Had Been Prepared, And Was Every Way Qualified,

To Enter The Preceding Year. From His Infancy Burr Was Of A Slender

Frame, And Appeared To Be Delicately Formed;

Chapter II Pg 12

But Exhibited Great

Muscular Strength, And Was Able To Endure Excessive Fatigue Of Body

And Mind.

 

 

Previous To Entering College, Young Burr Had Formed Extraordinary

Notions Of The Acquirements Of Collegiates; And Felt Great

Apprehension Lest He Should Be Found Inferior To His Classmates. He

Was Therefore, At First, Indefatigable As Well As Systematic In His

Studies. He Soon Discovered That He Could Not Pursue Them After Dinner

With The Same Advantage That He Could Before. He Suspected That This

Was Owing To His Eating Too Abundantly. He Made The Experiment, And

The Result Convinced Him That His Apprehensions Were Well Founded. He

Immediately Adopted A System Of Regimen, To Which, In Some Degree, He

Adhered Through Life. So Abstemious Was He During The Greater Part Of

The First Year After His Entrance Into College, That It Operated

Powerfully Upon Him, And He Was Supposed To Be In Bad Health. He Was

In The Habit Of Studying Sixteen Or Eighteen Hours Of The Twenty-Four,

Until The Period Of Examination Arrived, When He Discovered That The

Progress He Had Made Was So Much Beyond His Associates, That He Formed

An Opinion As Contemptuous As It Had Been Exalted Of His College

Friends. The Effect Of This Was Ultimately Very Injurious Upon His

Habits.

 

 

During The Last Year That He Remained In College, He Passed A Life Of

Idleness, Negligence, And, In Some Measure, Of Dissipation. He Applied

Himself But Little To His Studies, And Was In The Constant Pursuit Of

Pleasure. He Graduated, However, When Only Sixteen Years Of Age, With

A Reputation For Talents, And Receiving The Highest Academic Honours

The Faculty Could Bestow.

 

 

In The Year 1771-72, There Was In The College What Was Termed, In

Religious Phraseology, "An Awakening." A Large Portion Of The

Collegians Became Converted. It Was Only A Short Time Before Burr

Graduated, And In The Midst Of His Hilarity And Amusements. He Was

Frequently Appealed To By His Associates, And Threatened With The Most

Terrific Consequences If There Was Not An Inward As Well As An Outward

Change. From His Infancy Burr'S Education Had Been Strictly Moral; And

Strong Impressions Had Been Made Upon His Mind As To The Existence Of

A Deity, And The Accountability Of Man. Yet This Awakening Did Not

Seem To Him Right In All Its Parts. He Determined, Therefore, To Have

A Free And Full Conversation With Dr. Witherspoon, The Then President

Of The College, On The Subject. The Result Of That Conversation In

Some Measure Tranquillized Young Burr. The Rev. Dr. Assured Him That

It Was Not True And Rational Religion, But Fanaticism, That Was

Operating Upon His Friends.

 

 

Among The Papers Preserved By Colonel Burr Are The Originals Of A

Number Of Essays Or Orations, Written And Read By Him, In Conformity

With The Regulations Of The College, While Yet A Student. They Are

Without Dates; But, As He Graduated In 1772, They Must Have Been

Composed When He Was Of An Age Between Thirteen And Sixteen.

Chapter II Pg 13

A Few Of

Them Are Here Inserted, As Exhibiting His Manner Of Writing, And The

Maturity And Tone Of His Mind. The Opinions Which He Formed, While Yet

In College, As To Public Speaking And The Selection Of Language, He

Appears Never To Have Changed. The Style Which He Then Recommended

Seems Ever After To Have Been His Model.

 

 

       *       *       *       *       *

 

 

_Read In College, By Aaron Burr.--On Style._

 

 

"I Have Often Observed, That It Is Very Common For Those Who Are

Ambitious Of Excelling In Composition, To Study Swelling Words,

Pompous Epithets, And Laboured Periods. This Is Often Practised,

Especially By Young Writers. It Is, However, Generally Condemned As A

Fault, And Sometimes Too By Those Who Practise It Themselves. An

Elegant Simplicity Of Language Is What Every One Should Strive To

Obtain. Besides The Arguments Which Are Usually Offered On This Head,

There Is One Very Important One, Which Is Commonly Not Much Attended

To.

 

 

"It Is The Business Of Every Writer To Acquire Command Of Language, In

Order That He May Be Able To Write With Ease And Readiness, And, Upon

Any Occasion, To Form Extempore Discourses. Unless He Can Do This, He

Will Never Shine As A Speaker, Nor Will He Ever Make A Figure In

Private Conversation. But To Do This, It Is Necessary To Study

Simplicity Of Style. There Never Was A Ready Speaker, Whose Language

Was Not, Generally, Plain And Simple; For It Is Absolutely Impossible

To Carry The Laboured Ornaments Of Language, The Round Period, Or The

Studied Epithet, Into Extempore Discourses; And, Were It Possible, It

Would Be Ridiculous. We Have Learned, Indeed, Partly From Reading

Poetry, And Partly From Reading Vicious Compositions, To Endure, And

Too Often To Admire, Such Stiff And Laboured Discourses In Writing;

But If It Were Even Possible For A Man To Speak In The Same Pompous

Diction In Which Browne Has Written His Vulgar Errors, He Would

Certainly Be Very Disagreeable. This Reason, Among Others, May Be

Assigned For It; That However Such False Ornaments May Please For A

Time, Yet, When A Long And Steady Attention Is Required, We Are Tired

And Disgusted With Every Thing Which Increases Our Labour, And Diverts

The Attention From The Subject Before Us. A Laboured Style Is A Labour

Even To The Hearer. A Simple Style, Like Simple Food, Preserves The

Appetite. But A Profusion Of Ornament, Like A Profusion Of Sweets,

Palls The Appetite And Becomes Disgusting. A Man Might As Soon Think

Of Filling His Stomach With Sweetmeats, As Going Through A Long Debate

Filled With Pompous Epithets And Sounding Language. If We Have Any

Doubt Of Its Being Ridiculous, Let Us Only Suppose A Man Arguing An

Abstruse Subject In Metaphysics, In The Blank Verse Of Milton, Or The

Exact Rhymes Of Pope. The Absurdity Is The Same, Only Different In

Degree. I Would Not Be Understood To Cut Off An Extempore Speaker From

Sublime Expressions; Because I Do Not Suppose These To Be Inconsistent

With Simplicity Of Style. I Really Doubt If There Be Any Such Thing As

Sublimity Of Style, Strictly Speaking.

Chapter II Pg 14

But, Indeed, Rather Believe

That The Sublime Depends Upon The Thoughts, Which Are The More Sublime

By Being Clearly And Simply Expressed, This, However, Is Not Material

At Present. It Is Certainly Impossible For A Speaker To Carry Laboured

Periods Into His Extempore Discourses: It Is No Less Certain, That In

General, A Simple Style Is To Be Preferred, And That He Would Be

Ridiculous And Disagreeable If He Could Do It; And As Extempore

Speaking Is A Great Object, Which We Ought To Have In View In The

Formation Of Our Style, This May Be Used As One Argument Why We Should

Study A Simple Style."

  

 

_The Passions_.

 

 

"Amid The Variety Of Literary Pieces Which Have In All Ages Been

Ushered Into The World, Few, If Any, Afford Greater Satisfaction Than

Those That Treat Of Man. To Persons Of A Speculative Nature And

Elegant Taste, Whose Bosoms Glow With Benevolence, Such Disquisitions

Are Peculiarly Delightful. The Reason, Indeed, Is Obvious; For What

More Necessary To Be Learned And Accurately Understood? What More Near

And Interesting? And, Therefore, What More Proper To Engage The

Attention? Well May I Say, With Our Ethic Poet,

 

 

    "'The Proper Study Of Mankind Is Man.'

 

 

"If We Take A View Of The Body Only, Which May Be Called The Shell Or

External Crust, We Shall Perceive It To Be Formed With Amazing Nicety

And Art. How Are We Lost In Wonder When We Behold All Its Component

Parts; When We Behold Them, Although Various And Minute, And Blended

Together Almost Beyond Conception, Discharging Their Peculiar

Functions Without The Least Confusion. All Harmoniously Conspiring To

One Grand End.

 

 

"But When We Take A Survey Of The More Sublime Parts Of The Human

Frame; When We Behold Man'S Internal Make And Structure; His Mental

Faculties; His Social Propensions, And Those Active Powers Which Set

All In Motion--The Passions,--What An Illustrious Display Of

Consummate Wisdom Is Presented To Our Admiring View! What Brighter

Mark--What Stronger Evidence Need We Of A God? The Scanty Limits Of A

Few Minutes, To Which I Am Confined, Would Not Permit Me, Were I Equal

To The Task, To Enter Into A Particular Examination Of All Man'S

Internal Powers. I Shall Therefore Throw Out A Few Thoughts On The

Passions Only.

 

 

"Man'S Mental Powers, Being In Their Nature Sluggish And Inactive,

Cannot Put Themselves In Motion. The Grand Design Then Of The Passions

Is, To Rouse Them To Action.

Chapter II Pg 15

These Lively And Vigorous Principles Make

Us Eager In The Pursuit Of Those Things That Are Approved By The

Judgment; Keep The Mind Intent Upon Proper Objects, And At Once Awake

To Action All The Powers Of The Soul. The Passions Give Vivacity To

All Our Operations, And Render The Enjoyments Of Life Pleasing And

Agreeable. Without Them, The Scenes Of The World Would Affect Us No

More Than The Shadowy Pictures Of A Morning Dream.

 

 

"Who Can View The Works Of Nature, And The Productions Of Art, Without

The Most Sublime And Rapturous Emotions? Who Can View The Miseries Of

Others, Without Being Dissolved Into Compassion? Who Can Read Human

Nature, As Represented In The Histories Of The World, Without Burning

To Chastise The Perpetrators Of Tyranny, Or Glowing To Imitate The

Assertors Of Freedom? But, Were We Of A Sudden Stripped Of Our

Passions, We Should Survey The Works Of Nature And The Productions Of

Art With Indifference And Neglect. We Should Be Unaffected With The

Calamities Of Others, Deaf To The Calls Of Pity, And Dead To All The

Feelings Of Humanity. Without Generosity, Benevolence, Or Charity, Man

Would Be A Groveling, Despicable Creature. Without The Passions, Man

Would Hardly Rank Above The Beasts.

 

 

"It Is A Trite Truth, That The Passions Have Too Much Influence Over

Our Sentiments And Opinions. It Is The Remark Of A Late Author, That

The Actions And Sentiments Of Men Do As Naturally Follow The Lead Of

The Passions, As The Effect Does The Cause. Hence They Are, By Some,

Aptly Enough, Termed The Principles Of Action. Vicious Desires Will

Produce Vicious Practices; And Men, By Permitting Themselves To Think

Of Indulging Irregular Passions, Corrupt The Understanding, Which Is

The Source Of All Virtue And Morality. The Passions, Then, If Properly

Regulated, Are The Gentle Gales Which Keep Life From Stagnating; But,

If Let Loose, The Tempests Which Tear Every Thing Before Them. Too

Fatal Observation Will Evince The Truth Of This.

 

 

"Do We Not Frequently Behold Men Of The Most Sprightly Genius, By

Giving The Reins To Their Passions, Lost To Society, And Reduced To

The Lowest Ebb Of Misery And Despair? Do We Not Frequently Behold

Persons Of The Most Penetrating Discernment And Happy Turn For Polite

Literature, By Mingling With The Sons Of Sensuality And Riot, Blasted

In The Bloom Of Life? Such Was The Fate Of The Late Celebrated Duke Of

Wharton, Wilmot, Earl Of Rochester, And Villers, Duke Of Buckingham,

Three Noblemen, As Eminently Distinguished By Their Wit, Taste, And

Knowledge, As For Their Extravagance, Revelry, And Lawless Passions.

In Such Cases, The Most Charming Elocution, The Finest Fancy, The

Brightest Blaze Of Genius, And The Noblest Burst Of Thoughts, Call For

Louder Vengeance, And Damn Them To Lasting Infamy And Shame.

 

 

"A Greater Curse Cannot, Indeed, Befall Community, Than For Princes

And Men In Eminent Departments To Be Under The Influence Of

Ill-Directed Passions. Lo Alexander And Cesar, The Fabled Heroes Of

Antiquity, To What Lengths Did Passion Hurry Them?

Chapter II Pg 16

Ambition, With Look

Sublime, Bade Them On, Bade Them Grasp At Universal Dominion, And Wade

To Empire Through Seas Of Blood! But Why Need I Confine Myself To

These? Do Not Provinces, Plundered And Laid Waste With Fire And Sword;

Do Not Nations, Massacred And Slaughtered By The Bloody Hand Of War;

Do Not All These Dreadful And Astonishing Revolutions, Recorded In The

Pages Of History, Show The Fatal Effects Of Lawless Passions?

 

 

"If The Happiness Of Others Could Not, Yet Surely Our Own Happiness

Should Induce Us To Keep Our Passions Within The Bounds Of Reason; For

The Passions, When Unduly Elevated, Destroy The Health, Impair The

Mental Faculties, Sour The Disposition, Embitter Life, And Make Us

Equally Disagreeable To Others And Uneasy To Ourselves. Is It Not,

Then, Of Moment, That Our Passions Be Duly Balanced, Their Sallies

Confined Within Proper Limits, And In No Case Suffered To Transgress

The Bounds Of Reason? Will Any One Deny The Importance Of Regulating

The Passions, When He Considers How Powerful They Are, And That His

Own Happiness, And Perhaps The Happiness Of Thousands, Depends Upon

It? The Regulation Of The Passions Is A Matter Of Moment, And

Therefore We Should Be Careful To Fix Them Upon Right Objects, To

Confine Them Within Proper Bounds, And Never Permit Them To Exceed The

Limits Assigned By Nature. It Is The Part Of Reason To Sooth The

Passions, And To Keep The Soul In A Pleasing Serenity And Calm: If

Reason Rules, All Is Quiet, Composed, And Benign: If Reason Rules, All

The Passions, Like A Musical Concert, Are In Unison. In Short, Our

Passions, When Moderate, Are Accompanied With A Sense Of Fitness And

Rectitude; But, When Excessive, Inflame The Mind, And Hurry Us On To

Action Without Due Distinction Of Objects.

 

 

"Among Uncivilized Nations, The Passions Do, In General, Exceed All

Rational Bounds. Need We A Proof Of This? Let Us Cast Our Eyes On The

Different Savage Tribes In The World, And We Shall Be Immediately

Convinced That The Passions Rule Without Control. Happy It Is, That In

Polished Society, The Passions, By Early Discipline, Are So Moderated

As To Be Made Subservient To The Most Important Services. In This

Respect, Seminaries Of Learning Are Of The Utmost Advantage, And

Attended With The Most Happy Effects. Moreover, The Passions Are

Attended With Correspondent Commotions In Animal Nature, And,

Therefore, The Real Temper Will, Of Course, Be Discovered By The

Countenance, The Gesture, And The Voice. Here I Might Run Into A

Pleasing Enumeration Of Many Instances Of This; But, Fearing That I

Have Already Trespassed Upon Your Patience, Shall Desist. Permit Me,

However Unusual, To Close With A Wish. May None Of Those Unruly

Passions Ever Captivate Any Of My Audience."

Chapter II Pg 17

_An Attempt To Search The Origin Of Idolatry._

 

 

"It Is Altogether Impossible To Fix Exactly The Period When Idolatry

Took Its Rise. Adam, Coming Immediately From The Hands Of God, Had

Experienced Too Many Manifestations Of His Power And Goodness To Be

Unacquainted With Him, And Must Have Preserved The Purest Idea Of Him

In His Own Family, Which, Most Probably, Continued In The Branch Of

Seth Till The Deluge. The Posterity Of Cain, On The Contrary (The Pure

Idea Of God Gradually Wearing Away, And By Loose Men Being Connected

With Sense), Fell Into Idolatry, And Every Other Crime, Which Brought

On The Deluge; A Period About Which Moses Has Said But Little, And

From What He Has Said We Can Draw No Just Conclusion With Respect To

The Idolatry Of Those Times.

 

 

"A Certain Author, Being Persuaded That Idolatry Did Not Take Its Rise

Till After The Deluge, Gives A Very Singular Account Of Its Origin.

According To Him, Atheism Had Spread Itself Over The World. This

Disposition Of Mind, Says He, Is The Capital Crime. Atheists Are Much

More Odious To The Divinity Than Idolaters. Besides, This Principle Is

Much More Capable Of Leading Men Into That Excessive Corruption The

World Fell Into Before The Deluge. The Knowledge Of A God, Of Whatever

Nature He Is Conceived, And The Worship Of A Deity, Are Apt, Of

Themselves, To Be A Restraint Upon Men. So That Idolatry Was Of Some

Use To Bear Down The Corruption Of The World. It Is Therefore

Probable, That The Horrid Vices Men Were Fallen Into Before The

Deluge, Proceeded Only From Their Not Knowing Nor Serving A God. I Am

Even Of Opinion (Continues He) That The Idolatry And Polytheism After

The Deluge Derived Their Origin From The Atheism And Impiety That

Reigned Before It. Such Is The Temper Of Men, When They Have Been

Severely Punished For Any Crime, They Run Into The Opposite Extreme. I

Conjecture (Concludes The Same Author) This Was The Case With Men

After The Deluge. As They Reckoned That This Terrible Judgment, Which

Carried Such Indications Of Divine Wrath, Was Sent For The Punishment

Of Atheism, They Ran Into The Opposite Extreme. They Adored Whatever

Seemed To Deserve Their Worship.

 

 

"It Is True, Indeed, That Idolatry Is Capable Of Furnishing A Curb

Against Irregularity Of Manners; But This Author Has Conjectured,

Without Foundation, That Atheism Reigned Universally Before The

Deluge. He Ought, At Least, To Have Excepted The Posterity Of Seth.

 

 

"However Idolatry Might Have Reigned Before The Deluge, It Is Certain

That The Knowledge And Worship Of The True God Were Again United In

The Family Of Noah; And As Long As The Children And Grandchildren Of

That Patriarch Made But One Family, In All Probability, The Worship Of

The True God Was Little Altered In Its Purity. Noah Being At The Head

Of The People, And Shem, Ham, And Japheth Witnesses Of God'S Vengeance

On Their Contemporaries, Is It Probable That They, Living In The Midst

Of Their Families, Would Suffer Them To Depart From The Truth? We Read

Of Nothing That Can Incline Us To This Belief. Various Have Been The

Conjectures Concerning The Authors Of Idolatry. Some Believe It Was

Serug, The Grandfather Of Terah, Who First Introduced Idolatry After

The Deluge. Others Maintain It Was Nimrod, And That He Instituted The

Worship Of Fire Among His Subjects, Which Continues Even To This Day

In Some Places In Persia.

Chapter II Pg 18

Others Assert That Ham Was The Author Of It,

And Then His Son Canaan; And It Is Most Probable That The Unfortunate

Sons Of An Accursed Father Were The First Who, Following The

Propensity Of Their Own Heart, Sought Out Sensible Objects To Which

They Might Offer A Superstitious Worship. As The Two Sons Of Ham,

Canaan And Mizraim, Settled, The One In Phoenicia, And The Other In

Egypt, It Is Probable That These Were The First Nurseries Of Idolatry;

And The Sun, Being Looked Upon As The Purest Image Of The Creator, Was

The First Object Of It. It Is Not Probable That Men Would Choose

Beings Like Themselves For The First Objects Of Their Adoration.

Nothing Could Be More Capable Of Seducing Than The Beauty And

Usefulness Of The Sun, Dispensing Light And Fertility All Around. But,

To Conclude, We Must Not Imagine That All Idolatry Sprang From The

Same Country. It Came By Slow Degrees, And Those Who Made The First

Advances Towards This Impiety, Did By No Means Carry It To That

Extravagant Height To Which It Afterwards Arrived."

Chapter III Pg 19

 

 

 

In College, Young Burr Formed Intimacies Which Ripened Into Lasting

Friendship. The Attachment Between Him And Colonel Matthias Ogden, Of

New-Jersey, Was Both Ardent And Mutual; And, It Is Believed, Continued

During The Life Of The Latter. Colonel Knapp Says, "Samuel Spring, D.

D., Late Of Newburyport, Was In College With Colonel Burr, And Part Of

Their College Life Was His Chum. The Doctor Was A Student Of Mature

Age, And Had A Provisitorial Power Over Burr In His Daily Duties. He

Has Often Spoken Of His Young Friend With More Than Ordinary Feeling.

He, In Fact, Prophesied His Future Genius, From The Early Proofs He

Gave Of Intellectual Power In The Course Of His College Life."

 

 

At Princeton, Burr Enjoyed The Counsel And Advice Of The Late William

Paterson, Subsequently One Of The Judges Of The Supreme Court Of The

United States. To Be Thus Early In Life Honoured With The Respect And

Esteem Of Such A Man As Judge Paterson, Was Highly Flattering. Their

Correspondence Commenced In 1772, And Continued Until The Decease Of

The Judge. Extracts From His Letters To Colonel Burr Will Be Given

Occasionally. He Says, In A Letter Dated

Chapter III Pg 20

"Princeton, January 17Th, 1772.

 

 

"Dear Burr,

 

 

"I Am Just Ready To Take Horse, And Therefore Cannot Have The Pleasure

Of Waiting On You In Person. Be Pleased To Accept Of The Enclosed

Notes On _Dancing_. If You Pitch Upon It As The Subject Of Your Next

Discourse, They May, Perhaps, Furnish You With A Few Hints, And Enable

You To Compose With The Greater Facility And Despatch. To Do You Any

Little Services In My Power Will Afford Me Great Satisfaction, And I

Hope You Will Take The Liberty (It Is Nothing More, My Dear Burr, Than

The Freedom Of A Friend) To Call Upon Me Whenever You Think I Can.

 

 

"When I Shall Be Here Again Is Uncertain--Perhaps Not Before Vacation.

Forbear With Me While I Say _That You Cannot Speak Too Slow_. Your

Good Judgment Generally Leads You To Lay The Emphasis On The Most

Forcible Word In The Sentence; So Far You Act Very Right. But The

Misfortune Is, That You Lay Too Great Stress Upon The Emphatical Word.

Every Word Should Be Distinctly Pronounced; One Should Not Be So

Highly Sounded As To Drown Another. To See You Shine As A Speaker

Would Give Great Pleasure To Your Friends In General, And To Me In

Particular. I Say Nothing Of Your Own Honour. The Desire Of Making

Others Happy Will, To A Generous Mind, Be The Strongest Incentive. I

Am Much Mistaken If Such A Desire Has Not Great Influence Over You.

You Are Certainly Capable Of Making A Good Speaker. Exert Yourself. I

Am In Haste.

 

 

"Dear Burr, Adieu.

 

 

"Wm. Paterson"

Chapter III Pg 21

Another Letter, Dated

 

 

"Princeton, October 26Th, 1772.

 

 

"Dear Burr,

 

 

"Our Mutual Friend, Stewart, With Whom I Spent Part Of The Evening,

Informed Me You Were Still In Elizabethtown. You Are Much Fonder Of

That Place Than I Am, Otherwise You Would Hardly Be Prevailed Upon To

Make So Long A Stay. But, Perhaps, The Reason That I Fear It, Makes

You Like It. There Is Certainly Something Amorous In Its Very Air. Nor

Is This A Case Any Way Extraordinary Or Beyond Belief. I Have Read

(And It Was In Point, Too) That A Flock Of Birds, Being On The Wing,

And Bending Their Flight Towards A Certain Town In Connecticut,

Dropped Down Dead Just As They Were Over It. The People Were At First

Fairly At A Loss To Account For This Phenomenon In Any Natural Way.

However, It Was At Length Agreed On All Hands That It Was Owing To The

Noisomeness Of The Atmosphere, The Smallpox At That Time Being Very

Rife In The Place. I Should Never Have Given Credit To The Report, Had

It Not Come From So Good A Quarter As That Of New-England. For My

Part, I Always Drive Through Elizabethtown As Quickly As Possible,

Lest The Soft Infection Should Steal Upon Me, Or I Should Take It In

With The Very Air I Breathe.

 

 

"Yesterday I Went To Hear Mr. Halsey, And There, Too, I Saw His Young

And Blooming Wife. The Old Gentleman Seems Very Fond Of His Rib, And,

In Good Sooth, Leers Very Wistfully At Her As She Trips Along By His

Side. Some Allowance, However, Must Be Made; He Is In The Vale Of

Life; Love Is A New Thing To Him, And The Honey-Moon Is Not Yet Over.

  'They Are Amorous, And Fond, And Billing,

  Like Philip And Mary On A Shilling.'

I Have Promised To Pay Him A Visit; Stewart, Or Some Of The Tutors, I

Believe, Will Accompany Me, And I Hope You Will Too.

 

 

"Since Commencement I Have Been At A Dutch Wedding, And Expect To Be

At One Or Two More Very Shortly. There Was Drinking, And Singing, And

Fiddling, And Dancing. I Was Pleased Extremely. Every One Seemed To Be

In Good-Humour With Himself, And This Naturally Led Them All To Be In

Good-Humour With One Another.

 

 

"When The Itch Of Scribbling Seizes Me, I Hardly Know When To Stop.

The Fit, Indeed, Seldom Comes Upon Me; But When It Does, Though I Sit

Down With A Design To Be Short, Yet My Letter Insensibly Slides Into

Length, And Swells Perhaps Into An Enormous Size. I Know Not How It

Happens, But On Such Occasions I Have A Knack Of Throwing Myself Out

On Paper That I Cannot Readily Get The Better Of. It Is A Sign,

However, That I More Than Barely Esteem The Person I Write To, As I

Have Constantly Experienced That My Hand But Illy Performs Its Office

Unless My Heart Concurs. I Confess I Cannot Conceive How I Got Into So

Scribbling A Vein At Present. It Is Now Past Eleven O'Clock At Night,

And Besides Being On Horse The Greater Part Of The Day, I Intend To

Start Early To-Morrow For Philadelphia. There I Shall See The Races,

And The Play, And, What Is Of More Value Far Than All, There, Too, I

Shall See Miss -----, You Know Who.

 

 

"The Enclosed Letter To Spring I Commit To Your Care. I Should Have

Sent It Before, As I Wrote It Immediately After You Left This Place,

But I Really Thought You Were In New-England Long Ere Now. I Know Not

His Address; Perhaps He Is At Newport, Perhaps He Is Not. If, On

Inquiry, You Find That The Letter Is Wrongly Directed, Pray Give It An

Envelope, And Superscribe It Anew. If He Is Still At Newport, It

Would, Perhaps, More Readily Reach Him From New-York Than From Any

Part Of New-England That You Maybe At. I Have Said That If I Am

Mistaken In Directing The Within Letter, You Should Cover It And Give

It The Proper Address. Do, Dear Burr, Get Somebody Who Can Write At

Least A Passable Hand To Back It, For You Give Your Letters Such A

Sharp, Slender, And Lady-Like Cast, That Almost Every One, On Seeing

Them, Would Conclude There Was A Correspondence Kept Up Between My

Honest Friend Spring And Some Of The Female Tribe, Which Might,

Perhaps, Affect Him Extremely In Point Of Reputation, As Many People

Suppose That Nothing Of This Kind Can Be Carried On Between Unmarried

Persons Of The Two Sexes Without Being Tinged With Love; And The

Rather So, Since The Notion Of Platonic Love Is, At The Present Day,

Pretty Generally, And I Believe Justly Too, Exploded. Platonic Love Is

Arrant Nonsense, And Rarely, If Ever, Takes Place Until The Parties

Have At Least Passed Their Grand Climacteric. Besides, The New-England

People, I Am Told, Are Odd, Inquisitive Kind Of Beings, And, When

Pricked On By Foolish Curiosity, May Perhaps Open The Letter, Which I

Do Not Choose Should Be Common To Every Eye.

 

 

"You Gave Me Some Hopes That You Would See My Good Friend Reeve Before

You Returned. If You Do, Make Him My Respectful Compliments, And Tell

Him That I Fully Designed To Write Him, But That Business Prevented,

That Laziness Hindered, That--In Short, Tell Him Any Thing, So It Does

Not Impeach My Affection, Or Lead Him To Think I Have Entirely

Forgotten Him. I Am,

 

 

"Dear Burr Yours Sincerely,

 

 

"Wm. Paterson."

Chapter III Pg 22

In A Letter To Dr. Spring, Dated October 5, 1772, Speaking Of The

Commencement, Judge Paterson Says:--"The Young Gentlemen Went Through

Their Exercises In A Manner Passable Enough. The Speakers Were All

Tolerable--None Of Them Very Bad Nor Very Good. Our Young Friend Burr

Made A Graceful Appearance; He Was Excelled By None, Except Perhaps By

Bradford. Linn, Too, Was Pretty Generally Approved; But, For My Part,

I Could Not Forbear Thinking That He Took Rant, And Rage, And Madness

For True Spirit--A Very Common Mistake."

 

 

For Some Months After Burr Graduated (1772), He Remained In College,

Reviewing His Past Studies, And Devoting His Time To General

Literature. Possessed Of An Ample Income, Having Access To The College

Library, And Continuing, From Time To Time, As His Correspondence

Shows, To Supply Himself With Scientific And Literary Productions, His

Mind Was Greatly Improved During This Period. It Is True He Continued

To Indulge In Amusements And Pleasures; But, Sleeping Little, Seldom

More Than Six Hours, He Found Ample Time For Study.

 

 

In The College There Was A Literary Club, Consisting Of The Graduates

And Professors, And Still Known As _The Clio-Sophic Society_. Dr.

Samuel S. Smith, Subsequently President Of The College, Was Then

(1773) A Professor. With Him Young Burr Was No Favourite, And Their

Dislike Was Mutual. The Attendance Of The Professors Was Expected To

Be Regular. The Members Of The Society In Rotation Presided Over Its

Deliberations. On A Particular Occasion It Was The Duty Of Young Burr

To Take The Chair. At The Hour Of Meeting He Took His Seat As

President. Dr. Smith Had Not Then Arrived; But, Shortly After The

Business Commenced, He Entered. Burr, Leaning On One Arm Of The Chair

(For, Although Now Sixteen Years Of Age, He Was Too Small To Reach

Both Arms At The Same Time), Began Lecturing Professor Smith For His

Non-Attendance At An Earlier Hour, Remarking That A Different Example

To Younger Members Was Expected From Him, And Expressing A Hope That

It Might Not Again Be Necessary To Recur To The Subject. Having

Finished His Lecture, To The Great Amusement Of The Society, He

Requested The Professor To Resume His Seat. The Incident, As May Well

Be Imagined, Long Served As A College Joke.

Chapter III Pg 23

From Timothy Dwight.

 

 

New-Haven, March, 1772.

 

 

Dear Aaron,

 

 

By A Poor Candle, With Poor Eyes And A Poorer Brain, I Sit Down To

Introduce A Long Wished-For Correspondence. You See How Solicitous I

Am To Preserve Old Connexions; Or, Rather, To Begin New Ones.

Relationship, By The Fashionable Notions Of Those Large Towns, Which

Usurp A Right To Lead And Govern Our Opinions, Is Dwindled To A Formal

Nothing--A Mere Shell Of Ceremony. Our Ancestors, Whose Honesty And

Simplicity (Though Different From The Wise Refinements Of Modern

Politeness) Were Perhaps As Deserving Of Imitation As The Insincere

Coldness Of The Present Generation, _Cousin'D_ It To The Tenth Degree

Of Kindred. Though This Was Extending The Matter To A Pitch Of

Extravagance, Yet It Was Certainly Founded Upon A Natural, Rational

Principle. Who Are So Naturally Our Friends As Those Who Are Born

Such? I Defy A New-Yorker, Though Callous'D Over With City Politeness,

To Be Otherwise Than Pleased With A View Of Ancient Hospitality To

Relations, When Exercised By A Person Of Good-Breeding And A Genteel

Education.

 

 

Now, Say You, What Has This To Do With The Introduction Of A

Correspondence? You Shall Know Directly, Sir. The _Edwardses_ Have

Been Always Remarkable For This Fondness For Their Relations. If You

Have The Least Inclination To Prove Yourself A True Descendant Of That

Respectable Stock, You Cannot Fail Of Answering Me Very Soon. This

(Were I Disposed) I Could Demonstrate By Algebra And Syllogisms In A

Twinkling; But Hope You Will Believe Me Without Either. I Never Asked

For Many Connexions In This Way; And Was Never Neglected But Once, And

That By A Jersey Gentleman, To Whom I Wrote And Received No Answer. I

Hope The Disease Is Not Epidemical, And That You Have Not Determined

Against Any Communication With The Rest Of The World. It Was A

Mortification, I Confess; For I Am Too Proud To Be Denied A Request,

Though Unreasonable, As Many Of Mine Are--Therefore, I Insist Upon An

Answer, At Least, And As Many More As You Can Find In Your Heart To

Give Me; Promising, In Return, As Many By Tale, Though Without A Large

Profit. I Shall Not Warrant Their Quality.

 

 

Your Sincere Friend,

 

 

Timothy Dwight, Junr.

Chapter III Pg 24

From Samuel Spring.

 

 

Newport, May 15Th, 1772.

 

 

Dear Burr,

 

 

It Is A Little Strange To Me That I Have Not Heard Any Thing Of You

Since Your Examination. I Don'T Know But You Are Dissatisfied, Since

You Are So Backward To Write; However, I Will, If Possible, Keep Such

Thoughts Out Of My Mind Till I Hear From You In Particular. If You Are

Let Down A Peg Lower, You May Tell Me Of It. If You Are Permitted To

Live In College, You May Tell Me Of It; And If You Are Turned Out, You

May Tell Me Of It. If You Passed Examination, And Have A Syllogism To

Speak At Commencement, _If You Are Able To Make It_, I Suppose You May

Tell Me Of That Likewise; Or, If You Are First In The Class, You May

Tell Me, If You Will Only Do It Softly; Indeed, You May Tell Me Any

Thing, For I Profess To Be Your Friend. Therefore, Since You Can Trust

Me So Far, I Expect You Will Now Write, And Let Me Know A Little How

Matters Are At Present In College. In Particular, Let Me Know The

State Of The Society (Cliosophic); And If I Owe Any Thing To It, Do

You Pay It, _And Charge It To Your Humble Servant_.

 

 

I Hope You Will Write The First Opportunity, As I Trust You Have Got

Some Very Good News To Tell Me Concerning The College In General, And

Yourself In Particular. I Have Nothing Particular To Write. It Is Very

Pleasant To Me Where I Am At Present.

 

 

The Study Of Divinity Is Agreeable;--Far More So Than Any Other Study

Whatever Would Be To Me. I Hope To See The Time When You Will Feel It

To Be Your Duty To Go Into The Same Study With A Desire For The

Ministry. Remember, That Was The Prayer Of Your Dear Father And

Mother, And Is The Prayer Of Your Friends To This Time--That You

Should Step Forth Into His Place, And Make It Manifest That You Are A

Friend To Heaven, And That You Have A Taste For Its Glory. But This,

You Are Sensible, Can Never Be The Case If You Remain In A State Of

Nature. Therefore, Improve The Present And Future Moments To The Best

Of Purposes, As Knowing The Time Will Soon Be Upon You When You Will

Wish That In Living You Had Lived Right, And Acted Rationally And Like

An Immortal.

 

 

Your Friend,

 

 

Samuel Spring.

Chapter III Pg 25

In 1806-7 Great Excitement Was Produced, In Consequence Of Colonel

Burr Writing In Cipher To General Wilkinson, In This Particular He

Seems To Have Had Peculiar Notions. However Innocent His

Correspondence, He Was, Apparently, Desirous At All Times Of Casting

Around It A Veil Of Mystery. The Same Trait Was Conspicuous In His

Political Movements And Intercourse. This Has Been One Of The Weak

Points In Colonel Burr'S Character. He Was Considered A Mysterious

Man; And What Was Not Understood By The Vulgar, Was Pronounced Selfish

Or Ambitious Intrigue. Even His Best Friends Were, Often Dissatisfied

With Him On This Account. Acting Upon This Principle Of Mystery At

Every Period Of His Life, He Has Corresponded With One Or More

Individuals In Cipher. While Yet A Student In College, The Letters

Between His Sister And Himself Are Frequently Written In Cipher. So,

Also, Much Of His Correspondence With His Most Intimate Friend,

Matthias Ogden, And With Others In 1774 And 1775, Is In Cipher. Many

Of These Letters, Thus Written, Are Now In Existence. To Those,

Therefore, Acquainted With The Character And Peculiarities Of Colonel

Burr, The Fact Of His Writing A Letter In Cipher Would Not Be

Considered As Any Thing Extraordinary; Because It Was A Habit Which He

Had Adopted And Pursued For More Than Thirty Years Preceding The

Period When This Excitement Was Thus Produced.

 

 

Before Burr Left Princeton, And While Lie Was Indulging Himself In

Pleasures And Amusements, He Accidentally Visited A Billiard-Table. He

Engaged In Play, And, Although He Had Never Before Seen The Game, He

Was Successful, And Won About Half A Joe. On Returning Home With His

Gains, He Reflected On The Incident With Great Mortification, And

Determined Never Again To Play; Which Determination He Adhered To

Through Life. Colonel Burr Not Only Abstained From Playing At

Billiards, But With Equal Pertinacity He Refused To Play At Any Game

For The Purpose Of Acquiring Money.

 

 

Although He Had Been Somewhat Tranquillized By His Conversation With

Dr. Witherspoon On The Subject Of The Awakening In College In 1772,

Yet He Was Not Entirely At Ease. In Consequence Of Which He Came To A

Resolution Not To Enter Upon The Concerns Of Life Until This Point Was

More Satisfactorily Settled In His Own Mind. He Concluded, Therefore,

To Visit And Consult The Rev. Joseph Bellamy, A Venerable And Devoted

Friend Of His Late Father, And To Whom He Was Known By Reputation.

 

 

Joseph Bellamy, D.D., Was An Eminent Preacher And Theological Writer

Of Connecticut, And Intimate Friend Of Colonel Burr'S Relative, The

Famous Jonathan Edwards, With Whose Particular Opinion He Fully

Agreed. He Was Celebrated In His Days, Before The Establishment Of

Theological Seminaries, As An Instructor Of Young Men Preparing For

The Ministry. The Late Governor Wolcott Used To Speak Of Him With The

Highest Respect For His Talent And Moderation. He Died In 1790.

 

 

In The Autumn Of 1773, Burr Visited Him At Bethlehem, In Connecticut,

And Was Received By His Aged Friend In A Most Kind And Affectionate

Manner. His Advice, And The Use Of His Library, Were Promptly

Tendered. Burr Commenced A Course Of Reading On Religious Topics, And

Was Thus Occupied From Sixteen To Eighteen Hours A Day. His Habits

Were Those Of Great Abstinence, And A Recluse. His Conversations With

The Reverend Divine Were Encouraged And Indulged In With Freedom, And

His Inquiries Answered. Here He Remained Until The Spring Of 1774,

When, To Use His Own Language, He "Came To The Conclusion That The

Road To Heaven Was Open To All Alike." He, However, From That Time

Forward, Avoided Most Studiously All Disputation On The Subject Of

Religion.

 

 

An Impression Has Been Created That Colonel Burr Was Placed By His

Guardian Under Dr. Bellamy, For The Purpose Of Studying Divinity. This

Is An Error. His Visit To The Rev. Dr. Was Not The Result Of A

Conference Or Communication With Any Person Whatever; But The Volition

Of His Own Mind, And For The Purpose Already Stated. In Fact, After

Burr Entered College, His Studies And His Future Pursuits In Life

Appear To Have Been Left Entirely Under His Own Control. Whether This

Arose From Indolence On The Part Of His Guardian, Or From Pertinacity

In Young Burr, Is Uncertain; Perhaps A Little Of Both, United With The

Great Confidence Which His Uncle Reposed In His Judgment And Talents.

 

 

In The Spring Of 1774, While He Yet Resided At Dr. Bellamy'S, He

Contemplated Studying Law; But Was Undecided Whether He Should Read

With Pierpont Edwards, Or With His Brother-In-Law, Tappan Reeve, And

Upon This Subject He Wrote His Guardian, Who Replies, In A Letter

Dated

 

 

"Stockbridge, February 11Th, 1774.

 

 

"Whether You Study Law With Mr. Reeve Or Your Uncle Pierpont Is A

Matter Of Indifference With Me. I Would Have You Act Your Pleasure

Therein. I Shall Write To Your Uncle Upon It, But Yet Treat It As A

Matter Of Doubt. Your Board I Shall Settle With Dr. Bellamy Myself. I

Will Send You Cash To Pay For Your Horse Very Soon. You May Expect It

In The Forepart Of March. If I Had Known Of This Want Of Yours Sooner,

I Would Have Paid It Before This.

 

 

"Your Affectionate Uncle,

 

 

"Timothy Edwards"

Chapter IV Pg 26

 

 

 

In May, 1774, He Left The Rev. Mr. Bellamy'S, And Went To The House Of

His Brother-In-Law, Tappan Reeve, Where His Time Was Occupied In

Reading, Principally History; But Especially Those Portions Of It

Which Related To Wars, And Battles, And Sieges, Which Tended To

Inflame His Natural Military Ardour. The Absorbing Topics Of Taxation

And The Rights Of The People Were Agitating The Then British Colonies

From One Extreme To The Other. These Subjects, Therefore, Could Not

Pass Unnoticed By A Youth Of The Inquiring Mind And Ardent Feelings Of

Burr. Constitutional Law, And The Relative Rights Of The Crown And The

Colonists, Were Examined With All The Acumen Which He Possessed, And

He Became A Whig From Reflection And Conviction, As Well As From

Feeling.

 

 

At This Period, Burr'S Most Intimate And Confidential Correspondent

Was Matthias Ogden, Of New-Jersey, Subsequently Colonel Ogden, A

Gallant And Distinguished Revolutionary Officer. He Writes To Burr,

Dated

 

 

"Elizabethtown, August 9Th, 1774.

 

 

"Dear Aaron,

 

 

"I Received Yours By Mr. Beach, Dated Sunday. I Am Not A Little

Pleased That You Have The Doctor (Bellamy) So Completely Under Your

Thumb. Last Saturday I Went A Crabbing. Being In Want Of A Thole-Pin,

I Substituted A Large Jackknife In Its Stead, With The Blade Open And

Sticking Up. It Answered The Purpose Of Rowing Very Well; But It Seems

That Was Not The Only Purpose It Had To Answer; For, After We Had Been

Some Time On The Flats, Running On The Mud, As The Devil Would Have

It, In Getting Into The Boat I Threw My Leg Directly Across The Edge

Of The Knife, Which Left A Decent Mark Of Nearly Four Inches Long, And

More Than One Inch Deep. It Was Then Up Anchor And Away. Our First

Port Was Dayton'S Ferry, Where Dr. Bennet Happened To Be, But Without

His Apparatus For Sewing, To The No Small Disadvantage Of Me, Who Was

To Undergo The Operation. Mrs. Dayton, However, Furnished Him With A

Large Darning-Needle, Which, As Soon As I Felt Going Through My Skin,

I Thought Was More Like A Gimlet Boring Into Me; But, With The Help Of

A Glass Of Wine, I Grinned And Bore It, Until He Took A Few Stitches

In The Wound. So Much For Crabbing.

 

 

"I Was At New-York About A Fortnight Since, On My Way To Jamaica, Long

Island. The Object Of This Journey You Understand. I Stayed At Mr.

Willett'S Three Days, And Then Went To Colonel Morris'S, And Spent Two

Days There Very Agreeably. Nothing Occurred Worth Relating, Unless It

Be Some Transactions Of The Greatest Fool I Ever Knew.

 

 

"Mr. Elliot, Collector Of New-York, Mr. And Mrs. Delancey And

Daughter, Dined There On Sunday. Witherspoon [1] Was Led In With A

Large Bag Tied To His Hair, That Reached Down To The Waistband Of His

Breeches, And A Brass Locket Hanging From His Neck Below His Stomach.

He Was Turned Round And Round By Each Of The Company: Was Asked Where

He Got That Very Neat Bag, And The Valuable Locket? He Readily

Answered, They Were A Present From Lady Kitty, Who Was Violently In

Love With Him, And He Expected To Marry Her In A Short Time. He Is So

Credulous That Any Child Might Impose On Him. I Told Him That I Came

From Lord Stirling'S, And That He Might Write By Me To Lady Kitty.

Accordingly, He Wrote A Long Letter And Gave Me, Which I Opened There,

And, By Desire Of Colonel Morris, Answered It, When I Got To New-York,

In Lady Kitty'S Name, Informing Him That He Must Tell Mr. Morris To

Provide Himself With Another Tutor, As She Intended Marrying Him

Without Fail The First Of September, Which I Suppose He Will As

Sincerely Believe As He Does His Existence.

 

 

"Yours Affectionately,

 

 

"Matt. Ogden."

Chapter IV Pg 27

To Matthias Ogden.

 

 

Litchfield, August 17Th, 1774.

 

 

Dear Matt.,

 

 

Before I Proceed Any Further, Let Me Tell You That, A Few Days Ago, A

Mob Of Several Hundred Persons Gathered At Barrington, And Tore Down

The House Of A Man Who Was Suspected Of Being Unfriendly To The

Liberties Of The People; Broke Up The Court, Then Sitting At That

Place, &C. As Many Of The Rioters Belonged To This Colony, And The

Superior Court Was Then Sitting At This Place, The Sheriff Was

Immediately Despatched To Apprehend The Ringleaders. He Returned

Yesterday With Eight Prisoners, Who Were Taken _Without Resistance_.

But This Minute There Is Entering The Town On Horseback, With Great

Regularity, About Fifty Men, Armed Each With A White Club; And I

Observe Others Continually Dropping In. I Shall Here Leave A Blank, To

Give You (Perhaps In Heroics) A Few Sketches Of My Unexampled Valour,

Should They Proceed To Hostilities; And, Should They Not, I Can Then

Tell You What I Would Have Done.

 

 

The Abovementioned _Sneaks All Gave Bonds For Their Appearance_, To

Stand A Trial At The Next Court For Committing A Riot.

 

 

Yours Affectionately,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter IV Pg 28

On The 11Th Of September, 1774, He Again Writes Ogden:--

 

 

I Wrote You Last Thursday, And Enclosed One Of The Songs You Desired,

Which Was All I Could Then Obtain. Miss -----, The Fountain Of Melody,

Furnished Me With It. I Knew That She, And No One Else, Had The Notes

Of The Enclosed Song. I Told Her I Should Be Glad To Copy Them For A

Most Accomplished Young Gentleman In The Jerseys. She Engaged To Bring

Them The First Time She Came In Town, For She Lives About Two Miles

From Here. I This Day Received It, Precisely As You Have It. You May

Depend Upon Its Being The Work Of Her Own Hands. If This Don'T Deserve

An Acrostic, I Don'T Know--Sense, Beauty, Modesty, And Music. Matter

Plenty.

 

 

Pray Tell Me Whether Your Prayers Are Heard, And A Good Old Saint,

Though A Little In Your Way, Is Yet In Heaven. But Remember, Matt.,

You Can Never Be Without Plague, And When One Gets Out Of The Way, A

Worse, Very Often, Supplies Its Place; So, I Tell You Again, Be

Content, And Hope For Better Times.

 

 

I Am Determined Never To Have Any Dealings With Your Friend Cupid

Until I Know Certainly How Matters Will Turn Out With You: For Should

Some Lucky Devil Step In Between My Friend And----, Which Kind Heaven

Grant May Never Be; In Such A Case, I Say, I Would Choose To Be

Untied, And Then, You Know, The Wide World Is Before Us.

 

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

A. Burr.

 

Chapter IV Pg 29

Burr Again Writes Him, Dated

 

 

Litchfield, February 2D, 1775.

 

 

I Sent You A Packet By N. Hazard, And From That Time To This I Have

Not Had The Most Distant Prospect Of Conveying A Letter To You.

However, I Have Written A Number Of Scrawls, The Substance Of Which

You Shall Now Have.

 

 

The Times With Me Are Pretty Much As Usual; Not So Full Of Action As I

Could Wish; And I Find This Propensity To Action Is Very Apt To Lead

Me Into Scrapes. T. B. Has Been Here Since I Wrote You Last; He Came

Very Unexpectedly. You Will Conclude We Had Some Confab About Miss

-----. We Had But Little Private Chat, And The Whole Of That Little

Was About Her. He Would Now And Then Insinuate Slyly What A Clever

Circumstance It Would Be To Have Such A Wife, With Her Fortune.

 

 

T. Burr, [2] By His Kindness To Me, Has Certainly Laid Me Under

Obligations, Which It Would Be The Height Of Ingratitude In Me Ever To

Forget; But I Cannot Conceive It My Duty To Be In The Least Influenced

By These In The Present Case. Were I To Conform To His Inclination, It

Could Give Him Pleasure Or Pain Only As The Consequence Was Good Or

Bad To Me. The Sequel Might Be Such As Would Inevitably Cause Him The

Most Bitter Anguish; And, In All Probability, Would Be Such If I

Should Consult His Fancy Instead Of My Judgment. And Who Can Be A

Judge Of These Consequences But Myself? But Even Supposing Things

Could Be So Situated That, By Gratifying Him, I Should Certainly Be

The Means Of His Enjoying Some Permanent Satisfaction, And Should

Subject Myself To A Bare Probability Of Misery As Permanent, Would It

Not Stagger The Most Generous Soul To Think Of Sacrificing A Whole

Life'S Comfort To The Caprice Of A Friend? But This Is A Case That Can

Never Happen, Unless That Friend Has Some Mean And Selfish Motive,

Such As I Know T. Burr Has Not. I Can Never Believe That Too Great

Deference To The Judgment Of Another, In These Matters, Can Arise From

Any Greatness Of Soul. It Appears To Me The Genuine Offspring Of

Meanness. I Suppose You Are Impatient For My Reply To These

Importunities. I Found My Tongue And Fancy Too Cramped To Say Much.

However, I Rallied My Thoughts And Set Forth, As Well As I Was Able,

The Inconveniences And Uncertainty Attending Such An Affair. I Am

Determined To Be Very Blunt The Next Time The Matter Is Urged.

 

 

I Have Now And Then An Affair Of Petty Gallantry, Which Might

Entertain You If You Were Acquainted With The Different Characters I

Have To Deal With; But, Without That, They Would Be Very Insipid.

 

 

I Have Lately Engaged In A Correspondence Of A Peculiar Nature. I

Write Once, And Sometimes Twice A Week, To A Lady Who Knows Not That

She Ever Received A Line From Me. The Letters, On Both Sides, Are

Mostly Sentimental. Those Of The Lady Are Doubtless Written With More

Sincerity, And Less Reserve, Than If She Knew I Had Any Concern With

Them. Mr. ----- Received A Letter From Miss -----. He Is Very Little

Versed In Letter-Writing, And Engaged, Or Rather Permitted, Me To

Answer It, Not Thinking Thereby To Embark In A Regular Correspondence,

But Supposing The Matter Would Thus End. I Have Had Many Scruples Of

Conscience About This Affair, Though I Really Entered Into It Not With

Any Sinister View, But Purely To Oblige----. I Should Be Glad To Know

Your Opinion Of It. You Will Readily Observe The Advantage I Have Over

-----. He Is Of An Unsuspicious Make, And This Gives Me An Opportunity

(If I Had Any Inclination) To Insert Things Which Might Draw From Her

Secrets She Would Choose I Should Be Ignorant Of. But I Would Suffer

Crucifixion Rather Than Be Guilty Of Such An Unparalleled Meanness. On

The Contrary, I Have Carefully Avoided Saying Any Thing Which Might

Have The Least Tendency To Make Her Write What She Would Be Unwilling

I Should See.

 

 

Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter IV Pg 30

On The 12Th Of March, 1775, Burr Writes Ogden:--

 

 

I Have Received Your And Aaron'S [3] Letters. I Was A Little

Disappointed That You Did Not Send An Acrostic; But I Still Entertain

Some Secret Hope That The Muse (Who, You Say, Has Taken Her Flight)

Will Shortly Return, And, By A New And Stricter Intimacy, More Than

Repay The Pains Of This Momentary Absence. Your Happiness, Matt., Is

Really Almost The Only Present Thing I Can Contemplate With Any

Satisfaction; Though I, Like Other Fools, View Futurity With

Partiality Enough To Make It Very Desirable; But I Must First Throw

Reason Aside, And Leave Fancy Uncontrolled. In Some Of These Happy

Freaks I Have Endeavoured To Take As Agreeable A Sleigh-Ride As You

Had To Goshen; But I Find It Impracticable, Unless You Will Make One

Of The Party; For My Imagination, When Most Romantic, Is Not Lively Or

Delusive Enough To Paint An Object That Can, In My Eyes, Atone For

Your Absence. From This You Will Conclude That The News You Heard Of

Me At Princeton Is Groundless. It Is So Far From Being True, That

Scarce Two Persons Can Fix On The Same Lady To Tease Me With. However,

I Would Not Have You Think That This Diversity Of Opinion Arises From

The Volatility Of My Constitution, Or That I Am In Love With Every New

Or Pretty Face I See. But, I Hope, You Know Me Too Well To Need A

Caution Of This Nature. I Am Very Glad To Hear Of -----'S Downfall.

But, With All That Fellow'S Low-Lived Actions, I Don'T More Sincerely

Despise Him Than I Do Certain Other Narrow-Hearted Scoundrels You Have

Among You. Mean As He Is, He Appears To Me To Have (Or Rather To Have

Had) More Of Something At Bottom That Bordered On Honour, Than Some

Who Will Pass Through Life Respected By Many. I Say This, Not So Much

To Raise Him Above The Common Standard Of D--Ls, As To Sink Them Below

It. My Idea Of A D--L Is Composed More Of Malice Than Of Meanness.

 

 

Since I Commenced This Letter I Have Passed Through A Scene Entirely

New. Now, As Novelty Is The Chief And Almost Only Ingredient Of

Happiness Here Below, You'Ll Fancy I Have Had Some Lucky Turn. I Think

It Quite The Reverse, I Assure You. I Have Serious Thoughts Of Leaving

The Matter Here, That You May Be On The Rack Of Curiosity For A Month

Or So. Would Not This Be Truly Satanic? What Would Be Your Conjectures

In Such A Case? The First, I _Guess_, That I Was Sadly In Love, And

Had Met With Some Mortifying Rebuff.

 

 

What Would You Say If I Should Tell You That ----- Had Absolutely

Professed Love For Me? Now I Can See You With Both Hands Up--Eyes And

Mouth Wide Open; But Don'T Be Over Scrupulous. Trust Me, I Tell You

The Whole Truth. I Cannot At Present Give You Any Further Particulars

About The Matter, Than That I Felt Foolish Enough, And Gave As

Cautious A Turn To It As I Could, For Which I Am Destined To Suffer

Her Future Hostility.

 

 

Last Week I Received A Letter From T. Edwards, Which I Fear May Prove

Fatal To The Dear Project Of The 15Th Of April. He Intends To Be

Hereabout The Middle Of That Month. Supposing He Should Come Here The

13Th Of April, What Could I Do? Run Off And Leave Him? Observe The

Uncertainty Of All Sublunary Things. I, Who A Few Months Ago Was As

Uncontrolled In My Motions As The Lawless Meteors, Am Now (Sad

Reverse!) At The Beck Of A Person Forty Miles Off. But All This

Lamentation, If Well Considered, Is Entirely Groundless, For (_Between

You And Me_) I Intend To See You At Elizabethtown This Spring. But

Even Supposing I Should Fail In This--Where Is This Sad Reverse Of

Fortune?--This Lamentable Change? Is It Not A Very Easy Matter To Fix

On Another Time, And Write You Word By T. Edwards?

 

 

I Have Struck Up A Correspondence With J. Bellamy (Son To The Famous

Divine Of That Name). He Has Very Lately Settled In The Practice Of

The Law At Norwich, A Place About Seventy Miles S. E. Of This. He Is

One Of The Cleverest Fellows I Have To Deal With. Sensible, A Person

Of Real Humour, And Is An Excellent Judge Of Mankind, Though He Has

Not Had Opportunity Of Seeing Much Of The World. Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter IV Pg 31

From Jonathan Bellamy

 

 

Norwich, March 14Th, 1775.

 

 

To Do Justice To Circumstances, Which You Know Are Of The Greatest

Importance In Order To Form A True Estimate Of What A Person Either

Says Or Does, It Is Indispensably Necessary For Me To Tell You That It

Not Only Rains Very Generously, But That It Is As Dark As It Was

Before Light Was Created. It Would Be Ridiculous To Suppose That You

Need Information That Nothing But The Irresistible Desire Of Writing

Could Possibly Keep Me At Home This Evening.

 

 

I Had Received Your February Favour Only Just Time To Laugh At It

Once, When The Melancholy News That Betsy Devotion, Of Windham, Was

Very Dangerously Sick, Banished Every Joyous Thought From My Heart.

This Betsy You May Remember To Have Heard Mentioned Near The Name Of

Natty Huntington, Who Died Last December; And A Very Angel She Was

Too, I Assure You. You See I Speak Of Her In The _Past_ Sense, For She

Has Left Us; And Her Friends Are Sure She Is Not Less An Angel _Now_

Than She Was Ten Days Ago. Very Certain I Am, That If A Natural

Sweetness Of Disposition Can Scale Heaven'S Walls, She Went Over Like

A Bird. But I Believe We Must Leave _Her_ And All The Rest Of Our

Departed Friends To Be Sentenced By A Higher Board.

 

 

  "Transports Last Not In The Human Heart;

  But All With Transports Soon Agree To Part."

 

 

If Nature, In Spite Of Us, Did Not Take Care Of Herself, We Could Not

But Be Perfectly Wretched. Philosophy Is The Emptiest Word In The

Dictionary. And You May Observe, Wherever You Find Them, That Those

Persons Who Profess To Place All Their Reliance Upon It, Under Every

Affecting Circumstance Of Life, Do But Make Use Of The Term As A Mask

For An Iron Heart. "But" (As The Devil Said On Another Occasion) "Put

Forth Thine Hand, And Touch His Bone, And His Flesh, And He Will Curse

Thee To Thy Face." They Have As Little Fortitude As Anybody When

Sufferings Pinch Home Upon Them.

 

 

Thus Have I Relieved A Heart That Perhaps Felt A Little Too Full; And

If It Is At The Expense Of My _Head_, I Have Nevertheless The

Consolation That It Will Be Received Only As The Overflowings Of My

Present Feelings.

 

 

"When And Where Shall I See You Again?" Somebody Once Asked Me. The

Lord Only Knows. Perhaps At The Election At Hartford. If We Can Meet

_There_--There Will Be Time For Notice. But, Happen As It May, Be

Assured That I Am Your Most Sincere Friend,

 

 

Jonathan Bellamy.

 

 

"Stick My Compliments In For Him," Says Hannah Phelps, A Jolly Girl Of

Fourteen.

Chapter IV Pg 32

From Matthias Ogden.

 

 

Elizabethtown, March 18Th, 1775.

 

 

Since We Last Saw Each Other, The 15Th Of April Has Been My Mark, But

The Receipt Of Yours Of The 12Th Has Blotted It From My Memory, For

Which Nothing Could Atone But The Expectation Of Seeing You Here

Nearly As Soon.

 

 

I Read With Pleasure Your Love Intrigues; Your Anonymous

Correspondence With Miss -----, &.C., And, With As Much Seriousness,

The Part Relative To ----, Thaddeus Burr'S Overtures, &C.

 

 

_Steadily_, Aaron. Money Is Alluring, And There Is A Pleasure In

Gratifying A Friend; But Let Not A Fortune Buy Your Peace, Nor Sell

Your Happiness. Neither Be Too Much Biased By A Friend, Or Any One'S

Advice, In A Matter Of So Great Consequence To Yourself. Perhaps She

Is Worthy Your Love, And, If I Could Think She Was, I Would Not Say A

Single Thing To Discourage You. Be Cautious, Aaron; Weigh The Matter

Well. Should Your Generous Heart Be Sold For Naught, It Would Greatly

Hurt The Peace Of Mine. Let Not Her Sense, Her Education, Her Modesty,

Her Graceful Actions, Or Her Wit, Betray You. Has She A Soul Framed

For Love? For Friendship? But Why Need I Advise A Person Of Better

Judgment Than Myself? It Is Not Advice, My Friend; It Is Only Caution.

You Have A Difficult Part To Act. If You Reject, She Curses: If You

Pity, She Takes It For Encouragement. Matters With Me Go On Smoothly.

 

 

I Am Now Making Up A Party To Go To The Falls, To Be Ready Against You

Come. My Best Regards To Mr. And Mrs. Reeve. I Remain Happy In The

Enjoyment Of -----'S Love, And Am,

 

 

Your Unfeigned Friend,

 

 

Matt. Ogden.

Chapter IV Pg 33

After The Decease Of President Burr, Lyman Hall Was Intrusted By The

Executors With The Collection Of Sundry Debts Due To The Estate. A

Removal, And His Various Avocations, Prevented His Performing That

Duty With The Necessary Promptitude. In Consequence, The Heirs Were

Exposed To Loss. A Friend Of The Family, The Rev. James Caldwell, Of

New-Jersey, Wrote Him On The Subject, And His Answer Is So Honourable,

That It Is Deemed Only An Act Of Justice To An Upright Man To Record

It Here. It Is Another Instance Of The Integrity In Private Life Of

Those Patriots That Planned And Accomplished The American Revolution.

It Will Be Seen That Mr. Hall Was A Member Of The Congress Of 1775

From The State Of Georgia.

Chapter IV Pg 34

Philadelphia, 17Th May, 1775.

 

 

Rev. Sir,

 

 

Since I Saw You, And Afterwards Mr. Ogden, In Georgia, I Have Written

To My Attorneys And Correspondents In Connecticut, To Give Me All The

Information They Could Obtain Respecting The Affairs And Concerns Of

The Late President Burr, Left In My Hands; Which I Had Delivered Over,

Before I Left That Colony In 1759, Into The Hands Of Thaddeus Burr, Of

Fairfield; But No Satisfactory Answer Can As Yet Be Obtained. One

Debt, Indeed, Has Been Discovered, Of About Forty Pounds New-York

Currency; But The Bond On Which It Is Due Is As Yet Concealed.

 

 

On The Whole, I Find That It Is Not In My Power To Redeliver Those

Securities For Moneys Which I Was Once In Possession Of; Nor Have I

Received The Moneys Due On Those Which Were Good; But Am Determined

That I Will Make Just Satisfaction To The Claimant Heirs (Orphans) Of

The Late President Burr. It Is, I Know, My Indispensable Duty, And I

Have For That Purpose Brought A Quantity Of Rice To This City, The

Avails Of Which, When Sold, Shall Be Appropriated To That Use. I

Should Be Glad That You, Or Mr. Ogden, The Executor, Could Be Here To

Transact The Business, And, On A Settlement, Give Me A Power Of

Attorney, Properly Authenticated, To Recover Any Part Of Those Moneys

I Can Find Due When I Shall Arrive In Connecticut, To Which I Propose

Going As Soon As The Congress Rises. As I Am In Congress, I Cannot See

You Directly; But, If Liberty Can Be Obtained, Shall Wait On You Or

Mr. Ogden, Or Both, In My Way To New-York, In A Few Days; But I Think

Mr. Ogden, The Executor, If It Will Suit, Had Better Come Here And

Settle It. I Mention Him Because I Suppose He Is The Proper Person To

Discharge Me, And Give Me A Power Of Attorney.

 

 

I Am, Reverend Sir,

 

 

With Esteem, Yours,

 

 

Lyman Hall.

 

 

The Rev. Jas. Caldwell, _Elizabethtown_

Footnote Pg 35

 

 

 

1. A Relative Of President Witherspoon.

Footnote Pg 36

 

 

2. Uncle To Colonel Aaron Burr.

Footnote Pg 37

 

 

3. Subsequently Governor Ogden, Of New Jersey, And Brother Of Matthias

Chapter V Pg 38

 

 

 

In His Retirement At The House Of His Brother-In-Law (Judge Reeve),

Burr Was Aroused By The Shedding Of His Countrymen'S Blood At

Lexington On The 19Th Of April, 1775. Immediately After That Battle,

He Wrote A Letter To His Friend Ogden, Requesting Him To Come On To

Litchfield And Arrange For Joining The Standard Of Their Country.

Ogden Wrote For Answer That He Could Not Make The Necessary

Arrangements.

Chapter V Pg 39

The Battle Of Bunker'S Hill (On The 16Th Of June, 1775)

Followed In Rapid Succession; Whereupon He Started For Elizabethtown,

New-Jersey, To Meet Ogden, And Aid Him In Preparations For The Journey

To Cambridge, Where The American Army Was Encamped.

 

 

Burr Had Been Reading Those Portions Of History Which Detailed The

Achievements Of The Greatest Military Men And Tacticians Of The Age In

Which They Lived. His Idea Of Discipline And Subordination Was Formed

Accordingly. With The Most Enthusiastic Feelings, And Under The

Influence Of Such Opinions, Burr, In Company With His Friend Matthias

Ogden, Left Elizabethtown, In July, 1775, For Cambridge, With The

Intention Of Tendering Their Services In Defence Of American Liberty.

He Had Now Entered His Twentieth Year, But, In Appearance, Was A Mere

Stripling.

 

 

It Has Been Seen That, Whatever Were Burr'S Pursuits Or Studies, His

Habits Were Those Of Intense Application. He Had Already Imbibed A

Military Ardour Equalled By Few--Surpassed By None. Panting For Glory

On The Battle-Field, Information And Improvement As A Soldier Were Now

The Objects That Absorbed All His Thoughts. On His Joining The Army,

However, He Was Sadly Disappointed In His Expectations. The Whole Was

A Scene Of Idleness, Confusion, And Dissipation. From The Want Of

Camp-Police, The Health Of The Men Was Impaired, And Many Sickened And

Died. Of The Officers, Some Were Ignorant Of Their Duty, While Others

Were Fearful Of Enforcing A Rigid Discipline, Lest It Should Give

Offence To Those Who Were Unaccustomed To Restraint. Deep

Mortification And Disappointment Preyed Upon The Mind Of Young Burr.

 

 

The Following Original Letters Are Found Among The Papers Of Colonel

Burr, And, As Casting Some Light Upon The History Of Those Times, Are

Deemed Of Sufficient Interest (And Not Inapplicable) To Be Inserted In

This Work. The Patriotic Reply Of General Montgomery Is Above All

Praise.

Chapter V (Roger Sherman To General David Wooster) Pg 40

 

 

 

Philadelphia, June 23D, 1775.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

The Congress, Having Determined It Necessary To Keep Up An Army For

The Defence Of America At The Charge Of The United Colonies, Have

Appointed The Following General Officers:--George Washington, Esq.,

Commander-In-Chief. Major-Generals Ward, Lee, Schuyler, And Putnam.

Brigadier-Generals Pomeroy, Montgomery, Yourself, Heath, Spencer,

Thomas, Sullivan (Of New-Hampshire), And One Green, Of Rhode-Island.

 

 

I Am Sensible That, According To Your Former Rank, You Were Entitled

To The Place Of A Major-General; And As One Was To Be Appointed In

Connecticut, I Heartily Recommended You To The Congress. I Informed

Them Of The Arrangement Made By Our Assembly, Which I Thought Would Be

Satisfactory To Have Them Continue In The Same Order. But, As General

Putnam'S Fame Was Spread Abroad, And Especially His Successful

Enterprise At Noddle'S Island, The Account Of Which Had Just Arrived,

It Gave Him A Preference In The Opinion Of The Delegates In General,

So That His Appointment Was Unanimous Among The Colonies; But, From

Your Known Abilities And Firm Attachment To The American Cause, We

Were Very Desirous Of Your Continuance In The Army, And Hope You Will

Accept Of The Appointment Made By The Congress.

 

 

I Think The Pay Of A Brigadier Is About One Hundred And Twenty-Five

Dollars Per Month. I Suppose A Commission Is Sent To You By General

Washington. We Received Intelligence Yesterday Of An Engagement At

Charlestown, But Have Not Had The Particulars. All The Connecticut

Troops Are Now Taken Into The Continental Army. I Hope Proper Care

Will Be Taken To Secure The Colony Against Any Sudden Invasion, Which

Must Be At Their Own Expense.

 

 

I Have Nothing Further That I Am At Liberty To Acquaint You With Of

The Doings Of The Congress But What Have Been Made Public. I Would Not

Have Any Thing Published In The Papers That I Write, Lest Something

May Inadvertently Escape Me Which Ought Not To Be Published. I Should

Be Glad If You Would Write To Me Every Convenient Opportunity, And

Inform Me Of Such Occurrences, And Other Matters, As You May Think

Proper And Useful For Me To Be Acquainted With. The General Officers

Were Elected In The Congress, Not By Nomination, But By Ballot.

 

 

I Am, With Great Esteem,

 

 

Your Humble Servant,

 

 

Roger Sherman.

 

 

David Wooster, Esq.

Chapter V (James Duane, Of New-York, To General Montgomery) Pg 41

 

 

 

Philadelphia, July 21St, 1775.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

I Am Directed By The Congress To Acquaint You Of An Arrangement In The

Massachusetts Department, And The Reason Which Led To It, Lest, By

Misunderstanding It, You Might Think Yourself Neglected.

 

 

When Brigadiers-General Were To Be Appointed, It Was Agreed That The

First In Nomination Should Be One Of The Massachusetts Generals. The

Gentlemen From That Province Recommended General Pomeroy, Who Was

Accordingly Fixed Upon; But, Before His Commission Arrived At The

Camp, He Had Retired From The Army. Under These Circumstances The

Congress Thought It Just To Fill Up The Commission Designed For Mr.

Pomeroy With The Name Of General Thomas As First Brigadier. You,

Consequently, Hold The Rank To Which You Were Elected.

 

 

I Sincerely Hope This May Not Give You Any Displeasure, As I Am

Confident No Disrespect Was Intended.

 

 

 

Be Pleased To Accept My Sincere Wishes For Your Honour And Happiness,

And Particularly In The Discharge Of The Important Trust Which You

Have Undertaken.

 

 

I Am, With Regard,

 

 

Dear Sir, Your Most Obedient Servant,

 

 

Jas. Duane.

 

 

General Montgomery.

Chapter V (General Montgomery'S Answer) Pg 42

 

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

I Have Been Honoured With Your Letter Of The 21St Inst. My

Acknowledgments Are Due For The Attention Shown Me By The Congress.

 

 

I Submit, With Great Cheerfullness, To Any Regulation They, In Their

Prudence, Shall Judge Expedient. Laying Aside The Punctilio Of The

_Soldier_, I Shall Endeavour To Discharge My Duty To Society,

Considering Myself Only As The _Citizen_, Reduced To The Melancholy

Necessity Of Taking Up Arms For The Public Safety.

 

 

I Am, &C., R. M.

 

 

Answer.

 

 

The Preceding Is Endorsed, In The Handwriting Of General Montgomery,

On The Back Of Mr. Duane'S Letter.

 

 

The Laxity Of The Discipline Which Pervaded The Camp At Cambridge, The

Inexperience Of The Officers, And The Contests And Petty Squabbles

About Rank, All Tended To Excite Great Jealousy And Discontent In The

Army. As Yet, Burr Was Attached To No Particular Corps. He Mingled

Indiscriminately With Conflicting Factions, Until, Disgusted With The

Scene Which He Daily Witnessed, He Was Violently Attacked With A

Nervous Fever, By Which He Was Confined To His Bed.

 

 

One Day He Heard Ogden And Some Young Men Of The Army Conversing, In

An Apartment Adjoining That In Which He Was Lying, On The Subject Of

An Expedition. He Called Ogden To His Bedside, And Inquired What Was

The Nature Of The Expedition Of Which They Were Speaking. Ogden

Informed Him That Colonel Arnold, With A Detachment Of Ten Or Twelve

Hundred Men, Was About To Proceed Through The Wilderness For The

Purpose Of Attacking Quebec. Burr Instantly Raised Himself Up In The

Bed, And Declared That He Would Accompany Them; And, So Pertinacious

Was He On This Point, That He Immediately, Although Much Enfeebled,

Commenced Dressing Himself. Ogden Expostulated, And Spoke Of His

Debilitated State--Referred To The Hardships And Privations That He

Must Necessarily Endure On Such A March, &C. But All Was Unavailing.

Young Burr Was Determined, And Was Immoveable. He Forthwith Selected

Four Or Five Hale, Hearty Fellows, To Whom He Proposed That They

Should Form A Mess, And Unite Their Destiny On The Expedition Through

The Wilderness. To This Arrangement They Cheerfully Acceded. His

Friend Ogden, And Others Of His Acquaintance, Were Conveyed In

Carriages From Cambridge To Newburyport, Distant About Sixty Miles;

But Burr, With His New Associates In Arms, On The 14Th Of September,

1775, Shouldered Their Muskets, Took Their Knapsacks Upon Their Backs,

And Marched To The Place Of Embarcation.

 

 

From J. Bellamy.

Chapter V (General Montgomery'S Answer) Pg 43

Litchfield, August 17Th, 1775.

 

 

My Dearest Soldier,

 

 

I Was Infinitely Surprised To Hear From You In The Army. I Can Hardly

Tell You What Sensations I Did Not Feel At The Time. Shall Not Attempt

To Describe Them, Though They Deprived Me Of A Night'S Sleep. But That

Was Not Spent Altogether Unhappily. My Busybody, _Fancy_, Led Me A

Most Romantic Chase; In Which, You May Be Sure, I Visited Your Tent;

Beheld You (Unnoticed) Musing On Your Present Circumstances,

Apparently Agitated By Every Emotion Which Would Naturally Fill The

Heart Of One Who Has Come To The Resolution To Risk His Life For His

Country'S Freedom. You Will Excuse My Mentioning, That From A Deep,

Absent Meditation, Partly Expressed By Half-Pronounced Soliloquies, I

Beheld You Start Up, Clap Your Hand Upon Your Sword, And Look So

Fiercely, That It Almost Frightened Me. The Scene, On Your Discovering

Me, Immediately Changed To Something More Tender; But I Won'T Waste

Paper.

 

 

If You Should Happen To Find Dr. James Cogswell, Who Is In Colonel

Spencer'S Regiment, Please To Give My Best Love To Him, And Tell Him

He Is A Lazy Scoundrel.

 

 

It Rains, My Boy, Excessively. Does It Not Drop Through Your Tent?

Write Often To

 

 

Jona. Bellamy.

 

 

To A. Burr.

Chapter V (General Montgomery'S Answer) Pg 44

As Soon As The Guardian And Relatives Of Young Burr Heard Of His

Determination To Accompany Arnold In His Expedition Against Quebec,

They Not Only Remonstrated, But They Induced Others, Who Were Friendly

To Him, To Adopt A Similar Course. While He Remained At Cambridge, He

Received Numerous Letters On The Subject. The Two Following Are

Selected:--

 

 

From Dr. James Cogswell.

 

 

Camp In Roxbury, 9Th September, 1775.

 

 

I Am Extremely Sorry To Hear That You Are Determined On The New

Expedition To Quebec. I Am Sorry On My Own Account, As I Promised

Myself Much Satisfaction And Pleasure In Your Company: But I Am Not

Altogether Selfish; I Am Right-Justified Sorry On Yours. The

Expedition In Which You Are Engaged Is A Very Arduous One; And Those

Who Are Engaged In It Must Unavoidably Undergo Great Hardships. Your

Constitution (If I Am Not Much Mistaken) Is Very Delicate, And Not

Formed For The Fatigues Of The Camp. The Expedition, I Am Sensible, Is

A Glorious One, And Nothing But A Persuasion Of My Inability To Endure

The Hardships Of It Would Have Deterred Me From Engaging In It. If

This Excuse Was Sufficient For Me, I Am Persuaded It Is For You, And

Ought To Influence You To Abandon All Thoughts Of Undertaking It. I

Have No Friend So Dear To Me (And I Love My Friends) But That I Am

Willing To Sacrifice For The Good Of The Grand--The Important Cause,

In Which We Are Engaged; But, To Think Of A Friend'S Sacrificing

Himself, Without Any Valuable End Being Answered By It, Is Painful

Beyond Expression. _You Will Die; I Know You Will Die In The

Undertaking; It Is Impossible For You To Endure The Fatigue._ I Am So

Exercised About Your Going, That I Should Come And See You If I Had

Not Got The Scriptural Excuse,--A Wife, And Cannot Come.

 

 

My Dear Friend, You Must Not Go: I Cannot Bear The Thoughts Of It.

'Tis Little Less Melancholy Than Following You To Your Grave.

 

 

Your Affectionate Friend,

 

 

James Cogswell.

Chapter V (General Montgomery'S Answer) Pg 45

From Peter Colt.

 

 

Watertown, 11Th September, 1775.

 

 

I Cannot Retire To Rest Till I Have Written You A Few Lines, To Excuse

My Casting So Many Discouragements In The Way Of Your Journey To

Quebec. At First I Did Not Think It So Hazardous; But, Upon Inquiring

Of Those Who Had More Knowledge Of The Country, Thought It Too

Fatiguing An Undertaking For One Of Your Years; And I Find It

Altogether Against The Sentiments Of Your Friends. I Think You Might

Be Fairly Excused, Without The Risk Of Being Reported As Timid, As The

Hopes Of Your Family Depend In A Great Degree Upon You. I Should Have

Rejoiced To See You Relinquish This Expedition; But, As You Are

Determined To Pursue It, Must Beg You Not To Let Any Thing We Have

Said To You Depress Your Spirits, Or Damp Your Resolution, As It May

Otherwise Have A Fatal Effect. We Have Held Up The Dark Side Of The

Picture, In Order To Deter You From Going. You Must Now Think Only On

The Bright Side, And Make The Least Of Every Disagreeable Circumstance

Attending Your March. Let No Difficulty Discourage You. The Enterprise

Is Glorious, And, If It Succeeds, Will Redound To The Honour Of Those

Who Have Planned And Executed It.

 

 

May God Give You Health And Strength Equal To The Fatigue Of The

March, And Preserve You Safe From Every Danger You May Encounter. Make

Quebec A Safe Retreat To The Forces. I Hope To Have A Particular

Description Of Canada From You When You Return.

 

 

Don'T Turn Catholic For The Sake Of The Girls. Again I Beg You To

Forget What I Have Said To Discourage You. It Proceeded From Love To

You, And Not A Desire Of Rendering You Ridiculous. Adieu, My Dear

Friend.

 

 

Yours,

 

 

Peter Colt.

Chapter V (General Montgomery'S Answer) Pg 46

A Day Or Two After Burr'S Arrival At Newburyport, He Was Called Upon

By A Messenger From His Guardian, Timothy Edwards, With Instructions

To Bring The Young Fugitive Back. A Letter From His Uncle (T. Edwards)

Was Delivered To Him At The Same Time. Having Read The Letter, And

Heard The Messenger'S Communication, He Coolly Addressed Him, And

Asked, "How Do You Expect To Take Me Back, If I Should Refuse To Go?

If You Were To Make Any Forcible Attempt Upon Me, I Would Have You

Hung Up In Ten Minutes." After A Short Pause The Messenger Presented A

Second Letter From His Guardian, And With It A Small Remittance In

Gold. It Was Couched In The Most Affectionate And Tender Language,

Importuning Him To Return; And Depicting, In The Darkest Colours, The

Sufferings He Must Endure If He Survived The Attempt To Reach Quebec.

It Affected Young Burr Very Sensibly, Insomuch That He Shed Tears. But

His Destiny Was Fixed. He Wrote, However, A Respectful Letter To His

Uncle, Explanatory Of His Reasons For Accompanying The Army, And

Expressive Of His Gratitude For The Kindness He Had Experienced.

 

 

On Or About The 20Th Of September, 1775, The Troops Under The Command

Of Arnold Embarked At Newburyport. This Detachment Was To Penetrate

Canada About Ninety Or One Hundred Miles Below Montreal, Proceeding By

The Kennebec River, And Thence Through The Wilderness Between The St.

Lawrence And The Settled Parts Of Maine. In This Route, Precipitous

Mountains, Deep And Almost Impenetrable Swamps And Morasses, Were To

Be Passed. Arnold, In A Letter To General Washington, Dated _Fort

Weston_, September 25Th, 1775, Says:

Chapter V (General Montgomery'S Answer) Pg 47

"I Design Chaudiere Pond As A

General Rendezvous, And From Thence Proceed In A Body. I Believe, From

The Best Information I Can Procure, We Shall Be Able To Perform The

Journey In Twenty Days; The Distance From This Being About One Hundred

And Eighty Miles."

 

 

During The March Through The Wilderness, No Regard Whatever Was Paid

To Order Or Discipline. Every Man Was Left To Take Care Of Himself,

And Make The Best Of His Way Through The Woods. The Sufferings Of This

Detachment From Wet, And Cold, And Hunger, Were Excessive. From The

Latter, However, Burr Suffered Less Than Any Of His Companions. His

Abstemious Habits In Regard To Eating Seemed Peculiarly Calculated For

Such An Expedition. Both Burr And Ogden Had Been Accustomed, In Small

Boats, To Aquatic Excursions Round Staten Island And In Its Vicinity.

They Were Skilful Helmsmen, And In This Particular, In Passing The

Rapids, Were Frequently Useful. Notwithstanding This Qualification,

However, Burr, With Some Soldiers In A Boat, Was Carried Over A Fall

Of Nearly Twenty Feet. One Man Was Drowned, And Much Of The Baggage

Lost. The Weather Was Cold, And It Was With Great Difficulty That He

Reached The Shore.

 

 

"Arnold, Who, At The Head Of The Two First Divisions, Still Prosecuted

His March, Was Thirty-Two Days Traversing A Hideous Wilderness,

Without Seeing A House Or Any Thing Human. The Troops Were Under The

Necessity Of Hauling Their Bateaux Up Rapid Streams; Of Taking Them

Upon Their Shoulders, With All Their Provisions, Across

Carrying-Places; And Of Traversing, And Frequently Repassing, For The

Purpose Of Bringing Their Baggage, Deep Morasses, Thick Woods, And

High Mountains. These Impediments, Notwithstanding The Zealous And

Wonderfully Persevering Exertions Of His Men, So Protracted His March,

That, Though He Had Expected Certainly To Enter Canada About The

Middle Of October, He Did Not Reach The First Settlements On The

Chaudiere, Which Empties Itself Into The St. Lawrence Near Quebec,

Until The Third Of November.

 

 

"On The High Grounds Which Separate The Waters Of The Kennebec From

Those Of The St. Lawrence, The Scanty Remnant Of Provisions Was

Divided Among The Companies, Each Of Which Was Directed, Without

Attempting To Preserve Any Connexion With Another, To March With The

Utmost Possible Celerity Into The Inhabited Country. While Those Who

Gained The Front Were Yet Thirty Miles From The First Poor And

Scattered Habitations Which Composed That Frontier Of Canada, Their

Last Morsel Of Food Was Consumed. But, Preceded By Arnold, Who Went

Forward For The Purpose Of Procuring For Them Something Which Might

Satisfy The First Demands Of Nature, The Troops Still Persevered In

Their Labours, With A Vigour Unimpaired By The Hardships They Had

Encountered, Until They Once More Found Themselves In Regions

Frequented By Human Beings." [1]

 

 

On The Arrival Of Arnold'S Detachment At Chaudiere Pond, Burr Was

Despatched With A Verbal Communication To General Montgomery.

Chapter V (General Montgomery'S Answer) Pg 48

He

Disguised Himself As A Young Catholic Priest. In This Order Of Men He

Was Willing To Repose Confidence. He Knew That The French Catholics

Were Not Satisfied With Their Situation Under The Provincial

Government; But Especially The Priesthood. Feeling No Apprehension For

His Own Safety From Treachery, He Proceeded To A Learned And Reverend

Father Of The Church, To Whom He Communicated Frankly Who He Was, And

What Was His Object. Burr Was Master Of The Latin Language, And Had An

Imperfect Knowledge Of The French. The Priest Was An Educated Man, So

That A Conversation Was Held With But Little Difficulty. He

Endeavoured To Dissuade Burr From The Enterprise. Spoke Of It As

Impossible To Accomplish. He Represented The Distance As Great, And

Through An Enemy'S Country. The Boyish Appearance Of Burr Induced The

Reverend Divine To Consider Him A Mere Child. Discovering, However,

The Settled Purpose Of The Young Adventurer, The Priest Procured Him A

Confidential Guide And A Cabriolet (For The Ground Was Now Covered

With Snow), And, Thus Prepared, He Started On His Journey. Without

Interruption, He Was Conducted In Perfect Safety From One Religious

Family To Another, Until He Arrived At Three Rivers. Here The Guide

Became Alarmed In Consequence Of Some Rumours As To The Arrival Of

Arnold At The Chaudiere, And That He Had Despatched Messengers To

Montgomery To Announce To Him The Fact. Under Strong Apprehensions,

The Guide Refused To Proceed Any Farther, And Recommended To Burr To

Remain A Few Days Until These Rumours Subsided. To This He Was

Compelled To Accede; And, For Greater Security, He Was Secreted Three

Days In A Convent At That Place. At The Expiration Of This Period He

Again Set Off, And Reached Montgomery Without Further Detention Or

Accident.

 

 

On His Arrival At Headquarters, He Explained To The General The

Character Of The Re-Enforcement He Was About To Receive; The Probable

Number Of Effective Men, And The Time At Which Their Arrival Might Be

Anticipated. General Montgomery Was So Well Pleased With The Details

Which Had Been Given Him, And The Manner In Which Young Burr Had

Effected His Journey After Leaving Arnold, That He Invited Him (Burr)

To Reside At Headquarters, Assuring Him That He Should Receive An

Appointment As One Of His Aids. At This Time Montgomery Was A

Brigadier, And Not Entitled To Aids, Only In Virtue Of His Being

Commander-In-Chief Of The Army. Previous To His Death, However, He Was

Appointed A Major-General, But The Information Did Not Reach Him.

 

 

As Soon As Burr Had Joined The Family Of The General, He Entered Upon

The Duties Of An Aid; But No Formal Annunciation Was Made Until The

Army Arrived Before Quebec, When His Appointment Was Announced In

General Orders. Arnold Arrived At Point Levi, Opposite To Quebec, On

The 9Th Of November, 1775. He Paraded For Some Days On The Heights

Near The Town, And Sent Two Flags To Demand A Surrender, But Both Were

Fired Upon As Rebels With Whom No Communication Was To Be Held. The

True Reason, However, Was, That Colonel M'Clean, The British

Commandant, A Vigilant And Experienced Officer, Knowing The Weakness

Of His Own Garrison, Deemed It Impolitic, If Not Unsafe, To Receive A

Flag From Arnold.

Chapter V (General Montgomery'S Answer) Pg 49

The First Plan For The Attack Upon The British Works Was Essentially

Different From That Which Was Subsequently Carried Into Execution.

Various Reasons Have Been Assigned For This Change. Judge Marshall

Says, "That While The General (Montgomery) Was Making The Necessary

Preparations For The Assault, The Garrison Received Intelligence Of

His Intention From A Deserter. This Circumstance Induced Him To Change

The Plan Of His Attack, Which Had Been Originally To Attempt Both The

Upper And Lower Towns At The Same Time. The Plan Now Resolved On Was

To Divide The Army Into Four Parts; And While Two Of Them, Consisting

Of Canadians Under Major Livingston, And A Small Party Under Major

Brown, Were To Distract The Attention Of The Garrison By Making Two

Feints Against The Upper Town Of St. Johns And Cape Diamond, The Other

Two, Led, The One By Montgomery In Person, And The Other By Arnold,

Were To Make Real Attacks On Opposite Sides Of The Lower Town." [2]

 

 

Colonel Burr Says, That A Change Of The Plan Of Attack Was Produced,

In A Great Measure, Through The Advice And Influence Of Mr. Antill, A

Resident In Canada, Who Had Joined The Army; And Mr. Price, A Montreal

Merchant Of Property And Respectability, Who Had Also Come Out And

United His Destiny With The Cause Of The Colonies. Mr. Price, In

Particular, Was Strongly Impressed With The Opinion, That If The

American Troops Could Obtain Possession Of The Lower Town, The

Merchants And Other Wealthy Inhabitants Would Have Sufficient

Influence With The British Commander-In-Chief To Induce Him To

Surrender Rather Than Jeopard The Destruction Of All Their Property.

It Was, As Colonel Burr Thought, A Most Fatal Delusion. But It Is

Believed That The Opinion Was Honestly Entertained.

 

 

The First Plan Of The Attack Was Agreed Upon In A Council, At Which

Young Burr And His Friend, Matthias Ogden, Were Present. The

Arrangement Was To Pass Over The Highest Walls At Cape Diamond. Here

There Was A Bastion. This Was At A Distance Of About Half A Mile From

Any Succour; But Being Considered, In Some Measure, Impregnable, The

Least Resistance Might Be Anticipated In That Quarter. Subsequent

Events Tended To Prove The Soundness Of This Opinion. In Pursuance Of

The Second Plan, Major Livingston, With A Detachment Under His

Command, Made A Feint Upon Cape Diamond; But, For About Half An Hour,

With All The Noise And Alarm That He And His Men Could Create, He Was

Unable To Attract The Slightest Notice From The Enemy, So Completely

Unprepared Were They At This Point.

 

 

While The First Was The Favourite Plan Of Attack, Burr Requested

General Montgomery To Give Him The Command Of A Small Forlorn Hope,

Which Request Was Granted, And Forty Men Allotted To Him. Ladders Were

Prepared, And These Men Kept In Constant Drill, Until They Could

Ascend Them (Standing Almost Perpendicular), With Their Muskets And

Accoutrements, With Nearly The Same Facility That They Could Mount An

Ordinary Staircase. In The Success Of This Plan Of Attack Burr Had

Entire Confidence; But, When It Was Changed, He Entertained Strong

Apprehensions Of The Result.

Chapter V (General Montgomery'S Answer) Pg 50

He Was In The Habit, Every Night, Of

Visiting And Reconnoitring The Ground About Cape Diamond, Until He

Became Perfectly Familiarized With Every Inch Adjacent To, Or In The

Vicinity Of, The Intended Point Of Assault.

 

 

When The Attack Was About To Be Commenced, Captain Burr, And Other

Officers Near General Montgomery, Endeavoured To Dissuade Him From

Leading In The Advance; Remarking That, As Commander-In-Chief, It Was

Not His Place. But All Argument Was Ineffectual And Unavailing. The

Attack Was Made On The Morning Of The 31St Of December, 1775, Before

Daylight, In The Midst Of A Violent Snow-Storm. The New-York Troops

Were Commanded By General Montgomery, Who Advanced Along The St.

Lawrence, By The Way Of Aunce De Mere, Under Cape Diamond. The First

Barrier To Be Surmounted Was At The Pot Ash. In Front Of It Was A

Block-House And Picket, In Charge Of Some Canadians, Who, After Making

A Single Fire, Fled In Confusion. On Advancing To Force The Barrier,

An Accidental Discharge Of A Piece Of Artillery From The British

Battery, When The American Front Was Within Forty Paces Of It, Killed

General Montgomery, Captain Mcpherson, One Of His Aids, Captain

Cheeseman, And Every Other Person In Front, Except Captain Burr And A

French Guide. General Montgomery Was Within A Few Feet Of Captain

Burr; And Colonel Trumbull, In A Superb Painting Recently Executed By

Him, Descriptive Of The Assault Upon Quebec, Has Drawn The General

Falling In The Arms Of His Surviving Aid-De-Camp. Lieutenant Colonel

Campbell, Being The Senior Officer On The Ground, Assumed The Command,

And Ordered A Retreat.

Footnote Pg 51

 

 

 

1. Marshall'S Life Of Washington

Footnote Pg 52

 

 

 

2. Marshall'S Life Of Washington, Vol. I., P. 329.

Chapter VI Pg 52

 

 

 

To Evince The High Sense Entertained By His Country For The Services

Of General Montgomery, Congress Directed A Monument To Be Erected,

With An Inscription Sacred To His Memory.

Chapter VI Pg 53

They "_Resolved_, That, To

Express The Veneration Of The United Colonies For Their Late General,

Richard Montgomery, And The Deep Sense They Entertained Of The Many

Signal And Important Services Of That Gallant Officer, Who, After A

Series Of Successes, Amid The Most Discouraging Difficulties, Fell, At

Length, In A Gallant Attack Upon Quebec, The Capital Of Canada, And To

Transmit To Future Ages, As Examples Truly Worthy Of Imitation, His

Patriotism, Conduct, Boldness Of Enterprise, Insuperable Perseverance,

And Contempt Of Danger And Death, A Monument Be Procured From Paris,

Or Other Part Of France, With An Inscription Sacred To His Memory, And

Expressive Of His Amiable Character And Heroic Achievements; And That

The Continental Treasurer Be Directed To Advance A Sum, Not Exceeding

Three Hundred Pounds Sterling, To Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Who Is

Desired To See This Resolution Properly Executed, For Defraying The

Expenses Thereof."

 

 

This Resolve Was Carried Into Execution At Paris By That Ingenious

Artist, M. Caffieres, Sculptor To Louis Xvi., King Of France, Under

The Direction Of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. The Monument Is Of White

Marble, Of The Most Beautiful Simplicity And Inexpressible Elegance,

With Emblematical Devices, And The Following Truly Classical

Inscription, Worthy Of The Modest But Great Mind Of Franklin.

 

 

To The Glory Of

 

 

Richard Montgomery,

 

 

Major-General Of The Armies Of The

 

 

United States Of America,

 

 

Slain At The Siege Of Quebec,

 

 

The Thirty-First Of December, 1775,

 

 

Aged 38 Years.

 

 

This Monument Was Erected In Front Of St. Paul'S Church, In The City

Of New-York, In The Spring Of 1789.

 

 

General Arnold Temporarily Became Commander-In-Chief Of The American

Army Near Quebec, And Was Accordingly Removed To Headquarters. Young

Burr Was Now Called Upon To Perform The Duties Of Brigade Major.

Arnold'S Plan Was, By A Close Blockade, To Starve Out The Enemy; But,

From The Weakness Of His Force, He Soon Discovered That This Was

Impracticable; And He Knew That, On The Opening Of The Spring, He

Could Not Retain His Present Position, But Must Retreat. He Therefore

Resolved To Send In A Flag Of Truce, And Demand A Surrender.

Chapter VI Pg 54

He

Informed Captain Burr That He Was About To Send Him With A

Communication To General Carlton, The British Commander. Captain Burr

Required That He Should Be Made Acquainted With Its Contents. Arnold

Objected; Whereupon Burr Remarked That, If The General Wished It, He

Would Resign; But That He Could Not Consent To Be The Bearer Of The

Communication Without Possessing A Knowledge Of Its Character. At

Length, It Was Exhibited To Him. It Was Demanding A Surrender Of The

Fortress, But In Terms That Captain Burr Considered Unbecoming An

American Officer, And He So Stated To The General; Adding, That The

Bearer Of Such A Message, If He Were Permitted To Deliver It, Would Be

Treated By The British With Contumely And Contempt; And Therefore

Declined The Mission. Another Officer Was Selected, And Met The Fate

Burr Anticipated. Shortly After (April 1St, 1776), General Wooster

Arrived From Montreal And Took The Command. He Was Succeeded By

General Thomas About The 1St Of May; And, On The 5Th Of May, It Was

Determined In Council To Raise The Blockade Of Quebec, And That The

Sick And Wounded Should Be Immediately Removed, With The Artillery And

Stores, By Boats, To Three Rivers, Preparatory To A Retreat.

 

 

Burr'S Perseverance And Zeal During The March Through The Wilderness

With Arnold, His Subsequent Boldness In Joining Montgomery, And His

Intrepidity At The Assault On Quebec, Had Acquired For Him Great

Reputation In The Army, And Had Drawn Towards Him The Attention Of

Some Of The Most Distinguished Whigs In The United Provinces. From

Every Quarter He Received Highly Complimentary Letters. From A Few Of

Them Extracts Are Made. Colonel Antill, A Resident Of Montreal, Who

Had Joined The American Army, Thus Addresses Him, Five Days After The

Fall Of Montgomery:--

Chapter VI Pg 55

"La La Chine, 5Th January, 1776.

              

 

"Dear Burr,

 

 

"I Have Desired Mr. Price To Deliver You My Pistols, Which You Will

Keep Until I See You. They Are Relics From My Father'S Family, And

Therefore I Cannot Give Them To You. The General (Wooster) Has Thought

Proper To Send Me To The Congress, Where I Shall Have An Opportunity

Of Speaking Of You As You Deserve.

 

 

"Yours,

 

 

"Edward Antill."

Chapter VI Pg 56

On The 4Th Of January, General Wooster Writes From Montreal To General

Arnold:--

 

 

"Give My Love To Burr, And Desire Him To Remain With Colonel Clinton

For The Present. [1] Not Only Him, But All Those Brave Officers Who

Have So Nobly Distinguished Themselves. I Shall Ever Remember With

Gratitude And The Highest Degree Of Approbation, And Shall Not Fail To

Represent Them Accordingly.

 

 

"David Wooster."

Chapter VI (From A College-Chum Of Great Merit, He Received A Letter) Pg 57

 

 

 

"Philadelphia, January 24Th, 1776.

 

 

"Dear Burr,

 

 

"I Am Informed A Gentleman Is Just Setting Off For Quebec, And Snatch

The Opportunity Of At Once Condoling With You For The Loss Of Your

Brave General, And Congratulating You On The Credit You Have Gained In

That Action. 'Tis Said You Behaved Well--You Behaved Gallantly. I

Never Doubted But You Would Distinguish Yourself, And Your Praise Is

Now In Every Man'S Mouth. It Has Been My Theme Of Late. I Will Not Say

I Was Perfectly Disinterested In The Encomiums I Bestowed. You Were A

Son Of Nassau Hall, And Reflected Honour On The Place Of _My_

Education. You Were My Classmate And Friend, And Reflected Honour On

Me. I Make No Doubt But Your Promotion Will Be Taken Care Of. The

Gentlemen Of The Congress Speak Highly Of You.

 

 

"Your Affectionate,

 

 

"William Bradford, Jun."

Chapter VI (Judge Tappan Reeve Writes) Pg 58

 

 

 

"Stockbridge, January 27Th, 1776.

 

 

"Dear Burr,

 

 

"Amid The Lamentations Of A Country For The Loss Of A Brave,

Enterprising General, Your Escape From Such Imminent Danger, To Which

You Have Been Exposed, Has Afforded Us The Greatest Satisfaction. The

News Of The Unfortunate Attack Upon Quebec Arrived Among Us On The

13Th Of This Month. I Concealed It From Your Sister Until The 18Th,

When She Found It Out; But, In Less Than Half An Hour, I Received

Letters From Albany, Acquainting Me That You Were In Safety, And Had

Gained Great Honour By Your Intrepid Conduct. It Gave Us A Kind Of

Happiness That I Should Be Very Loath Ever Again To Enjoy; For It

Never Can Be The Case Until You Have Again Been Exposed To The Like

Danger, And Have Again Escaped It, Which I Hope May Never Happen. To

Know That You Were In Safety Gave Great Pleasure. It Was Heightened By

Hearing That Your Conduct Was Brave. Could You Have Been Crowned With

Success, It Would Have Been Complete.

 

 

"It Was Happy For Us That We Did Not Know That You Were An

Aid-De-Camp, Until We Heard Of Your Welfare; For We Heard That

Montgomery And His Aid-De-Camps Were Killed, Without Knowing Who His

Aid-De-Camps Were.

 

 

"Your Sister Enjoys A Middling State Of Health. She Has Many Anxious

Hours Upon Your Account; But She Tells Me That, As She Believes You

May Serve Your Country In The Business In Which You Are Now Employed,

She Is Contented That You Should Remain In The Army. It Must Be An

Exalted Public Spirit That Could Produce Such An Effect Upon A Sister

As Affectionate As Yours.

 

 

"Adieu.

 

 

"T. Reeve."

Chapter VI (His Friend, Jonathan Bellamy, Writes) Pg 59

 

 

 

"My Very Dear Friend,

 

 

"Be You Yet Alive? I Have Been Infinitely Distressed For You; But I

Hope It Is Now As Safe With You As Glorious. Doctor Jim Cogswell Has

Left The Army. A Few Days Ago I Received A Letter From Him. 'I Doubt

Not,' He Says, 'You Have Most Sensible Pleasure In The Applauses

Bestowed On Our Friend Burr; When I Hear Of His Gallant Behaviour, I

Feel Exquisite Delight.'

 

 

"Curse On This Vile Distance Between Us. I Am Restless To Tell You

Every Thing; But Uncertainty Whether You Would Ever Hear It Bids Me Be

Silent, Till, In Some Future Happy Meeting, I May Hold You To My

Bosom, And Impart To You Every Emotion Of My Heart.

 

 

"Yours Sincerely,

 

 

"Jona. Bellamy."

Chapter VI (His Friend, Jonathan Bellamy, Writes) Pg 60

Immediately After The Repulse Of The Americans At Quebec, His Friend

Ogden Returned To New-Jersey, But Spent Much Of His Time With The Army

In The City Of New-York. He Writes To Burr, Dated

 

 

New-York, 20Th March, 1776.

 

 

Some Weeks Have Elapsed Since I Saw Walker And Price. To-Day I Met

With Hopkins At This Place. My First Inquiry Was For Letters From You.

I Mean Not To Upbraid You. This Is The Third Time Of My Writing Since

I Left You. I Shall Continue It, With The Hope Of Giving You Some

Small Satisfaction. Miss Dayton Is Well, And Will Soon Be Mine. Barber

Is Appointed Major In The Third Jersey Battalion, Of Which Dayton Is

Colonel, And Walton White Lieutenant-Colonel. Hancock Was Particular

In His Inquiry After You, And Was Disappointed In Not Receiving A Line

From You. I Was Kindly Received On My Arrival At Philadelphia. The

Congress Have Since Appointed Me Lieutenant-Colonel In The First

Jersey Battalion, In The Room Of Lieutenant-Colonel Winds, Who Has The

Regiment In The Stead Of Lord Stirling, Who Is Advanced To A

Brigadier-General.

 

 

Colonel Allen, Who Hands You This, Is Much Of A Gentleman, And Worthy

Your Attention. Melcher Has Hobbled Himself. Inquire Of Colonel Allen.

General Thompson Commands. To-Morrow My Appointment Will Be Announced

In General Orders, Whereupon I Shall Join My Regiment, But Shall

Obtain Leave Of Absence For A Week Or Two. Elizabethtown Swarms With

Girls, Among Which Is Miss Noel. I Have Not Seen Miss Ricketts.

 

 

When I Was In Philadelphia, Colonel Reed Expressed A Desire Of Serving

Me. He Said There Was A Vacancy In General Washington'S Family, And

Doubted Not His Recommendation Would Procure It For Me. I Declined It,

Hoping To Get A More Active Office, But Desired He Would Procure It

For You. If Any Thing Offers At Quebec, Accept It, As It Will Not

Hinder Your Appointment Here. Washington Is Expected In New-York, When

I Shall Have A Better Chance Of Bringing It About. The Pay And Rank

Are Equal To A Full Major. I Shall Write You By Price. Miss Dayton Is

Particular In Her Inquiries After You.

 

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

 

Matt. Ogden.

Chapter VI (His Friend, Jonathan Bellamy, Writes) Pg 61

In The Spring Of 1776, The Army Moved From Montreal To The Mouth Of

The Sorel. Major Burr Yet Remained With It. While At Montreal, He

Became Disgusted With General Arnold, On Account Of His Meanness And

Other Bad Qualities. On The March Through The Wilderness, He Was Far

From Being Satisfied With The General. Burr Thought He Provided Too

Carefully For Himself; And That He Did Not Sufficiently Share The

Fatigues And Privations Of The March In Common With The Troops.

Immediately After Arriving At The Sorel, He Informed The General Of

His Desire To Visit His Friends, And To Ascertain What Was Doing, As

He Wished More Active Employment. General Arnold Objected Somewhat

Petulantly. Burr Remarked Courteously, But Firmly, "Sir, I Have A Boat

In Readiness. I Have Employed Four Discharged Soldiers To Row Me, And

I Start To-Morrow Morning At Six O'Clock." He Then Designated The

Point At Which He Should Embark. Arnold Forbade His Departure,

Whereupon Burr Reiterated His Determination.

 

 

The Next Morning, At The Specified Hour, He Repaired To His Boat, And

Shortly After Discovered The General Approaching. "Why, Major Burr,"

Says He, "You Are Not Going?"--"I Am, Sir," Replied The Major. "But

You Know, Sir, It Is Contrary To My Wish And Against My Orders."--"I

Know, Sir, That You Have The _Power_ Of Stopping Me, But Nothing Short

Of Force Shall Do It." The General Then Changed His Tone And Manner,

And Endeavoured To Dissuade; But, After A Few Minutes' Conversation,

Burr Wished Him Great Success, Then Embarked, And Took His Departure

Without Interruption.

 

 

On The Sorel An Incident Occurred Which Gave Some Alarm To The

Voyagers. Burr Had Taken Into His Boat, As A Kind Of Companion, A

Young Merchant. On The Borders Of The River They Suddenly Discovered A

Large Brick House, With Wings, Having Loopholes To Fire Through, And

In View, At The Door, Stood An Indian Warrior, In Full Costume. The

Oarsmen Were For Attempting To Retreat. Burr Said It Was Too Late, As

They Were Within The Reach Of The Indians' Rifles. The Passenger Was

About To Stop The Men From Rowing, When Burr Threatened To Shoot Him

If He Interfered. The Inquiry Was Then Made--"What Are We To Do?" The

Major Replied, "Row For The Shore And Land; I Will Go Up To The House,

And We Shall Soon Learn What They Are." By This Time Several Other

Indians Had Made Their Appearance. On Reaching The Shore, Burr Took

His Sword And Proceeded To Meet The Red Men. An Explanation Ensued,

And It Was Ascertained That They Were Friendly. The Stores Were Landed

From The Boat, And A Merrimaking Followed.

Chapter VI (His Friend, Jonathan Bellamy, Writes) Pg 62

Major Burr Continued His Route To Albany. On His Arrival, And While

There, He Was Notified Verbally That It Would Be Agreeable To The

Commander-In-Chief (General Washington) That He Should Visit New-York.

He Forthwith Proceeded Down The River, And Arrived In The City About

The 20Th Of May, 1776. He Immediately Reported Himself To The

Commander-In-Chief, Who Invited Him To Join His Family At Headquarters

Until He Received A Satisfactory Appointment. The Quarters Of General

Washington Were At That Time In The House Subsequently Owned By

Colonel Burr, And Known As Richmond Hill. This Invitation Was

Accepted, And Major Burr Occasionally Rode Out With The General, But

Very Soon Became Restless And Dissatisfied. He Wrote To John Hancock,

Then President Of Congress, And Who Had Been An Intimate Friend Of His

Father, That He Was Disgusted, And Inclined To Retire From The

Service. Governor Hancock Objected, And Asked Him Whether He Would

Accept The Appointment Of Aid-De-Camp To Major-General Putnam, Then In

Command In The City Of New-York. Burr Consented, And Removed From The

Headquarters Of The Commander-In-Chief To Those Of Major-General

Putnam. About This Period Burr Received A Letter From His Friend, Now

Lieutenant-Colonel M. Ogden, Who Had Proceeded To The North With His

Regiment. He Writes,

Chapter VI (His Friend, Jonathan Bellamy, Writes) Pg 63

Fort George, 5Th June, 1776.

 

 

Dear Burr,

 

 

I This Evening Experienced The Greatest Disappointment I Have Met With

Since My Memory. I Yesterday Saw Mr. Price; He Informed Me That You

Were On Your Way, In Company With The Commissioners, Who, I Was This

Day Informed, Were Coming By The Way Of Skeenesborough. I Altered My

Course, And Went That Way, Till I Met Them On The Road. They Informed

Me You Were Coming By Lake George. I Then Turned About, Very Much

Afraid You Would Pass Me Before I Came Into The Lake Road. But What

Necessity For Enumerating All These Circumstances? I Have Missed You.

D--N The Luck. I Never So Much Desired, Nor Had Occasion So Much For

An Interview. I Have Not Received A Single Line From You Since I Left

Canada. Perhaps You Have Not Written, Or Perhaps They Have Miscarried.

If They Have Miscarried, Withered Be The Hand That Held Them Back.

Tell Me You Omitted Through Carelessness, Neglect, Hurry Of Business,

Or Any Thing, Rather Than Want Of Friendship.

 

 

_General Washington Desired Me To Inform You That He Will Provide For

You, And That He Expects You Will Come To Him Immediately, And Stay In

His Family._ I Should Have Acquainted You Of This By Letter, Had I Not

Expected To Have Seen You. You Will Now Want Your Horse. I Have Sold

Him, And Spent The Money, And Expect I Shall Not Be Able To Refund It

Until My Return.

 

 

I Am, If I Ever Was,

 

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

 

Matthias Ogden.

Chapter VI (His Friend, Jonathan Bellamy, Writes) Pg 64

Before The Preceding Letter Was Received By Major Burr, He Felt Piqued

At What He Supposed The Coldness And Neglect Of His Friend Ogden, And,

Under The Influence Of Such Feelings, Wrote The Following:--

 

 

New-York, New-York, 18Th Jane, 1776,

 

 

Dear Ogden,

 

 

A Correspondence, Which I Flattered Myself In Former Times Was

Mutually Agreeable, Has Of Late Somehow Strangely Found An End. You

May Remember, When You Left Canada, I Engaged To Answer Your First

Letter Immediately, And To Continue Writing From That Time, By Every

Opportunity, As Usual. I Concluded Your Letters Must Have Miscarried,

And Wrote You A Line By Mr. Avery. I Had No Direct Intelligence From

You, Till A Verbal Message By Mr. Duggan, The Beginning Of May. A Few

Days After, I Received A Letter From _Colonel Ogden_ By _Colonel

Allen_. I Should Have Answered It, But Had Determined To Visit My

Native Colony, And Expected, By Personal Interview, To Answer Purposes

Which I Scarce Hoped The Cold Medium Of Ink And Paper Could Effect.

 

 

That I Unfortunately Missed You On My Way Hither, I Need Not Relate.

At Albany I First Heard You Had Passed Me. I Was Upon The Point Of

Following You; But The Character Of Troublesome Fool Struck Me In So

Disagreeable A Light, That, In Spite Of Myself, I Continued My

Journey.

 

 

There Is In Man A Certain Love Of Novelty; A Fondness Of Variety

(Useful, Indeed, Within Proper Limits), Which Influences More Or Less

In Almost Every Act Of Life. New Views, New Laws, New _Friends_, Have

Each Their Charm. Truly Great Must Be The Soul, And Firm Almost Beyond

The Weakness Of Humanity, That Can Withstand The Smiles Of Fortune.

Success, Promotion, The Caresses Of The Great, And The Flatteries Of

The Low, Are Sometimes Fatal To The Noblest Minds. The Volatile Become

An Easy Prey. The Fickle Heart, Tiptoe With Joy, As From An Eminence,

Views With Contempt Its Former Joys, Connexions, And Pursuits. A New

Taste Contracted, Seeks Companions Suited To Itself. But Pleasures

Easiest Tasted, Though Perhaps At First Of Higher Glee, Are Soonest

Past, And, The More They Are Relied Upon, Leave The Severer Sting

Behind. One Cloudy Day Despoils The Glow-Worm Of All Its Glitter.

 

 

Should Fortune Ever Frown Upon You, Matt.; Should Those You Now Call

Friends Forsake You; Should The Clouds Gather Force On Every Side, And

Threaten To Burst Upon You, Think Then Upon The Man Who Never Betrayed

You; Rely On The Sincerity You Never Found To Fail; And If My Heart,

My Life, Or My Fortune Can Assist You, It Is Yours.

 

 

I Go To-Morrow To Elizabethtown, Where I Shall See The Best Of

Women--Your Wife. Whatever Letters Or Commands She May Have For You, I

Shall Be Careful To Forward By The Safest Hands.

 

 

Your Friend,

 

 

Aaron Burr.

Chapter VI (His Friend, Jonathan Bellamy, Writes) Pg 65

In The Beginning Of July, 1776, Major Burr Was Appointed Aid-De-Camp

To General Putnam. At This Time The Headquarters Of The General Were

In The Large Brick House, Yet Standing, At The Corner Of Broadway And

The Battery. Burr Continued Occasionally To Correspond With His

Friends, But Was Much Occupied With His Military Duties, And Those

Studies Which Were Calculated To Render Him Scientifically Master Of

His Profession. During The Short Period That He Remained In The Family

Of General Washington, He Was Treated With Respect And Attention; But

Soon Perceived, As He Thought, An Unwillingness To Afford That

Information, And Those Technical Explanations Of Great Historical

Military Movements, Which An Inquiring And Enlightened Mind, Like

Burr'S, Sought With Avidity And Perseverance. He Therefore Became

Apprehensive, If He Remained With The Commander-In-Chief, That,

Instead Of Becoming A Scientific Soldier, He Should Dwindle Down Into

A Practical Clerk--A Species Of Drudgery To Which His Pecuniary

Circumstances Did Not Render It Necessary For Him To Submit, And For

Which Neither His Habits, His Education, Nor His Temperament In Any

Degree Qualified Him. He Therefore Determined Promptly On A Change,

And Was Willing To Enter The Family Of Major-General Putnam, Because

He Would There Enjoy The Opportunities For Study, And The Duties Which

He Would Be Required To Perform Would Be Strictly Military. There Is

No Doubt The Short Residence Of Major Burr With General Washington

Laid The Foundation For Those Prejudices Which, At A Future Day,

Ripened Into Hostile Feelings On Both Sides.

Chapter VI (Judge Paterson Thus Writes Him) Pg 66

 

 

 

New-Brunswick, July 22D, 1776.

 

 

My Dear Burr,

 

 

I Did Myself The Pleasure Of Writing You By My Brother, Who Is In

General Sullivan'S Brigade, And Who Was In Expectation Of Seeing You,

As He Was Destined For The Canada Department. Indeed, From The

Friendship Which Subsisted Between Us, I Was In Expectation Of Hearing

Frequently From You, And, To Tell The Truth, Was Not A Little

Mortified That I Was Passed Over In Silence. Why, Burr, All This

Negligence? I Dare Not Call It Forgetfullness, For I Cannot Bear The

Thought Of Giving Up My Place In Your Esteem. I Rejoice At Your

Return, And Congratulate You On Your Promotion. I Was Attending The

Convention At Burlington When You Passed On To Philadelphia, And Was

Full Of The Pleasing Hope Of Having An Interview With You. The

Delaware, Indeed, Ran Between Us--A Mighty Obstacle, To Be Sure! I

Inquired When You Designed To Return, That I Might Plant Myself At

Bristol, And Intercept You On Your Way. The Inquiry Was Of No Avail. I

Have At Times Been Violently Tempted To Write You A Railing Letter,

And For That Purpose Have More Than Once Taken Up The Pen. But I Can

Hardly Tell How, On Such Occasions, The Genius Of Friendship Would

Rise Up To View, And Soften Me Down Into All The Tenderness Of

Affectionate Sorrow--Perhaps Because I Counted You As Lost. I Find I

Must E'En Forgive You--But, Remember, You Must Behave Better In

Future. Do Write Me Now And Then. Your Letters Will Give Me Unfeigned

Pleasure, And, For Your Encouragement, I Promise To Be A Faithful

Correspondent. In The Letter-Way You Used To Be Extremely Careless;

You Know I Am, In That Respect, Of A Different Turn.

 

 

This Will Be Handed You By Mr. Hugg And Mr. Leaming, Members Of Our

Convention, Whom Curiosity Partly, And Partly Business, Have Impelled

To New-York. As Men, They Are Genteel, Sensible, And Deserving. As

Politicians, They Are Worthy Of Your Regard, For They Possess The

Genuine Spirit Of Whiggism. They Have No Acquaintance In York. They

Are Desirous Of Seeing The Fortifications, And Other Things In The

Military Line. Pray Take Them By The Hand; And Be Assured 'That Any

Kindness Shown Them Will Be Acknowledged As An Additional Obligation

Conferred Upon

 

 

Your Affectionate

 

 

Wm. Paterson.

Chapter VI (A. Burr Replies To This Letter) Pg 67

 

 

 

New-York, July 26Th, 1776.

 

 

My Dear Paterson,

 

 

I This Day Received Your Kind Letter. It Gave Me A Pleasure I Seldom

Experience. Can It Be That You Have Still In Memory The Vagrant Burr?

Some Fatality Has Ever Attended Our Endeavours To Meet. Why I Have Not

Written To You I Cannot Tell. It Has Not Been For Want Of Friendship,

Of Inclination, Or Always Of Opportunity; But Some Unavoidable

Accidents Prevented So Long, That I Began To Fear A Letter From Me

Must Be Ushered In By Some Previous Introduction, Some Anecdotes Of

The Writer, Which Might Renew Your Remembrance, And Authorize A

Freedom Of This Nature. But Your Frank And Kind Epistle Precludes

Fulsome Apologies, Which; Though Sometimes Necessary, I Esteem, At

Best, But A Drug In Letters.

 

 

I Am Exceedingly Pleased With Your Friends, Messrs. Hugg And Learning,

But Was Unfortunate Enough To Be From Home The Day They Came In Town,

And Had Not The Pleasure Of Seeing Them Till This Afternoon. I Felt

Myself So Nearly Interested In The Welfare Of The Province Whose

Constitution You Are Now Framing, That I Did Not Urge Their Stay With

The Warmth My Inclination Prompted. If Any Other Of Our Jersey Friends

Should Be Coming This Way, I Should Be Happy In Showing Them Every

Civility In My Power.

 

 

As To Promises Of Writing, I Shall Make You None, My Dear Bill, Till

Those Already On Hand, And Of Long Standing, Are Discharged. I Am No

Epistolary Politician Or Newsmonger; And As To Sentiments, A Variety

Of Novelties And Follies Has Entirely Dissipated Them. This, However,

Is Only A New Apology For An Old Misfortune. But Why This To You, Who

Know Me Better Than I Know Myself? This Epistolary Chat, Though

Agreeable, Is By No Means Satisfactory. The Sincerity Of My

Long-Smothered Affections Is Not To Be Thus Expressed. I Must Contrive

To Shake You By The Hand. Perhaps I May, Ere Long, Be Sent To

Elizabethtown Or Amboy On Business, And Will, Undoubtedly, Take

Brunswick In My Way. I Have, Or Had Once, An Agreeable Female

Acquaintance With Miss S. D., Now Mrs. S., And With Miss S. Was On

Tolerable Terms Of Intimacy. Could I But Reconnoitre A While, And Find

How The Land Lay, I Might, Perhaps, Be Able To Graduate My Compliments

With Some Propriety, From Cold Respects To Affectionate Regards. I

Think I Must Leave You Discretionary Orders On This Head, Begging You

To Make Use Of All The Policy Of War. There Is No Knowing Of What

Importance It May Be To

 

 

Your Affectionate

 

 

A. Burr.

Footnote Pg 68

 

 

 

1. James Clinton, Afterwards General, Brother Of Governor George

Clinton.

Chapter VII Pg 69

 

 

 

From The Year 1780 Until The Year 1795, Mrs. Margaret Coghlan Made No

Inconsiderable Noise In The Court And Fashionable Circles Of Great

Britain And France. She Was The Theme Of Conversation Among The Lords,

And The Dukes, And The M. P.'S. Having Become The Victim, In Early

Life, Of Licentious, Dissolute, And Extravagant Conduct, Alternately

She Was Revelling In Wealth, And Then Sunken In Poverty. At Length, In

1793, She Published Her Own Memoirs. Mrs. Coghlan Was The Daughter Of

Major Moncrieffe, Of The British Army. He Was Lord Cornwallis'S

Brigade Major. Her Father Had Three Wives. She Was A Daughter Of The

First Wife. His Second Wife Was Miss L*********, Of New-York, And His

Third Wife Miss J**, Of New-York. Mrs. Coghlan Is Introduced Here,

Because Her Early History Is Intimately Connected With The Subject Of

These Memoirs.

 

 

In July, 1776, She Resided In Elizabethtown, New-Jersey. Her Father

Was With Lord Percy On Staten Island. In Her Memoirs, Speaking Of

Herself, She Says:--"Thus Destitute Of Friends, I Wrote To General

Putnam, Who Instantly Answered My Letter By A Very Kind Invitation To

His House, Assuring Me That He Respected My Father, And Was Only His

Enemy In The Field Of Battle; But That, In Private Life, He Himself,

Or Any Part Of His Family, Might Always Command His Services. On The

Next Day He Sent Colonel Webb, One Of His Aid-De-Camps, To Conduct Me

To New-York. When I Arrived In The Broadway (A Street So Called),

Where General Putnam Resided, I Was Received With Great Tenderness,

Both By Mrs. Putnam And Her Daughters, And On The Following Day I Was

Introduced By Them To General And Mrs. Washington, Who Likewise Made

It Their Study To Show Me Every Mark Of Regard; But I Seldom Was

Allowed To Be Alone, Although Sometimes, Indeed, I Found An

Opportunity To Escape To The Gallery On The Top Of The House, Where My

Chief Delight Was To View, With A Telescope, Our Fleet And Army At

Staten Island. My Amusements Were Few;

Chapter VII Pg 70

The Good Mrs. Putnam Employed

Me And Her Daughters Constantly To Spin Flax For Shirts For The

American Soldiers; Indolence, In America, Being Totally Discouraged;

And I Likewise Worked Some For General Putnam, Who, Though Not An

Accomplished _Muscadin_, Like Our Dilletantis Of St. James'S-Street,

Was Certainly One Of The Best Characters In The World; His Heart Being

Composed Of Those Noble Materials Which Equally Command Respect And

Admiration. * * * * * *

 

 

"Not Long After This Circumstance, A Flag Of Truce Arrived From Staten

Island, With Letters From Major Moncrieffe, Demanding Me; For He Now

Considered Me As A Prisoner. General Washington Would Not Acquiesce In

This Demand, Saying That I Should Remain A Hostage For My Father'S

Good Behaviour. I Must Here Observe, That When General Washington

Refused To Deliver Me Up, The Noble-Minded Putnam, As If It Were By

Instinct, Laid His Hand On His Sword, And With A Violent Oath Swore

That My Father'S Request Should Be Granted. The Commander-In-Chief,

Whose Influence Governed Congress, Soon Prevailed On Them To Consider

Me As A Person Whose Situation Required Their Strict Attention; And

That I Might Not Escape They Ordered Me To Kingsbridge, Where, In

Justice I Must Say, That I Was Treated With The Utmost Tenderness.

General Mifflin There Commanded. His Lady Was A Most Accomplished,

Beautiful Woman; A Quaker," &C.

 

 

Mrs. Coghlan Then Bursts Forth In Expressions Of Rapture For A Young

American Officer, With Whom She Had Become Enamoured. She Does Not

Name Him; But That Officer Was Major Burr. "May These Pages" (She

Says) "One Day Meet The Eye Of Him Who Subdued My Virgin Heart. * * *

* * To Him I Plighted My Virgin Vow. * * * * * * With This Conqueror

Of My Soul, How Happy Should I Now Have Been! What Storms And Tempests

Should I Have Avoided" (At Least I Am Pleased To Think So) "If I Had

Been Allowed To Follow The Bent Of My Inclinations. Ten Thousand Times

Happier Should I Have Been With Him In The Wildest Desert Of Our

Native Country, The Woods Affording Us Our Only Shelter, And Their

Fruits Our Only Repast, Than Under The Canopy Of Costly State, With

All The Refinements Of Courts, With The Royal Warrior" (The Duke Of

York) "Who Would Fain Have Proved Himself The Conqueror Of France. _My

Conqueror_ Was Engaged In Another Cause; He Was Ambitious To Obtain

Other Laurels. He Fought To Liberate, Not To Enslave Nations. He Was A

Colonel In The American Army, And High In The Estimation Of His

Country. _His_ Victories Were Never Accompanied With One Gloomy,

Relenting Thought. They Shone As Bright As The Cause Which Achieved

Them."

Chapter VII (The Letter From General Putnam) Pg 71

 

 

 

The Letter From General Putnam Of Which Mrs. Coghlan Speaks Is Found

Among The Papers Of Colonel Burr, And Is In The Following Words:--

 

 

New-York, July 26Th, 1776.

 

 

I Should Have Answered Your Letter Sooner, But Had It Not In My Power

To Write You Any Thing Satisfactory.

 

 

The Omission Of My Title, In Major Moncrieffe'S Letter, Is A Matter I

Regard Not In The Least; Nor Does It In Any Way Influence My Conduct

In This Affair; As You Seem To Imagine. Any Political Difference

Alters Him Not To Me In A Private Capacity. As An Officer, He Is My

Enemy, And Obliged To Act As Such, Be His Private Sentiments What They

Will. As A Man, I Owe Him No Enmity; But, Far From It, Will, With

Pleasure, Do Any Kind Office In My Power For Him Or Any Of His

Connexions.

 

 

I Have, Agreeably To Your Desire, Waited On His Excellency To

Endeavour To Obtain Permission For You To Go To Staten Island. He

Informs Me That Lieutenant-Colonel Patterson, Who Came With The Last

Flag, Said He Was Empowered To Offer The Exchange Of ----- ----- For

Governor Skeene. As The Congress Have Reserved To Themselves The Right

Of Exchanging Prisoners, The General Has Sent To Know Their Pleasure,

And Doubts Not They Will Give Their Consent. I Am Desired To Inform

You, That If This Exchange Is Made, You Will Have Liberty To Pass Out

With Governor Skeene; But That No Flag Will Be Sent Solely For That

Purpose.

 

 

Major William Livingston Was Lately Here, And Informed Me That You Had

An Inclination To Live In This City, And That All The Ladies Of Your

Acquaintance Having Left Town, And Mrs. Putnam And Two Daughters Being

Here, Proposed Your Staying With Them. If Agreeable To You, Be

Assured, Miss, You Shall Be Sincerely Welcome. You Will Here, I Think,

Be In A More Probable Way Of Accomplishing The End You Wish--That Of

Seeing Your Father, And May Depend Upon Every Civility From,

 

 

Miss,

 

 

Your Obedient Servant,

 

 

Israel Putnam.

Chapter VII (The Letter From General Putnam) Pg 72

This Letter Is In The Handwriting Of Major Burr, And Undoubtedly Was

Prepared By Him For The Signature Of The General. Miss Moncrieffe Was,

At This Time, In Her Fourteenth Year. She Had Travelled, And, For One

Of Her Age, Had Mingled Much In The World. She Was Accomplished, And

Was Considered Handsome. Major Burr Was Attracted By Her Sprightliness

And Vivacity, And She, According To Her Own Confessions, Penned Nearly

Twenty Years Afterward, Had Not Only Become Violently In Love With,

But Had Acknowledged The Fact To Him. Whether The Foundation Of Her

Future Misfortunes Was Now Laid, It Is Not Necessary To Inquire. Her

Indiscretion Was Evident, While Major Burr'S Propensity For Intrigue

Was Already Well Known.

 

 

Burr Perceived Immediately That She Was An Extraordinary Young Woman.

Eccentric And Volatile, But Endowed With Talents, Natural As Well As

Acquired, Of A Peculiar Character. Residing In The Family Of General

Putnam With Her, And Enjoying The Opportunity Of A Close And Intimate

Intercourse, At All Times And On All Occasions, He Was Enabled To

Judge Of Her Qualifications, And Came To The Conclusion,

Notwithstanding Her Youth, That She Was Well Calculated For A Spy, And

Thought It Not Improbable That She Might Be Employed In That Capacity

By The British. Major Burr Suggested His Suspicions To General Putnam,

And Recommended That She Be Conveyed To Her Friends As Soon As Might

Be Convenient. She Was, In Consequence, Soon After Removed To

Kingsbridge, Where General Mifflin Commanded. This Change Of

Situation, In The Work Which She Has Published, Is Ascribed To General

Washington, But It Originated With Major Burr.

 

 

After A Short Residence At Kingsbridge, Leave Was Granted For Her

Departure To Staten Island. She Accordingly Set Off In A Continental

Barge, Under The Escort Of An American Officer, Who Was Ordered To

Accompany Her To The British Headquarters. As The Boat Approached The

English Fleet, She Was Met By Another, Having On Board A British

Officer, And Was Notified That She Could Proceed No Further, But That

The King'S Officer Would Take Charge Of The Young Lady, And Convey Her

In Safety To Her Father, Who Was Six Or Eight Miles In The Country

With Lord Percy. She Says, In Her Memoirs, "I Then Entered The British

Barge, And Bidding An Eternal Farewell To My Dear American Friends,

_Turned My Back On Liberty_."

 

 

Miss Moncrieffe, Before She Had Reached Her Fourteenth Year, Was

Probably The Victim Of Seduction. The Language Of Her Memoirs, When

Taken In Connexion With Her Deportment Soon After Her Marriage, Leaves

But Little Room For Doubt. Major Burr, While Yet At College, Had

Acquired A Reputation For Gallantry. On This Point He Was Excessively

Vain, And Regardless Of All Those Ties Which Ought To Control An

Honourable Mind. In His Intercourse With Females He Was An

Unprincipled Flatterer, Ever Prepared To Take Advantage Of Their

Weakness, Their Credulity, Or Their Confidence. She That Confided In

Him Was Lost. In Referring To This Subject, No Terms Of Condemnation

Would Be Too Strong To Apply To Colonel Burr.

 

 

It Is Truly Surprising How Any Individual Could Have Become So Eminent

As A Soldier, As A Statesman, And As A Professional Man, Who Devoted

So Much Time To The Other Sex As Was Devoted By Colonel Burr.

Chapter VII (The Letter From General Putnam) Pg 73

For More

Than Half A Century Of His Life They Seemed To Absorb His Whole

Thoughts. His Intrigues Were Without Number. His Conduct Most

Licentious. The Sacred Bonds Of Friendship Were Unhesitatingly

Violated When They Operated As Barriers To The Indulgence Of His

Passions. For A Long Period Of Time He Seemed To Be Gathering, And

Carefully Preserving, Every Line Written To Him By Any Female, Whether

With Or Without Reputation; And, When Obtained, They Were Cast Into

One Common Receptacle,--The Profligate And Corrupt, By The Side Of The

Thoughtless And Betrayed Victim. All Were Held As Trophies Of

Victory,--All Esteemed Alike Valuable. How Shocking To The Man Of

Sensibility! How Mortifying And Heart-Sickening To The Intellectual,

The Artless, The Fallen Fair!

 

 

Among These Manuscripts Were Many The Production Of Highly Cultivated

Minds. They Were Calculated To Excite The Sympathy Of The Brother--The

Parent--The Husband. They Were, Indeed, Testimonials Of The Weakness

Of The Weaker Sex, Even Where Genius And Learning Would Seem To Be

Towering Above The Arts Of The Seducer. Why They Were Thus Carefully

Preserved, Is Left To Conjecture. Can It Be True That Moore Is

Correct, When, In His Life Of Lord Byron, He Says, "The Allusions

Which He (Byron) Makes To Instances Of _Successful Passion_ In His

Career, Were Not Without Their Influence On The Fancies Of That Sex,

Whose Weakness It Is To Be Most Easily Won By Those Who Come

Recommended By The Greatest Number Of Triumphs Over Others? Some Of

These Productions Had Been Penned More Than Sixty Years. They Were All

Committed To The Flames, However, Immediately After The Decease Of

Colonel Burr. Of Them, It Is Believed, "Not A Wreck Remains."

 

 

The Faithful Biographer Could Not Pass Over In Silence This Strong And

Revolting Trait In The Character Of Colonel Burr. It Will Not Again Be

Referred To. From Details, The Moralist And The Good Man Must Shrink

With Disgust And Abhorrence. In This Particular, Burr Appears To Have

Been Unfeeling And Heartless. And Yet, By A Fascinating Power Almost

Peculiar To Himself, He So Managed As To Retain The Affection, In Some

Instances, The Devotion, Of His Deluded Victims. In Every Other

Respect He Was Kind And Charitable. No Man Would Go Farther To

Alleviate The Sufferings Of Another. No Man Was More Benevolent. No

Man Would Make Greater Sacrifices To Promote The Interest Or The

Happiness Of A Friend. How Strange, How Inconsistent, How Conflicting

Are These Allusions! They Are Nevertheless Strictly True.

 

 

Many Of The Letters To And From Colonel Burr Contain Hints And

Opinions As To Public Men And Measures. Thus Far, They Are Links In

The Chain Of History, In Relation To The Times When They Were Written.

They Serve, Also, To Illustrate The Character And The Principles Of

The Writers Themselves. With These Views They Are Occasionally

Selected. Theodore Sedgwick Is A Name Recorded In The Annals Of Our

Country With Distinction. He Writes To Burr:--

Chapter VII (He Writes To Burr) Pg 74

 

 

 

Sheffield, 7Th August, 1776.

 

 

My Dear Burr,

 

 

If You Remember, Some Months Since, You And I Mutually Engaged To

Correspond By Letter. I Told You Then That You Were Not To Expect Any

Thing Either Entertaining, Or In Any Degree Worth The Trouble Of

Perusing. What Can A Reasonable Being Expect From An Inhabitant Of

Such An Obscure, Remote, And Dead Place As Sheffield, To Amuse,

Instruct, Or Even To Merit The Attention Of A Young, Gay,

Enterprising, Martial Genius? I Know You Will Expect Nothing, And I

Dare Pledge My Honour, Therefore, That You Will Not, Either Now Or In

Future, In This Respect, Be Disappointed.

 

 

You Recollect, Perhaps, That When I Had The Pleasure To See You Here,

I Informed You Of A Design To Visit New-York And The Southward. Soon

After My Business Called Me To Boston, And, On My Return, I Was

Obliged To Go With The Militia To Peekskill; From There I Should Have

Visited The City And My Friends, Had Not Some Foolish Accidents

Prevented. I Now Think, As Soon As I Can Leave Home, Of Making A Tour;

But This, Like Other Futurities, Is Wholly Uncertain.

 

 

The Insignificant Figure I Make, In My Own Opinion, In This Day Of

Political And Martial Exertions, Is An Humbling Consideration. To Be

Stoically Indifferent To The Great Events That Are Now Unfolding, Is

Altogether Inconsistent, Not Only With My Inclination, But Even With

My Natural Constitution; And To Pursue A Line Of Conduct Which

Indicates Such A Disposition (I Mean My Continuance At Home), Is A

Mystery For Which I Will Endeavour To Account. Remember, I Do Not

Intend To Libel The Colony To Which I Belong.

 

 

Amid The Confusion Which Was At Once The Cause And Consequence Of A

Dissolution Of Government, Men'S Minds As Well As Actions Became

Regardless Of All Legal Restraint. All Power Reverted Into The Hands

Of The People, Who Were Determined That Every One Should Be Convinced

That _The People_ Were The Fountain Of All Honour. The First Thing

They Did Was To Withdraw All Confidence From Every One Who Had Ever

Any Connexion With Government. Lawyers Were, Almost Universally,

Represented As The Pests Of Society. All Persons Who Would Pay Court

To These Extravagant And Unreasonable Prejudices Became Their Idols.

Abilities Were Represented As Dangerous, And Learning As A Crime, Or

Rather, The Certain Forerunner Of All Political Extravagances. They

Really Demonstrated That They Were Possessed Of Creating Power; _For,

By The Word Of Their Power, They Created Great Men Out Of Nothing_;

But I Cannot Say _That All Was Very Well_.

 

 

Observing These Violent Symptoms, I Could Not Pursue That Which Was

The Only Road To Preferment; And I Have Never Had An Offer To Go Into

The Army, Except The One I Accepted; While I Have Seen, In More Than

One Instance, Men Honoured With The Command Of A Regiment For Heading

Mobs. Well: With This, I Believe, I Have Troubled You Long Enough.

Pray, Say You, What Is It To Me Why You Have Not Been In The Army?

Why, Nothing, My Dear Friend; But It Is Something To Me. You Know, My

Dear Burr, I Love You, Or I Should Not Submit Such Nonsense To Your

Perusal. If Mr. Swift Still Lives, Give Him My Best Compliments.

Pamela Desires Me To Tell You She Loves You. Answer This Letter, And

Thereby Oblige

 

 

Your Sincere Friend,

 

 

Theodore Sedgwich.

Chapter VII (He Writes To Burr) Pg 75

From Colonel M. Ogden.

 

 

Ticonderoga, July 26Th, 1776.

 

 

Dear Burr,

 

 

I Have Been Waiting With The Greatest Impatience To Know What Is Doing

In York And Jersey. There Are Twenty Different Reports, That

Contradict Each Other, Relative To Howe And His Fleet. It Has Once

Been Generally Believed That A French Fleet Had Arrived At New-York,

And Blocked Up The British Army. Independence Is Well Relished In This

Part Of The World. Generalship Is Now Dealt Out To The Army By Our

Worthy And Well-Esteemed General, Gates, Who Is Putting The Most

Disordered Army That Ever Bore The Name Into A State Of Regularity And

Defence. If Our Friends In Canada, Commanded By Burgoyne, Will Wait A

Few Days, We Shall Give Them A Very Proper Reception.

 

 

The Army Are Beginning To Recruit Fast, From The Effects Of A Little

Fresh Meat, And Some Rum, When On Fatigue. Ten Days Ago There Were Not

In Our Regiment Eighty Men Fit For Duty. We Have Now Upwards Of Two

Hundred And Thirty; And, In A Few Days, They Will Be All As Rugged As

New-Jersey Is Firm.

 

 

Colonel Winds Is Sent Home On A Fool'S Errand By The General, That He

May Be Out Of The Way Of Doing Any More Harm To The Regiment. The

General Assures Me That I Shall Not Be Troubled With Him Again. I

Suppose, By That, He Has Written To Have Him Detained Below. A Short

History Of This Man Will Convince You That He Ought To Be Nowhere But

On His Farm. He, In The First Place, Is A Professed Enemy To

Subordination, And Has An Utter Aversion To Discipline. He Is

Positive, And Prefers His Own Opinion To Even The General'S, Because

He Was In The Service Last War. He Is Not Possessed Of One

Qualification That Distinguishes A Gentleman, Nor Has He Genius Or

Education. His Whole Study Is To Gain The Applause Of The Private

Soldiers, At The Expense Of Every Officer In The Regiment. He Is Hated

By All His Own Officers Except _Two_, And Despised By Every Gentleman

In The Army.

 

 

We Are In Great Want Of Brigadier-Generals--Three, At Least. I Mean

For The Men That Are Now Here. General Arnold Will Command The

Water-Craft On The Lake In Person. There Are Three Brigades, Commanded

By The Colonels, Reed, Stark, And St. Clair. The Last Of These I

Sincerely Wish Was Appointed A Brigadier By Congress. There Is No

Better Man; The Other Two Have Full Enough Already.

 

 

Please To Forward The Enclosed, With The Letter To Mr. Spencer. My

Best Respects To Generals Putnam, Greene, And Mifflin, And To Colonel

Trumbull. Compliments To Webb. I Wait, With The Greatest Impatience,

Some Important News From New-York. Pray Write Particulars Relative To

The Conduct Of The Jerseymen. Should Any Fall, Mention Their Names.

 

 

I Am Yours Sincerely,

 

 

Matt. Ogden.

Chapter VII (He Writes To Burr) Pg 76

To T. Edwards.

 

 

New-York, 10Th Of August, 1776.

 

 

Dear Uncle,

 

 

I Have Received Your Letters From Stockbridge, With My Watch, For

Which I Thank You. Our Six Galleys Which Went Up The North River

Attacked The British Ships. They Behaved Well, But Were Drove Off With

The Loss Of Three Killed And Twelve Or Thirteen Wounded. A Second

Attack Is Proposed. Vessels And Chevaux-De-Frises Are Sunk In The

North River. The Channel Is Said To Be Effectually Stopped. We Are

Endeavouring The Same In The East River. The British Fleet Have Been

Largely Re-Enforced At Different Times. They Are Now Said To Be

Upwards Of Two Hundred Sail Within The Narrows. They Have Drawn Up

Seven Of Their Heaviest Ships In A Line, Nearly Two Miles Advanced Of

The Rest.

 

 

By Two Virginia Gentlemen Who Went To England To Take The Gown, Who

Returned In A Packet And Landed On Staten Island, Where They Tarried

Several Days, And Were Permitted To Cross To Elizabethtown On Thursday

Last, We Have Some Intelligence Of The Enemy. Clinton Has Arrived With

His Shattered Fleet And About 3600 Men. By This It Appears That He Has

Either Fallen In With Part Of Dunmore'S Fleet, Or Picked Up The

Remainder Of His Own, Which Had Been Separated, And Were Not In The

Action Near Charlestown. Of The Hessians Only 1300 Or 1400 Have

Arrived. The Remainder, About 9000, Are Daily Expected. They Were Left

Near The Banks Of Newfoundland. Those Already Here Are Not Much

Esteemed As Soldiers.

 

 

The King'S Land-Army Is At Present About 15 Or 16,000 Strong. They

Expect Very Soon To Exceed 25,000. They Have Taken On Board All Their

Heavy Cannon From Staten Island, And Have Called In Several Of Their

Outposts. Thirty Transports Have Sailed Under Convoy Of Three

Frigates. They Are To Come Through The Sound, And Thus Invest Us By

The North And East Rivers. They Are Then To Land On Both Sides Of The

Island, _Join Their Forces, And Draw A Line Across, Which Will Hem Us

In And Totally Cut Off All Communication, After Which They Will Have

Their Own Fun_.

 

 

These Virginia Gentlemen Lodged In A House With Several King'S

Officers. They Hold Us In The Utmost Contempt. Talk Of Forcing All Our

Lines Without Firing A Gun. The Bayonet Is Their Pride. They Have

Forgot Bunker'S Hill.

 

 

Your Nephew,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter VII (He Writes To Burr) Pg 77

From Colonel M. Ogden.

 

 

Ticonderoga, August 11Th, 1776.

 

 

Dear Burr,

 

 

I Yesterday Received Yours Of July 29Th And August 2D. The Others I

Made Mention Of In The Letter To Mrs. Ogden That I Sent To You

Unsealed. In My Last You Had A Very Particular Account Of The Numbers,

Force, Names, &C., Of Our Navy On The Lake. As To Our Leaving

Crownpoint For This Place, The Field-Officers Knew Nothing Of It Till

It Was Concluded On By The Generals, Schuyler, Gates, And Arnold.

 

 

General Arnold Is Taking A Very Active Part, I Mean In The Command Of

The Fleet. He Will Sail Himself In A Few Days. He Says He Will Pay A

Visit To St. Johns. I Wish He May Be As Prudent As He Is Brave. Well,

Now Have At You For News. Last Evening The Flag Of Truce Returned,

Bringing A Letter Directed To _George Washington, Esq_., And A Truly

Ridiculous Copy Of A General Order, Which You Will See At General

Washington'S By The Time You Receive This. But There Is One Part Of It

In Which I Think They, In Some Measure, Accuse Us Justly. I Mean That

Of Assassinating, As They Term It With Too Much Truth,

Brigadier-General Gordon. He Was Shot By The Whitcomb I Mentioned In

My Last, Who Had Been Sent There As A Spy. The Act, Though Villainous,

Was Brave, And A Peculiar Kind Of Bravery, That, I Believe, Whitcomb

Alone Is Possessed Of. He Shot Gordon Near By Their Advanced Sentinel;

And, Notwithstanding A Most Diligent Search Was Made, He Avoided Them

By Mere Dint Of Skulking.

 

 

I Shall Have The Honour To Command The New-Jersey Redoubt, Which I Am

Now Building With The Regiment Alone. It Is Situated On The Right Of

The Whole, By The Water'S Edge. It Is To Mount Two Eighteen-Pounders,

Two Twelve, And Four Nine-Pounders. In This I Expect To Do Honour To

New-Jersey. I Yesterday Received A Letter From Colonel Dayton, Dated

The 28Th Of July, At The German Flats. He Informs Me That He Is To

Take The Command At Fort Stanwix.

 

 

Should There Be Any Thing To Be Had In New-York In The Clothing Way,

Should Be Glad If You Will Lay Some Aside, No Matter What--Either

Small-Clothes, Shirts, Stockings, Or Any Thing Of The Kind. My Best

Compliments To General Putnam. If You Will Let Robert Or Sawyer Have

The Perusal Of This, They Would Learn The News Of This Army. Paper Is

So Scarce, That One Letter Must Serve Both, Unless Something

Particular.

 

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

 

Matt. Ogden.

Chapter VII Pg 78

At This Time Major-General Greene Had The Command On Long Island, But

His Health Was So Bad That It Became Necessary For Him To Resign It.

The Commander-In-Chief Ordered General Putnam To Assume The Command.

Major Burr Was His Aid-De-Camp. The Landing Of The British Had Been

Previously Effected On The 22D Of August, 1776, Without Opposition,

Near Utrecht And Gravesend, On The Southwest End Of The Island.

Chapter VII Pg 79

The

American Troops, Less Than 12,000, Were Encamped On The North Of

Brooklyn Heights. The British Force, Including Hessians, Was More Than

20,000 Strong. The Armies Were Separated By A Range Of Hills, At That

Time Covered With Wood, Called The Heights Of Gowannus. Major Burr

Immediately Commenced An Inspection Of The Troops, And Made To The

General A Most Unfavourable Report, Both As To Their Means Of Defence

And Their Discipline. The Major Proposed, However, Several Enterprises

For Beating Up The Quarters Of The Enemy. To All Which General Putnam

Replied, That His Orders Were Not To Make Any Attack, But To Act On

The Defensive Only.

 

 

On The 27Th The Action Was Fought. The Loss Of The Americans, In

Killed, Wounded, And Prisoners, Was About 1000. That Of The British,

Less Than 350. The Americans Were Driven Within The Works Which They

Had Thrown Up. Major Burr, Previous To The Action, Had Expressed To

General Putnam The Opinion That A Battle Ought Not To Be Risked; And

That Much Was To Be Gained By Placing The Troops In A Position Where

The Navy Of The Enemy Would Not Be So Serviceable To Them.

 

 

On The 28Th, The British Advanced In Column To Within 500 Or 600 Yards

Of The American Works. General Robinson, Who Commanded A Portion Of

The Enemy, Represents, In His Parliamentary Examination, That They

Approached Much Nearer. The American Troops Were Formed In Line To

Receive Them; But Gave Such Indications Of Alarm, That Major Burr Rode

To General Putnam, And Informed Him That He Had No Hope The Men Would

Stand More Than A Single Fire Before They Retreated. No Attack,

However, Was Made. Burr Continued To Urge Upon General Putnam And

Mifflin (The Latter Of Whom Came Over On That Day From New-York) The

Necessity Of A Retreat. During The Night Of The 28Th, General Mifflin

Went The Rounds, And Observed The Forwardness Of The Enemy'S

Batteries, And, On The Morning Of The 29Th, Pressed Upon General

Washington An Immediate Retreat. A Council Was Held, And The Opinion

Of Mifflin Unanimously Adopted. The Embarcation Of The Troops Was

Committed To General Mcdougall. He Was At Brooklyn Ferry By Eight

O'Clock. In The Early Part Of The Night, The Weather Was Very

Unfavourable; But About Eleven O'Clock Every Thing Was Propitious. A

Thick Fog Ensued, And Continued Until The Whole Army, 9000 In Number,

With All The Field Artillery, Ordnance, &C., Were Safely Landed In

New-York. Major Burr Was At Brooklyn. Here General Mcdougall Had An

Opportunity Of Noticing His Efficiency. His Reputation For Talents And

Intrepidity Had Previously Reached The Ears Of The General. From This

Night, The 29Th Of August, 1776, Until Major Burr Retired From The

Army, He Possessed The Entire Confidence And Esteem Of General

Mcdougall. Subsequent Events, As Will Hereafter Appear, Tended To

Strengthen And Confirm The Correctness Of Those Prepossessions, Thus

Formed In The Hour Of Peril, And In The Midst Of The Most Appalling

Dangers.

 

 

The Situation Of General Washington, After Retreating From Long

Island, Was Very Distressing. The Defeat Which The Americans Had

Experienced Produced Consternation And Alarm In The Ranks Of A Raw,

Inexperienced, And Undisciplined Army.

Chapter VII Pg 80

In Addition To Other

Discouraging Circumstances, Within A Few Days After The Retreat,

Nearly One Fourth Of The Troops Were On The Sick-List. Colonel Glover

Says That The Commander-In-Chief Divided His Army, Posting 12,000 At

Kingsbridge, 6500 At Harlem, And 4500 In The City Of New-York.

 

 

On Sunday, The 15Th Of September, 1776, General Howe, As

Commander-In-Chief Of The British Forces, Landed On Manhattan

(New-York) Island. General Washington Had Previously Made The

Necessary Arrangements, And Given Orders For The Troops To Evacuate

The City And Retire To Harlem, Distant About Seven Miles. The Descent

Of The British Created An Alarm In The American Ranks, And Produced No

Inconsiderable Degree Of Confusion In The Retreat. By Some

Unaccountable Mismanagement, General Silliman'S Brigade Was Left In

New-York, And Conducted By General Knox To A Small Fort Then In The

Suburbs, And Known As Bunker'S Hill. Major Burr Having Been

Despatched, At His Own Request, With A Few Dragoons, By General

Putnam, To Pick Up The Stragglers, Discovered The Error Which Had Been

Committed, And Galloping Up To The Fort, Inquired Who Commanded.

General Knox Presented Himself. Major Burr Desired Him To Retreat

Immediately, Or The Whole Brigade Would Be Cut Off And Sacrificed.

General Knox Replied, That A Retreat, Thus In The Face Of The Enemy,

Was Impracticable, And That He Intended To Defend The Fort. Burr

Remarked, That It Was Not Bomb-Proof; That It Was Destitute Of Water;

And That He Could Take It With A Single Howitzer; And Then, Addressing

Himself To The Men, Said, That If They Remained There, One Half Of

Them Would Be Killed Or Wounded, And The Other Half Hung, Like Dogs,

Before Night; But, If They Would Place Themselves Under His Command,

He Would Conduct Them In Safety To Harlem. Burr'S Character For

Intrepidity And Military Skill Was Already So Well Established, That

They Determined To Follow Him. In The Retreat They Had Some

Skirmishing, But Met With Very Little Loss In Effecting Their Union

With The Main Body Of The Army. The Following Documents, Furnished By

Officers In Silliman'S Brigade, Contain The Details.

Chapter VII (Samuel Rowland To Commodore Richard V. Morris. Fairfield, (Conn.)) Pg 81

29Th January, 1814.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

In Answer To The Inquiries Relating To The Evacuation Of New-York, In

1776, I Can Only Observe, But Few Persons Who Were Present, And

Eyewitnesses Of The Event, Are Now Living In This Part Of The Country.

I Find, However, The Rev. Doctor Ripley, A Gentleman Of Eminent

Respectability, And Messrs. Wakeman And Jennings, Respectable Citizens

Of This Town, Now Living, Who Belonged To The Brigade Of The Late

General Silliman, The Information Of Which Gentlemen On Any Subject

Can Be Relied On, And Will Be No Otherwise Than Correct, However

Prejudice Or Other Cause Might Occasion A Reluctance In Disclosing The

Information In Their Power To Give; Yet Duty Impelled Their Narrative,

And The Neglecting An Opportunity To Give Evidence Of Noble Acts And

Unrewarded Worth They Consider _Ingratitude_. In Preference To

Communicating To You By Way Of Letter Concerning Transactions Of So

Long Standing As The Year 1776, I Desired The Enclosed Certificates,

Which The Gentlemen Freely Gave, In Order To Prevent Any

Misconstruction By Passing Through A Second Hand, By Which You Will

Have More Correct Information Than Possibly In My Power To Give.

 

 

Very Respectfully Yours, &C.

 

 

Samuel Rowland.

Chapter VII (_Certificate Of The Rev. Hezekiah Ripley_) Pg 82

On Being Inquired Of By Samuel Rowland, Esq., Of Fairfield Town And

County, In The State Of Connecticut, Relative To My Knowledge And

Recollection Respecting The Merits Of Colonel Aaron Burr As An Officer

And Soldier In The Late Revolutionary War Between The United States

And Great Britain, Can Certify As Follows:--

 

 

Hezekiah Ripley, Of Said Fairfield, Doth Certify, That On Or About The

Fifteenth Day Of September, 1776, I Was The Officiating Chaplain Of

The Brigade Then Commanded By Gen. Gold S. Silliman. From

Mismanagement Of The Commanding Officer, That Brigade Was

Unfortunately Left In The City Of New-York, And At The Time Before

Mentioned. While The Brigade Was In Front, And Myself Considerably In

The Rear, I Was Met By The Late General Putnam, Deceased, Who Then

Informed Me Of The Landing Of The Enemy Above Us, And That I Must Make

My Escape On The West Side Of The Island. Whereupon I On Foot Crossed

The Lots To The West Side Of The Island, Unmolested Excepting By The

Fire From The Ships Of The British, Which At That Time Lay In The

North River. How The Brigade Escaped, I Was Not An Eyewitness; But

Well Recollect, From The Information I Then Had From General Chandler

(Now Deceased), Then Acting As A Colonel In Said Brigade, That Mr.

Burr'S Exertions, Bravery, And Good Conduct, Was The Principal Means

Of Saving The Whole Of That Brigade From Falling Into The Hands Of The

Enemy, And Whose Conduct Was Then By All Considered Judicious And

Meritorious.

Chapter VII (_Certificate Of The Rev. Hezekiah Ripley_) Pg 83

But, However, I Well Recollect, Before I Had The Information Alluded

To From General Chandler, I Had Seen Mr. Burr, And Inquired Of Him How

The Brigade Had Made Their Escape, Who Then Told Me The Particulars,

Which Were Afterwards Confirmed By All The Officers; Who Were All Of

Opinion That, Had It Not Been For Him, They Would Not Have Effected

Their Retreat And Escape.

 

 

As To My Own Opinion Of The Management Of The Troops On Leaving

New-York, I Then, And Still Suppose, As Did General Chandler, That

Colonel Burr'S Merits There As A Young Officer Ought, And Did, Claim

Much Attention, And Whose Official Duties As An Aid-De-Camp On That

Memorable Day Justly Claimed The Thanks Of The Army And His Country.

 

 

Hezekiah Ripley.

 

 

 

 

 

_Certificate From Isaac Jennings And Andrew Wakeman_. Being Requested

By Samuel Rowland, Esq., To Give Information Relative To The

Evacuation Of New-York, In The Year 1776, By The American Army, We,

The Subscribers, Then Acting, One In The Capacity Of A Lieutenant, And

The Other As A Private, In The Brigade Commanded By The Late General

Silliman, Now Deceased, Do Certify, That On The Fifteenth Day Of

September (Being On The Lord'S Day), The British Landed On The East

Side Of The Island, About Four Miles Above The City. The American

Troops Retreated The Same Day To Harlem Heights. By Some

Misapprehension Of The Orders, Or From Other Causes Unknown To Us, Our

Brigade Was Left, And Was Taken By General Knox To Bunker'S Hill, [1]

A Small Fort (So Called) About A Mile From Town. The Fort Was Scarcely

Able To Hold Us All. We Had But Just Got Into The Fort, When Aaron

Burr, Then Aid-De-Camp To General Putnam, Rode Up And Inquired Who

Commanded There. General Knox Presented Himself, And Burr (Then Called

Major Burr) Asked The General What He Did There? And Why He Did Not

Retreat With The Army? The General Replied, That It Was Impossible To

Retreat, As The Enemy Were Across The Island, And That He Meant To

Defend That Fort. Major Burr Ridiculed The Idea Of Defending The

Place, Being, As He Said, Without Provisions, Or Water, Or Bomb-Proof;

And That, With One Mortar, Or One Howitzer, The Enemy Would Take The

Place In Four Hours, Or In Some Very Short Time, And Again Urged

General Knox To Retreat To Harlem Heights; But General Knox Said It

Would Be Madness To Attempt It. A Smart Debate Ensued, The General

Adhering To His Opinion. Burr Addressed Himself To The Men, And Told

Them That, If They Remained There, They Would Before Night Be All

Prisoners, And Crammed Into A Dungeon, Or Hung Like Dogs. He Engaged

To Lead Them Off, And Observed That It Would Be Better That One Half

Should Be Killed In Fighting, Than All Be Sacrificed In That Cowardly

Manner. The Men Agreed To Follow Him, And He Led Them Out; He And His

Two Attendants Riding On The Right Flank. About Four Miles From Town

We Were Fired Upon By A Party Of The Enemy. Burr Galloped Directly To

The Spot The Firing Came From, Hallooing To The Men To Follow Him. It

Proved To Be Only A Guard Of About A Company Of The Enemy, Who

Immediately Fled.

Chapter VII (_Certificate Of The Rev. Hezekiah Ripley_) Pg 84

Burr And His Horsemen Pursued And Killed Several Of

Them. While He Was Thus Employed, The Head Of A Column Had Taken A

Wrong Road. Burr Came Up And Hurried Us To The Left, Into A Wood, And

Rode Along The Column From Front To Rear, Encouraging The Men, And Led

Us Out To The Main Army With Very Small Loss.

 

 

The Coolness, Deliberation, And Valour Displayed By Major Burr In

Effecting A Safe Retreat, Without Material Loss, And His Meritorious

Services To The Army On That Day, Rendered Him An Object Of Peculiar

Respect From The Troops, And The Particular Notice Of The Officers.

 

 

Isaac Jennings.

 

 

 

Andrew Wakeman.

Chapter VII (Letter From Nathaniel Judson To Commodore R. V. Morris) Pg 85

 

 

 

Albany, 10Th February, 1814.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

I Have Received Your Letter, With The Preceding Statement, Respecting

Our Retreat From New-York Island, In September, 1776, And, In

Compliance With Your Request, I Have To Reply, That The Relation Made

By Mr. Wakeman And Mr, Jennings Corresponds With My Recollection. I

Was Near Colonel Burr When He Lead The Dispute With General Knox, Who

Said It Was Madness To Think Of Retreating, As We Should Meet The

Whole British Army. Colonel Burr Did Not Address Himself To The Men,

But To The Officers, Who Had Most Of Them Gathered Around To Hear What

Passed, As We Considered Ourselves As Lost. But Colonel Burr Seemed So

Confident That He Could Make Good A Retreat, And Made It Clear That We

Were All Lost If We Stayed There, That We All Agreed To Trust To His

Conduct And Courage, Though It Did Appear To Us A Most Desperate

Undertaking; And He Did Not Disappoint Us, For He Effected A Retreat

With The Whole Brigade; And I Do Not Think We Lost More Than Thirty

Men. We Had Several Brushes With Small Parties Of The Enemy. Colonel

Burr Was Foremost And Most Active Where There Was Danger, And His

Conduct, Without Considering His Extreme Youth, Was Afterwards A

Constant Subject Of Praise, And Admiration, And Gratitude. This Affair

Was Much Talked Of In The Army After The Surrender Of Fort Washington,

In Which A Garrison Of About 2500 Men Was Left Under Circumstances

Very Similar To Ours; This Fort Having No Bomb-Proof. That Garrison

Surrendered, As Is Well Known, The Very Same Day Our Army Retreated;

And Of Those 2500 Men, Not 500 Survived The Imprisonment They Received

From The British. I Have, Since Then, Heard It Repeated Hundreds Of

Times By The Officers And Men Of Silliman'S Brigade, That Our Fate

Would Have Been The Same Had It Not Been For Colonel Burr. I Was A

Sergeant-Major In Chandler'S Regiment Of Silliman'S Brigade At The

Time Of The Retreat.

 

 

I Am Your Very Obedient Servant,

 

 

Nathaniel Judson

Footnote Pg 86

 

 

 

1. Adjacent To What Is Now Grand-Street.

Chapter VIII Pg 87

As Early As The 10Th Of August, Burr, In A Letter To His Uncle

Edwards, [1] Expressed Apprehensions That The Retreat Of The American

Army From Long Island Might Be Cut Off And Then That The British

"Would Have Their Own Fun." From That Period Until The Retreat Was

Effected, On The Night Of The 27Th, He Continued To Entertain The Same

Opinion As To The Necessity Of Retreating. So, Also, In Relation To

The City Of New-York. He Thought No Attempt Should Be Made To Hold It.

Subsequent Events Proved His Good Sense And Foresight, As Well As His

Military Genius. The City Was Abandoned On The 15Th Of September. Ten

Days After He Writes To His Aunt Edwards, In Reply To A Desponding

Letter He Had Received From Her, His Views Of The Recent Movements Of

The American Army.

Chapter VIII Pg 88

To Mrs. Edwards.

 

 

Kingsbridge, 26Th September, 1776.

 

 

My Dear Aunt,

 

 

I Fear, Madam, You Give Yourself Needless Anxiety About The Situation

Of Public Affairs. It Has Been Always Held A Maxim That Our Island And

Seaport Towns Were At The Discretion Of The Tyrant Of Great Britain.

Reasons For The Retreat From Long Island Are Well Known. The

Evacuation Of New-York Was A _Necessary Consequence_. The Manner Of

Conducting These Made Present Advantages But Trifling To The Enemy.

The Loss To Us Is Of Still Less Importance; And, Indeed, Some Happy

Consequences Resulting From The Manoeuvres Appear To Me Worthy Of

Notice.

 

 

We Have Hitherto Opposed Them With Less Than Half Their Number, And

Exposed To All Their Advantages Of Shipping. Our Force Is Now More

United, Theirs More Divided. Our Present Situation Renders Their Navy

Of Less Service To Them, And Less Formidable To Us;--A Circumstance Of

Vast Importance, And To Which I Attribute All That Has Heretofore

Appeared In Their Favour. Add To These, Besides Confirming Our

Internal Union, The Effect That Every Appearance Of Success On The

Part Of The Enemy Has Upon Our Leading Men. It Arouses Them From The

Lethargy Which Began To Prevail; Convinces Them That Their Measures

Are Unequal To Their Grand Designs; That The Present Is The Important

Moment, And That Every Nerve Must Now Be Exerted.

 

 

This Is Not Altogether Fanciful. It Has Been Actually The Case. More

Effectual Measures Than Were Ever Before Thought Of Are Now Taking For

Levying A New Army. A Committee Of Congress Are On The Spot With Us To

Know All Our Wants, And Report Them Properly, That They May Be

Speedily Provided For. I Do Not Intend By This, My Dear Aunt, To

Deceive You Into An Opinion That Every Thing Is Already Entirely

Secure; That We Are Now Actually Relieved From Every Degree Of Danger;

But To Remove Your Apprehensions Concerning The Important Events Which

Depend On Our Military Exertions. I Hope, Madam, You Will Continue,

With Your Usual Philosophy And Resolution, Prepared For The Uncertain

Events Of War, Not Anticipating Improbable Calamities.

 

 

Various Have Been The Reports Concerning The Barbarities Committed By

The Hessians, Most Of Them Incredible And False. They Are Fonder Of

Plunder Than Blood, And Are More The Engines Than The Authors Of

Cruelty. But Their Behaviour Has Been In Some Instances Savage, And

Might Excuse A Fear, If Reckoned Among Usual Calamities; But These

Should Be Viewed On A Larger Scale Than That Of Common Complaisance.

It Should Be Remembered We Are Engaged In A Civil War, And Effecting

The Most Important Revolution That Ever Took Place. How Little Of The

Horrors Of Either Have We Known! Fire Or The Sword Have Scarce Left A

Trace Among Us. We May Be Truly Called A Favoured People.

 

 

I Have Been Not So Engaged As Common For A Short Time Past, And Have

Liberty Of Remaining, For Three Or Four Days, About Two Miles From

Camp, From Whence I Now Write You, A Little More At Leisure; But I Am

Now Within Drumcall.

 

 

Your Nephew,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter VIII Pg 89

After The Abandonment Of Manhattan Island By The American Army, And

Some Fighting In Westchester, General Washington Crossed The North

River With A Part Of The Troops, And Retreated Through New-Jersey. The

Movements Of Lord Cornwallis Left No Doubt That The Object Of The

British General Was Philadelphia. He Advanced Rapidly From Brunswick

Upon Princeton, Hoping, By Forced Marches, To Get In The Rear Of The

Americans. On The 8Th Of December, 1776, Washington Crossed The

Delaware, Secured The Boats, And Broke Down The Bridges. Great

Apprehension And Alarm For The Safety Of Philadelphia Now Existed.

Judge Marshall, In His Life Of Washington, Says,

 

 

"In Consequence Of This State Of Things, The General Advised That

Lines Of Defence Should Be Drawn From The Schuylkill, About The

Heights Of Springatsbury, Eastward To The Delaware, And General Putnam

Was Ordered To Superintend Them." Major Burr Was Now Actively Engaged

As The Aid-De-Camp Of General Putnam, Whose Esteem And Unbounded

Confidence He Continued To Enjoy.

Chapter VIII Pg 90

He Writes Colonel Ogden,

 

 

 

 

 

Princeton, 7Th March, 1777.

 

 

Dear Matt.,

 

 

I This Evening Received Your Letter Of Yesterday'S Date, By Stockton.

I Knew Not How To Direct To You, Nor Where To Send For The Horse, Or

Should Have Done It Sooner. I Do Not Perfectly Recollect The One You

Mention, But Should Be Glad Of Any On Your Recommendation. Both Boots

And A Saddle I Want Much, And Shall Be Obliged To You To Procure Them

For Me;--Good Leather Would Suit Me As Well As Boots Ready Made. I

Have Not Had A Pair Worth Sixpence Since Those I Had At Elizabethtown.

 

 

As To "Expectations Of Promotion," I Have Not The Least, Either In The

Line Or The Staff. You Need Not Express Any Surprise At It, As I Have

Never Made Any Application, And, As You Know Me, You Know I Never

Shall. I Should Have Been Fond Of A Berth In A Regiment, As We

Proposed When I Last Saw You. But, As I Am At Present Happy In The

Esteem And Entire Confidence Of My Good Old General, I Shall Be Piqued

At No Neglect, Unless Particularly Pointed, Or Where Silence Would Be

Want Of Spirit. 'Tis True, Indeed, My Former Equals, And Even

Inferiors In Rank, Have Left Me. Assurances From Those In Power I Have

Had Unasked, And In Abundance; But Of These I Shall Never Remind Them.

We Are Not To Judge Of Our Own Merit, And I Am Content To Contribute

My Mite In Any Station.

 

 

I Shall Probably Be At Morris Within Ten Days, On Public Business.

Write Me Whether I May Expect You There. With Sincere Love To Mrs.

Ogden,

 

 

Yours,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter VIII Pg 91

In The Spring Of 1777, A New Army Was To Be Raised. For Political

Reasons It Was Deemed Expedient To Select, Where It Could Be Done With

Propriety, For The Colonels Of Regiments, Gentlemen Supposed To Have

An Influence. Among Those Who Were Thus Selected Was Colonel Malcolm,

Formerly A Merchant In The City Of New-York. He Was Highly

Respectable, And Universally Esteemed, But Was Not A Military Man. In

June, 1777, Burr Was Appointed Lieutenant-Colonel Of His Regiment; But

He Did Not Receive Official Notice Of The Fact Until The 26Th Of July.

 

 

On The 14Th Of July, 1777, General Putnam'S Headquarters Being Then At

Peekskill, He Issued The Following Order:--

Chapter VIII Pg 92

_By The Honourable Major-General Putnam, To Major Aaron Burr,

Aid-De-Camp_.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

Pursuant To Orders Received From His Excellency General Washington,

You Are Forthwith To Repair To Norwalk, Fairfield, And The Places

Adjacent On The Sound, Transmit Me Without Delay The Intelligence You

Shall From Time To Time Receive Of The Movements Of The Enemy, Or Any

Of Their Fleets. Request Of The Committees, Or Select-Men Of The

Different Towns, That They Will Be Very Punctual In Reporting To The

Commanding Officer At This Post Whatever May In Any Respect Relate To

The Movements Of The Army, As Both Their Safety And The Welfare Of The

Country May Be Promoted By Their Diligence In This Particular.

Chapter VIII Pg 93

On Your Return, Which Will Be Through Litchfield, You Will Leave

Orders For All Detachments Of Any Regiments Of General Nixon'S Brigade

To Take The Most Direct Route To Albany, Provided They Be Farther Than

Thirty Miles From This Place, As Much Will Be Saved, And Fatigue

Avoided By The Observance Of This.

 

 

Having Settled A Line Of Intelligence From The Different Towns On The

Coast, And Left The Necessary Directions For The Detachments Of

Brigadier-General Nixon'S Brigade, You Will Return With All Convenient

Speed To This Place.

 

 

Given Under My Hand, At Headquarters, Peekskill, 14Th Day Of July,

1777.

 

 

Israel Putnam.

 

 

 

 

 

This Was The Last Order That Major Burr Ever Received As The

Aid-De-Camp Of His "Good Old General." On His Return To Camp He

Received, In The Usual Form, A Letter From General Washington,

Announcing To Him His Appointment As Lieutenant-Colonel In The

Continental Army, To Which He Replied,

Chapter VIII Pg 94

Peekskill, 21St July, 1777.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

I Was This Morning Favoured With Your Excellency'S Letter Of The 29Th

Ult., And My Appointment To Colonel Malcolm'S Regiment. Am Truly

Sensible Of The Honour Done Me, And Shall Be Studious That My

Deportment In That Station Be Such As Will Ensure Your Future Esteem.

I Am Nevertheless, Sir, Constrained To Observe, That The Late Date Of

My Appointment Subjects Me To The Command Of Many Who Were Younger In

The Service, And Junior Officers The Last Campaign.

 

 

With Submission, And If There Is No Impropriety In Requesting What So

Nearly Concerns Me, I Would Beg To Know Whether It Was Any Misconduct

In Me, Or Any Extraordinary Merit Or Services In Them, Which Entitled

The Gentlemen Lately Put Over Me To That Preference? Or, If A Uniform

Diligence And Attention To Duty Has Marked My Conduct Since The

Formation Of The Army, Whether I May Not Expect To Be Restored To That

Rank Of Which I Have Been Deprived, Rather, I Flatter Myself, By

Accident Than Design? I Would Wish Equally To Avoid The Character Of

Turbulent Or Passive, And Am Unhappy To Have Troubled Your Excellency

With A Matter Which Concerns Only Myself. But, As A Decent Regard To

Rank Is Both Proper And Necessary, I Hope It Will Be Excused In One

Who Regards His Honour Next To The Welfare Of His Country.

 

 

I Am Not Yet Acquainted With The State Of The Regiment Or The Prospect

Of Filling It; But Shall Immediately Repair To Rendezvous And Receive

Colonel Malcolm'S Directions.

 

 

I Have The Honour To Be, With Great Respect,

 

 

Your Excellency'S Obedient Servant,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter VIII Pg 95

Colonel Malcolm'S Regiment Was At This Time Stationed At Ramapo, Or

The Clove, In Orange County, New-York, Whither Lieutenant-Colonel Burr

Proceeded. On Presenting Himself, The Colonel Was Greatly Surprised.

The Youthful Appearance Of Burr Led Him To Apprehend That He Would Be

Wanting In Judgment And Discretion; But A Very Short Acquaintance

Removed These Impressions. Malcolm Retired With His Family About

Twenty Miles Distant, Leaving Burr In Command, Kindly Remarking--"You

Shall Have All The Honour Of Disciplining And Fighting The Regiment,

While I Will Be Its Father;" And He Kept His Word, For It Is Believed

That He Never Commanded It In Battle During The Whole War, Although It

Was Frequently Engaged. This Duty Devolved Upon Colonel Burr.

 

 

In September, 1777, The British Came Out Of The City Of New-York, On

The West Side Of The Hudson River, About 2000 Strong, For The Purpose

Of Plundering And Devastating The Adjacent Country, And Capturing The

Public Stores. Colonel Burr Was With His Regiment, Distant About

Thirty Miles, When He Heard Of The Enemy, And Yet He Was In Their

Camp, And Captured Or Destroyed Their Picket-Guards Before The Next

Morning. For Two Days And Nights He Never Slept. His Regular Force Did

Not Exceed Three Hundred Men; But, By Surprising The British

Sentinels, He Struck Consternation Into Their Ranks, And They Fled

With Precipitation, Leaving Behind Them Their Plunder And A Part Of

Their Stores. The Following Letters Afford Ample Details:--

Chapter VIII (Statement Of Judge George Gardner) Pg 96

Dated Newburgh, 20Th December,

1813.

 

 

In September, 1777, The Regiment Called Malcolm'S Regiment Lay At

Suffren'S, In The Clove, Under The Command Of Lieutenant-Colonel Burr.

Intelligence Having Been Received That The Enemy Were In Hackensack In

Great Force, And Advancing Into The Country, Colonel Burr Immediately

Marched With The Effective Men, Except A Guard To Take Care Of The

Camp. I Understood That While We Were On The March, An Officer Arrived

Express From Major-General Putnam, Who Commanded At Peekskill,

Recommending Or Ordering Colonel Burr To Retire With The Public Stores

To The Mountains: To Which Colonel Burr Replied, That He Could Not Run

Away From An Enemy Whom He Had Not Seen, Mid That He Would Be

Answerable For The Public Stores And For His Men.

 

 

We Arrived At Paramus, A Distance Of Sixteen Miles, Before Sunset.

There Were Considerable Bodies Of Militia, In Great Alarm And

Disorder, And Doing Much Mischief To The Neighbouring Farms. They

Could Give No Intelligence Of The Enemy But From Rumour. Supposed Them

To Be Within A Few Miles, And Advancing.

 

 

Colonel Burr Set Some Of The Militia To Repair The Fences They Had

Destroyed, And Arranged Them As Well As Time Would Permit; And Having

Taken Measures To Secure The Troops From Surprise, And Also For The

Protection Of The Cornfields, He Marched Immediately, With About

Thirty Of The Most Active Of The Regiment, And A Few Of The Militia,

To Ascertain The Position And Numbers Of The Enemy. About Ten O'Clock

At Night, Being Three Miles From Hackensack, We Got Certain

Intelligence That We Were Within A Mile Of The Picket-Guards Of The

Enemy. Colonel Burr Then Led The Men Into A Wood, And Ordered Them To

Sleep Till He Should Awake Them, Of Which We Had Great Need, Having

Marched More Than Thirty Miles Since Noon. Colonel Burr Then Went

Alone To Discover The Position Of The Enemy. He Returned About Half An

Hour Before Day And Waked Us, And Told Us That He Was Going To Attack

The Picket Of The Enemy. That We Had Only To Follow Him, And Then

Forbid Any Man To Speak Or To Fire, On Pain Of Death. He Led Us

Between The Sentinels In Such A Way That We Were Within A Few Yards Of

The Picket-Guard Before They Suspected Our Approach. He Then Gave The

Word, And We Rushed Upon Them Before They Had Time To Take Their Arms,

And The Greater Part Were Killed. A Few Prisoners And Some

Accoutrements Were Brought Off Without The Loss Of One Man. Colonel

Burr Immediately Sent Off An Express To Paramus, To Order All The

Troops To Move, And To Rally The Country. Our Little Success Had So

Encouraged The Inhabitants, That They Turned Out With Great Alacrity,

And Put Themselves Under The Command Of Colonel Burr. But The Enemy,

Probably Alarmed By These Threatening Appearances, Retreated The Next

Day, Leaving Behind Them The Greater Part Of The Cattle And Plunder

Which They Had Taken. Colonel Burr Was Prevented From Pursuing, By

Peremptory Orders, Which Were Received The Day Following The Action,

To Join, Without Delay, The Main Army, Then In Pennsylvania.

 

 

 

 

 

I Served In This Regiment All The Time It Was Under The Command Of

Colonel Burr, Being About Two Years; After Which He Was Called To Take

A Separate Command In Westchester. During The Whole Time He Never

Permitted Corporal Punishment To Be Inflicted In A Single Instance;

Yet No Regiment In The Army Was Under Better Discipline, And I Doubt

Whether It Was Equalled By Any One.

 

 

George Gardner.

Chapter VIII (From Lieutenant Robert Hunter To Gabriel Furman) Pg 97

 

 

 

Esq., Member Of Assembly.

 

 

New-York, 22D January, 1814.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

I Have Understood That An Application Will Be Made To The Legislature

By Or On Behalf Of Colonel Burr, For Remuneration For His Military

Services During Our Revolutionary War. Having Had The Happiness To

Serve Under Him For More Than Two Years, And Having Retained An

Unbounded Respect For His Talents And Character, You Will Pardon Me

For Asking Your Active Support Of Any Thing Which May Be Moved In His

Favour; For Certainly, If Any Officer Of The Army Deserved Recompense,

It Is Colonel Burr.

 

 

He Sacrificed His Health, And Underwent More Fatigue And Privations

Than Any Other Officer Of Whom I Had Any Knowledge. If I Thought It

Could Be Useful To Him Or Amusing To You, I Would Enter Into Details;

But The Facts Are Of General Notoriety, And His Superiority As A

Military Man, As Far As My Knowledge Extends, Universally Allowed.

 

 

I Will However Detain You While I Relate A Single Incident, Because It

Was The First Of Which I Was A Witness. I Was Attached As A Cadet To

Colonel Malcolm'S Regiment, Then Stationed In The Clove, When Burr

Joined It As Lieutenant-Colonel, Being In The Summer Of 1777. Malcolm,

Seeing That His Presence Was Unnecessary While Burr Was There, Was

With His Family About Twenty Miles Distant. Early In September, We

Heard That The Enemy Were Out In Great Force. Burr Gave Orders For The

Security Of The Camp And Of The Public Stores, And Within One Hour

After News Was Received, Marched With The Choice Of The Regiment To

Find The Enemy. At Paramus The Militia Were Assembled In Considerable

Force, But In Great Disorder And Terror. No One Could Tell The Force

Or Position Of The Enemy. Burr Assumed The Command, To Which They

Submitted Cheerfully, As He Alone (Though But A Boy In Appearance)

Seemed To Know What He Was About. He Arranged And Encouraged Them As

Well As Time Would Permit, And, Taking A Few Of The Most Hardy Of The

Men, Continued His March Towards The Enemy. Two Or Three Miles This

Side Hackensack, We Learned That We Were Near The Enemy'S Advanced

Guard. Burr Chose A Convenient Place For The Men To Repose, And Went

Himself To Examine The Position Of The Enemy. A Little Before Daylight

He Returned, Waked Us, And Ordered Us To Follow Him. He Led Us

Silently And Undiscovered Within A Few Paces Of The British Guard,

Which We Took Or Killed. From The Prisoners We Learned That The Enemy

Were About Two Thousand Strong. Without Loss Of Time He Sent Expresses

With Orders To The Militia, And To Call Out The Country; And I Have No

Doubt But He Would, Within Forty-Eight Hours, Have Had An Army Capable

Of Checking The Progress Of The Enemy, And Of Preventing Or Impeding

Their Retreat; But They Retreated The Day Following, And With Every

Mark Of Precipitation. During These Two Days And Nights The Colonel

Did Not Lie Down Or Take A Minute'S Repose. Thus You Perceive, My Dear

Sir, That Burr, Being More Than Thirty Miles Distant When He Heard Of

The Enemy, Was In Their Camp The Same Night. You Will Agree With Me

That Things Are Not Done So Nowadays.

 

 

Similar Instances Of Activity And Enterprise Occurred In Each Of The

Four Campaigns He Served, And Very Frequently, During The Winter, He

Commanded On The Lines Of Westchester. I Repeat, That It Will Afford

Me Pleasure To Relate So Much Of These Things As Came To My Own

Knowledge, If It Would Be Of Any Use.

 

 

Malcolm Was Never A Month With The Regiment After Burr Joined It; So

That It Was Burr Who Formed It, And It Was A Model For The Whole Army

In Discipline And Order. He Never, In A Single Instance, Permitted Any

Corporal Punishment.

 

 

His Attention And Care Of The Men Were Such As I Never Saw, Nor Any

Thing Approaching To It, In Any Other Officer, Though I Served Under

Many. It Would Be A Disgrace To The Country If Such A Man Should Be

Denied A Liberal Compensation, When It Is Too Well Known That He

Stands In Need Of It.

 

 

I Shall Consider Myself As Personally Obliged By Your Exertions In His

Favour, And Hope Your Colleagues Will Add Theirs To Yours. Please To

Show This Letter To Your Colleagues, And To Offer Them My Respects.

 

 

I Am, Very Respectfully,

 

 

Your Obedient Servant,

 

 

Robert Hunter.

Chapter VIII (From Lieutenant Robert Hunter To Gabriel Furman) Pg 98

The Original Order To Join The Main Army In Pennsylvania, To Which

Judge Gardner Refers In The Preceding Statement, Is Found Among The

Papers Of Colonel Burr, And Is As Follows:--

 

 

 

 

 

Headquarters, Peekskill, 27Th September, 1777.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

I Have Just Received A Letter From General Washington, Dated

_Thirty-Four Miles Up Schuylkill_, Wherein He Informs Me That General

Howe'S Army Had Found Means To Cross Schuylkill Several Miles Below

His Army; Upon Which He Has Ordered A Further Reenforcement From This

Post, Of Which Corps You Must Join. You Will Therefore, Upon The

Receipt Of This, Prepare To Join General Parsons'S Brigade, Whom I

Have Ordered Up From The White Plains. I Shall Endeavour To Send Some

Militia To Guard The Stores Remaining In The Clove. Your Baggage Must

Go With You.

 

 

I Am, Sir, Your Very Humble Servant,

 

 

Israel Putnam, M. G.

Chapter VIII (From Lieutenant Robert Hunter To Gabriel Furman) Pg 99

Immediately After Colonel Burr Had Surprised And Captured The British

Guard, He Received Various Complimentary Notes From Officers Of The

Army Requesting Details. A Short Extract From One Is Given.

 

 

Peekskill, 20Th September, 1777.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

I Congratulate You Upon The Good Fortune You Met With In Taking Off

The Enemy'S Picket. We Have Had Various Accounts About The Manner In

Which You Executed The Plan. The Particulars I Should Be Glad To Hear

From Yourself.

 

 

Yours, &C.

 

 

T. Yates.

 

 

To Lieutenant-Colonel A. Burr.

Chapter VIII (From Lieutenant Robert Hunter To Gabriel Furman) Pg 100

Colonel Burr, With His Accustomed Promptitude, As Soon As He Received

The Orders Of Major-General Putnam, Put His Regiment In Motion. On The

Second Day Of His March He Received From General Varnum The Following,

Directed To Lieutenant-Colonel Burr, On His March To Morristown.

 

 

Cakeat, October 1St, 1777.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

I This Moment Received Your Favour Of This Date. The Enemy Have Landed

At Powler'S Hook In Great Force. I Am Apprehensive They Mean Attacking

Fort Montgomery By The Way Of The Clove. I Have Sent My Baggage And

Some Forces There. The Enemy Must Be Attended To. You Will Therefore

Halt In The Nearest Place That Is Convenient Upon The Receipt Of This.

Keep A Good Look-Out Towards Newark, Elizabethtown, &C., Or Those

Places From Whence They Can March Into Pumpton. Should You Be In

Danger Of Being Interrupted There, Throw Your Party Across The River

In Pumpton, And Defend The Bridge, If Practicable. If Not, Make The

Best Retreat You Can Towards Morristown, &C. But By No Means Proceed

Unless Necessity Urges, Derived From The Present Object. In Every

Thing Else Pursue Your Best Discretion.

 

 

I Am, Sir, Your Humble Servant,

 

 

I. Varnum.

Chapter VIII (From Lieutenant Robert Hunter To Gabriel Furman) Pg 101

The Following Note From General Conway Tends To Prove, That Although

Burr Was Only A Lieutenant-Colonel In 1777, Yet That He Was Actually

Received And Treated As The Commandant Of His Regiment, From Which He

Was Never Absent. Colonel Malcolm, In General, Was Employed On Other

Duty.

Chapter VIII (From Lieutenant Robert Hunter To Gabriel Furman) Pg 102

From General Conway.

 

 

29Th October, 1777.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

I Have Received A Letter From Captain Kearsley Respecting The

Settlement Of The Rank Of The Captains And Subalterns. I Could Not

Give Him An Immediate Answer, Because I Was Then Attending A

Court-Martial. I Wish This Matter Was Settled As Soon As Possible To

The Satisfaction Of The Officers Of Your Regiment. The General

Officers Being Employed In Several Courts-Martial, Which, Along With

The Camp-Duty, Will Take Up All Their Time, I Think You Had Best Apply

To The Adjutant-General. Know From Him The Manner In Which The Ranks

Of The Virginia And Pennsylvania Officers Have Been Settled, And

Arrange Accordingly, At Least Pro Tempore, The Rank Of Your Gentlemen.

 

 

I Am, Sir, Your Most Obedient And Humble Servant,

 

 

T. Conway.

Chapter VIII (From Lieutenant Robert Hunter To Gabriel Furman) Pg 103

The Regiment Joined The Army In November, 1777, At Whitemarsh, In

Pennsylvania, Twenty Miles From Philadelphia. Colonel Burr, In Command

Of It, Was Stationed About Half A Mile In Advance Of The Main Body.

After A Few Weeks, The Army Went Into Winter-Quarters At Valley Forge.

During The Winter, Colonel Burr Proposed To General Washington An

Expedition Against Staten Island. He Stated To The Commander-In-Chief

That He Was Personally And Well Acquainted With Many Of The

Inhabitants In The Vicinity Of The Island. That He Believed They Would

Join Him As Volunteers; And That He Only Asked Two Hundred Men Of His

Own Regiment As A Nucleus. General Washington Declined Granting The

Request. But Subsequently, An Unsuccessful Attempt Was Made Under The

Command Of Lord Stirling.

 

 

Within Eight Or Ten Miles Of Valley Forge, There Was A Narrow And

Important Pass, Known As The Gulf.

Chapter VIII (From Lieutenant Robert Hunter To Gabriel Furman) Pg 104

A Strong Body Of Militia Were

Stationed To Defend It. They Were In The Habit Of Exciting In The Camp

False Alarms; And The Main Body, In Consequence, Was Frequently Put In

Motion. When Not Put In Motion, They Were Greatly Disturbed,

Especially At Night. These Alarms Generally Resulted From The Want Of

A Rigid Discipline. General Mcdougall Was At Valley Forge, And

Exceedingly Annoyed. Of Burr, As A Disciplinarian And A Soldier, He

Entertained A High Opinion; And Recommended To Washington That He

Withdraw From This Detachment Burr'S Seniors, As Officers, And Give

Him The Command Of The Post, Which Was Accordingly Done. Colonel Burr

Immediately Commenced A Rigid System Of Police, Visiting Every Night,

And At All Hours Of The Night, The Sentinels; Changing Their Position,

&C. During The Day He Kept The Troops Under A Constant Drill. The

Rigour Of This Service Was Not Adapted To The Habits Of Militia, Who

Had Been Accustomed To Pass, In Camp, A Life Of Idleness, And To Act

As Suited Their Individual Whims And Caprices. A Portion Of The Most

Worthless Became Restless, And Were Determined To Rid Themselves Of

Such A Commander.

 

 

Colonel Burr Was Notified Of The Contemplated Mutiny, In Which He

Would Probably Fall A Victim. He Ordered The Detachment To Be Formed

That Night (It Being A Cold, Bright Moonlight), And Secretly Directed

That All Their Cartridges Should Be Drawn, So That There Should Not Be

A Loaded Musket On The Ground. He Provided Himself With A Good And

Well-Sharpened Sabre. He Knew All The Principal Mutineers. He Marched

Along The Line, Eying The Men Closely. When He Came Opposite To One Of

The Most Daring Of The Ringleaders, The Soldier Advanced A Step, And

Levelled His Musket At Colonel Burr, Calling Out--"Now Is Your Time,

My Boys." Burr, Being Well Prepared And In Readiness, Anticipating An

Assault, With A Celerity For Which He Was Remarkable, Smote The Arm Of

The Mutineer Above The Elbow, And Nearly Severed It From His Body,

Ordering Him, At The Same Time, To Take And Keep His Place In The

Line. In A Few Minutes The Men Were Dismissed, And The Arm Of The

Mutineer Was Next Day Amputated. No More Was Heard Of The Mutiny; Nor

Were There Afterwards, During Colonel Bun'S Command, Any False Alarms.

This Soldier Belonged To Wayne'S Brigade; And Some Of The Officers

Talked Of Having Colonel Burr Arrested, And Tried By A Court-Martial,

For The Act; But The Threat Was Never Carried Into Execution.

 

 

That Colonel Burr Joined The Army At White Marsh, And Was There In

Command Of His Regiment, The Following Application And Order Will

Show:--

Chapter VIII (From Lieutenant Robert Hunter To Gabriel Furman) Pg 105

Near White Marsh, Nov., 1777.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

The Papers And Clothing Of The Companies Which Have Lately Joined

Malcolm'S Regiment Are At Bethlem. The Papers Are Now Wanted; And

Several Of The Officers Cannot Appear Decent Until They Receive Other

Clothes: For These Reasons I Would Ask Your Indulgence For Leave Of

Absence, For Two Subalterns, Six Days. Their Presence Is Not

Particularly Necessary With Their Companies.

 

 

Respectfully Your Ob'T Serv'T,

 

 

A. Burr.

 

 

Hon. General Conway.

Chapter VIII (This Application General Conway Returns) Pg 106

This Application General Conway Returns, With The Following

Endorsement:--

 

 

Colonel Burr Is Master To Send Such Officers As He Thinks Requisite,

In Order To Procure The Papers Wanted, And The Clothes For The Use Of

The Regiment.

 

 

T. Conway.

 

 

While The Army Was At Valley Forge, In The Winter Of 1777-78, The

Difficulties Between General Washington And General Gates, And Their

Respective Friends, Became, In A Great Measure, Matter Of Publicity.

At This Period There Were Two Parties Among The Officers. Washington

Had His Warm Friends And Supporters. Lee And Gates Had Theirs.

 

 

Colonel Burr Was Of The Latter. The Merits Of The Question Will Not Be

Discussed; And The Subject Will Only Be Referred To So Far As Burr Is

Concerned.

 

 

In The Spring Of 1776, At The Request Of The Commander-In-Chief, Burr

Joined His Military Family For A Short Space Of Time, But Soon Became

Dissatisfied And Retired. On The 29Th Of August, 1776, The American

Army Retreated From Long Island. This Retreat Burr Had Pressed Upon

Putnam, Mifflin, And Others. In His Letter To T. Edwards, [2] Dated

The 10Th Of August, Nearly _Three Weeks_ Before It Took Place, He

Says: "They (The British) Are To Come Through The Sound, And Thus

Invest Us By The North And East Rivers. They Are Then To Land On Both

Sides Of The Island, Join Their Forces, And Draw A Line Across, _Which

Will Hem Us In, And Totally Cut Off All Communication, After Which

They Will Have Their Own Fun._"

Chapter VIII (This Application General Conway Returns) Pg 107

During The Night Of The Retreat, Burr Was Actively Engaged Aiding

Mcdougall In The Embarcation Of The Troops At Brooklyn; And, From A

Personal Knowledge Of The Localities Of It And The Adjacent Places, He

Imagined That He Had Rendered Some Service. It Has Been Shown That, By

His Intrepidity And Perseverance In The Retreat From New-York, He

Rescued From Impending Danger The Brigade Of General Silliman. In

Neither Of These Cases Was His Conduct Noticed By The

Commander-In-Chief, Either In General Orders Or Otherwise. Young,

Ardent, Ambitious, And Of A Fiery Temperament, He Thought That Justice

Was Not Done To His Efforts, And Construed These, With Other Minor

Occurrences About The Same Time, Into Acts Of Hostility Towards Him.

In September, 1776, Therefore, His Prejudices Against General

Washington Became Fixed And Unchangeable; And To The Latest Hour Of

His Life He Recurred To The Retreat From Long Island, And From The

City Of New-York, With Acrimonious Feelings Towards The

Commander-In-Chief. Whatever May Be Said To The Contrary, As Early As

This Period Those Prejudices Were Formed And Confirmed. That General

Washington Placed No Confidence In Burr, And That, For Some Reason, He

Was Exceedingly Hostile Towards Him, Is Equally Certain. Whether His

Hostility Commenced At This Period Is Matter Of More Uncertainty.

Events Already Noticed Demonstrate That The General Considered Him An

Intrepid, Efficient, And Vigilant Officer.

 

 

Thus, In 1777, Burr Was The Friend Of Lee And Gates In Opposition To

General Washington. In The Beginning Of January, 1778, It Was Reported

To Burr That Lord Stirling Had Made Some Remarks Respecting The Manner

In Which The Colonel Had Contributed To Arrange The Rank Of His

(Burr'S) Subaltern Officers. Lord Stirling At This Time Commanded The

Division. It Will Be Recollected That, A Few Weeks Previous, Colonel

Burr Had Proposed To The Commander-In-Chief An Enterprise Against

Staten Island, Which Was Rejected; But, Immediately After, It Was

Unsuccessfully Attempted By Lord Stirling. The Difficulty, Therefore,

In Fact, Between These Gentlemen, Grew Out Of The Latter Circumstance.

On The 7Th Of January, 1778, Burr Addressed Lord Stirling, Requesting

An Explanation, Which Was Promptly Given In The Following Note, And

Thus The Matter Terminated.

Chapter VIII (This Application General Conway Returns) Pg 108

Camp, January 8Th, 1778.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

The Receipt Of Your Letter Of Yesterday'S Date Not A Little Surprised

Me, For I Can Assure You That I Have Never Made Use Of A Word In

Censure Of Yourself, Or Of The Court You Mention. I Some Days Ago

Ordered A Return To Be Brought In Of The Names And Rank Of The

Officers Of The Division, Independent Of What The Two Courts Were

Doing, And Desired Major Monroe [3] To Direct The Brigade-Majors To

Make Them Out As Soon As Possible: From This, I Suppose, Some Mistake

Has Arose, Which I Will Call Upon Major Stagg To Explain.

 

 

I Am,

 

 

Your Most Obedient Humble Servant,

 

 

Stirling.

 

 

Lieutenant-Colonel Burr.

Footnote Pg 109

 

 

 

1. See Chapter Vii.

Footnote Pg 110

 

 

2. See Chapter Vii.

Footnote Pg 111

 

 

3. James Monroe, Late President Of The United States, Then Aid To Lord

Stirling.

Chapter IX Pg 111

 

 

 

Colonel Burr Was A Rigid Disciplinarian, And In The Performance Of His

Duty Made No Difference Between Those Officers Who Were His Friends

And Those Who Were Not; Yet He Never Failed To Adopt The Most Delicate

And Gentlemanly Course, Where, In His Opinion, Rigour Became

Necessary. There Are Many Documents Tending To Establish This Fact,

Such As The Following:--

 

 

Camp, April 10Th, 1778.

 

 

My Lord,

 

 

In My Weekly Returns, Your Lordship May Have Observed That Captain Tom

Has Been Returned--_Absent Without Leave_. As He Had Been Long From

The Regiment, And No Reasons Had Been Assigned To Me For His

Extraordinary Absence, I Thought Myself In Duty Bound To Make Such

Report. Upon His Return To Camp, He Has Accounted For His Conduct In A

Manner More Satisfactory Than I Feared He Could.

 

 

Unwilling To Deal Too Severely With A Valuable Officer, And Conscious

Of The Impropriety Of Passing Any Seeming Neglect In Entire Silence, I

Refer Him To Your Lordship As The Proper Judge Of His Conduct And

Excuses.

 

 

My Lord, You Are Acquainted With The Character Of Captain Tom. You

Have Often Heard Me Mention Him With Respect. Should His Absence

Appear, In Any Degree, To Have Arisen From Inattention, I Hope Your

Lordship Will Treat It With All The Delicacy Which The Conduct Of A

Man Of Feeling And Of Spirit Can Desire.

 

 

I Have The Honour To Be,

 

 

Your Lordship'S Most Obedient Servant,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter IX Pg 112

From Colonel Malcolm.

 

 

Yorktown, June 16Th, 1778.

 

 

My Dear Sir,

 

 

I Have Just Now Met With Captain Kearsley, Which Enables Me To Let You

Know That I Am Here, Sent By General Gates To Congress On A Variety Of

Business.

 

 

I Have Consented To Do Duty As Adjutant-General To The Northern Army,

On Conditions Of Holding My Regiment, And That It Should Come To The

Northward. The First Agreed To; The Last According To Events.

 

 

None Of The Sixteen Additional Regiments Stand On The New

Establishment. Of The Strongest, If Ours Comes Within That

Description, It Will Be One. _As General Washington Writes General

Gates That He Cannot Conveniently Spare You At This Time_, I Recommend

Your Sending Three Or Four Officers To The State Of New-York On The

Recruiting Service. You Know Who Will Answer Best, And Who Can Be Best

Spared; And To Recruit For The Regiment At Large, I Think I Can

Provide You With Some Men.

 

 

As I Have Not Time Either To Pass Through, Come, Or To Write Any Other

Of The Officers, Do Tell Them How I Am Circumstanced, And Offer Them

My Best Respects. I Am Happy To Hear That Major Pawling Is Better. I

Shall Write From Peekskill Very Soon, And Beg To Hear From You.

 

 

I Ever Am, Very Sincerely, Affectionately Yours,

 

 

W. Malcolm.

Chapter IX Pg 113

By The Preceding Letter It Appears That "General Washington Had

Written To General Gates That He Could Not Conveniently Spare Colonel

Burr." The Reason Is Obvious. It Was At The Very Moment When Sir Henry

Clinton Was About To Evacuate Philadelphia, And To Retreat Through

New-Jersey. The Commander-In-Chief Was Unwilling At Such A Crisis To

Part With An Efficient And Gallant Officer. On The 18Th Of June, Sir

Henry Clinton, With His Forces, Left The City, Proceeded To Gloucester

Point, Three Miles Down The River, And Crossed The Delaware Into

New-Jersey. That Day He Marched As Far As Haddonfield. The Americans

Crossed The Delaware At Corriel'S Ferry, And Halted, After A

Distressing March From Heat And Rain, Within Five Miles Of Princeton.

During The Preceding Winter General Lee Had Been Exchanged, And Joined

The Army At Valley Forge.

 

 

The Enemy'S Force Was Now Estimated At Between 9000 And 10,000, Rank

And File. The Americans At 10,600, Exclusive Of Maxwell'S Brigade,

About 1200, And About 1200 Militia. On The 24Th Of June, 1778, The

Commander-In-Chief Propounded To The General Officers The Question,

"Will It Be Advisable To Hazard A General Action?" The Answer Was,

"Not Advisable; But A Detachment Of 1500 To Be Immediately Sent To

Act, As Occasion May Serve, On The Enemy'S Left Flank And Rear, In

Conjunction With The Other Continental Troops And Militia Already

Hanging About Them, And The Main Body To Preserve A Relative Position,

To Act As Circumstances May Require." Signed By Lee, Stirling, Greene,

Fayette, Steuben, Poor, Paterson, Woodford, Scott, Portail, Knox.

 

 

Four Days After, Viz., The 28Th Of June, The Battle Of Monmouth Was

Fought. It Was On This Occasion That General Washington Ordered The

Arrest Of General Lee: 1Stly, For Disobedience Of Orders In Not

Attacking The Enemy On The 28Th Of June, Agreeably To Repeated

Instructions; 2Dly, For Misbehaviour Before The Enemy On The Same Day,

By Making An Unnecessary, Disorderly, And Shameful Retreat;

Chapter IX Pg 114

3Dly, For

Disrespect To The Commander-In-Chief, In Two Letters, Dated The 20Th

Of June. On The 12Th Of August The Courtmartial, Of Which Lord

Stirling Was President, Found Lee Guilty, And Sentenced Him To Be

Suspended From Any Command In The Armies Of The United States For The

Term Of Twelve Months. The History Of The Battle Of Monmouth, With All

The Consequences That Followed, Has Long Since Been Given To The World

By The Friends And The Opponents Of The Respective Parties. It Is Only

Necessary To State Here, That Colonel Burr, On That Occasion, Was

Ranked Among The Supporters Of Lee, And Had Himself Real Or Imaginary

Cause Of Complaint Against The Commander-In-Chief.

 

 

In This Action Colonel Burr Commanded A Brigade In The Division Of

Lord Stirling, Composed Of His Own Regiment And Some Pennsylvanians,

Under The Immediate Command Of Lieutenant-Colonel Dummer. Gordon, In

His History Of The American Revolution, Says, "The Check The British

Received Gave Time To Make A Disposition Of The Left Wing And Second

Line Of The Main Army In The Wood, And On The Eminence To Which He Had

Been Directed And Was Retreating. On This Were Placed Some Batteries

Of Cannon By Lord Stirling, Who Commanded The Left Wing, Which Played

Upon The British With Great Effect, And, _Seconded By Parties Of

Infantry Detached To Oppose Them, Effectually Put A Stop To Their

Advance_. The British, Finding Themselves Warmly Opposed In Front,

Attempted To Turn The American Left Flank, But Were Repulsed."

 

 

Shortly After The Action Had Become General, Burr Discovered A

Detachment Of The Enemy Coming From The Borders Of A Wood On The

Southward. He Instantly Put His Brigade In Motion For The Purpose Of

Checking Them. It Was Necessary To Cross A Morass, Over Which A Bridge

Was Thrown. He Ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Dummer To Advance With The

Pennsylvania Detachment, And That He Would Bring Up The Rear With His

Own Regiment. After A Part Of The Brigade Was Over The Bridge, Colonel

Barber, Aid To General Washington, Rode Up, And Said That The Orders

Of The Commander-In-Chief Were That He Should Halt. Colonel Burr

Remonstrated. He Said His Men, In Their Present Position, Were Exposed

To The Fire Of The Enemy, And That His Whole Brigade Must Now Cross

The Bridge Before They Could Halt With Any Safety. Colonel Barber

Repeated That The Orders Of General Washington Were Peremptory That He

Should Halt, Which Was Accordingly Done, And The Brigade, In Their

Divided State, Suffered Severely. Lieutenant-Colonel Dummer Was

Killed; Colonel Burr'S Horse Was Shot Under Him; And Those Who Had

Crossed The Bridge Were Compelled To Retreat.

 

 

The Movements And The Firing Of The Armies Continued Until Dark. The

Americans Remained On The Battle-Ground, With An Intention Of Renewing

The Attack In The Morning. Burr'S Uniform Practice Was, When Near An

Enemy, To Be Up At Night, Visiting His Own Pickets, And Taking The

Necessary Precautions For Avoiding A Surprise. The Night Preceding The

Action Colonel Burr Was Thus Engaged, As It Was Known That The British

Would Move At Dawn Of Day, If Not Before, And General Washington Had

Given Orders To Lee, Who Was In The Advance, To Commence The Attack As

Soon As They Did Move. The Weather Was Intensely Hot.

Chapter IX Pg 115

Notwithstanding

The Fatigue Which Colonel Burr Had Undergone During The Night Of The

27Th And The Succeeding Day, Yet He Remained Up The Night Of The 28Th

Also. Sir Henry Clinton'S Troops Were Employed In Removing Their

Wounded, And Then Marched Away In Such Silence, That, Though General

Poor Lay Near Them, Their Retreat Was Effected Without His Knowledge.

 

 

Exhausted With Fatigue, And Worn Out For The Want Of Repose, On The

29Th, Colonel Burr Lay Down Under The Shade Of Some Trees And Fell

Asleep. When He Awoke, He Was Exposed, And Had Been For Some Time, To

The Rays Of The Sun. He Found Himself Unable To Walk Without Great

Difficulty; And So Severely Was He Afflicted, That He Did Not Recover

From Its Effects For Some Years Afterwards. A Stranger To Complaints

Or Murmurs When Enduring Pain, The Real State Of His Health Was

Unknown To Even His Brother Officers. In This Situation He Was

Immediately Ordered By General Washington, Through Lord Stirling, To

Repair To Elizabethtown, On Highly Important And Confidential

Business. The Great Object Of The Commander-In-Chief Was To Ascertain,

As Far As Practicable, The Future Movements Of The Enemy, Sir Henry

Clinton Having Secured His Retreat To The City Of New-York. General

Washington Proceeded To New-Brunswick, At Which Place Lord Stirling

Was Attending As President Of The Court-Martial For The Trial Of

General Lee. The Following Notes Will Explain The Character Of Burr'S

Mission, And The Confidence Reposed In Him By The Commander-In-Chief.

Chapter IX Pg 116

From Lord Stirling.

 

 

Brunswick, July 4Th, 1778.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

I Have This Moment Received Yours Of Yesterday'S Date. On Showing It

To General Washington, He Approves Of The Progress Of Your Inquiries,

And Desires They May Be Continued. But He Particularly Desires Me To

_Send Off This Express To You_, To Request That You Will Endeavour To

Get All The Intelligence You Possibly Can From The City Of New-York:

What Are The Preparations Of Shipping For Embarcation Of Foot Or

Horse?--What Expeditions On Hand?--Whether Up The North River,

Connecticut, Or West Indies? For This Purpose You May Send One, Two,

Or Three Trusty Persons Over To The City, To Get The Reports, The

Newspapers, And The Truth, If They Can. We Are Just Going To Exhibit A

Grand Champetre And Feu De Joie, So Must Only Say That

 

 

I Am Sincerely Yours,

 

 

Stirling.

Chapter IX Pg 117

From Lord Stirling.

 

 

Brunswick, July 6Th, 1778,

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

I Have Your Letter Of Yesterday'S Date. The Court-Martial, Of Which I

Am President, Is Adjourned To Morristown, Which Will Oblige Me To Go

There To-Morrow. I Must Therefore Desire You Will Direct Your Letters,

With Such Intelligence As You May Procure, To His Excellency General

Washington, Who Will Be On The Line Of March With The Army. In Haste,

 

 

Your Most Obedient Servant,

 

 

Stirling.

Chapter IX Pg 118

From Lord Stirling.

 

 

Brunswick, July 6, 1778.

 

 

General Washington Desires Me To State That He Wishes You Would Employ

Three, Four, Or More Persons, To Go To Bergen Heights, Weehawk,

Hoebuck, Or Any Other Heights Thereabout, Convenient To Observe The

Motions Of The Enemy'S Shipping, And To Give Him The Earliest

Intelligence Thereof; Whether Up The River Particularly. In Short,

Every Thing Possible That Can Be Obtained.

 

 

Yours, &C.,

 

 

Stirling.

Chapter IX Pg 119

From Tench Tilghman.

 

 

Newark, July 8Th, 1778.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

His Excellency Desires Me To Inquire Whether You Have Received Any

Information Of The Enemy'S Movements, Situation, Or Design? He Will

Leave This Place About 4 O'Clock This Afternoon, Before Which He Will

Expect To Hear From You.

 

 

I Am, Dear Sir, Your Most Obedient,

 

 

Tench Tilghman.

Chapter IX Pg 120

Having Completed The Business On Which He Had Been Despatched By The

Commander-In-Chief, Colonel Burr Proceeded To Join His Regiment,

Although His Health Was Very Bad. In A Few Days He Received The

Following Order:--

 

 

Camp, Near Croton Bridge, 19Th July, 1778.

 

 

Colonel Malcolm'S Regiment Is Ordered To March At Two O'Clock

To-Morrow Morning, To The Fort At West Point, On Hudson River, With

The Regiment Commanded By Lieutenant-Colonel Parker, Which Is To Join

On The Road Near Croton Bridge. The Commander Of The Two Regiments

Will Make All Convenient Despatch, Marching Ten Miles A Day, As Water

And Ground Will Admit.

 

 

The Baron De Kalb.

 

 

 

Early In July, 1778, In Consequence Of Sir Henry Clinton Having

Arrived In New-York With His Army, Much Excitement And Some

Apprehension Existed In The Upper Part Of The State Respecting The

Tories. The Legislature Had Previously Adopted Rigid Measures On The

Subject, And It Became Necessary That An Intelligent And Confidential

Military Officer Should Be Designated To Take Charge Of Them. General

Washington Selected Colonel Burr For This Purpose, The Trust Was One

Of A Delicate Character.

Chapter IX Pg 121

From Robert Benson.

 

 

Camp, White Plains, 2D August, 1778.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

By An Act Of The Legislature Of The State Of New-York, The

Commissioners For Detecting And Defeating Conspiracies, &C., Were

Directed To Tender An Oath Of Allegiance, In The Said Act Prescribed,

To Certain Persons, Inhabitants Of This State, Who Have Affected To

Observe, During The Present War, A Dangerous And Equivocal Neutrality;

And On Their Refusal To Take The Same, That The Said Commissioners

Should Cause Them To Be Conveyed Within The Enemy'S Lines. In

Consequence Whereof, Sundry Persons, To Whom The Said Oath Hath Been

Tendered, And Who Have Refused To Take The Same, Were By The

Commissioners Directed To Rendezvous At Fishkill, On Monday Next, In

Order To Embark On Board A Sloop To Be Provided At That Place For The

Purpose.

 

 

In Order That This Business Might Be Conducted With As Little Danger

As Possible To The Operations Of The Present Campaign, His Excellency

Governor Clinton Requested His Excellency The Commander-In-Chief To

Appoint An Officer Of The Army For The Purpose; And You Being Assigned

To This Business, His Excellency Governor Clinton Hath Directed Me, In

His Name, To Request You To Repair To Fishkill On Monday Next, &C.

 

 

If By Any Accident You Should Not Find The Commissioners At Fishkill,

His Excellency Will Be Much Obliged To You If You Would Ride Up To

Poughkeepsie, Where The Board Are Sitting.

 

 

I Am, With Great Respect, Yours, &C.,

 

 

Robert Benson, Secretary.

Chapter IX Pg 122

P. S. Enclosed Is The Flag; And His Excellency The Governor Desires

You Will Fill The Blank With The Name Of The Sloop, And The Names Of

The Persons Who May Be Put On Board By The Commissioners.

 

 

_At A Meeting Of The Board Of Commissioners For Detecting And

Defeating Conspiracies, Held At Poughkeepsie, August 3D, 1778._

 

 

Present--Mr. Platt, Mr. Harpur, Mr. Cantine, And Mr. Wynkoop.

Chapter IX Pg 123

The Board Having Received A Letter From His Excellency Governor

Clinton, Dated At Camp, White Plains, The Second Instant, Informing

That His Excellency General Washington Had Appointed

Lieutenant-Colonel Burr To Conduct Such Persons As Had Refused To Take

The Oath Of Allegiance To This State, Prescribed By An Act Of The

Legislature Thereof, Within The Enemy'S Lines; Therefore,

 

 

_Resolved_, That Colonel Burr Be Served With A Copy Of The Proceedings

Of This Board Against William Smith And Cadwallader Colden, Esquires,

And Mr. Roeliff J. Eltinge; And That He Is Hereby Authorized To Remove

Each And Every One Of Them Within The Enemy'S Lines, In Such Way And

Manner As His Excellency General Washington May Have Already Directed,

Or Hereafter Shall Direct.

 

 

Extracts From The Minutes, By Order,

 

 

Teunis Tappan, Secretary To The Board.

Chapter IX (From The Commissioners To Colonel Burr) Pg 124

Poughkeepsie, August 3D, 1778.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

The Commissioners For Conspiracies Being Informed By His Excellency

The Governor Of Your Appointment To Receive At Fishkill Such Persons

As Have Refused To Take The Oath Prescribed By A Law Of This State,

And Who, By Virtue Of The Said Law, Are To Be Sent Into The Enemy'S

Lines, By Us Appointed To Carry The Same Into Execution; In

Consequence Of This, We Hereby Send You William Smith, Cadwallader

Colden, Esquires, And Mr. Roeliff J. Eltinge, Who Have Refused To Take

The Said Oath, And Thereby Have Subjected Themselves To A Removal

Within The Said Lines, Which Removal You Will Be Pleased To Take

Charge Of.

 

 

The Bearer, Cornelius E. Wynkoop, Esquire, Is One Of The Board, To

Whom We Refer You For Such Particulars As May Be Necessary To Adjust,

The More Effectually To Enable Us To Convey, In Future, Such Gentlemen

As The Above Over Into The Enemy'S Lines.

 

 

We Are, Sir, With Respect,

 

 

Your Most Obedient Servants,

 

 

  Zepha. Platt,       )

  Robert Harpur,      ) Commissioners.

  Peter Cantine, Jun.,)

Chapter IX (From The Commissioners To Colonel Burr) Pg 125

From Theodore Sedgwick.

 

 

Kinderhook, August 7Th, 1778.

 

 

My Dear Sir,

 

 

I Write You In Haste By Mr. Van Schaack, [1] Who Will Convey It To You

Should You Be At West Point. This Gentleman Has, By Long Acquaintance,

Manifested Such Qualities As Have Much Attached Me To His Interest;

But, Most Unfortunately For His Friends, Has Differed In Political

Opinions From The Body Of The Community In General, And From Me In

Particular, In Consequence Of Which Difference (By Means Of The Test

Act Of This State) He Is About To Be Removed To The City Of New-York;

And Has Been So Obliging As To Offer Me His Assistance In Procuring

For, And Sending To Me, A Few Family Necessaries. Should It Be In Your

Power, I Am Very Certain It Would Be An Unnecessary Request To Desire

You To Lend Me Any Assistance: Nor Need I Desire You To Render Mr. Van

Schaack'S Short Stay Among You As Agreeable As His And Your

Circumstances Will Permit.

 

 

I Most Sincerely Congratulate You On The Happy Prospect Of A Speedy

Termination To The War. I Believe I Shall Visit The Camp Soon, In

Which Case You Will Have The Pleasure To See Mr. Edwards In Company. I

Have, Since I Saw You, Become The Father Of A Second Daughter. Pamela

Has Had A Most Tedious And Dangerous Illness, But Is, Thank God, Now,

For Her, Very Well. You May Be Sure She Will Be Glad To Be

Affectionately Remembered By You.

 

 

Yours Most Sincerely,

 

 

Theodore Sedgwick.

Chapter IX (From The Commissioners To Colonel Burr) Pg 126

It Has Heretofore Been Stated That Colonel Burr Was Of The Lee And

Gates Party In The Army. A Short Note From Lee To Burr Will Show The

Poignancy Of The General'S Feelings Under The Sentence Of The

Court-Martial, And The Mortification And Disappointment He Experienced

When Congress Refused To Reverse That Sentence.

Chapter IX (From The Commissioners To Colonel Burr) Pg 127

From General Lee.

 

 

October, 1778.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

As You Are So Kind As To Interest Yourself So Warmly In My Favour, I

Cannot Resist The Temptation Of Writing You A Few Lines. Till These

Two Days, I Was Convinced The Congress Would Unanimously Have

Rescinded The Absurd, Shameful Sentence Of The Court-Martial; But,

Within These Two Days, I Am Taught To Think That Equity Is To Be Put

Out Of The Question, And The Decision Of The Affair To Be Put Entirely

On The Strength Of Party; And, For My Own Part, I Do Not See How It Is

Possible, If The Least Decency Or Regard For National Dignity Has

Place, That It Can Be Called A Party Business.

 

 

I Wish I Could Send You The Trial, And Will The Moment I Can Obtain

One. I Think Myself, And I Dare Say You Will Think On The Perusal,

That The Affair Redounds More To My Honour, And The Disgrace Of My

Persecutors, Than, In The Warmth Of Indignation, Either I Or My

Aid-De-Camps Have Represented It. As I Have No Idea That A Proper

Reparation Will Be Made To My Injured Reputation, It Is My Intent,

Whether The Sentence Is Reversed Or Not Reversed, To Resign My

Commission, Retire To Virginia, And Learn To Hoe Tobacco, Which I Find

Is The Best School To Form A Consummate _General_. This Is A Discovery

I Have Lately Made. Adieu. Dear Sir, Believe Me To Be Your Most

 

 

Sincerely Obliged Servant,

 

 

C. Lee.

Chapter IX (From The Commissioners To Colonel Burr) Pg 128

After The Battle Of Monmouth, In June, 1778, Colonel Burr Was

Constantly Employed. His Health, From The Fatigues Of That And The

Subsequent Day, Was Greatly Impaired. Early In October, He Found

Himself, In A Measure, Unfit For Active Service. He Left West Point,

Where His Regiment Was Stationed, And Repaired To Elizabethtown, In

The Hope That A Few Weeks Of Repose Might Prove Beneficial; But In

These Hopes He Was Sorely Disappointed. He Then Determined To Ask A

Furlough, And Retire From The Army For A Few Months, Provided The

Furlough Was Granted Without His Receiving Pay. On This Point He Was

Very Fastidious. By These Feelings He Was Uniformly Governed Through A

Long Life. He Never Sought Nor Accepted An Office For The Emolument It

Afforded. He Wrote The Commander-In-Chief On The Subject, As

Follows:--

Chapter IX (From The Commissioners To Colonel Burr) Pg 129

To General Washington.

 

 

Elizabethtown, 24Th October, 1778.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

The Excessive Heat And Occasional Fatigues Of The Preceding Campaign,

Have So Impaired My Health And Constitution As To Render Me Incapable

Of Immediate Service. I Have, For Three Months Past, Taken Every

Advisable Step For My Recovery, But Have The Mortification To Find,

Upon My Return To Duty, A Return Of Sickness, And That Every Relapse

Is More Dangerous Than The Former. I Have Consulted Several

Physicians; They All Assure Me That A Few Months Retirement And

Attention To My Health Are The Only Probable Means To Restore It. A

Conviction Of This Truth, And Of My Present Inability To Discharge The

Duties Of My Office, Induce Me To Beg Your Excellency'S Permission To

Retire From Pay And Duty Till My Health Will Permit, And The Nature Of

Service Shall More Particularly Require My Attention, Provided Such

Permission Can Be Given Without Subjecting Me To Any Disadvantage In

Point Of My Present Rank And Command, Or Any I Might Acquire During

The Interval Of My Absence.

 

 

I Shall Still Feel And Hold Myself Liable To Be Called Into Service At

Your Excellency'S Pleasure, Precisely As If In Full Pay, And Barely On

Furlough; Reserving To Myself Only The Privilege Of Judging Of The

Sufficiency Of My Health During The Present Appearance Of Inactivity.

My Anxiety To Be Out Of Pay Arises In No Measure From Intention Or

Wish To Avoid Any Requisite Service. But Too Great A Regard To

Malicious Surmises, And A Delicacy Perhaps Censurable, Might Otherwise

Hurry Me Unnecessarily Into Service, To The Prejudice Of My Health,

And Without Any Advantage To The Public, As I Have Had The Misfortune

Already To Experience.

 

 

I Am Encouraged In This Proposal By The Opinion Lord Stirling Has Been

Pleased To Express Of The Justice Of My Request;--The Sense Your

Excellency Must Entertain Of The Weak State Of The Corps In Which I

Have The Honour To Command, And The Present Sufficiency Of Its

Respective Officers. I Purpose Keeping My Quarters At This Place Until

I Have The Honour Of Your Excellency'S Answer, Which I Wait With

Impatience.

 

 

I Am, With Respect,

 

 

Your Humble Servant,

 

 

A. Burr.

 

 

His Excellency George Washington.

Chapter IX (From The Commissioners To Colonel Burr) Pg 130

From General Washington.

 

 

Headquarters, Fredericksburgh, 26Th October, 1778.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

I Have Your Favour Of The 24Th. You, In My Opinion, Carry Your Ideas

Of Delicacy Too Far When You Propose To Drop Your Pay While The

Recovery Of Your Health Necessarily Requires Your Absence From The

Service. It Is Not Customary, And It Would Be Unjust. You Therefore

Have Leave To Retire Until Your Health Is So Far Re-Established As To

Enable You To Do Your Duty. Be Pleased To Give The Colonel Notice Of

This, That He May Know Where To Call Upon You Should Any Unforeseen

Exigency Require It.

 

 

I Am Your Obedient Servant,

 

 

G. Washington.

Chapter IX (From The Commissioners To Colonel Burr) Pg 131

On The Receipt Of The Above Letter, Colonel Burr Repaired To West

Point And Joined His Regiment, Notwithstanding The Shattered State Of

His Constitution. He Was Unwilling To Absent Himself From The Service,

And At The Same Time Receive Pay. Colonel Burr Was Now In His

Twenty-Third Year, And Yet So Youthful Was His Appearance, That

Strangers, On A First Introduction, Viewed Him As A Mere Boy. As

Evidence Of The Fact, He Has Often Related With Great Good-Humour This

Anecdote. While He Was Commanding At West Point, A Countryman Had Some

Business To Transact With Him.

Chapter IX (From The Commissioners To Colonel Burr) Pg 132

He Requested Admittance To Colonel

Burr. The Orderly Sergeant Conducted Him Into Headquarters.

 

 

"Sir," Said The Countryman, "I Wish To See Colonel Burr, As I Have

Something To Say To Him."

 

 

"You May Proceed. I Am Colonel Burr."

 

 

"I Suppose," Rejoined The Honest Farmer, "You Are Colonel Burr'S Son."

 

 

The Sentinel At The Door Heard And Repeated The Conversation, And Burr

Was Often Afterwards Designated As Colonel Burr'S Son. He Remained At

West Point Until December, When He Was Removed To Haverstraw By The

Orders Of General Mcdougall, And Had The Command Of A Brigade,

Consisting Of Malcolm'S Regiment, And A Portion Of Spencer'S And

Patten'S Regiments. He Was Subsequently Ordered To Take Command On The

Lines In Westchester County, A Most Important And Not Less Perilous

Post. In December, He Received From Mrs. J. Montgomery, The Widow Of

General Montgomery, A Letter, As Follows :--

Chapter IX (From The Commissioners To Colonel Burr) Pg 133

From Mrs. Montgomery.

 

 

Rhinebeck, December 25Th, 1775.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

I Take The Liberty To Enclose A List Of Things Mr. Smith Was So Kind

As To Send Me From New-York By The Return Flag. The Captain Of The

Flag, Of Whom I Made Some Inquiries, Professed To Know Nothing Of

Them, And Referred Me To Colonel Burr, Who Might Know Something Of The

Matter.

 

 

I Am Almost Ashamed To Take Up Your Attention About So Small An

Affair; But The Difficulty That Attends Obtaining The Least Article Of

Dress, Must, I Think, Plead My Apology. Besides, Having This

Opportunity, I Would Wish To Assure Colonel Burr Of The Very Great

Respect I Have For Those Gentlemen Whom General Montgomery Professed

To Esteem; Among Which, Sir, I Am Told You Was Not The Least. To Be By

Him Distinguished Argues A Superior Merit, And Will Ensure You A Most

Sincere Welcome At Rhinebeck Should It Lie In Your Way.

 

 

I Am, Sir, With Esteem, Yours, &C.

 

 

J. Montgomery

 

 

Colonel Burr.

Chapter IX (From The Commissioners To Colonel Burr) Pg 134

On Taking Command Of The Lines In Westchester, Colonel Burr Received

From Brother Officers Congratulatory Letters, So Distinguished Was The

Station Considered. Colonel Udney Hay, Under Date Of The 29Th Of

January, 1779, Says, "As You Have Now Got The Post Of Honour, Accept

Of My Sincere Wishes That You May Reap The Laurels I Believe You

Deserve."

 

 

As Soon As Burr Arrived At The Camp, He Commenced A System Of Reform

And Discipline. Previous To His Arrival, There Was Exhibited A Most

Disgraceful Scene Of Plunder, And Sometimes Of Murder, Along The Whole

Frontier. This He Promptly Checked; And, In All His Efforts To

Accomplish This End, He Was Sustained By General Mcdougall.

Chapter IX (From The Commissioners To Colonel Burr) Pg 135

To General Mcdougall.

 

 

Camp, White Plains, 12Th January, 1779.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

The Enclosed Return Will Show You The Deficiency Of Officers And Men

At This Post. Above The Complement For The Parties, I Wish To Have A

Guard For Myself, And A Commissary'S Guard. To Detail Men For These

Purposes Will Interfere With The Rotation Of Duty.

 

 

I Arrived Here On Friday Evening. The Weather On Saturday Was Too

Severe And Stormy To Permit Me To Make Myself Acquainted With The Post

And Disposition Of The Troops. I Improved Yesterday For Those

Purposes, And Found It Necessary To Alter The Position. I Have Moved

The Left Three Miles Forward, And The Two Centre Divisions So As To

Allign With That And Tarrytown. The Posts Now Possessed By These

Detachments Are,

 

 

_First._ Tarrytown.

 

 

_Second._ Isaac Reed'S And John Hammond'S, Near Sawmill River.

 

 

_Third._ Starr'S And Moses Miller'S, One And A Half Miles In Front Of

Young'S.

 

 

_Fourth._ Merritt'S And Neighbouring Houses, Near Farmer Oakley'S.

 

 

By This Arrangement The Extent Of My Command Is Contracted Three

Miles, And The Distance From My Left To The Sound Is Three Miles Less

Than Before. The Men More Compact, And The Posts Equidistant From The

Enemy. While I Was Upon The Business Above Mentioned, Colonel

Littlefield And Mr. Thomas Visited Colonel Enos And Lieutenant-Colonel

Holdridge, To Enforce The Necessity Of An Immediate Junction, To

Complete The Security Of The Country Upon The Present Plan; But These

Gentlemen Say They Have No Orders To Cross Biram River. They Have

Their Quarters In Horseneck, And Some Troops Are North Of That Place.

Thus, Notwithstanding My Endeavours, The Country Will Be Unprotected,

And I Am Insecure.

 

 

I Enclose You The Arrest Of A Captain Brown. I Am Sorry For The

Necessity Of Any Thing Which May Have The Appearance Of Severity; But

The Avowal Of Behaviour So Very Unbecoming Constrained Me To It. The

Required Parties Of Militia Will, I Believe, Join Me This Week. I

Shall Write You About Iron-Bound Casks In A Few Days. There Is Not A

Hide, The Property Of The Country, In All This Quarter, Except

Fourteen In The Hands Of The Commissary Of Hides. I Shall, As Soon As

Possible, Make Myself Acquainted With The Officers Of The Militia. I

Have Sent To Bedford, But Have No Answer, About Rum, &C.

 

 

I Send The Names Of A Few Of Malcolm'S Officers, Whom I Would Wish

Were Ordered To Join Me Immediately. Some Of Them, I Believe, Are

Absent. Lieutenant-Colonel Littlefield Had It In Intention To Go With

Most Of The Men This Evening On An Expedition To West Farms And

Morrisania. Abstracted From Your Verbal Instructions, The Plan

Appeared To Me Premature. The Men Here Are Not Half Officered; The

Country By No Means Sufficiently Reconnoitred; The Force Very

Inadequate, Even For Covering Parties. As There Was A Prospect That

Each Of The Inconveniences Would Shortly Be Removed, I Advised To

Defer It. To Convince Them That My Disapprobation Arose From No

Jealousy Of Honour, I Told Colonel Littlefield That If The Enterprise

Should Hereafter Be Thought More Advisable, I Would Leave To Him The

Execution: If I Should Think Proper To Send Him On That Command, I

Would Act With The Covering Party. One Hundred And Fifty Continentals

And Fifty Militia Was The Force Proposed For This Evening; But As

There Are A Number Of Volunteers On The Spot, I Consented To And

Encouraged An Excursion To Frog'S Neck, Under Colonel Littlefield. I

Expect Little From It, But Have Not So Much To Fear.

 

 

I Hope Mr. Stagg Succeeded In His Application To Mr. Erskine. A

Draught Of The Country Would Be Of Great Service To Me. In Your

Instructions About Plunder, You Direct That All The Fat Horses, &C. In

The Hands Of Disaffected Persons, "Lying Certain Courses," Are To Be

Taken, On The Supposition That They Are Designed For, Or Will Fall

Into The Hands Of, The Enemy. As This Mode Of Determining May Be The

Source Of Much Altercation, I Could Wish, If You Thought Proper, The

Seizable Property Might Be Designated By A Certain Number Of Miles

Below Our Lines, Or Below The Line Intended To Be Formed From

Tarrytown, Through White Plains, To Sawpits Or Rye.

 

 

The Two Parties From Paterson'S Brigade Will Most Of Them Want Shoes

In Ten Days. It Is My Opinion That A Great Part Of Those Who Came Last

With New Shoes, Will Not, At The Expiration Of The Time, Be Able To

Return For The Want Of Shoes. Those They Now Have Are Of The Slightest

French Make; Many Already Worn Out. If These Men Must Be Again

Relieved By Others Better Shod, And They Again In A Few Days, There

Will Be Such An Endless Marching And Countermarching As Will Harass

The Troops, And Wear Out More Shoes Than All The Duty Performed Here.

Would Not These Evils Be In Some Measure Remedied By Sending Me A

Parcel Of Shoes? I Will Keep An Exact Account Of The Regiment They Are

Delivered To.

 

 

Your Most Obedient Servant,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter IX (From The Commissioners To Colonel Burr) Pg 136

To General Mcdougall.

 

 

White Plains, January 13Th, 1779.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

All The Horsemen Were So Infatuated With The Itch For Scouting, That I

Had Not One To Despatch With The Letter Herewith Sent. Colonel

Littlefield, With The Party, Returned This Morning. They Brought Up

One Prisoner. I Shall Send Him Up With Another Grand Rascal To-Morrow.

There Are Evidences Enough Against Merritt To Hang A Dozen Such, But

Many Of Them Dare Not Appear At Present.

 

 

Notwithstanding The Cautions I Gave, And Notwithstanding Colonel

Littlefield'S Good Intentions, I Blush To Tell You That The Party

Returned Loaded With Plunder. Sir, Till Now, I Never Wished For

Arbitrary Power. I Could Gibbet Half A Dozen _Good Whigs_, With All

The Venom Of An Inveterate Tory. The Party Had Not Been Returned An

Hour, Before I Had Six Or Seven Persons From New-Rochelle And Frog'S

Neck, With Piteous Applications For Stolen Goods And Horses. Some Of

These Persons Are Of The Most Friendly Families. I Am Mortified That

Not An Officer On The Ground Has Shown Any Activity To Detect The

Plunderers Or Their Spoil. I Have Got Three Horses, And A Number Of

Other Articles, And Have Confined Two Soldiers Who Had Them In

Possession. But These Are Petty Rascals. I Feel More Pity Than

Indignation Towards Them. They Were Honest Men Till Debauched By This

Expedition. I Believe Some Officers Are Concerned. If I Can Be Assured

Of That (And I Shall Spare No Labour), You May Depend On Seeing Them

With A File Of Men. The Militia Volunteers Excelled In This Business.

If I Detect Them I Shall Treat Them With The Same Rigour, Unless You

Advise To The Contrary. I Wish You Would Give Me Directions. I Have At

Least A Fortnight'S Work Before Me To Undo The Doings Of Last Night.

 

 

This Day I Enter On My Command. Truly An Ominous Commencement. Is This

The Promised Protection? I Read In The Face Of Every Child I Pass; For

The Whole _Honour_ Of The Expedition Redounds To Me. But Enough Of

This; More Perhaps Than You Will Thank Me For. Webbers Was Of The

Party, And Can Give You A History. I Now Perceive From Whence Arose

The Ardour For Scouting. I Suppose The Sergeants' Parties Of Militia,

When They Join Me, Will Be Subject To Courts Of The Line.

 

 

Your Most Obedient Servant,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter IX (From The Commissioners To Colonel Burr) Pg 137

From Major Platt, Aid To General Mcdougall.

 

 

Peekskill, January 14Th, 1779.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

The General Has Received Yours, And Directs Me To Inform You That Such

Assistance Will Be Granted As Is Necessary For The Protection Of The

Country And Your Honour.

 

 

He Desires That No Expedition Be Set On Foot Till You Hear Further

From Him. He Has No Objections To Colonel Littlefield'S Remaining With

You Till The Arrival Of More Officers.

 

 

Handcuffs Will Be Sent You As Soon As They Can Be Made. If You Have A

Number Of Prisoners At Any Time To Send Up, Let Them Be Fastened Right

And Left Hands, And The Guard Cut The Strings Of Their Breeches, And

There Will Be No Danger Of Their Making Their Escape, As They Will Be

Obliged To Hold Them Up Continually With One Hand.

 

 

Last Evening Josiah Fowler Made His Escape From The Provost; Possibly

He May Fall Into The Hands Of Your Scouts Or Patrols. If He Does,

Please To Take The Best Care Of Him.

 

 

The General Will Write You Fully By The Captain Who Will Soon

Re-Enforce You. One Hundred Pair Of Shoes Will Be Sent You. The Map Of

The Country Is Herewith Transmitted, For The Purpose Of Taking A

Sketch Of It. You Will Please To Do It As Soon As Possible, And Send

It Up By A Careful Hand. The General Does Not Wish You Ever To Carry

It From Your Quarters.

 

 

Your Most Obedient Servant,

 

 

Richard Platt, Aid-De-Camp.

Chapter IX (From The Commissioners To Colonel Burr) Pg 138

From General Mcdougall.

 

 

Headquarters, Peekskill, January 15Th, 1779.

 

 

My Dear Sir,

 

 

Your Favours Of The 11Th And 12Th, With Their Enclosures, Came Duly To

Hand.

 

 

I Am Much Mortified That Captain Brown Should Have Merited Your

Putting Him In An Arrest. But You Have Done Your Duty, For Which

Accept My Thanks.

 

 

If An Officer Commanding An Outpost Will Not Be Very Vigilant, He

Exposes His Party To Be Butchered, As The Unfortunate Colonel Balor

Lately Experienced.

 

 

I Am Very Sorry The Militia Have Conducted So Disorderly; But I Wish

You To Deal Tenderly With Them, As They Are Brave, And Are Very Sore,

By The Plundering Of The Tories. But Support The Honour Of Our Arms

And Your Own, By Giving Redress To The Innocent And Defenceless.

 

 

As The Principal Objects Of Your Command Are To Protect The Good

People Of These States, And Prevent Supplies Going To The Enemy, You

Will Not Send Out Any Parties, Or Make Any Excursions, But What Are

Necessary For Intelligence, And The Preservation Of Your Parties, Till

Further Orders. Your Own Ideas On This Subject Fully Meet My

Approbation. In The Meantime, Let All The Officers And Men Of Your

Command, Who Are Unacquainted With The Ground, Traverse It

Alternately, From Flank To Flank, And As Many Miles In Front As You

May Judge Necessary. The Position Of The Whole I Leave To Your Own

Discretion, As Circumstances Shall Arise. A Good Captain, And Twenty

Picked Men, Of Nixon'S, With Two Drums, Accompany This, To Re-Enforce

Your Left, And The Orders Are Despatched To Major Pawling For The

Officers You Wrote For. One Hundred Pair Of Shoes_ Will Be Sent To You

By This Snow.

 

 

Send Up All Burgoyne'S Men, With A Good Corporal And Small Party Of

The Nine-Months Men, With The First Deserters Or Prisoners. The

Sergeants' Parties Of The Militia Who Are To Join You, Will, By Their

Engagements, Be Under The Continental Articles Of War. If Any Of The

Militia Who May Go Out On Scouts Or Parties With Yours Will Not Submit

To The Articles Of War And Your Orders, Don'T Suffer Them To Go With

Them, Nor To Appropriate Any Plunder; But Order It To Be Given To The

Continental Troops, And Those Who Shall Submit To Those Articles.

 

 

If Any Of The Militia Maraud, Send Them Up To Me, With A Guard. They

Must Not Be Suffered To Violate Civil And Military Law. The

Legislature Is The Proper Authority To Enable Them To Make Reprisals.

For Whatever Disorders They Commit In Front Of Your Lines, Will Be

Placed By The Enemy To Your Account.

 

 

In All Doubtful Questions Which May Arise On My Orders As To The

Limits Or Legality Of Plunder In Your Front, _I Authorize You To Be

The Sole Judge._ In The Exercise Of This Trust, It Is My Wish You

Should Lean To The Honour Of Our Arms.

 

 

A Surgeon Is Directed To Attend Your Party; When He Arrives, Please To

Advise Me Of It, That I May Be Relieved From All Anxiety About You And

Your Corps. If You Are Not Supplied With Rum Before A Quantity Of It

Arrives Here, We Shall Not Forget You. If Your Horsemen Are Mounted

And Appointed, As Well As Your Horse-Guides, They Will Receive The

Same Pay. If The Oxen At Mr. Hunter'S Are Not In Working Order, Put

Them In The Care Of Your Forage-Master Till They Are.

 

 

If You Can Get The Articles Taken From The Inhabitants In The Late

Expedition Restored, Let The Militia Off For That Offence. When You

Get Things In Train, I Flatter Myself You Will Not Have Any Fixture

Trouble With Them. But The Officers Of The Regular Troops Must Be

Rigorously Dealt With, According To Our Martial Law.

 

 

As You And The Commissary Will Be In The Rear Of The Whole, The

Nine-Months Men, Worse Shod Than The Other Troops, May Serve Till I

Have More Leisure To Complete Your Corps.

 

 

Don'T Omit Sending To Me All The Newspapers You Can Procure. I Am So

Borne Down With Correspondence, That I Can Only Add That

 

 

I Am Your Affectionate Humble Servant,

 

 

Alexander Mcdougall.

Chapter IX (From The Commissioners To Colonel Burr) Pg 139

P. S. I Fear The Pickets From Your Parties Are Too Far Advanced From

Them. The Distance Ought Not To Exceed Half A Mile At Night; And The

Quarters Of The Pickets Should Be Changed Every Night After Dark.

Frequent Patrols From Each Give The Best Security.

 

 

I Submit It To Your Consideration Whether It Would Not Be Of Service

To Have A Quantity Of Old Rags Collected At Each Party And Picket, For

The Patrols To Muffle Their Feet With In Frosty Weather When There Is

No Snow On The Ground. It Will Prevent Their Being Heard By The Enemy,

And Yours Will Hear Those Of The Enemy If There Are Any Near Them.

 

 

A. M'D.

Footnote Pg 140

 

 

 

1. There Were Two Families Of Van Schaicks In The State Of New-York.

They Spelled Their Names Differently. The Family Of Colonel _Van

Schaick_ Were Revolutionary Whigs. The _Van Schaacks_ Were Adherents

Of The Crown.

Chapter X Pg 141

 

 

 

To General Malcolm.

 

 

White Plains, 21St January, 1779.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

Mr. Benjamin Sands, And Three Other Persons From Long Island, Banished

For Malepractices, Wait On You With This. Benjamin Sands, Jun. Appears

To Be A Man Of Good Understanding. He Can Give You A Detail Of Their

Sufferings.

 

 

Captain Black And Three Subalterns Of Malcolm'S Regiment Joined Me

Yesterday.

 

 

William Burtis Goes Under Guard To You To-Morrow. Also A Garret

Duyckman, Whom I Took Upon Information Of Burtis. I Knew Of Burtis

Having Drove Cattle Before The Receipt Of Your Letter. Of His Being A

Spy I Know Nothing. Burtis Wishes To Procure Favour By Giving

Information. I Enclose His Confession To Me, That You May Compare It

With His Story To You. He Has Not Told Me All He Knows, I Am

Convinced. I Can Secure Elijah Purdy Any Time If You Direct. There Is

No Danger In Delaying Till I Can Hear From You. I Wish To Clear The

Country Of These Rascals. It Would Be Of Infinite Service To Hang A

Few Up In This Neighbourhood.

 

 

The Two Parties From Nixon'S Brigade, Which Came Under Sergeant'S Last

Week, Are So Distressed For Clothes, That I Am Obliged To Send Them To

Their Regiments. They Came Provided But For One Week. Lieutenant

Wottles Marches Them Up. I Wish Him To Return With The Re-Enforcement.

I Have Sent The Corporal And Sixty-Nine Men To Bedford. I Have Now

About 170 Privates. A Single Company, And Twelve From Hammond'S

Regiment, Join Me To-Day. That Is His Complement.

 

 

A Commissary Of Hides At This Place Can Furnish Me With Shoes As I

Want Them, If You Will Give An Order For That Purpose. He Delivers

None Without A General Order. I Can Purchase Rum Here At Twenty

Dollars Per Gallon. There Is No Commissary Of Purchases.

 

 

There Are A Number Of Women Here Of Bad Character, Who Are Continually

Running To New-York And Back Again. If They Were Men, I Should Flog

Them Without Mercy.

 

 

It Was The Indolence Of The Commissary, And Not The Real Scarcity Of

Wheat, Which Alarmed Me. I Shall Not Trouble You Again On The Score Of

Flour. I Send You Two Papers By The Sergeant.

 

 

Yours Respectfully,

 

 

 A. Burr.

Chapter X Pg 142

From General Mcdougall.

 

 

Peekskill, January 22, 1779.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

There Are Reasons, Which I Shall Explain To You At A Proper Time, Why

----- Should Not Be Sought After. Make A Great Noise About Him; Abuse

Him As The Vilest Of Horse Thieves, And A Spy For The Enemy; But Send

No Parties After Him. If You Are Told Where He Is, Turn Off The Matter

By Some Pretext Or Other. Don'T Carry This Out On Party, Or Out Of

Your Quarters To Any Unsafe Place.

 

 

Yours Affectionately,

 

 

Alexander Mcdougall.

Chapter X Pg 143

From William Paterson.

 

 

January 27Th.

 

 

I Am At The Hermitage, My Dear Burr, And Cannot Forbear Writing You A

Few Lines, Although I Expected, Before This Time, To Have Been

Favoured With A Letter From You. Mrs. Prevost Informs Me That There Is

The Most Flattering Prospect Of Your Soon Being Reinstated In Your

Health. The Intelligence Gives Me Real Pleasure, And The More So,

Because, Until Mrs. Prevost Told Me, I Had No Idea Of Your Disorder

Being So Rooted And Dangerous. May Health Soon Revisit You, My Good

Friend; And When It Does, May It Continue With You For Years. I Am

Pleased With The Hope Of Seeing You In Jersey Early In The Spring. I

Shall Be This Way Again In March, When Perhaps I Shall Meet You At

This Place. I Write This Standing In The Midst Of Company. I Am Called

Off To Court, And Therefore, For This Time, Adieu.

 

 

William Paterson.

Chapter X Pg 144

From Major Platt, Aid To General Mcdougall.

 

 

Peekskill, January 26Th, 1779.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

Captain Wiley, Of Learned'S Brigade, Will Hand You This. He Brings

With Him Forty Men, I Believe As Good As Any In The Army. 'Tis The

General'S Intention That Nixon'S, Paterson'S, And The Late Learned'S

Brigades, Shall Each Furnish A Party Of Sixty. You Will Please, After

Selecting The Best Men For Your Parties, To Order All The Rest (Save

Your Own And Commissary'S Guard) To Join Their Corps, As They Complain

The Duty Is Hard Above. Either Captain Williams Or Spur Must Leave

You, As Captain Wiley Will Command The Party From Learned'S. If There

Are Three Subs For Each Party Exclusive Of Those From Your Own

Regiment, You Can Detain The Whole Of The Subs Of Other Brigades Or

Not, As You Like.

 

 

Kearsley Has Not Yet Joined. The General Will Review All Your Letters

In A Day Or Two, And Give Them Full Answers.

 

 

I Am Your Most Obedient Servant,

 

 

Richard Platt, Aid-De-Camp.

Chapter X Pg 145

To General Mcdougall.

 

 

White Plains, January 29Th, 1779.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

I Had This Day The Favour Of Yours By Lieutenant Rost. The Same

Gentleman Brought Me A Re-Enforcement Of Thirty-Nine Privates, And A

Proportion Of Officers. This Enables Me To Send To Camp A Few Of The

Worst Provided Of The Nine-Months Men. The Returning Party Takes Up

The Prisoners Mentioned In My Last, And A Deserter. Two More Of

Malcolm'S Officers Have Joined Me.

 

 

I Enclose You A Copy Of A Letter From Colonel Holdridge. The

Enterprise Appears To Me Something Romantic; But I Have Acquainted

Colonel Holdridge Of The Steps I Shall Take Should It Prove Serious,

And Have Appointed A Place Near This To Meet Him, If He Thinks It

Necessary. The Number, Disposition, And Apparent Intentions Of The

Enemy Will Point Out Our Duty. I Am This Evening Told, By Good

Authority, That Emerick Is Re-Enforced, Either By Volunteer Or

Enlisted Refugees, To The Amount Of 4 Or 500, And That There Are

Strong Symptoms Of An Excursion. I Shall Pay Due Attention To These

Reports And Authorities.

 

 

These Two Days Past I Have Taken A Particular View Of The Country And

Roads From White Plains To Mamaroneck, Rye, And Sawpits. I Find It

Much Easier Protected, And More Secure, Than The Western Part Of This

County. From The Bronx To Mamaroneck River, Through White Plains, Is

Three Miles. There Are Very Few Fords Or Bridges On Either Of Those

Rivers. Might It Not Be Of Service To Draw A Line, If But For A Few

Days, From Bronx To Rye, Or Mamaroneck? The Purchase Would Be

Certainly A Ridiculous Post.

 

 

The Map Is Herewith Sent. Lieutenant Chatburn, Who Has Business At

West Point, Will Deliver This.

 

 

Yours Respectfully,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter X Pg 146

From General Mcdougall.

 

 

Headquarters, Peekskill, 6Th February, 1779.

 

 

My Dear Sir,

 

 

I Have Devoted Part Of This Night To Review Your Letters, And To Give

Them Some Kind Of Answers. I Can Only Mention Ideas. I Leave You To

Dilate Them.

 

 

The Bearer Is One Of The Sentries Who Was Partly The Occasion Of The

Late Misfortune. I Have Reproved Them Severely, Which I Hope Will Have

The Desired Effect. For The Future, Order The Sentry Who Does Not Fire

The Alarm One Hundred Lashes, And The Like Number To Any Who Shall

Part With His Arms Without Its Being Wrested From Him By The Enemy;

And A Reward Of Twenty Dollars To Any Non-Commissioned Officer Or

Soldier Who Shall Bring In Such Arms. Publish This In Orders.

 

 

I Am Fully Sensible Of Your Embarrassments And Difficulties, For Want

Of Vigilant Officers And Discipline. Be It Your Honour To Surmount

Them. Accept Of My Thanks For Your Attention To The Service. Order One

Pound And A Half Of Flour Or Bread, And The Like Quantity Of Meat, To

Each Man, Till The First Of April. The Duty Is Hard, And Exercise

Increases The Appetite. Will It Not Advance The Service To Send You

Down Some Biscuit? Give Commissary Leake No Rest Without Vegetables.

His Guard Will Be Relieved By A Militia One. How Many Sergeants'

Parties Have You? Your Guard And That Of The Commissary Will Be Taken

From The Brigades, As 120 From Paterson'S Is To 60 From The Others. In

Returns, Designate The Strength From Each Brigade. The Regiments Whose

Men Have No Bayonets, Some Means Will Be Devised To Furnish Them.

Heavy Packs Should Not Be At The Stated Quarters. Fix A Day Beforehand

When You Will Hear The Complaints Of The Disaffected. If Any Come On

Other Days, Give Them Thirty-Nine Lashes First; Wait The Effects Of

This Discipline.

 

 

The Oath Of Allegiance Is No Criterion Of Characters, Nor The Want Of

A Certificate Thereof An Evidence Of A Person'S Being Disaffected.

Uniform Character Is The Best Rule To Judge. Send Up Under Guard All

Women Who Stroll To New-York Without Leave. But Cause Them To Be Well

Searched By Matrons For Papers _Immediately_ When They Are Taken;

Hair, Caps, Stays, And Its Lining, Should Be Well Examined. Do The

Like To Those Going Down. Send Up The Evidences Against Bettice. I

Approve Your Manner Of Treating Captain Williams. I Did Not Yet Intend

The Hard Money Taken By Him Should Be Distributed. But, If It Is Done,

Let It Remain So. In Future, No Hard Money Should Be Distributed. You

Will See The Use I Intend It For In A Few Days. I Am Sure It Will

Divert You. I Hope Soon To Make Up Another Party Of Sixty. If

Lieutenant Freeman Is Not Returned To You, I Shall Send For Him. Are

The Wagons You Mentioned Some Time Ago Returned? What Is Become Of The

Rifles? I Want Them Much For The Servants Who Go Out With Me On

Horseback. All Returning Parties Should March Together Till They

Arrive At The Cantonment Of The First Corps, Then With Their

Respective Officers. This Will Prevent Disorders.

 

 

After Rain Or Snow, I Wish You To Inspect The Arms, And Order Them, In

Your Presence, To Discharge Them At A Mark. The Few Cartridges Spent

In This Way Will Be Well Disposed Of. Colonel Putnam Is Marched To The

Mouth Of Croton. Greaton'S, In Two Or Three Days, Moves Near Pine'S

Bridge On That River. I Think The Present Scarcity Of Bread Will

Prevent A Movement Of The Enemy With Regular Troops. Major-General

Putnam Is Right In Having The Militia Of Fairfield Ready, If It Has

Not The Effect On Them, Like That Of The Boy And The Wolf In The

Fable. If Ensign Leeland Is Still On The Lines, Send Him Up As An

Evidence Against Captain Brown.

 

 

A Sea-Captain, Who, With Three Others, Made Their Escape From New-York

The Night Of The 4Th Instant, Says Fourteen Sail Of The Cork Fleet Had

Arrived Last Sunday.

 

 

I Am Your Affectionate

 

 

Alexander Mcdougall.

Chapter X Pg 147

From General Mcdougall.

 

 

Headquarters, Peekskill, 7Th February, 1779.

 

 

My Dear Sir,

 

 

I Directed Major Platt, Some Days Since, To Inform You, No Provision

Of Any Kind Should Be Suffered To Go Below You Till Further Orders.

Please To Announce This To The Justices. You Have Herewith A Flag;

Fill Up The Blank. On Its Return, Desire The Officer To Call At

Colonel Phillips'S For Any Papers Or Catalogues Of Books Which May Be

Left There For Me. The Letter To Mr. Delancey To Be Left With The

Enemy'S Officer On His Advanced Post. Cast Your Mind On The Best Means

Of Sweeping Westchester And West Farms Of The Tories When It Is Good

Sledding, Supposing Two Regiments To Cover You. But This Under The

Rose.

 

 

Gonsalez Manuel, The Bearer Of This, Brings With Him John Broughton, A

Prisoner Of War, Who Is Exchanged. You Will Please To Order Him Kept

At A Convenient Distance In The Rear Till The Flag Goes In, When He Is

To Be Sent And Delivered To The Commanding Officer Of The Advanced

Post. A Receipt Must Be Taken For Him And Transmitted To Me.

 

 

Affectionately,

 

 

Alexander Mcdougall.

Chapter X Pg 148

From Major Platt.

 

 

Peekskill, February 23D, 1779.

 

 

Dear Burr,

 

 

In Yours Of Yesterday You Requested Particular Care Of The Enclosed,

But There Was None. Malcolm Left This Yesterday For Haverstraw. He

Intends, With Major Pawling, To Pay You A Visit By Water, And Perhaps

It Will Be To-Day. I Think There Is Some Probability Of His Relieving

You. At Any Rate, You Will Be Relieved By The Time You Wish.

 

 

As The General Writes Fully By This Conveyance, I Shall Not Be So

Particular As I Otherwise Would. Cammell Will Be Down Shortly To Pay

Off Accounts. One Dollar Per Day Is Allowed For A Saddle-Horse. Your

Certificates To The Van Warts Will Entitle Them To Their Pay, Be It

What It May.

 

 

The General Has Ordered Williams And Wattles To Return The Hard Money

To Him. It Will Be Put In Your Hands. Love To Roger, When He Comes.

Compliments To Malcolm'S Lads And Benson.

 

 

With Singular Affection,

 

 

R. Platt.

Chapter X Pg 149

From General Mcdougall

 

 

Headquarters, 23D February, 1779.

 

 

My Dear Sir,

 

 

Your Several Favours Have Been Handed To Me. I Have Not Time Now To

Answer Them Fully. It Will, However, Be Done By Major Hull, Who Is

Ordered Down To Assist You. All Your Wishes Will Be Gratified. One

Hundred And Twenty Picked Men, With Bayonets, Will Reach You

To-Morrow. Send Your Commissary Up For Rum. Let Him Call On Me.

 

 

I Am Yours,

 

 

Alexander Mcdougall.

Chapter X Pg 150

From General Mcdougall.

 

 

Headquarters, 15Th February, 1779.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

Your Favour Of The 12Th Came To Hand With The Prisoners. I Have Long

Known Ackerly Was Up, And His Business, But Did Not Think His Present

Situation Of Sufficient Importance To Have Him Taken By K. Mr. Platt

Will Inform You How I Intend To Supply You With Bayonets. He Reached

You, I Suppose, Yesterday Evening. I Intend To Send Down The Remains

Of Colonel Poor'S Regiment For A Few Days, To Cover A Forage Making By

Mr. Hayes Near Mamaroneck; And Shall Send By Them Public Arms, With

Bayonets, To Be Exchanged For Yours Which Want Them. No Good Officer

Or Man Now Below With You Must Be Relieved Till Further Orders. Give

The Officers Of Poor'S All The Advice And Assistance You Can. The

Money Taken From Ketor Will Be Divided Among The Officers And Men In

Such Manner As You Think Proper. I Shall Send Them Down Six For One

When I Can Raise Cash.

 

 

Greaton'S Is At Pine Bridge. Nixon Moves In Two Days To Support

Putnam. The Stated Express Is On This Side Croton, At His Own House.

His Name Is John Cross, A Refugee From New-York. Give Me The Earliest

Advice Of Any Appearance Of A Movement Of The Enemy On The River. Mrs.

Pollock Was Detained With The Late Bad Weather Two Nights. She Left

This At Eight This Morning.

 

 

I Am, Sir, Yours, &C.,

 

 

Alexander Mcdougall.

Chapter X Pg 151

From Major Platt, Aid To General Mcdougall.

 

 

Headquarters, 25Th February, 1779.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

The General Wishes You To Detain The Best Officers And Men, For Five

Complete Parties Of Sixty: And, As Soon As Major Hull Can Be Made

Acquainted With Your Posts, And The Nature Of Your Command, He Desires

You Will Ride Up To Headquarters If There Is No Probability Of A

Movement From Below, And He Will Concert With You Such Measures As

Shall Be Thought Expedient.

 

 

The Combustible Balls Are Not Yet Come To Hand. Five Or Six Boxes Of

Ammunition Will Be Sent Down To Tarrytown By Water The First

Opportunity. 'Tis Necessary That Dr Eustis, If Not At The Plains,

Should Be Sent For.

 

 

I Am Your Obedient Servant,

 

 

Richard Platt, Aid-De-Camp.

 

 

P.S.--Please To Inform The General Whether Colonel Poor'S Men Have

Accomplished The Business They Were Sent Upon Or Not.

Chapter X Pg 152

From General Mcdougall.

 

 

Headquarters, Peekskill, 26Th February, 1779.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

I Received Your Letter Of This Day. Colonel Putnam Is Ordered To March

And Join You, And To Act As Circumstances Shall Cast Up. Five Boxes Of

Ammunition Are Ordered To Be Carried To You Immediately From King'S

Ferry, By Water. Leave A Small Party To Receive It, And A Cart To

Carry It Where You Shall Order It. As The Strength Of The Enemy Is Not

Mentioned, I Can Give No Other Orders.

 

 

Yours, &C.,

 

 

Alexander Mcdougall.

Chapter X Pg 153

From General Mcdougall.

 

 

Headquarters, 27Th February, 1779.

 

 

My Dear Sir,

 

 

Your Favour Of Yesterday Reached Me At 8 P.M. It Was Immediately

Answered. Colonel Putnam Was Ordered To March And Join You; He Has

Taken Nixon'S Regiment With Him. Greaton'S Was Put In Motion At The

Same Time, To Join The Brigade, If The Enemy Did Not Continue To

Advance In Connecticut. At Half Past Ten Of The Same Evening, Five

Boxes Of Ammunition Was Sent To You From King'S Ferry, By Water, With

Orders To Keep Close In Shore, For Fear Of Accidents. I Hope It Has

Reached You. Your Letter Of This Day, At 7 A. M., Came To Hand An Hour

Ago. From The Reputed Strength Of The Enemy, I Am Pleased With Your

Position. I Think It Promises Success And Laurels. I Hope Bearmore

Will Smart For His Temerity. You Are All Too Remote From Me To Render

Orders Expedient. Circumstances Must Direct Your Movements. If The

Enemy _Move_, Or Appear In _Force_ On The River, Or A Movement On It

In Force Should _Apparently_ Be Intended, Send Up All Paterson'S

Detachments By _Forced_ Marches. I Commit You And Your Corps To The

Lord Of Hosts. Greaton Has Four Boxes Of Spare Ammunition. He Will Be

On The North Castle Road To The Plains.

 

 

Yours Affectionately,

 

 

Alexander Mcdougall.

Chapter X Pg 154

From General Mcdougall.

 

 

Headquarters, Peekskill, 6Th March, 1779.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

This Will Be Delivered To You By Mr. John Pine, Who Acted Last

Campaign As A Horse-Guide. He Is A True Friend To The Country.

Whenever He Shall Get Properly Mounted, And Reports Himself To You For

Service, Give Him A Certificate Of The Day, And Employ Him.

 

 

Enclosed You Have A List Of Horse-Thieves And Others Who Act Very

Prejudicial To Our Cause. I Wish To Have Them Taken And Sent Up Here.

Perhaps It Will Be Most Eligible To Make The Attempt On All At The

Same Time. But I Do Not Wish To Retard The Forage On Your Left, As

Those Posts Are In Great Want Of That Article.

 

 

I Am, Sir, Your Humble Servant,

 

 

Alexander Mcdougall.

Chapter X Pg 155

From General Putnam.

 

 

Camp, Horse Neck, 9Th March, 1779.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

I Have Received A Letter From Colonel Emerick (British), Informing Me

That One Butler, Who Has Been A Prisoner In New-York, Being Unable To

Travel On Foot, Obtained Of Colonel Emerick A Dragoon And Two Horses

To Conduct Him Some Part Of His Way In The Country. That Butler Made

The Dragoon Drunk, Then Brought Him Off, Together With The Horses. The

Whole Of Which He, In His Letter, Makes A Demand To Be Returned.

 

 

Colonel Emerick Has Been Misinformed As To Butler'S Acting So

Faithless. The Truth Of The Matter Is, That Butler Wanted The Dragoon

To Return With The Horses, But That He (The Dragoon) Refused To Do,

And Swore He Would Never Return. I Would Advise You By All Means To

Send The Dragoon To Colonel Emerick In Irons, Together With The

Horses, As A Refusal Would Be Contrary To All Public Faith.

 

 

I Am, With The Greatest Respect,

 

 

Israel Putnam.

Chapter X Pg 156

From General Mcdougall.

 

 

Headquarters, Peekskill, 11Th March, 1779.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

Yours Of The 9Th Has Reached Me. If The Militia Of Colonel Drake'S Are

Good Men, Arm Them Of General Paterson'S, And I Will Replace Them To

Him. Take The Receipts Of Every Man Who Shall Be Armed By The Public,

And Send Them To Me. The Old General Is Not A Civilian. Send Colonel

Emerick The Enclosed Copy Of The Horseman'S Deposition. Stop No

Provisions, When Small Quantities Answer For The Purpose Of -----. The

Plunderers Will Be Punished On The Lines, But Tried Here. The Names Of

The Witnesses Are Wanting. What You Wrote For, To Answer Certain

Purposes, Shall Be Collected As Soon As Possible.

 

 

Give Me The True History Of The Facts Relative To The Mare Sold By

Wattles. He Quibbles. Did He Know The Printed Orders?--Was She Sold

Conformable? The Paymasters Will Be Ordered Down, And Soap Shall Be

Sent.

 

 

In Haste, Yours, &C.,

 

 

Alexander Mcdougall.

Chapter X Pg 157

The Preceding Correspondence Is Evidence Of The Military Character Of

Colonel Burr, And His Standing With General Mcdougall. Although His

Rank Was Only That Of A Lieutenant-Colonel, Yet He Was Constantly In

The Actual Command Of A Regiment, And Frequently Of A Brigade. His

Seniors Were Withdrawn From The Post (Which Was Generally A Post Of

Danger) Where He Was Stationed; Or Detachments Were Taken From

Different Regiments So As To Make Up For Him A Separate And

Independent Command. No Man Had A Better Opportunity Than Samuel

Young, Esq., Of Knowing Colonel Burr'S Habits And Conduct While

Stationed In Westchester. Mr. Young Was At One Time A Member Of The

State Legislature, And For Many Years Surrogate Of The County. The

Following Letter Contains Some Interesting Details.

Chapter X (Samuel Young To Commodore Valentine Morris) Pg 158

 

 

 

Mount Pleasant (Westchester), 25Th January, 1814.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

Your Letter Of The 30Th Ultimo, Asking For Some Account Of The

Campaign In Which I Served, Under The Command Of Colonel Burr, During

The Revolutionary War, Was Received Some Days Ago, And Has Been

Constantly In My Mind. I Will Reply To It With Pleasure, But The

Compass Of A Letter Will Not Admit Of Much Detail.

 

 

I Resided In The Lines From The Commencement Of The Revolution Until

The Winter Of The Year 1780, When My Father'S House Was Burnt, By

Order Of The British General. The County Of Westchester, Very Soon

After The Commencement Of Hostilities, Became, On Account Of Its

Exposed Situation, A Scene Of Deepest Distress. From The Croton To

Kingsbridge, Every Species Of Rapine And Lawless Violence Prevailed.

No Man Went To His Bed But Under The Apprehension Of Having His House

Plundered Or Burnt, Or Himself Or Family Massacred, Before Morning.

Some, Under The Character Of Whigs, Plundered The Tories; While

Others, Of The Latter Description, Plundered The Whigs. Parties Of

Marauders, Assuming Either Character Or None, As Suited Their

Convenience, Indiscriminately Assailed Both Whigs And Tories. So

Little Vigilance Was Used On Our Part, That Emissaries And Spies Of

The Enemy Passed And Repassed Without Interruption.

 

 

These Calamities Continued Undiminished Until The Arrival Of Colonel

Burr, In The Autumn Of The Year 1778. He Took Command Of The Same

Troops Which His Predecessor, Colonel Littlefield, Commanded. At The

Moment Of Colonel Burr'S Arrival, Colonel Littlefield [1] Had Returned

From A Plundering Expedition (For To Plunder Those Called Tories Was

Then Deemed Lawful), And Had Brought Up Horses, Cattle, Bedding,

Clothing, And Other Articles Of Easy Transportation, Which He Had

Proposed To Distribute Among The Party The Next Day. Colonel Burr'S

First Act Of Authority Was To Seize And Secure All This Plunder; And

He Immediately Took Measures For Restoring It To The Owners. This Gave

Us Much Trouble, But It Was Abundantly Repaid By The Confidence It

Inspired.

 

 

He Then Made Known His Determination To Suppress Plundering. The Same

Day He Visited All The Guards; Changed Their Position; Dismissed Some

Of The Officers, Whom He Found Totally Incompetent; Gave New

Instructions. On The Same Day, Also, He Commenced A Register Of The

Names And Characters Of All Who Resided Near And Below His Guards.

Distinguished By Secret Marks The Whig, The Timid Whig, The Tory, The

Horse-Thief, And Those Concerned In, Or Suspected Of, Giving

Information To The Enemy. He Also Began A Map Of The Country, In The

Vicinity Of The Fort; Of The Roads, By-Roads, Paths, Creeks, Morasses,

&C., Which Might Become Hiding-Places For The Disaffected Or For

Marauding Parties. This Map Was Made By Colonel Burr Himself, From

Such Materials As He Could Collect On The Spot, But Principally From

His Own Observation.

 

 

He Raised And Established A Corps Of Horsemen From Among The

Respectable Farmers And Young Men Of The Country, Of Tried Patriotism,

Fidelity, And Courage. These Also Served As Aids And Confidential

Persons For The Transmission Of Orders. To This Corps I Attached

Myself As A Volunteer, But Did Not Receive Pay. He Employed Discreet

And Faithful Persons, Living Near The Enemy'S Lines, To Watch Their

Motions, And Give Him Immediate Intelligence. He Employed Mounted

Videttes For The Same Purpose, Directing Two Of Them To Proceed

Together, So That One Might Be Despatched, If Necessary, With

Information To The Colonel, While The Other Might Watch The Enemy'S

Movement. He Established Signals Throughout The Lines, So That,

Whether By Night Or By Day, Instant Notice Could Be Had Of An Attack

Or Movement Of The Enemy. He Enforced Various Regulations For

Concealing His Positions And Force From The Enemy. The Laxity Of

Discipline Which Had Before Prevailed Enabled The Enemy Frequently To

Employ Their Emissaries To Come Within The Lines, And To Learn The

Precise State Of Our Forces, Supplies, &C. Colonel Burr Soon Put An

End To These Dangerous Intrusions, By Prohibiting All Persons Residing

Below The Lines, Except A Few Whom He Selected, Such As Parson Bartow,

Jacob Smith, And Others, Whose Integrity Was Unimpeachable, From

Approaching The Outposts, Without Special Permission For The Purpose.

If Any One Had A Complaint Or Request To Make Of The Colonel, He

Procured One Or More Of The Persons He Had Selected To Come To His

Quarters On His Behalf. This Measure Prevented Frivolous And Vexatious

Applications, And The Still More Dangerous Approach Of Enemies In

Disguise. All These Measures Were Entirely New; And, Within Eight Or

Ten Days, The Whole System Appeared To Be In Complete Operation, And

The Face Of Things Was Totally Changed.

 

 

A Few Days After The Colonel'S Arrival, The House Of One Gedney Was

Plundered In The Night, And The Family Abused And Terrified. Gedney

Sent His Son To Make A Representation Of It To The Colonel. The Young

Man, Not Regarding The Orders Which Had Been Issued, Came To The

Colonel'S Quarters, Undiscovered By The Sentinels, Having Taken A

Secret Path Through The Fields For The Purpose. For This Violation Of

Orders The Young Man Was Punished. The Colonel Immediately Took

Measures For The Detection Of The Plunderers; And Though They Were All

Disguised, And Wholly Unknown To Gedney, Yet Colonel Burr, By Means

Which Were Never Yet Disclosed, Discovered The Plunderers, And Had

Them All Secured Within Twenty-Four Hours. Gedney'S Family, On

Reference To His Register, Appeared To Be Tories; But Burr Had

Promised That Every Quiet Man Should Be Protected.

 

 

He Caused The Robbers To Be Conveyed To Gedney'S House, Under The

Charge Of Captain Benson, There To Restore The Booty They Had Taken,

To Make Reparation In Money For Such Articles As Were Lost Or Damaged,

And For The Alarm And Abuse, The Amount Of Which The Colonel Assessed,

To Be Flogged Ten Lashes, And To Ask Pardon Of The Old Man; All Which

Was Faithfully And Immediately Executed.

 

 

These Measures Gave Universal Satisfaction, And The Terror They

Inspired Effectually Prevented A Repetition Of Similar Depredations.

From This Day Plundering Ceased. No Further Instance Occurred During

The Time Of Colonel Burr'S Command, For It Was Universally Believed

That Colonel Burr Could Tell A Robber By Looking In His Face, Or That

He Had Supernatural Means Of Discovering Crime. Indeed, I Was Myself

Inclined To These Opinions. This Belief Was Confirmed By Another

Circumstance Which Had Previously Occurred. On The Day Of His Arrival,

After Our Return From Visiting The Posts, Conversing With Several Of

His Attendants, And, Among Others, Lieutenant Drake, Whom Burr Had

Brought With Him From His Own Regiment, He Said, "Drake, That Post On

The North River Will Be Attacked Before Morning; Neither Officers Nor

Men Know Any Thing Of Their Duty; You Must Go And Take Charge Of It;

Keep Your Eyes Open, Or You Will Have Your Throat Cut." Drake Went.

The Post Was Attacked That Night By A Company Of Horse. They Were

Repulsed With Loss. Drake Returned In The Morning With Trophies Of

War, And Told His Story. We Stared, And Asked One Another--How Could

Burr Know That? He Had Not Then Established Any Means Of Intelligence.

 

 

The Measures Immediately Adopted By Him Were Such That It Was

Impossible For The Enemy To Have Passed Their Own Lines Without His

Having Immediate Knowledge; And It Was These Very Measures Which Saved

Major Hull, On Whom The Command Devolved For A Short Time, When The

State Of Colonel Burr'S Health Compelled Him To Retire.

 

 

These Measures, Together With The Deportment Of Colonel Burr, Gained

Him The Love And Veneration Of All Devoted To The Common Cause, And

Conciliated Even Its Bitterest Foes. His Habits Were A Subject Of

Admiration. His Diet Was Simple And Spare In The Extreme. Seldom

Sleeping More Than An Hour At A Time, And Without Taking Off His

Clothes, Or Even His Boots.

 

 

Between Midnight And Two O'Clock In The Morning, Accompanied By Two Or

Three Of His Corps Of Horsemen, He Visited The Quarters Of All His

Captains, And Their Picket-Guards, Changing His Route From Time To

Time To Prevent Notice Of His Approach. You May Judge Of The Severity

Of This Duty, When I Assure You That The Distance Which He Thus Rode

Every Night Must Have Been From _Sixteen_ To _Twenty-Four_ Miles; And

That, With The Exception Of Two Nights Only, In Which He Was Otherwise

Engaged, He Never Omitted These Excursions, Even In The Severest And

Most Stormy Weather; And, Except The Short Time Necessarily Consumed

In Hearing And Answering Complaints And Petitions From Persons Both

Above And Below The Lines, Colonel Burr Was Constantly With The

Troops.

 

 

He Attended To The Minutest Article Of Their Comfort; To Their

Lodgings; To Their Diet: For Those Off Duty He Invented Sports, All

Tending To Some Useful End. During Two Or Three Weeks After The

Colonel'S Arrival, We Had Many Sharp Conflicts With The Robbers And

Horse-Thieves, Who Were Hunted Down With Unceasing Industry. In Many

Instances We Encountered Great Superiority Of Numbers, But Always With

Success. Many Of Them Were Killed, And Many Were Taken.

 

 

The Strictest Discipline Prevailed, And The Army Felt The Fullest

Confidence In Their Commander And In Themselves, And By These Means

Became Really Formidable To The Enemy. During The Same Winter,

Governor Tryon Planned An Expedition To Horse Neck, For The Purpose Of

Destroying The Salt-Works Erected There, And Marched With About 2000

Men. Colonel Burr Received Early Information Of Their Movements, And

Sent Word To General Putnam To Hold The Enemy At Bay For A Few Hours,

And He (Colonel Burr) Would Be In Their Rear And Be Answerable For

Them. By A Messenger From Him, Colonel Burr Was Informed By That

General That He Had Been Obliged To Retreat, And That The Enemy Were

Advancing Into Connecticut. This Information, Which Unfortunately Was

Not Correct, Altered Colonel Burr'S Route Towards Mamaroneck, Which

Enabled Tryon To Get The Start Of Him. Colonel Burr Then Endeavoured

To Interrupt Him In Eastchester, According To His First Plan, And

Actually Got Within Cannon-Shot Of Him; But Tryon Ran Too Fast, And In

His Haste Left Most Or All Of His Cattle And Plunder Behind Him, And

Many Stragglers, Who Were Picked Up.

 

 

I Will Mention Another Enterprise, Which Proved More Successful,

Though Equally Hazardous. Soon After Tryon'S Retreat, Colonel

Delancey, Who Commanded The British Refugees, In Order To Secure

Themselves Against Surprise, Erected A Block-House On A Rising Ground

Below Delancey'S Bridge. This Colonel Burr Resolved To Destroy. I Was

In That Expedition, And Recollect The Circumstances.

 

 

He Procured A Number Of Hand-Grenades, Also Rolls Of Port-Fire, And

Canteens Filled With Inflammable Materials, With Contrivances To

Attach Them To The Side Of The Block-House. He Set Out With His Troops

Early In The Evening, And Arrived Within A Mile Of The Block-House By

Two O'Clock In The Morning. The Colonel Gave Captain Black The Command

Of About Forty Volunteers, Who Were First To Approach. Twenty Of Them

Were To Carry The Port-Fires, &C., &C. Those Who Had Hand-Grenades Had

Short Ladders To Enable Them To Reach The Port-Holes, The Exact Height

Of Which Colonel Burr Had Ascertained. Colonel Burr Gave Captain Black

His Instructions, In The Hearing Of His Company, Assuring Him Of His

Protection If They Were Attacked By Superior Numbers; For It Was

Expected That The Enemy, Who Had Several Thousand Men At And Near

Kingsbridge, Would Endeavour To Cut Us Off, As We Were Several Miles

Below Them. Burr Directed Those Who Carried The Combustibles To March

In Front As Silently As Possible. That, On Being Hailed, They Should

Light The Hand-Grenades, &C., With A Slow Match Provided For The

Purpose, And Throw Them Into The Port-Holes. I Was One Of The Party

That Advanced. The Sentinel Hailed And Fired. We Rushed On. The First

Hand-Grenade That Was Thrown In Drove The Enemy From The Upper Story,

And Before They Could Take Any Measure To Defend It, The Block-House

Was On Fire In Several Places. Some Few Escaped, And The Rest

Surrendered Without Our Having Lost A Single Man. Though Many Shot

Were Fired At Us, We Did Not Fire A Gun.

 

 

During The Period Of Colonel Burr'S Command, But Two Attempts Were

Made By The Enemy To Surprise Our Guards, In Both Of Which They Were

Defeated.

 

 

After Colonel Burr Left This Command, Colonel Thompson, A Man Of

Approved Bravery, Assumed It, And The Enemy, In Open Day, Advanced To

His Headquarters, Took Colonel Thompson, And Took Or Killed All His

Men, With The Exception Of About Thirty.

 

 

My Father'S House, With All His Outhouses, Were Burnt. After These

Disasters Our Troops Never Made An Effort To Protect That Part Of The

Country. The American Lines Were Afterwards Changed, And Extended From

Bedford To Croton Bridge, And From There, Following The Course Of That

River, To The Hudson. All The Intermediate Country Was Abandoned And

Unprotected, Being About Twenty Miles In The Rear Of The Ground Which

Colonel Burr Had Maintained.

 

 

The Year After The Defeat Of Colonel Thompson, Colonel Green, A Brave,

And In Many Respects A Valuable Officer, Took The Command, Making His

Headquarters At Danford'S, About A Mile Above The Croton. This

Position Was Well Chosen. But Colonel Green Omitted To Inform Himself

Of The Movements Of The Enemy, And Consequently Was Surprised.

Himself, Major Flagg, And Other Officers Were Killed, And A Great Part

Of The Men Were Either Killed Or Taken Prisoners: Yet These Officers

Had The Full Benefit Of Colonel Burr'S System.

 

 

Having Perused What I Have Written, It Does Not Appear To Me That I

Have Conveyed Any Adequate Idea Of Burr'S Military Character. It May

Be Aided A Little By Reviewing The Effects He Produced. The Troops Of

Which He Took Command Were, At The Time He Took The Command,

Undisciplined, Negligent, And Discontented. Desertions Were Frequent.

In A Few Days These Very Men Were Transformed Into Brave And Honest

Defenders; Orderly, Contented, And Cheerful; Confident In Their Own

Courage, And Loving To Adoration Their Commander, Whom Every Man

Considered As His Personal Friend. It Was Thought A Severe Punishment,

As Well As Disgrace, To Be Sent Up To The Camp, Where They Had Nothing

To Do But To Lounge And Eat Their Rations.

 

 

During The Whole Of This Command There Was Not A Single Desertion. Not

A Single Death By Sickness. Not One Made Prisoner By The Enemy; For

Burr Had Taught Us That A Soldier With Arms In His Hand Ought Never,

Under Any Circumstances, To Surrender; No Matter If He Was Opposed To

Thousands, It Was His Duty To Fight.

 

 

After The First Ten Days There Was Not A Single Instance Of Robbery.

The Whole Country, Under His Command, Enjoyed Security. The

Inhabitants, To Express Their Gratitude, Frequently Brought Presents

Of Such Articles As The Country Afforded; But Colonel Burr Would

Accept No Present. He Fixed Reasonable Prices, And Paid In Cash For

Every Thing That Was Received, And Sometimes, I Know, That These

Payments Were Made With His Own Money. Whether These Advances Were

Repaid, I Know Not.

 

 

Colonel Simcoe, One Of The Most Daring And Active Partisans In The

British Army, Was, With Colonels Emerick And Delancey, Opposed To Burr

On The Lines, Yet They Were Completely Held In Check.

 

 

But Perhaps The Highest Eulogy On Colonel Burr Is, That No Man Could

Be Found Capable Of Executing His Plans, Though The Example Was Before

Them.

 

 

When Burr Left The Lines A Sadness Overspread The Country, And The

Most Gloomy Forebodings Were Too Soon Fulfilled, As You Have Seen

Above.

 

 

The Period Of Colonel Burr'S Command Was So Full Of Activity And Of

Incident, That Every Day Afforded Some New Lesson Of Instruction. But

You Will Expect Only A General Outline, And This Faint One Is The Best

In My Power To Give.

 

 

With Esteem, Yours,

 

 

Samuel Young.

Footnote Pg 159

 

 

 

1. See Chapter Ix

Chapter XI Pg 160

 

 

 

The Military Career Of Colonel Burr Was Now Drawing To A Close. The

State Of His Health Became Alarming. His Constitution Was Shattered.

His Medical And Other Friends Were Of The Opinion That He Was

Incapable Of Enduring The Fatigues Of Another Campaign. In The

Judgment And Talents Of Dr. Eustis He Reposed Great Confidence. That

Gentleman Pressed Upon Him, In A Manner The Most Affectionate, The

Necessity For His Retiring. The Sacrifice Required Of Burr Was

Inconceivably Great. All His Views And Feelings Were Military. He

Seemed As Though He Was Born A Soldier. He Was Ambitious Of Fame In

His Profession. He Had Acquired A Character For Vigilance And

Intrepidity Unrivalled In The Army. He Was More Than Respected By His

Brother Officers, And Idolized By The Troops. As A Man And A Citizen,

He Was Exceedingly Disliked By General Washington. Causes, Unnecessary

To Examine At This Late Period Of Time, Had Created Between These

Gentlemen Feelings Of Hostility That Were Unconquerable, And Were

Never Softened Or Mollified. Yet Even General Washington, While He

Considered Burr Destitute Of Morals And Of Principle, Respected Him As

A Soldier, And Gave Repeated Evidence Of Entire Confidence In His

Gallantry, His Persevering Industry, His Judgment, And His Discretion.

At Length, However, Protracted Disease Compelled Him To Abandon All

Those Hopes Of Glory, Nobly Won In The Battle-Field, Which Had

Inflamed His Ardent And Youthful Mind; And On The 10Th Of March, 1779,

He Tendered To The Commander-In-Chief His Resignation.

Chapter XI Pg 161

To General Washington.

 

 

Phillipsburgh, 10Th March, 1779.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

The Reasons I Did Myself The Honour To Mention To Your Excellency In A

Letter Of September Last Still Exist, And Determine Me To Resign My

Rank And Command In The Army.

 

 

The Polite Indulgence You Favoured Me With At That Time Restored

Temporarily My Health. At The Instance Of General Mcdougall, I

Accepted The Command Of These Posts; But I Find My Health Unequal To

The Undertaking, And Have Acquainted Him Of My Intentions To Retire.

He Has Ordered An Officer To Relieve Me Before The 15Th Of March, On

Which Day I Purpose To Leave This Command And The Army.

 

 

Very Respectfully,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XI Pg 162

From General Washington.

 

 

Middlebrook, 3D April, 1779.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

I Have To Acknowledge Your Favour Of The 10Th Ultimo. Perfectly

Satisfied That No Consideration Save A Desire To Reestablish Your

Health Could Induce You To Leave The Service, I Cannot Therefore

Withhold My Consent. But, In Giving Permission To Your Retiring From

The Army, I Am Not Only To Regret The Loss Of A Good Officer, But The

Cause Which Makes His Resignation Necessary. When It Is Convenient To

Transmit The Settlement Of Your Public Accounts, It Will Receive My

Final Acceptance.

 

 

I Am, &C.,

 

 

George Washington.

Chapter XI Pg 163

A Few Days Previous To Colonel Burr'S Resignation Of His Commission,

He Received From The Widow Of General Montgomery The Following

Letter:--

 

 

From Mrs. J. Montgomery.

 

 

Rhinebeck, 7Th March, 1779.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

I Should Before This Have Answered Your Obliging Letter, Had Not The

Marriage Of My Eldest Sister Entirely Taken Up My Time. I Now Return

You, Sir, Many Thanks For Your Kind Offers Of Service. The Sincerity

With Which They Were Made Would Have Allowed Me To Accept Them,

Without Fears Of Giving You Trouble, Had I Not Determined To Run No

More Risks, As I Have Been Very Unfortunate In My Ventures That Way.

 

 

You Have Awakened All My Sensibility By The Praises You Bestow On My

Unfortunate General. He Was, Indeed, An Angel Sent Us For A Moment.

Alas! For Me, That This World Was Not More Worthy Of Him--Then Had I

Still Been The Happiest Of Women, _And His Friends In Stations More

Equal To Their Own Merits_. Reflections Like These Imbitter

Continually Each Day As It Passes. But I Trust In The Same Merciful

Hand Which Has Held Me From Sinking In My Extreme Calamity, That He

Will Still Support And Make Me Worthy Of A Blessed Meeting Hereafter.

Can You Excuse, Sir, The Overflowing Of A Heart That Knows Not Where

To Stop When On A Subject So Interesting?

 

 

 

Mr. Tutard Tells Me You Mean To Quit The Service. Whenever That

Happens, You Will Doubtless Have Leisure To Pay Us A Visit, Which I

Wish You To Believe Will Give Real Pleasure To,

 

 

Sir, Your Obliged

 

 

J. Montgomery.

Chapter XI Pg 164

From William Paterson.

 

 

The Ponds, 18Th March, 1779.

 

 

My Dear Burr,

 

 

I Came To This Place Yesterday In The Afternoon, And Regret Extremely

That I Did Not Arrive Earlier In The Day, As I Should Have Received

Your Letter. My Stay Here Will Be Uncertain. At Home I Must Be By The

Beginning Of April. I Should Be Happy In Seeing You Before My Return,

But How To Effect It Is The Question. If I Could Possibly Disengage

Myself From Business, I Would Take A Ride To Paramus. My Best Respects

Await On Mrs. Prevost; And Every Thing You Think Proper To The

Mistress Of Your Affections. I Am Married, Burr, And Happy. May You Be

Equally So. I Cannot Form A Higher Or A Better Wish. You Know I Should

Rejoice To Meet You. Tell Mrs. Prevost That I Shall Take It Unkindly

If She Does Not Call Upon Me Whenever She Thinks I Can Be Of Any

Service To Her. To Oblige Her Will Give Me Pleasure For Her Own Sake,

And Double Pleasure For Yours. This Is A Strange, Unconnected Scroll;

You Have It As It Comes.

 

 

I Congratulate You On Your Return To Civil Life, For Which (I Cannot

Forbear The Thought) We Must Thank A Certain Lady Not Far From

Paramus. May I Have Occasion Soon To Thank Her On Another Account; And

May I Congratulate You Both In The Course Of The Next Moon For Being

In My Line: I Mean The Married. Adieu.

 

 

I Am Most Sincerely Yours,

 

 

William Paterson.

Chapter XI Pg 165

From General Mcdougall.

 

 

Headquarters, Peekskill, 20Th March, 1779.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

My Late Intelligence From New-York And Headquarters Clearly Mark The

Enemy'S Intention To Make A Movement Very Soon. Whether It Is Intended

Against The Grand Army, These Posts, Or New-London, Time Only Can

Determine. It Is, However, Our Duty To Be Prepared. As A Few Days Will

Open Up His Views, _I Imagine You Do Not Think Of Quitting The Ground

When Business Is To Be Done_. Should The Enemy Move Up The River In

Force, His Thieves Will Be Very Busy Below. Colonel Hammond'S

Regiment, On Such An Event, Is To Remain There; And One Hundred Rank

And File Of Continental Troops _Only_ Are To Keep Them In Countenance.

The Rest, Under Charge Of Officers, To Be Sent Up To Join Their Corps.

 

 

You Know The State Of Forage At This Post. I Wish You Would Make An

Exertion To Your Left In Front, To Secure All You Can For Us; As Much

As Will Consist With The Safety Of Your Party, And Covering To The

Rebels At Tarrytown. Send For Haynes And His Assistant, And Keep Them

On The Ground Till They Secure All That Is Practicable To Be Got From

Your Left. The Weather Has Been So Stormy And Uncertain, The ----- Are

Not Yet Sent For. To-Morrow Morning It Will Be Done. Please To Attend

To The Enclosed Order Respecting Provisions. Late Learned'S Is Moved

To West Point.

 

 

Major Hull'S, Of The 19Th, Is This Moment Received, And Will Be

Attended To. I Wish Captain Kearsley, Lieutenants Hunter And Lawrence,

To Be Sent To Their Regiments When Colonel Burr Has Finished What He

Intends. They Are Much Wanted. Note The Contents Of The Enclosed

Resolve.

 

 

Yours, Very Respectfully,

 

 

Alexander Mcdougall.

Chapter XI Pg 166

It Has Been Seen That Colonel Burr, While He Commanded At White

Plains, On The Frontier, Not Only Kept The Adjacent Country In A State

Of Security, But That He Kept The Enemy In Complete Check. He Was

Succeeded In His Command By Colonel Littlefield, Who Was Soon

Captured, And The Post Abandoned. Major Hull, In A Letter To Colonel

Burr, Dated The 29Th Of May, 1779, Says, "_The Ground You So Long

Defended Is Now Left To The Depredations Of The Enemy, And Our Friends

In Distressing Circumstances_."

 

 

In The Beginning Of June, Sir Henry Clinton Captured The Forts At

Stony Point And Verplanck'S Point, And Threatened West Point. His

Force In This Direction Was Upwards Of Six Thousand Rank And File. The

Communication Between General Washington, Who Was In New-Jersey, And

General Mcdougall, Who Was At Newburgh, Was Greatly Embarrassed.

Bandits Were Placed By The British In Or Near The Passes Through The

Chains Of Mountains Leading To Sussex, For The Purpose Of Capturing

The Expresses Charged With Despatches. At This Critical Moment Colonel

Burr Was On A Visit To Mcdougall, Who Informed Him That He Had Made

Various Unsuccessful Attempts To Communicate With Washington, And That

His Expresses Had Either Been Captured Or Had Deserted. After

Apologizing To Burr, Who Was No Longer In Active Service, The General

Stated The Importance Of The Commander-In-Chief'S Knowing The Position

And Movements Of The Enemy, As Well As The State Of The American Army.

He Then Very Courteously Requested Burr To Be The Bearer Of A Verbal

Communication To Washington On The Subject. To This, Notwithstanding

His Ill Health And The Danger Of The Enterprise, He Assented. The

Mission Was Undertaken And Succeeded. He Was Also Charged At The Same

Time With _Verbal_ Orders From General St. Clair, Of A Confidential

Character, To Officers Commanding At Different Posts.

Chapter XI Pg 167

_To Whom It May Concern_:--

 

 

Colonel Burr, Being On Urgent Public Business, Is To Be Put Across The

Ferry To New-Windsor Without Delay. Given This Second Day Of June,

1779.

 

 

Alexander Mcdougall, Major-General.

 

 

 

 

 

_To Whom It May Concern_:--

 

 

Colonel Burr, Being On Very Pressing Public Business, Every Magistrate

Will Assist Him In Changing Horses, And All Friends Of The Country

Will Also Assist Him.

 

 

June 2D, 1779. Alexander Mcdougall, Major-General.

 

 

 

 

 

_To Whom It May Concern_:--

 

 

Colonel Burr, Being On Urgent Public Business, Must Be Put Across The

Ferry To Fishkill Landing Without A Moment'S Delay. Given At Pompton,

3D June, 1779.

 

 

Arthur St. Clair, Major-General.

 

 

 

 

 

_To Whom It May Concern_:--

 

 

The Quartermaster And Commissary, At Newburgh Or New-Windsor, Will

Receive And Observe, As My Orders, The Verbal Directions Given By

Colonel Burr. Given At Pompton, 3D June, 1779.

 

 

Arthur St. Clair, Major-General.

 

 

 

On This Enterprise A Most Amusing Incident Occurred. Colonel Burr

Arrived At The Iron-Works Of The Elder Townsend, In Orange County,

With A Tired And Worn-Out Horse. No Other Could Be Obtained; But,

After Some Detention, A Half-Broken Mule, Named _Independence_, Was

Procured, And The Colonel Mounted. But _Independence_ Refused To Obey

Orders, And A Battle Ensued.

Chapter XI Pg 168

The Mule Ran Off With His Rider, And

Ascended A High Bank, On The Side Of Which Stood A Coal-House, Filled

With Coal Through An Aperture In The Top. At Length, _Independence_,

In The Hope Of Clearing Himself Of His Encumbrance, Entered The

Coal-House At Full Speed, The Colonel Firmly Keeping His Seat, And

Both Came Down An Inclined Plane Of Coal, Not Less Than Thirty Feet In

Height. On Reaching The Ground Without Injury, Burr Hired A Man To

Lead The Animal A Mile Or Two, And Then Again Mounted Him And Pursued

His Journey. This Scene Was Exhibited On A Hot Day In The Month Of

June, Amid A Cloud Of Coal-Dust. The Anecdote Burr Occasionally

Repeated To His Friends, And Some Of The Younger Branches Of The

Townsend Family.

 

 

About The First Of July, 1779, Colonel Burr, Then In Feeble Health,

Visited His Friends In Connecticut. He Was At New-Haven When, On The

5Th Of July, The British Landed, With 2600 Men, In Two Divisions; One

Under Governor Tryon, At East Haven, And The Other Under Garth, At

West Haven. At East Haven, Where Tryon Commanded, Great Excesses Were

Committed, And The Town Set On Fire. Colonel Burr Was At This Moment

Confined To His Bed; But, On Hearing That The Enemy Were Advancing,

Rose And Proceeded To A Part Of The Town Where A Number Of Persons Had

Collected. He Volunteered To Take Command Of The Militia, And Made An

Unsuccessful Attempt To Rally Them. At This Moment He Was Informed

That The Students Had Organized Themselves, And Were Drawn Up In The

College-Yard. He Immediately Galloped To The Ground, And Addressed

Them; Appealing, In A Few Words, To Their Patriotism And Love Of

Country; Imploring Them To Set The Example, And March Out In The

Defence Of Those Rights Which Would, At A Future Day, Become Their

Inheritance. All He Asked Was, That They Would Receive And Follow Him

As Their Leader.

 

 

The Military Character Of Colonel Burr Was Known To The Students. They

Confided In His Intrepidity, Experience, And Judgment. In Their Ranks

There Was No Faltering. They Promptly Obeyed The Summons, And

Volunteered. Some Skirmishing Soon Ensued, And Portions Of The Militia

United With Them. The British, Ignorant Of The Force That Might Be

Presented, Retired; But Shortly Returned, With Several Pieces Of

Artillery, When A Cannonading Commenced, And The Boys Retreated In

Good Order. An American Historian Says,--"The British Entered The Town

After Being Much Galled And Harassed." The Slight Check Which They

Thus Received Afforded An Opportunity For The Removal Of Some

Valuables, And Many Of The Women And Children.

 

 

Trifling And Unimportant As This Skirmishing Appears To Have Been,

Colonel Burr Never Referred To The Incident But With Exultation And

Pride. Perhaps No Event In His Military Life Has He More Frequently

Mentioned. The Confidence Evinced By These Young Men He Considered

Complimentary To Himself As A Soldier; And Usually Alluded To The

Circumstance As Evidence Of The Effect Which The Character Of An

Officer Would Ever Have Upon Undisciplined Men, When Called To Command

Them Upon Trying Occasions.

Chapter XI Pg 169

The Following Letter, Written By Colonel Platt, Will Close All That Is

Intended To Be Said Of Colonel Burr As A Soldier. More Space Has Been

Occupied With An Account Of His Military Character Than Would Have

Been Thus Occupied, If It Was Not Known That He Felt Proud Of His Own

Career As An Officer. For History Mr. Burr Entertained A Great

Contempt. He Confided But Little In Its Details. These Prejudices Were

Probably Strengthened By The Consideration That Justice, In His

Opinion, Had Not Been Done To Himself.

Chapter XI (Colonel Richard Platt To Commodore Valentine Morris) Pg 170

 

 

 

New-York, January 27Th, 1814.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

In Reply To Yours Of The 20Th Of November Last, Requesting To Be

Informed What Was The Reputation And Services Of Colonel Burr During

The Revolutionary War? I Give You The Following Detail Of Facts, Which

You May Rely On. No Man Was Better Acquainted With Him, And His

Military Operations, Than Your Humble Servant, Who Served In That War

From The 28Th Of June, 1775, Till The Evacuation Of Our Capital On The

Memorable 25Th Of November, 1783; Having Passed Through The Grades Of

Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Major Of Brigade, Aid-De-Camp, Deputy

Adjutant-General, And Deputy Quartermaster-General; The Last Of Which

By Selection And Recommendation Of Generals Greene, Mcdougall, And

Knox, In The Most Trying Crisis Of The Revolution, Viz., The Year

1780, When The Continental Money Ceased To Pass, And There Was No

Other Fiscal Resources During That Campaign But What Resulted From The

Creative Genius Of Timothy Pickering, At That Crisis Appointed

Successor To General Greene, The Second Officer Of The American Army,

Who Resigned The Department Because There Was No Money In The National

Coffers To Carry It Through The Campaign, Declaring That He Could Not,

And Would Not Attempt It, Without Adequate Resources, Such As He

Abounded In During The Term Of Nearly Three Years Antecedently As

Quartermaster-General.

 

 

In Addition To The Foregoing, By Way Of Elucidation, It Is To Be

Understood By You, That So Early As From The Latter Part Of The Year

1776, I Was Always Attached To A Commanding General; And, In

Consequence, My Knowledge Of The Officers And Their Merits Was More

General Than That Of Almost Any Other In Service. My Operations Were

Upon The Extended Scale, From The Remotest Parts Of Canada, Wherever

The American Standard Had Waved, To The Splendid Theatre Of Yorktown,

When And Where I Was Adjutant-General To The Chosen Troops Of The

Northern Army.

 

 

At The Commencement Of The Revolution, Colonel Burr, Then About

Eighteen Years Of Age, At The First Sound Of The Trump Of War (As If

Bred In The Camp Of The Great Frederick, Whose Maxim Was "To Hold His

Army Always In Readiness To Break A Lance With, Or Throw A Dart

Against, Any Assailant"), Quit His Professional Studies, And Rushed To

The Camp Of General Washington, At Cambridge, As A Volunteer From

Which He Went With Colonel Arnold On His Daring Enterprise Against

Quebec, Through The Wilds Of Canada (Which Vied With Hannibal'S March

Over The Alps), During Which Toilsome And Hazardous March He Attracted

The Attention And Admiration Of His Commander So Much, That He

(Arnold) Sent Him Alone To Meet And Hurry Down General Montgomery'S

Army From Montreal To His Assistance; And Recommended Him To That

General, Who Appointed Him An Aid-De-Camp, In Which Capacity He Acted

During The Winter, Till The Fatal Assault On Quebec, In Which That

Gallant General, His Aid Mcpherson, And Captain Cheeseman, Commanding

The Forlorn Hope, Fell. He Afterwards Continued As Aid To Arnold, The

Survivor In Command.

 

 

Here I Must Begin To Draw Some Of The Outlines Of His Genius And

Valour, Which, Like Those Of The British Immortal, Wolf, Who, At The

Age Of Twenty-Four, And Only Major Of The 20Th Regiment, Serving On

The Continent, Gave Such Specimens Of Genius And Talents As To Evince

His Being Destined For Command.

 

 

At The Perilous Moment Of Montgomery'S Death, When Dismay And

Consternation Universally Prevailed, And The Column Halted, He

Animated The Troops, And Made Many Efforts To Lead Them On; And

Stimulated Them To Enter The Lower Town; And Might Have Succeeded, But

For The Positive Orders Of Colonel Donald Campbell, The Commanding

Officer, For The Troops To Retreat. Had His Plan Been Carried Into

Effect, It Might Have Saved Arnold'S Division From Capture, Which Had,

After Our Retreat, To Contend With All The British Force Instead Of A

Part. On This Occasion I Commanded The First Company In The First

New-York Regiment, At The Head Of Montgomery'S Column, So That I Speak

From Ocular Demonstration.

 

 

The Next Campaign, 1776, Colonel Burr Was Appointed Aid-De-Camp To

Major-General Putnam, Second In Command Under General Washington At

New-York; And From My Knowledge Of That General'S Qualities And The

Colonel'S, I Am Very Certain That The Latter Directed All The

Movements And Operations Of The Former.

 

 

In January, 1777, The Continental Establishment For The War Commenced.

Then Colonel Burr Was Appointed By General Washington A

Lieutenant-Colonel In Malcolm'S Regiment, In Which He Continued To

Serve Until April, 1779, When The Ill State Of His Health Obliged Him

To Retire From Active Service, To The Regret Of General Mcdougall,

Commanding The Department, And That Of The Commander-In-Chief, Who

Offered To Give Him A Furlough For Any Length Of Time, And To Get

Permission From The British General In New-York For Him To Go To

Bermuda For His Health. This Item Will Show His Value In The

Estimation Of Generals Washington And Mcdougall.

 

 

During The Campaign Of 1777, Malcolm'S Regiment Was With The Main

Army, And Commanded By Lieutenant-Colonel Burr. For Discipline, Order,

And System, It Was Not Surpassed By Any In The Service; And Could His

(The Lieutenant-Colonel'S) And Wolfe'S Orderly-Books Be Produced, They

Would Be Very Similar In Point Of Military Policy And Instructions,

And Fit Models For All Regiments.

 

 

This Regiment Was Also But Led At The Valley Forge In 1777 And Winter

Of 1778, Under General Washington, And Composed Part Of His Army At

The Battle Of Monmouth On The 28Th Of June, 1778, And Continued With

It Till The Close Of The Campaign Of That Year, At Which Time It Was

Placed In Garrison At West Point By General Gates; But, Upon General

Mcdougall'S Assuming The Command Of The Posts In The Highlands In

December, Malcolm'S, Spencer'S, And Patten'S Regiments Were Together

Ordered To Haverstraw. The Three Colonels Were Permitted To Go Home

For The Winter On Furlough, And Lieutenant-Colonel Burr Had The

Command Of The Whole Brigade, At A Very Important Advanced Post.

 

 

At This Period General Mcdougall Ordered A Detachment Of About Three

Hundred Troops, Under The Command Of Lieutenant-Colonel Littlefield,

Of The Massachusetts Line, To Guard The Lines In Westchester County,

Then Extending From Tarrytown To White Plains, And From Thence To

Mamaroneck Or Sawpits, Which Last Extension Was Guarded By Connecticut

Troops From Major-General Putnam'S Division.

 

 

In This Situation Of Affairs A Very Singular Occurrence Presented,

Viz., That Neither Lieutenant-Colonel Littlefield, Nor Any Other Of

His Grade, In The Two Entire Brigades Of Massachusetts Troops

Composing The Garrison Of West Point, From Which The Lines Were To Be

Relieved, Was Competent, In The General'S Estimation, To Give Security

To The Army Above And The Lines Of Those Below; And, In Consequence,

He Was Compelled To Call Colonel Burr From His Station At Haverstraw

To The More Important Command Of The Lines In Westchester, In Which

Measure, Unprecedented As It Was, The Officers Acquiesced Without A

Murmur, From A Conviction Of Its Expediency. At This Time I Was Doing

The Duty Of Adjutant-General To General Mcdougall.

 

 

It Was On This New And Interesting Theatre Of War That The Confidence

And Affections Of The Officers And Soldiers (Who Now Became Permanent

On The Lines, Instead Of Being Relieved Every Two Or Three Weeks As

Before), As Well As Of The Inhabitants, All Before Unknown To Colonel

Burr, Were Inspired With Confidence By A System Of Consummate Skill,

Astonishing Vigilance, And Extreme Activity, Which, In Like Manner,

Made Such An Impression On The Enemy, That After An Unsuccessful

Attack On One Of His Advanced Posts, He Never Made Any Other Attack On

Our Lines During The Winter.

 

 

His Humanity, And Constant Regard To The Security Of The Property And

Persons Of The Inhabitants From Injury And Insult, Were Not Less

Conspicuous Than His Military Skill, &C. No Man Was Insulted Or

Disturbed. The Health Of The Troops Was Perfect. Not A Desertion

During The Whole Period Of His Command, Nor A Man Made Prisoner,

Although The Colonel Was Constantly Making Prisoners.

 

 

A Country, Which For Three Years Before Had Been A Scene Of Robbery,

Cruelty, And Murder, Became At Once The Abode Of Security And Peace.

Though His Powers Were Despotic, They Were Exercised Only For The

Peace, The Security, And The Protection Of The Surrounding Country And

Its Inhabitants.

 

 

In The Winter Of 1779, The Latter Part Of It, Major Hull, An Excellent

Officer, Then In The Massachusetts Line, Was Sent Down As Second To

Colonel Burr, Who, After Having Become Familiarized To His System,

Succeeded Him For A Short Time In Command, About The Last Of April, At

Which Time Colonel Burr'S Health Would Not Permit Him To Continue In

Command; But The Major Was Soon Compelled To Fall Back Many Miles, So

As To Be Within Supporting Distance Of The Army At The Highlands.

 

 

The Severity Of The Service, And The Ardent And Increasing Activity

With Which He Had Devoted Himself To His Country'S Cause, For More

Than Four Years, Having Materially Impaired His Health, He Was

Compelled To Leave The Post And Retire From Active Service. It Was Two

Years Before He Regained His Health.

 

 

Major Hull Has Ever Since Borne Uniformly The Most Honourable

Testimony Of The Exalted Talents Of His Commander, By Declaring His

Gratitude For Being Placed Under An Officer Whose System Of Duty Was

Different From That Of All Other Commanders Under Whom He Had Served.

 

 

Having Thus Exhibited The Colonel'S Line Of March, And His Operations

In Service, I Must Now Present Him In Contrast With His Equals In

Rank, And His Superiors In Command.

 

 

In September, 1777, The Enemy Came Out On Both Sides Of The Hudson

Simultaneously, In Considerable Force, Say From 2 To 3000 Men. On The

East Side (At Peekskill) Was A Major-General Of Our Army, With An

Effective Force Of About 2000 Men. The Enemy Advanced, And Our General

Retired Without Engaging Them. Our Barracks And Storehouses, And The

Whole Village Of Peekskill, Were Sacked And Burnt, And The Country

Pillaged.

 

 

On The West Side, At The Mouth Of The Clove, Near Suffren'S, Was

Colonel Burr, Commanding Malcolm'S Regiment, About Three Hundred And

Fifty Men. On The First Alarm He Marched To Find The Enemy, And On The

Same Night Attacked And Took Their Picket-Guard, Rallied The Country,

And Made Such Show Of War, That The Enemy Retreated The Next Morning,

Leaving Behind Him The Cattle, Horses, And Sheep He Had Plundered.

 

 

The Year Following, Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson Was Sent To Command On

The Same Lines In Westchester By General Heath, And He Was Surprised

At Nine Or Ten O'Clock In The Day, And Made Prisoner, With A Great

Part Of His Detachment.

 

 

Again, In The Succeeding Winter, Colonel Greene, Of The Rhode Island

Line, With His Own And Another Rhode Island Regiment, Who Was A Very

Distinguished Officer, And Had With These Two Regiments, In The Year

1777, Defeated The Hessian Grenadiers Under Count Donop, At Red Banks,

On The Delaware, Who Was Mortally Wounded And Taken Prisoner,

Commanded On The Lines In Westchester; There Receded To Pine'S Bridge,

And In This Position Colonel Greene'S Troops Were Also Surprised After

Breakfast And Dispersed, The Colonel Himself And Major Flagg Killed,

And Many Soldiers Made Prisoners, Besides Killed And Wounded.

 

 

On The West Side Of The Hudson, In The Year 1780, General Wayne, The

Hero Of Stony Point, With A Large Command And Field Artillery, Made An

Attack On A Block-House Nearly Opposite To Dobbs'S Ferry, Defended By

Cowboys, And Was Repulsed With Loss; Whereas Colonel Burr Burnt And

Destroyed One Of A Similar Kind, In The Winter Of 1779, Near

Delancey'S Mills, With A Very Few Men, And Without Any Loss On His

Part, Besides Capturing The Garrison.

 

 

Here, My Good Friend Commodore, I Must Drop The Curtain Till I See You

In Albany, Which Will Be On The First Week In February, Where I Can

And Will Convince You That He Is The Only Man In America (That Is, The

United States) Who Is Fit To Be A Lieutenant-General; And Let You And

I, And All The American People, Look Out For Mr. Madison'S

Lieutenant-General In Contrast.

 

 

I Am Your Friend,

 

 

Richard Platt.

Chapter XII Pg 171

 

 

 

On Retiring From The Army, Colonel Burr Visited His Friends In

New-Jersey And Connecticut. He Had Previously Determined, As Soon As

His Health Would Permit, To Commence The Study Of Law. During The Four

Years He Was In Public Service, His Patrimony Was Greatly Impaired.

Towards His Brethren In Arms He Had Acted With Liberality. Naturally

Of An Improvident Character, He Adopted No Means To Preserve The

Property Which He Inherited. The Cardinal Vices Of Gaming And Drinking

He Avoided. But He Was Licentious In The Extreme, And Regardless Of

Consequences In The Gratification Of His Desires. His Extravagance Was

Unrestrained When, In His Opinion, Necessary To The Enjoyment Of His

Pleasures. From The Arms Of His Nurse Until He Had Numbered Fourscore

Years, He Was Perpetually The Dupe Of The Artful And The Selfish.

 

 

Colonel Burr Was About Five Feet Six Inches In Height. He Was Well

Formed, And Erect In His Attitude. In All His Movements There Was A

Military Air. Although Of Small Stature, Yet There Was About Him A

Loftiness Of Mien That Could Not Pass Unnoticed By A Stranger. His

Deportment Was Polished And Courtly. His Features Were Regular, And

Generally Considered Handsome. His Eye Was Jet Black, With A

Brilliancy Never Surpassed. The Appropriate Civilities Of The

Drawing-Room Were Performed With A Grace Almost Peculiar To Himself.

His Whole Manner Was Inconceivably Fascinating. As A Gentleman, This

Was His Great Theatre. He Acted Upon The Principle That The Female Was

The Weaker Sex, And That They Were All Susceptible Of Flattery. His

Great Art Consisted In Adopting It To The Grade Of Intellect He

Addressed. In This Respect He Was Singularly Fortunate As Well As

Adroit. In Matters Of Gallantry He Was Excessively Vain. This Vanity

Sometimes Rendered Him Ridiculous In The Eyes Of His Best Friends, And

Often Enabled The Most Worthless And Unprincipled To Take Advantage Of

His Credulity.

 

 

Such Traits Of Character Would Appear To Be Incompatible With An

Elevated And Towering Mind; Yet They Usually Influenced, And

Frequently Controlled, One Of The Greatest And Most Extraordinary Men

Of The Age. A Volume Of Anecdotes Might Be Related As Evidence Of

Colonel Burr'S Quickness Of Perception And Tact At Reply, When An

Ill-Judged Or Thoughtless Expression Was Addressed By Him To A Lady.

One Is Sufficient For Illustration.

 

 

After His Return From Europe, In 1812, He Met A Maiden Lady In

Broadway Somewhat Advanced In Life. He Had Not Seen Her For Many

Years. As She Passed Him, She Exclaimed To A Gentleman On Whose Arm

She Was Resting, "Colonel Burr!" Hearing His Name Mentioned, He

Suddenly Stopped And Looked Her In The Face. "Colonel," Said She, "You

Do Not Recollect Me."

 

 

"I Do Not, Madam," Was The Reply.

Chapter XII Pg 172

"It Is Miss K., Sir."

       

 

"What!" Said He, "Miss K. _Yet_!"

 

 

The Lady, Somewhat Piqued, Reiterated, "Yes, Sir, Miss K. _Yet_!"

 

 

Feeling The Delicacy Of His Situation, And The Unfortunate Error He

Had Committed, He Gently Took Her Hand, And Emphatically Remarked,

"Well, Madam, Then I Venture To Assert _That It Is Not The Fault Of My

Sex_."

 

 

On Burr'S Being Appointed, In 1777, A Lieutenant-Colonel In The Army,

He Joined His Regiment, Then Stationed At Ramapoa, In New-Jersey. At

Paramus, Not Far Distant, Resided Mrs. Prevost, The Wife Of Colonel

Prevost, Of The British Army. She Was An Accomplished And Intelligent

Lady. Her Husband Was With His Regiment In The West Indies, Where He

Died Early In The Revolutionary War. She Had A Sister Residing With

Her. It Was Her Son, The Hon. John B. Prevost, Who In 1802 Was

Recorder Of The City Of New-York, And Subsequently District Judge Of

The United States Court For The District Of Louisiana. The House Of

Mrs. Prevost Was The Resort Of The Most Accomplished Officers In The

American Army When They Were In The Vicinity Of It. She Was Highly

Respected By Her Neighbours, And Visited By The Most Genteel People Of

The Surrounding Country. Her Situation Was One Of Great Delicacy And

Constant Apprehension.

 

 

The Wife Of A British Officer, And Connected With The Adherents Of The

Crown, Naturally Became An Object Of Political Suspicion,

Notwithstanding Great Circumspection On Her Part. Under Such

Circumstances, A Strong Sympathy Was Excited In Her Behalf. Yet There

Were Those Among The Whigs Who Were Inclined To Enforce The Laws Of

The State Against Her, Whereby She Would Be Compelled To Withdraw

Within The Lines Of The Enemy. In This Family Colonel Burr Became

Intimate In 1777, And In 1782 Married The Widow Prevost. 

Chapter XII (James Monroe To Mrs. Prevost) Pg 173

Philadelphia, November 8Th, 1778.

 

 

A Young Lady Who Either Is, Or Pretends To Be, In Love, Is, You Know,

My Dear Mrs. Prevost, The Most Unreasonable Creature In Existence. If

She Looks A Smile Or A Frown, Which Does Not Immediately Give Or

Deprive You Of Happiness (At Least To Appearance), Your Company Soon

Becomes Very Insipid. Each Feature Has Its Beauty, And Each Attitude

The Graces, Or You Have No Judgment.

 

 

But If You Are So Stupidly

Insensible Of Her Charms As To Deprive Your Tongue And Eyes Of Every

Expression Of Admiration, And Not Only To Be Silent Respecting Her,

But Devote Them To An Absent Object, She Cannot Receive A Higher

Insult; Nor Would She, If Not Restrained By Politeness, Refrain From

Open Resentment.

 

 

Upon This Principle I Think I Stand Excused For Not Writing From B.

Ridge. I Proposed It, However; And, After Meeting With Opposition In

-----, To Obtain Her Point, She Promised To Visit The Little

"Hermitage," [2] And Make My Excuse Herself. I Took Occasion To Turn

The Conversation To A Different Object, And Plead For Permission To Go

To France. I Gave Up In One Instance, And She Certainly Ought In The

Other. But Writing A Letter And Going To France Are Very Different,

You Will Perhaps Say. She Objected To It, And All The Arguments Which

A Fond, Delicate, Unmarried Lady Could Use, She Did Not Fail To

Produce Against It. I Plead The Advantage I Should Derive From It. The

Personal Improvement, The Connexions I Should Make. I Told Her She Was

Not The Only One On Whom Fortune Did Not Smile In Every Instance. I

Produced Examples From Her Own Acquaintance, And Represented Their

Situation In Terms Which Sensibly Affected Both Herself And Lady

C----. I Painted A Lady Full Of Affection, Of Tenderness, And

Sensibility, Separated From Her Husband, For A Series Of Time, By The

Cruelty Of The War--Her Uncertainty Respecting His Health; The Pain

And Anxiety Which Must Naturally Arise From It. I Represented, In The

Most Pathetic Terms, The Disquietudes Which, From The Nature Of Her

Connexion, Might Possibly Intrude On Her Domestic Retreat. I Then

Raised To Her View Fortitude Under Distress; Cheerfullness, Life, And

Gayety, In The Midst Of Affliction.

 

 

I Hope You Will Forgive Me, My Dear Little Friend, If I Produced You

To Give Life To The Image. The Instance, She Owned, Was Applicable.

She Felt For You From Her Heart, And She Has A Heart Capable Of

Feeling. She Wished Not A Misfortune Similar To Yours; But, If I Was

Resolved To Make It So, She Would Strive To Imitate Your Example. I

Have Now Permission To Go Where I Please, But You Must Not Forget Her.

She And Lady C---- Promise To Come To The Hermitage To Spend A Week Or

Two. Encourage Her, And Represent The Advantage I Shall Gain From

Travel. But Why Should I Desire You To Do What I Know Your Own Heart

Will Dictate? For A Heart So Capable Of Friendship Feels Its Own Pain

Alleviated By Alleviating That Of Another.

 

 

But Do Not Suppose That My Attention Is Only Taken Up With My Own

Affairs. I Am Too Much Attached Ever To Forget The Hermitage. Mrs.

Duvall, I Hope, Is Recovering; And Kitty'S Indisposition Is That Of My

Nearest Relation. Mrs. De Visme Has Delicate Nerves. Tell Me Her

Children Are Well, And I Know She Has A Flow Of Spirits, For Her

Health Depends Entirely On Theirs.

 

 

I Was Unfortunate In Not Being Able To Meet With The Governor. He Was

Neither At Elizabethtown, B. Ridge, Princeton, Nor Trenton.

 

 

I Have

Consulted With Several Members Of Congress On The Occasion. They Own

The Injustice, But Cannot Interfere. The Laws Of Each State Must

Govern Itself. They Cannot Conceive The Possibility Of Its Taking

Place. General Lee Says It Must Not Take Place; And If He Was An

Absolute Monarch, He Would Issue An Order To Prevent It.

 

 

I Am Introduced To The Gentleman I Wished By General Lee In A Very

Particular Manner. I Cannot Determine With Certainty What I Shall Do

Till My Arrival In Virginia.

 

 

Make My Compliments To Mrs. And Miss De Visme, And Believe Me, With

The Sincerest Friendship,

 

 

Yours,

 

 

James Monroe

Chapter XII Pg 174

Mr. Peter De Visme, The Brother Of Mrs. Prevost, Was Captured At Sea,

And Made Prisoner Of War. As She Was Personally Acquainted With

General Washington, She Solicited His Influence To Promote His

Exchange, To Which The General Replied:--

                            

 

Headquarters, Middlebrook, 19Th May, 1779.

 

 

Madam,

 

 

It Is Much To Be Regretted That The Pleasure Of Obeying The First

Emotions In Favour Of Misfortune Is Not Always In Our Power. I Should

Be Happy Could I Consider Myself At Liberty To Comply With Your

Request In The Case Of Your Brother, Mr. Peter De Visme. But, As I

Have Heretofore Taken No Direction In The Disposal Of Marine

Prisoners, I Cannot, With Propriety, Interfere On The Present

Occasion, However Great The Satisfaction I Should Feel In Obliging

Where You Are Interested. Your Good Sense Will Perceive This, And Find

A Sufficient Excuse In The Delicacy Of My Situation.

 

 

I Have The Honour To Be, Madam,

 

 

Your Obedient Servant,

 

 

George Washington.

Chapter XII Pg 175

From William Patterson.

 

 

Morristown, 29Th September, 1779.

 

 

Dear Burr,

 

 

About Four Weeks Ago I Received A Letter From You Of The 8Th Of

August, And, A Week After, Another Of The 23D. They Came By The Way Of

Moorestown, From Which To Rariton, Where I Reside. The Conveyance Is

Easy And Safe. I Cannot Point Out Any Mode Of Sending Your Letters

Better Than That Which You Have Adopted.

 

 

I Was Pleased Extremely To Hear From You, And, Indeed, Was Quite

Disappointed In Not Hearing From You Sooner. I Was For A Time In

Expectation That You Would Return Into Jersey, As The Scene Of

Military Operations Was Directed To Your Part Of The World, And Would

Unavoidably Drive You From Your Study And Repose. Military Operations

Are So Fluctuating And Uncertain As To Render It Exceedingly Difficult

To Fix Upon A Retreat Which May Not Be Broken In Upon In The Course Of

A Campaign. New-Haven Bid Fair To Be The Seat Of Calmness And

Serenity, Of Course Well Suited For A Studious And Contemplative Mind,

And Therefore Made Choice Of As The Place Of Your Abode. New-Haven,

However, Partook Of The Common Calamity; And, In The Evolution Of

Human Events, From A Place Of Safety And Repose, Was Turned Into A

Place Of Confusion And War.

 

 

You Are Not Contented, My Dear Burr, And Why Are You Not? You Sigh For

New-Jersey, And Why Do You Not Return? It Is True We Are Continually

Broken In Upon By The Sons Of Tumult And War. Our Situation Is Such

That The One Army Or The Other Is Almost Constantly With Us, And Yet

We Rub Along With Tolerable Order, Spirit, And Content. Oh! That The

Days Of Peace Would Once More Return, That We Might Follow What

Business, Partake Of What Amusements, And Think And Live As We Please.

As To Myself, I Am, My Dear Burr, One Of The Happiest Of Men. The

Office I Hold Calls Me Too Frequently, And Detains Me Too Long, From

Home, Otherwise I Should Enjoy Happiness As Full And High As This

World Can Afford. It Is, As You Express It, "Serene, Rural, And

Sentimental;" And Such, One Day, You Will _Feel_.

 

 

"You See No Company--You Partake Of No Amusements--You Are Always

Grave." Such, Too, Has Been The Life That I Have Lived For Months And

Years. I Cannot Say That It Is An Unpleasing One. I Avoided Company;

Indeed, I Do So Still, Unless It Be The Company Of Chosen Friends. I

Have Been Ever Fond Of My Fireside And Study--Ever Fond Of Calling Up

Some Absent Friend, And Of Living Over, In Idea, Past Times Of

Sentimental Pleasure. Fancy Steps In To My Aid, Colours The Picture,

And Makes It Delightful Indeed. You Are In The Very Frame Of Mind I

Wish You To Be; May It Continue.

 

 

I Cannot Tell You What Has Become Of Mrs. Prevost'S Affairs. About Two

Months Ago I Received A Very Polite Letter From Her. She Was

Apprehensive That The Commissioners Would Proceed. It Seems They

Threatened To Go On. I Wrote Them On The Subject, But I Have Not Heard

The Event. I Am At This Place, On My Way To A Superior Court In

Bergen. If Possible, I Shall Wait On The Good Gentlewoman. At Bergen I

Shall Inquire Into The State Of The Matter. It Will, Indeed, Turn Up

Of Course. You Shall Soon Hear From Me Again. Adieu. May Health And

Happiness Await You

 

 

William Paterson.

 

 

 

 

 

The Precarious And Unsettled State Of Colonel Burr'S Health, In The

Autumn Of 1779 And The Beginning Of 1780, Was Such That He Was Unable

To Adopt And Adhere To Any Regular System Of Study. Among His Most

Intimate Personal Friends Was Colonel Robert Troup. He, Too, Had

Determined To Retire From Public Service, And Was Anxious To Study In

The Same Office With Burr. His Letters Cast Much Light On Their

Pursuits At The Time They Were Written.

Chapter XII Pg 176

From Colonel Troup.

 

 

Philadelphia, 16Th January, 1780.

 

 

My Dear Friend,

 

 

Watkins Was Kind Enough To Deliver Me Yours Of The 8Th Of December,

Written, I Presume, At Paramus. I Almost Envy You The Happiness You

Have Enjoyed. From The First Moment Of My Acquaintance With Mrs.

Prevost And Her Sister, I Conceived An Admiration For Them Both, Which

Is Much Increased By The Opinion You Entertain Of Them. How, Then, Am

I Flattered By Their Polite Manner Of Mentioning My Name. To Whom Am I

Indebted But To You, My Friend, For This Unmerited Favour? Surely

These Ladies Saw Nothing In Me At Governor Livingston'S Which Was

Worthy Of Remembrance, Unless A Terrible Noise, Which Some People Call

Laughter, Could Be Worth Remembering. With The Best Intention,

Therefore, To Serve Me, You Have Done Me An Injury, Aaron. I Shall Be

Afraid To See Our Favourites In The Spring, Because I Shall Fall

Infinitely Short Of Their Ideas Of Cleverness. Pray, Do You Recollect

The Opinion Which Judge Candour Solemnly Pronounced Upon Us Both, In A

Court Of Reason Held At The Indian King? Why, Then, Will You Expose My

Weakness By Ascribing To Me Imaginary Excellences? If You Persist In

Such Cruel Conduct, Sir, I Will Make You Feel The Weight Of My

Resentment, By Publishing To The World The Purity Of My Esteem For

Your Public And Private Character.

 

 

I Am Happy To Find Our Plan Of Studying Together Appears More And More

Rational To You. It Really Does To Me, And I Hope We Shall Follow It.

Since You Left Philadelphia, Some Circumstances Have Turned Up Which

Render My Office So Disagreeable To Me That I Am Determined To Resign.

_Vous Pouvez Compter Sur Moi_. Besides The Disgust I Have Taken, I Am

Led To It By Ambition, Which Has A Small Share Of Influence Over Me As

Well As You.

 

 

But I Am Desirous Of A Change In Our Plan, Which I Request You To

Think Of Seriously. I Am Inclined To Believe It Would Be Best For Us

To Study The Law With Mr. Stockton, At Princeton. This, I Know, Will

Surprise You; But Your Surprise Will Be Lessened When You Hear My

Reasons.

 

 

The Practice Of Connecticut Differs So Materially From The Practice Of

New-York And New-Jersey, That We Should Lose Time By Being With Mr.

Osmer. For, After Being Eighteen Months Or Two Years With Him, It

Would Be Necessary To Continue Nearly The Same Time In Another Office,

To Get A Competent Knowledge Of The Practice. This Is A Matter Of

Consequence, Especially As It Is My Object To Qualify Myself For

Practice As Soon As Possible.

 

 

I Have The Highest Opinion Of Mr. Osmer, And, Did I Intend To Follow

The Law In Connecticut, There Is No Man I Would Sooner Study With. I

Believe He Would Ground Us Well In The Knowledge Of The Dead-Letter Of

The Law; But I Wish To Have The Practice And The Theory Accompanying

Each Other. Mr. Stockton Has Been Polite Enough To Make Me An Offer,

And Has Promised To Spare No Pains To Instruct Me. He Would Be Glad To

Instruct You Likewise; For I Have Heard Him Express Himself Of You In

The Most Friendly Manner. I Propose To Lodge At Some Substantial

Farmer'S House, About A Mile From The Main Road, And Have Made A

Solemn League And Covenant With My Own Mind To Seclude Myself From The

Pleasures Of The World. This I Know I Can Do. And Have You Not As Much

Philosophy As I Have?

 

 

It Is True, Mr. Stockton Has Unmarried Daughters, And There Is A

Number Of Genteel Families In And Near Princeton. But Why Should We

Connect Ourselves With Any Of Them, So As To Interrupt Our Studies?

They Will Be Entitled To A Civil Bow From Us Whenever We Meet Them;

And, If They Expect More, They Will Be Disappointed. Indeed, L Shall

Take Care To Inform Them Of My Intentions, And If They Afterwards

Complain Of My Want Of Politeness In Not Visiting Them, It Will Give

Me Little Uneasiness.

 

 

I Entreat You, My Dearest And Best Friend, To Reflect On This Matter,

And Favour Me With Your Answer Without A Moment'S Loss Of Time. My

Happiness, And My Improvement In The Law, Depend Entirely Upon

Pursuing My Studies With You. The Change I Now Propose Is Conformable

To The Sentiments And Wishes Of All My Friends, Particularly Of

Chancellor Livingston, Who Is Certainly A Judge.

 

 

I Forgot To Mention That Mr. Stockton Is Universally Allowed To Be One

Of The Best Speakers We Ever Had In This Part Of The Continent, And It

Will Therefore Be In His Power To Teach Us The Eloquence Of The Bar,

Which May Be Considered As A Capital Advantage.

 

 

I Have Communicated My Sentiments On This Subject More Fully To Our

Mutual Friend, Colonel Wadsworth, Who Will Deliver You This Letter,

Than I Have To You In Writing. He Will Explain Them To You, And, I Am

Sure, Will Give You His Own With The Utmost Candour And Sincerity. I

Have Left Several Messages At The House Dr. ----- Lodges When He Is In

Town; But Cannot Get An Answer, And See Little Prospect Of Getting

Your Money Unless You Write Him A Dunning Letter. I Shall Leave One

For Him To-Morrow, And Will Endeavour To Have The Affair Settled This

Week.

 

 

I Write This At My Lodgings, Where I Have Not A Single Newspaper.

Colonel Wadsworth Will Leave Town In The Course Of An Hour; And, If I

Can Find Time, I Will Go To The Office And Collect All I Can Find.

There Have Been None, However, Since You Left Town, Which Are Worth

Reading. Wadsworth Will Tell You All The News I Have, Which Is, That

Old Roger Sherman Is Metamorphosed, By Some Strange Magical Power,

Into _A Very Honest Man_.

 

 

God Bless You, And May Dom. Tetard Soon Have The Pleasure Of Drinking

A Glass Of Wine With Us Both, In His House At Kingsbridge. I Mean,

After The British Gentry Have Left It. I Should Have Written To You

Before, But I Have Been Waiting These Three Weeks Past For Colonel

Wadsworth To Leave Philadelphia. He Will Inform You Of The Cursed

Slavish Life I Lead At The Treasury Office. I Am Obliged To Attend It

Even On Saturday Nights, Which Places Me Below The Level Of A Negro In

Point Of Liberty. Pray Present My Best Respects To Tetard, And Assure

Him Of My Wishes To Serve Him At All Times, And On All Occasions.

 

 

Yours,

 

 

Robert Troup.

Chapter XII Pg 177

From Colonel Troup.

 

 

Philadelphia, February 14Th, 1780.

 

 

My Dear Burr,

 

 

I Have Resigned My Office, And Am Now Preparing To Leave Philadelphia

To Go To Princeton, Agreeable To The Plan In My Letter By Colonel

Wadsworth. This Week I Expect To Finish A Little Private Business I

Have On Hand, And, By The Latter End Of The Next, To Be Settled In A

Regular Course Of Study With Mr. Stockton. What Think You Of This

Alteration In The Plan We Settled? Can You Leave Mr. Osmer Without

Injury? I Assure You, The Only Motive I Have To Prefer Stockton Is A

Desire To Qualify Myself For Practice As Soon As Possible. All My

Friends Are Against My Studying In Connecticut, For The Reason

Mentioned In My Last; And They All Recommend Stockton To Me. I Am

Therefore Determined To Study With Him.

 

 

I Am Very Much Afraid That Princeton Will Be Disagreeable To You On

Many Accounts, And Particularly On Account Of The Number Of

Acquaintances You Have In And Near It. This Is A Misfortune, To Be

Sure; But Do As I Shall, _Neglect Them All_; It Is Matter Of Perfect

Indifference To Me Whether I Affront Them Or Not. My Object Is To

Study With The Closest Attention. I Must Do It. I Have No Other

Resource.

 

 

Permit Me To Declare, Like A Sincere Friend, That My Happiness Is So

Intimately Connected With Yours, That I Shall Be Chagrined To An

Extreme If You Find It Inconvenient To Join Me. We Could Be Useful To

Each Other. Besides Facilitating Each Other'S Progress In The Law, We

Could Improve Ourselves In Writing And Speaking. In One Word--I Am

Confident I Should Acquire As Much Knowledge In Three Years With You

As In Six Years Without You. I Never Was More Serious. Come,

Therefore, Immediately, And Bring Mr. Tetard With You To Perfect Us In

The French Language, Which I Have Paid Little Attention To Since I

Wrote You, And Indeed Since You Left Me.

 

 

Pray Why Have You Neglected To Answer My Letter By Colonel Wadsworth?

I Suspect Something Extraordinary Is The Matter With You. Or Are You

So Angry As Not To Think I Merit An Answer? Whatever Your Reason Was,

Let Me Request You To Favour Me With An Answer To This By The First

Opportunity. If It Is Sent Under Cover To Mr. Stockton, It Will

Perhaps Reach Me Sooner.

 

 

It Is Reported, And Pretty General Believed, That Sir Henry Clinton,

With The Fleet That Came From New-York About Six Weeks Ago, Has

Touched At Georgia; Taken Prevost'S Troops With Him, And Gone Either

To St. Augustine Or The Havannah. This Is Very Important News, If

True; But It Seems To Wait Confirmation.

 

 

Your Unalterable Friend,

 

 

Robert Troup.

Chapter XII Pg 178

To William Paterson.

 

 

Middletown, February 16Th, 1780.

 

 

Your Friendly Letter Of September Has At Length Found Its Way To Me. I

Am Once More A Recluse. It Accords With My Feelings. I Should

Doubtless Be Happier If I Enjoyed Perfect Health And The Society Of A

Friend _Like You_; But Why Do I Say Like You? No Likeness Could

Compensate For The Absence Of The Original.

 

 

I Am Something At A Loss How To Regulate My Motions For The Coming

Summer. The Prospect Of Peace Is Still Distant. It Is An Object Of

Importance With Me To Be Not Only Secure From Alarms, But Remote From

The Noise Of War. My Present Situation Promises At Least Those

Advantages. Perhaps Yours Does Equally. Events Only Can Determine.

 

 

My Health, Which Was Till Of Late Very Promising, Seems To Decline A

Little. This Circumstance Will Oblige Me To Alter My Course Of Life. I

Shall Be In Your State In May Or June, Perhaps Sooner. If You Have A

Prospect Of Tranquillity, I Shall Have No Thought Of Returning.

Colonel Troup, A Worthy, Sensible Young Fellow, And A Particular

Friend Of Mine, Wishes To Know Where I Shall Prosecute My Studies, And

Is Determined, He Says, To Be My Companion. A Gentleman Who Has Been

Long Eminent At Your Bar, And Whom We Both Know Perfectly Well, Had

Made Troup Some Polite Offers Of His Service As An Instructor. He Was

Pleased With The Scheme, And As He Knew The Gentleman Was Professedly

My Friend, Urged Me To Put Myself Also Under His Tuition. I Mentioned

To Him In A Late Letter The Objections Which Had Been Decisive With

Me, And I Fancy He Will View Them In The Same Light. He Is The

Companion I Would Wish In My Studies. He Is A Better Antidote For The

Spleen Than A Ton Of Drugs. I Am Often A Little Inclined To _Hypo_.

 

 

My Best Respects Attend Mrs. Paterson. Speak Of Her In Your Letters. I

Would Not Feel Indifferent To One So Near To You, Even If No Personal

Acquaintance Had Confirmed My Esteem. You Would Have Heard From Me

Sooner, But No Post Has Rode This Fortnight. I Have Been Pursuing The

Track You Marked Out For Me, Though Not With The Ardour I Could Wish.

My Health Will Bear No Imposition. I Am Obliged To Eat, Drink, Sleep,

And Study, As It Directs. No Such Restraint Interrupts Your Bliss. May

You Feel No Bonds But Those Of Love And Friendship--No Rules But Those

That Lead To Happiness. Adieu.

 

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XII Pg 179

From Colonel Troup.

 

 

Philadelphia, 29Th February, 1780.

 

 

My Dear Burr,

 

 

Your Favours Of The 1St And 5Th Inst. Came To Hand Last Night, And Are

Both Before Me. I Am Very Much Indebted To You For Your Candour In

Stating The Objections Which Are Against Princeton, As Well As Mr.

Stockton. I Had Anticipated Them All. They Are Far From Being

Groundless. But My Situation Was Peculiar When I Determined To Live

With Mr. Stockton. In My Last A Principle Of Delicacy Induced Me To Be

More Reserved Than Is Consistent With The Sincerity Of Our Affection

For Each Other. Forgive My Criminal Reserve. I Will Be Plain With You

Now.

 

 

By A Strange Kind Of Contracted System, Which Pervades All The Civil

Establishments Of Congress, I Was Reduced To The Necessity Of

Resigning My Office At Least Six Weeks Sooner Than I Expected. Though

I Laboured Both Day And Night, With As Much Drudgery As A Negro On A

Plantation In The West Indies, The Board Of Treasury Did Not Think

Themselves Authorized To Report A Warrant In My Favour For Money To

Answer The Common Demands Of Living. They Confined Me To My Salary Of

_Ten Thousand Dollars_ [3] Per Annum. Finding That I Had Not The Most

Distant Prospect Of Getting A Decent Support While I Continued In

Office, And That I Was Obliged To Pay Four Or Five Thousand Dollars

Out Of My Own Private Purse For _Necessaries, I Cursed And Quit Them_

The Beginning Of This Month.

 

 

Being Thus Out Of Office, I Thought It Would Be Prudent To Settle

Myself At The Law Without A Moment'S Delay, Both On Account Of The

Heavy Expense Of Living In This City, And The Loss Of Time, Which Is

Of The Greatest Consequence To Me. I Did Not Forget Mr. Paterson When

I Gave The Preference To Mr. Stockton. The Private Character Of The

Former Is Infinitely Superior To That Of The Latter, And So Is His

Public. But He Is Immersed In Such An Ocean Of Business, That I

Imagined It Would Be Out Of His Power To Bestow All The Time And Pains

On Our Improvement We Would Wish. Besides, I Was Afraid Of Being More

Confined To The Drudgery Of Copying In His Office Than I Ought. This

Is Inseparable From An Office In Which There Is A Good Deal Done,

However Well Disposed A Lawyer May Be To Promote The Interest Of His

Clerk. You Observe That His Present Office Expires Next Summer. I

Grant It. Yet He May Be Chosen Attorney-General Again; And This I

Believe Will Be The Case, For There Is Not A Man Of Sufficient

Abilities In The State, Except Him And Morris, To Whom The People

Would Give The Office. Morris, I Fancy, Will Not Accept It If Offered

To Him, As He Has Lately Resigned His Seat On The Bench; And I Will

Venture To Predict That Paterson Will Be Continued, Though Against His

Inclination.

 

 

Upon The Whole, Then, I Feel Extreme Regret In Telling You That I Must

Go And Sit Down At Princeton The Latter End Of This Week At Farthest.

The Die Is Cast. My Honour Forbids Me To Act Contrary To The

Engagement I Have Entered Into With Mr. Stockton. Had I Received Your

Kind Letter Before My _Absolute Determination_, I Should Certainly

Have Followed Your Advice. Our Plan, Therefore, Will Be Frustrated.

Painful The Reflection! You Would Hurt Me Exceedingly If You Came To

Live At Princeton, And Subjected Yourself To The Inconveniences You

Mention, Merely To Please Me.

 

 

I Am Glad To Hear Your Health Is Mending, And Should Be Still More

Happy If It Was Unnecessary To Make Use Of The Mineral Springs In The

Clove. I Have Always Suspected That The Law Would Disagree With Your

Delicate Constitution. It Requires The Most Intense Study. Your

Ambition To Excel Will Stimulate You To The Closest Application, And I

Dread The Effects It May Produce. You Should Therefore Be Cautions.

Health Is A Source Of More Substantial Pleasure Than The Most

Cultivated Understanding.

 

 

A Few Days Ago Dr. Edwards Left A Bundle Of Bills, Amounting, As He

Says, To One Thousand Pounds, At Dr, Rush'S For Me, To Be Sent To You.

I Have Not Yet Counted It, But I Suppose It Is Right. To-Day Or

To-Morrow I Shall Leave A Receipt For It At Dr. Rash'S. I Believe I

Shall Presume So Far Upon Your Friendship As To Borrow A Part Of It

For My Own Use For About A Fortnight. I Am Much Disappointed In

Receiving A Small Sum To Pay My Debts In Town. I Sold Two Thousand

Dollars In Certificates To Mr. Duer Just Before He Left Town, And He

Gave Me An Order Upon A Lady For The Money. I Find She Will Not Be

Able To Pay It For Some Time Hence, And I Am So Pressed For Cash That

I Have Written To Duer, At Baskenridge, For The Certificates Or Money

Immediately. I Expect An Answer Every Moment; And, Till I Receive It,

Shall Consider Part Of Yours As My Own. The Remainder I Shall Transmit

You By The First Safe Conveyance. I Think It Would Be Wrong To Trust

The Post With It.

 

 

I Thank You Sincerely For Your Offer Of A Horse. The Present State Of

My Finances Is Such That I Cannot Afford To Keep One. If I Could It

Might Detach Me From My Studies. Beware Of Temptation, Saith The

Scripture, And So Saith My Interest.

 

 

I Suppose You Have Read The King'S Speech. He Makes No Mention Of His

Rebellious Subjects In America, Or Of Any Allies, And Is Resolved To

Prosecute The War. The Debates In The House Of Lords, As Well As

Commons, On The Motion For An Address Of Thanks, Were Very Warm. Lord

North, In One Of His Speeches, Makes No Scruple Of Declaring That They

Have No Allies To Assist Them. That They Can Get None. That The

Combined Fleets Have A _Decided Superiority_; And That It Would Have

Been Highly Dangerous For The English Fleet To Have Fought Them Last

Fall. The Bills On Spain And Holland Sell Very Fast. They Will All Be

Disposed Of In A Very Short Time. There Are Large Arrivals In Virginia

And Maryland; And There Are Several Vessels Below, Waiting For The

River To Be Cleared Of Ice, Which Will Be In Three Or Four Days. Poor

_Continental_ Is Still Going Down Hill. _Fifty-Eight_ Was Refused

Yesterday; And I Have No Doubt It Will Be _Seventy_ For _One_ Before

Ten Days Hence. Adieu. As Long As You Are Aaron Burr, I Will Be

 

 

Robert Troup.

 

 

 

 

 

From Major R. Alden.

 

 

I Intended To Have Wrote You A Letter In Answer To Your Last, But

Neither Head Or Heart Will Enable Me At Present. Although I Am

Answerable For My Conduct, Yet I Cannot Govern The Animal Fluids. I Am

So Much Of A _Lunatic Thermometer_, That Both _Moon_ And _Atmosphere_

Very Much Influence My _Aerial_ Constitution. My Brain Is Subject To

Such Changes, And So Much Affected By _External_ Objects, That I May

Be Properly Compared To A _Windmill_. You May Make The Similitudes As

You Please. I Have Not A Single Sentiment In My Head, Or Feeling In My

Heart, That Would Pay For Expressing. At Any Rate, My Mill Will Not

Grind. What Is All This Says My Friend Aaron? The Pleasure I Enjoyed

Yesterday In Feasting In Good Company, And In A Variety Of Other

Agreeables, At The Nuptial Anniversary Of Our Dear And Happy Friends,

Mr. And Mrs. Thaddeus Burr, Has Deprived Me Of That Common Share Of

Sensibility Which Is Generally Distributed Through The Days Of The

Year, And Rather Destroyed The Equilibrium. I Set Out For Camp The

Last Of This Week; May I Expect Letters From My Friend? Be Assured Of

My Warmest Friendship, And Make Me Happy By The Like Assurance, As It

Will Afford The Sincerest Pleasure To,

 

 

Yours, With Affection,

 

 

R. Alden.

Chapter XII Pg 180

From William Paterson.

 

 

Rariton, April 14Th, 1780.

 

 

My Dear Burr,

 

 

I Take The Earliest Opportunity Of Acknowledging The Receipt Of Your

_Dateless_ Letter, And Returning You My Best Thanks For It. Mr. And

Mrs. Reeve [4] Have Been So Kind As To Tarry A Night With Me. We

Endeavoured To Prevail Upon Them To Pass A Few Days With Us, And

Should Have Been Happy If We Could Have Succeeded. This Letter Goes

With Them. That Circumstance Cannot Fail, Of Making It Still More

Welcome To Your Honest And. Benevolent Heart.

 

 

I Wrote You The Latter End Of January From The Hermitage, And

Intrusted The Letter To Mrs. Prevost. It Was A Mere Scrawl. This Is Of

The Same Cast. However, I Promise, The Very First Leisure Hour, To

Devote It Entirely To You In The Letter Way. Although I Do Not Write

Frequently To You, Yet, Believe Me, I Think Frequently Of You. Oh,

Burr! May You Enjoy Health, And Be Completely Happy; As Much So As I

Am--More I Cannot Wish You. Nor Will You Be Able To Attain High

Felicity Until You Experience Such A Union As I Do. Mrs. Paterson Is

In Tolerable Health, And Gives You Her Best Respects. I Wish Her

Safely Through The Month Of May, And Then I Shall Be Still More Happy.

 

 

When You Come To Jersey I Shall Certainly See You. If I Do Not, It

Will Be Treason Against Our Friendship.

 

 

Peace Is Distant. There Is No Prospect Of It In The Present Year. Nor

Do I Think That Britain Will Come To Terms While She Fancies Herself

Superior On The Ocean. The War, However, Goes Southward, And There Is

Some Hope That We Shall Be More In Quiet This Year Than We Have Been

Since The Commencement Of Hostilities. On The Opening Of The Campaign

We Shall Be Able To Judge Better. Adieu.

 

 

William Paterson.

Chapter XII Pg 181

From Colonel Troup.

 

 

Princeton, April 27Th, 1780.

 

 

My Dear Burr,

 

 

I Wrote To You Yesterday, And Happened To Put The Letter Into The

Postoffice A Little After The Post Had Gone. In That Letter I

Requested You To Come Here As Soon As Possible, For It Was Highly

Probable That I Should Leave Princeton Entirely, And Determine To

Follow Our Original Plan. The Event Has Confirmed My Conjecture. I

Came Here From General Morris'S Yesterday, And Exerted All The

Influence I Was Master Of To Get New Lodgings, But Could Not, Without

Lodging In The Town, Which Would Be Disagreeable To Me On Many

Accounts. I Have Now Given Over All Thoughts Of Staying Here; And,

Having An Excellent Pretext For Changing My Ground, I Shall Write To

Mr. Stockton, Who Is Still In Philadelphia, And Acquaint Him With My

Intentions Of Going Away. Nothing Is Therefore Wanting But Yourself,

With A Horse And Chair, To Make Me Completely Happy. I Wish To God I

Could Push Off Eastward Immediately, But I Cannot. I Have No Horse,

Neither Is It Practicable To Borrow Or Hire One. I Must, Then, Wait

For You; And I Request You, In The Most Pressing Terms, To Lose Not A

Moment'S Time In Coming For Me At General Morris'S, About Six Miles

From This, Near Colonel Van Dyke'S Mill, On The Road To Somerset,

Where I Shall Wait Impatiently For You.

 

 

I Am Extremely Uneasy Lest This Letter Should Reach You After You Have

Left Home, And Begun Your Journey Northward. In That Case I Shall Be

Very Unfortunate; And, To Prevent Too Great A Delay, I Write To Mr.

Reeves At Litchfield, And Enclose Him A Letter For You, And Desire Him

To Forward It To You, Wherever You Are, With All Expedition. I Shall

Likewise Enclose Another For You To Mrs. Prevost, Who Will Be Kind

Enough To Give It To You The Moment You Arrive There.

 

 

If We Once Get Together, I Hope We Shall Not Be Soon Parted. It Would

Afford Me The Greatest Satisfaction To Live With You During Life. God

Grant Our Meeting May Be Soon. You Have My Best And Fervent Wishes For

The Recovery Of Your Health, And Every Other Happiness. Adieu.

 

 

Robert Troup.

Chapter XII Pg 182

To Colonel Troup.

 

 

Fairfield, 15Th May, 1780.

 

 

My Dear Bob,

 

 

I Wrote You From This Place The 12Th Inst. This Follows Close Upon It,

That I May Rest Assured Of Your Having Heard From Me.

 

 

I Go To-Morrow To Middletown, From Whence I Shall Hasten My Departure

As Much As Possible. No Trifling Concerns Should Command Me A Moment;

But Business Of Importance, And Some Embarrassments Too Serious To Be

Laughed Out Of The Way, Will, I Fear, Detain Me This Month. But The

Month Is Already Gone Before You Can Receive This. I Hope Your

Philosophy Will Not Have Forsaken You. Far From You Be Gloom And

Despondency. Attune Your Organs To The Genuine Ha! Ha! 'Tis To Me The

Music Of The Spheres; The Sovereign Specific That Shall Disgrace The

Physician'S Art, And Baffle The Virulence Of Malady. Hold Yourself

Aloof From All Engagements, Even Of The _Heart_. We Will Deliberate

Unbiased, That We May Decide With Wisdom. I Form No Decision On The

Subject Of Our Studies Till I See You.

 

 

I Write From The House Of Our Friend Thaddeus, In A World Of Company,

Who Are Constantly Interrupting Me With Impertinent Questions. Your

Summons Came Unexpected, And Found Me Unprepared. Nevertheless, My

Assiduity Shall Convince You That You May Command

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XII Pg 183

From Colonel Troup.

 

 

At General Morris'S, Near Princeton, 16Th May, 1780.

 

 

My Dear Burr,

 

 

I Wrote You, About Three Weeks Ago, A Very Pressing Letter, And

Requested You To Come For Me Here As Soon As Possible. My Anxiety To

See You Is Extreme, And, Lest My Letter Should Have Miscarried, I

Cannot Help Troubling You With Another. Every Thing, My Dear Burr, Has

Succeeded To My Wishes. I Have Left Mr. Stockton Upon The Most

Friendly Terms Imaginable, And I Am Still At General Morris'S To Avoid

Expense, But Am So Situated That I Cannot Study. I Assure You, My

Future Prosperity And Happiness In Life Depends, In A Greater Measure

Than You May Imagine, On My Living And Studying With You; And The

Sooner We Get Seated In Some Retired Place, Where We May Live Cheaply

And Study Without Interruption, The Better. I Know Myself--I Think I

Know You Perfectly. I Am More Deceived Than Ever I Was If We Do Not

Live Happily Together, And Improve Beyond Our Most Sanguine

Expectations. Delay Not, Therefore, A Single Moment, My Dear Burr, But

Come For Me Yourself. A Horse Or A Chair Without You Will Be

Unwelcome. I Want To Consult You About Several Matters Of Importance

To Me Before I Leave This State. I Say Leave This State, For Our

Original Plan Of Studying With Mr. Osmer Appears The Most Rational To

Me On Many Accounts.

 

 

I Am So Much Attached To You, My Dear Burr, And Feel Myself So Much

Interested In Every Thing Which Concerns You, That I Believe, And Hope

Sincerely, It Will Be Many Years Before We Separate If We Can Once Sit

Down Together. As Long As My Slender Fortune Will Permit Me To Live

Without Business, We Will, If You Find It Agreeable, Enjoy The

Pleasures Of Retirement. And When We Enter On The Theatre Of The

World, Why Not Act Our Parts Together? Heaven Grant That We May. I

Repeat It Again, My Dearest Friend, Lose Not A Moment'S Time In Coming

For Me. It Is Painful To Trespass So Long Upon General Morris'S

Bounty, Though He Be My Friend, And I Have Not Any Means Of Stirring

An Inch From Him Unless I Walk. For Fear You Should Not Be At

Middletown, I Shall Enclose A Copy Of This Letter To Mr. Reeves, And

Request Him To Forward It To You Immediately If You Should Not Be With

Him.

 

 

With What Pleasure Did I Receive Yours Of The 24Th Ult., At Princeton,

The Other Day, When I Went To Pay Mr. Stockton A Visit After His

Return From Philadelphia. I Cordially Congratulate You On The

Improvement Of Your Health By Rash Experiments. May It Be As Well

Established As My Own, Which Is Perfectly Capable Of The Closest

Application. But I Was Not A Little Mortified To Find You Say Nothing

About Your Intention To Ride To Jersey. Let Me Entreat You Once More

To Set Off As Soon As Possible. Every Moment Is Precious, And Ought To

Be Employed To Advantage. I Shall Wait For You With The Greatest

Impatience; And, In The Meantime, I Am, What I Always Wish To Be,

 

 

Your Affectionate And Sincere Friend,

 

 

Robert Troup.

Chapter XII Pg 184

From Colonel Troup.

 

 

Society-Hall, General Morris'S, 23D May, 1780.

 

 

My Dear Aaron,

 

 

My Patience Is Almost Exhausted. I Have Been Waiting For You This

Month Past. Here I Am, A Pensioner Upon The Bounty Of My Good Friend

General Morris, And Am Likely To Continue So, Unless You Are Kind

Enough To Come And Carry Me Away. This Is The Fifth Or Sixth Letter I

Have Written You On The Subject. What Can Be The Reason Of The Great

Delay In Forwarding Letters By The Post? Your Last Was Above A

Fortnight Old Before It Got To Princeton; And, Upon Inquiry, Daddy

Plumb Informs Me The Riders Are Ordered To Ride _Forty Miles_ A Day

During The Season. Must I Attribute It To The Fatality Which Has

Already Separated Us, And, I Fear, Is Determined To Put An Eternal Bar

To Our Junction? Such An Event Would Blast All My Hopes Of Future

Happiness. My Dear Aaron, I Want Words To Express My Pleasure In

Anticipating The Satisfaction Of Retiring From The Cares Of The World

With You, And Living In All The Simple Elegance Of Ancient

Philosophers. We Should Make A Rapid Improvement In Every Branch Of

Useful Literature; And When We Came To Act Our Parts On The Theatre Of

The World, We Might Excite Admiration, And, What Would Be Infinitely

More Pleasing To Us, We Should Be Better Men And Better Citizens.

 

 

After Mr. Stockton Returned From Philadelphia, I Communicated To Him

My Situation And My Intentions. He Approved Of My Determination To Go

Away, And Gave Me Some Advice, Which You Shall Know When You See Me.

Thus I Have Left Mr. Stockton Without Causing The Least Uneasiness,

And I Am Now Ready To Enter Upon Our Old Plan, Which Appears The Most

Consistent With Our Present Views. As I Said In All My Letters To You

On The Subject, I Am Here From A Principle Of Economy; But It Is

Disagreeable To Stay So Long As A Visitor, And I Am Therefore Obliged

To Request You To Alter Your Intention About Coming Here, And Set Off

The Moment You Receive This. I Have No Horse, And Depend Entirely Upon

You. Besides The Time We Lose By Postponing Our Settlement, I Have A

Matter Of Great Importance To Us Both To Communicate To You, That Has

No Connexion With Our Studying, And Which Makes It Necessary For Me To

See You Immediately.

 

 

Poor Mr. Stockton Is Incurable. He Cannot Survive The Summer.

 

 

Yours,

 

 

Robert Troup.

Chapter XII Pg 185

From Colonel Troup.

 

 

Baskenridge, June 27Th, 1786.

 

 

My Dear Aaron,

 

 

After A Very Disagreeable Ride Indeed, I Came Here The Day Before

Yesterday In The Afternoon; And Yesterday Morning, Just As I Was Going

To Mount My Horse, I Was Seized With A Violent Fever, Which Lasted

Till Sunset. This Morning I Feel Much Better, Though I Am Exceedingly

Weak. In A Few Minutes I Shall Take An Emetic; After Which I Suppose

The Bark Will Be Necessary. The Fever Seems To Be Of The Intermittent

Kind, And, I Think, Is Occasioned Principally By Riding In The Hot

Sun. I Am So Agreeably Situated Here, That I Shall Stay Till I

Recover, Which I Hope Will Be In Three Or Four Days. The Family Are

Very Polite And Attentive To Me, And Dr. Cutting, Who Quarters In The

Neighbourhood, Is Both My Physician And Apothecary.

 

 

The Miss Livingstons Have Inquired In A Very Friendly Manner About

You, And Expect You Will Wait Upon Them When You Pass This Way. Since

I Have Been Here, I Have Had An Opportunity Of Removing Entirely The

Suspicion They Had Of Your Courting Miss De Visme. [5] They Believe

Nothing Of It Now, And Attribute Your Visits At Paramus To Motives Of

Friendship For Mrs. Prevost And The Family.

 

 

Wherever I Am, And Can With Propriety, You May Be Assured I Shall

Represent This Matter In Its True Light.

 

 

I Have Obtained A Few Particulars Of -----, Which I Was Before

Unacquainted With, And Which I Cannot Forbear Communicating. He Is The

Son Of The Vice-President Of Pennsylvania, Who I Always Understood In

Philadelphia Was A Respectable Merchant, And I Believe Is Worth A

Moderate Fortune, Though I Am Not Certain. His Family Was Not Ranked

In The Genteeler Class Before The War; But At Present May Be Called

Fashionable, Or _A La Mode_. The Girls Here Think Him Handsome,

Genteel, And Sensible, And Say Positively He Is No Longer Engaged To

Miss Shippen. He Has Frequently Spoken To Them In Raptures, Latterly

Of Miss De Visme, And Once Declared He Was Half In Love With Her. I

Have Taken Care To Touch This String With The Greatest Delicacy.

 

 

How Is Your Health? Better Or Worse? Pray Neglect No Opportunity Of

Writing To Me. Present My Most Respectful Compliments To Mrs. Prevost

And The Family, And Also The Ladies On The Hill.

 

 

Miss Susan Governor Livingston Desires Her Compliments To You And The

Two Families. So Do Susan And Eliza Baskenridge.

 

 

Yours Affectionately,

 

 

Robert Troup.

Chapter XII Pg 186

From Peter Colt. [6]

 

 

Weathersfield, 7Th July, 1780.

 

 

My Dear Sir,

 

 

Will You Allow Me That Appellation, Who Have So Long Neglected To

Inform You Of The Situation Of Your Affairs Left In My Hands? But

Figure To Yourself The Thousand Embarrassments That Have Attended Me

In Conducting My Public Concerns _Towards A Close_, And You Will Be

Led To Put A More Favourable Construction On My Conduct Than I Should

Otherwise Expect.

 

 

My Last Informed You Of The Loss Of The _Hawk_, Being Chased On Shore

The Back Side Of Long Island. It Was A Few Days After She Went Out On

Her Last Cruise, And Before She Had Any Success. Of Course, About

L20,000, The Amount Of Her Last Outfits, Were Thrown Away. I Fear This

Will Make Her Die In Debt. Though All Her Goods Are Either Sold Or

Divided, Yet Her Accounts Are Not Settled. I Wish I Could See A

Tolerable Prospect Of Their Being Speedily Closed. But The Agents Are

Embarrassed. As Soon As I Can Get Her Accounts, Will Inform You Of The

State Of This Unlucky Adventure. There Is On Hand Some Clothing, Some

Duck, And Rigging, Out Of Which I Hope To Raise Hard Money. What Shall

I Do With The Other Articles, A Small Parcel Of Glassware And Rum, And

The Money Arising From The Sales Of The Vessel'S Sea-Coat, &C.? I Am

Advised To Sell Every Thing For Continental Money, At The Present

Going Prices, And Exchange It For Hard. What Is The Exchange With You?

With Us It Is From Sixty To Seventy For One. Let Me Know What I Am To

Do With Your Money When I Get It Into My Hands. I Have Not Settled Any

Of Your Accounts But Stanley'S.

 

 

Your Friends Are Generally Well, And Wish To Hear From You. Miss

H----- Has Been Quite Unwell Since You Left Us, As She Tells Me She

Hears You Are. You Will Not Be Vain When I Add, She Has More Than Once

Lamented _Your Ill State Of Health_, And Expressed Some Fears That It

Was Not Growing Better. The Sallys Beg Me To Make Their Best Wishes

For Your Health And Happiness Acceptable To You. Shall I Add, Their

Love Also?

 

 

Friend Wadsworth Has Engaged In The Supplies For The French Navy And

Troops. I Think It Will Keep Him Employed, And Much To His Advantage.

 

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

 

Peter Colt.

Chapter XII Pg 187

From Peter Colt.

 

 

Weathersfield, July 16Th, 1780.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

I Have To Acknowledge The Receipt Of Your Polite And Friendly Letter

Of The 1St Inst. My Little Family Would Have Been Too Much Elated With

Your Attention To Them Had You Not Dashed The Pleasure With The

Account Of Your Ill State Of Health. Pray Be More Attentive To The

Recovery Of It, Even Should It Interfere With Your Study Of The Law.

Let Your Diet And Exercise Be Simple And Regular; Directed By

Experience. The Former Not Too Low. It Is A Good Old Maxim--Be

Religious, But Not Superstitious. So Respecting Health, Be Exactly

Attentive, But Not Whimsical. Excuse The Term, For Invalids Are But

Too Apt To Be Governed By Whim Rather Than Reason And Experience.

 

 

Enclosed You Have An Account Current With The Agents Of The Hawk.

Indeed, Take It Altogether, It Is But A Poor Adventure. I Shall

Endeavour The Settlement Of Your Account With Friend -----, And Remit

You. In The Meantime, It Will Not Be Amiss To Send Me An Account Of

Money Advanced To Him.

 

 

As To News, Must Refer You To The Newspapers, Where You Will Get A

Large Supply. I Wish _Our Printers_ Did Not Deal So Much In The

Marvellous. It Is In Vain For Them To Attempt Copying Rivington. [7]

They Had Better Stick To The Truth.

 

 

Yours, &C.,

 

 

Peter Colt.

Chapter XII Pg 188

From Colonel Troup.

 

 

Rariton, July 18Th, 1780.

 

 

My Dear Burr,

 

 

Mr. Paterson Went To Brunswick Court This Morning. The Few Lines By

Dr. Brown Are The First I Have Had From You Since I Left Paramus;

Where The Other Letters You Refer To Stay, I Know Not.

 

 

I Am Charmed With My Present Situation In Every Respect. It Could Not

Be More Agreeable To My Wishes. I Shall Have Reason To Thank You, As

Long As I Live, For My Change. The Man I Lodge With Is An Able

Farmer--Has A Large House--Is Fond Of Me, And Is Possessed Of Every

Thing A Reasonable Person Could Expect Or Wish For. I Study

Attentively, And Have No Interruption Whatever. There Is An Agreeable

Neighbourhood In This Part Of The Country, And, When I Choose, I Can

Unbend Myself In Very Genteel Company.

 

 

I Am Reading Wood At Present. I Have Almost Done With His 4Th Chapter,

And Am Looking Over His Chapter On Courts. I Confine My Whole

Attention To The Practice, For Reasons I Will Tell You When We Meet. I

Am Translating Burlamaqui'S Politic Law. Reading Robertson'S Charles

V., Dalrymple On Feudal Property, And Swift'S Works. The Morning I

Devote To The Law. I Am Up Sometimes Before, Generally At Sunrise.

From Two To Half After Three In The Afternoon, And From Nine To Eleven

In The Evening, I Apply To Other Matters. I Am In A Fair Way, If

Public Affairs Will Suffer Me, To Be Retired.

 

 

Paterson Is The Very Man We Want. He Is Sensible, Friendly, And, As

Far As I Am Capable Of Judging, Profound In The Law. He Is To Examine

Me On Saturday Or Monday On What I Have Read, And I Am Preparing

Accordingly. I Have Heard Him Examine Noel Yesterday On The Practice,

And I Find His Examinations Are Critical. In A Couple Of Months I

Expect To Be As Far Advanced In The Practice As Noel. I Cannot Bear

That He Should Be Before Me. It Must Not, It Shall Not Be.

 

 

My Health Is Perfectly Restored, And I Am Now As Well As Ever I Was. I

Am Happy To Hear You Grow Better. May You Soon Be Well Enough To Join

Me. The Weather Is So Intensely Hot, And I Am So Closely Engaged In

Study, That I Cannot Determine When I Shall Pay You A Visit.

 

 

Yours, &C.,

 

 

Robert Troup.

Chapter XII Pg 189

From Colonel Troup.

 

 

On The Rariton, 21St August, 1780.

 

 

My Dear Burr,

 

 

The Account I Have Given Of My Situation Is Far From A Fiction. You

Will Find It A Pleasing Reality When You Come Here, Which I Suppose

You Will Postpone Till You See Me, As I Have No Doubt At Present That

The Second Division Of The French Fleet Has Arrived, With A

Re-Enforcement Of 4000 Troops. This Event Will Render It Necessary For

Me To Be Ready To Move At A Moment'S Warning; And, Presuming There

Will Be No Delay In Commencing Our Operations, I Think, In The Course

Of A Fortnight, Or Three Weeks At Most, I Shall Be At Paramus.

 

 

Will Your Health Permit You To Join The Army? I Fear Not. Fatigue And

Bad Weather May Ruin It. I Confess I Am Much Disappointed In My

Opinion Of The Mineral Waters. From Your Letters, I Conclude The Stock

Of Health You Have Gained Since I Left You Is Scarcely Perceptible.

Something Else Must Be Tried. Life Is Precious, And Demands Every

Exertion And Sacrifice To Preserve It. Mr. Paterson And I Have Often

Spoken Together On This Subject, And We Both Agree That A Ride To The

Southward Next Winter, And A Trip To The West Indies In The Spring,

Would Be Of Infinite Service To You. This Might Be Done With Ease In

Five Or Six Months.

 

 

Mrs. Paterson Is Perfectly Recovered, And Her Little Girl Grows

Finely, And Promises To Be Handsome. Mrs. Paterson Often Asks About

You, And Seems Anxious To Have You Among Us. When You Come, Remember

To Bring With You The Book You Took With You On Our Way To Paramus. I

Believe It Is An Essay On Health. Mrs. Paterson Wants It, The Idea You

Gave Me Of Her Is Just. She Is Easy, Polite, Sensible, And Friendly.

Paterson Is Rather Deficient In The Graces, But He Possesses Every

Virtue That Enters Into The Composition Of An Amiable Character.

 

 

I Can Hardly Go Out Anywhere Without Being Asked A Number Of Questions

About You. You Seem To Be Universally Known And Esteemed. Mr. Morris'S

Family Are Exceedingly Particular In Their Inquiries Concerning Your

Health. It Would Be Easier For You To Conceive, Than For Me To Tell

You, How Much They Like You. They Insist Upon Our Paying Them A Visit

As Soon As You Are Settled Here, Which I Have Promised, On Your Part

As Well As My Own.

 

 

Let Me Entreat You To Avoid Engaging Any Of Your French Books In

Connecticut, Especially Chambaud'S Exercises, To Any Person Whatever.

I, And Perhaps You, Will Stand In Need Of Them All.

 

 

I Am Greatly Indebted To The Good Family For Their Favourable

Sentiments, Which, As I Said Once Before, Must Proceed More From

Affection To You Than What They Find Meritorious In Me. I Am Certain,

However, That Their Esteem For Me Cannot Exceed Mine For Them, And

This You Will Be Kind Enough To Hint To Them When You Present My

Respectful Compliments. Assure Dom. Tetard Of My Friendship For Him,

And Fixed Determination To Use All Endeavours To Metamorphose Him Into

A Crassus After The War Is Ended. Adieu

 

 

Robert Troup.

Footnote Pg 190

 

 

 

1. Late President Of The United States.

Footnote Pg 191

 

 

2. The Residence Of Mrs. Prevost.

Footnote Pg 192

 

 

3. Continental Paper Dollars--Equal In Value To _Sixty For One Silver

Dollar_.

Footnote Pg 193

 

 

4. Judge Tappan Reeve, Whose Lady Was The Sister Of Colonel Burr.

Footnote Pg 194

 

 

5. The Sister Of Mrs. Prevost

Footnote Pg 195

 

 

6. Deputy Quartermaster-General; Subsequently Commissary For The

French Army, And Treasurer Of The State Of Connecticut.

Footnote Pg 196

 

 

7. Printer To The King In The City Of New-York.

Chapter XIII Pg 197

 

 

 

From William Paterson.

 

 

Morristown, 27Th August, 1780.

 

 

My Dear Burr,

 

 

I Was Not At Rariton When The Doctor, Who Was The Bearer Of Your

Letter, Passed That Way. It Would Have Given Me Pleasure To Have Shown

Him Every Mark Of Attention And Esteem In My Power.

 

 

I Dare Say You Count It An Age Since I Have Written You; And, Indeed,

I Must Confess That The Time Has Been Long. Your Good-Nature, However,

Will Induce You To Forgive Me, Although I Cannot Expect It From Your

Justice. I Hope The Water You Drink Will Prove Medicinal, And Soon

Restore You To Health; Although I Am More Disposed To Think That It

Will Take Time, And Be Effected Gradually. Persons Indisposed (I Speak

From Experience) Are Generally Impatient To Become Well, And That Very

Impatience Has A Natural Tendency To Prevent It. Do Not Be Restless,

My Dear Burr; Nor Think That, Because You Do Not Get Well In A Month,

Or In A Season, You Will Not Get Well At All. The Heat Of This Summer

Has Been Intense, Nor Is It As Yet Much Abated. Perhaps That Too May

Have Had Some Effect Upon You. The Hale And Hearty Could Scarcely Bear

Up Under It. May Health Soon Visit You, My Good Friend.

 

 

Mrs. Paterson Is Well. Our Little Pledge, A Girl, Burr, [1] Has Been

Much Indisposed, But Is At Present On The Mending Hand. I Am From Home

As Usual. My Official Duty Obliges Me To Be So. I Grow Quite Uneasy

Under It, And I Find Ease And Retirement Necessary For The Sake Of My

Constitution, Which Has Been Somewhat Broken In Upon By Unceasing

Attention To Business. The Business Has Been Too Much For Me. I Have

Always Been Fond Of Solitude, And, As It Were, Of _Stealing_ Along

Through Life. I Am Now Sufficiently Fond Of Domestic Life. I Have

Every Reason To Be So. Indeed, I Know No Happiness But At Home. Such

One Day Will Be Your Situation.

 

 

My Compliments To The Family At The Hermitage. I Shall Write You

Before I Leave This Place.

 

 

Yours, &C.

 

 

William Paterson.

Chapter XIII Pg 198

From William Paterson.

 

 

Morristown, 31St August, 1780.

 

 

My Dear Burr,

 

 

It Is Now Near The Midnight Hour, And Yet, Late As It Is, I Could Not

Acquit Myself To My Conscience If I Had Not Again Written You Before I

Left This Place, Which Will Be Early Tomorrow. My Life Is Quite In The

Militant Style--One Continued Scene Of Warfare. From This Place I Go

Down To The Supreme Court At Trenton, Which Will Be On Tuesday Next,

And The Tuesday After That I Shall Return Once More To Morristown, And

When I Shall Leave It Will Be Uncertain. I Rejoice When The Hour Of

Rest Comes Up, And Sicken At The Approach Of Day. Business Fairly

Bears Me Down. The Truth Is, That I Am Tired Of Writing, Tired Of

Reading, Tired Of Bustling In A Crowd, And, By Fits, Heartily Tired Of

Myself.

 

 

I Hope You Go On Gaining Strength, And That You Will In A Little While

Get The Better Of Your Disorder. The Mind And The Body Affect Each

Other Extremely. To A Person In Your State, Hilarity, Cheerfullness, A

Serene Flow Of Spirits, Are Better Than All The Drugs In A Doctor'S

Shop. Gentle Exercise Is Of Infinite Service. I Hope You Are Not

Wanting In Any Of These. If You Are, I Cannot Easily Pardon You,

Because They Are All Within Your Power.

 

 

Make My Compliments Acceptable To The Family At The Hermitage. I Have

A High Regard For Them, And Sincerely Wish Their Happiness. I Really

Pity And Admire Mrs. Prevost. Her Situation Demands A Tear; Her

Conduct And Demeanour The Warmest Applause. Tell Mrs. Prevost That She

Must Remember Me Among Her Friends; And That I Shall Be Happy To

Render Her All The Service In My Power.

 

 

Since I Have Been At This Place I Have Had A Letter From Mrs.

Paterson, Who Is Well. Our Little Girl, Who Was Indisposed When I Left

Home, Is Not Worse. I Flatter Myself I Shall Find Her Better When I

Return. Alas, That I Cannot Be More At Home. A Husband And A Parent

Have A Thousand Tendernesses That You Know Nothing Of. Adieu, My Dear

Burr; Live And Be Happy.

 

 

William Paterson.

Chapter XIII Pg 199

From Colonel Troup.

 

 

Morristown, October 23D, 1780.

 

 

My Dearest Friend,

 

 

I Want Words To Express The Pleasure I Feel At The Receipt Of Yours Of

The 22D, By The Boy Who Came For Your Horse. It Relieved Me From A

Burden Which Had Sunk My Spirits Lower Than I Recollect Them To Have

Been By Any Calamity I Have Met With During The War. My Imagination

Had Crowded My Mind With A Thousand Melancholy Reflections From The

Moment I Got Your Letter By Dr. Cutting, Who, Like A Modern Well-Bred

Gentleman, Left It At My Lodgings Only Three Days Ago. Some Evil

Genius Certainly Interrupts Our Correspondence. I Write Letters

Without Number, And Yet You Seldom Hear From Me, And When You Do, The

Letter Is As Old As If It Had Come From The Other Side Of The

Atlantic. It Is Exactly The Case With Yours.

 

 

Mr. Paterson Has Been More Unfortunate Than I. He Has Often Complained

Of Your Neglect, As He Thought It; But I Informed Him Of The Fate My

Letters Shared, And He Was Easy. However, He Desired Me Last Night To

Give You A Hint, That He Had Lately Written You Several Long Letters

Without Receiving An Answer To Either. He Is Now At Princeton,

Attending Court. I Shall Forward Your Letter That Accompanied Mine To

Him By A Safe Conveyance. Paterson Really Loves You With The Tenderest

Affection, And Can Scarcely Speak Of Your State Of Health Without

Shedding A Friendly Tear. As God Is My Judge, I Could Not Forbear

Shedding Several When I Read Yours By Dr. Cutting, Which Is The First

I Have Had From You In Near Five Weeks. I Was Afraid All Farther

Attempts To Recover Your Health, So As To Qualify You To Execute Our

Plan, Would Be Fruitless. In Short, I Thought You On The Brink Of

Eternity, Ready To Take Your Final Farewell Of This Wrangling World.

The Critical Situation Of Your Sister Increased My Distress, And

Extinguished Every Hope. How Much More Happy Should I Be If Your

Sister'S Health Took The Same Fortunate Turn. Your Ride To Litchfield

Must Be Doubly Agreeable, As It Will Tend To Establish Your Health And

Better Hers.

 

 

I Must Now Communicate To You A Disagreeable Piece Of News Respecting

Myself. It Shows How Rare It Is To Find A Man Of Real Disinterested

Benevolence. Sears And Broome, I Understand By Mr. Noel, Who Returned

From Philadelphia A Few Days Ago, Have Protested The Bill I Drew Upon

Them Last Summer. Colonel Palfrey Bought It, And Has It Returned To

Him, For What Reasons I Cannot Say Positively, But I Suspect They Are

Determined Not To Assist Me, Although They Were Lavish Of Their Offers

When They Supposed I Never Would Be Reduced To The Necessity Of

Accepting Them. Such Conduct Is Characteristic Of Excessive Meanness

Of Spirit, And I Confess I Am Deceived In My Opinion Of Them Most

Egregiously. True It Is, That Instances Of This Kind Of Behaviour

Often Occur In Our Intercourse With Mankind; But, From The Fortunes

These Men Have Made Since The War, And The Frequent Reports Of Their

Generosity, I Was Led To Imagine There Was Something More Than Mere

Idle Compliment And Ostentatious Parade In Their Offers. I Was

Deceived, And I Hope It Will Be The Last Time. This Affair Has Wounded

My Pride So Sensibly, That I Shall Be Extremely Cautious In Future. I

Must And Will Endeavour To Adopt Some Mode Of Drawing Supplies From My

Certificates, Which Will Be Three Years Old Next Spring, And Therefore

Ought To Be Taken Up By Congress By The Table Of Depreciation

Published By Congress To Regulate The Payment Of The Principal Of

Their Certificates, I Am Entitled To Three Hundred And Fifty Pounds,

At The Very Lowest Calculation, And This Sum In Specie.

 

 

When You Come Here You Must Exert All Your Abilities In Finance, To

Make Me No Longer Dependant Upon The Bounty Of Friends; Or Rather, I

Should Say, Your Bounty, For You Are The Only Person I Have Borrowed

Money Of. Till That Time, My Dear Friend, Can You Keep Me Above Water,

And Do Justice To Yourself? Will You Be Able To Extricate Me From The

Difficulties Attending This Bill? In Plain Terms, Can You Spare Me The

Amount Of It? My Reputation Suffers By Having The Bill Protested, And

I Must, In A Short Time, Send The Money To Colonel Palfrey, For I Am

Persuaded I Have No Farther Ground To Expect The Least Assistance From

Sears And Broome. Fail Not, By Any Means, To Write Me On This Subject

Before You Leave Paramus, And Be Careful How You Send The Letter.

 

 

There Is Nothing But Your Health And My Poverty That Retards My

Progress In Study. They Are Fruitful Sources Of Disquietude. When I

Lay Me Down To Sleep, They Often Prevent Me From Closing My Eyes. When

I Look Into A Book, They Present A Variety Of Melancholy Images To My

Imagination, And Unfit Me For Improvement In All Other Respects I Am

Situated To My Wishes: Paterson Treats Me As A Bosom Friend. He Has

Gone So Far As To Press Me In The Warmest Terms To Command His Purse.

How I Shall Be Able To Requite Your Friendship Is A Matter Beyond My

Penetration. I Declare, Before The Searcher Of All Hearts, That I

Consider Your Happiness And Welfare As Inseparable From My Own, And

That No Vicissitudes Of Fortune, However Prosperous Or Calamitous They

May Be, Will Ever Tear You From My Heart. Circumstanced As I Now Am,

Words Are The Only Proofs I Can Give You Of My Gratitude And

Affection. Time Will Prove Whether They Are The Cant Of Hypocrisy Or

The Language Of Esteem.

 

 

I Lent Your Horse To Mrs. Paterson About A Week Ago, To Carry Her To

Elizabethtown To See Her Brother, Who Was To Meet Her There From

New-York; And Disappointments In Not Seeing Him, From Day To Day, Have

Detained Her Much Longer Than Was Expected, And It Is Probable That

She Will Not Return Until Thursday Next; I Have Therefore Sent The Boy

Down To Elizabethtown, Or, More Properly, Shall Send Him In The

Morning, With Mr. Noel'S Horse, Which Will Answer Full As Well In The

Wagon. This Change Will Produce No Inconvenience At All, And Is Better

Than To Detain The Boy Till Mrs. Paterson Returns. She Was Exceedingly

Well When She Left Home, And So Was Her Little Girl, Which Is

Handsome, Good-Tempered, Fat, And Hearty. I Am Very Particular In

Presenting _Her_ Your Respects, And _She_ Is As Particular In

Inquiring About You.

 

 

Bring All The French Books You Can From Connecticut, Particularly

Chambaud'S Exercises, And All The Other Elementary Books You Have. I

Should Be Fond Of Having The Perusal Of Rousseau'S Social Compact, If

You Can Borrow It Of Mrs. Prevost For Me. I Am Quite Rusty In The

French, For I Have Neglected It Totally For Two Or Three Months. The

Business Of The Office Has Engrossed So Much Of My Attention, That I

Have Not Lately Read Any Other Book But Blackstone. I Am Still In The

Third Volume. I Digest Thoroughly As I Advance. I Have Unravelled All

The Difficulties Of The Practice, And Can Do Common Business With

Tolerable Dexterity.

 

 

The Horse Will Be Delivered To You Without A Saddle. Gales, A Young

Fellow Who Was Studying With Mr. Paterson, Requested Me To Lend It To

Him To Ride As Far As Newark Last August, And He Ran Off To New-York,

And I Never Could Get The Saddle Again. This Piece Of Villany I Could

Not Foresee, And It Surprised Almost As Much As Arnold'S. The Grass

Has Been Very Short, And I Fancy The Horse Will Be Leaner Than You

Expect. He Is A Most Excellent Saddle-Horse.

 

 

I Am Extremely Sorry To Hear Mrs. Prevost And Her Sister Are Unwell.

Remember Me To Them In The Most Friendly Manner. Give My Compliments

Also To Dr. Latimer, And All Friends In The Army Near You. Don'T

Forget Mrs. De Visme, The Children, Dom. Tetard, And The Family On The

Hill, Although I Hear They Are Strongly Prejudiced Against Me. Mrs.

Judith Watkins, As You Well Know, Has Spoken Maliciously. She Is Far

From Being Your Friend. Every Thing That Passed One Day At Dinner In

Confidence Respecting Our Reception At Her House, Has Been Told To Her

And Her Husband, With No Small Exaggerations, By Some Person Of The

Company. Governor Bill Livingston Related Some Particulars That

Astonished Me, And Added, That He And Mr. And Mrs. Watkins Thought It

Cruel In You To Put Such An Unfair Construction Upon Watkins'S

Behaviour To Us. All This Talk Is Beneath Our Notice. What I Said To

Bill Was Sufficient To Erase Any Unfavourable Impression From A Candid

Mind. If It Has Not Produced That Effect, Any Further Attempt To

Refute The Calumny Will Only Serve To Confirm It.

 

 

Mrs. P. Livingston Is Here, And Desires Her Respects To You. She Was

Glad To Hear Of The Prospect You Have Of Growing Hearty. She Is An

Amiable Woman, And Loves You. Your Friend,

 

 

Robert Troup.

Chapter XIII Pg 200

The Preceding Correspondence Contains In Itself A Tolerable History Of

Colonel Burr'S Situation And Employment From The Summer Of 1779 Until

The Autumn Of 1780. After Retiring From The Army, He Suffered Most

Severely From Ill Health--That Ill Health Was, In A Great Degree,

Produced By The Fatigues And Exposure On The 27Th And 28Th Of June,

1779, At The Battle Of Monmouth. His Constitution Was Feeble, And Had

Been Shattered By His Unparalleled Vigilance In The Winter Of 1778-79,

While Commanding The Advanced Post In Westchester. But The Battle Of

Monmouth Seemed To Have Given It The Finishing Stroke.

 

 

The Letters Of Judge Paterson And Colonel Troup Afford The Best

Evidence Of His Ill Health, And Of Their Affectionate Devotion To Him

As Friends. They Are Given At Some Length, Because They Present Rare

And Extraordinary Examples Of Fidelity In Friendship. Both These

Gentlemen Preceded Colonel Burr To The Tomb. Both Continued To

Respect, To Esteem, And To Love Him, To Their Last Hour. Their

Character Requires No Panegyric. Colonel Troup Lived Until The Year

1832. In Manhood, For More Than Half A Century, He Venerated Colonel

Burr For His Genius, His Talents, His Chivalry, His Intrepidity Of

Character, His Disinterestedness, His Generosity. He Deplored His

Weaknesses, And Abhorred His Vices. But When He Viewed The Whole Man,

From Youth To More Than Threescore And Ten Years, He Loved And

Respected Him. Both These Distinguished Citizens, As Politicians, Were

Opposed To Colonel Burr From The Year 1788 Until The Close Of Their

Lives.

 

 

In The Autumn Of 1780, Colonel Burr Commenced The Study Of Law With

Judge Paterson, Who Resided At That Time On The Rariton, About Twenty

Miles From Brunswick, In New-Jersey. Here He Remained Till The Spring

Of 1781. The Judge Was A Man Governed By Fixed And Settled Rules. In

The Application Of These Rules Colonel Burr Found That His Study Of

The Law Would Require Much More Time To Prepare Him For An Examination

Than He Was Willing To Devote. He Concluded That There Must Be A

Shorter Mode To Get At The Mechanical Or Practical Part; And, Having

Determined To Make The Experiment, He Left The Office Of Judge

Paterson.

Chapter XIII Pg 201

From New-Jersey, In The Spring Of 1781, He Removed To Haverstraw, Then

In Orange County, State Of New-York. Residing At This Place Was Thomas

Smith, Esq., Formerly Of The City Of New-York, And Brother To William

Smith, The King'S Attorney-General. Thomas Smith Had A Good Law

Library, Which Had Been Removed From The City Into The Highlands For

Safety. With Smith, Colonel Burr Made An Arrangement To Study On A

Plan Of His Own. By The Contract, For A Specified Sum To Be Paid,

Smith Was To Devote Certain Portions Of His Time To Burr. At These

Interviews, He Was To Answer Such Questions As Burr Propounded. The

Answers Were Taken Down In Writing, And Formed The Basis Of Additional

Interrogatories; While, At The Same Time, They Aided In Directing His

Attention To Those Legal Points Or Authorities Which Were Necessary

For Him To Examine Or Read. During The Time He Remained At Haverstraw,

He Studied From Sixteen To Twenty Hours A Day.

 

 

In The Summer Of 1780, Major Andre, Of The British Army, Was In

Correspondence With Mrs. Arnold (The Wife Of General Arnold), Under A

Pretext Of Supplying Her, From The City Of New-York, With Millinery

And Other Trifling Articles Of Dress. On The 23D Of September, 1780,

Major Andre Was Captured, And The Treason Of The General Discovered.

When This News Reached West Point, Mrs. Arnold Became, Apparently,

Almost Frantic. Her Situation Excited The Sympathy Of Some Of The Most

Distinguished Officers In The American Army. Mrs. Arnold, Having

Obtained From General Washington A Passport, And Permission To Join

Her Husband In The City Of New-York, Left West Point, And On Her Way

Stopped At The House Of Mrs. Prevost, In Paramus, Where She Stayed One

Night. On Her Arrival At Paramus The Frantic Scenes Of West Point Were

Renewed, And Continued So Long As Strangers Were Present. Mrs. Prevost

Was Known As The Wife Of A British Officer, And Connected With The

Royalists. In Her, Therefore, Mrs. Arnold Could Confide.

 

 

As Soon As They Were Left Alone Mrs. Arnold Became Tranquillized, And

Assured Mrs. Prevost That She Was Heartily Sick Of The Theatrics She

Was Exhibiting. She Stated That She Had Corresponded With The British

Commander--That She Was Disgusted With The American Cause And Those

Who Had The Management Of Public Affairs--And That, Through Great

Persuasion And Unceasing Perseverance, She Had Ultimately Brought The

General Into An Arrangement To Surrender West Point To The British.

Mrs. Arnold Was A Gay, Accomplished, Artful, And Extravagant Woman.

There Is No Doubt, Therefore, That, For The Purpose Of Acquiring The

Means Of Gratifying An Inordinate Vanity, She Contributed Greatly To

The Utter Ruin Of Her Husband, And Thus Doomed To Everlasting Infamy

And Disgrace All The Fame He Had Acquired As A Gallant Soldier At The

Sacrifice Of His Blood. Mrs. Prevost Subsequently Became The Wife Of

Colonel Burr, And Repeated To Him These Confessions Of Mrs. Arnold.

 

 

The Preceding Statement Is Confirmed By The Following Anecdote. Mrs.

Arnold Was The Daughter Of Chief-Justice Shippen, Of Pennsylvania. She

Was Personally Acquainted With Major Andre, And, It Is Believed,

Corresponded With Him Previous To Her Marriage.

Chapter XIII Pg 202

In The Year 1779-80,

Colonel Robert Morris Resided At Springatsbury, In The Vicinity Of

Philadelphia, Adjoining Bush Hill. Some Time Previous To Arnold'S

Taking Command Of West Point, He Was An Applicant For The Post. On A

Particular Occasion Mrs. Arnold Was Dining At The House Of Colonel

Morris. After Dinner, A Friend Of The Family Came In, And

Congratulated Mrs. Arnold On A Report That Her Husband Was Appointed

To A Different, But More Honourable Command. The Information Affected

Her So Much As To Produce Hysteric Fits. Efforts Were Made To Convince

Her That The General Had Been Selected For A Preferable Station. These

Explanations, However, To The Astonishment Of All Present, Produced No

Effect. But, After The Treason Of Arnold Was Discovered, The Family Of

Colonel Morris Entertained No Doubt That Mrs. Arnold Was Privy To, If

Not The Negotiator For, A Surrender Of West Point To The British, Even

Before The General Had Charge Of The Post.

 

 

In The Autumn Of 1781 Colonel Burr Left Haverstraw And Went To Albany,

With A Determination To Make An Effort To Be Admitted To The Bar. He

Continued His Studies With The Most Untiring Industry. He Had His Own

Apartments And His Own Library, Sleeping, When He Did Sleep, In A

Blanket On The Floor.

 

 

Colonel Burr'S Liberality In Pecuniary Matters Had Tended To Impair

His Private Fortune. No Man Possessed A More Benevolent Heart. The

Following Letter Presents One Case Out Of Many Which Might Be

Enumerated, Evincing His Generosity, And The Delicate Manner In Which

He Could Confer A Favour. Major Alden Had Become Embarrassed In His

Circumstances, And Was Greatly At A Loss For A Profession, At The

Approaching Close Of The War, By Which He Might Acquire A Decent

Support. These Reflections Rendered Him Gloomy And Desponding. At

Length He Unbosomed Himself To Colonel Burr, Who Thus Replies To His

Letter:--

Chapter XIII Pg 203

To Major R. Alden.

 

 

Rariton, February 15Th, 1781.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

If It Will Solace Your Woes To Know There Is A Heart That Feels Them

As Its Own, That Heart Is Mine. The Thwarts Of Delicacy, Which You

Would Exclude From The Catalogues Of Distress, Are Certainly The

Keenest Humanity Can Feel. I Know Their Force. I Have Felt Them In All

Their Pungency.

 

 

A Want Of Uniformity In The Mode And Object Of My Pursuit Has Been

Long My Misfortune, And Has, I Fear, Been Yours. There Is A

Persevering Firmness That Will Conquer Embarrassment, And, Aided With

The Secret Smile Of An Approving Conscience, Cannot Fail To Put Us

Above The Power Of Adversity. Thus "We Shall Shun Misfortunes, Or

Shall Learn To Bear Them."

 

 

I Have Ever Found The Moment Of Indecision To Be The Moment Of

Completest Anguish. When Our Resolutions Are Taken With Determined

Firmness, They Engross The Mind And Close The Void Of Misery. Yes, My

Friend, Save The Pang Of Sympathy, I Am Happy. These Are My Halcyon

Days. Let Us Taste Them Together. We Shall Mutually Heighten Their

Relish. Let Us Rescue Some Moments Of Rational Enjoyment From The

Wreck Of Impetuous Time. Friendship Shall Smooth The Rugged Path Of

Science, And Virtue Cheer The Way.

 

 

If Law Is Your Object, This Situation Is Favourable To The Pursuit.

You Shall Have Access To The Library And Office, Without The Customary

Expense. Your _Ostensible Reason_ For Coming Here Shall Be To Pursue

Your Studies With Me, Under My Friend Mr. Paterson. The Two Boys [2] I

Wish You To Instruct Are Of The Sweetest Tempers And The Softest

Hearts. A Frown Is The Severest Punishment They Ever Need. Four Hours

A Day Will, I Think, Be Fully Sufficient For Their Instruction. There

Are Hours Enough Left For Study--As Many As Any One Can Improve To

Advantage; And These Four Will Be Fully Made Up To You By The

Assistance You Will Derive From Such Of Us As Have Already Made Some

Small Progress.

 

 

If It Is Possible, We Live Together. At Any Rate, You Shall Live Near

Me; We Shall At Least Meet Every Day, Or Oftener, If We Please.

Nothing Will Interrupt Us. We Will Regulate Our Own Amusements And

Pursuits. Here Are No Expensive Diversions Of Any Kind. Your Salary

Shall Be A Genteel Maintenance In Such A Situation. You Shall Have

Sixty Pounds, New-York Currency, Which Is More Than I Expend Here. You

Will Find It Impossible To Spend A Farthing Except Board And Clothing.

If, From This Short Sketch, You Think The Situation Adapted To Your

Views, Of Which I Feel A Pleasing Assurance, Acquaint Me Immediately,

That I May Prepare For Your Reception.

 

 

I Purpose Bringing The Boys Here The Beginning Of April. Be Here By

That Time, If Possible. Get Mr. Thaddeus Burr To Enclose Your Letter

To Loudon The Printer, Who Will Be Careful To Forward It To Me. How

Could I Write To You How Divine Your Residence? Never Again Harbour,

For A Moment, A Surmise That Derogates From My Sincerity.

 

 

My Health Is Nearly Established. I Have Not Enough To Despise The

Blessing, But Enough To Relish Every Enjoyment Of Life. Adieu, My

Friend; May That Cheerfullness Of Which You Have Been Robbed Return,

And Be As Permanent As Your Merit Or My Affection.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XIII Pg 204

From Thomas Smith.

 

 

Haverstraw, 1St March, 1781.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

The Preparations At New-York Look This Way, And That Inclines Me To

Seek An Asylum In New-Jersey, Any Part Of Which I Believe Will Be

Safe, If Hudson'S River Is The Object Of The Enemy. If I Could Get

Mrs. De Visme'S Place, It Would Be Most Agreeable To Mrs. Smith. A Few

Weeks Will Determine Me, And Then I Shall Be In A Situation To Give

You And Colonel Troup Every Assistance In My Power. As It Is Your

Object To Fit Yourselves As Soon As Possible For Admission To The Bar,

Without Submitting To The Drudgery Of An Attorney'S Office, In Which

The Advancement Of The Student Is But Too Often A Secondary

Consideration, I Should Cheerfully Devote A Sufficient Part Of My Time

To Lead You Through The Practice Of The Law In All Its Parts; And Make

No Doubt, With Close Application On Your Part, I Should Be Able In A

Short Time To Introduce You To The Bar, Well Qualified To Discharge

The Duties Of The Profession, With Honour To Yourselves, And Safety To

Your Clients.

 

 

My Library Is Now In A Situation To Be Removed. Two Boxes Are Missing,

And I Fear Have Fallen A Sacrifice To The Liberty Of The Times. I Only

Wait Till The Roads Will Permit Me To Remove The Remainder Down, As I

Think My Books By No Means Safe Where They Now Are, If The Forts

Should Be Attacked.

 

 

Your Obedient Servant,

 

 

Thomas Smith.

Chapter XIII Pg 205

At This Period Colonel Burr Was Closely Engaged In His Studies. His

Constitution Was Somewhat Renovated. His Correspondence Now Became

Limited, And Was Principally Confined To Mrs. Prevost. Here Again The

Peculiarity Already Referred To Was In Full Operation. The Greater

Part Of This Correspondence Is In Cipher. But Portions Of It That Are

Not Thus Written Are Highly Interesting, And Give Evidence That Mrs.

Prevost Possessed A Cultivated Mind. Her Health Was Very Feeble, And

Continued So, After She Became The Wife Of Colonel Burr, Until Her

Decease. Some Extracts From Her Letters Will Be Given.

Chapter XIII Pg 206

From Mrs. Prevost.

 

 

Litchfeld, February 12Th, 1781

 

 

I Am Happy That There Is A Post Established For The Winter. I Shall

Expect To Hear From You Every Week. My Ill Health Will Not Permit Me

To Return Your Punctuality. You Must Be Contented With Hearing Once A

Fortnight.

 

 

Your Opinion Of Voltaire Pleases Me, As It Proves Your Judgment Above

Being Biased By The Prejudices Of Others. The English, From National

Jealousy And Enmity To The French, Detract Him. Divines, With More

Justice, As He Exposes Himself To Their Censure. It Is Even Their Duty

To Contemn His Tenets; But, Without Being His Disciple, We May Do

Justice To His Merit, And Admire Him As A Judicious, Ingenious Author.

 

 

I Will Not Say The Same Of Your System Of Education. Rousseau Has

Completed His Work. The Indulgence You Applaud In Chesterfield Is The

Only Part Of His Writings I Think Reprehensible. Such Lessons From So

Able A Pen Are Dangerous To A Young Mind, And Ought Never To Be Read

Till The Judgment And Heart Are Established In Virtue. If Rousseau'S

Ghost Can Reach This Quarter Of The Globe, He Will Certainly Haunt You

For This Scheme--'Tis Striking At The Root Of His Design, And

Destroying The Main Purport Of His Admirable Production. Les

Foiblesses De L'Humanite, Is An Easy Apology; Or Rather, A License To

Practise Intemperance; And Is Particularly Agreeable And Flattering To

Such Practitioners, As It Brings The Most Virtuous On A Level With The

Vicious. But I Am Fully Of Opinion That It Is A Much Greater Chimera

Than The World Are Willing To Acknowledge. Virtue, Like Religion,

Degenerates To Nothing, Because It Is Convenient To Neglect Her

Precepts. You Have, Undoubtedly, A Mind Superior To The Contagion.

 

 

When All The World Turn Envoys, Chesterfield Will Be Their Proper

Guide. Morality And Virtue Are Not Necessary Qualifications--Those

Only Are To Be Attended To That Tend To The Public Weal. But When

Parents Have No Ambitious Views, Or Rather, When They Are Of The More

Exalted Kind, When They Wish To Form A Happy, Respectable Member Of

Society--A Firm, Pleasing Support To Their Declining Life, Emilius

Shall Be The Model. A Man So Formed Must Be Approved By His Creator,

And More Useful To Mankind Than Ten Thousand Modern Beaux.

 

 

If The Person Whose Kind Partiality You Mention Is Paterson, I Confess

Myself Exceedingly Flattered, As I Entertain The Highest Opinion Of

The Perspicuity Of His Judgment. Say All The Civil Things You Please

For His Solicitous Attention To My Health. But If It Should Be Troup,

Which I Think More Probable, Assure Him Of My Most Permanent

Gratitude.

 

 

Affectionately,

 

 

Theodosia Prevost.

Chapter XIII Pg 207

From Mrs. Theodosia Prevost.

 

 

Litchfield, 6Th March, 1781.

 

 

----Where Can ----- Be? Poor Suffering Soul; Worthy A Better Fate.

Heaven Preserve Him For His Own Sake; For His Distressed Mother'S. I

Pity Her From My Heart, And Lament My Inability To Alleviate Her

Sorrows. I Invoke A Better Aid. May Her "Afflicted Spirit Find The

Only Solace Of Its Woes"--Religion, Heaven'S Greatest Boon To Man; The

Only Distinction He Ought To Boast. In This, He Is Lord Of The

Creation; Without It, The Most Pitiable Of All Created Things.

 

 

How Strangely We Pass Through Life! All Acknowledge Themselves Mortal

And Immortal; And Yet Prefer The Trifles Of To-Day To The Treasures Of

Eternity. Piety Teaches Resignation. Resignation Without Piety Loses

Its Beauty, And Sinks Into Insensibility. Your Beautiful Quotation Is

Worth More Than All I Can Write In A Twelvemonth. Continue Writing On

The Subject. It Is Both Pleasing And Improving. The Better I Am

Acquainted With It, The More Charms I Find. Worlds Should Not Purchase

The Little I Possess. I Promise Myself Many Happy Hours Dedicated At

The Shrine Of Religion,

 

 

Yours, Affectionately,

 

 

Theodosia Prevost.

Chapter XIII Pg 208

From Mrs. Theodosia Prevost.

 

 

Litchfield, May, 1781.

 

 

Our Being The Subject Of Much Inquiry, Conjecture, And Calumny, Is No

More Than We Ought To Expect. My Attention To You Was Ever Pointed

Enough To Attract The Observation Of Those Who Visited The House. Your

Esteem More Than Compensated For The Worst They Could Say. When I Am

Sensible I Can Make You And Myself Happy, I Will Readily Join You To

Suppress Their Malice. But, Till I Am Confident Of _This_, I Cannot

Think Of Our Union. Till Then I Shall Take Shelter Under The Roof Of

My Dear Mother, Where, By Joining Stock, We Shall Have Sufficient To

Stem The Torrent Of Adversity.

 

 

You Speak Of My Spirits As If They Were At My Command, Or Depressed

Only From Perverseness Of Temper. In These You Mistake. Believe Me,

You Cannot Wish Their Return More Ardently Than I Do. I Would This

Moment Consent To Become A Public Mendicant, Could I Be Restored To

The Same Tranquillity Of Mind I Enjoyed This Time Twelvemonth. The

Influence My Letters May Have On Your Studies Is Imaginary. The Idea

Is So Trite That I Ask In Hopes It Was Worn From Your Mind. My Last

Year'S Trials Are Vouchers. I Was Always Writing With A View To Please

You, And As Often Failed In The Attempt. If A Desire For My Own

Happiness Cannot Restore Me To Myself, Pecuniary Motives Never Can. I

Wish You To Study For Your Own Sake; To Ensure Yourself Respect And

Independence; To Ensure Us The Comforts Of Life, When Providence

Deigns To Fit Our Hearts For The Enjoyment. I Shall Never Look Forward

With Confidence Till Your Pride Extends To That. I Had Vainly

Flattered My Self That Pride Was Inseparable To True Love. In Yours I

Find My Error; But Cannot Renounce My Idea Of Its Being A Necessary

Support _To_, And The Only Security _For_, Permanent Affection.

 

 

You See By The Enclosed How Ready My Friends Are To Receive You, And

Promote Your Interest. I Wish You May Be Fortunate In Executing Aunt

Clark'S Business. My Health And Spirits Are Neither Better Nor Worse

Than When You Left Me. I Thank You For Your Attention To Bird'S

Prescription.

 

 

Adieu,

 

 

Theodosia Prevost.

Chapter XIII Pg 209

From Mrs. Theodosia Prevost.

 

 

Sharon, September 11Th, 1781.

 

 

My Friend And Neighbour, Mr. Livingston, Will Have The Pleasure Of

Presenting You This. You Will Find Him Quite The Gentleman, And Worthy

Your Attention. Enclosed Is A Letter To My Sister, Which Must Be

Delivered By Yourself. You Know My Reasons Too Well To Infer From My

Caution That I Entertain The Least Doubt Of Mr. Livingston'S

Punctuality.

 

 

Monsieur Tetard Is Gone To The Manor, Summoned By Mrs. Montgomery, On

Pretence Of His Being The Only Surviving Witness To The General'S

Will. The Business That Was To Have Detained Him But A Few Days Has

Kept Him These Six Weeks. I Cannot Account For His Delay, Unless His

Extravagant Encomiums On The Progress Of A Friend Of Yours Has Proved

A Stimulation To Those Of Superior Talents. He Exaggerates Exceedingly

In Extolling His Pupils. Those Whose Expectations Are Raised From His

Description Must Prepare Themselves For Disappointment.

 

 

Mr. And Mrs. Reeve Were Well A Few Days Ago. She Rides Every Morning

To Visit The Boy, And Returns Before Breakfast. I Fear They Will

Disappoint Me In The Promised Visit.

 

 

We Were Obliged To Dr. Cutting For The Most Pleasing Account Of Your

Health And Spirits. Also, Of Your Great Progress In Law. Judge Hobart

Expects Colonels Burr And Troup Will Make His Suite To The October

Court, Where He Hopes To Usher Them, With All The Eclat Due To Their

Merit. He Counts The Weeks, Which He Has Now Reduced To Five. While

The Warmth Of Friendship Animates His Countenance, His Heart Swells

With Pride At The Honour Of Patronising Two Such Characters. He Must

Not Be Disappointed; This Must Be The Route, Or He Will Believe

Himself Slighted. I Am Obliged To His Zeal, As It Will Procure Us The

Pleasure Of Seeing You. The Sight Of An Old Acquaintance Is Quite A

Phenomenon. I Am Not Surprised That Genuine Hospitality Is Fled To

Cottages. You Will Find It A La Rustique Chez Votre Amie.

 

 

Theodosia Prevost.

Chapter XIII Pg 210

From Major R. Alden.

 

 

Fairfield, 26Th February, 1781.

 

 

Dear Burr,

 

 

Your Letter Of The 15Th Inst. Pleases Me. You Have A Heart That Feels:

A Heart Susceptible Of Tender Friendship. Life Has Not A Single Charm

To Compare With Such Sensations. You Know Too Well How To Excite Such

Emotions. Happy For Us. These Expel The Keenest Pangs. There Is No

Such Thing As Real Happiness. At Best, It Is But A Delusion. We Make

Our Own Pleasures As We Do Our Troubles. Friendship Will Heighten The

One And Moderate The Other.

 

 

I Have Been Tortured With The Anxiety Of Suspense. It Has Given Me The

Most Poignant Distress. It Disordered My Mind; At Times, Almost Drove

Me To Despair. Some Of My Friends Saw The Effect, But Could Not

Conjecture The Cause. You Alone Could Penetrate The Feelings Of My

Heart; You Alone Are In Possession Of That Evidence Which Will Convict

Me Of My Weakness; My Want Of Fortitude. I Dare Intrust You. I Feel

The Influence Of Your Friendship. To A Heart Like Yours, This Will

Prove The Sincerity And Affection Of Mine. I Bid Adieu To Camp, Having

Completed My Business, With My Thanks To Our Worthy Commander-In-Chief

For His Attention To My Character. The Discharge He Gave Me Equalled

My Wishes And Exceeded My Expectations. I Have Enjoyed The Most

Rational Satisfaction For Three Days Past. I Have Commenced Student.

Dr. Johnson Has Given Me My Plan Of Studies, And Free Access To His

Library. My Ambition Is Not Great, Nor My Views Unbounded. I Shall

Proportion The Means To The Object. If I Persevere With Attention, I

Have Something More Than Wishes To Build Upon. Nothing Within The

Compass Of My Abilities, That Is Justifiable, Will Be Left Untried, To

Gratify My Reasonable Desires.

 

 

I Know That Your Request Proceeded Entirely From Your Friendship For

Me, And That You Felt Happy That It Was In Your Power To Oblige Me. I

Feel The Force Of Your Kindness, But Must Deny Myself The Pleasure Of

Spending Some Months With My Friend. My Time Is Short; Age Presses

Upon Me. Four Years Have Been Devoted To My Country, For Which I Have

Received No Compensation.

 

 

It Gives Me Pleasure To Hear That Your Health Is Such That You Can Be

Thankful For The Blessing, And Are In A Situation To Enjoy Yourself In

The Pursuit Of Your Studies. My Heart Is Sincerely Interested In Your

Happiness. Let Me Know Your Feelings, That I May Know How To Refine

Mine. Your Friendship And Letters Add A Continual Charm To My Life,

And Will Always Please The Heart And Secure The Affection Of, Yours,

 

 

With Sincerity,

 

 

R. Alden.

Chapter XIII Pg 211

To Mrs. Prevost.

 

 

Albany, 5Th June, 1781.

 

 

I Was Absent When Yours Of The 10Th Ultimo Came, And Therefore Did Not

Receive It Till The First Inst. You May Be Assured Will One Day Repent

His Insolence. Uniformity Of Conduct And Great Appearance Of

Moderation Are All That Can Be Put In Practice Immediately. The Maxim

Of A Man Whom Neither Of Us Esteem Very Highly Is Excellent On This

Occasion--"_Suaviter In Modo, Fortiter In Re_." See, My Dear

Theodosia, What You Bring Upon Yourself By Having Once Piddled At

Latin. The Maxim, However, Would Bear Sheets Of Comment And Days Of

Reflection. I Second The Just Pride Of ----, In Being Averse To Crouch

To A Villain. Your Letter To E. Would Have Every Influence That Mine

Possibly Could.

 

 

These Crosses Are Of That Class Which, Though They May Perplex For A

Moment (A Moment Is Too Much), Yet Cannot Affect Our Real Happiness.

That Mind Is Truly Great Which Can Bear With Equanimity The Trifling

And Unavoidable Vexations Of Life, And Be Affected Only By Those

Events Which Determine Our Substantial Bliss. Every Period, And Every

Situation, Has A Portion Of These Trifling Crosses; And Those Who

Expect To Avoid Them All, Or Conquer Them All, Must Be Wretched

Without Respite. Witness -----. I Am Half Vexed At The Manner In Which

You Speak Of What You Term "The Sorrows Of -----." They Are Just Of

This Trifling Kind. Say And Think No More Of Them. Their Impression

Was Momentary, And Is Long Past.

 

 

G.'S Uniformity Of Conduct For Some Time Has Established His

Character, And Crushed The Malice Of His Enemies. He Has, However,

Mingled Some Address In His Deportment--Has Made Visits, And Some Acts

Of Civility, To His Avowed Enemies, By Which Means He Has Gained Some

And Silenced Others. His Whole Conduct, His Language, And Even His

Thoughts, Seem To Have In View The Happiness Of. I Believe This Idea

Is Impressed On Him Every Hour Of His Life.

 

 

Yours,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XIII Pg 212

To Chief-Justice Morris.

 

 

Albany, 21St October, 1781.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

I Do Myself The Honour To Enclose You Several Letters, Which Were

Intended, I Believe, To Introduce Me To Your Acquaintance, Perhaps To

Your Friendship. I Am Particularly Unfortunate To See Neither Mr.

Hobart Nor Yourself On The Present Occasion; The More So, As I Find A

Rule Of Unexpected Rigour, Which, If Strictly Adhered To, Must

Effectually Exclude Me From This Bar. Mr. Judge Yates Gives Me Reason

To Hope This Rule May Be Enlarged. If It Should Be Deemed Unadvisable

To Make One Of Such Latitude As May Include Me Within A General

Description, Perhaps My Particular Situation May Be Thought To Claim

Particular Indulgence. Before The Revolution, And Long Before The

Existence Of The Present Rule, I Had Served Some Time With An Attorney

Of Another State. At That Period I Could Have Availed My Self Of This

Service; And, Surely, No Rule Could Be Intended To Have Such

Retrospect As To Injure _One Whose Only Misfortune Is Having

Sacrificed His Time, His Constitution, And His Fortune, To His

Country_.

 

 

It Would Give Me Sensible Regret Were My Admission To Establish A

Precedent Which Might Give Umbrage To The Bar; But, Should Your

Opinion Accord With My Wishes, With Respect To The Indulgence Due To

My Particular Case, The Expression Of It, To Any Gentleman Of The

Profession, Would Doubtless Remove The Possibility Of Discontent.

Perhaps I Assume A Freedom Which Personal Acquaintance Only Could

Warrant. I Beg, Sir, You Will Ascribe It To The Reliance I Am Taught

To Place On Your Goodness, And The Confidence With Which Your

Character Inspires Even Those Who Have No Other Title To Your Notice.

 

 

Whatever May Be The Success Of My Present Designs, I Shall Do Myself

The Honour Of Waiting On You, And Assuring You, In Person, Of The

Respect And Esteem With Which I Am Your Obedient Servant,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XIII Pg 213

Colonel Burr Frequently Impressed Upon Those With Whom He Was In The

Habit Of A Regular Correspondence, The Advantage Of Committing To

Paper Daily, In The Form Of A Journal, Such Thoughts Or Ideas As

Occurred And Were Deemed Desirable To Repeat. He Adopted This Form In

His Communications With Mrs. Prevost. The Following Is A Specimen:--

 

 

Albany, Thursday, December 3D, 1781.

 

 

I Am At Length Arrived At My Destined Haven, And, What Is Very Unusual

For Me, Have Been Successful In Several Trivial Circumstances, Such As

Getting Over The Ferry (Which Is Difficult At This Season), Finding

Temporary Quarters For My Chevaux Without Difficulty Or Delay. I

Cannot Help Regarding These As Harbingers Of Good Luck.

Chapter XIII Pg 214

I Am, However,

Not Fortunate In Finding Judge Yates. He Is From Home. G. Civil, But

Unwell. The Room Promised Me Is Not Fitted; Must Therefore Seek Other

Lodgings. Bon Soir. Visit Me In My Slumbers.

 

 

Friday Night, December 4Th.

 

 

Till Sunset I Was In Doubt Whether I Should Not Be Obliged To Leave

Albany For Want Of Quarters. Have At Length Found Tolerable. No Price

Yet Fixed. Probably Not Less Than Trois Piasters The Week. A Day

Completely Lost, And I, Of Course, In Ill Humour With Every Thing But

Thee.

 

 

Saturday, December 5Th.

 

 

A Sick Headache This Whole Day. I Earned It By Eating Last Night A

Hearty Supper Of Dutch Sausages, And Going To Bed Immediately After. I

Am Surprised It Did Not Operate In The Way Of My Disorder, Which Was

Formerly The Certain Consequence Of Every Error In Diet; But No

Symptom Of That, Though I Was Very Restless.

 

 

I Took The True Indian Cure For The Headache. Made A Light Breakfast

Of Tea, Stretched Myself On A Blanket Before The Fire, Fasted Till

Evening, And Then Tea Again. I Thought, Through The Whole Day, That If

You Could Sit By Me, And Stroke My Head With Your Little Hand, It

Would Be Well; And That, When We Are Formally United, Far From Deeming

A Return Of This Disorder Un Malheur, I Should Esteem It A Fortunate

Apology For A Day Of Luxurious Indulgence, Which I Should Not

Otherwise Allow Myself Or You.

 

 

Most Unexpectedly, Lewis Called Upon Me This Evening, Civilly Offered

Me His House, And Asked Me To Dine. I Was Wrong, I Think, To Accept

His Invitation, But This Did Not Strike Me Till I Had Engaged. Must

Dine There To-Morrow.

 

 

Sunday, 6Th December.

 

 

This Is The Third Day In Town, And No Business Done. These Two Days

Past I Have Been Studying The Second Volume Of Rousseau. G. Is

Returned. He Never Appeared More Unlike Himself. I Was Somehow

Uncommonly Stupid, And, Would You Believe It, Even Awkward. Said Very

Little, And That Little With Hesitation. You Know There Are Days When

Every Thing Goes Against One. Paid Little Attention To Anybody (That

Little, Somehow, Ill Timed), And Received Still Less From Them.

Chapter XIII Pg 215

How Could We Forget Latimer? He Has Sung Theodosia'S Praise Among The

Southern Army In Terms With Which Her Best Friends Must Be Pleased. He

Has Also Established The Character Of A. Burr. Quackenbush Is

Determined To Be Civil. Says His Visits Will Be Frequent.

 

 

Yates Is Returned. More Of Him To-Morrow. An Old, Weather-Beaten Lady,

Miss Depeyster, Has Given The Whole History Of Burr, And Much Of

Theo., But Nothing Unfavourable. In A Place Where Burr Thought Himself

A Stranger, There Is Scarce Any Age Or Sex That Does Not, Either From

In Formation Or Acquaintance, Know Something Of Him.

 

 

I Am Surprised I Forgot To Advise You To Get A Franklin Fireplace.

They Have Not The Inconvenience Of Stoves, Are Warm, Save Wood, And

Never Smoke. The Cost Will Not Be, Probably, More Than Ten Or Fifteen

Dollars, Which Will Be Twice Saved This Winter In Wood And _Comfort_,

And They May Be Moved Anywhere. If You Have Fears About _Brat_,

[Foonote: Mrs. Prevost'S Youngest Child.] I Have None. He Will Never

Burn Himself But Once; And, By Way Of Preventive, I Would Advise You

To Do That For Him. It Will Be Put Up In A Few Hours By Anybody. I Am

In Doubt Whether It Will Be Best To Have It In The Common Room Or One

Of The Back Rooms. The Latter Will Have Many Advantages. You May Then

Have A Place Sacred To Love, Reflection, And Books. This, However, As

You Find Best; But That You Have One I Am Determined, Unless You Can

Give Some Better Reason Against It Than I At Present Know Of. Indeed,

I Would Wish You Had Two. You Will Get Them With No Trouble From The

Salisbury Furnace. It Is Of The First Importance That You Suffer As

Little As Possible The Present Winter. It May, In A Great Measure,

Determine Your Health Ever After. I Confess I Have Still Some

Transient Distrusts That You Set Too Little Value On Your Own Life And

Comfort. Remember, It Is Not Yours Alone; But Your Letters Shall

Convince Me. I Waive The Subject.

 

 

I Am Not Certain I Shall Be Regularly Punctual In Writing You In This

Manner Every Day When I Get At Business; But I Shall, If Possible,

Devote One Quarter Of An Hour A Day To You. In Return, I Demand One

Half Of An Hour Every Day From You; More I Forbid, Unless On Special

Occasions. This Half Hour Is To Be Mine, To Be Invariably At The Same

Time, And, For That Purpose, Fixed At An Hour Least Liable To

Interruption, And As You Shall Find Most Convenient. Mine Cannot Be So

Regular, As I Only Indulge Myself In It When I Am Fatigued With

Business. The Children Will Have Each Their Sheet, And, At The Given

Hour, Write, If But A Single Word Burr, At This Half Hour Is To Be A

Kind Of Watchword.

 

 

Monday, 7Th December.

 

 

I Keep Always A Memorandum For You, On Which, When I Think Of Any

Thing At Any Time Of Day That I Wish To Write, I Make A Short Note In

A Manner Which No Other Person Would Understand. When I Sit Down To

Write I Have Nothing To Do But Look At My Memorandum.

Chapter XIII Pg 216

I Would

Recommend The Same To You, Unless You Rather Choose To Write At The

Moment When You Think Of Any Thing.

 

 

I Have Continually Felt Some Apprehensions About The Success Of Troup

With The Court. The Springs Are But Twenty-Eight Miles From Albany; I

Will Meet You There.

 

 

Phil. Van Rensselaer, Whom I Have Never Before Seen, Has Been To

Introduce Himself, And Tender His Services Of Every Kind. He Is Of The

Most Respectable And Richest Inhabitants.

 

 

Tuesday, 8Th December.

 

 

No Place Yet; But, That Time Need Not Be Lost, I Have Been Looking

Over Rousseau'S 4Th Volume. I Imagine ----- Gathered Thence His

Sentiments On The Subject Of Jealousy. If So, He Has Grossly Mistaken

The Ideas Of Rousseau. Do You Discover A Symptom Of It? Far Otherwise.

You See Only Confidence And Love. That Jealousy For Which You Are An

Advocate, He Condemns As Appertaining To Brutes And Sensualists.

Discard, I Beseech You, Ideas So Degrading To True Love. I Am

Mortified With The Reflection That They Were Ever Yours.

 

 

I Think ----- Must Have Taken Pains To Have Overlooked The Following

Paragraph, When, In Enumerating The Duties Of A Woman Towards A Lover

Or Husband, He Makes It Principally To Consist "In Respecting

Themselves, In Order To Acquire Respect. How Delightful Are These

Privileges! How Respectable Are They! How Cordially Do Men Prize Them,

When A Woman Knows How To Render Them Estimable." I Fear ----- Will Be

Convinced Of This But Too Late. I Am Glad To Find, However, That The

Idea So Often Urged (In Vain) By Me, Is Not A Mere Vagary Of My Own

Brain, But Is Supported By So Good Authority.

 

 

Wednesday, 9Th December.

 

 

I Have This Day Made A Feint At Law. But, Were My Life At Stake, It

Could Not Command My Attention.

 

 

Thursday, 10Th December.

 

 

We Have About Twelve Or Fourteen Inches Of Snow. When You Read My

Letters I Wish You Would Make Minutes At The Time Of Such Facts As

Require An Answer; For, If You Trust Your Memory Till The Time Of

Writing, You Will Omit Half You Would Otherwise Say.

Chapter XIII Pg 217

Friday, 11Th December.

 

 

I Really Wish Much To Know The Conduct Of -----. It Is, However, More

Curiosity Than Anxiety. It Would Be Childish To Build Any Part Of

One'S Happiness On A Basis So Unstable.

 

 

The Van Rensselaer Before Mentioned, And Henceforth To Be Designated

By _Ll_., Proves To Be A Phenomenon Of Goodness And (Can You Believe

It) Even Tenderness. Tenderness, I Hear You Cry, In A Hollandois! But

Hold Your Injustice; The Character And Fine Heart Of Van Rensselaer

Will, I Think, In Future, Remove Your Prejudice, Especially When You

Add To This His Marked Attention And Civility.

 

 

Saturday, 12Th December.

 

 

Van Rensselaer Finds Fault With My Quarters, Which, Indeed, Are Far

Removed From Elegance, And, In Some Respects, From Convenience. He

Insists That I Suffer Him To Provide Me Better.

 

 

I Have Not Hitherto Had An Hour Of Yates. His Reasons, However, Have

Been Good. On Monday We Are To Mangle Law.

 

 

Sunday, 13Th December.

 

 

Van Rensselaer Has Succeeded Perfectly To My Wish. I Am With Two

Maidens, Aunts Of His, Obliging And (Incredible!!) Good-Natured. The

Very Paragon Of Neatness. Not An Article Of Furniture, Even To A

Teakettle, That Would Soil A Muslin Handkerchief. I Have Two Upper

Rooms. I Was Interrupted At The Line Above, And Cannot Now, For My

Life, Recollect What I Was Intending To Write. I Leave It, However, To

Plague You As It Has Done Me.

 

 

Monday, 14Th December.

 

 

I Really Fear Yates Is Playing The Fool With Me. Still Evasive, Though

Plausibly So. I Have Just Had An Interview. To-Morrow I Must And Will

Come To A Positive Eclaircissement.

 

 

I Am Determined, In Future, When Doubt Arises In My Mind Whether I

Shall Write A Thing Or Not, Invariably To Write It. You Recollect

-----'S Advising That Carlos [3] Should Learn The Violin.

Chapter XIII Pg 218

G. Was Unkind Enough To Remind Him That He Was Formerly Opposed To

That Opinion. There Was A Degree Of Insult In This Reproach Of Which I

Did Not Think G. Capable. I Truly Believe He Did Not Reflect On The

Tendency Of It. I Do Not Remember That He Is Apt To Take Such Unfair

Advantage Of His Friends. Happy They Who Can Make Improvement Of Each

Other'S Errors. The Necessary, But Dear-Bought Knowledge Of

Experience, Is Earned At Double Cost By Those Who Reap Alone.

 

 

Since I Left You, I Have Not Taken Pen In Hand Without Intending To

Write You. I Am Happy In Having Done It, For I Now Feel Perfectly

Relieved.

 

 

Tuesday, 15Th December.

 

 

Yesterday Was Partly A Day Of Business. The Evening Wholly And

Advantageously So. This Day Has Been Rather A Feint. Yates Engaged. I

Beg Ten Thousand Pardons Of Miss Depeyster; She Is Our Warm Friend And

Advocate. One Bogart, At Tappan, Is The Scoundrel.

 

 

Wednesday, 16Th December.

 

 

I Perceive This Letter-Writing Will Not Answer; Though I Write Very

Little, It Is Still Half My Business; For, Whenever I Find Myself

Either At A Loss What To Do, Or Any How Discomposed Or Dull, I Fly To

These Sheets, And Even If I Do Not Write, I Ponder Upon It, And In

This Way Sacrifice Many Hours Without Reflecting That Time Passes

Away. Yates Still Backward, But The Day Tolerably Spent.

 

 

I Have Also Been Busy In Fixing A Franklin Fireplace For Myself. I

Shall Have It Completed To-Morrow. I Am Resolved You Shall Have One Or

Two Of Them. You Have No Idea Of Their Convenience, And You Can At Any

Time Remove Them.

 

 

I Expect To Despatch Carlos To-Morrow. I Think I Have Already

Mentioned That I Wrote You From Kinderhook, And Also This Week By

Colonel Lewis, Enclosed To Our Friend At Sharon.

 

 

An Engagement Of Business To-Day And This Evening With Yates, Prevents

Me Preparing For Carlos As I Expected.

 

 

A. Burr.

 

Footnote Pg 219

 

 

 

1. The Lady Of The Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer

Footnote Pg 220

 

 

2. The Sons Of Mrs. Prevost, Frederick And John B. The Latter Was

Judge Prevost, Of Louisiana. Mrs. Prevost Was Unable To Expend Such A

Sum On These Young Gentlemen. It Was A Means Adopted By Colonel Burr

Delicately To Assist, From His Own Purse, A Desponding Son Of Science.

Similar Instances Of His Liberality, In The Course Of His Life, Were

Numerous.

Footnote Pg 221

 

 

3. A Negro Boy Belonging To Colonel Burr.

Chapter XIV Pg 222

 

 

 

In The Autumn Of 1781, As May Be Seen By The Preceding Correspondence,

Colonel Burr Was In Albany, Preparing Himself For Admission To The

Bar. Judge Yates Rendered Him Essential Service On The Occasion. His

Friendship And Kindness Were Appreciated, And Gratefully Recollected.

At That Time Chief-Justice Richard Morris, Robert Yates, And John

Sloss Hobart Composed The Bench Of The Supreme Court Of The State Of

New-York. All These Gentlemen Were Friendly To Burr, And Treated Him

With The Utmost Courtesy; But For Judge Yates He Entertained, During

The Continuance Of His Life, The Most Profound Respect And Veneration.

 

 

By The Rules Of The Court It Was Required That Candidates For

Admission Should Have Pursued A Course Of Legal Studies Not Less Than

Three Years Previous To Presenting Themselves For Examination. Colonel

Burr Applied To The Court To Dispense With This Rule In His Case. The

Application Was Opposed With Great Zeal By All The Members Of The Bar;

And, As No Counsellor Would Make The Necessary Motion On The Subject,

Burr Was Not Only Compelled To Do It Himself, But To Argue The

Question With The Ablest Of The Profession.

 

 

After Hearing The Argument, The Court Determined That, As He Had Been

Employed In The Service Of His Country, When He Might, Under Other

Circumstances, Have Been A Law-Student, They Would Dispense With The

Rigour Of The Rule So Far As It Applied To The Period Of Study; But

That No Indulgence Would Be Granted In Reference To The Necessary

Qualifications. In Pursuance Of This Decision He Underwent A Severe

And Critical Examination By Some Of The Most Eminent Members Of The

Bar, Who Were Anxious For His Rejection.

Chapter XIV Pg 223

The Examination, However,

Resulted In A Triumphant Admission That The Candidate Was Duly

Qualified To Practise; And He Was Accordingly Licensed As An Attorney,

On The 19Th Day Of January, 1782. And At "A Supreme Court Of

Judicature, Held For The State Of New-York, At The City Hall Of The

City Of Albany, On The 17Th Day Of April, 1782, Aaron Burr Having, On

Examination, Been Found Of Competent Ability And Learning To Practise

As Counsellor," It Was Ordered That He Be Accordingly Admitted.

 

 

Soon After Colonel Burr Commenced The Practice Of Law In The City Of

Albany, He Invited His Friend And Brother Soldier, Major W. Popham, To

Join Him, And Pursue A Course Of Legal Studies. This Invitation Was

Given With His Accustomed Kindness. About The Period Of Burr'S

Marriage, Major Popham Replies.

Chapter XIV Pg 224

From Major W. Popham [1]

 

 

Fishkill, August 16Th, 1782

 

 

Yesterday I Was Accidentally Favoured With Your Friendly Letter Of The

3D Of May, From Litchfield, Which Was Peculiarly Agreeable, As It

Contained The First Official Accounts I Have Had Of You Since My

Leaving Albany, And Dispelled A Train Of Gloomy Reflections Which Your

Supposed Long Silence Had Suggested.

 

 

The Approbation You Have Given Of My Conduct, In An Affair In Which

You Have So Generously Interested Yourself, Is Very Flattering. A

Detail Of The Circumstances Which Rendered It Necessary To Postpone

The Prosecution Of My Intended Plan, Would Be Too Prolix For The

Subject Of A Letter. They Would Not Present One Pleasing Reflection;

And I Love You Too Well To Give You Pain. Suspend, Therefore, Your

Curiosity And Your Opinion, Until The Duties Of The Field Permit Me To

See You, When You Shall Be Satisfied.

 

 

I Hope The Alterations You Have Made In Your Plan Of Life May Equal

Your Most Sanguine Wishes. I Am Pleased That You Have Taken A House In

Albany, And Sincerely Congratulate You On An Event That Promises You

So Much Happiness. May You Long Enjoy All The Blessings Which Can Flow

From That Happy State, For Which Heaven Has So Remarkably Designed

You.

 

 

But Why Am I Requested To "_Say Nothing About Obligations_," While You

Continue To Load Me With New Ones? Or, Why Should I Be Denied The

Common Privilege Of Every Liberal Mind, That Of Acknowledging The

Obligation Which I Have Not The Power Of Cancelling? Yes, My Friend,

Your Generous Offer Claims My Warmest Thanks; But The Very Principle

Which Excites My Gratitude Forbids Me To Accept It. Dr. L Informs Me

You Have Written Twice To Me. One Of The Letters Is Lost. Will You

Speedily Supply The Deficiency? If You Can Spare An Hour From

Business, Retirement, Or Love, Let Me Entreat You To Devote It To Your

Friend. I Cannot Tell You How Much I Long To Hear From You. Adieu.

 

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

 

W. Popham.

Chapter XIV Pg 225

To Mrs. Prevost.

 

 

Albany, December 23D, 1781.

 

 

My Dear Theodosia Is Now Happy By The Arrival Of Carlos. This Was Not

Wishing You A Happy Christmas, But Actually Making It So. Let All Our

Compliments Be Henceforth Practical. The Language Of The World Sounds

Fulsome To Tastes Refined By The Sweets Of Affection.

 

 

I See Mingle In The Transports Of The Evening The Frantic Little

Bartow. [2] Too Eager To Embrace The Bliss He Has In Prospect;

Frustrating His Own Purposes By Inconsiderate Haste; Misplacing Every

Thing, And Undoing What He Meant To Do. It Will Only Confuse You.

Nothing Better Can Be Done Than To Tie Him, In Order To Expedite His

Own Business. That You Might Not Be Cheerful Alone, I Have Obeyed The

Orders Of Your Heart (For You Cannot, Even At This Distance, Conceal

Them) By A Determination To Take A Social, Friendly Supper With Van

Rensselaer.

 

 

You Wrote Me Too Much By Dom. I Hope It Was Not From A Fear That I

Should Be Dissatisfied With Less. It Is, I Confess, Rather Singular To

Find Fault With The Quantity, When Matter And Manner Are So

Delightful. You Must, However, Deal Less In Sentiments And More In

Ideas. Indeed, In The Letter In Answer To My Last, You Will Need To Be

Particularly Attentive To This Injunction. I Think Constantly Of The

Approaching Change In Our Affairs, And What It Demands. Do Not Let Us,

Like Children, Be So Taken With The Prospect As To Lose Sight Of The

Means.

 

 

Remember To Write Me Facts And Ideas, And Don'T Torment Me With

Compliments, Or Yourself With Sentiments To Which I Am Already No

Stranger. Write But Little, And Very Little At Once. I Do Not Know For

What Reason, Theodosia, But I Cannot Feel My Usual Anxiety About Your

Health, Though I Know You To Be Ill, And Dangerously So. One Reason

Is, That I Have More Belief In Your Attention To Yourself.

 

 

Your Idea About The Water Was Most Delightful. It Kept Me Awake A

Whole Night, And Led To A Train Of Thoughts And Sensations Which

Cannot Be Described. Indeed, The Whole Of Your Letter Was Marked With

A Degree Of Confidence And Reliance Which Augurs Every Thing That Is

Good. The French Letter Was Truly Elegant, As Also That Enclosed In

Compliance With My Request.

 

 

If Reeves Has Received The Money Upon The Order I Gave Him, He May

Send Me By Carlos About Twenty-Five Guineas, If He Can Spare So Much

Of It. I Am In No Present Want.

 

 

Pardon Me For Not Answering Your Last. My Mind Is So Engrossed By New

Views And Expectations, That I Cannot Disengage It. I Have Not, These

Five Days Past, Slept More Than _Two Hours_ A Night, And Yet Feel

Refreshed And Well. Your Presentiments Of My Illness On A Certain

Evening Were Wide From Truth: Believe Me, You Have No Talent That Way.

Leave It To Others.

 

 

I Think, If You Keep Carlos Two Nights, It Will Serve; But Keep Him

Longer Rather Than Fatigue Yourself. Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XIV Pg 226

On The 2D Of July, 1782, Colonel Burr Was Married To Mrs. Theodosia

Prevost. In April Preceding He Had Entered Into The Practice Of The

Law In The City Of Albany. His Attention To Business Was Unremitted.

In Consequence, He Soon Found Himself Crowded With Clients From Every

Quarter Of The State. During His Residence In Albany, His Mind Was

Exclusively Engrossed With His Profession And His Family. In The

Education Of Mrs. Burr'S Children By Her First Husband He Took A Deep

Interest. Neither Labour Nor Expense Was Regarded. It Was His Wish

That They Should Be Accomplished, As Well As Educated Men.

 

 

The Preliminary Treaty Of Peace Having Been Signed, Colonel Burr

Resolved To Remove His Family To The City Of New-York So Soon As The

British Should Evacuate It. Here He Anticipated (And In This He Was

Not Disappointed) An Extensive Practice. On The 20Th Of November,

1781, The Legislature Of The State Of New-York Passed An Act

Disqualifying From Practice, In The Courts Of The State, All

"Attorneys, Solicitors, And Counsellors At Law," Who Could Not Produce

Satisfactory Certificates, Showing Their Attachment And Devotion To

The Whig Cause During The Then Pending War With Great Britain.

Chapter XIV Pg 227

This

Act Was In Full Force At The Peace Of 1783, And Remained So, Without

Any Attempt To Modify It, Until March, 1785, When A Bill Was

Introduced Into The Legislature To Repeal Certain Sections Of It, So

Far As They Operated Upon Individuals Therein Named. The Bill Was

Lost. But, On The 4Th Of April, 1786, The Restriction Thus Imposed On

The Tory Lawyers Was Removed By An Act Of The Legislature.

 

 

The Law Of 1781, Previous To Its Repeal, Had Operated Most Favourably

For The Whig Lawyers. Those Of Talents And Standing, Such As Colonel

Burr And Others, Had Obtained A Run Of Business Which Enabled Them To

Compete With The Most Profound Of Their Tory Rivals.

 

 

It Was Supposed That The British Troops Would Evacuate The City Of

New-York In The Spring Or Early In The Summer Of 1783; But They

Remained Until The 25Th Of November Of That Year. Colonel Burr Applied

To His Friend, Thomas Bartow, To Procure Him A House For The

Accommodation Of His Family, Which He Accordingly Did.

Chapter XIV Pg 228

From Mr. Bartow.

 

 

New-York, April 16Th, 1783

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

I Received Your Agreeable Favour A Few Days Ago, And Am Happy To

Congratulate You On The Establishment Of A Peace: Hope I Shall Soon

Have The Pleasure Of Seeing You In Town. I Have Procured You A Good

House In Maiden-Lane, At The Rate Of Two Hundred Pounds A Year. The

Rent To Commence When The Troops Leave The City. Doctor Brown Can

Inform You More Particulars About It, As He Went With Me To View It.

Before I Engaged This House, I Consulted Mrs. Clark She Proposed Her

House In Broadway, But Could Not Get The Tenant Out, So That She Gave

Her Consent To This.

 

 

Very Respectfully Yours,

 

 

 

Thomas Bartow.

Chapter XIV Pg 229

From Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Albany, 25Th March, 1783.

 

 

Some Think Absence Tends To Increase Affection; The Greater Part That

It Wears It Away. I Believe Neither, But That It Only Tends To Prove

How Far The Heart Is Capable Of Loving; Or Rather, Whether It Is Real

Or Imaginary. When The Latter, Every Object That Amuses, Blots Out The

Idea Of The Absent, We Find That They Are Not So Necessary To Our

Happiness As We Had Fancied. But When That Love Is Real, What Can

Amuse, What Engage The Mind, To Banish, For A Single Instant, The

Object Of Its Delight? It Hates Every Necessity That Wrests It An

Instant From The Contemplation Of Its Beauties; Its Virtues Are Ever

Presenting Themselves To Increase Our Regret, And Suggest Innumerable

Fears For Its Safety. Such Have Been The Occupations Of This Day. I

Tremble At Every Noise: New Apprehensions Are Ever Alarming Me. Every

Tender Sensation Is Awake To Thee.

 

 

26Th March.

 

 

My Extreme Anxiety Operated Severely Upon My Health. I Have Not Had So

Ill A Turn In Some Months. The Remedies Of S. Prove But Little More

Efficacious Than Those Of G. I Do Without Either. Various Are The

Conjectures Respecting Your Errand. All Think Me Of The Party. My

Spirits Need, My Heart Grows Impatient For Your Return. Every

Countenance Speaks For You, While Theodosia Grieves.

 

 

27Th March.

 

 

My Health Is Rather Better. I Have Just This Moment Heard Of General

Schuyler'S Going; Have Only Time To Tell You I Rejoice At The

Enclosed. It Will Save Your Hurry And Anxiety Popham Has Written And

Engaged For Your Attendance.

 

 

Theodosia Burr

Chapter XIV Pg 230

When The British Were About To Evacuate The City Of New-York, And It

Was Ascertained That Colonel Burr Had Made The Necessary Arrangements

To Settle There, His Whig Friends Became Anxious That He Should

Receive An Appointment. Among Those Who Urged This Measure Was Judge

Hobart, Who Had Ever Entertained An Exalted Opinion Of His Talents And

Business Habits. As Soon As Colonel Burr Was Informed Of The Friendly

Views Entertained By The Judge, He Wrote Him, Expressing His

Unwillingness To Be Considered A Competitor With Any Gentleman For An

Appointment. To This He Received An Answer.

Chapter XIV Pg 231

From Judge Hobart.

 

 

June 17Th, 1783.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

Your Favour Has Been Received. However Pure Your Views May Be, I Fear

You Must Be Contented With The Character Of A Private Gentleman So

Long As You Determine To Avoid A Competition; For I Am Told There Are

Long Lists Of Applicants For All The Offices In The City And County Of

New-York.

 

 

With Great Respect, Yours,

 

 

John Sloss Hobart.

Chapter XIV Pg 232

From Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Albany, August 14Th, 1783.

 

 

How Unfortunate, My Dearest Aaron, Is Our Present Separation. I Never

Shall Have Resolution To Consent To Another. We Must Not Be Guided By

Others. We Are Certainly Formed Of Different Materials; And Our

Undertakings Must Coincide With Them.

 

 

A Few Hours After I Wrote You By Colonel Lewis, Our Sweet Infant [3]

Was Taken Ill, Very Ill. My Mind And Spirits Have Been On The Rack

From That Moment To This. When She Sleeps, I Watch Anxiously; When She

Wakes, Anxious Fears Accompany Every Motion. I Talked Of My Love

Towards Her, But I Knew It Not Till Put To This Unhappy Test. I Know

Not Whether To Give Her Medicine Or Withhold It: Doubt And Terror Are

The Only Sensations Of Which I Am Sensible. She Has Slept Better Last

Night, And Appears More Lively This Morning, Than Since Her Illness.

This Has Induced Me To Postpone An Express To You, Which I Have Had In

Readiness Since Yesterday. If This Meets You, I Need Not Dwell Upon My

Wish. I Will Only Put An Injunction On Your Riding So Fast, Or In The

Heat, Or Dew. Remember Your Presence Is To Support, To Console Your

Theo., Perhaps To Rejoice With Her At The Restoration Of Our

Much-Loved Child. Let Us Encourage This Hope; Encourage It, At Least,

Till You See Me, Which I Flatter Myself Will Be Before This Can Reach

You. Some Kind Spirit Will Whisper To My Aaron How Much His Tender

Attention Is Wanted To Support His Theo.: How Much His Love Is

Necessary To Give Her That Fortitude, That Resolution, Which Nature

Has Denied Her But Through His Medium. Adieu.

 

 

Theodosia

Chapter XIV Pg 233

From Mrs. Burr.

 

 

New-York, March 22D, 1784.

 

 

My Aaron Had Scarce Quitted The Door When I Regretted My Passiveness.

Why Did I Consent To His Departure? Can Interest Repay The Sacrifice?

Can Aught On Earth Compensate For His Presence? Why Did I Hesitate To

Decide? Ten Thousand Fears Await Me. What Thought Suggested My Assent?

The Anxiety He Might Suffer Were He To Meet With Obstacles To Raising

The Sum Required; Should His Views Be Frustrated For Want Of The

Precaution This Journey Might Secure; His Mortification; Mine, At Not

Having The Power To Relieve Him, Were Arguments That Silenced My

Longing Wish To Hold Him Near Me; Near Me For Ever. My Aaron, Dark Is

The Hour That Separates My Soul From Itself.

 

 

Thus Pensive, Surrounded With Gloom, Thy Theo. Sat, Bewailing Thy

Departure. Every Breath Of Wind Whistled Terror; Every Noise At The

Door Was Mingled With Hope Of Thy Return, And Fear Of Thy

Perseverance, When Brown Arrived With The Word--_Embarked_--The Wind

High, The Water Rough. Heaven Protect My Aaron; Preserve Him, Restore

Him To His Adoring Mistress. A Tedious Hour Elapsed, When Our Son Was

The Joyful Messenger Of Thy Safe Landing At Paulus Hook.

 

 

Stiff With Cold, How Must His Papa Have Fared? Yet, Grateful For His

Safety, I Blessed My God. I Envied The Ground Which Bore My Pilgrim. I

Pursued Each Footstep. Love Engrossed His Mind; His Last Adieu To

Bartow Was The Most Persuasive Token--"Wait Till I Reach The Opposite

Shore, That You May Bear The Glad Tidings To Your Trembling Mother."

O, Aaron, How I Thank Thee! Love In All Its Delirium Hovers About Me;

Like Opium, It Lulls Me To Soft Repose! Sweet Serenity Speaks, 'Tis My

Aaron'S Spirit Presides. Surrounding Objects Check My Visionary Charm.

I Fly To My Room And Give The Day To Thee.

 

 

Theodosia.

Chapter XIV Pg 234

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Albany, October 29Th, 1784.

 

 

Mr. Watts This Instant Acquaints Me That He Is Just Setting Off For

New-York. I Run From Court To Waft You A Memorandum Of Affection. I

Have Been Remarkably Well; Was Fortunate In My Journey. The Trial Of

Livingston And Hoffman Is Now Arguing. It Began On Thursday Of Last

Week, And Will Not Conclude Till To-Night. No Other Business Has Been

Or Will Be Done This Term. All This Cursed Long Absence For Nothing.

 

 

I Cannot Leave This Till Sunday Or Monday. Then To Westchester Court.

The Return To Joy And Theo. Cannot Be Till Thursday Or Friday, And

That Depending On My Business In Westchester. Miss Yates Is On Her

Passage To New-York To Spend Eight Or Ten Days.

 

 

I Read Your Memorandum Ten Times A Day, And Observed It As Religiously

As Ever Monk Did His Devotion. Yesterday I Burnt It. To Me It Seemed

Like Sacrilege.

 

 

I Fear I Did Not Caution You Enough Against Sleeping In The New House.

For Heaven'S Sake (Or Rather For My Sake), Don'T Think Of It Till I

Come And Judge. I Left You An Immensity Of Trouble, Which I Fear Has

Not Promoted Your Health. Kiss Our Dear Little Flock For Me. Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XIV Pg 235

Late In The Autumn Of 1783 Colonel Burr Removed From Albany Into The

City Of New-York. In The Spring Of 1784 He Was Elected A Member Of The

State Legislature. At That Early Period Political Parties Had Not

Assumed Either Form Or Shape. The Simple And Intelligible Terms Of

Whip And Tory Were Universally Used. Colonel Burr'S Mind Was Occupied

With His Professional Business. The Legislature Met In The City Of

New-York. He Attended Two Sessions As A Member. The First Commenced On

The 12Th Of October, 1784. He Was In The House Only A Small Portion Of

The Time, And Never Interfered In What Might Be Considered The

Ordinary Business Of The Day. On Great Questions He Took An Active And

Decided Part. His Character For Sagacity, Discrimination, And

Firmness, Was Well Established; And He Would, Therefore, Have

Possessed Great Influence, If Such Had Been His Object; But His

Ambition, At This Time, Was Not Political; Or, If It Was, He Had

Determined To Smother It "Until A More Convenient Season."

Chapter XIV Pg 236

The Second Session While He Was A Member Commenced On The 27Th Of

January, 1785. During This He Was More Attentive Than At The Preceding

Session, But Governed By The Same System Of Policy, Acting Only When

Great And Important Questions Were Under Consideration. On The 14Th Of

February A Joint Committee Of The Two Houses Was Appointed To Revise

The Laws Of The State. Colonel Burr Was Chairman Of The Committee On

The Part Of The House. He Introduced, On Leave Granted Him, Several

Important Bills. One In Relation To The Public Lands, Another Relative

To The Titles To Real Estate, &C. On The 25Th Of February A Bill Was

Pending For The Gradual Abolition Of Slavery Within The State Of

New-York. It Provided That All Born After Its Passage Should Be Born

Free. Burr Moved To Amend, And Proposed To Insert A Provision, That

Slavery Should Be Entirely Abolished After A Day Specified. His

Amendment Being Lost, He Voted For The Bill As Reported. He Was A

Member Of The Legislature, And Supported The Law In 1799, By Which,

Ultimately, Slavery Within The State Was Abolished.

 

 

The Question Upon Which He Took The Most Prominent Part Related To An

Application Of Some Tradesmen And Mechanics In The City Of New-York

For An Act Of Incorporation. The Advocates Of This Bill Had United

Their Interest With Certain Land Speculators, And By These Means It

Was Supposed Both Bills Might Be Carried Through The Legislature.

Both, However, Failed. Colonel Burr Was The Only Member From The City

Of New-York That Opposed What Was Termed The Mechanics' Bill. His

Opposition Produced So Much Feeling And Excitement, That A Man Of Less

Firmness Would Have Been Driven From His Course. Riots Were

Threatened, And By Many It Was Supposed His House Would Be Assaulted.

His Friends Volunteered Their Services To Protect Him, But He Declined

Receiving Their Aid, Averring That He Had No Fears Of Any Violation Of

The Laws By Men Who Had Made Such Sacrifices As The Whigs Had Made For

The Right Of Self-Government, And That He Could And Would Protect

Himself, If, Contrary To His Expectations, It Should Become Necessary.

That He Was Prepared To Resist Any Attack Was Universally Known, But

None Was Attempted, And Perhaps For That Reason.

 

 

The Mechanics' Bill Passed The Legislature Late In February, And Was

Sent To The Council Of Revision. At That Time The Chancellor And The

Judges Of The Supreme Court Formed A Council Of Revision, And Had A

Qualified Negative On All Bills. If They Considered A Bill

Unconstitutional, They Returned It To The House In Which It

Originated, With Their Objections; After Which, If It Received The

Vote Of Two Thirds Of Both Houses, It Became A Law. This Bill Was

Returned On The 9Th Of March By The Council, With Their Objections,

And, Two Thirds Not Voting In Favour, It Was Lost. These Objections,

In Substance, Were Precisely What Had Been Urged Against It By Colonel

Burr On The Floor Of The Assembly. The Petitioners Were Forty-Three In

Number. The Bill Gave Them Unlimited Powers In Some Particulars. It

Did Not Incorporate Their Successors, Only So Far As They Pleased To

Admit Them.

Chapter XIV Pg 237

They Might Hold Landed Estate In Perpetuity To An

Unlimited Amount, Provided Their _Income_ Did Exceed Fifteen Hundred

Pounds Beyond Their _Outgoings_. Their By-Laws Were To Be Approved By

The City Corporation; Thus, By Rendering The One Dependant On The

Other, Either The Mechanics Would Influence The Magistrates, And The

Powers Of The Corporation Of The City And County Of New-York Be Made,

At Some Future Day, Instruments Of Monopoly And Oppression; Or, Which

Was More Probable, The Corporation Of The City And County Of New-York

Obtain A Controlling Power Over The Mechanics, And Thus Add To The

Extensive Influence Which That Corporation Already Enjoyed, Thereby

Rendering It Dangerous To The Political Freedom Of The People. Such

Were Some Of The Objections Entertained And Urged By Colonel Burr

Against This Bill. The Great Body Of The Community Were Prepared To

Sustain Him; And, Before The Succeeding Session Of The Legislature,

The Intelligent Among The Mechanics Were So Well Satisfied With The

Correctness Of His Views, That A Similar Application Was Never

Afterward Made,

 

 

From The Year 1785 Until The Year 1788, Colonel Burr Was Unknown As A

Politician. His Practice Was Extensive And Lucrative. His Domestic

Relations Seemed To Occupy All His Leisure Time. His Family Was Large,

And To Direct The Education Of His Children Was To Him The Most

Delightful Employment. His Zeal For Their Improvement Is Evinced In

Some Of The Preceding Letters. His Own Health Was Precarious, While

That Of Mrs. Burr Caused Him Constant Alarm And Apprehension. He Had

But One Child, A Daughter; But The Children Of His Wife By Her First

Husband (Colonel Prevost) He Reared As His Own, And With All The

Tenderness Of An Affectionate Father. The Subjoined Letters Present

Mrs. Burr In A Most Estimable Point Of View, While They Cast Some

Light Upon Colonel Burr'S Character As A Parent And A Husband. They

Cannot Be Read, It Is Believed, By Even The Giddy And The Thoughtless

Without Feeling An Interest In The Destiny Of Their Writers.

 

 

In The Office Of Colonel Burr, As Students, Were His Two Stepsons,

Frederick And John Bartow. When Absent From Home On Professional Or

Other Business, One Of Them Frequently Accompanied Him As An

Amanuensis. On These Occasions All His Instructions In Relation To

Lawsuits In Which He Was Employed As Counsel, Or Papers Connected

Therewith, Were Communicated To The Attorney Or Clerk In The Office

Through Mrs. Burr. She Appeared To Be Held Responsible For The

Punctual And Prompt Performance Of Any Duty Required Of Them. To Him

She Was Indeed A Helpmate; For She Not Only Had Charge Of His Domestic

Concerns, But Was Counselled With, And Intimately Associated In, All

His Business Transactions.

Chapter XIV Pg 238

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Princeton, April, 1785.

 

 

I Had Just Embarked In The Stage At Paulus Hook When I Learned That It

Went No Further Than Newark; So That, After Being Three Hours Close

Packed With Rabble, I Trudged An Hour More To Find A Conveyance To

Elizabethtown, Where I Arrived At Eight O'Clock, Chilled, Fatigued,

And With A Surly Headache. A Comfortable Bed And Tea Made Amends.

 

 

We Arrived Here At Six O'Clock This Evening. I Am Fortunate In

Company, And Find The Travelling Much Less Fatiguing Than I Imagined.

Remind Frederick Of The Business With Platt. Write Me By The Nest

Post, And By Every Stage. If I Should Even Have Left Philadelphia, I

Shall Meet The Letters. Speak Of Harriet, And Sur Tout Des Trois

Theo'S. Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XIV Pg 239

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Philadelphia, April, Saturday, 1785.

 

 

I Did Not Write You On Friday, As Promised In My Letter From

Princeton, For Which I Will Apologize When We Meet. I Arrived Here In

Good Plight On Friday Evening. Augustine Came Down About Noon On

Saturday. We Have Made Some Satisfactory Progress In Our Business.

Seeing The Great Men Of Other Countries Puts Me In More Conceit Of

Those Of My Own.

 

 

I Shall Be Released On Tuesday Evening, Which Will Permit Me To See

Thee On Thursday Morning. Mr. Colt Will Inform You About Every Thing.

Unfortunately, A Gentleman With Whom Part Of Our Business Is Has Left

Town. If He Should Return To-Morrow Morning, I Shall Be The Happiest

Of Swains On Wednesday Morning. I Am Very Minute In These

Calculations, Because I Make Them Very Often. Does Theodosia Employ

Herself Ever In The Same Way?

 

 

I Have Been To Twenty Places To Find Something To Please You, But Can

See Nothing That Answers My Wishes; You Will Therefore, I Fear, Only

Receive

 

 

Your Affectionate

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XIV Pg 240

From Mrs. Burr.

 

 

New-York, April, Saturday, 1785.

 

 

I Persuade Myself This Is The Last Day You Spend In Philadelphia. That

To-Morrow'S Stage Will Bring You To Elizabethtown; That Tuesday

Morning You Will Breakfast With Those Who Pass The Tedious Hours

Regretting Your Absence, And Counting Time Till You Return. Even

Little Theo. Gives Up Her Place On Mamma'S Lap To Tell Dear

Papa--"Come Home." Tell Augustine He Does Not Know How Much He Owes

Me. 'Tis A Sacrifice I Would Not Make To Any Human Being But Himself,

Nor Even To Him Again. It Is The Last Time Of My Life I Submit To Your

Absence, Except From Necessity To The Calls Of Your Profession. All Is

Well At Home. Ireson Gone On His Intended Journey. Morris Very Little

Here. The Boys Very Attentive And Industrious; Much More So For Being

Alone. Not A Loud Word Spoken By The Servants. All, In Silent

Expectation, Await The Return Of Their Much-Loved Lord; But _All

Faintly_ When Compared To Thy

 

 

Theo.

Chapter XIV Pg 241

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Since Writing To You Last Evening, Every Thing Has Conspired To Harass

And Delay Me. I Was Really In Hopes Of Surprising You On Wednesday

Morning; But Am Now Most Unfortunately And Cruelly Detained Here Till

To-Morrow Evening; Shall Therefore, With The Usual Luck Of Stages,

Embrace You On Thursday Morning.

 

 

I Have Been Walking, In The Course Of This Day, Hunting Offices,

Records, &C., &C., Above Eight Hours, And Am Not Fatigued. I Must

Really Be Very Robust. Thine,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XIV Pg 242

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Albany, April, 1785.

 

 

I Arrived Here On Tuesday Evening Very Late, Though Little Fatigued.

Wednesday Afternoon I Went With Sill To Bethlehem (Nichols), Drank

Tea, Supped, And Breakfasted. I Am Pleased With Our Friend'S Choice,

Of Which More Next Tuesday Evening. I Am Vexed You Were Not Of My

Party Here--That We Did Not Charter A Sloop. I Have Planned A

_Circuit_ With You To Long Island, With A Number Of Pleasant &C.S,

Which Are Also Reserved To A Happier Moment.

 

 

I Shall Succeed In All Mrs. Clarke'S Business Except That Of The

Lands, In Which I Hope Little.

 

 

I Feel Impatient, And Almost Angry, That I Have Received No Letter

From You, Though I Really Do Not Know Of Any Opportunity By Which You

Could Have Written; But It Seems An Endless While To Wait Till

Saturday Night Before I Can Hear From You. How Convenient Would A

Little Of The Phlegm Of _This Region_ Be Upon Such Occasions As These!

I Fear Very Much For Our Dear Petite. I Tell Every One Who Asks Me

That Both She And You Are Well, Because I Abhor The Cold, Uninterested

Inquiries, Which I Know Would Be Made If I Should Answer Otherwise. Do

You Want The Pity Of Such? Those You Thought Your Very Good Friends

Here Have Forgotten You.

 

 

Mademoiselle Y. Is Very Civil. Are The Wadsworths With You? Have You

Not Been Tormented With Some Embarrassments Which I Wickedly Left You

To Struggle With? I Hope You Don'T Believe The Epithet. But Why These

Questions, To Which I Can Receive No Answer But In Person? I

Nevertheless Fondly Persuade Myself That I Shall Receive Answers To

Them All, And Many More About Yourself, Which I Have In Mind,

Notwithstanding You Will Not Have Seen This. There Is Such A Sympathy

In Our Ideas And Feelings, That You Can'T But Know What Will Most

Interest Me.

 

 

Give Johnstone The Enclosed Memorandum; Or, If He Has Gone Home, To

Bartow; The Business Is Of Importance, And Admits Of No Delay.

 

 

Affectionately Adieu,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XIV Pg 243

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Chester, Friday, May, 1785.

 

 

I Arrived Here About Eleven O'Clock This Forenoon, With Little

Fatigue, My Horse Being An Excellent One. Appearances Are Hostile;

They Talk Of Twenty Or Twenty-Five Days At Least. I Believe I Shall

Not Hold Out So Long. The Commissioners Are Met, But Not All The

Parties, So That The Business Is Not Yet Begun. The Gentlemen From

Albany Are Not Yet Arrived Or Heard Of. We Shall Probably Do Nothing

Till They Come. I Have Comfortable Clean Quarters.

 

 

Tell One Of The Boys To Send Me Some Supreme Court Seals; About Six. I

Forgot Them. Write Me What Calls Are Made At The Office For Me.

Distribute My Love. Let Each Of The Children Write Me What They Do.

You May Certainly Find Some Opportunity. Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XIV Pg 244

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Chester, May, 1785.

 

 

I Strayed This Morning For An Hour Or Two In The Woods, Where I Lay On

A Rock To Enjoy The Wild Retreat. The Cheerfullness Of All Around Me

Led Me To Ask Why All Animated Nature Enjoyed Its Being But Man? Why

Man Alone Is Discontented, Anxious--Sacrificing The Present To Idle

Expectations;--Expectations Which, If Answered, Are In Like Manner

Sacrificed. Never Enjoying, Always Hoping? Answer, _Tu Mihi Magna

Apollo_. I Would Moralize, But Time--And My Companions Are Coming In.

Let Me Hear Of Your Health. Avoid All Fatigue. Judge Yates Proposes To

Come Down With Me. Quoi Faire?

 

 

My Good Landlady Is Out Of Tea, And Begs Me To Send For A Pound. Put

It Up Very Well. I Am In Better Health Than Spirits. Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XIV Pg 245

From Mrs. Burr.

 

 

New-York, May, 1785.

 

 

I Am Vexed That I Did Not Inquire Your Route More Particularly. I

Cannot Trace You In Imagination, Nor Find Your Spirit When At Rest;

Nor Dare I Count The Hours To Your Return. They Are Still Too

Numerous, And Add To My Impatience. I Expect My Reward In The Health

You Acquire. If It Should Prove Otherwise, How I Shall Hate My

Acquiescence To Your Departure. I Anticipate Good Or Evil As My

Spirits Rise Or Fall; But I Know No Medium; My Mind Cannot Reach That

Stage Of Indifference. I Fancy All My Actions Directed By You; This

Tends To Spur My Industry, And Give Calm To My Leisure.

 

 

The Family As You Left It. Bartow Never Quits The Office, And Is

Perfectly Obliging. Your Dear Little Daughter Seeks You Twenty Times A

Day; Calls You To Your Meals, And Will Not Suffer Your Chair To Be

Filled By Any Of The Family.

 

 

Judge Hobart Called Here Yesterday; Says You Are Absent For A Month. I

Do Not Admit That Among Possibilities, And Therefore Am Not Alarmed. I

Feel Obliged To Mr. Wickham For His Delay, Though I Dare Not Give

Scope To My Pen; My Heart Dictates Too Freely. O, My Aaron! How Many

Tender, Grateful Things Rush To My Mind In This Moment; How Much

Fortitude Do I Summon To Suppress Them! You Will Do Justice To Their

Silence; To The Inexpressible Affection Of Your _Plus Tendre Amie_.

 

 

Bartow Has Been To The Surveyor-General; He Cannot Inform Him The

Boundaries Of Those Lots For J. W. There Is No Map Of Them But One In

Albany.

 

 

Theodosia.

Chapter XIV Pg 246

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Chester, May, 1785.

 

 

I Joined The Commissioners And Parties In The Woods, Near This Place,

On Wednesday Noon; Found The Weather Severe, And Roads Bad. Have,

Since My Arrival, Been Following The Commissioners In Their Surveys.

Nothing Transpires From Which We Can Conjecture Their Intentions.

 

 

This Morning Came Your Kind, Your Affectionate, Your Truly Welcome

Letter Of Monday Evening. Where Did It Loiter So Long? Nothing In My

Absence Is So Flattering To Me As Your Health And Cheerfullness. I

Then Contemplate Nothing So Eagerly As My Return; Amuse Myself With

Ideas Of My Own Happiness, And Dwell On The Sweet Domestic Joys Which

I Fancy Prepared For Me.

 

 

Nothing Is So Unfriendly To Every Species Of Enjoyment As Melancholy.

Gloom, However Dressed, However Caused, Is Incompatible With

Friendship. They Cannot Have Place In The Mind At The Same Time. It Is

The Secret, The Malignant Foe Of Sentiment And Love. Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XIV Pg 247

From Mrs. Burr.

 

 

New-York, May, 1785.

 

 

Your Dear Letter Was Handed Me This Day, At A Moment Which, If

Possible, Increased Its Value. I Have A Little Fever Hanging About Me,

Which Tends To Depress My Spirits For The Time. Your Moralizing

Changed My Dulness To A Pleasing Melancholy. I Am Mortified At The

Interruption It Met, And Impatient To Renew The Theme; To Renew It In

A More Pleasing Manner Than Even Your Letters Afford. When My Health

Is Ill, I Find Your Absence Insupportable; Every Evil Haunts Me. It Is

The Last That Must Take Place Till Term; _That_ I Must Submit To. I Am

Pleased With Your Account Of Your Health And Spirits; They Are Both As

I Wish.

 

 

When You Write Again, Speak Of Your Return. The Uncertainty Makes It

More Irksome. The Company You Speak Of Will Be As Welcome As Any At

This Juncture; But My Health And Mind Seem To Require The Calm

Recreation Of Friendly Sympathy; The Heart That Has Long Been United

To Mine By The Tenderest Esteem And Confidence, Who Has Made Every

Little Anxiety Its Own, To Whom I Can Speak Without Reserve Every

Imaginary Wo, And Whose Kind Consolation Shall Appease Those Miseries

Nature Has Imposed. But Whatever Present Inconveniences May Arise, I

Submit To Them With Perfect Resignation, Rather Than, Even In Idea, To

Expect The One Mentioned By You When Last At Home. My Mind Is

Impressed With A Perfect Dread Of All Of That Kind. We Never Can Have

One To Give Us So Little Trouble As E. W., And Yet We Found It Great.

We Must Avoid All Such Invitations, For The Sacrifice On My Part Is

Too Great.

 

 

Friday Morning.

 

 

I Have Passed A Most Tedious Night. I Went To Bed Much Indisposed. M.

Absent; Mamma Also. Ten Thousand Anxieties Surrounded Me Till Three,

When I Fell Asleep; Waked At Six, Much Refreshed, And In Better Health

Than I Could Possibly Have Expected. I Flatter Myself Your Task Will

End Sooner Than You Expected. Mr. Marvin Calls For My Letter This

Morning, Which Will Be Delivered With A Pound Of Green Tea I Have

Purchased For Your Landlady At Two Dollars. He Has Called. I Am

Hurried. Ten Thousand Loves

 

 

_Toujours La Votre_.

 

 

Theodosia.

Chapter XIV Pg 248

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Jane'S In The Mountains, May, 1785.

 

 

I Wrote My Dear Theodosia A Long Letter Of Business And Nonsense Last

Evening From Chester. I Am Now About Twelve Miles Nearer To You, And

Shall Sleep To-Night Within Thirty-Five Miles (Only Six Hours' Ride),

And Shall To-Morrow Return Surlily To Chester.

 

 

Our Cavalcade Is Most Fortunately Composed. Some Who Abhor Fatigue,

Others Who Admire Good Fare, By Which By Which Combination We Ride

Slow And Live Well. We Have Halted Here Half An Hour To Lounge And

Take A Luncheon. Of The Last, I Partook Reasonably. The Time Which

Others Devote To The Former, I Devote (Of Right) To You, And Thus

Lounge With Peculiar Glee.

 

 

By Return Of Mr. Smith (Who Is Obliging Enough To Deliver This), I

Expect Much Longer Letters From Our Lazy Flock. By The Next

Opportunity I Determine Not To Write You, But Some Others Who Deserve

More Attention Than I Fear They Will Think I Mean To Give Them.

 

 

The Girls Must Give Me A History Of Their Time, From Rising To Night.

The Boys Any Thing Which Interests Them, And Which, Of Course, Will

Interest Me. Are There Any, Or Very Pressing Calls At The Office? The

Word Is Given To Mount. I Shall Have Time To Seal This And Overtake

Them. Kiss For Me Those Who Love Me.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XIV Pg 249

From Mrs. Burr.

 

 

New-York, April, 1785.

 

 

Mrs. Wickham Just Called To Tell Me Of An Opportunity To Chester. How

Joyfully I Embrace It. I Had A Most Insupportable Impatience To

Communicate To You My Gratitude And Thanks For Your Last Visit. It Was

A Cordial To My Health And Spirits; A Balm To My Soul. My Mind Is

Flushed With Pleasing Hopes. Ten Thousand Tender Thoughts Rush To My

Pen; But The Bearer May Prove Faithless. I Will Suppress Them To A

Happier Moment, And Anticipate The Dear Indulgence.

 

 

The Family As You Left It. Thy Theodosia'S Health And Spirits Increase

Daily. Bartow'S Industry And Utility Are Striking To The Family And

Strangers. Johnstone Returned Yesterday. Your Letter Was As Eagerly

Read As Though I Had Not Seen You. Write When You Have Leisure; If It

Does Not Reach Me Immediately, It Will Serve To Divert Some Tedious

Moment In A Future Absence; Even When You Are At Home, Engrossed By

Business, I Frequently Find A Singular Pleasure In Perusing Those

Testimonies Of Affection.

 

 

I Find I Am Continually Speaking Of Myself. I Can Only Account For It

From My Aaron Having Persuaded Me 'Tis His Favourite Subject, And The

Extreme Desire I Have To Please Him Induces Me To Pursue It. I Take No

Walks But Up One Stairs And Down The Other. The Situation Of My House

Will Not Admit Of My Seeing Many Visitors. I Hope Some Arrangement

Will Be Accomplished By The Next Week.

 

 

A Packet From Sill. He Writes Like A Happy Man--Not The Happy Man Of A

Day, Or I Am Much Deceived In Him. She Is Certainly To Be Ranked Among

The Fortunate. I Wish She May Be Sensible Of Her Lot.

 

 

I Have Fixed The Time Of Seeing You. Till Saturday I Will Hope The

Best. I Cannot Extend My Calculations Beyond It; Four Days Of Your

Absence Is An Age To Come. My Compliments To Your Chum, And Who Else

You Please. _Pense Avec Tendresse De La Votre_.

 

 

Theodosia.

Chapter XIV Pg 250

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Chester, May 12, 1785.

 

 

Nothing Could Be More Welcome Than Your Affectionate Letters By Mr.

Wickham. They Met Me On Tuesday Evening, On Our Return From A Tour

Through The Mountains. I Was For Some Hours Transported Home, To

Partake Of That Domestic Tranquillity Which You So Feelingly Paint.

Continue To Write If Opportunity Presents. They Will Cheer Me In These

Rustic Regions. If Not, They Will Not Be Lost.

 

 

This Being A Rainy Day, We Have Kept Within Doors. Tomorrow, If Fair,

We Resume The Business Of Climbing Mountains, Which Will Probably Be

Our Employment Till About The Middle Of Next Week. After Which A Week

More (At Most) Will Finish The Controversy.

 

 

Pay Moore Nothing Till I Return, Unless You See Cause. Let Him

Rough-Cast, If He Is Confident Of Succeeding; But Tell Him I Will Not

Pay Him Till I Am Convinced It Will Bear Weather, And Last.

 

 

If The Sheriff Of Bergen (Dey) Calls For His Money, I Enclose A Note

With A Blank For The Name. You Must Speak To Either Malcom Or Lente

For Their Assistance, Unless You Can Think Of Something More

Convenient, Putting The Matter In Such Light As Your Address Shall

Think Proper. If For Any Reasons You Should Prefer To Make Use Of

Popham'S Name, Do It. The Person Whose Name Is Put In The Note Must

Endorse It, And The Note Be Dated. Let One Of The Boys Go Over To Mrs.

Baldwin For The Certificate Of The Balance Of The Account, Which, If

Obtained, A Deduction Must Be Made Accordingly. Perhaps, By Paying

Three Or Four Hundred Pounds, Mr. Morris Will Consent To Wait My

Return. Perhaps, At Your Instance, He Will Wait That Time Without Any

Payment. All Which Is Humbly Submitted. I Enclose Two Notes, That You

May Take Your Choice.

 

 

Mr. Watrous'S Business Respecting The Land Is Not Very Material. If It

Should Have Failed, You May Inform Him That I Have Long Since Filed A

Caveat Which Will Cover His Claim.

 

 

I Bear The Fatigues Of Our Business To Admiration. Have Great

Appetite, And Sleep Sound About Ten Hours A Night. I Am Already As

Black As A Shawanese. You Will Scarce Know Me If I Continue This

Business A Few Days Longer. Thank Our Dear Children For Their Kind

Letters. But They Are So Afraid Of Tiring Either Me Or Themselves (I

Suspect The Latter), That They Tell Me Few, Very Few, Of Those

Interesting Trifles Which I Want To Know.

 

 

Let T. Give Them Any New Steps He Pleases, But Not One Before The

Others. If Any One Is Behind Or Less Apt, More Pains Must Be Taken To

Keep Them On A Par. This I Give In Charge To You.

 

 

I Fear You Flatter Me With Respect To Your Health. You Seem A Little

Studied On That Score, Which Is Not Very Natural To You When Speaking

Truth. But, If It Is Not True, It Is Surely Your Own Fault. Go To Bed

Early, And Do Not Fatigue Your Self With Running About House. And Upon

No Account Any Long Walks, Of Which You Are So Fond, And For Which You

Are So Unfit. Simple Diet Will Suit You Best. Restrain All Gout For

Intemperance Till Some Future Time Not Very Distant.

 

 

I Do Not _Nor Can_ Promise Myself All You Promise Me With Respect To

The Children. I Have Been Too Much Mortified On That Subject To Remove

It At Once.

 

 

This Is The Last Expedition Of The Kind I Shall Ever Undertake; And

Ever Since I Have Been Here I Have Been Planning Ways To Extricate

Myself From It, But Am Defeated, And Shall Be Absolutely Detained

Prisoner Till The Business Is Concluded. Johnstone Can Give You An

Account Of My Quarters And Mode Of Life. You Haunt Me Daily More And

More. I Really Fear I Shall Do Little Justice To The Business Which

Brought Me Here.

 

 

The Children Must Pardon My Not Writing. I Have A Number Of

Memorandums Of Business To Make Out For Johnstone. Thank Them Again

For Their Letters, And Beg Them Not To Be So Churlish.

 

 

Let One Of The Boys Haunt Moore. But You Surely Can Do It Without

Letting Him Vex You, Even Supposing He Does Nothing. I Had Much Rather

That Should Be The Case Than That You Should Be One Minute Out Of

Humour With Him.

 

 

The Girls Must Go On With Tetard In His Own Way Till I Come, When I

Will Set All Right.

 

 

It Is Already Late. I Must Be Up At Sunrise. Bon Soir, Ma Chere Amie.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XIV Pg 251

To Mrs. Burr

 

 

Chester, 19Th May, 2 O'Clock P. M., 1785.

 

 

We Have This Day Begun The Examination Of Witnesses, Which, Together

With The Arguments, Will Keep Us The Greater Part, And Probably The

Whole, Of Next Week. I Find Myself Gaining Strength Exceedingly Since

My Return From New-York, Though Perfectly Out Of Humour With The

Business, The Distance, And The Delay.

 

 

My Trip To New-York Has Quite Ruined Me For Business. I Cannot Confine

My Mind To It. I Am Literally Homesick, And Think Of Nothing Else. A

Witness Attending In Court Informs Me Of His Going To New-York As Soon

As His Testimony Is Finished. I Desert A Moment To Tell You That I Am

Wholly Yours.

 

 

 

6 O'Clock P. M., 19Th May.

 

 

Since I Wrote You At Two O'Clock Our Court Is Adjourned Till Nine

To-Morrow. We Go On Briskly And In Great Good Nature. If You Were Half

As Punctual Or As Fortunate (Which Shall I Call It?), I Should

Absolutely Fancy Myself Talking With You. It Would Be Some

Indemnification For The Distance And Vexation. Make Up In Thinking Of

Me, And Taking Care Of Yourself, What You Omit In Writing. Thine At

All Moments.

 

 

 

9 O'Clock At Night, 19Th May.

 

 

A Thousand Thanks For Your Dear Affectionate Letter Of Tuesday

Evening. I Was Just Sitting Pensively And Half Complaining Of Your

Remissness, When Your Letter Is Received And Dispels Every Gloomy

Thought. I Write This From The Impulse Of My Feelings, And In

Obedience To Your Injunctions, Having No Opportunity In View.

 

 

The Letters Of Our Dear Children Are A Feast. Every Part Of Them Is

Pleasing And Interesting. Le Jenne Is Not Expected To Be In New-York

For Some Weeks At Least. I Avoid The Subject. I Shudder At The Idea Of

Suffering Any Thing To Mar The Happiness I Promise Myself.

 

 

There Is No Possibility Of My Return Till The Middle Of Next Week. In

One Of My Letters I Put It To The Last Of Next Week, But We Have This

Day Made Unexpected Progress. If We Are Equally Fortunate And Equally

Good-Natured, We May Finish Wednesday Night; But This Is Conjecture,

And Perhaps My Impatience Makes Me Too Sanguine.

 

 

I Broke Off At The Bottom Of The Other Page To Pay Some Attention To

Those Who Deserve Much From Me (Our Dear Children). To Hear That They

Are Employed, That No Time Is Absolutely Wasted, Is The Most

Flattering Of Any Thing That Can Be Told Me Of Them. It Ensures Their

Affection, Or Is The Best Evidence Of It. It Ensures, In Its

Consequences, Every Thing I Am Ambitions Of In Them. Endeavour To

Preserve Regularity Of Hours; It Conduces Exceedingly To Industry.

 

 

I Have Just Heard Of A Mr. Brown Who Goes Down By Water. As I May Not

Have Another Opportunity, I Hazard It By Him. He Promises To Leave It

At Old Mr. Rutherford'S. Our Business Goes On Very Moderately This

Morning. Witnesses All Tardy. We Have Adjourned For Want Of Something

To Do. Melancholy And Vexatious. It Has Given Me A Headache. We Shall

Be Holden, I Fear, All Next Week. Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XIV Pg 252

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Chester, 8 O'Clock, 20Th May, 1785.

 

 

Worse And Worse. During The Whole Day We Have Not Been Five Hours At

Business. Our Witnesses Are So Aged, And Many So Remote, That They

Will Not Be In Till Monday, So That, At This Rate, We Shall Eke Out

The Whole Of Next Week. I Have At No Time Been So Completely Out Of

Patience; Just Now Particularly, Being A Little Churlish With My

Headache, Which, Though Not Very Severe, Unfits Me For Any Thing But

Writing To You.

 

 

I Wrote You And The Whole Flock Last Evening, And Added A Line To You

This Morning, And Sent Off The Packet By A Mr. Brown, Who Goes By

Water, And Promised To Deliver It Him-Self. He Has Business At Old Mr.

Rutherford'S. If He Is Punctual, Don'T Forget Him In Thinking Of The

Letters. Do Say Something That Will Make Me A Little More Content With

This Vexatious Delay And Imprisonment. I Am Prompted To Write A

Hundred Things Which I Dare Not, For Fear I Shall Not Find A Safe

Conveyance: That Was Particularly The Case Last Evening And This

Morning. It Is Perhaps Fortunate, Or I Should Spend Too Much Time With

You In This Way. I Believe I Do As It Is. Adieu, A Little While. I Am

Just Going To Prepare Some Hot Punch.

 

 

Ten O'Clock.

 

 

I Have Been Till This Minute Making And Sipping Punch, And With Great

Success. It Has Thrown Me Into A Perspiration, Which Obliges Me To Go

To Bed. I Am Very Illy Reconciled To Leave You And Bid You Good-Night,

But So Says My Hard Lot.

 

 

Saturday Morning, 8 O'Clock.

 

 

I Lay Awake Till After Three O'Clock This Morning; Then Got Up And

Took A Large Dose Of Medicine. It Was Composed Posed Of Laudanum,

Nitre, And Other Savoury Drugs, Which Procured Me Sleep Till Now: Have

No Headache; Must Eat Breakfast, And Away To Court As Fast As

Possible.

 

 

Saturday Evening.

 

 

Every Thing Almost Stands Still. I Begin To Despair Of Getting Away. I

Am Sure The Whole Of Next Week Will Not Finish Our Business At The

Present Rate. To Make It More Tedious And Disagreeable, Some Of Us Are

Less Good-Humoured Than At First. Not A Line From You Since That I

Have Mentioned. I Can Find No Opportunity For This. I Am Too Vexed To

Utter One Sentiment.

 

 

Sunday, 22D May.

 

 

No Opportunity For This Scrawl Yet. I Begin To Be Tired Of Seeing It,

And Wish It Gone For This Reason; And Also, Because I Try To Persuade

Myself You Would Be Glad To Receive It.

 

 

To-Day We Have Fine Scope To Reflect How Much Better We Might Have

Employed It, Had We Been Active In Our Business Last Week. I Find The

Whole Might Have Been Finished By Yesterday (If The Witnesses On Both

Sides Had Been Ready) As Well As A Month Hence.

 

 

My Room Is A Kind Of Rendezvous For Our Side: Have Seldom, Therefore,

Time Either To Think Or Write, Unless At Night Or Early In The

Morning. Judge Yates Concludes To Give Us A Few Days Of His Company,

And To Accept Of A Room With Us. The Coming Of Le Jeune Uncertain; Not

Probably Till Fall. You Will Receive A Pail Of Butter, Perhaps, With

This. I Have Been Contracting For The Year.

 

 

Have You Done Running Up And Down Stairs? How Do You Live, Sleep, And

Amuse Yourself? I Wish, If You Have Leisure (Or, If You Have Not, Make

It), You Would Read The Abbe Mably'S Little Book On The Constitution

Of The United States. St. John Has It In French, Which Is Much Better

Than A Translation. This, You See, Will Save Me The Trouble Of Reading

It; And I Shall Receive It With Much More Emphasis Par La Bouche

D'Amour. Adieu. I Seal This Instantly, Lest I Be Tempted To Write

More. Again Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XIV Pg 253

From Mrs. Burr.

 

 

New-York, May 22D, 1785.

 

 

Your Letter By Mr. Bayard Was Brought Me On Saturday, And The First I

Had Received Since The One By Mr. Marvin Till To-Day. Mr. Brown Very

Punctually And Civilly Came With Your Welcome Packet Of Thursday, Nine

O'Clock. It Was Just Before Dinner; The Children Were Dispersed At

Different Employments. I Furnished The Mantelpiece With The Contents

Of The Packet. When Dinner Was Served Up They Were Called. You Know

The Usual Eagerness On This Occasion. They Were All Seated But Bartow,

When He Espied The Letters; The Surprise, The Joy, The Exclamations

Exceed Description. The Greatest Stoic Would Have Forgot Himself. A

Silent Tear Betrayed Me No _Philosopher_. A Most Joyous Repast

Succeeded. We Talked Of Our Happiness, Of Our First Of Blessings, Our

Best Of Papas. I Enjoyed, My Aaron, The Only Happiness That Could

Accrue From Your Absence. It Was A Momentary Compensation; The Only

One I Ever Experienced. Your Letters Always Afford Me A Singular

Satisfaction;--A Sensation Entirely My Own; This Was Peculiarly So. It

Wrought Strangely On My Mind And Spirits. My Aaron, It Was Replete

With Tenderness! With The Most Lively Affection. I Read And Re-Read,

Till Afraid I Should Get It By Rote, And Mingle It With Common Ideas;

Profane The Sacred Pledge. No; It Shall Not Be. I Will Economize The

Boon. I Will Limit The Recreation To Those Moments Of Retirement

Devoted To Thee. Of A Sudden I Found Myself Unusually Fatigued. I

Reflected On The Cause, And Soon Found I Had Mounted The Stairs Much

Oftener Than I Could Possibly Have Done On Any Other Occasion.

 

 

I Am Vexed With My Last Letter To You; 'Tis Impossible For Me To

Disguise A Single Feeling Or Thought When I Am Writing Or Conversing

With The Friend Of My Heart. I Hope You Have Attended Only To The Last

Paragraph, And Avoided All Unnecessary Anxiety For Her Who Wishes To

Be A Constant Source Of Pleasure To Thee. I Have Been In Good Health

Since Saturday Morning. Since Yesterday, Unusually Gay And Happy;

Anticipating A Thousand Pleasures, Studying Every Little Arrangement

That Can Contribute To Thy Comfort. This Wet Weather Is A Bar To Any

Essential Progress. The Walls Are Still Too Damp To Admit Of Either

Paint Or Paper. I Have A Bed Ready For The Judge; _Ne Vous Genez Pas

La-Dessus_. I Am Afraid Some Foolish Reflections In My Last Will

Embarrass You. Your Affection And Tenderness Has Put Them To Flight.

"Let Nothing Mar The Promised Bliss." Thy Theo. Waits With

Inexpressible Impatience To Welcome The Return Of Her Truly Beloved.

Every Domestic Joy Shall Decorate His Mansion. When Aaron Smiles,

Shall Theo. Frown? Forbid It Every Guardian Power.

 

 

Le Jeune Perplexes Me No Longer. I Am Provoked With Myself For Having

Repeated It To You. Your Dear Little Theo. Grows The Most Engaging

Child You Ever Saw. She Frequently Talks Of, And Calls On, Her Dear

Papa. It Is Impossible To See Her With Indifference. All Moves As You

Wish It. All Count The Passing Hours Till Thy Return. Remember, I Am

In Good Health And Spirits; That I Expect The Same Account Of Yours.

To Think Of Me Affectionately Is My First Command; To Write Me So, The

Second. Hasten To Share The Happiness Of Thy Much Loved And Much

Loving

 

 

Theodosia.

Chapter XIV Pg 254

From Mrs. Burr.

 

 

New-York, August 28Th, 1785.

 

 

The Enclosed Was To Have Gone Yesterday, But The Intended Bearer

Disappointed Me. Young ---- And His Companions Have Just Left Us; At

Tasting Your Madeira He Pronounced You A D----D Clever Fellow. Your

Merit Increased With The Number Of Glasses; They Went Away In

Good-Humour With Themselves And The Hostess. O My Love, How Earnestly

I Pray That Our Children May Never Be Driven From Your Paternal

Direction. Had You Been At Home To-Day, You Would Have Felt As Fervent

In This Prayer As Your Theo. Our Children Were Impressed With Utter

Contempt For Their Guest. This Gave Me Real Satisfaction.

 

 

I Really Believe, My Dear, Few Parents Can Boast Of Children Whose

Minds Are So Prone To Virtue. I See The Reward Of Our Assiduity With

Inexpressible Delight, With A Gratitude Few Experience. My Aaron, They

Have Grateful Hearts; Some Circumstances Prove It, Which I Shall

Relate To You With Singular Pleasure At Your Return. I Pity A. C. From

My Heart. She Will Feel The Folly Of An Over Zeal To Accumulate.

Bartow'S Assiduity And Faithfullness Is Beyond Description. My Health

Is Not Worse. I Have Been Disappointed In A Horse; Shall Have Pharaoh

To-Morrow. Frederick Is Particularly Attentive To My Health; Indeed,

None Of Them Are Deficient In Tenderness. All Truly Anxious For Papa'S

Return; We Fix Tuesday, Beyond A Doubt, But Hope Impossibilities.

 

 

I Had A Thousand Things To Write, But The Idea Of Seeing You Banishes

Every Other Thought. I Fear Much The Violent Exertions You Are Obliged

To Make Will Injure Your Health. Remember How Dear, How Important It

Is To The Repose, To The Life Of

 

 

Theodosia.

Chapter XIV Pg 255

From Mrs. Burr.

 

 

New-York, August 29Th, 1785.

 

 

As Soon As Tuesday Evening Came, I Sent Repeated Messages To Cape'S,

Who Persevered In The Answer Of There Being No Letter. I Slept Ill;

Found My Health Much Worse In The Morning; Rode Out; In Spite Of

Exercise, Continued Ill Till Your Dear Letter Was Handed Me. I

Immediately Called For Refreshment, And Imagined I Had Recovered My

Health; My Sensations Still Tell Me So. Ten Thousand Thanks For The

Best Prescription That Ever Physician Invented. I Ride Daily;

Breakfasted With Clem. Clarke This Morning, Who Has Scarce A Trait Of

Himself. He Neither Knows Nor Cares For Anybody But His Son, Who Is

Three Years And A Half Old, Fair Hair, But Not Handsome; Much

Humoured; Is Introduced As A Pet Of The First Value. Aunt More In

Temper Than Was Expected. He Dines Here To-Morrow With The Two Blakes.

I Felt No Other Compulse To Notice Them Than Your Wish.

 

 

Our Little Daughter'S Health Has Improved Beyond My Expectations. Your

Dear Theodosia Cannot Hear You Spoken Of Without An Apparent

Melancholy; Insomuch That Her Nurse Is Obliged To Exert Her Invention

To Divert Her, And Myself Avoid To Mention You In Her Presence. She

Was One Whole Day Indifferent To Every Thing But Your Name. Her

Attachment Is Not Of A Common Nature; Though This Was My Opinion, I

Avoided The Remark, When Mr. Grant Observed It To Me As A Singular

Instance.

 

 

You See I Have Followed Your Example In Speaking First Of Myself. I

Esteemed It A Real Trait Of Your Affection, A Sympathy In The

Feelings, The Anxiety Of Your Theo., Who Had Every Fear For Your

Health; More Than You Would Allow Her To Express.

 

 

The Garden Wall Is Begun. I Fear The Front Pavement Will Not Answer

Your Intention. I Write You Again Tomorrow. Much Love Awaits Thee.

Thine, Unchangeably,

 

 

Theodosia Burr.

Chapter XIV Pg 256

From Mrs. Burr.

 

 

New-York, 25Th September, 1785.

 

 

Your Dear Letter Of Saturday Morning Has Just Reached Me. I Was

Relieved, Delighted, Till The Recollection Of The Storm You Have Since

Weathered Took Place. How Have You Borne It? Ten Thousand Fears Alarm

Me. I Pursued Thee Yesterday, Through Wind And Rain, Till Eve, When,

Fatigued, Exhausted, Shivering, Thou Didst Reach Thy Haven, Surrounded

With Inattention, Thy Theo. From Thee. Thus Agitated, I Laid My Head

Upon A Restless Pillow, Turning From Side To Side, When Thy Kindred

Spirit Found Its Mate. I Beheld My Much-Loved Aaron, His Tender Eyes

Fixed Kindly On Me; They Spake A Body Wearied, Wishing Repose, But Not

Sick. This Soothed My Troubled Spirit: I Slept Tolerably, But Dare Not

Trust Too Confidently. I Hasten To My Friend To Realize The Delightful

Vision; Naught But Thy Voice Can Tranquillize My Mind. Thou Art The

Constant Subject Of Love, Hope, And Fear. The Girls Bewail The

Sufferings Of Their Dear Papa; The Boys Wish Themselves In His Place;

Frederick Frets At The Badness Of The Horse; Wishes Money Could Put

Him In Thy Stead. The Unaffected Warmth Of His Heart Delights Me. If

Aught Can Alleviate Thy Absence, 'Tis These Testimonies Of Gratitude

And Affection From The Young And Guileless To The Best Of Parents.

They Feel The Hand That Blesses Them, And Love Because They Are

Blessed. Thy Orders Shall Be Attended To. Mamma Joins In The Warmest

Assurances Of Sincere Affection. Theodosia And Sally In Perfect

Health. Beyond Expression,

 

 

Yours,

 

 

Theodosia Burr.

Chapter XIV Pg 257

From Mrs. Burr.

 

 

New-York, 27Th September, 1785.

 

 

I Have Counted The Hours Till Evening; Since That, The Minutes, And Am

Still On The Watch; The Stage Not Arrived: It Is A Cruel Delay. Your

Health, Your Tender Frame, How Are They Supported! Anxiety Obliterates

Every Other Idea; Every Noise Stops My Pen; My Heart Flutters With

Hope And Fear; The Pavement From This To Cape'S [4] Is Kept Warm By

The Family; Every Eye And Ear Engrossed By Expectation; My Mind Is In

Too Much Trepidation To Write. I Resume My Pen After Another

Messenger, In Vain. I Will Try To Tell You That Those You Love Are

Well; That The Boys Are Very Diligent; Ireson Gone To Westchester. My

New Medicine Will, I Flatter Myself, Prove A Lucky One. Sally

Amazingly Increased. Fream At Work At The Roof. He Thinks It Too Flat

To Be Secured. The Back Walls Of The House Struck Through With The

Late Rain. M.Y. Still At Miss W. You Must Not Expect To Find Dancing

On Thursday Night. I Should Think It A Degree Of Presumption To Make

The Necessary Preparations Without Knowing The State Of Your Health.

Should This Account Prove Favourable, I Still Think It Best To Delay

It, As The Stage Is Very Irregular In Its Return. That Of Saturday Did

Not Arrive Till Sunday Morning; It Brought An Unfavourable Account Of

The Roads. Thus You Probably Would Not Partake, Nor Would I Wish

Spectators To Check My Vigilance, Or Divide That Attention Which Is

Ever Insufficient When Thou Art The Object. O, My Aaron, How Impatient

I Am To Welcome Thy Return; To Anticipate Thy Will, And Receive Thy

Loved Commands. The Clock Strikes Eleven. No Stage. My Letter Must Go.

I Have Been Three Hours Writing, Or Attempting To Write, This

Imperfect Scrawl. The Children Desire Me To Speak Their Affection.

Mamma Will Not Be Forgot; She Especially Shares My Anxiousness. Adieu.

 

 

Theodosia Burr

Chapter XIV Pg 258

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Albany, October 30Th, 1785. I Have Received Your Two Affectionate

Letters. The Enclosed Was Intended To Have Been Sent By The Stage

Which I Met On My Way Up; But, By Untoward Accidents (Needless To

Detail), Yet Lies By Me. My Disorder Has Left Me Almost Since I Left

The City.

 

 

The Person With Whom I Had Business Had Gone From This Place Before My

Arrival, So That I Should Have Been, Ere This, On My Return, But That

I Have Suffered Myself To Be Engaged In Two Land Causes (Van Hoesen

And Van Rensselaer), Which Begin To-Morrow, And Will Probably Last The

Whole Week. I Am Retained For Van Hoesen, Together With J. Bay And P.

W. Yates. Such Able Coadjutors Will Relieve Me Of The Principal

Burden. You May Judge With What Reluctance I Engaged In A Business

Which Will Detain Me So Long From All That Is Dear And Lovely. I Dare

Not Think On The Period I Have Yet To Be Absent. I Feel It In Some

Sort A Judgment For The Letters Written By The Girls To N.W.

 

 

Your Account Of Your Health Is Very Suspicious; You Are Not Particular

Enough; You Say Nothing Of The Means You Use To Restore Yourself;

Whether You Take Exercise, Or How You Employ Your Time.

 

 

I Shall Probably Leave This On Sunday Next; My Horse Will Not Take Me

Home In Three Days. I Fear I Shall Not See You Till Wednesday Morning

Of Next Week; Perhaps Not Even Then, For I Am Engaged To Attend The

Court At Bedford On Tuesday Of Next Week. You Shall Hear Again By The

Stage.

 

 

Will Not These Continued Rains Deprive Us Of The Pleasure Of The

Promised Visit Of The W.'S? How Is It Possible You Can Write Me Such

Short Letters, Having So Much Leisure, And Surrounded With All That

Can Interest Me? Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XIV Pg 259

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Albany, 2D November, 1785.

 

 

I Have Lived These Three Days Upon The Letters I Expected This

Evening, And Behold The Stage Without A Line! I Have Been Through The

Rain, And Dark, And Mud, Hunting Up Every Passenger To Catechise Them

For Letters, And Can Scarce Yet Believe That I Am So Totally

Forgotten.

 

 

Our Trial, Of Which I Wrote You On Sunday, Goes On Moderately. It Will

Certainly Last Till Twelve O'Clock On Saturday Night; Longer It

Cannot, That Being The Last Hour Of Court. Of Course, I Leave This On

Sunday; Shall Be Detained At Westchester Till About Thursday Noon, And

Be Home On Friday. This Is My Present Prospect; A Gloomy One, I

Confess; Rendered More So By Your Unpardonable Silence. I Have A

Thousand Questions To Ask, But Why Ask Of The Dumb?

 

 

I Am Quite Recovered. The Trial In Which I Am Engaged Is A Fatiguing

One, And In Some Respects Vexatious. But It Puts Me In Better Humour

To Reflect That You Have Just Received My Letter Of Sunday, And Are

Saying Or Thinking Some Good-Natured Things Of Me. Determining To

Write Any Thing That Can Amuse And Interest Me; Every Thing That Can

Atone For The Late Silence, Or Compensate For The Hard Fate That

Divides Us.

 

 

Since Being Here I Have Resolved That You In Future Accompany Me On

Such Excursions, And I Am Provoked To Have Yielded To Your Idle Fears

On This Occasion. I Have Told Here Frequently, Within A Day Or Two,

That I Was Never So Long From Home Before, Till, Upon Counting Days, I

Find I Have Been Frequently Longer. I Am So Constantly Anticipating

The Duration Of This Absence, That When I Speak Of It I Realize The

Whole Of It.

 

 

Let Me Find That You Have Done Justice To Yourself And Me. I Shall

Forgive None The Smallest Omission On This Head. Do Not Write By The

Monday Stage, Or Rather, Do Not Send The Letter You Write, As It Is

Possible I Shall Leave The Stage-Road In My Way To Bedford.

 

 

Affectionately Adieu,

 

 

A. Burr.

Footnote Pg 260

 

 

 

1. Major Popham, Fifty-Four Years After The Date Of This Letter,

Attended As A Pall-Bearer The Funeral Of Colonel Burr, The Friend Of

His Youth.

Footnote Pg 261

 

 

2. Mrs. Prevost'S Son.

Footnote Pg 262

 

 

3. The Unfortunate Mrs. Alston, Of Whom Much Will Be Said Hereafter.

Footnote Pg 263

 

 

4. Stagehouse.

Chapter XV Pg 264

 

 

 

From Mrs. Burr

 

 

New-York, August, 1786.

 

 

Your Letter Was Faithfully Handed Us By The Boy From Hall'S. Bartow

Has Enclosed The Papers. Those You Mentioned To Me On The Night Of

Your Departure I Cannot Forward, As I Have Forgot The Names Of The

Parties, And They Cannot Guess Them In The Office From My Description,

I Hope The Disappointment Will Not Be Irreparable.

 

 

If You Finish Your Causes Before Court Is Over, Cannot You Look At Us,

Even Should You Return To The Manor? The Two Girls Followed You To The

Stagehouse, Saw You Seated And Drive Off. Frederick'S Tooth Prevented

His Attendance. My Heart Is Full Of Affection, My Head Too Barren To

Express It. I Am Impatient For Evening; For The Receipt Of Your Dear

Letter; For Those Delightful Sensations Which Your Expressions Of

Tenderness Alone Can Excite. Dejected, Distracted With Out Them;

Elated, Giddy Even To Folly With Them; My Mind, Never At Medium,

Claims Every Thing From Your Partiality.

 

 

I Have Just Determined To Take A Room At Aunt Clarke'S Till Sally

Recovers Her Appetite; By The Advice Of The Physician, We Have Changed

Her Food From Vegetable To Animal. A Change Of Air May Be Equally

Beneficial. You Shall Have A Faithful Account, I Leave Town At Six

This Evening. All Good Angels Attend Thee. The Children Speak Their

Love. Theodosia Has Written To You, And Is Anxious Lest I Should Omit

Sending It. Toujours La Votre,

 

 

Theodosia.

Chapter XV Pg 265

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Albany, August, 1786.

 

 

Your Letter Of Thursday Evening Was Stuffed Into One Of The Office

Papers, So That I Did Not Find It For Half An Hour After I Received

The Packet, During All Which Time I Had The Pleasure Of Abusing You

Stoutly. But I Had Only Prepared Myself For The Most Delightful

Surprise. I Apologized With Great Submission.

 

 

Why Are You So Cautiously Silent As To Our Little Sally? You Do Not

Say That She Is Better Or Worse; From Which I Conclude She Is Worse. I

Am Not Wholly Pleased With Your Plan Of Meat Diet. It Is Recommended

Upon The Idea That She Has No Disorder But A General Debility. All The

Disorders Of This Season Are Apt To Be Attended With Fevers, In Which

Case Animal Diet Is Unfriendly. I Beg You To Watch The Effects Of This

Whim With Great Attention. So Essential A Change Will Certainly Have

Visible Effects. Remember, I Do Not Absolutely Condemn, Because I Do

Not Know The Principles, But Am Fearful.

 

 

Every Minute Of My Time Is Engrossed To Repair The Loss Of My Little

Book. Thank The Boys For Their Attention To The Business I Left Them

In Charge. I Wish Either Of Them Had Given Me A History Of What Is

Doing In The Office, And You Of What Is Doing In The Family. The Girls

I Know To Be Incorrigibly Lazy, And Therefore Expect Nothing From

Them. The Time Was--But I Have No Leisure To Reflect.

 

 

Thine,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 266

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Albany, August, Eleven O'Clock At Night, 1786.

 

 

I Have This Day Your Letter By My Express. I Am Sorry That You And

Others Perplex Yourselves With That Office Nonsense. Am Too Fatigued

And Too Busy To Say More Of It. We Began Our Catskill Causes This

Morning, And Have This Minute Adjourned To Meet At Seven In The

Morning. We Shall Be Engaged At The Same Disagreeable Rate Till

Saturday Evening. I Think Our Title Stands Favourably; But The Jury

Are Such That The Verdict Will Be In Some Measure Hazardous. I Have

Judgment For Maunsel Against Brown, After A Laboured Argument. Inform

Him, With My Regards.

 

 

Since Writing Thus Far, I Have Your Affectionate Letter By The Stage,

Which Revives Me. I Shall Not Go To The Manor. But, If I Succeed In

Our Causes, Shall Be Obliged To Go To Catskill To Settle With The

Tenants, Make Sales, &C. Of This You Cannot Know Till Tuesday Evening.

 

 

I Am Wrong To Say That I Shall Not Go To The Manor. I Am Obliged To

Attend A Court Of Chancery There. The Chancellor Had Gone Hence Before

My Arrival. I Cannot Be Home Till Thursday Evening. I Hope Your Next

Will Be Of The Tenour Of The Last. Your Want Of Cheerfullness Is The

Least Acceptable Of Any Token Of Affection You Can Give Me. Good

Angels Guard And Preserve You.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 267

From Mrs. Burr.

 

 

New-York, November, 1787.

 

 

What Language Can Express The Joy, The Gratitude Of Theodosia? Stage

After Stage Without A Line. Thy Usual Punctuality Gave Room For Every

Fear; Various Conjectures Filled Every Breast. One Of Our Sons Was To

Have Departed Tomorrow In Quest Of The Best Of Friends And Fathers.

This Morning We Waited The Stage With Impatience. Shrouder Went

Frequently Before It Arrived; At Length Returned--_No Letter._ We Were

Struck Dumb With Disappointment. Bartow Set Out To Inquire Who Were

The Passengers; In A Very Few Minutes Returned Exulting,--A Packet

Worth The Treasures Of The Universe. Joy Brightened Every Face; All

Expressed Their Past Anxieties; Their Present Happiness. To Enjoy Was

The First Result. Each Made Choice Of What They Could Best Relish.

Porter, Sweet Wine, Chocolate, And Sweetmeats Made The Most Delightful

Repast That Could Be Shared Without Thee. The Servants Were Made To

Feel _Their Lord Was Well_, Are At This Instant Toasting His Health

And Bounty; While The Boys Are Obeying Thy Dear Commands, Thy

Theodosia Flies To Speak Her Heartfelt Joys:--Her Aaron Safe, Mistress

Of The Heart She Adores; Can She Ask More? Has Heaven More To Grant?

"_Plus Que Jamais A Vous_," Dost Thou Recollect It? Do I Read Right? I

Can'T Mistake; I Read It Everywhere; 'Tis Stamped On The Blank Paper;

I Sully The Impression With Reluctance; I Know Not What I Write. You

Talk Of Long Absence. I Stoop Not To Dull Calculations; Thou Hast

Judged It Best; Thy Breast Breathes Purest Flame. What Greater

Blessing Can Await Me? Every Latent Spark Is Kindled In My Soul. My

Imagination Is Crowded With Ideas; They Leave Me No Time For

Utterance; _Plus Que Jamais_; But For Sally, I Should Set Out

To-Morrow To Meet You. I Must Dress And Visit To-Morrow. I Have Heard

Nothing Of The W.S. Our Two Dear Pledges Have An Instinctive Knowledge

Of Their Mother'S Bliss. They Have Been Awake All The Evening I Have

The Youngest In My Arms. Our Sweet Prattler Exclaims At Every Noise,

There'S Dear Papa, And Runs To Meet Him. I Pursue The Medicine I Began

When You Left Us, And Believe It Efficacious. Exercise Costs Me A

Crown A Day; Our Own Horse Disabled By The Nail Which Penetrated The

Joint. I Have Grown Less, And Better Pleased With Myself; Feel

Confident Of Your Approbation. W. Hastens The First Assembly. F.

Feigns Herself Lame, That She May Not Accompany M., Who Submits To

Every Little Meanness, And Bears All Hints With Insensibility. Has

Called Here Once. Clement Sailed On Monday.

 

 

Your Remark On The Shortness Of My Letters Is Flattering. This Is The

Last You Shall Complain Of. My Spirits And Nerves Coincide In Asking

Repose. Your Daughter Commands It. Our Dear Children Join In The

Strongest Assurances Of Honest Love. Mamma Will Not Be Forgotten.

Sweet Sleep Attend Thee. Thy Theo.'S Spirit Shall Preside. I Wish You

May Find This Scrawl As Short At Reading As I Have At Writing. I Am

Surprised To Find Myself Obliged To Enclose It. Adieu.

 

 

Theodosia Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 268

From Mrs. Burr.

 

 

New-York, Wednesday, November, 1787.

 

 

My Health Is Better. As I Fondly Believe This The Most Interesting

Intelligence I Can Give Thee, I Make It My Preamble. What Would I Not

Give To Have But Those Four Small Words From Thee? Though I Had But

Little Hope, I Found Myself Involuntarily Counting The Passing Hours.

My Messenger Met The Stage At The Door. I Need Not Relate His Success.

I Fancy Many Ills From The Situation Of Your Health When You Left

Home, And Pray Ardently They May Prove Merely Fanciful. I Have Still

Three Tedious Days To The Next Stage, When A Line Of Affection Shall

Repay All My Anxieties. Ireson Returned To-Day. The Poor Boys Have

Really Been Models Of Industry. They Write All Day And Evening, And

Sometimes All Night, Nor Allow Themselves Time To Powder.

 

 

I Feel As Though My Guardian Angel Had Forsaken Me. I Fear Every Thing

But Ghosts. Tell Me, Aaron, Why Do I Grow Every Day More Tenacious Of

Thy Regard? Is It Possible My Affection Can Increase? Is It Because

Each Revolving Day Proves Thee More Deserving? Surely, Thy Theo.

Needed No Proof Of Thy Goodness. Heaven Preserve The Patron Of My

Flock; Preserve The Husband Of My Heart; Teach Me To Cherish His Love,

And To Deserve The Boon.

 

 

Theodosia Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 269

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Poughkeepsie, 28Th June, 1788.

 

 

This Afternoon The Stage Will Pass Through This Place. Your Letters

Will Not Come To Me Till The Morning, So That I Can Only Thank You For

Them, And The Kind Things They Contain, By Anticipation. I Have

Already Read Them In The Same Way, And Therefore Do Thank You For

Them, _De Plein Coeur_. I Have A Convenient Room For My Business In

One House, Board At A Different House, And Bad Lodgings At A Third

House. This Is, Indeed, Not So Convenient An Arrangement As Might Be

Wished; But I Could Not Procure These Different Accommodations At Less

Than Three Houses In This Metropolis And Seat Of Government.

 

 

As The Boys Will Wish To Know Something Of The Progress Of Business

Here, Tell Them That The Cause Of Freer And Van Vleeck Has Been This

Day Put Off By The Defendants, On Payment Of Costs, On An Affidavit Of

The Want Of Papers. In Noxon'S Cause I Have A Verdict For Thirty-Four

Pounds. The Evidence Clearly Entitled Mr. Livingston To Three Or Four

Hundred Pounds, And So Was The Charge Of The Judge; But Landlords Are

Not Popular Or Favoured In This County. I Am Now Going To Court To

Defend An Action Of Trespass, In Which I Have Been Employed Here; And

Shall Try Mr. Lansing'S Cause To-Morrow, Which Will Close My Business

Here. With How Much Regret I Shall Go Further From Home. Kiss Our Dear

Children.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 270

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Poughkeepsie, 29Th June, 1788.

 

 

I Have Sat An Hour At The Door Watching The Arrival Of The Stage. At

Length It Comes, And Your Dear Packet Is Handed To Me Just In Season

To Be Acknowledged By Mr. Johnstone. He Will Tell You Of The Further

Progress Of My Business And My Intended Movements. I Go This Evening

To Rhinebeck. How Wishfully I Look Homeward. I Like Your Industry, And

Will Certainly Reward It As You Shall Direct.

 

 

My Time Is Much Engrossed. My Health Perfectly Good. You Say Nothing

Of Yours; But Your Industry Is A Good Omen. You Can Write To Me By

Monday'S Stage, Directed To Be Forwarded To Me From Rhinebeck. I Shall

Be Then At Kingston. Much Love To The Smiling Little Girl. I Received

Her Letter, But Not The Pretty Things. I Continually Plan My Return

With Childish Impatience, And Fancy A Thousand Incidents Which Render

It More Interesting. Reserve Your Health And Spirits, And I Shall Not

Be Deceived.

 

 

Affectionately,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 271

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Albany, August 7Th, 1788.

 

 

Oh Theo.! There Is The Most Delightful Grove--So Darkened With

_Weeping Willows_, That At Noonday A _Susceptible_ Fancy Like Yours

Would Mistake It For A Bewitching Moonlight Evening. These

Sympathizing Willows, Too, Exclude Even The Prying Eye Of Curiosity.

Here No Rude Noise Interrupts The Softest Whisper. Here No Harsher

Sound Is Heard Than The Wild Cooings Of The Gentle Dove, The Gay

Thresher'S Animated Warbles, And The Soft Murmurs Of The Passing

Brook. Really, Theo., It Is _Charming_.

 

 

I Should Have Told You That I Am Speaking Of Fort Johnson, Where I

Have Spent A Day. From This _Amiable_ Bower You Ascend A Gentle

Declivity, By A Winding Path, To A Cluster Of Lofty Oaks And Locusts.

Here Nature Assumes A More August Appearance. The Gentle Brook, Which

Murmured Soft Below, Here Bursts A Cataract. Here You Behold The

Stately Mohawk Roll His Majestic Wave Along The Lofty Apalachians.

Here The Mind Assumes A Nobler Tone, And Is Occupied By Sublimer

Objects. What _There_ Was Tenderness, _Here_ Swells To Rapture. It Is

Truly _Charming_.

 

 

The Windings Of This Enchanting Brook Form A Lovely Island, Variegated

By The Most Sportive Hand Of Nature. This Shall Be Yours. We Will

Plant It With Jessamines And Woodbine, And Call It Cyprus. It Seems

Formed For The Residence Ol The Loves And The Graces, And Is Therefore

Yours By The Best Of Titles. It Is Indeed Most _Charming_.

 

 

But I Could Fill Sheets In Description Of The Beauties Of This

Romantic Place. We Will Reserve It For The Subject Of Many An Amusing

Hour. And Besides Being Little In The Habit Of The Sublime Or

Poetical, I Grow Already Out Of Breath, And Begin To Falter, As You

Perceive. I Cannot, However, Omit The Most Interesting And Important

Circumstance; One Which I Had Rather Communicate To You In This Way

Than Face To Face. I Know That You Was Opposed To This Journey To Fort

Johnson. It Is Therefore With The Greater Regret That I Communicate

The Event; And You Are Not Unacquainted With My Inducements To It.

 

 

In Many Things I Am Indeed Unhappy In Possessing A Singularity Of

Taste; Particularly Unhappy When That Taste Differs In Any Thing From

Yours. But We Cannot Control Necessity, Though We Often Persuade

Ourselves That Certain Things Are Our Choice, When In Truth We Have

Been Unavoidably Impelled To Them. In The Instance I Am Going To

Relate, I Shall Not Examine Whether I Have Been Governed By Mere

Fancy, Or By Motives Of Expediency, Or By Caprice; You Will Probably

Say The Latter.

 

 

My Dear Theo., Arm Yourself With All Your Fortitude. I Know You Have

Much Of It, And I Hope That Upon This Occasion You Will Not Fail To

Exercise It. I Abhor Preface And Preamble, And Don'T Know Why I Have

Now Used It So Freely. But I Am Well Aware That What I Am Going To

Relate Needs Much Apology _From_ Me, And Will Need Much _To_ You. If I

Am The Unwilling, The Unfortunate Instrument Of Depriving You Of Any

Part Of Your Promised Gayety Or Pleasure, I Hope You Are Too Generous

To Aggravate The Misfortune By Upbraiding Me With It. Be Assured (I

Hope The Assurance Is Needless), That Whatever Diminishes Your

Happiness Equally Impairs Mine. In Short, Then, For I Grow Tedious

Both To You And Myself; And To Procrastinate The Relation Of

Disagreeable Events Only Gives Them Poignancy; In Short, Then, My Dear

Theo., The Beauty Of This Same Fort Johnson, The Fertility Of The

Soil, The Commodiousness And Elegance Of The Buildings, The Great

Value Of The Mills, And The Very Inconsiderable Price Which Was Asked

For The Whole, Have _Not_ Induced Me To Purchase It, And Probably

Never Will: In The Confidence, However, Of Meeting Your Forgiveness,

 

 

Affectionately Yours,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 272

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Albany, 26Th October, 1788.

 

 

I Wrote You A Few Hours Ago, And Put The Letter Into The Postofflce.

Little Did I Then Imagine How Much Pleasure Was Near At Hand For Me.

Judge Hobart Has This Minute Arrived, And Handed Me Your Letter Of

Monday. I Cannot Thank You Sufficiently For All The Affection It

Contains. Be Assured It Has Every Welcome Which Congenial Affection

Can Give.

 

 

The Headache With Which I Left New-York Grew So Extreme, That Finding

It Impossible To Proceed In The Stage, The View Of A Vessel Off

Tarrytown, Under Full Sail Before The Wind, Tempted Me To Go On Board.

We Reached West Point That Night, And Lay There At Anchor Near Three

Days. After A Variety Of Changes From Sloop To Wagon, From Wagon To

Canoe, And From Canoe To Sloop Again, I Reached This Place Last

Evening. I Was Able, However, To Land At Rhinebeck On Thursday

Evening, And There Wrote You A Letter Which I Suppose Reached You On

Saturday Last.

 

 

My Business In Court Will Detain Me Till Saturday Of This Week, When I

Propose To Take Passage In Sloop. I Have Just Drunk Tea With Mrs.

Fairlie, And Her Daughter, Five Days Old. Thank Bartow For The Papers

By Judge Hobart. When I Wrote Him This Evening I Had Not Received

Them.

 

 

Yours,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 273

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Albany, November, 1788.

 

 

I Received Your Affectionate Letter Just As I Was Going Into Court,

And Under The Auspices Of It Have Tried With Success Two Causes. The

Bearer Of This Was My Client In One Of Them, And Is Happy Beyond

Measure At His Success. Business Has Increased Upon My Hands Since I

Came Here. My Return Seems Daily More Distant, But Not To Be Regretted

From Any Views But Those Of The Heart.

 

 

I Hope You Persevere In The Regular Mode Of Life Which I Pointed Out

To You. I Shall Be Seriously Angry If You Do Not. I Think You Had Best

Take Less Wine And More Exercise. A Walk Twice Round The Garden Before

Breakfast, And A Ride In The Afternoon, Will Do For The Present, And

This Will Be Necessary To Fit You For The Journey To Long Island.

 

 

A Captain Randolph Will Call With Mr. Mersereau: _C'Est Un Soldat Et

Honnete Homme, Donnez Eux A Boire._ They Will Answer All Your

Questions.

 

 

Yours Truly,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 274

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Albany, 23D November, 1788.

 

 

I Thank You For Your Obliging Letter Of The 19Th. It Is Not, Indeed,

So Long As I Had Hoped, But Your Reason For Being Concise Is Too

Ingenious Not To Be Admitted. I Have, However, A Persuasion That You

Are At This Moment Employed In The Same Manner That I Am; And In The

Hope That Your Good Intentions Will Not Be Checked By Either Want Of

Health Or Want Of Spirits, I Venture To Expect A Much Longer Letter By

The Coming Post.

 

 

Your Account Of The Progress Of The Measles Is Alarming. I Am Pleased

To Find That You Yet Keep Your Ground. It Persuades Me That,

Notwithstanding What You Have Written, You Do Not Think The Hazard

Very Great. That Disorder Hath Found Its Way To This City, But With No

Unfavourable Symptoms. It Is Not Spoken Of As A Thing To Be Either

Feared Or Avoided.

 

 

I Have No Prospect Of Being Able To Leave This Place Before This Day

Week, Probably Not So Soon. You Must, By Return Of Post, Assure Me

That I Shall Find You In Good Health And Spirits. This Will Enable Me

To Despatch Business And Hasten My Return. Kiss Those Who Love Me.

 

 

A. Burr

Chapter XV Pg 275

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Albany, 26Th November, 1788.

 

 

The Unusual Delay Of The Post Deprives Me Of The Pleasure Of Hearing

From You This Evening. This I Regret The More, As Your Last Makes Me

Particularly Anxious For That Which I Expected By This Post.

 

 

I Am Wearied Out With The Most Tedious Cause I Was Ever Engaged In.

To-Morrow Will Be The Eighth Day Since We Began It, And It May

Probably Last The Whole Of This Week. Write Me Whether Any Thing Calls

Particularly For My Return So As To Prevent My Concluding My Business

Here. I Am At A Loss What To Write Until I Have Your Answer To My

Letters, For Which I Am Very Impatient.

 

 

Yours Affectionately,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 276

From The Commencement Of The Year 1785 Until The Year 1788, Colonel

Burr Took But Little Part In The Political Discussions Of The Day. In

The Year 1787 The Opinion Had Become Universal That The States Could

Not Be Kept Together Under The Existing Articles Of Confederation. On

The Second Monday In May, 1787, A Convention Met In Philadelphia For

The Avowed Purpose Of "_Revising The Articles Of Confederation_," &C.

On The 28Th Of September Following, That Convention, Having Agreed

Upon A "_New Constitution_," Ordered That The Same Be Transmitted To

The Several Legislatures For The Purpose Of Being Submitted To A

Convention Of Delegates, Chosen In Each State, For Its Adoption Or

Rejection.

 

 

In January, 1788, The Legislature Of New-York Met, And Warm

Discussions Ensued On The Subject Of The New Constitution. These

Discussions Arose On The Question Of Calling A State Convention.

Parties Had Now Become Organized. The Friends Of The New Constitution

Styled Themselves _Federalists_. Its Opponents Were Designated

_Anti-Federalists_. The Latter Denied The Right Of The General

Convention To Form A "New Constitution," And Contended That They Were

Limited In Their Powers To "Revising And Amending The Articles Of

Confederation." The Former Asserted That The General Convention Had

Not Transcended Its Powers.

 

 

Colonel Burr, On This Point, Appears To Have Assumed A Neutral Stand;

But, In Other Respects, Connected Himself With What Was Termed The

Anti-Federal Party. He Wished Amendments To The Constitution, And Had

Received, In Common With Many Others, An Impression That The Powers Of

The Federal Government, Unless More Distinctly Defined, Would Be So

Exercised As To Divest The States Of Every Attribute Of Sovereignty,

And That On Their Ruins Ultimately There Would Be Erected A Splendid

_National_ Instead Of A _Federal_ Government.

 

 

In April, 1788, Colonel Burr Was Nominated By The Anti-Federalists Of

The City Of New-York As A Candidate For The Assembly. The Feelings Of

That Day May Be Judged Of By The Manner In Which The Ticket Was

Headed. It Was Published In The Newspapers And In Handbills As

Follows:--

Chapter XV Pg 277

"The Sons Of Liberty, Who Are Again Called Upon To Contend With The

_Sheltered Aliens_, Who Have, By The Courtesy Of Our Country, Been

Permitted To Remain Among Us, Will Give Their Support To The Following

Ticket:--

 

 

"_William Deming, Melancton Smith, Marinus Willet, And Aaron Burr._"

 

 

The Federalists Prevailed By An Overwhelming Majority. The Strength Of

The Contending Parties Was In The Ratio Of About Seven Federalists (Or

Tories) For One Anti-Federalist (Or Whig). Such Were The Political

Cognomens Of The Day. The Federalists Styled Their Opponents

_Anti-Federalists_. The Anti-Federalists Designated Their Opponents

_Tories_.

 

 

In April, 1789, There Was An Election For Governor Of The State Of

New-York. The Anti-Federal Party Nominated George Clinton. A Meeting

Of Citizens, Principally Federalists, Was Held In The City Of

New-York, And Judge Robert Yates Was Nominated In Opposition To Mr.

Clinton. Mr. Yates Was A Firm And Decided Anti-Federalist. He Was

Known To Be The Personal And Political Friend Of Colonel Burr. At This

Meeting A Committee Of Correspondence Was Appointed. Colonel Hamilton

And Colonel Burr Were Both Members Of This Committee.

 

 

In Their Address Recommending Judge Yates They State, That

Chief-Justice Morris Or Lieutenant-Governor Van Courtlandt Were The

Favourite Candidates Of The Federal Party; But, For The Sake Of

Harmonizing Conflicting Interests, A Gentleman (Mr. Yates), Known As

An Anti-Federalist, Had Been Selected, And They Respectfully Recommend

To Mr. Morris And Mr. Van Courtlandt To Withdraw Their Names, And To

Unite In The Support Of Mr. Yates. This Address Was Signed By

Alexander Hamilton As Chairman. Mr. Clinton, However, Was Re-Elected.

 

 

This Support Of Judge Yates Did Not Diminish Governor Clinton'S

Confidence In The Political Integrity, Or Lessen His Respect For The

Talents, Of Colonel Burr. A Few Months After The Election The Governor

Tendered To Him The Office Of Attorney-General Of The State. At First

He Hesitated About Accepting The Appointment; But, On The 25Th Of

September, 1789, Addressed His Excellency As Follows:--

Chapter XV Pg 278

To Governor George Clinton.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

In Case The Office You Were Pleased To Propose Should Be Offered To

Me, I Have, Upon Reflection, Determined To Accept It; At Least Until

It Shall Be Known Upon What Establishment It Will Be Placed. My

Hesitation Arose Not From Any Dislike To The Office, But From The

Circumstances Which I Took The Liberty To Suggest In Our Conversation

On This Subject.

 

 

I Have The Honour To Be

 

 

Your Excellency'S Obedient Servant,

 

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 279

On The Receipt Of The Above Note, Governor Clinton Nominated Colonel

Burr To The Council Of Appointment As Attorney-General Of The State,

And The Nomination Was Confirmed. This Office Was Rather Professional

Than Political. It Was, However, At The Time, Highly Important, And

Imposed The Most Arduous Duties Upon The Incumbent. Under The New

Constitution Of The United States, After The Organization Of The

Government, Many Intricate Questions Arose. To Discriminate Between

The Claims Upon The Respective States And Those Upon The Federal

Government, Often Required Close Investigation And No Inconsiderable

Degree Of Legal Astuteness. The Claims Of Individuals Who Had Been In

The Service Of The State During The War Of The Revolution, Or Who Had

Otherwise Become Creditors, Were Now Presented For Adjustment. There

Were No Principles Settled By Which Their Justice Or Legality Could Be

Tested. All Was Chaos; And The Legislature Was About To Be Overwhelmed

With Petitions From Every Quarter For Debts Due, Or For Injuries

Alleged To Have Been Sustained By Individuals Who Had Been Compelled

To Receive Depreciated Money, Or Whose Private Property Had Been Taken

For Public Use. In This Dilemma The Legislature Passed An Act

Authorizing The Appointment Of Commissioners To Report On The Subject.

The Commissioners Were Gerard Bancker, Treasurer, Peter T. Curtenius,

State Auditor, And Aaron Burr, Attorney-General.

 

 

During The Period That Colonel Burr Was Attorney-General, The Seat Of

Government Was In The City Of New-York. His Official Duties,

Therefore, Seldom Required His Absence From Home, When His Private

Business, As A Professional Man, Would Not Have Rendered That Absence

Necessary. His Correspondence, Although More Limited, Lost None Of Its

Interest, And Miscellaneous Selections From It Are Therefore

Continued.

Chapter XV Pg 280

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Albany, 21St October, 1789.

 

 

My Dearest Theodosia,

 

 

I Have This Moment Received Your Letter Of Sunday Evening, Containing

The Account Of Your Alarming Accident And Most Fortunate Rescue And

Escape. I Thank Heaven For Your Preservation, And Thank You A Thousand

Times For Your Particular And Interesting Account Of It.

 

 

I Left My Sloop At Kinderhook On Monday Morning, And Came Here That

Day In A Wagon. I Wrote You On The Passage, And Attempted To Leave The

Letter At Poughkeepsie, But The Wind Not Permitting Us To Stop, I Went

On Board A Rhinebeck Sloop, And There Found Mrs. Peter R. Livingston,

Who Offered To Take Charge Of My Letter.

 

 

I Am Relieved From Much Anxiety By Your Management Of Certain

Arrangements; I Am Glad M. W. Is Content. Mrs. Witbeck Met With An

Accident A Little Similar To Yours; But She Lost Only Her Cap And

Hair.

 

 

I Am Delighted To Find That You Anticipate As A Pleasure That By This

Post You May Write As Much As You Please. If You Set No Other Bound To

Your Pen Than My Gratification, You Will Write Me The History Every

Day, Not Of Your Actions Only (The Least Of Which Will Be

Interesting), But Of Your Thoughts. I Shall Watch With Eagerness And

Impatience The Coming Of Every Stage. Let Me Not Be Disappointed; You

Have Raised And Given Confidence To These Hopes. We Lodge At A Neat,

Quiet Widow'S, Near The Recorder Gansevoort'S. Sill Invited Us Very

Friendly.

 

 

Affectionately,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 281

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Albany, 24Th October, 1783.

 

 

With What Pleasure Have I Feasted For Three Days Past Upon The Letters

I Was To Receive This Evening. I Was Engaged In Court When The Stage

Passed. Upon The Sound Of It I Left Court And Ran To The Postoffice;

Judge Of My Mortification To Find Not A Line From Your Hand. Surely,

In The Course Of Three Days, You Might Have Found Half An Hour To Have

Devoted To Me. You Well Knew How Much I Relied On It; You Knew The

Pleasure It Would Have Given Me, And The Disappointment And Chagrin I

Should Feel From The Neglect. I Cannot, Will Not Believe That These

Considerations Have No Weight With You. But A Truce To Complaints. I

Will Hope That You Have Written, And That Some Accident Has Detained

The Letter.

 

 

Your Misfortunes So Engrossed Me, That I Forgot To Inquire About

Augustine'S Horses; And To Give A Caution, Which I Believe Is

Needless, About The Blank Checks. Do Not Part With One Till You See It

Filled Up With Sum And Date. T. P. Is Apt To Make Mistakes, And Once

Lost A Check Which Was By Accident Detected Before It Was Presented

For Payment. This Is My Fourth Letter. Perhaps I Write Too Much, And

You Wish To Give Me An Example Of Moderation.

 

 

Yours Affectionately,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 282

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Albany, 28Th October, 1789.

 

 

The History Of Your Sufferings, This Moment Received, Is Truly

Unexpected And Affecting. My Sympathy Was Wholly With Your Unfortunate

Left Hand. The Distressing Circumstances Respecting Your Face Must

Certainly Be Owing To Something More Than The Mere Misfortune Of Your

Burn. I Cannot Help Feeling A Resentment Which Must Not Be In This Way

Expressed. I Am Sure Your Sufferings Might Have Been Prevented. I Had

Promised Myself That They Were At An End Many Days Ago.

 

 

Forgive My Splenetic Letter By The Last Post. I Cannot Tell You How

Much I Regret It. When I Was Complaining And Accusing You Of Neglect,

You Were Suffering The Most Excruciating Pain; But I Could Not Have

Imagined This Unfortunate Reverse. Impute My Impatience To My Anxiety

To Hear From You. I Am Pleased At The Gayety Of Your Letter. Do Not

Think A Moment Of The Consequences Which You Apprehend From The Wound.

Let Me Only Hear That You Are Relieved From Pain, And I Am Happy. This

Is My Fifth Letter. Frederick Is The Laziest Dog In The World For Not

Having Written Me Of Your Situation.

 

 

Yours, Truly And Affectionately,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 283

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Claverack, 27Th June, 1791.

 

 

I Have Just Arrived Here, And Find Mr. B. Livingston About To Return

To New-York. He Informs Me That He Left Home On Saturday, And Sent You

Word That He Was To Meet Me Here. It Was Kind In Him. I Cannot Say As

Much Of The Improvement You Made Of His Goodness.

 

 

It Is Surprising That You Tell Me Nothing Of Theo. I Would By No Means

Have Her Writing And Arithmetic Neglected. It Is The Part Of Her

Education Which Is Of The Most Present Importance. If Shepherd Will

Not Attend Her In The House, Another Must Be Had; But I Had Rather Pay

Him Double Than Employ Another. Is Chevalier Still Punctual? Let Me

Know Whether You Are Yet Suited With Horses, And How?

 

 

In Your Letters, Speak Of Brooks And Ireson'S Attendance. I Wish You

Would Often Step Into The Office, And See As Many As You Can Of The

People Who Come On Business. Does Young Mr. Broome Attend? Other And

More Interesting Questions Have Been Made And Repeated In My Former

Letters; I Will Therefore, At Present, Fatigue With No More

Interrogatories. Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 284

From Mrs. Burr.

 

 

New-York, 30Th June, 1791.

 

 

My Letter Missed The Post Yesterday Not From My Neglect. It Waited For

Brooks'S Packet, Which Was Not Ready Till The Mail Was Gone. Mr. B.

Livingston Just Handed Me The One You Intrusted To Him. I Was The More

Pleased With It, As He Accompanied It With The Most Favourabie Account

Of Your Health I Have Received Since Your Absence, And Promises To

Forward This In The Afternoon.

 

 

The Edwardses Dine With Me; They Had Taken Lodgings Previous To Their

Arrival, In Consequence Of A Report Made Them By The Little Bodowins

(Who Were At Mrs. Moore'S Last Winter), That My House Was Too Small

And Inconvenient To Admit Of A Spare Bed. I Esteem It A Lucky Escape.

It Would Have Been Impossible For Me To Have Borne The Fatigue.

Charlotte Is Worn Out With Sleepless Nights, Laborious Days, And An

Anxious Mind. Hannah Constantly Drunk. Except William, Who Is A Mere

Waiter, I Have No Servant.

 

 

My Guests Are Come To Dinner. I Have Solicited Them, And Shall Again,

To Stay Here; But, If They Positively Decline It, I Will Go To

Frederick. I Will Steal A Moment After Dinner To Add Another Page.

 

 

 

July 2D.

 

 

The Person Mr. Livingston Expected To Forward My Letter By Did Not Go,

Nor Could I Hear Of An Opportunity, Till, This Moment, Mr. Williams

Offered To Take Charge Of This. I Had Arranged Every Thing To Set Out

For Frederick This Morning, When A Mortification Was Found To Have

Taken Place On Charlotte'S Child, And She Could Not Be Moved. As I Had

Carted Every Thing On Board, Which I Assure You Was No Small Piece Of

Business, I Sent Natie With The Three Younger Children, And Kept

Louise And Theo To Go With Me, Whenever This Disagreeable Event Is

Past.

 

 

Theo Never Can Or Will Make The Progress We Would Wish Her While She

Has So Many Avocations. I Kept Her Home A Week In Hopes Shepherd Would

Consent To Attend Her At Home, But He Absolutely Declined It, As His

Partners Thought It Derogatory To Their Dignity. I Was Therefore

Obliged To Submit, And Permit Her To Go As Usual. She Begins To

Cipher. Mr. Chevalier Attends Regularly, And I Take Care She Never

Omits Learning Her French Lesson. I Believe She Makes Most Progress In

This. Mr. St. Aivre Never Comes; He Can Get No Fiddler, And I Am Told

His Furniture, &C. Have Been Seized By The Sheriff. I Don'T Think The

Dancing Lessons Do Much Good While The Weather Is So Warm; They

Fatigue Too Soon. I Have A Dozen And Four Tickets On Hand, Which I

Think Will Double In Value At My Return. As To The Music, Upon The

Footing It Now Is She Can Never Make Progress, Though She Sacrifices

Two Thirds Of Her Time To It. 'Tis A Serious Check To Her Other

Acquirements. She Must Either Have A Forte-Piano At Home, Or Renounce

Learning It. For These Reasons I Am Impatient To Go In The Country.

Her Education Is Not On An Advantageous Footing At Present. Besides,

The Playfellows She Has At Home Makes It The Most Favourable Moment

For Her To Be At Liberty A Few Weeks, To Range And Gain In Health A

Good Foundation For More Application At Our Return, When I Hope To

Have Her Alone; Nay, I Will Have Her Alone. I Cannot Live So Great A

Slave, And She Shall Not Suffer. My Time Shall Not Be An Unwilling

Sacrifice To Others; It Shall Be Hers. She Shall Have It, But I Will

Not Use Severity; And Without It, At Present, I Can Obtain Nothing;

'Tis A Bad Habit, Which She Never Deserves When I Have Her To Myself.

The, Moment We Are Alone She Tries To Amuse Me With Her Improvement,

Which The Little Jade Knows Will Always Command My Attention; But

These Moments Are Short And Seldom. I Have So Many Trifling

Interruptions, That My Head Feels As If I Had Been A Twelvemonth At

Sea. I Scarcely Know What I Speak, And Much Less What I Write.

 

 

What A Provoking Thing That I, Who Never Go Out, Who Never Dress

Beyond A Decent Style At Home, Should Not Have A Leisure Moment To

Read A Newspaper. It Is A Recreation I Have Not Had Since You Left

Home, Nor Could I Get An Opportunity By Water To Send Them To You.

Albany Will Be A More Favourable Situation For Every Conveyance. But I

Don'T Understand Why Your Lordship Can'T Pay Your Obeisance At Home In

This Four Week Vacation. I Think I Am Entitled To A Reason.

 

 

Brooks Attends Regularly. Ireson From Six To Twelve, And From Two To

Six, As Punctual As Possible. I Should Have Made The Office More My

Business Had I Known It Would Have Been Agreeable To You. I Shall Be

Attentive For The Future. Bartow Is Here Every Morning. Most People

Either Choose To Wait For Him, Or Call At Some Appointed Hour When He

Can Be Here. Mr. Broome Is Here Every Day.

 

 

God Knows The Quality Of This Epistle; But The Quantity I Am Certain

You Won'T Complain Of. 'Tis Like Throwing The Dice--A Mere Game At

Hazard; Like All Gamblers, I Am Always In Hopes The Last Will Prove A

Lucky Cast. Pray, In What Consists The Pleasure Of A Familiar

Correspondence? In Writing Without Form Or Reflection Your Ideas And

Feelings Of The Moment, Trusting To The Partiality Of Your Friend

Every Imperfect Thought, And To His Candour Every Ill-Turned Phrase.

Such Are The Letters I Love, And Such I Request Of Those I Love. It

Must Be A Very Depraved Mind From Whom Such Letters Are Not

Acceptable.

 

 

Neither The Packet You Left At Kingston, Nor The Money And Greatcoat

By Colonel Gausbeck, Have Yet Reached Me. I Wish You Could Have Passed

That Leisure Four Weeks With Me At Frederick'S. How Pleasant Such A

Party Would Have Been. How Much Quiet We Should Have Enjoyed.

 

 

 

July 3D.

 

 

I Was Interrupted Yesterday By The Death Of Charlotte'S Child. Though

A Long-Expected Event, Still The Scene Is Painful. The Mother'S Tears

Were Almost Too Much For Me. I Hope Nothing New Will Occur To Impede

My Journey. I Set Off To-Morrow Morning.

 

 

I Am Not So Sick As When I Wrote You Last, Nor So Well As When You

Left Me. I Confess I Have Neglected The Use Of Those Medicines I Found

Relief From. The Situation Of My Family Has Obliged Me To Neglect

Myself, Nor Can I Possibly Use Them At Frederick'S. We Shall Be Too

Crowded. I Will Nevertheless Take Them With Me. I Live Chiefly On Ale.

I Buy Very Good For One Dollar Per Dozen. I Have Had Twenty-One Dozen

Of Your Pipe Of Wine Bottled. I Think It Very Good.

 

 

I Thank You For Your Remembrance Per Post Of 30Th June. It Was

Acceptable, Though Short. How Is It Possible You Had Nothing More To

Write? I Know The Head May Be Exhausted, But I Was In Hopes The Heart

Never Could. I Am Surprised At Your Not Getting My Letters. I Fear

Several Have Either Gone To Albany Or Are Lost. I Shall, From This

Day, Keep The Dates. I Wrote You Last Sunday--So Did Ireson.

 

 

You Can Have No Idea How Comfortable The House Seems Since The Small

Tribe Have Left It. A Few Weeks' Quiet Would Restore My Head. It

Really Wants Rest. You Can'T Know How Weak It Is. I Cannot Guide A

Single Thought. Those Very Trifling Cares Were Ever More Toilsome To

Me Than Important Matters; They Destroy The Mind. But I Am Beginning

Another Sheet; I Am Sure You Must Be Tired Of This Unconnected Medley.

I Will Bid You Adieu.

 

 

Theo. Has Begun To Write Several Letters, But Never Finished One. The

Only Time She Has To Write Is Also The Hour Of General Leisure, And,

When Once She Is Interrupted, There Is No Making Her Return To Work. I

Have Nothing More To Write, Except That I Am Yours Affectionately,

 

 

Theo. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 285

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Albany, 17Th July, 1791.

 

 

I Returned Yesterday From Johnstown, Worn Down With Heat, Fatigue, And

Bad Fare. It Is Some Small Consolation That These Tedious Journeys Are

Not Wholly Unproductive.

 

 

At Johnstown I Was Very Unexpectedly And Agreeably Surprised By Your

Letter Of The 21St June, Which Was Addressed To Me At Kingston. It Had

Been Intrusted To An Irishman, Whom I At Length Met Pretty Much By

Accident. It Informs Me Of The Villany Of Frederick'S Servants, And Of

His Wanting A Rib. The Latter I Have Equally At Heart With You, And

Never Lose Sight Of It; But, Really, The Big Mother Will Not Do; The

Father Is Not Much Better--Reputable And Rich, But Coarse And

Disgusting.

 

 

On My Return To This Place I Found Your Letter Of Wednesday Morning. I

Fear The Bad Road Near Pelham Will Discourage You From Riding. As You

Are Likely To Make Considerable Use Of It, Would It Not Be Worth While

To Have A Few Days' Work Done On It? About An Hour After The Receipt

Of The Last-Mentioned Letter, I Was Made Happy By The Receipt Of That

Of The 10Th Instant, Which Came By Sloop. You Seem Fatigued And

Worried, Your Head Wild And Scarcely Able To Write, But Do Not Name

The Cause. Whatever It May Have Been, I Am Persuaded That Nothing Will

So Speedily And Effectually Remove Such Sensations As Gentle Exercise

(Or Even If It Is Not Gentle) In The Open Air. The Extreme Heat Of The

Weather, And The Uncommon Continuance Of It, Have, I Fear, Interrupted

Your Good Intentions On This Head, Especially As You Are No Friend To

Riding Early. I Wish You Would Alter This Part (If It Is Any Part) Of

Your System. Walking Early Is Bad On Account Of The Dew; But Riding

Can, I Think, In Such Weather, Be Only Practised With Advantage Early

In The Morning. The Freshness Of The Air, And The Sprightliness Of All

Animated Nature, Are Circumstances Of No Trifling Consequence. I Have

No Letter From You By The Last Post, Which Put Me Almost Out Of

Humour, Notwithstanding The Receipt Of The Three Above Mentioned

Within Forty-Eight Hours, Of Which, However, The Latest Is A Week Old.

 

 

I Hope Theo. Will Learn To Ride On Horseback. Two Or Three Hours A Day

At French And Arithmetic Will Not Injure Her. Be Careful Of Green

Apples, &C.

 

 

I Have Been Persuaded To Undertake A Laborious Piece Of Business,

Which Will Employ Me Diligently For About Ten Days. The Eloquence

Which Wrought Upon Me Was Principally Money. I Am Now At Wages. What

Sacrifices Of Time And Pleasure Do I Make To This Paltry

Object--Contemptible Indeed In Itself, But Truly Important And

Attractive As The Means Of Gratifying Those I Love. No Other

Consideration Could Induce Me To Spend Another Day Of My Life In

Objects In Themselves Uninteresting, And Which Afford Neither

Instruction Nor Amusement. They Become Daily More Disgusting To Me; In

Some Degree, Perhaps, Owing To My State Of Health, Which Is Much As

When I Left New-York. The Least Fatigue Brings A Slight Return Of

Fever.

 

 

Your Exercise, Your Medicine, And Your Reading Are Three Subjects Upon

Which You Have Hitherto Dwelt Only In Prospect. They Must Be All, In

Some Degree, Within Your Power. I Have A Partiality For The Little

Study As Your Bedroom. Say A Word Of Each Of These Matters In Your

Next.

 

 

Continue And Multiply Your Letters To Me. They Are All My Solace In

This Irksome And Laborious Confinement. The Six Last Are Constantly

Within My Reach. I Read Them Once A Day At Least. Write Me Of All I

Have Requested, And A Hundred Things Which I Have Not. You Best Know

How To Please And Interest.

 

 

Your Affectionate

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 286

From Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Pelham, 23D July, 1791.

 

 

I Have Just Now Received Your Welcome Letter Of The 17Th Inst. The

Pleasure Imparted By So Flattering A Testimony Of Your Good-Will, Was

Tempered With A Large Portion Of Alloy In The Confession Of Your Ill

Health. I Was Apprehensive Travelling In The Heat And Bad

Accommodations Would Check Your Recovery. Do Return Home As Soon As

Possible; Or, Rather, Come To Pelham; Try Quiet, And The Good Air, And

The Attention And Friendship Of Those Who Love You. You May Command

Bartow'S Attendance Here Whenever It Suits You, And You Have A

Faithful Envoy In Frederick, Who Will Go Post With Your Commands As

Often As You Wish. It Is, Indeed, Of Serious Consequence To You, To

Establish Your Health _Before You Commence Politician_: When Once You

Get Engaged, Your Industry Will Exceed Your Strength; Your Pride Cause

You To Forget Yourself. But Remember, You Are Not Your Own; There Are

Those Who Have Stronger Claims Than Ambition Ought To Have, Or The

Public Can Have.

 

 

Why Did You Undertake That Very Laborious Task You Mention? 'Tis

Certain I Have A Great Pleasure In Spending Money, But Not When It Is

Accompanied With The Unpleasant Reflection Of Sacrificing Your Health

To The Pursuit.

 

 

Theo. Is Much Better; She Writes And Ciphers From Five In The Morning

To Eight, And Also The Same Hours In The Evening. This Prevents Our

Riding At Those Hours, Except Saturday And Sunday, Otherwise I Should

Cheerfully Follow Your Directions, As I Rise At Five Or Six Every Day.

Theo. Makes Amazing Progress At Figures. Though Louisa Has Worked At

Them All Winter, And Appeared Quite An Adept At First, Yet Theo. Is

Now Before Her, And Assists Her To Make Her Sums. You Will Really Be

Surprised At Her Improvement. I Think Her Time So Well Spent That I

Shall Not Wish To Return To Town Sooner Than I Am Obliged. She Does

Not Ride On Horseback, Though Frederick Has A Very Pretty Riding Horse

He Keeps For Her; But Were She To Attempt It Now, There Would Be So

Much Jealousy, And So Many Would Wish To Take Their Turn, That It

Would Really Be Impracticable. But We Have The Best Substitute

Imaginable. As You Gave Me Leave To Dispose Of The Old Wheels As I

Pleased, I Gave Them As My Part Towards A Wagon; We Have A Good Plain

Dutch Wagon, That I Prefer To A Carriage When At Pelham, As The

Exercise Is Much Better. We Ride In Numbers And Are Well Jolted, And

Without Dread. 'Tis The Most Powerful Exercise I Know. No Spring

Seats; But, Like So Many Pigs, We Bundle Together On Straw. Four Miles

Are Equal To Twenty. It Is Really An Acquisition. I Hope You Will See

Our Little Girl Rosy Cheeked And Plump As A Partridge. I Rejoice With

You At The Poor Major'S Return. I Grow Lazy, And Love Leisure; And,

Above All, The Privilege Of Disposing Of My Own Time With Quiet And

Retirement When It Suits Me. I Have Also Made Choice Of The Little

Study For My Own Apartment; But With So Large A Family, And So Few

Conveniences, There Can Be No Place Of Retirement. The Vacation Hours

Of School, And Sunday, There Is A Constant Hurlyburly, And Every Kind

Of Noise, Though It Is Really Much Better Than I Feared. I Take All

Things As Philosophically As I Know How; Provided I Have No Real Evil

To Struggle With, I Pass On With The Tumult. I Am Now Writing In The

Midst Of It. The Variety Of Sounds Almost Dim My Sight; But I Write

On, And Trust To Good Luck More Than Reflection, I Find So Much To Say

That I Need Not Hesitate For Matter, Though I Might For Propriety Of

Speaking. My Spirits Are Better: As To Industry, It Is Of A Very

Flighty Kind, And So Variegated That It Will Not Bear Description. It

Required Some Attention To Get Matters _En Train_: It Was Like Moving.

My Disorder I Have Not, Nor Am Not Able To Attend To; 'Tis Attended

With So Many Disagreeable Circumstances That It Is Not Practicable At

Present; But My General Health Is Greatly Improved, And My Head Much

Relieved. The Hint You Give Respecting A Rib For Frederick Is More

Elating Than I Can Express. You Say Nothing Of B. That Part Of My

Petition Was Not Less Interesting. I Humbly Pray Your Honour May Take

Into Consideration The Equity And Propriety Of My Prayer, And Grant Me

Not Only A Hearing, But Deign To Give Due Consideration To The Prayer

Of Your Humble Petitioner, Being Confident She Will Find Grace And

Mercy From Your Tribunal, With A Full Grant Of All Your Endeavours To

Reinstate Her In That Desired Tranquillity Whose Source Is In Your

Breast, To That Happiness Which Is Suspended On Your Will.

 

 

The Heat And Drought Exceed All Recollection. The Town Is Extremely

Unhealthy. It Is Fortunate We Are Here. There Is Always Air--Never

Heat Enough To Incommode One. I Am Certain The Child Would Have

Suffered In Town; She Was Much Reduced; Her Voice And Breast Were

Weak. Adieu. I Think You Must Be Tired Before This. Attend To

Yourself. If You Love Us, You Will. You Will For Your

 

 

Theodosia Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 287

From Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Pelham, 27Th July, 1791.

 

 

I Have Lost Some Of Your Letters, And I Make No Doubt Some Of Mine

Have Met The Same Fate; For This Reason I Am Discouraged Trusting Any

More To The Stage. I Am Obliged To Wait With All The Patience I Can

Command Till The Boat Returns From Town. I Have No Prospect At Present

Of Forwarding This. I Write To Repeat My Thanks For Yours Of The 17Th.

It Is The Last I Have Received. I Read It Frequently, And Always With

New Pleasure. I Was Disappointed At Not Having A Line From You By The

Saturday'S Mail. It Is Not Fair To Stand On Punctilio, When You Know

The Disadvantages Attending My Situation Here. You Ought To Be Doubly

Attentive _Pour Me Soulager_. It Is Not So Practicable To Send Some

Miles From Home Twice A Week As You Imagine.

 

 

Poor Dr. Wright Had His House Two Days Ago Burnt To The Ground, And

All The Furniture, With Every Article Of Clothing Both Of Themselves

And The Children. She Is Very Disconsolate, And Much To Be Pitied. We

Certainly See The Old Proverb Very Often Verified. "That Misfortunes

Never Come Singly," That Poor Little Woman Is A Proof. They Talk Of A

General War In Europe; In That Case _Le Moulin_ Will Be An Object. We

Wait Your Return To Determine All Things. The Emperess Of Russia Is As

Successful As I Wish Her. What A Glorious Figure Will She Make On The

Historical Page! Can You Form An Idea Of A More Happy Mortal Than She

Will Be When Seated On The Throne Of Constantinople? How Her Ambition

Will Be Gratified; The Opposition And Threats Of Great Britain, &C.

Will Increase Her Triumph. I Wish I Had Wit And Importance Enough To

Write Her A Congratulatory Letter. The Ladies Should Deify Her, And

Consecrate A Temple To Her Praise. It Is A Diverting Thought, That The

Mighty Emperor Of The Turks Should Be Subdued By A Woman. How Enviable

That She Alone Should Be The Avenger Of Her Sex'S Wrongs For So Many

Ages Past. She Seems To Have Awakened Justice, Who Appears To Be A

Sleepy Dame In The Cause Of Injured Innocence.

 

 

Am I Dreaming, Or Do You Leave Home Again Before You Go To

Philadelphia? Tell All Your Intentions; I Love To Plan And Arrange.

Our Blind State Here Is One Of Our Most Vexatious Evils; That State Of

Uncertainty Damps Every View, And Converts Our Most Pleasing Hopes

Into The Most Disappointing Reflections.

 

 

Hy! Ho! For The Major. [1] I Am Tired To Death Of Living In A Nursery.

It Is Very Well To Be Amused With Children At An Idle Hour; But Their

Interruption At All Times Is Insupportable To A Person Of Common

Reflection. My Nerves Will Not Admit Of It. You Judge Right As To The

Roads On The Neck.

 

 

Theodosia Is Quite Recovered, And Makes Great Progress At Ciphering. I

Cannot Say So Much In Favour Of Her Writing. I Really Think She Lost

The Last Month She Went To Shepherd. She Has Not Improved Since Last

Spring. She Is Sensible Of It, Is The Reason She Is Not Very Desirous

To Give You A Specimen. We Now Keep Her Chiefly At Figures, Which She

Finds Very Difficult, Particularly To Proportion Them, And Place Them

Straight Under Each Other.

 

 

I Will Conclude My Scrawl In The Hope That Frederick Will Be Able To

Forward It For Me. Adieu. Remember To Answer All My Questions, And To

Take All My Prayers In Serious Consideration. Be Attentive To Your

Health, And You Will Add To The Happiness Of Your

 

 

Theodosia.

Chapter XV Pg 288

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Albany, 31St July, 1791.

 

 

At Length Expectation Is Gratified, And My Hopes--Even My Wishes,

Fulfilled. Your Letters Of The 16Th And 23D Came Both By The Last

Post. Their Ease, Their Elegance, And, Above All, The Affection They

Contain, Are Truly Engaging And Amiable. Be Assured That Petitions So

Clothed And Attended Are _Irresistible_.

 

 

I Anticipate With Increasing Impatience The Hour Of Leaving This

Place, And Am Making Every Possible Exertion To Advance It. The Delay

Of Two Days At Red Hook Is Indispensable, But Will Cost Me Much

Regret.

 

 

I Finished On Monday Last, Tolerably To My Own Satisfaction, And I

Believe Entirely To That Of My Employers, The Business So Often

Mentioned To You. I Received In Reward For My Labour Many Thanks,

Twenty Half Joes, And Promises Of More Of Both Of These Articles.

 

 

The Last Post Is The Only One I Have Missed Since I Left Esopus. I Was

In Court Upon A Trial Which Gave Me Not A Moment'S Intermission Till

Ten O'Clock That Evening. Though I Do Not Pay You In Quality And

Manner (For Yours Are, Without Flattery, Inimitable), I Believe I Am

Nothing In Arrear In Number Or Quantity. The Present Is Indeed A Poor

Return For Your Two Last; But Though You Miss Of The Recompense In

This Sheet, You Will Find It In The Heart Of Your

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 289

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Philadelphia, 27Th October, 1791.

 

 

I Have This Day Received Your Letter Dated Sunday Morning. It Came,

Not By Mr. Sedgwick, But By The Post, And Was Not Put Into The

Postoffice Until Tuesday. It Was Therefore Wicked Of You Not To Add A

Line Of That Date. I Am Surprised To Find That You Had Not Received My

Letter From Brunswick. The Illness I Then Wrote You Of Increased The

Next Day, So That I Did Not Arrive In Town Until Sunday. I Am Still At

Miss Roberts'S, And Unsettled, But Hope To Be To-Morrow In Tolerable

Winter-Quarters. I Have Had Some Trouble On That Head, As Well Because

I Am Difficult To Please, As Because Good Accommodations Are Difficult

To Find.

 

 

I Receive Many Attentions And Civilities. Many Invitations To Dine,

&C. All Of Which I Have Declined, And Have Not Eaten A Meal Except At

My Own Quarters. You See, Therefore, How Little Amusement You Are To

Expect. I Called At Mrs. L.'S (The Elder), But Have Not Seen Either

Her, Or As Yet Called To See Her Daughter. I Have No News Of Brooks,

And Am Distressed By His Delay, Having Scarcely Decent Clothes. I

Prudently Brought A Coat, But Nothing To Wear With It, And The

Expectation Of Brooks Has Prevented Me From Getting Any Thing Here.

Send Me A Waistcoat, White And Brown, Such As You Designed. You Know I

Am Never Pleased Except With Your Taste.

 

 

I Wrote You The Day After My Arrival Here, But It Being Past The Post

Hour, Kept It Till Tuesday; Made A Small Addition, And Gave It To Mat.

To Carry To The Office. He Put It Into His Coat-Pocket (I Suppose With

His Pocket-Handkerchief, Which You Know Be Has Occasion To Flourish

Along The Street). On The Day Following, With A Face Of Woe, He Told

Me He Had Lost The Letter, But Had Concealed It From Me In Hopes To

Have Found It. I Hope It May Fall Into Good-Natured Hands, And So Got

Eventually Into The Postoffice. It Was Short And Stupid; Unusually So,

Which Perhaps Vexed Me The More For The Loss. Be Assured You Have

Nothing To Regret.

 

 

This Letter Can Have Nothing To Recommend It But Good-Will And Length,

Though The Latter, Without Some Other Merit, Ought To Condemn It; And

It Would, I Am Sure, With Any But You, Who Will Give The Best

Construction To Any Thing From Your

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 290

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Philadelphia, 30Th October, 1791.

 

 

I Am At Length Settled In Winter-Quarters. The House Stands About

Twenty Yards Back From The Street, And Is Inhabited By Two Widows. The

Mother About Seventy, And The Daughter About Fifty. The Latter,

However, Has Her Home In The Country, And Comes To Town Occasionally.

The Old Lady Is Deaf, And Upon My First Coming To Take Possession Of

My Lodgings, She With Great Civility Requested That I Would Never

Attempt To Speak To Her, For Fear Of Injuring My Lungs Without Being

Able To Make Her Hear. I Shall Faithfully Obey This Injunction. The

House Is Remarkably Quiet, Orderly, And Is Well Furnished. They Have

Never Before Taken A Person To Board, And Will Take No Other.

 

 

The Honour Which I Have Always Done To Your Taste, And Which Indeed It

Merits, Ought To Have Assured You That Your Advice Requires No

Apology. I Shall Adopt Your Ideas About The Wheels. If At The Same

Time You Had Caused The Commission To Be Executed, You Would Have

Added Civility To Good Intentions.

 

 

Theodosia Must Not Attempt Music In The Way She Was Taught Last

Spring. For The Present, Let It Be Wholly Omitted. Neither Would I

Have Her Renew Her Dancing Till The Family Are Arranged. She Can

Proceed In Her French, And Get Some Teacher To Attend Her In The House

For Writing And Arithmetic. She Has Made No Progress In The Latter,

And Is Even Ignorant Of The Rudiments. She Was Hurried Through

Different Rules Without Having Been Able To Do A Single Sum With

Accuracy. I Would Wish Her To Be Also Taught Geography If A Proper

Master Can Be Found; But Suspend This Till The Arrival Of The Major.

 

 

It Is Remarkable I That You Should Find Yourself So Soon Discouraged

From Writing, Because You Had Written One Letter Before You Had

Received One. I Had Written You Two Before The Receipt Of Your First.

But I Shall In Future Expect Two Or Three For One, As The Labour Of

Business Will Prevent My Writing Frequently.

 

 

Remember The Note To Be Put In The Bank On Wednesday. If Bartow Should

Not Arrive, Send Strong For Willet. Adieu.

 

 

Yours,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 291

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Philadelphia, 14Th November, 1791.

 

 

I Recollect Nothing Of The Letter I Wrote To You, And Which Is

Referred To In Yours Of The 9Th. You Have No Forgiveness To Ask Or To

Receive Of Me. If It Was Necessary, You Had It Even At The Moment I

Read Your Letter. You Mistake The Nature Of My Emotions. They Had

Nothing Of Asperity; But It Is Useless To Explain Them. I Did It

Partially In A Letter I Wrote Soon After That Which I Sent You In

Answer To Yours. It Was Not Such A Letter As I Ought To Have Written,

Or You Would Have Wished To Receive; I Therefore Retained It. In What

Way, Or To What Degree, I Am Affected By Your Letter Of The 9Th, Will

Not Be Told Until We Meet. Be Assured, However, That I Look Forward To

That Time With Impatience And Anticipate It With Pleasure. It Rests

Wholly With You, And Your Conduct On This Occasion Will Be A Better

Index To Your Heart Than Any Thing You Can Write.

 

 

I Enclose You A Newspaper Of This Evening, Containing A Report By Mr.

Jefferson About Vacant Lands. When You Have Perused It, Send It To

Melancton Smith. Take Care, However, To Get It Back And Preserve It,

As It Is One Of Freneau'S. I Send You Also Three Of Freneau'S Papers,

Which, With That Sent This Morning, Are All He Has Published. I Wish

Them To Be Preserved. If You Find Them Amusing, You May Command Them

Regularly. Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 292

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Philadelphia, 14Th November, 1791.

 

 

I Am To-Day In Much Better Heart Than At Any Time Since I Left

New-York. John Watts Took Me Yesterday A Long Walk, And, Though

Fatigued, I Was Not Exhausted. He Takes Every Occasion To Show Me

Friendship And Attention. I See No Reason For Your Delaying To Make A

Visit Here. The Roads Are Good And The Season Fine. If You Do Not

Choose To Come Directly To My Lodgings, Which Are Commodious And

Retired, I Will Meet You Either At Dr. Edwards'S, Two Miles From The

Red Lion, Or At The Red Lion, Which Is Twelve Miles From This City.

Your First Stage Will Be To Brunswick, Your Second Trenton, And Your

Third Here.

 

 

I Expressed Myself Ill If I Led You To Believe That I Wished Any

Evidence Or Criterion Of Theodosia'S Understanding. I Desire Only To

Promote Its Growth By Its Application And Exercise. Her Present

Employments Have No Such Tendency, Unless Arithmetic Engages A Part Of

Her Attention. Than This, Nothing Can Be More Useful, Or Better

Advance The Object I Have In View. Other Studies, Promising Similar

Advantages, Must, Perhaps, For The Reasons You Mention, Be For The

Present Postponed.

 

 

I Hope This Weather Will Relieve You From The Most Depressing Of All

Diseases, The Influenza. Exercise Will Not Cure, But Will Prevent The

Return Of It. I Prescribe, However, What I Do Not Practice. You Have

Often Wished For Opportunities To Read; You Now Have, And, I Hope,

Improve Them. I Should Be Glad To Know How Your Attention Is Directed.

Of The Success I Have No Doubt.

 

 

To The Subject Of Politics, Which Composes A Part Of Your Letter, I

Can At Present Make No Reply. The _Mode_ Of Communication Would Not

Permit, Did No Other Reasons Oppose It.

 

 

I Have No Voice, But Could Undoubtedly Have Some Influence In The

Appointment You Speak Of. For The Man, You Know I Have Always

Entertained Much Esteem; But It Is Here Said That He Drinks. The

Effect Of The Belief, Even Of The Suspicion Of This, Could Not Be

Controverted By Any Exertion Or Influence Of His Friends. I Had Not,

Before The Receipt Of Your Letter, Heard Of His Wishes On The Subject

You Mention. The Slander, If Slander It Be, I Had Heard Often And With

Pain.

 

 

Sincerely Yours,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 293

To Miss Theodosia Burr. [2]

 

 

Philadelphia, 1St December, 1791.

 

 

Enclosed In Bartow'S Last Letter Came One Which, From The Handwriting,

I Supposed To Be From That Great Fat Fellow, Colonel Troup. Judge Of

My Pleasure And Surprise When I Opened And Found It Was From My Dear

Little Girl. You Improve Much In Your Writing. Let Your Next Be In

Small Hand.

 

 

Why Do You Neither Acknowledge Nor Answer My Last Letter? That Is Not

Kind--It Is Scarcely Civil. I Beg You Will Not Take A Fortnight To

Answer This, As You Did The Other, And Did Not Answer It At Last; For

I Love To Hear From You, And Still More To Receive Your Letters. Read

My Last Letter Again, And Answer It Particularly.

 

 

Your Affectionate

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 294

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Philadelphia, 4Th December, 1791.

 

 

I Fear I Have For The Present Deprived You Of The Pleasure Of Reading

Gibbon. If You Cannot Procure The Loan Of A London Edition, I Will

Send You That Which I Have Here. In Truth, I Bought It For You, Which

Is Almost Confessing A Robbery. Edward Livingston And Richard Harrison

Have Each A Good Set, And Either Would Cheerfully Oblige You.

 

 

To Render Any Reading Really Amusing Or In Any Degree Instructive, You

Should Never Pass A Word You Do Not Understand, Or The Name Of A

Person Or Place Of Which You Have Not Some Knowledge. You Will Say

That Attention To Such Matters Is Too Great An Interruption. If So, Do

But Note Them Down On Paper, And Devote An Hour Particularly To Them

When You Have Finished A Chapter Or Come To A Proper Pause. After An

Experiment Of This Mode, You Will Never Abandon It. Lempriere'S

Dictionary Is That Of Which I Spoke To You. Purchase Also Macbeau'S;

This Last Is Appropriated To Ancient Theocracy, Fiction, And

Geography; Both Of Them Will Be Useful In Reading Gibbon, And Still

More So In Reading Ancient Authors, Or Of Any Period Of Ancient

History.

 

 

If You Have Never Read Plutarch'S Lives (Or Even If You Have), You

Will Read Them With Much Pleasure. They Are In The City Library, And

Probably In Many Private Ones. Beloe'S Herodotus Will Amuse You.

Bartow Has It. You Had Better Read The Text Without The Notes; They

Are Diffuse, And Tend To Distract The Attention. Now And Then They

Contain Some Useful Explanation. After You Have Read The Author, You

Will, I Think, With More Pleasure Read The Notes And Remarks In Course

By Themselves.

 

 

You Expressed A Curiosity To Peruse Paley'S Philosophy Of Natural

History. Judge Hobart Has It. If You Read It, Be Sure To Make Yourself

Mistress Of All The Terms. But, If You Continue Your Gibbon, It Will

Find You In Employment For Some Days. When You Are Weary Of Soaring

With Him, And Wish To Descend Into Common Life, Read The Comedies Of

Plautus. There Is A Tolerable Translation In The City Library. Such

Books Give The Most Lively And Amusing, Perhaps Much The Most Just

Picture, Of The Manners And Degree Of Refinement Of The Age In Which

They Were Written. I Have Agreed With Popham For His Share In The City

Library.

 

 

The Reading Of One Book Will Invite You To Another. I Cannot, I Fear,

At This Distance, Advise You Successfully; Much Less Can I Hope To

Assist You In Your Reading. You Bid Me Be Silent As To My

Expectations; For The Present I Obey. Your Complaint Of Your Memory,

Even If Founded In Fact, Contains Nothing Discouraging Or Alarming. I

Would Not Wish You To Possess That Kind Of Memory Which Retains With

Accuracy And Certainty All Names And Dates. I Never Knew It To

Accompany Much Invention Or Fancy. It Is Almost The Exclusive Blessing

Of Dullness. The Mind Which Perceives Clearly Adopts And Appropriates

An Idea, And Is Thus Enlarged And Invigorated. It Is Of Little Moment

Whether The Book, The Time, Or The Occasion Be Recollected.

 

 

I Am Inclined To Dilate On These Topics, And Upon The Effects, Of

Reading And Study On The Mind; But This Would Require An Essay, And I

Have Not Time To Write A Letter. I Am Also Much Prompted To Convince

You, By Undeniable Proof, That The Ground Of Your Complaint Does Not

Exist Except In Your Own Apprehensions, But This I Reserve For An

Interview. When I Am Informed Of Your Progress, And Of The Direction

Of Your Taste, I May Have Something Further To Recommend.

 

 

There Is No Probability Of An Adjournment Of Congress During The

Holydays, Or For Any Longer Time Than One Day. The Possibility Of My

Being Able To Leave The Business Of Congress, And Make A Visit To

New-York, Diminishes Daily. I Wish Much To See You, And, If You Are

Equally Sincere, We Can Accomplish It By Meeting At Trenton. I Can Be

There On Friday Night, But With Much Greater Convenience On Saturday

Noon Or Forenoon, And Stay Till Monday Morning At Least. Congress

Adjourns Every Week From Three O'Clock On Friday Until Eleven O'Clock

On Monday Following. If, Therefore, You Write Me That You Will Be At

Trenton At The Times Above Mentioned, You May Rely On Seeing Me There:

I Mean At Mrs. Hooper'S. This, Though Very Practicable At Present,

Will Not Long Be So, By Reason Of The Roads, Which At Present Are

Good. If You Make This Trip, Your Footman Must Be On Horseback; The

Burden Will Be Otherwise Too Great, And I Must Have Timely Notice By

Letter. Mr. And Mrs. Paterson Have Invited You To Make Their House

Your Home At Brunswick.

 

 

Mat. Laughs At Your Compliments, As You Know He Does At Every Thing. I

Expect Theodosia'S Messages To Be Written By Herself. I Inquire About

Your Health, But You Do Not Answer Me.

 

 

Yours Affectionately,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 295

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Philadelphia, December 13Th, 1791.

 

 

I Regret The Disappointment Of The Trenton Visit, But Still More The

Occasion Of It. Are You Afflicted With Any Of Your Old, Or With What

New Complaint?

 

 

Tell Bartow That I Have This Evening Received His Letter By Vining,

Who Arrived In Town Last Monday. Beg Him Never Again To Write By A

Private Hand About Business When There Is A Post. After The Lapse Of

Five Or Six Days Without An Answer, He Should Have Sent A Duplicate.

You Have Herewith The Note For 4500 Dollars.

 

 

I Was Charmed With Your Reflections On The Books Of Two Of Our Eminent

Characters. You Have, In A Few Words, Given A Lively Portrait Of The

Men And Their Works. I Could Not Repress The Vanity Of Showing It To A

Friend Of _One_ Of The Authors.

 

 

The Melancholy News Of The Disasters Of Our Western Army Has Engrossed

My Thoughts For Some Days Past. No Public Event Since The War Has

Given Me Equal Anxiety. Official Accounts Were Received From General

Sinclair On Sunday. The Reports Which Preceded, And Which Have

Doubtless Reached You Before This Time, Had Not Exaggerated The Loss

Or The Disgrace. No Authentic Estimate Of The Number Of The Killed Has

Yet Been Received; I Fear It Will Not Be Less Than Eight Or Nine

Hundred. The Retreat Was Marked With Precipitation And Terror. The Men

Disencumbered Themselves Even Of Their Arms And Accoutrements. It Is

Some Small Consolation To Have Learned That The Troops Which Fled To

Fort Jefferson Have Received A Supply Of Provisions, And Are Secure

From Any Attack Of The Savages.

 

 

I Approve, And Hope At Some Time To Execute, Your Plan Of Literary

Repose. Tell Bartow To Send A Deed For Me To Execute To Carpenter,

Pursuant To Our Contract. Pray Attend To This; You Will See That It

May Be A Little Interesting To Me.

 

 

Yours Truly,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 296

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Philadelphia, 15Th December, 1791

 

 

The Post Which Arrived This Afternoon (Thursday) Brought The Mail

Which Left New-York On Tuesday, And With It Your Sprightly And

Engaging Letter Of The 12Th. I Thank You For Your Attention To My

Friend, And Still More For The Pleasure You Express At His Visit. Your

"Nonsense" About Voltaire Contains More Good Sense Than All The

Strictures I Have Seen Upon His Works Put Together.

 

 

Next To Your Own Ideas, Those You Gave Me From Mr. J. Were Most

Acceptable. I Wish You Would Continue To Give Me Any Fugitive Ideas Or

Remarks Which May Occur To You In The Course Of Your Reading; And What

You Call Your Rattling Way Is That Of All Others Which Pleases Me The

Most.

 

 

In Short, Let The Way Be Your Own, And It Cannot Fail To Be

Acceptable, To Please, And To Amuse.

 

 

I Enclose This Evening'S Paper. It Contains _Strictures On Publicola_,

Which You, Perhaps, May Find Worth Reading.

 

 

 

From An Attentive Perusal Of The French Constitution, And A Careful

Examination Of Their Proceedings, I Am A Warm Admirer Of The Essential

Parts Of The Plan Of Government Which They Have Instituted, And Of The

Talents And Disinterestedness Of The Members Of The National Assembly.

Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 297

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Philadelphia, 18Th December, 1791.

 

 

Mr. Learned Arrived Yesterday With Your Letter Of The 15Th. He

Appeared Pleased With Your Attentions, Which You Know Gratified Me.

 

 

I Cannot Recollect What Hint I Gave To Major P. Which Could Have

Intimated An Expectation Of Seeing You In New-York During The _Current

Year_; Unless, Indeed, Some Of Those Wishes Which I Too Often Cherish

Should Have Escaped Me. We Shall Have No Intermission Of Business

During The Holy-Days. If I Should Find It At Any Time Practicable To

Absent Myself For A Few Days, It Will Most Probably Be About The

Middle Of Next Month. You Have Indeed, In Your Last Letter, Placed

Yourself Before Me In The Most Amiable Light; And, Without Soliciting,

Have Much More Strongly Enticed Me To A Visit. But For The Present I

Must Resist. Will It Not Be Possible For You To Meet Me At Trenton,

That We May Travel Together To New-York? If You Assent To This, I Will

Name A Day. Yet Do Not Expose Your Health. On This Subject You Leave

Me Still To Apprehension And Conjecture.

 

 

Your Account Of Madame Genlis Surprises Me, And Is A New Evidence Of

The Necessity Of Reading Books Before We Put Them Into The Hands Of

Children. Reputation Is Indeed A Precarious Test. I Can Think At

Present Of Nothing Better Than What You Have Chosen.

 

 

I Am Much In Want Of My Maps Of The Different Parts Of North America.

It Will, I Believe, Be Best To Send Them All, Carefully Put Up In A

Box Which Must Be Made For The Purpose. You May Omit The Map Of

New-Jersey. The Packing Will Require Much Care, As Many Are In Sheets.

Ask Major P. For The Survey He Gave Me Of The St. Lawrence, Of

Different Parts Of Canada, And Of Other Provinces, And Send Them Also

Forward. They May Be Sent By The Amboy Stage, Taking A Receipt, Which

Transmit To Me.

 

 

You Would Excuse The Slovenliness, And Admire The Length Of This

Scrawl, If You Could Look Into My Study, And See The File Of

Unanswered, And Even _Un_Perused Letters; Bundles Of Papers On Public

And On Private Business; All Soliciting That Preference Of Attention

Which Theodosia Knows How To Command From Her

 

 

Aaron.

Chapter XV Pg 298

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Philadelphia, 27Th December, 1791.

 

 

What Can Have Exhausted Or Disturbed You So Much? You Might Surely

Have Given Some Hint Of The Cause. It Is An Additional Reason For

Wishing You Here. If I Had, Before I Left New-York, Sufficiently

Reflected On The Subject, I Would Never Have Consented To This Absurd

And Irrational Mode Of Life. If You Will Come With Mr. Monroe, I Will

See You To New-York Again; And If You Have A Particular Aversion To

The City Of Philadelphia, You Shall Stay A Day Or Two At Dr.

Edwards'S, Ten Miles From Town, Where I Can Spend The Greater Part Of

Every Day.

 

 

You Will Perhaps Admire That I Cannot Leave Congress As Well As

Others. This, If A Problem, Can Only Be Solved At A Personal

Interview.

 

 

You Perceive That I Have Received Your Letter Of The 18Th. It Was

Truly Acceptable, And Needed No Apology. I Do Not Always Expect

Letters Of Wit Or Science; And I Beg You Will Write Wholly Without

Restraint, Both As To Quantity And Manner. If You Write Little, I

Shall Be Glad To Receive It; And If You Write More, I Shall Be Still

More Glad; But When You Find It A Troublesome Or Laborious Occupation,

Which I Have The Vanity To Hope Will Never Happen, Omit It. I Take,

And Shall Continue To Use, This Freedom On My Part; But I Am For Ever

Obliged To Put Some Restraint On Myself, For I Often Sacrifice The

Calls Of Business To The Pleasure Of Writing To You.

 

 

 

27Th December, At Night.

 

 

This Evening I Am Suffering Under A Severe Paroxysm Of The Headache.

Your Letters, Received To-Night, Have Tended To Beguile The Time, And

Were At Least A Temporary Relief. I Am Now Sitting With My Feet In

Warm Water, My Head Wrapped In Vinegar, And Drinking Chamomile Tea,

And All Hitherto To Little Purpose. I Have No Doubt, However, But I

Shall Be Well To-Morrow. As I Shall Not Probably Sleep Till Morning,

And Shall Not Rise In Season To Acknowledge Your Kind Letters, I Have

Attempted This Line. I Am Charmed With Your Account Of Theodosia. Kiss

Her A Hundred Times For Me.

 

 

The Reports Of My Style Of Life Are, I Should Have Thought, Too

Improbable To Be Related, And Much Too Absurd To Gain Belief, Or Even

Attention.

 

 

I Have Been These Three Weeks Procuring Two Trifles To Send You; But

Am At Length Out Of All Patience With The Stupidity And

Procrastination Of Those Employed; Especially As The Principal Article

Is A Piece Of Furniture, A Personal Convenience, Which, When Done,

Will Not Cost Five Dollars. The Other Is Something Between A Map And A

Picture. Though They Will Not Arrive At The Season I Wished, They Will

At Any Season Be Tokens Of The Affection Of

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 299

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Philadelphia, 2D January, 1792.

 

 

My Dear Theodosia,

 

 

Mr. Trumbull Is Good Enough To Engage To Deliver This. You Have Long

Known And Admired The Brilliancy Of His Genius And Wit; I Wish You

Also To Know The Amiable Qualities Of His Heart.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 300

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Philadelphia, 19Th February, 1792.

 

 

Yesterday I Received Your Truly Affectionate Letters; One Dated

Thursday Evening, The Other Without Date.

 

 

You May Expect A Host Of Such Falsehoods As That About The Indian War.

I Have Not Been Offered Any Command. When The Part I Take In The Bill

On That Subject Shall Be Fully Known, I Am Sure It Will Give Entire

Satisfaction To My Friends.

 

 

It Will Not Do For Me At Present To Leave This Place. I Shall

Therefore Expect You Here; And If You Cannot Spare The Time To Come

Here, I Will Meet You Either At Princeton Or Trenton (Preferring The

Latter) Any Evening You Shall Name. Saturdays And Sundays, You Know,

Are Our Holydays. I Can With Ease Be At Trenton At Breakfast On

Saturday Morning, Or Even On Friday Evening, If Thought More Eligible.

But I Expect This Letter Will Pass You On Your Way Here. My Rooms At

No. 130 South Second-Street Are Ready To Receive You And Mrs. A., If

She Chooses To Be Of The Party. But The Tenour Of Your Last Induces Me

To Think That You Intend A Very Short Visit, Or Rather, That You Will

Come Express. Arrange It As You Please, Provided I See You Somewhere

And Soon.

 

 

I Have A Letter From Witbeck Of A Later Date Than That By Strong, And

Of Much More Satisfactory Tenour. I Believe He Will Not Disappoint The

Expectations Of My Friends. He Requests That Some Persons In New-York

May Write To Him And Others In And About Albany, Giving An Account Of

The Expectations In Ulster, Dutchess, And The Southern District, And

Naming Persons Who May Be Corresponded With.

 

 

My Lodgings Are On The Right Hand As You Come. Drive Directly Up A

White Gate Between Two Lamps, And Take Possession. If I Should Be Out,

The Servant Will Know Where, And Will Find Me In A Few Minutes. Do Not

Travel With Any Election Partisan (Unless An Opponent).

 

 

Yours,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 301

To Miss Theodosia Burr.

 

 

Albany, 5Th August, 1792.

 

 

My Dear Theo.,

 

 

I Have Received Your Letter, Which Is Very Short, And Says Not One

Word Of Your Mamma'S Health. You Talk Of Going To Westchester, But Do

Not Say When Or How.

 

 

Mr. And Mrs. Witbeck And Their Daughter Talk Very Much About You, And

Would Be Very Glad To See You.

 

 

See What A Letter I Have Got From Little Burr, [3] And All His Own

Work Too. Before I Left Home I Wrote Him A Letter Requesting Him To

Tell Me What I Should Bring Him; And In Answer, He Begs Me To Bring

Mamma And You. A Pretty Present, Indeed, That Would Be!

 

 

Your Father,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XV Pg 302

From Dr. Benjamin Rush.

 

 

Philadelphia, 24Th September, 1792.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

This Letter Will Be Handed To You By Mr. Beckley. He Possesses A Fund

Of Information About Men And Things. The Republican Ferment Continues

To Work In Our State; And The Time, I Think, Is Approaching Very Fast

When We Shall Universally Reprobate The Maxim Of Sacrificing Public

Justice And National Gratitude To The Interested Ideas Of

Stock-Jobbers And Brokers, Whether In Or Out Of The Legislature Of The

United States.

 

 

Your Friends Everywhere Look To You To Take An Active Part In Removing

The Monarchical Rubbish Of Our Government. It Is Time To Speak Out, Or

We Are Undone. The Association In Boston Augurs Well. Do Feed It By A

Letter To Mr. Samuel Adams. My Letter Will Serve To Introduce You To

Him, If Enclosed In One From Yourself. Mrs. Rush Joins Me In Best

Compliments To Mrs. Burr, With

 

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

 

Benjamin Rush.

Chapter XV Pg 303

To Miss Theodosia Burr.

 

 

Westchester, 8Th October, 1792.

 

 

--I Rose Up Suddenly From The Sofa, And Rubbing My Head--"What Book

Shall I Buy For Her?" Said I To Myself. "She Reads So Much And So

Rapidly That It Is Not Easy To Find Proper And Amusing French Books

For Her; And Yet I Am So Flattered With Her Progress In That Language,

That I Am Resolved That She Shall, At All Events, Be Gratified.

Indeed, I Owe It To Her." So, After Walking Once Or Twice Briskly

Across The Floor, I Took My Hat And Sallied Out, Determined Not To

Return Till I Had Purchased Something. It Was Not My First Attempt. I

Went Into One Bookseller'S Shop After Another. I Found Plenty Of Fairy

Tales And Such Nonsense, Fit For The Generality Of Children Of Nine Or

Ten Years Old. "These," Said I, "Will Never Do. Her Understanding

Begins To Be Above Such Things;" But I Could See Nothing That I Would

Offer With Pleasure To _An Intelligent, Well-Informed Girl Of Nine

Years Old_. I Began To Be Discouraged. The Hour Of Dining Was Come.

"But I Will Search A Little Longer." I Persevered. At Last I Found It.

I Found The Very Thing I Sought. It Is Contained In Two Volumes

Octavo, Handsomely Bound, And With Prints And Registers. It Is A Work

Of Fancy, But Replete With Instruction And Amusement. I Must Present

It With My Own Hand.

 

 

Your Affectionate

 

 

A. Burr

Footnote Pg 304

 

 

 

1. Major Prevost, Who Was A Widower, And Whose Children Were Left In

The Care Of Mrs. Burr While He Made A Voyage To England.

Footnote Pg 305

 

 

2. In The Ninth Year Of Her Age.

Footnote Pg 306

 

 

3. Nephew Of Colonel Burr

Chapter XVI Pg 307

 

 

 

The Correspondence In The Last Chapter Between Mr. And Mrs. Burr Has

Been Selected And Published That The World May Judge Him As Husband

And Parent, So Far As His Letters Afford A Criterion. As Literary

Productions They Cannot Fail To Interest And Amuse.

 

 

On The 8Th Day Of March, 1790, The Legislature Passed An Act

Appointing Gerard Bancker, Treasurer, Peter Curtenius, Auditor, And

Aaron Burr, Attorney-General, A Board Of Commissioners To Report On

The Subject Of The Various Claims Against The State For Services

Rendered, Or Injuries Sustained, During The War Of The Revolution. The

Task Was One Of Great Delicacy, And Surrounded With Difficulties. On

Colonel Burr Devolved The Duty Of Making That Report. It Was Performed

In A Masterly Manner. When Presented To The House, Notwithstanding Its

Magnitude, Involving Claims Of Every Description To An Immense Amount,

It Met With No Opposition From Any Quarter. On The 5Th Of April, 1792,

The Report Was Ordered To Be Entered At Length On The Journals Of The

Assembly, And Formed The Basis Of All Future Settlements With Public

Creditors On Account Of The War. In It The Various Claimants Are

Classified; Legal And Equitable Principles Are Established, And

Applied To Each Particular Class. The Report Occupies Eighteen Folio

Pages Of The Journals Of The Assembly. An Extract From It Is Made, As

Justly Meriting A Place In This Work.

 

 

The Said Report Is In The Words And Figures Following:----"The

Treasurer, The Auditor, And The Attorney-General, Pursuant To The Act

Entitled _An Act To Receive And State Accounts Against This State_,

Did Forthwith, After The Passing Of The Said Act, Give Such Notice Of

Their Appointment And Duties, And Of The Times And Places For The

Execution Thereof, And Of The Period By The Said Act Limited For

Receiving And Auditing Claims, As Is Directed By The Said Act. And Do

Herewith Transmit To The Legislature Their Report Upon The Accounts

And Claims Against The State, Which Have Been Thereupon Exhibited.

 

 

"The Anxiety Of The Commissioners To Render The Execution Of This

Trust Useful And Acceptable Has Occasioned A Delay Of Some Weeks; If

Their Success In This Attempt Has Been In Any Degree Proportioned To

Their Attention To The Subject, It Will Furnish Their Excuse; Indeed,

When The Legislature Shall Have Seen The Number, The Variety, And

Intricacy Of The Matters Which Have Been Submitted To The

Consideration Of The Commissioners, It Is Hoped That A Further Apology

Will Be Thought Unnecessary.

 

 

"The Commissioners Have Endeavoured To Reduce These Various Demands

Into Classes, In Such Manner As To Present To The Legislature, In One

View, All Which Have Appeared To Depend On Similar Principles.

Chapter XVI Pg 308

Notwithstanding Their Utmost Attention To This Object, They Have Found

It Necessary To Report On A Considerable Number Of Single Cases. As

The Authority Under Which They Have Acted Required Of Them A State Of

Facts, Together With Their Opinion Thereupon, Whenever There Was A

Want Of Uniformity Either In The Facts Submitted Or In The Principles

To Be Applied In The Determination, They Have Thought That Strict

Justice Could Not Be Done To The Merit Of The Claim Without A Separate

Discussion, Though This Has Tended To Lengthen The Report Beyond What

Could Have Been Wished, And To A Degree Which Perhaps May In Some

Instances Be Thought Prolix, Yet The Commissioners Supposed It Of

Moment That Their Investigation Should Be Not Only Satisfactory To

Themselves, But That It Should Be Apparent To The Citizens Upon Whose

Claims They Have Pronounced, That Each Hath Received A Distinct

Attention, And That Demands Substantially Different From Each Other

Have Not Been Inconsiderately Blended. If The Perusal Of The

Proceedings Now Submitted Shall Give An Impression Of This Kind, It

Will, In The Opinion Of The Commissioners, Tend To Produce A More

Cheerful Acquiescence In The Determination Of The Legislature, When

That Determination Shall Reject The Demand, And Prevent A Revival Of

Claims Which Shall Now Be Extinguished. The Commissioners Have Thought

That These Were Desirable Objects, And Have Therefore Been Cautious Of

Generalizing, So As To Destroy Real Distinctions, Or Suppress A Fact

Even Of The Lightest Importance.

 

 

"In Order To Preserve Uniformity In Their Opinions, The Commissioners

Have Adopted Certain Principles, From Which The Hardship Of Any

Particular Case Hath Not Induced Them To Depart. The Most General And

Important Of These Are,

 

 

"_First_. Where Any Species Of Claims Is Barred By An Act Of The

Legislature, They Have Considered The Act As A Bar To Their

Investigation, Farther Than To Ascertain It To Be Unquestionably

Within The Meaning Of The Law. This Principle Will Be Found To Extend

To All Claims For Pay And Rations Alleged To Be Due For Militia

Service; To Most Of The Demands Against Forfeited Estates; To All

Claims For Property Sequestered, When The Sequestration Was Warranted

By The Resolutions Of The Convention And The Authority Of The

Commissioners; To All Claims Of Payment Of State Agents' Notes, And To

Some Other Particular Cases, Which Will Appear In The Report. In

Support Of This Principle The Commissioners Have Considered, That To

Sanction By Their Opinion The Admission Of Claims Against The Spirit

And Letter Of The Statute Would Be An Impeachment Of The Wisdom Of

Those Laws; Would Be Arrogating An Authority Not Exercised By, Or

Permitted To, Any Court Of Law Or Equity, And Would Open A Door To The

Importunate And Perhaps Least Deserving Class Of Citizens, While

Others, Having Similar Demands, Had Withdrawn Them From A Spirit Of

Submission To The Laws, By Which These Demands Were Precluded. The

Commissioners Have Been Confirmed In The Propriety Of Their Ideas By A

Reflection That, If It Shall For Any Reasons Seem Expedient To The

Legislature To Repeal Or Suspend The Limitation Of These Or Any Of

Those Statutes, The Avenues To Redress Will At Once Be Open Through

The Ordinary Officers Of The State, Without Farther Legislative

Interposition;

Chapter XVI Pg 309

And That The Opportunities Of Recompense Would Then Be

Notorious And Equal; But That The Redress, If Any Should Be Obtained

Through The Medium Of The Commissioners, Would Be Partial In Its

Operation, And To The Exclusion Of Those Who With Equal Merits Had

Acquiesced In The Known Laws.

 

 

"_Second._ In The Cases Of Claims For Services Done And Supplies

Furnished During The War, When The Demand, Though Originating Under

The Authority Of This State, Is Properly Against The United States,

The Opinion Of The Commissioners Is Against The Allowance Of Any

Recompense, Because Those Claims Should More Properly Be Preferred To

Congress; And For That This State Can Have No Credit With The United

States For Payment Or Assumptions After The 1St Day Of October, 1788.

 

 

"And That, Therefore, The Claimants Having Neglected To Exhibit Their

Demands Within The Period During Which This State Could Without Loss

Have Assumed Them, Cannot Complain If They Are Now Referred To The

Proper Tribunal. Payments By The State Were In Such Cases, At All

Times, Of Favour, And Not Of Right.

 

 

"_Third._ All Claims For The Subsistence And Services Of The Levies

And Militia, Or Other Troops, Composing A Part Of The Continental

Army, Or Destined To Join The Army, And Moving To Such Places Of

Destination, Or Under The Command Or Orders Of A Continental Officer,

And All Claims For Supplies And Services Beforehand For Such Troops,

Are Considered As Proper Against The United States Only, And Are

Classed Accordingly; The Commissioners Have Been Led To A More Strict

Attention To This Distinction By The Reasons Just Before Mentioned,

And Are Warranted By The Practice Of The Continental Commissioners For

Settling Accounts, In Declaring That Such Accounts And Demands Were

Proper Against The United States.

 

 

"Principles Of More Limited Operation, And Other Remarks, Will Appear

In Those Parts Of The Report To Which They Apply.

 

 

"Explanatory Of Particular Parts, And Of The General Form Of The

Report, It May Be Proper To Observe,

 

 

"That Where The Claim Or Account Appears, Upon The Face Of It, To Be

Evidently Against The United States Only, Or For Other Reasons

Palpably Inadmissible, The Commissioners Have Thought It Would Have

Been Superfluous To State The Proof, And Have Therefore, In Those

Cases Only, Given Such Abstracts Of The Claim Or Account As Suffice To

Render The Exception Apparent.

 

 

"In Giving Their Opinion, The Commissioners Have Not Detailed All The

Reasons Which Led To It, But Have Given A Summary Of Such As Appeared

To Them Most Conclusive;

Chapter XVI Pg 310

And, As Well In This As In Stating The Facts,

Have Aimed At As Much Brevity As Appeared To Them To Consist With

Perspicuity. If They Shall Be Found In Any Instances Obscure, A

Reference To The Claim And Proofs Will Probably Elucidate Them. When

The Claim Is Provided For By Existing Laws, The Opinion Of The

Commissioners Refers The Claimant To The Mode Pointed Out By Such Law.

 

 

"Demands Of Different Natures By The Same Person Are Placed Under The

Head Which Comprises The Greater Demand. The Claim And Vouchers Being

In Such Cases Usually Contained In The Same Paper Or Annexed Together,

It Was Necessary So To Place Them In The Report That There Might Be No

Confusion In The References.

 

 

"To Produce Facility In The Review Of These Proceedings, The Documents

Referred To Are All Herewith Delivered, And Are In Bundles, Marked

Agreeably To The Heads Under Which They Are Classed.

 

 

"_Claims For Militia Pay._

 

 

[In The Report A Number Of Cases Are Here Inserted.]

 

 

"By An Act Passed The 27Th Of April, 1784, Entitled _An Act For The

Settlement Of The Pay Of The Levies And Militia For Their Services In

The Late War, And For Other Purposes Therein Mentioned_, The Mode In

Which The Rolls And Abstracts For Pay And Subsistence Are To Be Made

Out And Settled Is Particularly Pointed Out, And Competent Powers And

Directions For The Liquidation Of Those Accounts Are Thereby Given To

The Treasurer And Auditor."

 

 

"By The 14Th Section Of An Act Passed The 21St Of April, 1787,

Entitled _An Act For The Relief Of Persons Who Paid Money Into The

Treasury, &C_., The Aforesaid Act Of The 27Th Of April, 1784, Is

Repealed. The Commissioners Consider This Repeal As An Exclusion Of

All Further Claims For Pay And Subsistence Of The Militia And Levies.

They Are Constrained To Adopt This Opinion, Not Only From The Obvious

Intention Of The Act, But Because, By The Absolute Repeal Of The Act

Of The 27Th Of April, 1784, There Remains No Prescribed Mode Of

Authenticating These Demands; That Any Rules Which The Discretion Of

The Commissioners Should Lead Them To Adopt Would Have Been Unknown To

The Claimants, Who Could Therefore Have Had No Opportunity Of Adapting

Their Demands To Such Rules; And Because, If The Legislature Shall Be

Disposed To Direct Compensations For Such Services, It Will, In The

Opinion Of The Commissioners, Be Most Properly Effected By A Revival

Of The Said Act Of The 27Th Of April, 1784, With Such Further

Provisions And Checks As May Be Thought Necessary; Or By Some Other

General Statute, To Be Passed For Those Purposes, And Which May Give

Equal Opportunities To The Claimants, And Place The Liquidation And

Settlement Of Such Demands In The Hands Of The Ordinary Officers Of

The State.

Chapter XVI Pg 311

 "_Claims For Services, Supplies, And Losses, Which, If Admissible, Can

Be Made Against The United States Only._

 

 

[In The Report Details Follow, And The Commissioners Remark]--

 

 

"The Foregoing Claims And Accounts The Commissioners Conceive To Be

Proper Against The United States Only. This Is, In Their Opinion,

Sufficiently Evident In Most Of The Cases From A Bare Statement Of The

Demands. Some Few Appear To Require A More Special Report. The

Resolutions Of Congress Of The 7Th Of May, 1787, And 24Th Of June,

1788, Relative To The Settlement Of Accounts Between The United States

And Individual States, Will Show The Extent Of The Powers Of The

Continental Commissioners, And Will Serve To Explain The Opinions In

Such Of The Preceding Cases As May Appear To Require Farther

Illustration."

 

 

 "_Claims For Payment Of State Agents' Certificates_.

 

 

"By The 25Th Section Of The Act Passed The 5Th Of May, 1786, Entitled

_An Act For The Payment Of Certain Sums Of Money, And For Other

Purposes Therein Mentioned_, All Persons Holding Or Possessing

Certificates Of Udny Hay Or Any Of His Assistants, Or Of Jacob Cuyler,

Morgan Lewis, Or Andrew Bostwick, Were Required To Present Them, In

The Manner Therein Prescribed, To The Treasurer, Before The 1St Of

September, 1786; And Those Who Failed Therein Are Thereby Declared _To

Be Barred And For Ever Precluded_ From Any Compensation, Of Which The

Treasurer Was Directed To Give Public Notice By Advertisement, Which

Was Accordingly Done.

 

 

"By Another Act, Passed The 31St Of March, 1787, The Time For

Presenting The Certificates Of Udny Hay And His Assistants Was

Extended Until The First Of May Then Next, Which Time Has Not Been

Further Extended By Any Law Of This State: So That All Certificates Of

Those Denominations Which Were Not Presented Within The Times And In

The Manner Specified In Those Laws, Are Expressly Barred And For Ever

Precluded From Compensation.

 

 

"The Commissioners Have Therefore, For The Reasons Contained In The

Observations Prefixed To This Report, Conceived That A Reference To

The Aforesaid Acts Was The Most Proper Discharge Of Their Duty With

Respect To All Claims Of Compensation For Such Certificates.

 

 

"_Claims For Grain Impressed For The Use Of The Army By Virtue Of

Warrants Issued By His Excellency The Governor, Pursuant To An Act

Passed 23D June, 1780_.

Chapter XVI Pg 312

"The Law Authorizing These Impresses Declares The Articles Impressed

To Be For The _Use And Service Of The Army_, And That The Owner Shall

Be Entitled To Receive From The Public Officer Authorized To Pay The

Same The Current Price For The Articles Impressed, But Does Not Say By

Whom That Public Officer Is To Be Appointed. The Commissioners Have,

However, No Doubt But These Were Proper Claims Against The United

States, And Would Have Been Allowed By The Continental Commissioner If

Exhibited In Proper Season; Therefore, And For The Reasons Contained

In The Second Preliminary Observation, The Commissioners Are Of The

Opinion That These Claimants Cannot Of Right Demand Payment Of This

State.

 

 

"The Claims Of Van Rensselaer And Dumond, The Commissioners Are Of

Opinion Are Reasonable; That, Having Been Employed Under The Governor,

The Claimants Could Have No Demand Against The United States, And That

The Charges Are Proper Against This State.

 

 

"_Claims For Services In Assisting H.I. Van Rensselaer And Egbert

Dumond In Making The Said Impresses_.

 

 

"The Commissioners Consider The Reasons Just Before Stated In Favour

Of The Claims Of Van Rensselaer And Dumond To Apply To The Eleven

Preceding, And That They Are Therefore Proper Charges Against This

State.

 

 

"_Claims For Payment Of Debts Due From Persons Whose Property Hath

Been Forfeited Or Sequestered_.

 

 

"The Several Foregoing Demands Against Forfeited Estates Arose After

The 9Th Day Of July, 1776, And Are Expressly Precluded By The 42D

Section Of An Act Passed The 12Th Of May, 1784, Entitled _An Act For

The Speedy Sale Of The Confiscated And Forfeited Estates Within This

State, And For Other Purposes Therein Mentioned_.

 

 

"The Next Twenty-Five Claims Are For Satisfaction Of Debts Out Of The

Proceeds Of Property Sequestered. The Estates Of The Several Debtors

Have Become Forfeited, But In Some Instances No Property Hath Come To

The Hands Of The Commissioners Of Forfeitures; And In Others, The

Property Which Has Come To Their Hands Hath Been Insufficient For The

Discharge Of Debts Which Have Been Certified.

 

 

"The Succeeding Twenty-Six Claims Are To Have Debts Satisfied Out Of

The Proceeds Of Property Sequestered, Though There Had Been No

Conviction Of Adherence Or Other Forfeiture Of The Estate Of The

Debtors.

Chapter XVI Pg 313

"The Commissioners Are Of Opinion That A Law Should Be Passed

Authorizing The Treasurer To Pay Demands Against Forfeited Estates, In

All Cases Where There Still Remains In His Hands A Surplus From The

Proceeds Of Such Estates, Notwithstanding The Limitation Contained In

The Act Of 12Th May, 1784. But The Commissioners Would Recommend That

Some Mode Different From That Prescribed In The Said Act Be Directed

For The Ascertaining The Amount Of Those Demands. The Several

Claimants And Such Others As Have Neglected To Avail Themselves Of The

Benefit Of The Said Act, May, In The Opinion Of The Commissioners, Be

With Propriety Holden To Strict Legal Proof Of Their Respective

Demands, In Due Course Of Law, In Some Court Of Record, Where The

Interest Of The State May Be Defended By Some Officer To Be For That

Purpose Appointed.

 

 

"The Commissioners Are Further Of Opinion, That Where There Has Been A

Sequestration Of Any Part Of The Property Of A Person _Whose Estate

Hath Become Forfeited_, The Avails Of The Property So Sequestered, As

Far As The Same _Can Be Distinguished_, Should Be Subject To The

Payment Of His Debts, In Like Manner As May Be Provided With Respect

To Other Demands Against Forfeited Estates; But It Would Not, In The

Opinion Of The Commissioners, Be At This Time Advisable To Assume The

Payment Of The Debts Of Persons Whose Property Hath Been Sequestered,

And Where There Hath Been No Other Forfeiture Or Confiscation.

 

 

"_Claims Relative To Sequestration, And Property Taken By Orders Of

The Convention_.

 

 

"These Persons Were Voluntarily Within The British Lines, And Their

Property Was Therefore Liable To Sequestration Under The Acts Of The

Convention. They Produce A Certificate Of Their Attachment To The

American Cause, Signed By Some Respectable Characters. But Being

Within The Resolutions Of The Convention, The Commissioners Cannot

Advise A Recompense.

 

 

  "Gerard Bancker, _Treasurer_.

  "Peter T. Curtenius, _State Auditor_.

  "Aaron Burr, _Attorney-General_."

 

 

On The 19Th Of January, 1791, Colonel Burr Was Appointed A Senator Of

The United States, In The Place Of General Schuyler, Whose Term Of

Service Would Expire On The 4Th Of March Following. Until About This

Period He Was But Little Known As A Partisan Politician. After The

Organization Of The Federal Government Under The New Constitution, He

Appears To Have Felt A Great Interest In Its Operations. In The French

Revolution Also, His Feelings Were Embarked; And He Was Among The

Number Of Those Who Condemned The Cold And Repulsive Neutrality Which

Characterized The Administration Of That Day.

Chapter XVI Pg 314

That He Was Now About To

Launch Into The Troubled Ocean Of Politics Was Evident To Mrs. Burr,

And Therefore, In A Letter To Him Under Date Of The 23D Of July, 1791,

She Says, "It Is Of Serious Consequence To You To Establish Your

Health _Before You Commence Politician_," &C.

 

 

In The Autumn Of 1791 Congress Convened At Philadelphia, And Colonel

Burr Took His Seat In The Senate Of The United States. It Has Often

Been Remarked Of Him, And Truly, That No Man Was Ever More Cautious Or

More Guarded In His Correspondence. A Disposition, From The Earliest

Period Of His Life, To Write In Cipher, Has Already Been Noticed. To

This May Be Added An Unwillingness, On All Important Questions, To

Commit Himself In Writing. As Soon As He Entered The Political Arena,

This Characteristic Was Visible Even In His Letters To Mrs. Burr. On

The 14Th Of November, 1791, He Writes Her--"To The Subject Of Politics

I Can At Present Make No Reply. The _Mode Of Communication Would Not

Permit_, Did No Other Reason Oppose." And Again, December 21St, He

Says--"You Will Perhaps Admire That I Cannot Leave Congress As Well As

Others. This, If A Problem, _Can Only Be Solved At A Personal

Interview_."

 

 

At The Commencement Of The Revolutionary War, The State Of New-York

Held An Extensive Tract Of Wild And Unimproved Lands. Sundry Laws Were

Passed In The Years 1779, 1780, 1784, 1785, And 1786, Providing For

Their Sale And Settlement. A Board Was Created, Entitled "The

Commissioners Of The Land Office." It Was Composed Of The Governor,

The Secretary Of State, The Attorney-General, The Treasurer, And The

Auditor. The Powers Conferred By The Several Acts Above Referred To

Having Been Found Inadequate To The Proposed Object, The Legislature,

On The 22D Of March, 1791, Gave Unlimited Powers To The Commissioners,

Authorizing Them To "Dispose Of Any Of The Waste And Unappropriated

Lands In The State, In Such Parcels, And On Such Terms, And In Such

Manner As They Shall Judge Most Conducive To The Interests Of The

State." In Pursuance Of This Authority, The Commissioners Sold During

The Year 1791, By Estimate, Five Millions Five Hundred And Forty-Two

Thousand One Hundred And Seventy Acres Of Waste Land, For The Sum Of

One Million And Thirty Thousand Four Hundred And Thirty-Three Dollars;

Leaving In The Possession Of The State, Yet To Be Disposed Of, About

Two Millions Of Acres. Among The Sales Was One To Alexander Macomb,

For Three Millions Six Hundred And Thirty-Five Thousand Two Hundred

Acres. The Magnitude Of This Sale, And The Price At Which It Was Sold,

Created A Great Excitement Throughout The State, And At The Session Of

The Legislature Which Commenced On The 4Th Of January, 1792, The

Subject Was Brought Before The Assembly.

 

 

The Price At Which Mr. Macomb Made His Purchase Was Eight Pence Per

Acre, Payable In Five Annual Instalments, Without Interest, With

Permission To Discount For Prompt Payment At Six Per Cent. Per Annum,

Which Made The Price About Equal To Seven Cents Per Acre Cash. Colonel

Burr, As Attorney-General, Was A Member Of The Board. On The 9Th Of

April, 1792, The Report Of The Commissioners Being The Order Of The

Day, The Subject Was Taken Up In The House.

Chapter XVI Pg 315

Mr. Talbot, From

Montgomery County, Moved Sundry Resolutions. They Were Intended As The

Foundation For An Impeachment Of A Part Of The Commissioners Of The

Land Office. They Assumed To Contain A Statement Of Facts, Evidencing

On The Part Of The Commissioners Great Indiscretion And Want Of

Judgment, If Not Corruption, In The Sale Of The Public Lands, And They

Charged The Commissioners With A Willful Violation Of The Law. These

Resolutions, However, Excepted Colonel Burr From Any Participation In

The Maleconduct Complained Of, Inasmuch As The Minutes Of The Board

Proved That He Was Not Present At The Meetings (Being Absent On

Official Duty As Attorney-General) When These Contracts, So Ruinous,

As They Alleged, To The Interests Of The State, Were Made: Nor Did It

Appear That He (Colonel Burr) Was Ever Consulted In Relation To Them.

These Resolutions Elicited A Heated Debate; In The Progress Of Which

All The Commissioners, Except The Attorney-General, Were Assailed With

Great Bitterness; And Charges Of Corruption By Innuendo Were

Unceremoniously Made. At A Late Hour The House Adjourned Without

Decision Until The Next Day.

 

 

On The 10Th Of April, 1792, Mr. Melancton Smith Moved The Following

Resolution, With A Preamble As A Substitute:--

 

 

"Resolved, That This House Do Highly Approve Of The Conduct Of The

Commissioners Of The Land Office In The Judicious Sales By Them, As

Aforesaid, Which Have Been Productive Of The Before Mentioned

Beneficial Effects."

 

 

This Resolution Was Adopted By A Vote Of Ays 35--Noes 20.

 

 

Of Melancton Smith It Is Proper To Remark Here That He Was A Plain,

Unsophisticated Man. A Purer Patriot Never Lived. Of The Powers Of His

Mind Some Opinion May Be Formed By The Following Anecdote. Dr.

Ledyard, Who Was Afterwards Health Officer Of The Port Of New-York,

Was A Warm Federalist. He Was At Poughkeepsie While The Federal

Constitution Was Under Discussion In The State Convention. Smith Was

An Anti-Federal Member Of That Body. Some Time After The Adoption Of

The Constitution, Ledyard Stated To A Friend Of His, That To Colonel

Alexander Hamilton Had Been Assigned, In A Special Manner, The Duty Of

Defending That Portion Of The Constitution Which Related To The

Judiciary Of The United States. That An Outdoor Conversation Between

Colonel Hamilton And Mr. Smith Took Place In Relation To The

Judiciary, In The Course Of Which Smith Urged Some Of His Objections

To The Proposed System. In The Evening A Federal Caucus Was Held; At

That Caucus Mr. Hamilton Referred To The Conversation, And Requested

That Some Gentleman Might Be Designated To Aid In The Discussion Of

This Question. Robert R. Livingston, Chancellor Of The State, Was

Accordingly Named. Mr. Livingston Was At That Time A Distinguished

Leader In The Ranks Of The Federal Party. Whoever Will Take The

Trouble To Read The Debates In The Convention, In Which Will Be Found

The Reply Of Smith To Livingston, Will Perceive In That Reply The

Efforts Of A Mighty Mind.

Chapter XVI Pg 316

It Was A High But Merited Compliment To The

Talents Of Melancton Smith, That Such A Man As Colonel Hamilton Should

Have Wished Aid In Opposing Him.

 

 

During The Winter Of 1791-92, Being Colonel Burr'S First Session In

The Senate Of The United States, He Spent Much Of His Leisure Time In

The State Department. For Several Sessions After The Organization Of

The Federal Government, All The Business Of The Senate Was Transacted

With Closed Doors. At That Period The Correspondence Of Existing

Ministers Was Kept Secret, Even From The Senators. With Every Thing

Connected With The Foreign Affairs Of The Country, Colonel Burr Was

Exceedingly Anxious To Make Himself Intimately Acquainted. He

Considered It Necessary To The Faithful And Useful Performance Of His

Duty As A Senator. He Obtained Permission From Mr. Jefferson, Then

Secretary Of State, To Have Access To The Records Of The Department

Before The Hour For Opening The Office Arrived. He Employed One Of The

Messengers To Make A Fire At Five O'Clock In The Morning, And

Occasionally An Intelligent And Confidential Clerk To Assist Him In

Searching For Papers. Here He Was Engaged Until Near Ten O'Clock Every

Day. It Was His Constant Practice To Have His Breakfast Sent To Him.

He Continued This Employment The Greater Part Of The Session, Making

Notes On, Or Extracts From, The Records Of The Department, Until He

Was Interrupted By A Peremptory Order From The President (Washington)

Prohibiting His Farther Examination.

 

 

Wishing Some Information That He Had Not Obtained In Relation To A

Surrender Of The Western Posts By The British, He Addressed A Note To

The Secretary Of State, Asking Permission To Make That Particular

Examination; To Which He Received The Following Answer:----

 

 

"Thomas Jefferson Presents His Respectful Compliments To Colonel Burr,

And Is Sorry To Inform Him It Has Been Concluded To Be Improper To

Communicate The Correspondence Of Existing Ministers. He Hopes This

Will, With Colonel Burr, Be His Sufficient Apology."

 

 

In April, 1792, There Was An Election For Governor Of The State Of

New-York. By Some It Was Supposed That Governor Clinton Would Decline

Being Again Considered A Candidate. It Was Known That John Jay Would

Be The Candidate Of The Federal Party. At That Period Colonel Burr Had

Warm Personal Friends In Both Parties, Who Were Urging His

Pretensions. Among The Most Ardent Was Judge Yates. In The Latter Part

Of February, 1792, He Authorized His Friends To State That He Declined

A Nomination. He Was Placed, However, In An Unpleasant Dilemma. The

Connexions, And Many Of The Personal Friends Of Governor Clinton, Were

Jealous Of Colonel Burr'S Talents And Growing Influence. Between The

Governor And Himself There Was Very Little Intercourse. On The Other

Hand, The Kindest Feelings Towards Him Were Evinced By Chief-Justice

Jay, Who Was A Most Amiable Man. It Was His Wish, Therefore, As Far As

Practicable, Consistent With His Principles, To Remain Neuter.

Chapter XVI Pg 317

He Had

Never Been An Electioneering Character, And With The People He Wished

To Leave The Pending Question, Without The Exercise Of Any Influence

He Might Be Supposed To Possess.

 

 

By The Then Existing Laws Of New-York, The Ballots That Were Taken In

The Several Counties Were, Immediately After The Election, Transmitted

To The Office Of The Secretary Of State, And There Kept Until The

Second Tuesday In May, When The Board Of Canvassers Were, By Law, To

Convene And Canvass Them. The Election For Governor Was Warmly

Contested; The Federal Party Supporting Judge Jay, The Anti-Federal

Party George Clinton. When The Canvassers Met, Difficulties Arose As

To The Legality Of The Returns From Certain Counties, Particularly Of

Otsego, Tioga, And Clinton. The Canvassers Differing In Opinion On The

Question Whether The Ballots Should Be Counted Or Destroyed, They

Agreed To Ask The Advice Of Rufus King And Colonel Burr. These

Gentlemen Conferred, And, Like The Canvassers, Differed: Whereupon Mr.

Burr Proposed That They Should Decline Giving Advice. To This Mr. King

Objected, And Expressed A Determination To Give His Own Opinion

Separate. This Rendered It Necessary For Colonel Burr To Adopt A Like

Procedure. He Thus Became A Partisan, And A Most Efficient Partisan,

In That Controversy.

 

 

_Seven_ Of The Canvassers Determined To Reject And Destroy The Ballots

Alleged To Have Been Illegally Returned. To This Decision _Four_

Objected. The Ballots Were Accordingly Destroyed, And George Clinton

Declared To Be Duly Elected Governor. The Excitement Produced Was

Without A Parallel In The State. The Friends Of Judge Jay Contended

That He Had Been Chosen By The People, But Was Cheated Out Of His

Election By The Corruption Of The Canvassers. Great Asperity And

Virulence Were Exhibited By Both Political Parties On The Occasion.

 

 

From The Moment That Colonel Burr Was Driven To Interfere In The

Controversy, He Took Upon Himself, Almost Exclusively, The Management

Of The Whole Case On The Side Of The Anti-Federal Party. His

Accustomed Acumen, Vigilance, And Zeal, Were Promptly Put In

Requisition. Full Scope Was Allowed For The Display Of Those Great

Legal Talents For Which He Was So Pre-Eminently Distinguished. It Has

Been Known To Only A Very Few Individuals That On Colonel Burr Rested

Nearly The Whole Labour; And That Nothing Was Done, Even By The

Canvassers, But Under His Advice And Direction. It Has Therefore Been

Deemed Proper To Insert Here Some Of The Official Details Of The Case.

They Are Worthy Record, As An Interesting Part Of The Political

History Of The State Of New-York.

 

 

"_Statement Of The Case By The Canvassers, For The Advice Of Rufus

King And Aaron Burr_.

Chapter XVI Pg 318

"Otsego.--By The 26Th Section Of The Constitution Of The State Of

New-York, It Is Ordained That Sheriffs And Coroners Be Annually

Appointed, And That No Person Shall Be Capable Of Holding Either Of

The Said Offices For More Than Four Years Successively, Nor The

Sheriff Of Holding Any Other Office At The Same Time. By The Ninth

Section Of The Act For Regulating Elections, It Is Enacted That One Of

The Inspectors Shall Deliver The Ballots And Poll-Lists, Scaled Up, To

The Sheriff Of The County; And, By The Tenth Section Of The Said Act,

It Is Further Enacted, That Each And Every Sheriff Of The Respective

Counties In This State Shall, Upon Receiving The Said Enclosures,

Directed To Be Delivered To Him As Aforesaid, Without Opening Or

Inspecting The Same, Or Any Or Either Of Them, Put The Said

Enclosures, And Every One Of Them, Into One Box, Which Shall Be Well

Closed And Sealed Up By Him, Under His Hand And Seal, With The Name Of

His County Written On The Box, And Be Delivered By Him Into The Office

Of The Secretary Of This State, Where The Same Shall Be Safely Kept By

The Secretary, Or His Deputy. By The Eleventh Section Of The Said Act,

All Questions Arising On The Canvass And Estimate Of The Votes, Or On

Any Of The Proceedings Therein, Shall Be Determined By A Majority Of

The Members Of The Joint Committee Attending; And Their Judgment Shall

Be Final, And The Oath Of The Canvassers Requires Them Faithfully,

Honestly, And Impartially To Canvass And Estimate The Votes Contained

In The Boxes Delivered Into The Office Of The Secretary Of This State

By The Sheriffs Of The Several Counties.

 

 

"On The 17Th Of February, 1791, Richard R. Smith Was Appointed Sheriff

Of The County Of Otsego, And His Commission Gives Him The Custody Of

That County Until The 18Th Of February, 1792. On The 13Th Of January,

1792, He Writes A Letter To The Council Of Appointment, Informing Them

That, As The Year For Which He Was Appointed Had Nearly Elapsed, He

Should Decline A Reappointment.

 

 

"On The 30Th Of March, 1792, The Council Of Appointment Appointed

Benjamin Gilbert To The Office Of Sheriff Of The Said County, With A

Commission, In The Usual Form, To Keep The County Until The 17Th Of

February Next. His Commission Was Delivered To Stephen Van Rensselaer,

Esq., On The 13Th Of April Last, To Be Forwarded By Him To The Said

Benjamin Gilbert. By The Affidavit Of The Said Benjamin Gilbert,

Herewith Delivered, It Appears That He Qualified Into The Office Of

Sheriff On The 11Th Day Of May, 1792. On The First Tuesday In April,

1792, Richard R. Smith Was Elected Supervisor Of The Town Of Otsego,

In Said County, And On The First Tuesday In May Took His Seat At The

Board Of Supervisors, And Assisted In The Appointment Of Loan Officers

For The County Of Otsego. By The Affidavit Of Richard R. Smith,

Herewith Delivered, It Appears That The Ballots Taken In The County Of

Otsego Were Delivered To Him As Sheriff, And By Him Enclosed In A

Sufficient Box, On Or About The 3D Of May, Which Box He Then Delivered

Into The Hands Of Leonard Goes, A Person Specially Deputed By Him For

The Purpose Of Delivering The Said Box Into The Hands Of The Secretary

Of This State, Which Was Accordingly Done, As Appears By Information

From The Secretary.

 

 

"A Small Bundle Of Papers, Enclosed And Sealed, Was Delivered To The

Secretary With The Box, On Which Is Written, 'The Votes Of The Town Of

Cherry Valley, In The County Of Otsego.

Chapter XVI Pg 319

Richard R. Smith, Sheriff.'

Several Affidavits, Herewith Delivered, State Certain Facts Respecting

This Separate Bundle, Said To Be The Votes Of Cherry Valley.

 

 

"On This Case Arise The Following Questions:--

 

 

"1. Was Richard R. Smith The Sheriff Of The County Of Otsego When He

Received And Forwarded The Ballots By His Special Deputy?

 

 

"2. If He Was Not Sheriff, Can The Votes Sent By Him Be Legally

Canvassed?

 

 

"3. Can The Joint Committee Canvass The Votes When Sent To Them In Two

Parcels, The One Contained In A Box, And The Other Contained In A

Paper, Or Separate Bundle? Or,

 

 

"4. Ought They To Canvass Those Sealed In The Box, And Reject The

Others?

 

 

"Tioga.--It Appears That The Sheriff Of Tioga Delivered The Box

Containing The Ballots To B. Hovey, His Special Deputy, Who Set Out,

Was Taken Sick On His Journey, And Delivered The Box To H. Thompson,

His Clerk, Who Delivered It Into The Secretary'S Office.

 

 

"_Question_. Ought The Votes Of Tioga To Be Canvassed?

 

 

"Clinton.--It Appears That The Sheriff Of Clinton Delivered The Box

Containing The Ballots To Theodorus Platt, Esq., Who Had No

Deputation, But Who Delivered Them Into The Secretary'S Office, As

Appears By His Affidavit.

 

 

"_Question._ Ought The Votes Of Clinton To Be Canvassed?"

 

 

_Mr. King'S Opinion To The Canvassers_.

 

 

"Otsego.--It May Be Inferred, From The Constitution And Laws Of The

State, That The Office Of Sheriff Is Held During The Pleasure Of The

Council Of Appointment, Subject To The Limitation Contained In The

26Th Section Of The Constitution. The Sheriff May Therefore Hold His

Office For Four Years, Unless Within That Period A Successor Shall

Have Been Appointed, And Shall Have Entered Upon The Execution Of The

Office.

Chapter XVI Pg 320

The Term Of Four Years From The Appointment Of R. R. Smith Not

Having Expired, And B. Gilbert Not Having Entered Upon The Execution

Of The Office Before The Receipt And Delivery Of The Votes By R. R.

Smith To His Deputy, I Am Of Opinion That R. R. Smith Was Then Lawful

Sheriff Of Otsego.

 

 

"This Opinion Is Strengthened By What Is Understood To Be Practice,

Namely, That The Office Of Sheriff Is Frequently Held For More Than A

Year Under One Appointment.

 

 

"R. R. Smith'S Giving Notice To The Council Of Appointment Of His

Disinclination To Be Reappointed, Or His Acting As Supervisor, Cannot,

In My Opinion, Be Deemed A Resignation Or Surrender Of His Office.

 

 

"Should Doubts, However, Be Entertained Whether R. R. Smith Was

_Lawfully_ Sheriff When He Received And Delivered The Votes To His

Deputy, The Case Contains Facts Which In Another View Of The Subject

Are Important. It Appears That R. R. Smith Was Appointed Sheriff Of

Otsego On The 17Th Of February, 1791, And Afterwards Entered Upon The

Execution Of His Office: That No Other Person Was In The Execution Of

Or Claimed The Office After The Date Of His Appointment, And Before

The Time When He Received And Delivered The Votes Of The County To His

Deputy; That During That Interval R. R. Smith Was Sheriff, Or The

County Was Without A Sheriff; That R. R. Smith, During The Election,

And When He Received And Delivered The Votes To His Deputy, Continued

In The Actual Exercise Of The Shrievalty, And That Under Colour Of A

Regular Appointment. From This Statement It May Be Inferred, That If

R. R. Smith, When He Received And Delivered The Votes To His Deputy,

Was Not _De Jure_, He Was _De Facto_, Sheriff Of Otsego.

 

 

"Though All The Acts Of An Officer _De Facto_ May Not Be Valid, And

Such Of Them As Are Merely Voluntary And Exclusively Beneficial To

Himself Are Void; Yet Such Acts As Tend To The Public Utility, And

Such As Be Would Be Compellable To Perform, Such As Are Essential To

Preserve The Rights Of Third Persons, And Without Which They Might Be

Lost Or Destroyed, When Done By An Officer _De Facto_, Are Valid.

 

 

"I Am Therefore Of Opinion, That Admitting R. R. Smith, When He

Received And Delivered The Votes To His Deputy, Was Not _De Jure_

Sheriff, Yet That He Was _De Facto_ Sheriff; And That His Receiving

And Delivering The Votes Being Acts Done Under Colour Of Authority,

Tending To The Public Utility, And Necessary To The Carrying Into

Effect The Rights Of Suffrage Of The Citizens Of That County, They Are

And Ought To Be Deemed Valid; And Consequently The Votes Of That

County May Lawfully Be Canvassed.

 

 

"2D Question. The Preceding Answer To The First Question Renders An

Answer To The Second Unnecessary.

Chapter XVI Pg 321

"3D And 4Th Questions. The Sheriff Is Required To Put Into One Box

Every Enclosure Delivered To Him By An Inspector Appointed For That

Purpose By The Inspectors Of Any Town Or District; And For Omitting To

Put Any Such Enclosure Into The Box, He Is Liable To Prosecution; But

In Case Of Such Omission, The Votes Put Into The Box, And Seasonably

Delivered Into The Secretary'S Office, May, Notwithstanding Such

Omission, Be Lawfully Canvassed; And Equally So Whether The Omitted

Enclosure Be Kept Back Or Sent Forward With The Box To The Secretary'S

Office. I Am Therefore Of Opinion That The Votes Contained In The Box

May Lawfully Be Canvassed; That Those Contained In A Separate Packet,

From Considerations Explained In The Depositions, And Distinct From

The Objection Of Not Being Included Within The Box, Cannot Be Lawfully

Canvassed.

 

 

"Clinton.--The Deputy Having No Interest In The Office Of Sheriff, But

Being Merely The Sheriff'S Servant, It Does Not Seem To Be Necessary

That The Evidence Of His Being Employed Or Made A Deputy Should Be A

Deed Or An Instrument In Writing, Though The Latter Would Be Proper;

Yet A Deputy May Be Made By _Parole_: I Am Therefore Inclined To The

Opinion That The Votes Of Clinton May Be Canvassed.

 

 

"Tioga.--The Sheriff Is One Who Executes An Office In Person Or By

Deputy, So Far At Least As The Office Is Ministerial; When A Deputy Is

Required Of The Sheriff Conomine, He May Execute It In Person Or By

Deputy; But If The Deputy Appoints A Deputy, It May Be Doubtful

Whether Ordinarily The Acts Of The Last Deputy Are The Acts Of The

Sheriff. The Present Instance Is An Extreme Case; Had The Duty Been

Capable Of Being Performed Within The County, The Sheriff Or Another

Deputy Could Have Performed. Here The Deputy, Being In The Execution

Of His Duty, And Without The County, Is Prevented By The Act Of God

From Completing It; The Sheriff Could Not Appoint, And The Deputy

Undertakes To Appoint A Deputy To Finish His Duty, Who Accordingly

Does So. The Election Law Is Intended To Render Effectual The

Constitutional Right Of Suffrage; It Should Therefore Be Construed

Liberally, And The Means Should Be In Subordination To The End.

 

 

"In This Case It May Be Reasonably Doubted Whether The Canvassers Are

Obliged To Reject The Votes Of Tioga.

 

 

"Rufus King."

 

 

 

 

 

_Mr. Burr'S Opinion To The Canvassers._

 

 

"Otsego.--The Duration Of The Office Of Sheriff In England Having Been

Limited By Statute To One Year, Great Inconveniences Were Experienced,

As Well By Suiters As By The Public.

Chapter XVI Pg 322

To Remove Which It Was Thought

Necessary To Pass An Act Of Parliament. The Statute Of 12 Ed. Iv., Ch.

1, Recites At Large These Inconveniences, And Authorizes The Sheriff

To Execute And Return Writs In The Term Of St. Michael, Before The

Delivery Of A Writ Of Discharge, Notwithstanding The Expiration Of The

Year. The Authority Given By This Statute Being To Execute Only

Certain Specified Duties, The Remedy Was Not Complete, And Another

Statute [1] Was Soon After Passed, Permitting Sheriffs To Do Every Act

Pertaining To The Office, During The Term Of St. Michael And St.

Hilary, After The Expiration Of The Year, If Not Sooner Discharged.

The Practice In England Appears To Have Been Conformable To These

Statutes, [2] Though The King Did Pretend To Dispense With Them By

Force Of The Royal Prerogative; And This Claim And Exercise Of A Power

In The Crown To Dispense With And Control The Operation Of Statutes,

Has Been Long And Universally Condemned As Odious And

Unconstitutional; Yet The Form Of The Commission Is Said Still To Be

During Pleasure.

 

 

"These Considerations Tend To Show The Principles Of Several Opinions

And Adjudications, Which Are Found In English Law-Books, Relative To

The Holding Over Of The Office Of Sheriff.

 

 

"None Of The Statutes Of England Or Great Britain Continued To Be Laws

Of This State After The First Of May, 1778. So That At Present There

Remains No Pretence For Adopting Any Other Than The Obvious Meaning Of

The Constitution, Which Limits The Duration Of The Office To One Year,

Beyond Which The Authority To Hold Cannot Be Derived From The

Constitution, The Appointment, Or The Commission. If Inconveniences

Arise, Remedies Can Be Provided By _Law Only_, As Has In Similar Cases

Been Done In England, Deciding On Legal Principles; Therefore, The

Appointment And Commission, And With Them The Authority Of Mr. Smith,

Must Be Deemed To Have Expired On The 18Th Of February.

 

 

"Yet There Are Instances Of Offices Being Exercised By Persons Holding

Under An Authority Apparently Good, But Which, On Strict Legal

Examination, Proves Defective; Whose Acts, Nevertheless, Are, With

_Some Limitations_, Considered As Valid. This Authority Is Called

_Colourable_, And The Officer In Such Cases Is Said To Be An Officer

_De Facto_; Which Intends An Intermediate State Between An Exercise

Strictly Lawful And One Without Such Colour Of Right. Mr. Smith Does

Not Appear To Me To Have Holden The Office Of Sheriff On The 3D Of May

Under Such Colour Or Pretence Of Right. The Term Of His Office Had

Expired, And He Had Formally Expressed His Determination Not To Accept

A Reappointment; After The Expiration Of The Year He Accepted, And

Even Two Days Before The Receipt Of The Ballots, Openly Exercised An

Office Incompatible With That Of Sheriff; And It Is To Be Inferred,

From The Tenour Of The Affidavits, That He Then Knew Of The

Appointment Of Mr. Gilbert. The Assumption Of This Authority By Mr.

Smith Does Not Even Appear To Have Been Produced By Any Urgent Public

Necessity Or Imminent Public Inconvenience.

Chapter XVI Pg 323

Mr. Gilbert Was Qualified

In Season To Have Discharged The Duty, And, For Aught That Is Shown,

His Attendance, If Really Desired, Might Have Been Procured Still

Earlier.

 

 

"Upon All The Circumstances Of This Case, I Am Of Opinion,

 

 

"1. That Mr. Smith Was Not Sheriff Of Otsego When He Received And

Forwarded The Ballots.

 

 

"2D. That The Ballots Delivered By The Deputy Of Mr. Smith Cannot Be

Legally Canvassed.

 

 

"The Direction Of The Law Is Positive, That The Sheriff Shall Put All

The Enclosures Into One Box. How Far His Inattention Or Misconduct In

This Particular Shall Be Deemed To Vitiate The Ballots Of A County,

Appears To Be Left To The Judgment Of The Canvassers. Were The Ballots

Of This County Subject To No Other Exception Than That Stated In The

Third And Fourth Questions, I Should Incline To Think It One Of Those

Cases In Which The Discretion Of The Canvassers Might Be Safely

Exercised, And That The Ballots Contained In The Boxes Might Be

Legally Canvassed; Those In The Separate Package Do Not Appear To Be

Subject To Such Discretionary Power; The Law Does Not _Permit_ Them To

Be Estimated. But The Extent To Which This Power Might Be Exercised In

Cases Similar In Kind, But Varying In Degree, Cannot Be Precisely

Defined. Instances May Doubtless Be Supposed, In Which Sound

Discretion Would Require That The Whole Should Be Rejected.

 

 

"Clinton.----To The Question Relative To The Ballots Of This County,

It May Suffice To Say, That Verbal And Written Deputation By A Sheriff

Are, In Law, Considered As Of Equal Validity, Particularly When It Is

To Perform A Single Ministerial Act.

 

 

"Tioga.----It Is Said That A Deputy May Make A Deputy To Discharge

Certain Duties Merely Ministerial; But, Considering The Importance Of

The Trust In Regard Of The Care Of The Ballots, And The Extreme

Circumspection Which Is Indicated In The Law Relative To Elections, I

Think That The Ballots Of This County Cannot, By Any Fiction Or

Construction, Be Said To Have Been Delivered _By The Sheriff_; And Am

Of Opinion That They Ought Not To Be Canvassed.

 

 

"Aaron Burr."

 

 

 

The Opinion Of Rufus King In This Case Was Concurred In By Stephen

Lush, T. V. W. Graham, And Abraham Van Vechten, Of Albany; Richard

Harrison, John Lawrence, John Cozine, Cornelius J. Bogart, Robert

Troup, James M. Hughes, And Thomas Cooper, Of New-York.

Chapter XVI Pg 324

The Opinion Of Colonel Burr Was Sustained By Pierpont Edwards Of

Connecticut, Jonathan D. Sergeant, Of Philadelphia, Edmund Randolph,

Of Virginia, United States Attorney-General, Zephaniah Swift, Moses

Cleaveland, Asher Miller, David Daggett, Nathaniel Smith, And Dudley

Baldwin. These Opinions Were Procured By Colonel Burr, As Appears From

The Private Correspondence On The Subject.

Chapter XVI Pg 325

From Jonathan D. Sergeant.

 

 

Philadelphia, 4Th May, 1792.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

You Will Perceive By The Date Of The Enclosed That It Has Been Ready

Some Time, But I Have Waited In Hopes That I Should Have The Pleasure

Of Sending Forward Mr. Randolph'S Opinion In Company With Mine. As He

Is Not Yet Quite Ready, And I Am Going Out Of Town, I Send Forward My

Own Singly. He Is Very Solicitous To Collect All Possible Information

On The Subject Before He Gives His Opinion, And Would Willingly Excuse

Himself From The Task, Were It Not, As He Says, That It Would Look

Like A Want Of That Independence And Firmness Which Dispose A Man To

Meet Any Question, However Important Or Strongly Contended.

 

 

His Opinion Hitherto Has Been Conformable To Yours, And I Expect Will

Continue So. When It Is Ready I Will Forward It Without The Delay Of

Sending It Round To Dr. Edwards'S In The Country. The Doctor Had

Spoken To Me Some Time Before Your Letter Came To Me, So That I Was

Nearly Prepared When I Received Yours.

 

 

Your Obedient Servant,

 

 

Jonathan D. Sergeant.

Chapter XVI Pg 326

On The 6Th Of November, 1792, The Legislature Met. On The 13Th,

Petitions, Memorials, &C. Were Presented To The House Of Assembly,

Demanding An Inquiry Into The Conduct Of The Board Appointed To

Canvass The Votes Given For Governor, &C. At The Preceding Election,

Held In The Month Of April. On The 21St The House, In Committee Of The

Whole, Took Up The Subject. Witnesses Were Examined At The Bar;

Various Resolutions And Modifications Were Offered And Rejected. The

Debate Was Continued At Intervals From The 21St Of November, 1792,

Until The 18Th Of July, 1793. The Minority Of The Canvassers Entered A

Protest Against The Proceedings Of The Majority, Which It Is Due To

Them To Insert Here.

 

 

 

"_The Protest Of Messrs. Jones, Roosevelt, And Gansevoort_.

 

 

"We, The Subscribers, Members Of The Joint Committee Appointed To

Canvass And Estimate The Votes Taken At The Last Election In This

State For Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, And Senators, Do Dissent

From, And Protest Against, The Determination Of The Major Part Of Said

Committee Respecting The Votes Taken At The Said Election In The

County Of Otsego.

 

 

"I. Because These Votes Having Been Given By The Freeholders Of

Otsego, And The Packages Containing The Same Having Been Received And

Transmitted In Season To The Secretary'S Office By The Person Acting

As Sheriff Of The County, The Committee Have No Right To Reject Them

Under The Pretence Of Judging Of The Legality, Validity, Operation, Or

Extent Of The Sheriff'S Authority Or Commission; These Commissions

Being Foreign To The Duty Of Their Appointment, And Capable Of A

Decision Only In The Ordinary Courts Of Law.

 

 

"Ii. Because, If The Committee Were By Law Authorized To Examine And

Determine The Legality And Extent Of The Sheriff'S Authority And

Commission, We Are Of Opinion That Richard R. Smith, At The Time He

Received And Transmitted The Ballots, Was The Lawful Sheriff Of

Otsego. By The Constitution, The Sheriff, Whatever May Be The Form Of

His Commission, Must Hold His Office During The Pleasure Of The

Council Of Appointment; And, By The Law Of The Land, He Must Continue

Therein Until Another Is Appointed And Takes Upon Himself The Office.

Richard R. Smith, Having Been Appointed On The 27Th Of February, 1791,

And Benjamin Gilbert Having Been Appointed On The 30Th Of March, 1792,

But Not Having Qualified Or Taken Upon Himself The Office Until

Richard R. Smith Had Received And Forwarded The Same, Must Be Deemed

The Lawful Sheriff Of The County. The Uniform Practice Which Has

Prevailed Since The Establishment Of The Constitution, Precludes All

Doubt Respecting Its True Construction On This Point. For Although The

Commissions Of The Sheriffs Are For One Year, They Have Nevertheless

Continued To Exercise The Office Until Others Were Appointed And

Entered Upon The Execution Thereof, Which Has Often Been Long After

The Expiration Of The Year, And Sometimes After The Same Person Has

Remained In Office More Than Four Years Successively. And Such

Sheriffs, Sometimes After The Expiration Of Their Year, At Others

After Having Held The Office For Four Successive Years, Have Received

And Transmitted Ballots For Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, And

Senators, Which Ballots Have On Former Elections Been Received And

Canvassed;

Chapter XVI Pg 327

And Even Upon The Present Canvass, The Committee Have

Canvassed The Ballots Taken In The Counties Of Kings, Orange, And

Washington, Notwithstanding The Year Had Expired For Which The

Sheriffs Of These Counties Were Commissioned, And No New Commissions

Had Been Issued. Hence The Sheriffs Of Those Counties, In Receiving

And Transmitting The Ballots, Must Have Acted Under Their Former

Commissions, Since A Mere Appointment Without A Commission, And A

Compliance With The Requisites Prescribed By Law, Could Not, In Our

Opinion, Give Any Authority As Sheriff To The Person So Appointed.

 

 

"Iii. Because, If Richard R. Smith, At The Time He Received And

Forwarded The Ballots, Was Not Sheriff, The County Was Without A

Sheriff, A Position Too Mischievous To Be Established By A Doubtful

Construction Of Law.

 

 

"Iv. Because, If Richard R. Smith Was Not Of Right Sheriff Of The

County At The Time He Received And Forwarded The Ballots, He Was Then

Sheriff In Fact Of That County; And All The Acts Of Such An Officer

Which Tend To The Public Utility, Or To Preserve And Render Effectual

The Rights Of Third Persons, Are Valid In Law.

 

 

"V. Because, In All Doubtful Cases, The Committee Ought, In Our

Opinion, To Decide In Favour Of The Votes Given By The Citizens, Lest

By Too Nice And Critical An Exposition Of The Law The Rights Of

Suffrage Be Rendered Nugatory.

 

 

"We Also Dissent From, And Protest Against, The Determination Of The

Major Part Of The Said Committee Respecting The Votes Taken At The

Said Election In The County Of Clinton;

 

 

"Because It Appears That The Sheriff Of The Said County Deputed A

Person By Parole To Deliver The Box Containing The Ballots Of The Said

County Into The Secretary'S Office. Such Deputation We Deem To Be

Sufficient; And As There Is Satisfactory Evidence That The Box Was

Delivered In The Same State In Which It Was Received From The Sheriff,

The Votes, In Our Opinion, Ought To Be Canvassed.

 

 

"We Also Dissent From, And Protest Against, The Determination Of The

Major Part Of The Said Committee, By Which They Declare That George

Clinton Was, By The Greatest Number Of Votes Taken At The Last

Election For Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, And Senators, Chosen

Governor Of This State; And That Pierre Van Courtlandt Was, By The

Greatest Number Of Votes At The Said Election, Chosen

Lieutenant-Governor; And That John Livingston Was, By The Greatest

Number Of Votes At The Said Election, In The Eastern District Of This

State, Chosen A Senator In The Said Eastern District.

Chapter XVI Pg 328

"Because It Cannot Be Ascertained Whether George Clinton Was Chosen

Governor, Or Pierre Van Courtlandt Lieutenant-Governor Of This State,

By The Greatest Number Of Votes At The Last Election, Without

Examining The Ballots Contained In The Boxes Delivered Into The

Secretary'S Office By The Sheriffs Of The Counties Of Otsego And

Clinton--There Being A Sufficient Number Of Freeholders In These

Counties, With The Votes Given In The Other Parts Of The State For

John Jay As Governor And Stephen Van Rensselaer As

Lieutenant-Governor, To Give Them A Majority Of Votes For Those

Offices. Nor Can It Be Ascertained Whether John Livingston Was Chosen

A Senator In The Eastern District By The Greatest Number Of Votes In

That District, Without Examining The Votes Taken In The County Of

Clinton--There Being A Sufficient Number Of Freeholders In That

County, With The Votes Given In Other Parts Of The District For Thomas

Jenkins As A Senator, To Give Him A Greater Number Of Votes For A

Senator Than The Number Given For The Said John Livingston.

 

 

"Samuel Jones,

 

 

"Isaac Roosevelt,

 

 

"Leonard Gansevoort."

 

 

Joshua Sands, Another Member Of The Board Of Canvassers, Entered

Separately A Protest, But Substantially The Same As The Preceding.

 

 

The Majority Of The Canvassers Presented A Document To The

Legislature, In Which They Assigned Their Reasons For The Course They

Had Pursued. That Document Was Drawn By Colonel Burr. The Original

Draught, With His Emendations, Has Been Preserved Among His Papers. On

The Motion Of A Member, It Was Read In The House The 28Th Day Of

December, 1792, And Is Entered At Large On Their Journals As

Follows:--

 

 

"_The Reasons Assigned By The Majority Of The Canvassers In

Vindication Of Their Conduct_.

 

 

"The Joint Committee Appointed To Canvass And Estimate The Votes For

Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, And Senators At The Last Election,

Having Been Constrained, By A Sense Of Their Duty In The Discharge Of

The Trust Reposed In Them, To Reject The Ballots Returned From The

Counties Of Clinton, Otsego, And Tioga; And Perceiving That Attempts

Are Made To Misrepresent As Well The Principles Of Their Determination

As The Facts On Which They Are Founded, Feel It Incumbent On Them To

State The Grounds Of Their Decision.

Chapter XVI Pg 329

"Clinton And Tioga.--A Box, Said To Contain The Ballots Of The County

Of Clinton, Was Deposited In The Secretary'S Office By A Theodore

Platt, Without Any Deputation Or Other Authority, Accompanied Only By

His Own Affidavit, That He Had Received The Said Box From The Sheriff

Of Clinton.

 

 

Another Box, Said To Contain The Ballots Of The County Of Tioga, Was

Delivered By The Sheriff Of The County Of Tioga To His Deputy,

Benjamin Hovey, Who, Being Detained By Illness On The Road, Delivered

The Said Box To One James H. Thompson, By Whom It Was Deposited In The

Secretary'S Office.

 

 

 

"The Joint Committee, Pursuant To The Law, Are Sworn To Canvass The

Votes 'Contained In The Boxes Delivered Into The Office Of The

Secretary Of The State By The Sheriffs Of The Several Counties.' Hence

Arose A Question, Whether This Was Not A _Personal Trust_, Which Could

Not Be Legally Performed By Deputy? Upon This Point We Entertained

Different Opinions; But Agreed That, If The Discretion Of The

Committee Was To Be In Any Degree Controlled By The Directions Of The

Law, There Appeared No Room To Doubt Of The Illegality Of Canvassing

Boxes Which Were Not Delivered By A Sheriff Or The Deputy Of A

Sheriff. The Ballots Contained In These Boxes Were Therefore Rejected;

Not, However, Without Sensible Regret, As No Suspicion Was Entertained

Of The Fairness Of Those Elections.

 

 

"Otsego.---It Appears That Richard R. Smith, On The 17Th Of February,

1791, Was Appointed Sheriff Of The County Of Otsego, To Hold That

Office Until The 18Th Of February, 1792; That A Commission Was Issued

Agreeably To That Appointment; That On The 13Th Of January, 1792, He

Wrote To The Governor And Council That He Should Decline A

Reappointment; That On The 30Th Of March, 1792, Benjamin Gilbert Was

Appointed Sheriff Of The Said County; That The Commission To The Said

Benjamin Gilbert Was, On The 13Th Of April, 1792, Delivered To Stephen

Van Rensselaer, One Of The Council Of Appointment, To Be By Him

Forwarded; That The Said Commission Was In The Hands Of William

Cooper, Esq., First Judge Of The Said County, On Or Before The 3D Of

May; That The Said Richard R. Smith, On The First Tuesday In April,

Was Elected Supervisor Of The Town Of Otsego, Accepted That Office,

And On The 1St Day Of May Took His Seat At The Board Of Supervisors,

Assisted In The Appointment Of Loan Officers, And _Then_ Declared That

He Was No Longer Sheriff Of The County, But That Benjamin Gilbert Was

Appointed In His Place. It Also Appeared That Benjamin Gilbert Had No

Notice Of His Said Appointment, Or Of The Receiving Of The Ballots By

The Said Richard R. Smith, Until The 9Th Day Of May, And That He Was

Sworn To The Execution Of The Office On The 11Th; That, On The 3D Of

May, The Said Richard R. Smith Put Up The Ballots Of The Said County

In The Store Of The Said William Cooper, Esq., In Whose Hands The

Commission Of Benjamin Gilbert Then Was; That The Box Said To Contain

The Votes Of The Said County Was Delivered Into The Secretary'S Office

By Leonard Goes Previous To The Last Tuesday In May, Under A

Deputation From The Said Richard R. Smith;

Chapter XVI Pg 330

Together With The Said Box,

And At The Same Time, The Said Leonard Goes Delivered A Separate

Packet Or Enclosure, Which, By An Endorsement Thereon, Purported To

Contain 'The Ballots Received From The Town Of Cherry Valley, In The

County Of Otsego.'

 

 

"The Manner Of The Delivery Of The Said Box And Enclosure, And The

Authority Of The Said Leonard Goes, Were Reported To The Committee By

The Secretary Of The State.

 

 

"These Votes Were Not Canvassed For The Following Reasons:--

 

 

 

"1. The Committee Found Themselves Bound, By Their Oath And By The

Directions Of The Law Before Mentioned, To Canvass Only The Votes

Contained In The Boxes Which May Have Been Delivered Into The

Secretary'S Office By The _Sheriffs_ Of The Several Counties. It

Appeared To Them Absurd To Suppose This Duty Should Be So Expressly

Enjoined, And That They Should Nevertheless Be Prohibited From

Inquiring Whether The Boxes Were Or Were Not Delivered By Such

Officers; Or That They Should Be Restrained From Ascertaining A Fact,

Without The Knowledge Of Which It Was Impossible That They Could

Discharge The Duty With Certainty To The Public Or With Confidence To

Themselves. They Could Not Persuade Themselves That They Were, Under

_That_ Law And _That_ Oath, Compelled To Canvass And Estimate Votes,

However Fraudulently Obtained, Which Should Be Delivered Into The

Secretary'S Office _By Any Person Styling_ Himself Sheriff, Though It

Should At The Same Time Be Evident To Them That He Was _Not The

Sheriff_. If Such Was To Be Their Conduct, A Provision Intended As A

Security Against Impositions Would Be An Engine To Promote Them. They

Conceived, Therefore, That The Objection To An Inquiry So Important,

And In A Case Where The Question Was Raised And The Inquiry Imposed

Upon Them By The Suggestions Of The Secretary, Must Have Arisen From

Gross Misrepresentation Or Willful Error.

 

 

"Upon Investigating The Right Of The Said Richard R. Smith To Exercise

That Office, The Facts Appeared As Herein-Before Stated.

 

 

"2. The Constitution Requires That Sheriffs Shall Be _Annually

Appointed_; Which, To Our Apprehension, Implies That No Person Shall

Exercise The Office By Virtue Of Any Other Than An _Annual_

Appointment. And Should It Even Be Admitted That The Council May, At

_Their Pleasure_, Remove A Sheriff Within The Year, Yet We Do Not See

On What Ground It Can Be Denied That The Duration Of The Office Is

Limited To One Year, Unless A New Appointment Should Take Place. It

Would Otherwise Be True That The Council Could Indirectly, Or By A

Criminal Omission, Accomplish What Is Not Within Their Direct Or Legal

Authority. It Will Be Readily Admitted That An Appointment And

Commission For Three Years Would Be Void; And Surely The Pretence Of

One Thus Claiming Should Be Preferred To A Usurpation Without Even

Such Appearance Of Right, And Against The Known Right Of Another.

Chapter XVI Pg 331

To

Assert, Therefore, That 'By The Constitution The Sheriff, Whatever May

Be The Form Of His Commission, Must Hold His Office During The

Pleasure Of The Council Of Appointment; And That, By The Law Of The

Land, He Must Continue Therein Until Another Is Appointed And Has

Taken Upon Himself The Office,' Is An Assertion Accompanied With No

Proof Or Reason, And Is Repugnant To The Letter And Spirit Of The

Constitution, Which Is Eminently _The Law Of The Land_. The Practice

Which Has Prevailed Since The Revolution, As Far As Hath Come To Our

Knowledge, Does Not Warrant The Position; Neither Could Mere Practice,

If Such Had Prevailed, Justify The Adoption Of A Principle Contrary To

The Obvious Meaning Of The Constitution. Upon The Present Occasion We

Have Not Canvassed The Votes Of Any County Which Were Not Returned By

A Sheriff Holding His Office Under An Appointment Unexpired. The

Sheriffs Of Kings, Orange, And Washington Had All Been Reappointed

Within The Present Year, Which Satisfied The Words Of The

Constitution, And Was The _Known_ And Avowed Reason Which Influenced

The Committee To Estimate The Ballots Of Those Counties. The Doctrine

Concerning The Constitutional Pleasure Of The Council In The

Appointment Of The Office Of Sheriffs _Had Not Then Been Invented_.

 

 

"3. But Even Admitting The Visionary Idea That The Office Of Sheriff

(_Whose Duration Is Limited By The Constitution_) Can Nevertheless Be

Holden _During The Pleasure_ Of The Council Of Appointment, Yet That

Appears To Have Been Determined By The Letter Of The Appointment And

Commission, By The Appointment Of Benjamin Gilbert, By The Declaration

Of Richard R. Smith, And By His Acceptance And Exercise Of Another

Office, Which Is, By The Constitution, Declared To Be Incompatible

With The Office Of Sheriff.

 

 

"It Was Evident, Therefore, That Richard R. Smith Had No Authority By

Appointment, By Commission, By The Constitution, Or By Any Law, To

Hold Or Exercise The Office Of Sheriff On The Third Of May.

 

 

"4. As Richard R. Smith Was Not Legally Or Constitutionally Sheriff On

The Third Of May, Neither, Under The Circumstances Of The Case, Can He

Be Said To Have Been Sheriff In Fact, So As To Render His Acts Valid

In Contemplation Of Law: The Assumption Of Power By Mr. Smith Appears

To Have Been Warranted By No Pretence Or Colour Of Right. The Time

Limited For The Duration Of His Office Had Expired By The Express

Tenure Of His Commission And Appointment, And He Had Formally Declared

His Determination Not To Accept A Reappointment. He Had, Two Days

Previous To His Receiving The Ballots, Openly Exercised An Office

Incompatible With That Of Sheriff; Then Declared That He Had Resigned

The Office Of Sheriff, And That Benjamin Gilbert Was Appointed In His

Place; And By An Affidavit Which Was Produced To The Committee, It

Appeared That, Upon The Day Upon Which He Had Put Up The Ballots In

The House Of The Said William Cooper, He, The Said Richard R. Smith,

Declared That He Had Resigned The Office Of Sheriff. The Business

Might With Equal Care And Certainty Have Been Executed By Benjamin

Gilbert. The Single Act Of Receiving Ballots Could Of Itself Continue

_No Man_ A Sheriff--Least Of All _A Man Disavowing That Office, And

Then In The Exercise Of Another_.

Chapter XVI Pg 332

It Was Foreign To The Duty Of The

Committee To Provide Against Evils Which May Possibly Arise From

Casual Vacancies In The Office Of Sheriff By Death And Otherwise.

Vacancies Will Sometimes Unavoidably Happen, Without Further

Legislative Provision.

 

 

"There Is Not, Therefore, In Our Opinion, Any Application To The

Subject, Or Force In The Objection, 'That If Richard R. Smith Was Not

Sheriff, The County Was Without A Sheriff;' Neither Is The Position

True In Fact, For It Appears That The County Was Not Then Without A

Sheriff. At The Time The Ballots Were Received, It Was Well Known That

Benjamin Gilbert Was Appointed Sheriff, And That His Commission Was In

The Hands Of William Cooper, In Whose Store Richard R. Smith Put Up

The Ballots. It Is Also To Be Fairly Inferred That, Had Proper

Measures Been Taken To Give Notice To Mr. Gilbert, He Would Forthwith

Have Qualified And Undertaken The Execution Of The Office. It Cannot,

Therefore, Consistent With Truth Or Candour, Be Asserted That There

Was The Remotest Probability That 'Mischiefs' Could In Any Parallel

Case Ensue From The Principles Adopted By The Committee.

 

 

"It Did Not Seem Possible, Therefore, By Any Principle Of Law, By Any

Latitude Of Construction, To Canvass And Estimate The Ballots

Contained In The Box Thus Circumstanced.

 

 

"But, Had The Question Been Doubtful, It Was Attended By Other

Circumstances, Which Would Have Determined The Committee Against

Canvassing Those Ballots.

 

 

"5. Because The Notice Of The Appointment Of Benjamin Gilbert Was

Received By Richard R. Smith On Or Before The First Of May, And His

Commission Was Received By William Cooper On Or Before The Third Of

May. Mr. Gilbert Might Therefore Have Been Notified, Qualified, And

Executed The Duty. He Did Actually Qualify On The Eleventh, Which Gave

Ample Time To Have Forwarded The Ballots Before The Last Tuesday In

May. These Facts, With Other Suggestions Of Unfair Practices, Rendered

The Conduct Of The Otsego Election Justly Liable To Suspicion; And The

Committee Were Constrained To Conclude That The Usurpation Of

Authority By Richard R. Smith Was Wanton And Unnecessary, And

Proceeded From No Motive Connected With The Preservation Of The Rights

Of The People Or The Freedom And _Purity Of Elections_.

 

 

"6. Because, Having In Several Instances, By _Unanimous Vote_,

Rejected Ballots Of Whole Towns, Free From Any Suspicion Of

Unfairness, By Reason Of A Defect In _Form Only_ Of The Return, The

Committee Conceived Themselves The More Strongly Bound To Reject

Ballots Where The Defect Was Substantial, And The Conduct At Least

Questionable;

Chapter XVI Pg 333

Especially As The Law Regards The Custody Of Enclosures

Containing The Ballots As A Trust Of High Importance, And Contemplates

But Three Persons In Whose Hands They Are To Be Confided Until They

Come To The Possession Of The Canvassers, To Wit, The Inspector, The

Sheriff, And The Secretary; All Officers Of Great Responsibility And

Confidence.

 

 

"7. Because The Return, Upon The Face Of It, Appeared To Be Illegal.

The Law Requires The Sheriff, 'Upon Receiving The Said Enclosure,

Directed To Be Delivered To Him As Aforesaid, Without Opening Or

Inspecting The Same, Or Any Or Either Of Them, To Put The Said

Enclosures, And _Every One Of Them, Into One Box_, Which Shall Be Well

Closed, &C., And Be Delivered By Him, Without Opening The Same, Or The

Enclosures Therein Contained, Into The Office Of The Secretary Of This

State Before The Last Tuesday In May In Every Year.'

 

 

"By Recurring To The Preceding State Of Facts It Will Be Evident That

This Direction Of The Law Had Been Disregarded. If Irregularities Of

This Kind Should Be Permitted And Countenanced, It Would Be In The

Power Of The Sheriff, By Excluding A Part Of The Votes, To Confer A

Majority On Any Candidate, In Counties Where There Were Divisions Of

Interests. Affidavits Were Indeed Produced Tending To Show That There

Had Been, In That Town, Disputes Respecting The Election Of Town

Officers; That Two Enclosures, Purporting To Contain The Votes Of The

Town, Were Delivered To Mr. Smith, And That He Had Put Into The Box

That Enclosure Which Contained The Votes Taken By The Persons Whom _He

Judged_ To Be The Legal Inspectors: A Matter Proper To Have Been

Submitted To The Opinion Of The Committee.

 

 

"The Committee Have Considered This Subject With Deliberate Attention,

And In Every Light In Which It Could Be Placed; And Whether They

Regarded The Channels Of Conveyance, The Mode Of The Return, Or The

General Principles Which Ought To Govern Their Decisions Touching The

Freedom Of Elections And Security Against Frauds, They Found

Undeniable Reasons Which Compelled Them To Reject The Votes.

 

 

"David Gelston,

 

 

"Thomas Tillotson,

 

 

"Daniel Graham,

 

 

"Melancton Smith,

 

 

"David M'Carty,

 

 

"P.V. Courtlandt, Jun.,

Chapter XVI Pg 334

"Jonathan N. Havens."

 

 

On The 18Th Of January, 1793, The House Of Assembly Passed The

Following Resolutions On The Subject. "Thereupon, _Resolved_, That The

Mode Of Prosecuting Any Joint Committee Of The Senate And Assembly,

Appointed For The Purpose Of Canvassing And Estimating The Votes Taken

In This State For Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, And Senators, And The

Penalties To Be Inflicted On Such Committee, Or Any Of Them, For Any

Improper Conduct In The Execution Of The Trust Reposed In Them By Law,

Are Clearly Pointed Out In The Twentieth And Twenty-First Sections Of

The Act For Regulating Elections, Passed The 13Th Day Of February, One

Thousand Seven Hundred And Eighty-Seven; And That, Therefore, Any

Person Or Persons Who May Suppose That Any Such Joint Committee, Or

Any Of Them Have Conducted Themselves Improperly In The Execution Of

The Trust Reposed In Them, May Prosecute The Same To Effect In The

Ordinary Course Of Law.

 

 

"_Resolved_, That Notwithstanding This Provision In The Act For

Regulating Elections, This House Hath Gone Into An Inquiry With

Respect To The Conduct Of The Late Committee Appointed To Canvass And

Estimate The Votes For Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, And Senators,

Taken At The Last General Election Held In This State, _To The Intent_

That Satisfaction May Be Given Those Citizens Of The State Who Have

Been Dissatisfied With The Decision Of The Major Part Of The Said

Committee, With Respect To The Votes Taken In The Counties Of Otsego,

Tioga, And Clinton.

 

 

"_Resolved_, That After A Full And Fair Examination Into The Conduct

Of The Major Part Of The Said Canvassing Committee, It Does Not Appear

To This House That The Said Major Part Of The Committee, To Wit: David

Gelston, Thomas Tillotson, Daniel Graham, Melancton Smith, David

M'Carty, Pierre Van Courtlandt, Junior, And Jonathan N. Havens, Have

Been Guilty Of Any Mal Or Corrupt Conduct In The Execution Of The

Trust Reposed In Them By Law.

 

 

"And Whereas, By The Eleventh Section Of The Act For Regulating

Elections, It Is Enacted That All Questions Which Shall Arise Upon Any

Canvass And Estimate, Or Upon Any Of The Proceedings Therein, Shall Be

Determined According To The Opinion Of The Major Part Of The Said

Canvassing Committee, And That Their Judgment And Determination Shall

In All Cases Be Binding And Conclusive; Therefore,

 

 

"_Resolved_, As The Sense Of This House, That The Legislature Cannot

Annul Or Make Void Any Of The Determinations Of The Said Committee."

 

 

The Question Was Taken On The Preceding Resolutions Together, By Yeas

And Nays, And Passed In The Affirmative. Ays 35. Nays 22.

Chapter XVI Pg 335

Among The Individuals For Whom Colonel Burr Entertained A High Degree

Of Respect, Was Jacob De Lamater, Esq., Of Marbletown. Between These

Gentlemen, For Several Years, A Friendly, And, In Some Instances, A

Confidential Correspondence Existed. Mr. De Lamater Was A Federalist,

But Personally Attached To Colonel Burr. In 1792 He Was Among Those

Who Wished Him To Become A Candidate For The Office Of Governor. After

The Death Of De Lamater, The Letters Addressed To Him By Colonel Burr

Were Returned. They Were Written Under The Sacred Seal Of Friendship;

But They Contain Not A Sentence, Not A Word, That Is Not Alike

Honourable To His Head And His Heart. One Is Selected And Here

Published As Explanatory Of His _Feelings_ And His _Conduct_ In The

Contested Election (Which So Much Agitated The State Of New-York)

Between George Clinton And John Jay. It Requires No Comment.

Chapter XVI Pg 336

To Mr. De Lamater

 

 

New-York, 15Th June, 1792.

 

 

My Dear Sir,

 

 

You Will, Before This Can Reach You, Have Heard Of The Event Of The

Late Election. Some Questions Having Arisen Among The Canvassers

Respecting The Returns From Clinton, Otsego, And Tioga, They Requested

The Advice Of Mr. King And Myself. We Conferred, And, Unfortunately,

Differed; Particularly As To The Questions Upon The Otsego Return. I

Therefore Proposed That We Should Decline Giving Any Opinion, Being

For My Own Part Much Averse To Interfere In The Business. Mr. King,

However, Determined To Give His Separate Opinion, From What Motives

You May Judge. This Laid Me Under The Necessity Of Giving Mine Also,

Which I Did. If I Can Procure Copies Of Both Opinions, And Of The

Protest Of The Minority, And The Reasons Assigned By The Majority Of

The Canvassers, I Will Send Them Herewith. They Will Enable You To

Form A Competent Judgment Of The Law Question, And Of The Fairness Of

The Otsego Return.

 

 

I Do Not See How Any Unbiased Man Can Doubt, But Still I Do Not

Pretend To Control The Opinion Of Others, Much Less To Take Offence At

Any Man For Differing From Me. The Reasons Contained In My Opinion,

And Assigned By The Majority Of The Canvassers, Have Never Been

Answered Except By Abuse. I Can, In A Personal Interview, Inform You

Of Some Circumstances Relative To The Opinions Which Have Been

Procured In Favour Of The Otsego Votes.

 

 

I Have Heard With Much Pride And Pleasure Of The Warm And

Disinterested Manner In Which I Was Espoused By Some Respectable

Characters In Your County. I Shall Never Fail To Recollect It With

Sensibility And Gratitude. It Would Therefore Give Me Real Pain To

Believe That Any Part Of My Conduct Had Tended To Thwart Their Wishes.

If It Has Had Any Such Effect, It Should At Least Be Remembered That I

Did Not Seek To Gratify Any Wish Or Interest Of My Own. I Took No Part

In The Election. I Never Gave To Any Person The Most Distant

Intimation That I Supposed You Engaged To Support Mr. Clinton, Or To

Take Any Other Part Than That Which Your Inclinations And Judgment

Should Direct. I Felt No Disposition To Influence Your Conduct On That

Occasion. Had I Been So Inclined, I Have No Doubt But I Could, In

Various Parts Of The State, Have Essentially Injured Mr. Jay'S

Interest; But I Made No Attempt Of The Kind. Yet I Shall Never Yield

Up The Right Of Expressing My Opinions. I Have Never Exacted That

Tribute From Another.

 

 

Upon The Late Occasion, Indeed, I Earnestly Wished And Sought To Be

Relieved From The Necessity Of Giving Any Opinion, Particularly From A

Knowledge That It Would Be Disagreeable To You And A Few Others Whom I

Respect And Wish Always To Gratify. But The Conduct Of Mr. King Left

Me No Alternative. I Was Obliged To Give An Opinion, And I Have Not

Yet Learned To Give Any Other Than Which My Judgment Directs.

 

 

It Would, Indeed, Be The Extreme Of Weakness In Me To Expect

Friendship From Mr. Clinton. I Have Too Many Reasons To Believe That

He Regards Me With Jealousy And Malevolence. Still, This Alone Ought

Not To Have Induced Me To Refuse My Advice To The Canvassers. Some

Pretend, Indeed, But None Can Believe, That I Am Prejudiced In His

Favour. I Have Not Even Seen Or Spoken To Him Since January Last. I

Wish To Merit The Flattering Things You Say Of My Talents; But Your

Expressions Of Esteem And Regard Are Still More Flattering, And These,

I Am Sure, I Shall Never Fail To Merit, If The Warmest Friendship And

Unalterable Attachment Can Give Me A Claim.

 

 

Will You Be Abroad Any, And What Part Of The Summer? I Ask, Because I

Propose To Make You A Visit On My Way To, Or Return From, Albany, And

Wish To Be Certain Of Finding You At Home. No Political Changes Can

Ever Diminish The Pleasure With Which I Subscribe Myself

 

 

Your Affectionate Friend,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVI Pg 337

The Following Letter Is Evidence Of Colonel Burr'S Propensity To

Correspond In Cipher With His Most Intimate Friends, Even On

Unimportant Topics. Hundreds Of The Same Character Might Be Given.

Chapter XVIPg 338

To Jacob De Lamater.

 

 

New-York, October 30Th, 1792

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

Your Letter By Mr. Addison Was Particularly Kind, After My Long

_Supposed_ Silence. We May Make Use Of _Both Keys Or Ciphers_, And If

Some Of The Persons Or Things Are Designated By Different Characters,

No Inconvenience Will Arise; If There Should, We Will Correct It.

 

 

_V_ Is To Be The Candidate, As My Former Letter Will Have Told You: He

Has The Wishes Of 9 For His Success, For Reasons Which Will Be Obvious

To You. Do You Think That 8 Would Be Induced From Any Motive To Vote

For Him?

 

 

Yours Affectionately,

 

 

A. Burr.

Footnote Pg 339

 

 

 

1. 17 Ed., Ch. 7, More General.

Footnote Pg 340

 

 

2. 2 Hawks., 5, 51, Irish Oct. Edit., 2 Mod. 261 Statute 1 Wm. And

Mary, Sess. 2, Ch. 2. See Also Sec. 12 Of The Same Statute.

Chapter XVII Pg 341

 

 

 

On The 2D Of October, 1792, Governor Clinton Nominated Colonel Burr To

The Council Of Appointment As Judge Of The Supreme Court Of The State,

Which Nomination Was Immediately Confirmed. Thus, Within The Short

Space Of About Three Years, He Was Appointed By The Democratic Party

To The Several Important Stations Of Attorney-General, Senator Of The

United States, And Judge Of The Supreme Court.

Chapter XVII Pg 342

The Last Appointment

Was Made Without Consulting Mr. Burr. As Soon As He Was Notified Of

The Fact, He Informed The Governor Of His Non-Acceptance; Yet So

Anxious Was His Excellency, And So Strong Were His Hopes That Colonel

Burr Might Be Induced To Withdraw His Resignation, That Be Refused To

Lay It Before The Council Until The Legislature, On The 7Th Of

December, Adopted The Following Resolution--

 

 

"Whereas It Appears To The Legislature, By The Records Of The Council

Of Appointment, That Aaron Burr, Esq., One Of The Senators For This

State In The Senate Of The United States, Was, On The 2D Day Of

October Last, Appointed One Of The Puisne Justices Of The Supreme

Court Of Judicature Of This State: Thereupon,

 

 

"_Resolved_ (If The Honourable The Senate Concur Herein), That His

Excellency The Governor Be And Hereby Is Requested To Inform The

Legislature Whether The Said Aaron Burr Hath Accepted Or Refused The

Said Office."

 

 

On The 24Th Of October, 1791, Congress Convened, And Colonel Burr Took

His Seat In The Senate Of The United States. In Those Days It Was The

Practice Of The President, Accompanied By The Heads Of Departments, To

Proceed To Congress Hall For The Purpose Of Meeting The Two Branches

Of The National Legislature, And Opening The Session With A Speech, To

Which A Response Was Made By Each Body Separately. On The 25Th The

President Made His Annual Communication; Whereupon The Senate

"_Ordered_, That Messrs. Burr, Cabot, And Johnston Be A Committee To

Prepare And Report The Draught Of An Address To The President Of The

United States, In Answer To His Speech, Delivered This Day To Both

Houses Of Congress In The Senate Chamber."

 

 

The Next Day Colonel Burr, As Chairman Of The Committee, Draughted And

Reported An Answer, Which Was Adopted By The Senate Without Alteration

Or Amendment: An Occurrence, It Is Believed, That Happened In Only Two

Other Instances During The Period That Speeches Were Delivered By The

Executive. After The Election Of Mr. Jefferson The System Of Sending

Messages Was Substituted.

 

 

The Journals Of The Senate Afford Ample Evidence That Colonel Burr Was

An Industrious And Efficient Member Of That Body. During The First

Session Of His Term Of Service He Was Placed On Numerous Committees,

Some Of Them Important, And Generally As Chairman. His Business Habits

Soon Became Evident, And Were Called Into Operation. His Character For

Firmness Was Well Established Before Be Took His Seat In The Senate;

But On The 9Th Of January, 1794, It Was Displayed With Effect. In

Consequence Of A Difference Between The Two Houses, A Bill To Increase

The Standing Army Was Lost.

Chapter XVII Pg 343

Mr. King, Of New-York, By Consent, Introduced A New Bill; It Was

Entitled "An Act For The More Effectual Protection Of The Southwestern

Frontier Settlers." Unsuccessful Efforts Were Made By Colonel Burr And

Others To Amend It, By Striking Out Some Of Its Most Odious Features;

But There Was A Decided Majority, As It Was Known To Be An

Administration Measure, Determined On Carrying It Through. The Bill

Was Ordered To Be Engrossed For A Third Reading, And The Question On

Its Passage Was To Be Taken On The Last Day Of The Session. By The

Rules Of The Senate, The Question Could Not Be Put If Any Member

Objected. Colonel Burr Objected, And The Bill Was Thus Defeated.

 

 

Notwithstanding His Public Engagements, Colonel Burr'S Mind Was

Constantly Employed With The Education Of His Daughter. Mrs. Burr'S

Health Was Gradually Declining, Insomuch That She Was Unable, At

Times, To Attend To Her Domestic Concerns. This To Him Was A Source Of

Unceasing Care And Apprehension. His Letters To His Daughter Are

Numerous. They Are Frequently Playful, Always Interesting, Displaying

The Solicitude Of An Affectionate Father Anxious For The Improvement

Of His Child.

Chapter XVII Pg 344

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Philadelphia, 18Th January, 1793.

 

 

By The Enclosed To Mr. Gurney, [1] I Have Requested Him To Write Me A

Letter Respecting The Health Of The Family, And Theo.'S Improvement.

Request Him To Enclose, On A Separate Sheet, Some Columns Of Figures,

Pounds, Shillings, And Pence. I Shall Show The Letter And Enclosure As

A Specimen Of His Talents To Some Persons To Whom I Wish To Recommend

Him. Beg Him To Use No Uncommon Word Or Expression. He Will Pardon

This Piece Of Advice When He Recollects That I Know So Much Better

Than He Does What Will Suit The Persons To Whom It Is To Be Shown. If

He Should Offer His Letter For Your Perusal Before He Sends It, Remark

Freely; It Will Be A Kindness Of Which No One Is So Capable.

 

 

Should This Come To Hand After He Has Given His Lesson On Saturday,

Send Him His Letter, And Request Him To Call On You, If You Should Be

Able To Bear Five Minutes Conversation With Him.

 

 

I Wrote You Yesterday, And Have Nothing To Add Respecting Myself; And

Only A Repetition Of My Prayers For You, With My Most Affectionate And

Anxious Wishes.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 345

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Philadelphia, 8Th February, 1793.

 

 

You May Recollect That I Left A Memorandum Of What Theo. Was To Learn.

I Hope It Has Been Strictly Attended To. Desire Gurney Not To Attempt

To Teach Her Any Thing About The "Concords." I Will Show Him How I

Choose That Should Be Done When I Return, Which, I Thank God, Is But

Three Weeks Distant.

 

 

It Is Eight Days Since I Left Home, And I Have Not A Word From Any One

Of The Family, Nor Even About Any One Of Them. I Have Been Out But

Once, Half An Hour At Mrs. P.'S, A Concert; But I Call Often At Mrs.

L.'S. I Am More And More Struck With The Native Good Sense Of One Of

That Family, And More And More Disgusted With The Manner In Which It

Is Obscured And Perverted: Cursed Effects Of Fashionable Education! Of

Which Both Sexes Are The Advocates, And Yours Eminently The Victims.

If I Could Foresee That Theo. Would Become A _Mere_ Fashionable Woman,

With All The Attendant Frivolity And Vacuity Of Mind, Adorned With

Whatever Grace And Allurement, I Would Earnestly Pray God To Take Her

Forthwith Hence. But I Yet Hope, By Her, To Convince The World What

Neither Sex Appear To Believe--That Women Have Souls!

 

 

Most Affectionately Yours,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 346

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Philadelphia, 15Th February, 1793.

 

 

I Received With Joy And Astonishment, On Entering The Senate This

Minute, Your Two Elegant And Affectionate Letters. The Mail Closes In

A Few Minutes, And Will Scarce Allow Me To Acknowledge Your Goodness.

The Roads And Ferries Have Been For Some Days Almost Impassable, So

That Till Now No Post Has Arrived Since Monday.

 

 

It Was A Knowledge Of Your Mind Which First Inspired Me With A Respect

For That Of Your Sex, And With Some Regret, I Confess, That The Ideas

Which You Have Often Heard Me Express In Favour Of Female Intellectual

Powers Are Founded On What I Have Imagined, More Than What I Have

Seen, Except In You. I Have Endeavoured To Trace The Causes Of This

_Rare_ Display Of Genius In Women, And Find Them In The Errors Of

Education, Of Prejudice, And Of Habit. I Admit That Men Are Equally,

Nay More, Much More To Blame Than Women. Boys And Girls Are Generally

Educated Much In The Same Way Till They Are Eight Or Nine Years Of

Age, And It Is Admitted That Girls Make At Least Equal Progress With

The Boys; Generally, Indeed, They Make Better. Why, Then, Has It Never

Been Thought Worth The Attempt To Discover, By Fair Experiment, The

Particular Age At Which The Male Superiority Becomes So Evident? But

This Is Not In Answer To Your Letter; Neither Is It Possible Now To

Answer It. Some Parts Of It I Shall Never Answer. Your Allusions To

Departed Angels I Think In Bad Taste.

 

 

I Do Not Like Theo.'S Indolence, Or The Apologies Which Are Made For

It. Have My Directions Been Pursued With Regard To Her Latin And

Geography?

 

 

Your Plan And Embellishment Of My Mode Of Life Are Fanciful, Are

Flattering, And Inviting. We Will Endeavour To Realize Some Of It.

Pray Continue To Write, If You Can Do It With Impunity. I Bless Sir

J., Who, With The Assistance Of Heaven, Has Thus Far Restored You.

 

 

In The Course Of This Scrawl I Have Been Several Times Called To Vote,

Which Must Apologize To You For Its Incoherence. Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 347

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Philadelphia, 16Th February, 1793.

 

 

A Line Of Recollection Will, I Am Sure, Be More Acceptable Than

Silence. I Consider Myself As Largely In Your Debt, And Shall Of

Necessity Remain So.

 

 

You Have Heard Me Speak Of A Miss Woolstonecraft, Who Has Written

Something On The French Revolution; She Has Also Written A Book

Entitled "_Vindication Of The Rights Of Woman_." I Had Heard It Spoken

Of With A Coldness Little Calculated To Excite Attention; But As I

Read With Avidity And Prepossession Every Thing Written By A Lady, I

Made Haste To Procure It, And Spent The Last Night, Almost The Whole

Of It, In Reading It. Be Assured That Your Sex Has In _Her_ An Able

Advocate. It Is, In My Opinion, A Work Of Genius. She Has Successfully

Adopted The Style Of Rousseau'S Emilius; And Her Comment On That Work,

Especially What Relates To Female Education, Contains More Good Sense

Than All The Other Criticisms Upon Him Which I Have Seen Put Together.

I Promise Myself Much Pleasure In Reading It To You.

 

 

Is It Owing To Ignorance Or Prejudice That I Have Not Yet Met A Single

Person Who Had Discovered Or Would Allow The Merit Of This Work?

 

 

Three Mails Are In Arrear; That Of Tuesday Is The Last Which Has

Arrived. I Am Impatient To Know How Writing Agrees With You. Pray Let

Me Hear, From Day To Day, The Progress Of Your Cure. Most

Affectionately Yours,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 348

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Philadelphia, 18Th February, 1793.

 

 

Just What I Apprehended, I Find, Has Taken Place. Three Sheets Were

Too Much For A First Attempt. It Will, I Fear, Discourage You, If Not

Disable You From More Moderate Experiments. Yet I Will Hope To Receive

By This Day'S Mail At Least One Line, Announcing Your Progressive

Recovery, Under Your Own Hand.

 

 

Be Assured That, After What You Have Written, I Shall Not Send For

Gurney. Deliver Him The Enclosed. I Hope It May Animate His Attention;

And Tell Him, If You Think Proper, That I Shall Be Much Dissatisfied

If Theo.'S Progress In Latin Be Not Very Considerable At My Return.

Geography Has, I Hope, Been Abandoned, For He Has No Talent At

Teaching It.

 

 

The Close Of A Session Being Always Crowded With Business, Keeps Me

Much Engaged. You Must Expect Short Letters--Mere Notes. Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 349

To His Daughter Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 20Th February, 1793.

 

 

At Length, My Dear Theo., I Have Received Your Letter Of The 20Th Of

January--Written, You See, A Month Ago. But I Observe That It Was Not

Put Into The Postoffice Until The Day Before Yesterday. I Suppose

Frederick Or Bartow Had Carelessly Put It In Some Place Where It Had

Lain Forgotten. It Would Indeed Have Been A Pity That Such A Letter

Should Have Been Lost. There Is Something In The Style And Arrangement

Of The Words Which Would Have Done Honour To A Girl Of Sixteen.

 

 

All Three Of The Miss A.'S Will Visit New-York Next Summer, And Pass

Some Weeks There. I Hope To Be At Home In Ten Or Twelve Days From This

Time. Let Me Receive One Or Two More Letters From You, Even If You Are

Obliged To Neglect A Lesson To Find Time To Write Them.

 

 

Alexis [2] Often Bids Me To Send You Some Polite And Respectful

Message On His Part, Which I Have Heretofore Omitted. He Is A

Faithful, Good Boy. Upon Our Return Home He Hopes You Will Teach Him

To Read.

 

 

I Am, My Dear Theo.,

 

 

Your Affectionate Papa,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 350

To His Daughter Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 24Th February, 1793

 

 

My Dear Theo.,

 

 

In Looking Over A List Made Yesterday (And Now Before Me), Of Letters

Of Consequence To Be Answered Immediately, I Find The Name Of T.B.

Burr. At The Time I Made The Memorandum I Did Not Advert To The

Compliment I Paid You By Putting Your Name In A List With Some Of The

Most Eminent Persons In The United States. So True Is It That Your

Letters Are Really Of Consequence To _Me_. I Now Allude To That Of The

19Th Instant, Covering A Fable And Riddle. If The Whole Performance

Was Your Own, Which I Am Inclined To Hope And Believe, It Indicates An

Improvement In Style, In Knowledge Of The French, And In Your

Handwriting. I Have Therefore Not Only Read It Several Times, But

Shown It To Several Persons With Pride And Pleasure.

 

 

I Confess Myself Unable To Solve Your Riddle, Unless The _Teeth_ Or

The _Alphabet_ (Generally Supposed To Be Twenty-Four In Each) Will

Give The Solution. But I Have Not Yet Had An Opportunity To Consult

Miss P. A. To-Morrow I Shall Call On Her For The Purpose, And Will Not

Fail To Inform You Of Her Conjectures On The Subject.

 

 

Your Affectionate Papa,

 

 

A. Burr,

Chapter XVII Pg 351

To His Daughter Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 16Th December, 1793.

 

 

I Have A Thousand Questions To Ask, My Dear Theo., But Nothing To

Communicate; And Thus I Fear It Will Be Throughout The Winter, For My

Time Is Consumed In The Dull Uniformity Of Study And Attendance In

Senate; But Every Hour Of _Your_ Day Is Interesting To _Me_. I Would

Give, What Would I Not Give To See Or Know Even Your Most Trifling

Actions And Amusements? This, However, Is More Than I Can Ask Or

Expect. But I Do Expect With Impatience Your Journal. Ten Minutes

Every Evening I Demand; If You Should Choose To Make It Twenty, I

Shall Be The Better Pleased. You Are To Note The Occurrences Of The

Day As Concisely As You Can; And, At Your Pleasure, To Add Any Short

Reflections Or Remarks That May Arise. On The Other Leaf I Give You A

Sample Of The Manner Of Your Journal For One Day.

 

 

18Th December,

 

 

I Began This Letter At The Date Which You See, Being Monday Last--Was

Interrupted, And The Mail Closed. Yesterday I Was Confined With A

Severe Headache, Owing, I Believe, To A Change From An Active To A

Sedentary Life Without A Corresponding Change In Diet.

 

 

A Week And More Has Elapsed Since I Left Home, And Not A Line From

You; Not Even The Sunday Letter. Observe, That The Journal Is To Be

Sent To Me Enclosed In A Letter Every Monday Morning.

 

 

_Plan Of The Journal._

 

 

16Th December, 1793.

 

 

Learned 230 Lines, Which Finished Horace. Heigh-Ho For Terence And The

Greek Grammar To-Morrow.

 

 

Practised Two Hours Less Thirty-Five Minutes, Which I Begged Off.

 

 

Hewlett (Dancing-Master) Did Not Come.

 

 

Began Gibbon Last Evening. I Find He Requires As Much Study And

Attention As Horace; So I Shall Not Rank The Reading Of _Him_ Among

Amusements.

 

 

Skated An Hour; Fell Twenty Times, And Find The Advantage Of A Hard

Head And

 

 

Ma Better--Dined With Us At Table, And Is Still Sitting Up And Free

From Pain.

 

 

Your Affectionate Papa,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 352

To Mrs. Burr.

 

 

Philadelphia, 24Th December, 1793.

 

 

Since Being At This Place I Have Had Several Conversations With Dr.

Rush Respecting Your Distressing Illness, And I Have Reason To Believe

That He Has Given The Subject Some Reflection. He Has This Evening

Called On Me, And Given Me As His Advice That You Should Take Hemlock.

He Says That, In The Way In Which It Is Usually Prepared, You Should

Commence With A Dose Of One Tenth Of A Grain, And Increase As You May

Find You Can Bear It; That It Has The Narcotic Powers Of Opium,

Superadded To Other Qualities. When The Dose Is Too Great, It May Be

Discovered By A Vertigo Or Giddiness; And That He Has Known It To Work

Wonderful Cures. I Was The More Pleased With This Advice, As I Had Not

Told Him That You Had Been In The Use Of This Medicine; The

Concurrence Of His Opinion Gives Me Great Faith In It. God Grant That

It May Restore Your Health, And To Your Affectionate

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 353

To His Daughter Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 25Th December, 1793.

 

 

The Letter, My Dear Theo., Which (I Have No Doubt) You Wrote Me Last

Sunday, Has Not Yet Come To Hand. Am I To Blame Strong? Or The

Postmaster? Or Whom?

 

 

When You Have Finished A Letter, Read It Carefully Over, And Correct

All The Errors You Can Discover. In Your Last There Were Some Which

Could Not, Upon An Attentive Perusal, Have Escaped Your Notice, As You

Shall See When We Meet.

 

 

I Have Asked You A Great Many Questions, To Which I Have As Yet No

Answers. When You _Sit_ Down To Write To Me, Or When You _Set_ About

It, Be It Sitting Or Standing, Peruse All My Letters, And Leave

Nothing Unanswered. Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 354

To His Daughter Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 31St December, 1793.

 

 

I Received Your Letter And Journal Yesterday In The Senate Chamber,

Just Before The Closing Of The Mail, So That I Had Only Time To

Acknowledge It By A Hasty Line. You See I Never Let Your Letters

Remain A Day Unanswered, In Which I Wish You Would Imitate Me. Your

Last Had No Date; From The Last Date In The Journal, And Your Writing

About Christmas Holydays As Yet At Some Distance, I Suppose You Wrote

About Sunday The 22D. Nine Days Ago! I Beg You Again To Read Over All

My Letters, And To Let Me See By Your Answers That You Attend To Them.

I Suspect Your Last Journal Was Not Written From Day To Day; But All

On One, Or At Most Two Days, From Memory. How Is This? Ten Or Fifteen

Minutes Every Evening Would Not Be An Unreasonable Sacrifice From

_You_ To _Me_. If You Took The Christmas Holydays, I Assent: If You

Did Not, We Cannot Recall The Time. This Is All The Answer Which That

Part Of Your Letter Now Admits Of.

 

 

It Is Said That Some Few Yet Die Of The Yellow Fever Which Lately

Raged Here; But The Disorder Does Not Appear To Be, _At Present_, In

Any Degree Contagious; What _May_ Be The Case Upon The Return Of Warm

Weather, Is A Subject Of Anxious Conjecture And Apprehension. It Is

Probable That The Session Of Congress Will Continue Into The Summer.

 

 

Give A Place To Your Mamma'S Health In Your Journal. Omit The Formal

Conclusion Of Your Letters, And Write Your Name In A Larger Hand. I Am

Just Going To Senate, Where I Hope To Meet A Letter From You, With A

Continuation Of Your Journal Down To The 29Th Inclusive, Which, If It

Gives A Good Account Of You And Mamma, Will Gladden The Heart Of

 

 

A Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 355

To His Daughter Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 31St December, 1793.

 

 

This Day'S Mail Has Brought Me Nothing From You. I Have But Two

Letters In Three, Almost Four Weeks, And The Journal Is Ten Days In

Arrear. What--Can Neither Affection Nor Civility Induce You To Devote

To Me The Small Portion Of Time Which I Have Required? Are Authority

And Compulsion Then The Only Engines By Which You Can Be Moved? For

Shame, Theo.! Do Not Give Me Reason To Think So Ill Of You.

 

 

I Wrote You This Morning, And Have Nothing To Add But The Repetition

Of My Warmest Affection.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 356

To His Daughter Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 4Th January, 1794.

 

 

At The Moment Of Closing The Mail Yesterday, I Received Your Letter

Enclosing The Pills. I Cannot Refer To It By Date, As It Has None.

Tell Me Truly, Did You Write It Without Assistance? Is The Language

And Spelling Your Own? If So, It Does You Much Honour. The Subject Of

It Obliged Me To Show It To Dr. Rush, Which I Did With Great Pride. He

Inquired Your Age Half A Dozen Times, And Paid Some Handsome

Compliments To The Handwriting, The Style, And The Correctness Of Your

Letter.

 

 

The Account Of Your Mamma'S Health Distresses Me Extremely. If She

Does Not Get Better Soon, I Will Quit Congress Altogether And Go Home.

Doctor Rush Says That The Pills Contain Two Grains Each Of Pure And

Fresh Extract Of Hemlock; That The Dose Is Not Too Large If The

Stomach And Head Can Bear It; That He Has Known Twenty Grains Given At

A Dose With Good Effect. To Determine, However, Whether This Medicine

Has Any Agency In Causing The Sick Stomach, He Thinks It Would Be Well

To Take An Occasion Of Omitting It For A Day Or Two, If Doctor Bard

Should Approve Of Such An Experiment, And Entertains Any Doubts About

The Effects Of The Pills On The Stomach. Some Further Conversation

Which I Have Had With Doctor Rush Will Be Contained In A Letter Which

I Shall Write By This Post To Doctor Bard.

 

 

My Last Letter To You Was Almost An Angry One, At Which You Cannot Be

Much Surprised When You Recollect The Length Of Time Of Your Silence,

And That You Are My Only Correspondent Respecting The Concerns Of The

Family. I Expect, On Monday Or Tuesday Next, To Receive The

Continuation Of Your Journal For _The Fortnight Past_.

 

 

Mr. Leshlie Will Tell You That I Have Given Directions For Your

Commencing Greek. One Half Hour Faithfully Applied By Yourself At

Study, And Another At Recitation With Mr. Leshlie, Will Suffice To

Advance You Rapidly.

 

 

Your Affectionate,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 357

To His Daughter Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 7Th January, 1794.

 

 

When Your Letters Are Written With Tolerable Spirit And Correctness, I

Read Them Two Or Three Times Before I Perceive Any Fault In Them,

Being Wholly Engaged With The Pleasure They Afford Me; But, For Your

Sake, It Is Necessary That I Should Also Peruse Them With An Eye Of

Criticism. The Following Are The Only Mispelled Words. You Write

_Acurate_ For _Accurate_; _Laudnam_ For _Laudanum_; _Intirely_ For

_Entirely_; This Last Word, Indeed, Is Spelled Both Ways, But Entirely

Is The Most Usual And The Most Proper.

 

 

Continue To Use All These Words In Your Next Letter, That I May See

That You Know The True Spelling. And Tell Me What Is Laudanum? Where

And How Made? And What Are Its Effects?

 

 

"It Was What She Had Long Wished For, And Was At A Loss How To Procure

_It_."

 

 

Don'T You See That This Sentence Would Have Been Perfect And Much More

Elegant Without The Last _It_? Mr. Leshlie Will Explain To You Why.

By-The-By, I Took The Liberty To Erase The Redundant _It_ Before I

Showed The Letter.

 

 

I Am Extremely Impatient For Your Farther Account Of Mamma'S Health.

The Necessity Of Laudanum Twice A Day Is A Very Disagreeable And

Alarming Circumstance. Your Letter Was Written A Week Ago, Since Which

I Have No Account. I Am Just Going To The Senate Chamber, Where I Hope

To Meet A Journal And Letter. Affectionately,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 358

To His Daughter Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 8Th January, 1794

 

 

Your Two Letters Of Friday And Saturday Came Together By Yesterday'S

Mail, Which Did Not Arrive Till Near Sunset. Your Letter Of Friday Was

Not Put Into The Postoffice Until Saturday Afternoon. You Might Have

As Well Kept It In Your Own Hands Till Monday Eleven O'Clock. Since

The Receipt Of These Letters I Have Been Three Times To Doctor Rush To

Consult Him About A Drink For Your Mamma; But Not Having Had The Good

Fortune To Find Him, Have Written To Him On The Subject. I Shall

Undoubtedly Procure An Answer In The Course Of This Day, And Will

Forward It By To-Morrow'S Post.

 

 

I Beg, Miss Prissy, That You Will Be Pleased To Name A Single

"_Unsuccessful Effort_" Which You Have Made To Please Me. As To The

Letters And Journals Which You _Did_ Write, Surely You Have Reason

Abundant To Believe That They Gave Me Pleasure; And How The Deuse I Am

To Be Pleased With Those You _Did Not_ Write, And How An Omission To

Write Can Be Called An "_Effort_," Remains For Your Ingenuity To

Disclose.

 

 

You Improve Much In Journalizing. Your Last Is Far More Sprightly Than

Any Of The Preceding. Fifty-Six Lines Sola Was, I Admit, _An Effort_

Worthy Of Yourself, And Which I Hope Will Be Often Repeated. But Pray,

When You Have Got Up To Two Hundred Lines A Lesson, Why Do You Go Back

Again To One Hundred And Twenty, And One Hundred And Twenty-Five? You

Should Strive Never To Diminish; But I Suppose That _Vis Inertia_,

Which Is Often So Troublesome To You, Does Some Times Preponderate. So

It Is Now And Then Even With Your

 

 

A. Burr.

 

 

Learn The Difference Between _Then_ And _Than_. You Will Soonest

Perceive It By Translating Them Into Latin.

 

 

Let Me See How Handsomely You Can Subscribe Your Name To Your Next

Letter, About This Size,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 359

To His Daughter Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 10Th Of January, 1794.

 

 

I Fear That You Will Imagine That I Have Been Inattentive To Your Last

Request About Dr. Rush; But The Truth Is, I Can Get Nothing

Satisfactory Out Of Him. He Enumerates Over To Me All The Articles

Which Have Been Repeatedly Tried, And Some Of Which Did Never Agree

With Your Mamma. He Is, However, Particularly Desirous That She Should

Again Try Milk--A Spoonful Only At A Time: Another Attempt, He Thinks,

Should Be Made With Porter, In Some Shape Or Other. Sweet Oil,

Molasses, And Milk, In Equal Proportions, He Has Known To Agree With

Stomachs Which Had Rejected Every Thing Else. Yet He Says, And With

Show Of Reason, That These Things Depend So Much On The Taste, The

Habits Of Life, The Peculiarity Of Constitution, That She And Her

Attending Physician Can Be The Best, If Not The Only Advisers. It

Gives Me Very Great Pleasure To Learn That She Is Now Better. I Shall

Write You Again On Sunday, Having Always Much To Say To You

 

 

Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 360

To Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 13Th January, 1794.

 

 

Your Letter Of The 9Th, My Dear Theo., Was A Most Agreeable Surprise

To Me. I Had Not Dared Even To Hope For One Until To-Morrow. In One

Instance, At Least, An Attempt To Please Me Has Not Been

"Unsuccessful." You See I Do Not Forget That Piece Of Impudence.

 

 

Doctor Rush Says That He Cannot Conceive Animal Food To Be

Particularly Necessary; Nourishment Is The Great Object. He Approves

Much Of The Milk Punch And Chocolate. The Stomach Must On No Account

Be Offended. The Intermission Of The Pills For A Few Days (Not However

For A Whole Week) He Thinks Not Amiss To Aid In Determining Its

Effects. The Quantity May Yet Be Increased Without Danger, But The

Present Dose Is In His Opinion Sufficient; But After Some Days

Continual Use, A Small Increase Might Be Useful.

 

 

I Was Yesterday Thronged With Company From Eight In The Morning Till

Eleven At Night. The Greek Signature, Though A Little Mistaken, Was

Not Lost Upon Me. I Have A Letter From Mr. Leshlie, Which Pays You

Many Compliments. He Has Also Ventured To Promise That You Will Every

Day Get A Lesson In Terence By Yourself. You Know How Grateful This

Will Be To

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 361

To Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 14Th January, 1794.

 

 

I Really Think, My Dear Theo., That You Will Be Very Soon Beyond All

Verbal Criticism, And That My Whole Attention Will Be Presently

Directed To The Improvement Of Your Style. Your Letter Of The 9Th Is

Remarkably Correct In Point Of Spelling. That Word Rec_Ie_Ved Still

Escapes Your Attention. Try Again. The Words _Wold_ And _Shold_ Are

Mere Carelessness; Necess_E_Ry Instead Of Necess_A_Ry, Belongs, I

Suspect To The Same Class.

 

 

"Dr. B. Called Here, But Did Not Speak Of His Having Rec_Ie_Ved A

Letter From You, But Desired," &C.

 

 

When I Copied The Foregoing, I Intended To Have Shown You How To

Improve It; But, Upon Second Thought, Determine To Leave It To

Yourself. Do Me The Favour To _Endorse_ It On, Or _Subjoin_ It To,

Your Next Letter, Corrected And Varied According To The Best Of Your

Skill.

 

 

"Ma Begs You Will Omit The Thoughts Of Leaving Congress," &C.; "Omit"

Is Improperly Used Here. You Mean "_Abandon, Relinquish, Renounce_, Or

_Abjure_ The Thoughts," &C. Your Mamma, Mr. Leshlie, Or Your

Dictionary (Johnson'S Folio), Will Teach You The Force Of This

Observation. The Last Of These Words Would Have Been Too Strong For

The Occasion. You Have Used With _Propriety_ The Words "Encomium" And

"Adopted." I Hope You May Have Frequent Occasion For The Former, With

The Like Application.

 

 

"Cannot Be Committed To Paper," Is Well Expressed.

 

 

A. Burr.

 

Chapter XVII Pg 362

To Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 16Th January, 1794.

 

 

I Hope The Mercury, If Tried, Will Be Used With The Most Vigilant

Caution And The Most Attentive Observation Of Its First Effects. I Am

Extremely Anxious And Apprehensive About The Event Of Such An

Experiment.

 

 

I Fear, My Dear Little Girl, That My Letter Of The 13Th Imposed Too

Much Upon You; If So, Dispense With What You May Find Too Troublesome.

You Perceive By This License The Entire Confidence Which I Place In

Your Discretion.

 

 

Your Journal Still Advances Towards Perfection. But The Letter Which

Accompanied It Is, I Remark With Regret, Rather A Falling Off. I Have

Received None More Carelessly Written, Or With More Numerous Omissions

Of Words. I Am Sensible That Many Apologies Are At Hand; But You,

Perhaps, Would Not Be Sensible That Any Were Necessary, If I Should

Omit To Remind You.

 

 

On Sunday Se'Nnight (I Think The 26Th) I Shall, Unless Baffled Or

Delayed By Ice Or Weather, Be With You At Richmond Hill. I Will Not

Bid You Adieu Till The Friday Preceding. In The Interim, We Shall

Often In This Way Converse.

 

 

I Continue The Practice Of Scoring Words For Our Mutual Improvement.

The Use, As Applicable To You, Was Indicated In A Former Letter.

 

 

I Am Sure You Will Be Charmed With The Greek Language Above All

Others. Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 363

To Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 23D January, 1794.

 

 

Io, Triumphe! There Is Not A Word Mispelled Either In Your Journal Or

Letter, Which Cannot Be Said Of A Single Page You Ever Before Wrote.

The Fable Is Quite Classical, And, If Not Very Much Corrected By Mr.

Leshlie, Is Truly A Surprising Performance, And Written Most

Beautifully. But What Has Become Of Poor Alpha Beta? Discouraged? That

Is Impossible. Laid Aside For The Present? That, Indeed, Is Possible,

But By No Means Probable. Shall I Guess Again? Yes; You Mean To

Surprise Me With Some Astonishing Progress. And Yet, To Confess The

Truth, Your Lessons In Terence, Exercises, And "Music" (Without A _K_,

Observe) Seem To Leave Little Time For Any Other Study. I Must Remain

In Suspense For Four Days Longer.

 

 

Doctor Rush Thinks That Bark Would Not Be Amiss, But May Be Beneficial

If The Stomach Does Not Rebuke It, Which Must Be Constantly The First

Object Of Attention. He Recommends Either The Cold Infusion Or

Substance As Least Likely To Offend The Stomach.

 

 

Be Able, Upon My Arrival, To Tell Me The Difference Between An

_Infusion_ And _Decoction_; And The History, The Virtues, And The

_Botanical_ Or Medical Name Of The Bark. Chambers Will Tell You More

Perhaps Than You Will Wish To Read Of It. Your Little Mercurial

Disquisition Is Ingenious, And Prettily Told.

 

 

I Have A Most Dreary Prospect Of Weather And Roads For My Journey. I

Set Off On Saturday Morning, And Much Fear That It Will Take Two Or

Three Days To Get To Now-York.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 364

To Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 13Th February, 1794.

 

 

I Received Your Letter And Enclosures Yesterday In Senate. I Stopped

Reading The Letter, And Took Up The Story In The Place You Directed;

Was Really Affected By The Interesting Little Tale, Faithfully

Believing It To Have Been Taken From The Mag. D'Enf., And Was

Astonished And Delighted When I Recurred To The Letter And Found The

Little Deception You Had Played Upon Me. It Is Concisely And

Handsomely Told, And Is Indeed A Performance Above Your Years.

 

 

Mr. Leshlie Is Not, I Am Afraid, A Competent Judge Of What You Are

Capable Of Learning; You Must Convince Him That You Can, When You Set

In Earnest About It, Accomplish Wonders.

 

 

Do You Mean That The Forty Lines Which You Construed In Virgil Were In

A Part You Had Not Before Learned?

 

 

I Despair Of Getting Genuine Tent Wine In This City. There Never Was A

Bottle Of Real Unadulterated Tent Imported Here For Sale. Mr.

Jefferson, Who Had Some For His Own Use, Has Left Town. Good Burgundy

And Muscat, Mixed In Equal Parts, Make A Better Tent Than Can Be

Bought. But By Bartow'S Return You Shall Have What I Can Get--Sooner

If I Find A Conveyance.

 

 

 

Bartow Is The Most Perfect Gossip I Ever Knew; Though, I Must Say, It

Is The Kind Of Life I Have Advised Him To While He Stays Here. Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 365

To Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 7Th March, 1794.

 

 

Your Letter Of The 4Th Was Three Days On The Road. I Am Certain That I

Have Answered Punctually All Which Have Come To Hand. True, I Have Not

Written To You As Frequently As During The First Few Weeks Of My

Residence Here. For The Last Month I Have Been Very Much Occupied By

Public Business. You Will Need No Other Proof Of It When I Tell You

That Near Twenty Unanswered Letters Are Now On My Desk, Not One Of

Yours Among Them, However, Except That Received Last Evening. I Have

Not Even Been To The Theatre Except About An Hour, And Then It Was

More An Errand Of Business Than Amusement.

 

 

Poor Tom, [3] I Hope You Take Good Care Of Him. If He Is Confined By

His Leg, &C., He Must Pay The Greater Attention To His Reading And

Writing.

 

 

I Shall Run Off To See You About Sunday Or Monday; But The Roads Are

So Extremely Bad That I Expect To Be Three Days Getting Through. I

Will Bring With Me The Cherry Sweetmeats, And Something For _Augusta

Louisa Matilda Theodosia Van Horne_. I Believe I Have Not Recollected

All Her Names.

 

 

Affectionately,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 366

To Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 31St March, 1794.

 

 

I Am Distressed At Your Loss Of Time. I Do Not, Indeed, Wholly Blame

You For It, But This Does Not Diminish My Regret. When You Want

Punctuality In Your Letters, I Am Sure You Want It In Every Thing; For

You Will Constantly Observe That You Have The Most Leisure When You Do

The Most Business. Negligence Of One'S Duty Produces A

Self-Dissatisfaction Which Unfits The Mind For Every Thing, And

_Ennui_ And Peevishness Are The Never-Failing Consequences. You Will

Readily Discover The Truth Of These Remarks By Reflecting On Your Own

Conduct, And The Different Feelings Which Have Flowed From A

Persevering Attention To Study, Or A Restless Neglect Of It.

 

 

I Shall In A Few Days (This Week) Send You A Most Beautiful Assortment

Of Flower-Seeds And Flowering Shrubs. If I Do Not Receive A Letter

From You To-Morrow, I Shall Be Out Of All Patience. Every Day'S

Journal Will, I Hope, Say Something Of Mamma.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 367

To Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 7Th June, 1794.

 

 

I Have Received My Dear Theo.'S Two Little, Very Little, French

Letters. The Last Left You Tormented With Headache And Toothache, Too

Much For One Poor Little Girl To Suffer At One Time, I Am Sure: You

Had Doubtless Taken Solue Sudden Cold. You Must Fight Them As Well As

You Can Till I Come, And Then I Will Engage To Keep Them At Bay.

 

 

I Remark That You Do Not Acknowledge The Receipt Of A Long Letter

Which I Wrote You On The Road The Night After I Left New-York. I Hope

It Has Not Missed You; But It Is Needless Now To Ask About It, For I

Shall Certainly See You Before I Could Receive Your Answer To This.

 

 

Whatever You Shall Translate Of Terence, I Beg You To Have Copied In A

Book In A Very Fair Handwriting.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 368

To Theodosia.

 

 

Albany, 4Th August, 1794.

 

 

My Dear Theo.,

 

 

We Arrived Here Yesterday, After A Hot, Tedious Passage Of _Seven

Days_. We Were Delayed As Well By Accidents As By Calms And Contrary

Winds, The First Evening, Being Under Full Sail, We Ran Ashore At

Tappan, And Lay There Aground, In A Very Uncomfortable Situation,

Twenty-Four Hours. With Great Labour And Fatigue We Got Off On The

Following Night, And Had Scarce Got Under Sail Before We Missed Our

Longboat. We Lost The Whole Tide In Hunting For It, And So Lay Till

The Morning Of Wednesday. Having Then Made Sail Again, With A Pretty

Strong Head Wind, At The Very First Tack The Dutch Horse Fell

Overboard. The Poor Devil Was At The Time Tied About The Neck With A

Rope, So That He Seemed To Have Only The Alternatives Of Hanging Or

Drowning (For The River Is Here About Four Miles Wide, And The Water

Was Very Rough); Fortunately For Him, The Rope Broke, And He Went

Souse Into The Water. His Weight Sunk Him So Deep That We Were At

Least Fifty Yards From Him Before He Came Up. He Snorted Off The

Water, And Turning Round Once Or Twice, As If To See Where He Was,

Then Recollecting The Way To New-York, He Immediately Swam Off Down

The River With All Force. We Fitted Out Our Longboat In Pursuit Of

Him, And At Length Drove Him On Shore On The Westchester Side, Where I

Hired A Man To Take Him To Frederick'S. All This Delayed Us Nearly A

Whole Tide More. The Residue Of The Voyage Was Without Accident,

Except Such As You May Picture To Yourself In A Small Cabin, With

Seven Men, Seven Women, And Two Crying Children--Two Of The Women

Being The Most Splenetic, Ill-Humoured Animals You Can Imagine.

 

 

On My Arrival Here I Was Delighted To Receive Your Letter Of The 30Th,

With The Journal Of That And The Preceding Days. Your History Of Those

Three Days Is Very Full And Satisfactory, And Has Induced Me, By Way

Of Return, To Enlarge On The Particulars Of My Journey. I Am Quite

Gratified That You Have Secured Mrs. Penn'S (Observe How It Is

Spelled) Good Opinion, And Content With Your Reasons For Not Saying

The Civil Things You Intended. In Case You Should Dine In Company With

Her, I Will Apprize You Of One Circumstance, By A Trifling Attention

To Which You May Elevate Yourself In Her Esteem. She Is A Great

Advocate For A Very Plain, Rather Abstemious Diet In Children, As You

May See By Her Conduct With Miss Elizabeth. Be Careful, Therefore, To

Eat Of But One Dish; That A Plain Roast Or Boiled: Little Or No Gravy

Or Butter, And Very Sparingly Of Dessert Or Fruit: Not More Than Half

A Glass Of Wine; And If More Of Any Thing To Eat Or Drink Is Offered,

Decline It. If They Ask A Reason--Papa Thinks It Not Good For Me, Is

The Best That Can Be Given.

 

 

It Was With Great Pain And Reluctance That I Made This Journey Without

You. But Your Manners Are Not Yet Quite Sufficiently Formed To Enable

You To Do Justice To Your Own Character, [4] And The Expectations

Which Are Formed Of You, Or To My Wishes. Improve, Therefore, To The

Utmost The Present Opportunity; Inquire Of Every Point Of Behaviour

About Which You Are Embarrassed; Imitate As Much As You Can The

Manners Of Madame De S., And Observe Also Every Thing Which Mrs. Penn

Says And Does.

 

 

You Should Direct Your Own Breakfast. Send Cesar Every Morning For A

Pint Of Milk For You; And, To Save Trouble To Madame De S., Let Her

Know That You Eat At Breakfast Only Bread And Butter.

 

 

I Wish You Would Read Over Your Letters After You Have Written Them;

For So Many Words Are Omitted, That In Some Places I Cannot Make Out

The Sense, _If Any They Contain_. Make Your Figures Or Ciphers In Your

Letters, But Write Out The Numbers At Length, Except Dates. Adieu,

Affectionately Adieu,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 369

To Theodosia.

 

 

Albany, 14Th August, 17 94.

 

 

My Dear Theo.,

 

 

Last Evening'S Mail Brought Me Your Letter And Journal From The 1St To

The 11Th Of August, According To Your Dates, Which, However, Are

Wrong.

 

 

The Account Of Your Time Is Very Satisfactory. You Really Get Along

Much Better Than I Expected, Which Is Infinitely To The Credit Of Your

Good Sense, That Being Your Only Guide. From The Attentions You

Receive From Mrs. Penn And Her Family, I Judge You Have Been So

Fortunate As To Gain Her Esteem, And That Her Prejudices Are Turned

Into Prepossessions, Which I Assure You Gratified Me Not A Little.

 

 

Your Invitation To The Z.'S Was, I Confess, A Very Embarrassing

Dilemma, And One From Which It Was Not Easy To Extricate Yourself. For

The Future, Take It As Your Rule To Visit Only The Families Which You

Have Known Me To Visit; And If Madame De S. Should Propose To You To

Visit Any Other, You May Tell Her What Are My Instructions On The

Subject. To The Young Ladies, You May Pretend Business Or Engagements:

Avoid, However, Giving Any Offence To Your Companions. It Is The

Manner Of A Refusal, Much More Than The Refusal, Which Gives Offence.

This Direction About Your Visits Applies Only To The Citizens Or

English Families. You May, Indeed It Is My Wish, That You Should Visit

With Madame De S. All Her French Acquaintance.

 

 

I Go This Afternoon To Attend A Court At Ballston, And Shall, On

Monday, Attend One At Troy, Which Will Probably Last About Three Days;

After Which I Shall Take Passage For New-York, Proposing, However, To

Pass A Day At Kingston, And Another At Poughkeepsie, With Citizen

Hauterieve, So That I May Be Expected Home Some Time In The Week After

Next; But You Will Hear Often From Me Before That Time. You Must Not

Send Me Any Letter After Those Which Will Come By The Mail Leaving

New-York On Monday Next; Yet You Must Continue Your Letters And

Journal As Usual, For My Amusement On My Return.

 

 

In Future, Write No More On The Little Paper, But Let The Letters And

Journal Be Together On Paper Of This Size, Or Common Letter-Paper. Set

Apart Every Day Half An Hour Or An Hour To Write To Me, And I Must

Again Entreat You To Write At Least Legibly: After Great Pains, I Am

Wholly Unable To Decipher Some Of The Hieroglyphics Contained In Your

Last.

 

 

Four Pages In Lucian Was A Great Lesson; And Why, My Dear Theo., Can'T

This Be Done A Little Oftener? You Must, By This Time, I Think, Have

Gone Through Lucian. I Wish You To Begin And Go Through It Again; For

It Would Be Shameful To Pretend To Have Read A Book Of Which You Could

Not Construe A Page. At The Second Reading You Will, I Suppose, Be

Able To Double Your Lessons; So That You May Go Through It In Three

Weeks. You Say Nothing Of Writing Or Learning Greek Verbs;--Is This

Practice Discontinued? And Why?

 

 

I Wish You To Go Oftener To The House. You May, If You Like, Go Any

Morning, To Take An Early Breakfast There, Giving Notice The Day

Before To Mr. Leshlie, That He May Attend At The Hour Of Your Return,

When I Know You Can Readily Make Up The Lost Time.

 

 

Do You Continue To Preserve Madame De S.'S Good Opinion Of Your

Talents For The Harp? And Do You Find That You Converse With More

Facility In The French? These Are Interesting Questions, And Your

Answer To This Will, I Hope, Answer Fully, All The Questions It

Contains. Vale, Vale.

 

 

A. Burr

Chapter XVII Pg 370

To Theodosia,

 

 

Albany, 16Th August, 1704.

 

 

Another Post Has Arrived, And Brought Me No Letter From You. It Is The

Last Omission Which I Shall Readily Pardon, And This Only In

Consideration Of Your Not Having Then Received My Last. I Returned

This Day From Ballston, And My Principal Business To This City Was To

Receive And Answer Your Letters. Judge, Therefore, Of My

Disappointment.

 

 

Mr. And Mrs. Witbeck Made Many Inquiries About You, And Appeared Much

Mortified That You Did Not Accompany Me.

 

 

I Hope You Will, Before This Can Reach You, Have Answered J. Yates'S

Letter. Once More I Place My Expectations On The Arrival Of The Next

Post.

 

 

Let Me Know Whether Mrs. Penn Has Left Town, How Often You Have Been

With Her, And What Passed. I Need Not Repeat My Anxiety To Know How

You And Madame De S. Agree, And What Progress You Make In Music,

Dancing, And Speaking French. She Promised To Give You Now And Then A

Lesson On The Forte-Piano; Is She As Good As Her Word?

 

 

Having Failed In Your Promise To Write By Every Post, You Cannot

Expect Me To Return Within The Month--One Promise Being Founded On The

Other.

 

 

Your Affectionate Papa,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 371

To Theodosia.

 

 

Albany, 18Th August, 1794.

 

 

Yesterday I Received Your Letter And Journal To The 13Th Inclusive. On

The 13Th You Say You Got Nine Pages In Lucian. It Was, To Be Sure, A

Most Surprising Lesson. I Suspect It Must Have Been The Second Time

Going Over; And Even Then It Would Have Been Great, And At The Same

Rate You Will Be Through A Second Time Before My Month Is Up. I Should

Be Delighted To Find It So. I Have Not Told You Directly That I Should

Stay Longer Than A Month, But I Was Angry Enough With You To Stay

Three Months When You Neglected To Write To Me For Two Successive

Posts.

 

 

I Am Very Sorry To See So Many Blank Days With Mr. Leshlie. If He Is

Not At Your Room Within A Quarter Of An Hour Of His Time, Cesar Should

Be Forthwith Sent Off Express For Him. Let Cesar, Therefore, Call On

You Every Morning At The Hour Mr. Leshlie Ought To Come.

 

 

I Left New-York On The 28Th Of July. My Month, Therefore, Will Expire

On The 28Th Of August, So That You Cannot Complain Until That Day Is

Past. The Court At Troy Will Probably Detain Me The Whole Of This

Week, Which Is Three Days Longer Than I Expected.

 

 

I Long To Hear What You Contributed Towards Madame De S.'S _Jour De

Fete_. No Letter Yet For John Yates. Why Do You Delay It So Long? You

Have Had Several Leisure Days; For This Delay There Should Be Some

Apology In Your Letter.

 

 

Affectionately Your Papa,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 372

To Theodosia.

 

 

Troy, 21St August, 1794.

 

 

My Dear Theo.,

 

 

I Sent Alexis In The Rain To Albany For Your Letter Of The 18Th And

Journal, Which He Has Just Brought Me. Your Letters Are My Only

Consolation During This Afflicting Absence--For It Is To Me A Real

Affliction. I Have Forborne To Express To You My Impatience, Lest It

Should Increase Yours.

 

 

The Business I Have Undertaken Here Will, Contrary To All Expectation,

Detain Me Till Saturday Night. I Hope To Be On My Return On Monday,

When You Must Begin To Pray For Northerly Winds; Or, If You Have

Learned, To Say Mass, That The French Roman Catholics Rely On To

Procure Them All Earthly And Spiritual Blessings. By-The-By, If You

Have Not Been To The Roman Chapel, I Insist That You Go Next Sunday,

If You Are Not Engaged In Some Other Party.

 

 

I Am Very Happy To Receive A Letter For John Yates. I Shall Send It To

Him To-Day; It Is Very Handsome, And Will Please Him Much. I Will

Indeed Return With All Possible Speed. Continue Your Journal. Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 373

To Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 21St December, 1794.

 

 

I Obeyed Faithfully The Command In Your Letter Which Bade Me Read The

Journal First, And I Read It With Great Eagerness, Hoping To Find What

I Did Find In The Last Sentence. That 16Th Was Really A Surprising

Day. Three Hundred And Ninety-Five Lines, All Your Exercises, And All

Your Music. Go On, My Dear Girl, And You Will Become All That I Wish.

 

 

I Keep Carefully Your Letters And Journals, And When We Meet You Shall

Read Them Again, Which I Am Sure You Will Do With Pleasure. It Is

Always Delightful To See And Correct Our Own Errors.

 

 

Monsieur Maupertuis Is Highly Mortified That You Should Suppose Him So

Ignorant As To Have Lost Himself On The Road. It Seems He Only Went A

Little Off The Highway _From Curiosity To See The Country_.

 

 

I Hope You Like Terence. Can'T You Lug A Scrap From Him Now And Then,

Apropos, Into Your Letters? It Will Please

 

 

Your Affectionate Papa,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 374

To Theodosia In Philadelphia.

 

 

New-York, 5Th January, 1795.

 

 

You See Me Safe Arrived In New-York. I Have Passed But One Hour At

Richmond Hill. It Seems Solitary And Undesirable Without You. They Are

All Well, And Much, Very Much Disappointed That You Did Not Come With

Me.

 

 

Pray Write To Mrs. A., If But One Line; She Expects And Deserves It. I

Was There Last Evening For The First Time. Your Picture Is Really Like

You; Still It Does Not Quite Please Me. It Has A _Pensive,

Sentimental_ Air; That Of A Love-Sick Maid! Stewart Has Probably Meant

To Anticipate What You May Be At Sixteen; But Even In That I Think He

Has Missed It.

 

 

Bartow Has Grown Immensely Fat. Mrs. A. Has Recovered And Walks About.

There Has Been A Serious Attempt To Institute Masquerade. It Has Not

Succeeded, Nor Is It Yet Abandoned.

 

 

We (You And I) Have Both Neglected One Duty Of Civility. Some Weeks

Ago Mrs. Jackson Was Polite Enough To Call On You, With Miss Jackson

And Miss Brown, Who Left You Cards. You Have Never Returned The Visit.

I Beg You To Do It Without Delay. Doctor Edwards Will Probably Make

Time To Go With You For A Few Minutes. It Is At Doctor Jackson'S In

Third-Street, Between High And Arch.

 

 

Our House In Partition-Street Is Very Neatly Finished, And Pleases Me

Much; So Much That I Propose To Inhabit It Upon Our Return From

Philadelphia, At Least Until The Hot Weather.

 

 

You Are Now In The Arms Of Somnus, Or Ought To Be; For Though I Date

My Letter The 5Th, It Is In Truth About Half Past Eleven At Night Of

The 4Th. So Wants Half An Hour Of The 5Th. Dream On. _Salutem_.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 375

To Theodosia.

 

 

Bristol, 14Th September, 1795.

 

 

Saturday Night I Lodged At Elizabethtown, And, After Two Wettings,

Dined On Sunday With General Freelinghuysen. Madame (Late Miss Yard)

Asked Much After You, As Did Maria, The General'S Daughter. The Family

Is A Picture Of Cheerfullness And Happiness. At Princeton (To-Day) I

Met Le Mercier, Who Is Well, Except A Broken Scull, A Face Disfigured,

And Some Bruises About The Ribs--Considerable Deductions, You Will

Say, From The "Corpore Sano." They Are The Effects Of A Very Huge

Beating Bestowed On Him (Gratis) By Two Gentlemen Of The Town. He Had

Some Difference With One Of Them, Who Had Challenged Him, Which Le

Mercier Refused, Not Being A Christian-Like And Clerical Way Of

Settling Differences. So The Challenger, With A Friend (For L. M.

Could Have Thrashed Him Singly), Took An Opportunity To Catch Poor Le

Mercier Alone, And Discussed The Subject With Him In The Manner Above

Stated.

 

 

Your Friends Miss Stockton And Miss Smith Said Some Civil Things About

You, And Send Abundance Of Love, Which I Promised Them I Would Forget

To Deliver.

 

 

My Journey Thus Far Has Been Wonderfully Fortunate, Having Only

Overset Once And Broken Down Once, Which, Considering That I Am

Seventy Miles On My Route, Is, For Me, A Very Small List Of

Grievances; But I Shall Count It Full Measure If I Am Prevented From

Entering Philadelphia To-Morrow, Which Is A Little To Be Apprehended.

 

 

You Must Pay Off Meance And Hewlet For Their Attendance On You And

Natalie. [5] They Must Be Paid Regularly At The End Of Each Month. I

Forgot It. Get Their Accounts, And Give Them An Order On Strong For

The Amount. When Either Of You Want Money, Roger Strong Will Furnish

It. Pray Settle Also Your Account With Madame Senat, And Write Me That

These Things Are Done.

 

 

Tell Mr. Martel That I Request That All The Time He Can Spare You Be

Devoted To Latin; That I Have Provided You With A Teacher Of French,

That No Part Of His Attention Might Be Taken Off. I Will Send From

Philadelphia The Certificate He Requested, Which Escaped My Memory

While At New-York.

 

 

I Fear It Will Puzzle You All To Decipher This. You May Show To Mr.

Martel The Clause Which Relates To Him. Salutem, Chere Theodosia.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 376

To Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 17Th September, 1795.

 

 

By This Post I Received A Letter From Colonel Ward, Requesting Leave

To Remove His Family Into My House, Richmond Hill. He Lives, You May

Recollect, In The Part Of The Town Which Is Said To Be Sickly. I Could

Not Therefore Refuse. He Will Call On You To Go Out With Him. You Had

Better, Immediately On Receipt Of This, Go Out Yourself, And Apprize

Anthony And Peggy.

 

 

Your Letter To Kersaint Is Much To The Purpose. It Came By This Day'S

Mail, Though Put In The Postoffice On Tuesday, But After The Closing

Of The Mail. With It I Have Also Received Your Letter, Written, I

Suppose, On Tuesday Evening, Because It Speaks Of The Circus; But, As

Usual, Without Date. I Beg That, When You Sit Down To Write A Letter,

You Will Begin By Putting A Date At The Top; This Will Then Presently

Become A Habit, And Will Never Be Omitted.

 

 

I Am Sorry, Very Sorry That You Are Obliged To Submit To Some Reproof.

Indeed, I Fear That Your Want Of Attention And Politeness, And Your

Awkward Postures, Require It. As You Appear Desirous To Get Rid Of

These Bad Habits, I Hope You Will Soon Afford No Room For Ill-Nature

Itself To Find Fault With You--I Mean In These Particulars; For As To

What Regards Your Heart And Your Motives Of Action, I Know Them To Be

Good, Amiable, And Pure. But To Return To The Subject Of Manners, &C.

I Have Often Seen Madame At Table, And Other Situations, Pay You The

Utmost Attention; Offer You Twenty Civilities, While You Appeared

Scarcely Sensible That She Was Speaking To You; Or, At The Most,

Replied With A Cold _Remercie_, Without Even A Look Of Satisfaction Or

Complacency. A Moment'S Reflection Will Convince You That This Conduct

Will Be Naturally Construed Into Arrogance; As If You Thought That All

Attention Was _Due_ To You, And As If You Felt Above Showing The Least

To Anybody. I Know That You Abhor Such Sentiments, And That You Are

Incapable Of Being Actuated By Them. Yet You Expose Yourself To The

Censure Without Intending Or Knowing It. I Believe You Will In Future

Avoid It. Observe How Natalie Replies To The Smallest Civility Which

Is Offered To Her.

 

 

Your Habit Of Stooping And Bringing Your Shoulders Forward On To Your

Breast Not Only Disfigures You, But Is Alarming On Account Of The

Injury To Your Health. The Continuance In This Vile Habit Will

Certainly Produce A Consumption: Then Farewell Papa; Farewell

Pleasure; Farewell Life! This Is No Exaggeration; No Fiction To Excite

Your Apprehensions. But, Setting Aside This Distressing Consideration,

I Am Astonished That You Have No More Pride In Your Appearance. You

Will Certainly Stint Your Growth And Disfigure Your Person.

 

 

Receive With Calmness Every Reproof, Whether Made Kindly Or Unkindly;

Whether Just Or Unjust. Consider Within Yourself Whether There Has

Been No Cause For It. If It Has Been Groundless And Unjust,

Nevertheless Bear It With Composure, And Even With Complacency.

Remember That One In The Situation Of Madame Has A Thousand Things To

Fret The Temper; And You Know That One Out Of Humour, For Any Cause

Whatever, Is Apt To Vent It On Every Person That Happens To Be In The

Way. We Must Learn To Bear These Things; And, Let Me Tell You, That

You Will Always Feel Much Better, Much Happier, For Having Borne With

Serenity The Spleen Of Any One, Than If You Had Returned Spleen For

Spleen.

 

 

You Will, I Am Sure, My Dear Theodosia, Pardon Two Such Grave Pages

From One Who Loves You, And Whose Happiness Depends Very Much On

Yours. Read It Over Twice. Make Me No Promises On The Subject. On My

Return, I Shall See In Half An Hour Whether What I Have Written Has

Been Well Or Ill Received. If Well, It Will Have Produced An Effect. I

Have Sent Alexis With Your Letter To Kersaint While I Write This.

After Closing Of The Mail I Shall Present Myself. To-Morrow Morning I

Take Stage For Baltimore; Thence To Washington, &C. You Shall

Certainly Hear Often From Me. You Have Not Yet Acknowledged The

Receipt Of My Letter From Bristol. R. Strong Has Received His, Written

At The Same Time. Having Many Letters To Answer By This Mail, I Cannot

Add Any Thing Sprightly To This Dull Letter. One Dull Thing You Will

Hear Me Repeat Without Disgust, That I Am Your Affectionate Friend,

 

 

A. Burr

Chapter XVII Pg 377

To Theodosia.

 

 

City Of Washington, 23D September, 1795.

 

 

I Write From The House Of Our Friends, Law And Duncanson, Where I Make

My Home. Miss Duncanson, Who Is Mistress Of The House, Is A Very

Sprightly, Sensible, Ladylike Woman. My Remarks On This City Are

Reserved Till We Meet.

 

 

Your Letter Of The 17Th, And One Without Date (I Suppose The 18Th),

Came In This Evening. They Contain More Wit And Sprightliness Than You

Ever Wrote In The Same Compass, And Have Amused Me Exceedingly. But

Why Do You Diminish Their Value By Carelessness? There Is An Omission

Of One Or More Words In Almost Every Sentence. At Least I Entreat You

To Read Over Your Letters Before You Seal Them: Some Clauses Are

Absolutely Unintelligible, Though In Several I Can Guess What Word You

Intended.

 

 

Why Are You Still In Town? I Am Very Much Dissatisfied With It; For

Mr. Strong Writes Me That The Fever Is In Partition-Street. I Beg You

To Go Off With A Good Parcel Of Books To Frederick'S.

 

 

I Told Madame Senat That I Should Want The Two Front Rooms In

Partition-Street, And The Very Small Room Which Adjoins The Smallest

Of The Front Rooms; And Surely She Will Have Room Enough Without It.

Try To Arrange This So; That Is, By Asking Her If She Cannot Spare

That Room (The Large Front). Mr. Strong Writes Me That She Is Taking

Possession Of It. In That Case My Papers Will Be Moved, Which Will Be

Very Disagreeable To Me.

 

 

I Fix The 24Th Of October For My Return; If Any Very Extraordinary

Thing Should Detain Me, You Shall Be Advised Of It Seasonably. Direct

To Me At The City Of Washington Until The 10Th Of October. Tell R.

Strong The Same. I Forgot To Write It To Him.

 

 

When, You Go On Any Party From Pelham, To Brown'S Mrs. Cox'S, &C.,

Your Studies May Be Intermitted. At Least As Much Of Them As May Be

Necessary. I Am Tired, And Half Sick; A Great Cold, For Which I Shall

Lie By Here Tomorrow.

 

 

Thine,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 378

To Theodosia.

 

 

City Of Washington,

 

 

26Th September, 1795.

 

 

Since Tuesday Last I Have Been Here Much Against My Will; Arrested By

High Command; Performing Quarantine By Authority Not To Be Questioned

Or Controverted. In Plain English, I Am Sick. On Wednesday I Found One

Side Of My Face As Large As Your Uncle F.'S; Red Swollen Eyes; Ears

Buzzing And Almost Stopped; Throat So Closed As To Refuse A Passage To

Words Out Or Food In; And A Stupid Mazy-Headedness, Well Adapted To

The Brilliancy Of My Figure. Being The Guest Of My Friends Law And

Duncanson, I Receive From Them The Most Distressing Attentions, But

Especially From Miss Duncanson, A Well-Bred, Sprightly, And Agreeable

Woman. My Person Had Not, However, Till This Morning, Received Its

Last Embellishment. Alexis Came In At His Usual Hour, And Presenting

Himself At My Bedside, After Staring At Me For Half A Minute,

Exclaimed, With An Air Of Great Astonishment--_Diable!_ And Not A Word

More. _Qu'A-T-Il_, Alexis? To Which He Made Not A Word Of Reply, But

Fell To Drawing Up The Curtains; And Having Also Very Deliberately

Opened The Window-Shutters, He Returned Again To His Examination.

After Gazing For Some Time (Which I Found It Useless To Interrupt), He

_Diabled_ Two Or Three Times At Intervals Of Some Seconds, And Then

Pronounced That I Had _Ou La Petite Verole Ou La Rougeole_; And To

Convince Me, Brought A Glass. In Truth He Did Not _Diable_ Without

Reason, For My Whole Face, Neck, Hands, And Arms Are Most Bountifully

Covered With Something Like The Measles Or Rash. All These Pleasant

Appearances Seem To Be The Effects Of A Great Cold, Taken I Know Not

When Or How--

 

 

"_Nil Illi Larva Aut Tragicis Upus Esse Cothurnis._"

 

 

My Throat Is Something Better, Notwithstanding I Went Abroad

Yesterday.

 

 

Sunday, 27Th September.

 

 

I Am So Much Better To-Day, That, If The Weather Was Good, I Should

Prosecute My Journey If I Could Find The Means Of Getting On; But The

Rain, Which Is Continual And Very Heavy, Keeps Well And Sick Within

Doors.

 

 

It Is Now Ten Days Since I Have Heard From You; A Very Long Time,

Considering The Situation In Which You Was Left At The Date Of Your

Last: In A City Infected With A Mortal And Contagious Fever. I Hope,

Nay, I Persuade Myself That You Obeyed My Wishes By Escaping From It

To Pelham. The Next Mail Will Tell Me, And, I Trust, Relieve Me From

An Anxiety Which Pursues Me Day And Night.

 

 

Monday, 28Th September.

 

 

Your Letter Of The 21St, Written, I Suppose, At Dr. Brown'S, Is Just

Come In, And Relieves Me From A Weight Of Anxiety About Your Health. I

Am Sorry, However (Very Sorry), That You Are Not At Frederick'S, And

Am Not Absolutely Either Pleased Or Satisfied With The Change.

 

 

Of Attention And Tenderness You Will Receive Not Only Enough, But A

Great Deal Too Much; And An Indulgence To Every Inattention, Awkward

Habit, And Expression, Which May Lead You To Imagine Them To Be So

Many Ornaments: As To Your Language, I Shall Expect To Find It

Perfectly Infantine. As To Studies Or Lessons, I Do Not Know Which Of

Them You Allude To, As You Do Not Say What Books You Have Taken Up. If

Mr. Leshlie Is Your _Only_ Master, As I Suppose, Your Lesson Must Be

Larger Than Ever Heretofore. Your Translation Of The Comedy Into

French, If Not Finished, Must Go On; And If Finished, Something

Similar Must Be Taken Up. Some English Or French History Must Employ A

Little Of Every Day. I Hope You Will Ride On Horseback Daily If The

Weather Should Permit--Sam [6] Always With You. Visit Your Neighbours

B. B. As Often As You Please, Taking Very Great Care Not To Surfeit

The Family With Your Charming Company, Which May Happen Much Sooner

Than You Would Be Inclined To Believe.

 

 

You Ought To Be Out Of The Odyssey Before This Will Reach You,

Counting Only Two Hundred Lines A Day Since We Parted. You May Begin

The Iliad, If You Please. Since You Are At Uncle B.'S, I Will Not Now

Pretend To Inquire Into The Motives, Much Less To Censure. I Have No

Doubt But You Meant To Do The Best, And I Now Hope You Will Endeavour

To Make The Best _Of_ It, And Bad Enough That Will Be, With Respect To

All Improvement, If I Am Not Disappointed.

 

 

Pray Allot An Hour For Your Journal, And Never Let It Be A Day In

Arrear. I Shall Consider This As Occupying Usefully The Hour Which

Used To Be Hewlet'S Or Meance'S. At Any Rate, Let Me Not, On My

Return, Have Occasion To Apply To You The Motto,

 

 

"Strenua Me Exercet Inertia,"

 

 

Nor That Other Of

 

 

"Operose Nihil Agit."

 

 

But So Improve Your Time That You May With Pleasure Review And Commit

It To Journal.

 

 

----"Hoc Est, Vivere Bis, Vita Priori Frui."

 

 

And Let It, At No Very Distant Period, Be Said Of You,

 

 

"Tot, Tibi, Sunt, Ergo Dotes, Quot Sidera Coelo."

 

 

If You Should Never Deserve This, It Shall Not Be The Fault Of

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 379

To Theodosia In Philadelphia.

 

 

New-York, 8Th February, 1796.

 

 

What Will You Think Of The Taste Of New-York When I Shall Tell You

That Miss Broadhurst Is Not Very Generally Admired Here? Such Is The

Fact. I Have Contributed My Feeble Efforts To Correct This Opinion.

Mat'S [7] Child Will Not Be Christened Until You Shall Be Pleased To

Indicate The Time, Place, Manner, And Name.

 

 

I Have Promised Tom That He Shall Take Me To Philadelphia If There Be

Sleighing. The Poor Fellow Is Almost Crazy About It. He Is Importuning

All The Gods For Snow, But As Yet They Don'T Appear To Listen To Him.

 

 

Your Being In The Ballette Charms Me. If You Are To Practise On

Wednesday Evening, Do Not Stay Away For The Expectation Of Receiving

Me. If You Should Be At The Ballette, I Will Go Forthwith To See You.

Adieu, Chere Fille.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 380

To Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 16Th January, 1797.

 

 

When I Write To You Oftener Than Your Turn, You Must Not Let It Be

Known, Or There Will Be Jealousy. Your Two Letters Of The 11Th And

13Th Have So Much Wit, Sprightliness, And Good Sense, That I Cannot

Delay To Tell You How Much They Pleased Me. Go On, And You Will Write

Better Than Cynthia Herself. To Aid Your Advances Towards Perfection,

I Shall Often Point Out Such Errors As Shall Appear To Me More

Particularly To Claim Your Attention.

 

 

At Present You Fail Most In Punctuation. A Very Little Thought Will

Teach Where The Sense Is Complete And A Full Period Is Proper. The

Lesser Pauses May Be Found By Reading Over Two Or Three Times What You

May Have Written. You Will Naturally Make Small Pauses Where The Sense

Shall Require It. In Spelling You Are Very Well. Always Write Your

Name With Great Care. Adieu.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 381

To Theodosia.

 

 

Philadelphia, 23D January, 1797.

 

 

You Must Not "Puzzle All Day," My Dear Little Girl, At One Hard

Lesson. After Puzzling Faithfully One Hour, Apply To Your Arithmetic,

And Do Enough To Convince The Doctor That You Have Not Been Idle.

Neither Must You Be Discouraged By One Unlucky Day. The Doctor Is A

Very Reasonable Man, And Makes All Due Allowance For The Levities As

Well As For The Stupidity Of Children. I Think You Will Not Often

Challenge His Indulgence On Either Score.

 

 

And Do You Regret That You Are Not Also A Woman? That You Are Not

Numbered In That Galaxy Of Beauty Which Adorns An Assembly-Room?

Coquetting For Admiration And Attracting Flattery? No. I Answer With

Confidence. You Feel That You Are Maturing For Solid Friendship. The

Friends You Gain You Will Never Lose; And No One, I Think, Will Dare

To Insult Your Understanding By Such Compliments As Are Most

Graciously Received By Too Many Of Your Sex.

 

 

How Unpardonably You Neglect C. And N. B. Where Are The Promised

Letters? I See With Delight That You Improve In Diction, And In The

Combination And Arrangement Of Your Little Ideas. With A View To

Farther Improvement, Your Letters To Me Are A Most Useful Exercise. I

Feel Persuaded That All My Hopes And Wishes Concerning You Will Be

Accomplished.

 

 

Never Use A Word Which Does Not Fully Express Your Thoughts, Or Which,

For Any Other Reason, Does Not Please You. Hunt Your Dictionary Till

You Find One. Arrange A Whole Sentence In Your Mind Before You Write A

Word Of It; And, Whatever May Be Your "Hurry" (Never Be In A _Hurry_),

Read Over Your Letter Slowly And Carefully Before You Seal It.

Interline And Erase Lightly With Your Pen What May Appear To You To

Require Amendment Or Correction. I Dispense With Your Copying Unless

The Letter Should Be Much Defaced, In Which Case Keep It Till The Next

Mail. Copy And Improve It.

 

 

Your Play On "Light" Is Pretty And Witty, And The Turn On The _Dear

Little_ Letter Does Not Dishonour The Metempsychosis Of Madame Dacier.

 

 

I Shall Probably See You Very Soon; We Will Then Rearrange Your Hours,

And Endeavour To Remove The Present And Forestall All Future Troubles.

I Should Be Mortified--I Should Be Almost Offended--If I Should Find

That You Passed Over Any Word In My Letters Without Becoming Perfectly

Acquainted With Its Meaning, Use, And _Etymology_.

 

 

Since I Commenced This Letter, Yours Of The 21St Has Come In. It

Speaks Of Another Which Has Not Come, And Of Martel'S Paper, Neither

Of Which Have Come. This Arises From "Hurry." The Note To Mr.

Livingston Is Middling. Affectionately--No, You Hate That Word;

Perhaps Every Thing Is Implied In Plain.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 382

To Theodosia.

 

 

Albany, 4Th January, 1799.

 

 

On Tuesday I Arrived Here, And Yesterday Received Your Two Letters Of

The 29Th And 30Th Of December. Your Despondency Distresses Me

Extremely. It Is Indeed Unfortunate, My Dear Theodosia, That We Are

Constrained To Be Separated. I Had Never So Much Need Of Your Society

And Friendship, Nor You, Perhaps, Of Mine. It Is A Misfortune Which I

Sincerely Regret Every Hour Of The Day. It Is One, However, Which You

Must Aid Me To Support, By Testifying That You Can Support Your Share

Of It With Firmness And Activity. An Effort Made With Decision Will

Convince You That You Are Able To Accomplish All I Wish And All You

Desire. Determination And Perseverance In Every Laudable Undertaking

Is The Great Point Of Difference Between The Silly And The Wise. It Is

Essentially A Part Of Your Character, And Requires But An Effort To

Bring It Into Action. The Happiness Of My Life Depends On Your

Exertions; For What Else, For Whom Else Do I Live? Not That The

Acquisition Of The Languages Alone Can Decide Your Happiness Or Mine;

But If You Should Abandon The Attempt, Or Despair Of Success, Or Relax

Your Endeavours, It Would Indicate A Feebleness Of Character Which

Would Dishearten Me Exceedingly. It Is For My Sake That You Now

Labour. I Shall Acknowledge Your Advancement With Gratitude And With

The Most Lively Pleasure. Let Me Entreat You Not To Be Discouraged. I

Know You To Be Capable Of Much Greater Efforts Than This Will Require.

If Your Young Teacher, After A Week'S Trial, Should Not Suit You,

Dismiss Him On Any Pretence Without Wounding His Pride, And Take The

Old Scotchman. Resolve To Succeed, And You Cannot Fail.

 

 

I Parted With You Amid So Much Hurry And Confusion, And So Many

Vexations, That, When I Had Time To Reflect, I Seemed To Have Said

None Of The Things Which I Had Wished And Intended. I Reproached

Myself Perpetually That I Had Not Urged You To Attend Me. Your Letters

Almost Confirmed Me In The Design Of Returning To Fetch You; And Yet

More Sober Reason Seems To Tell Me That These Things Were Rather The

Effusions Of Sentiment Than Of A Deliberate Estimate Of Your Real

Interests. In Six Weeks, However, We Shall Meet.

 

 

I Intended To Have Recommended To You The Ancient And Modern History

Of Millot. Natalie Has Some Of The Volumes--Some Are In The Library At

Mrs. D.'S, Of Which I Hope You Keep The Key. Millot Is Concise,

Perspicuous, And Well Selected. Rollin Is Full Of Tedious Details And

Superstitious Nonsense.

 

 

There Is Nothing More Certain Than That You May Form What Countenance

You Please. An Open, Serene, Intelligent Countenance, A Little

Brightened By Cheerfullness, Not Wrought Into Smiles Or Simpers, Will

Presently Become Familiar And Grow Into Habit. A Year Will With

Certainty Accomplish It. Your Physiognomy Has Naturally Much Of

Benevolence, And It Will Cost You Some Labour (Which You May Well

Spare) To Eradicate It. Avoid, For Ever Avoid, A Smile Or Sneer Of

Contempt; Never Even Mimic Them. A Frown Of Sullenness Or Discontent

Is But One Degree Less Hateful. You Seem To Require These Things Of

Me, Or I Should Have Thought Them Unnecessary. I See, With Pleasure I

See, That You Have Engaged In This Matter. We Shall Both Be Gratified

By The Result, Which Cannot Fail To Accord With Our Wishes.

 

 

R. Has A Deal Of Godly Coquetry. It Makes A Strange Medley. I Was Most

Hospitably Received, And Full Opportunity Given With Pretty Apparent

Design. R. Has Promised To Be In Albany In A Month. Things Are In

_Statu Quo_.

 

 

I Am Unsettled, And At Present At Witbeck'S. One Would Think That The

Town Was Going Into Mourning For Your Absence. I Am Perpetually

Stopped In The Streets By Little And Big Girls. Where Is Miss Burr?

Won'T She Come Up This Winter? Oh, Why Didn'T You Bring Her? &C.

 

 

J. B. P. Arrived Yesterday, He Has Not Given Me A Letter, Or Any Other

Thing From You. He Suspects, However, That He Has At Least A Letter; A

Fact Which He Will Endeavour To Ascertain In The Course Of This Week.

I Wrote You Two Letters On My Way Up, Addressed To 135

Greenwich-Street. Is That Right? Adieu, Chere Amie,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 383

To Theodosia.

 

 

Albany, 11Th February, 1799.

 

 

On Saturday, The 9Th, I Received Your Two Letters, From The 1St To The

6Th Inclusive; The Last Of Which Is The Only One That Has Come In Due

Season, Or In What Is Termed The Course Of Post. You Now See That A

Letter Can Come From New-York In Three Days; A Truth Which Has Been

Frequently Verified By The Receipt Of My Letters, But Never Before By

The Despatch Of Your Own.

 

 

How Very Perverse And Provoking You Are About Your Correspondence With

Mr. Martin. I Told You Expressly That He Was Not Angry, But, On The

Contrary, That He Sent It Laughingly And As A Good Joke. Pray, From

Whom Did You Learn That He Was Angry? You Charge Me With Not Noticing

Two Of Your Letters, And That I Have Not Given You Any Directions

About Heedlessness. With Submission, Miss, You Are Mistaken. It Is

True That I Have Not Repeated The Word, But I Have Intimated Several

Things Intended To This Point. You Expected, I Presume, That I Should

Treat The Subject Scientifically, As Duport Does His Art, And Begin By

Explanation Of Terms, And Then Proceed To Divide And Subdivide The

Matter, As A Priest Does A Sermon. Such A Dose Would, I Am Sure, Have

Sickened You. I Have Therefore Thought It Best To Give You Very Little

At A Time, And Watch, As Physicians Do With Potent Medicines, The

Effect Produced. When We Meet, Which I Verily Believe Will Be In Five

Or Six Days After The Receipt Of This, You Shall Have As Much As I

Shall Find Your Stomach Will Bear.

 

 

What The Deuse Can Have Got Into Madame S. And N., I Am Utterly At A

Loss To Conjecture, And Beg You Not To Give The Remotest Hint, But

Meet Them As Usual.

 

 

My Overtures To B. Livingston And Mr. And Mrs. R. Were Mere

Volunteers, Not Produced By Any Thing You Said Or Wrote; But I Thought

It Might Tend To Produce A Certain Effect In Your Favour. So You Have

No Apologies To Make Or Pardons To Ask On This Subject. As This,

However, Is Much The Best Composed Part Of Your Letter, I Am

Particularly Obliged To You For It, Even If You Did It To Display Your

Eloquence. It Is, Indeed, Very Happily Expressed.

 

 

You Seem To Have Emerged From Your Lethargy, Which, I Must Confess,

Was Obvious To An Alarming Degree In Several Preceding Letters. I

Congratulate You Upon It, And Hope You Will Never Suffer It Again To

Invade Your Faculties.

 

 

We Will Talk Of Houses, &C. About The 19Th Inst. Henry Walton Has Gone

To New-York By The Last Stage. He Is One Of Those Whose Good Opinion

And Esteem I Wish You To Acquire. He Has Delicacy, Taste, And

Refinement--Very, Very Rare Qualities In This Country At This Day. He

Will Be Often At Your House; Receive Him With Courtesy.

 

 

I Go To Bed Between 12 And 1, And Rise Between 7 And 8. For Some

Reasons To Me Unknown, I Cannot Drink A Single Glass Of Wine Without

Serious Injury; Still Less Can I Bear Ardent Spirits; Of Course, I Am

Pretty Much In The Bread And Water Line; This Is The More Provoking,

As I Dine Out Almost Every Day, And The Dinners Are Really Excellent

And Well-Dressed, Not Exceeded In New-York. I Have Dined At Home But

Four Days Since My Arrival In This City. Think Of That Miss B., And Be

Hush About Hospitality, &C.

 

 

Your Name To One Letter Is Beautifully Written; To The Other, _La La_.

The Handwriting Of The Letters Various; Very Good, Very Bad, And

Middling; Emblematic, Shall I Say, Of The Fair Authoress? Please To

Resolve Me Whether Author Is Not Of Both Genders, For I Hate The

Appendix Of _Ess?_

 

 

What Novel Of Miss Burney Or D'Arblay Is That In Which The Heroine

Begins By An Interesting Account Of Little Details On Her Debut In

London, And Particularly Of A Ball Where She Met Lord Somebody And Did

Twenty Ridiculous Things? I Want Such A Description Of A Ball From

You. Be Pleased To Read Those First Letters Of The Novel Referred To,

And Take Them For A Model.

 

 

You Don'T Say Half Enough About The Long Letter Which I Wrote You On

Sunday Of The Last Week. Adieu, Chere Amie.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVII Pg 384

To Theodosia.

 

 

Albany, 26Th January, 1800.

 

 

We Arrived Yesterday Without Accident. To-Day I Expected Alexis And

John; But The Stage Has Arrived Without Them, And Without A Line

Explanatory Of The Cause Of Their Delay.

 

 

On Alighting From The Stage Yesterday, I Found At The Door Of My

Intended Lodgings A Number Of Persons Who Were Impatiently Expecting

My Arrival. I Perceive That I Shall Be Day And Night Engrossed By

Business. If I Should Write To You Less Or Less Often Than Usual, You

Will Know The Cause.

 

 

The Ideas, Of Which You Are The Object, That Daily Pass Through My

Mind, Would, If Committed To Writing, Fill An Octavo Volume; Invent,

Then, And Teach Me Some Mode Of Writing With The Facility And Rapidity

That We Think, And You Shall Receive By Every Mail Some Hundred Pages.

But To Select From A Thousand Thoughts That Which Is Best And Most

Seasonable; Of The Variety Of Attitudes Of Which Every Object Is

Susceptible, To Determine On That Which Is Most Suitable For The Thing

And The Occasion; Of All Possible Modes Of Expression And Language, To

Discern The Most Appropriate, _Hic Labor, Hoc Opus Est_. Yet Have We

Both Known Persons Of A Moderate Grade Of Intellect Who Could Write

Whenever You Would Put A Pen In Their Hands, And For Any Length Of

Time You Might Please, Without One Moment Of Reflection Or

Embarrassment. Pray Explain To Me This Phenomenon. All This I Confess

Is Not Very Applicable To You Or To My Present Occupation, For I

Generally Write You What First Offers, Without Considering Whether It

Be The Best; And If Many Obtrude Themselves At Once, I Write You, As

At Present, Of--_Nothing_. Indeed, My Dear Theodosia, I Have Many,

Many Moments Of Solicitude About You. Remember That Occupation Will

Infallibly Expel The Fiend Ennui, And That Solitude Is The Bug-Bear Of

Fools. God Bless And Aid Thee.

 

 

A. Burr

Chapter XVII Pg 385

To Theodosia.

 

 

Albany, 30Th January, 1800.

 

 

At Length John And Alexis Have Arrived; But What Gratified Me More,

And What I Looked For With Much More Impatience Was, A Letter. I

Selected Yours From The Number Which They Brought Me. I Was Not

Disappointed. It Merits All The Eagerness With Which I Had Expected

It.

 

 

You Reflect, And That Is A Security For Your Conduct. Our Most

Humiliating Errors Proceed Usually From Inattention, And From That

Mental Dissipation Which We Call Heedlessness. You Estimate Your

Situation With Great Truth. Many Are Surprised That I Could Repose In

You So Great A Trust As That Of Yourself; But I Knew That You Were

Equal To It, And I Am Not Deceived.

 

 

You Do Right To Stay Much At Home. It Will Scarcely Be Worth While To

Go To V. P.'S. C. Is Excluded From All Rule. I Am Quite Oppressed With

The Kindness And Friendship Of _B. B._ Towards You. How Fortunate You

Are In Such A Friend. If Their Invitations Should Be So Frequent As To

Interrupt Your Lessons, You Will Do Well To Refuse Even Them. There Is

A Measure To Be Observed In The Acceptance Of The Good Offices Even Of

Our Best Friends; And At Your Age, To Prefer Duty To Pleasure When

They Are In Collision, Is A Degree Of Firmness Rarely Exhibited, And,

Therefore, The More Calculated To Inspire Respect. I Perceive That I

Am Not Very Explicit; But You Will Reflect And Discern My Meaning.

Montesquieu Said He Wrote To Make People Think, And Not To Make Them

Read--And Why May Not A. Br. Perhaps, However, There May Be No

Collisions; And Then Your Good Sense Will Teach You Not To Wear Out

Good-Will.

 

 

You Indicate A Very Pleasant Mode In Which You Suppose I May Make You

Happy; But You Do Not Estimate Things Rightly. What You Imagine To Be

Symptoms Of Love Are The Mere Effusions Of Politeness, Added To

Respect And Esteem.

 

 

I Forget The Plan We Projected, But There Can Be No Better One Than

That Of Your Last Letter, To Which, Therefore, You May Adhere, Unless

Indeed You Can Invent A Better.

 

 

You May Tell C. That As She And I _Are On Ceremony_, I Shall Expect

The First Letter. She Knows Well That The Bare Sight Of Her

Handwriting Would Drive Le Guen And The Parchments To The Antipodes. I

Do Thank You For Your Constancy About The French Ball. Do Not Be

Alarmed Lest I Expect Too Much. I Know Your Force, And Now Feel

Assured That I Shall Have Reason To Be More Than Satisfied Both With

Your Discretion And Your Attainments. I Shall Not Again Find Time To

Write You Two Pages; So Do Not Expect It. Nevertheless, You Will

Engross Much, Very Much Of The Thoughts And Affections Of

 

 

A. Burr

Chapter XVII Pg 386

Previous To The Year 1800, Slavery Existed In The State Of New-York.

Colonel Burr, At Different Periods, Was The Owner Of Slaves. All Those

That Remained In His Family For Any Length Of Time Were Taught To Read

And Write. During His Absence From Home It Was His Practice To

Correspond With One Or More Of Them. As A Master, He Was Beloved. A

Few Letters Are Here Given As Specimens Of This Correspondence. They

Are Copied _Literally_.

Chapter XVII Pg 387

To Colonel Burr.

 

 

New-York, 3D December.

 

 

Honoured Master,

 

 

I Received Your Letter December 1St, And We Are All Happy To Hear That

You Are Well. Harry Has Taken The Chair To The Coachmaker'S, And Has

Gave Him Directions According To Your Orders. I Have Asked James To

Write To You To Know How The Venison Was To Be Done; But I Will Now

Have It Cured As You Have Ordered. The Sashes Of The Windows Were

Nailed Down The Day That You Went Away, And The Ladder That You

Mention Belongs To Mr. Halsey, And Be Has Taken It Away. All The

Papers That Have Any Writing On Is Put Into The Drawers, And I Will

Take Care Of The Ink That It Does Not Freeze. Colonel Platt Was Here,

And Has Taken The Four Red Cases That Was In The Wine-Room; And He

Asked Me For A Square Box, And As You Had Not Told Me Of It, I Said

That I Had Never Seen It. There Is Nothing In The Stable; But Don'T

Know What Is In Sam'S Room, As He Has Locked The Door. We Are Happy To

Hear That Sam, And George, And The Horses Are In Good Order, And All

The Family Gives Their Love To Them.

 

 

Peggy Gartin.

Chapter XVII Pg 388

To Colonel Burr.

 

 

New-York, 17Th December.

 

 

Honoured Master,

 

 

I Received Your Letter, And Am Happy To Hear That You Are In A Good

State Of Health. Harry Went To Mr. Alston'S Farm The Day After I

Received The Letter, And The Man Had Gone Away The 11Th Day Of

December. Stephen Was Not At Home When He Went There, And By What He

Could Understand There Was A Great Difference Between Daniel And

Stephen; And Harry Says That For The Time That He Has Been There He

Had Not Neglected His Work. But, Master, I Wish To Beg A Favour Of

You; Please To Grant It. I Have Found There Is A Day-School, Kept By

An Elderly Man And His Wife, Near To Our House, And If Master Is

Willing That I Should Go To It For Two Months, I Think It Would Be Of

Great Service To Me, And At The Same Time I Will Not Neglect My Work

In The House, If You Please, Sir.

 

 

Peggy.

Chapter XVII Pg 389

To Colonel Burr.

 

 

New-York, 29Th December.

 

 

Honoured Master,

 

 

I Received Your Letter, Which Has Given Me No Satisfaction Concerning

Your Health; And As There Has Been A Report In The Paper That You Was

Wounded, It Has Made Us Very Uneasy, Supposing It To Be True; But I

Hope That It Is Not So, As I Hear That People Gives No Credit To It. I

Go To The School, Since Master Is Willing, And I Like The Teacher Very

Much. He Pays Great Attention To My Learning, And I Have Teached Nancy

Her Letters Ever Since You Have Been Gone, Which I Think Will Be Of As

Much Service To Her As If She Went To School. We Are All Well At

Present, And I Hope That You Are The Same.

 

 

Peggy.

Chapter XVII Pg 390

To Colonel Burr. New-York, 12Th January.

 

 

Honoured Master,

 

 

I Have Received Your Letter Of The 4Th Inst., And It Gives Us Great

Happiness To Hear That You Are In Good Health, As All The Family Are

Except Myself. I Was Taken Sick On The 30Th Of Last Month, So That I

Have Not Been Able To Go To School; And As I Am Better Than I Have

Been, To Write These Few Lines; I Am Too Weak To Write Mrs. Alston,

But Elenora'S Child Is Well. The Woman Came Here The 7Th Of This Month

For The Money, And Harry Went To Mrs. Van Ness The 9Th, And She Said

That Mr. Van Ness Did Not Tell Her Any Thing Of It, And She Could Not

Give It.

 

 

Peggy.

Footnote Pg 391

 

 

 

1. Theodosia'S Preceptor.

Footnote Pg 392

 

 

2. A Coloured Boy.

Footnote Pg 393

 

 

3. A Coloured Man, The Slave Of Colonel Burr.

Footnote Pg 394

 

 

4. Theodosia Had Now Entered Her _Twelfth_ Year.

Footnote Pg 395

 

 

5. Natalie De Lage Was The Daughter Of A French Lady, Who Was Once A

Member Of The Family Of The Princess L'Ambaul. Natalie Was Adopted And

Educated By Colonel Burr As His Child. She Married The Son Of General

Sumter, Of South Carolina.

Footnote Pg 396

 

 

6. A Slave Of Colonel Burr'S.

Footnote Pg 397

 

 

7. A Servant Of Colonel Burr.

Chapter XVIII Pg 398

 

 

 

The Preceding Correspondence Not Only Introduces The Reader Into The

Social Circle Of Colonel Burr, But Into The Bosom Of His Family. It

Develops His Character, So Far As The Most Sacred And Confidential

Communications Can Develop It--As A Friend--A Husband--A Parent--And A

Master. We Are Approaching A Period, However, In His History When The

Scene Is To Be Changed. In The Spring Of 1794 Mrs. Burr Died; And In

1801 His Daughter Was Married, And Removed To South Carolina. Thus

Terminated, In A Great Measure, All Those Domestic Relations And

Enjoyments Which Had Afforded Him So Much Pleasure, And Connected With

Which Be Had Indulged The Best Feelings Of His Heart.

Chapter XVIII Pg 399

Colonel Burr Was A Member Of The Senate Of The United States From The

4Th Of March, 1791, Until The 4Th Of March, 1797. During This Period

He Continued To Practise The Law. He Was In That Class Of His

Profession To Which Belonged A Hamilton, A Harrison, And A Livingston.

The Partiality Of Some Of His Friends May Have Placed Him At The Head

Of The Bar. His Opponents Ranked Him Second _Only_ To Their Particular

Favourite. As A Speaker, Colonel Burr Was Calm And Persuasive. He Was

Most Remarkable For The Power Which He Possessed Of Condensation. His

Appeals, Whether To A Court Or A Jury, Were Sententious And Lucid. His

Speeches, Generally, Were Argumentative, Short, And Pithy. No Flights

Of Fancy, No Metaphors, No Parade Of Impassioned Sentences, Are To Be

Found In Them. When Employed On The Same Side Of A Cause With General

Hamilton, It Was His Uniform Practice To Permit That Gentleman To

Select His Own Place In The Cause.

 

 

It Has Often Been Remarked That Colonel Burr'S Character Could Not Be

Better Drawn Than It Is In A Short Sketch Of His Father, By Governor

Livingston. "Though A Person" (Says The Governor) "Of A Slender And

Delicate Make, To Encounter Fatigue He Has A Heart Of Steel; And, For

The Despatch Of Business, The Most Amazing Talents, Joined To A

Constancy Of Mind That Ensures Success In Spite Of Every Obstacle. As

Long As An Enterprise Appears Not Absolutely Impossible, He Knows No

Discouragement; But, In Proportion To Its Difficulty, Augments His

Diligence; And, By An Insuperable Fortitude, Frequently Accomplishes

What His Friends And Acquaintance Conceive Utterly Impracticable."

 

 

In The Year 1793 Albert Gallatin Was Appointed A Senator Of The United

States By The State Of Pennsylvania. On Claiming His Seat In January,

1794, A Petition Was Presented Against His Admission Into That Body,

On The Ground That He Had Not Been A Citizen The Requisite Number Of

Years. The Subject Was Referred To A Committee Of Seven. Their Report

Elicited A Warm Debate, Which Continued For Several Days. Colonel Burr

Took An Active Part, And Greatly Distinguished Himself In Support Of

Mr. Gallatin'S Claim. His Colleague, Mr. King, Had Taken The Lead

Against The Right Of Mr. Gallatin To A Seat. John Taylor, Of Caroline,

Virginia, Addressed A Note To Colonel Burr, In Which He Says--"We

Shall Leave You To Reply To King: _First_, Because You Desired It;

_Second_, All Depends Upon It; No One Else _Can_ Do It, And The

Audience Will Expect It."

 

 

On The 28Th Of February, 1794, The Senate "_Resolved_, That The

Election Of Albert Gallatin To Be A Senator Of The United States Was

Void, He Not Having Been A Citizen Of The United States The Term Of

Years Required As A Qualification To Be A Senator Of The United

States."--Ays 14, Nays 12.

Chapter XVIII Pg 400

On The 20Th Of February, 1794, The Senate Adopted A Resolution,

Declaring That Their Galleries, At The Commencement Of The Next

Session, Should Be Opened While The Senate Were "Engaged In Their

Legislative Capacity." For This, Or A Similar Resolution, Colonel Burr

Had Voted At Every Previous Session Since He Had Been A Member.

 

 

His Personal Respect For John Jay Has Been Heretofore Mentioned; But

On No Occasion Did He Permit Such Feelings To Interfere With His

Political Acts, When Called Upon To Perform A Public Duty. On The 16Th

Of April, 1794, The President Nominated John Jay, Then Chief-Justice

Of The United States, As Envoy Extraordinary To Great Britain. On The

19Th, When The Nomination Was Called Up For Consideration, Mr. Burr

Offered The Following Resolutions--

 

 

"_Resolved_, That Any Communications To Be Made To The Court Of Great

Britain May Be Made Through Our Minister Now At That Court With Equal

Facility And Effect, And At Much Less Expense, Than By An Envoy

Extraordinary; And That Such An Appointment Is At Present Inexpedient

And Unnecessary:

 

 

"That To Permit Judges Of The Supreme Court To Hold, At The Same Time,

Any Other Office Or Employment Emanating From, And Holden At The

Pleasure Of, The Executive, Is Contrary To The Spirit Of The

Constitution; And, As Tending To Expose Them To The Influence Of The

Executive, Is Mischievous And Impolitic." Ays 10, Nays 17.

 

 

The Nomination Was Then Confirmed By A Vote Of 18 To 8, Mr. Burr

Voting In The Negative. This Vote, It Was Understood At The Time, Gave

Pain To Mr. Jay. In A Letter To His Lady, Dated The 20Th Of April, The

Judge Says--"Yesterday The Senate Approved Of The Nomination By A

Great Majority. _Mr. Burr Was Among The Few Who Opposed It_."

 

 

About This Period The Democratic Party Were Highly Incensed Against

The President For Continuing Gouverneur Morris As A Minister To The

French Republic. The Executive Provisory Council Had Requested His

Recall. He Was Considered A Monarchist, And Hostile To The Revolution.

Many Of The Opposition Senators Had Spoken With Great Freedom Of The

Policy Of General Washington In This Particular. These Remarks Having

Been Communicated To The President, He Expressed, Informally, A

Willingness To Recall Mr. Morris, And To Nominate A Member Of The

Opposition, If They Would Designate A Suitable Person. In Consequence

Of This Suggestion, The Democratic Members Of The Senate, And Some Of

The Most Distinguished Members Of The House, Had A Conference, And

Resolved On Recommending Colonel Burr. Mr. Madison, Mr. Monroe, And

Another Member Of Congress Whose Name Is Not Recollected, Were

Delegated To Wait On The President And Communicate The Wishes Of The

Party.

Chapter XVIII Pg 401

General Washington Paused For A Few Moments, And Then Remarked, That

He Had Made It A Rule Of Life Never To Recommend Or Nominate Any

Person For A High And Responsible Situation In Whose Integrity He Had

Not Confidence; That, Wanting Confidence In Colonel Burr, He Could Not

Nominate Him; But That It Would Give Him Great Pleasure To Meet Their

Wishes If They Would Designate An Individual In Whom He Could Confide.

The Committee Returned And Reported The Result Of Their Conference.

The Senators Adhered Unanimously To Their First Nomination, And The

Same Delegates Waited Upon The President And Reiterated The Adherence

Of Their Friends To Colonel Burr. Whereupon General Washington, With

Some Warmth, Remarked That His Decision Was Irrevocable; But

Immediately Added, "I Will Nominate You, Mr. Madison, Or You, Mr.

Monroe." The Former Replied That He Had Long Since Made Up His Mind

Never To Leave His Country, And Respectfully Declined The Offer. They

Retired, And Reported The Result Of Their Second Interview. The

Democratic Gentlemen Were Not Less Inflexible, And Instructed Their

Delegates To Say To The President That They Would Make No Other

Recommendation. On The Third Visit They Were Received By Mr. Randolph,

Secretary Of State, To Whom They Made The Communication, But Who

Considered It Indecorous, Knowing The President'S Feelings, To Repeat

The Message.

 

 

This Incident Demonstrates, On The One Hand, The Strong And

Unchangeable Prejudices Of General Washington Against Colonel Burr;

And On The Other, The Firm And Unbounded Confidence Reposed In Him By

The Democracy Of Those Days. The Anecdote Is Not Related On The

Authority Exclusively Of Colonel Burr. It Is Confirmed By The Written

Statement Of A Gentleman Of High Standing, To Whom Mr. Monroe Repeated

All The Details. No Other Selection Was Made By The Opposition

Senators; But, On The 27Th Of May, 1794, James Monroe Was Nominated As

Minister Plenipotentiary To The French Republic.

 

 

On The 8Th Of June, 1795, The President Submitted To The Senate Of The

United States The Treaty Negotiated With Great Britain By John Jay.

This Question Called Into Operation All The Powers Of Mr. Burr'S Mind.

He Was Opposed To It In The Form It Had Been Negotiated. His Views And

Opinions May Be Distinctly Understood By Comparing The Amendments

Which He Proposed With The Original Treaty. On The 22D June The Senate

Resumed The Consideration Of It, Whereupon He Offered The Following

Resolutions:--

 

 

"That The Further Consideration Of The Treaty Concluded At London The

19Th Of November, 1794, Be Postponed, And That It Be Recommended To

The President Of The United States To Proceed Without Delay To Further

Friendly Negotiation With His Britannic Majesty, In Order To Effect

Alterations In The Said Treaty In The Following Particulars:----

 

 

"That The 9Th, 10Th, And 24Th Articles, And So Much Of The 25Th As

Relates To The Shelter Or Refuge To Be Given To The Armed Vessels Of

States Or Sovereigns At War With Either Party, Be Expunged.

Chapter XVIII Pg 402

"2D Art. That No Privilege Or Right Be Allowed To The Settlers Or

Traders Mentioned In The 2D Article, Other Than Those Which Are

Secured To Them By The Treaty Of 1783 And Existing Laws.

 

 

"3D. Art. That The 3D Article Be Expunged, Or Be So Modified That The

Citizens Of The United States May Have The Use Of _All_ Rivers, Ports,

And Places Within The Territories Of His Britannic Majesty In North

America, In The Same Manner As His Subjects May Have Of Those Of The

United States.

 

 

"6Th Art. That The Value Of The Negroes And Other Property Carried

Away Contrary To The 7Th Article Of The Treaty Of 1783, _And The Loss

And Damage Sustained By The United States By The Detention Of The

Posts_, Be Paid For By The British Government--The Amount To Be

Ascertained By The Commissioners Who May Be Appointed To Liquidate The

Claims Of The British Creditors.

 

 

"12Th Art. That What Relates To The West India Trade, And The Provisos

And Conditions Thereof In The 12Th Article, Be Expunged, Or Be

Rendered Much More Favourable To The United States, And Without Any

Restraint On The Exportation, In Vessels Of The United States, Of Any

Articles Not The Growth, Produce, Or Manufacture Of The Said Islands

Of His Britannic Majesty.

 

 

"15Th Art. That No Clause Be Admitted Which May Restrain The United

States From Reciprocating Benefits By Discriminating Between Foreign

Nations In Their Commercial Arrangements, Or Prevent Them From

Increasing The Tonnage Or Other Duties On British Vessels On Terms Of

Reciprocity, Or In A Stipulated Ratio.

 

 

"21St Art. That The Subjects Or Citizens Of Either Party Be Not

Restrained From Accepting Commissions In The Army Or Navy Of Any

Foreign Power."

 

 

In 1797, While Colonel Burr Was Yet A Member Of The United States

Senate, His Mind Was Occupied With The Project Of A Bank, And He

Conferred With Several Of His Personal Friends On The Subject. Among

Others, He Wrote The Honourable Thomas Morris, Who Was At The Time A

Member Of The State Senate.

Chapter XVIII Pg 403

To Thomas Morris.

 

 

New-York, 1St February, 1797.

 

 

Sir,

 

 

I Have Been Informed That The Present Sheriff Of Dutchess Either Has

Resigned Or Will Decline A Reappointment, And That Platt Smith Is

Among The Candidates. I Have Very Little Personal Acquaintance With

Mr. Smith--Am Not, Indeed, Certain That I Should Recognise Him If I

Should Meet Him; But I Have Long Known Him By Reputation, And Can

Assure You That He Is A Man Of Irreproachable Character, Of

Independent Property, And Much Above Ordinary In Point Of

Intelligence. His Connexions Are Very Influential (Perhaps The Most

So) In That County. He Is, In Short, A Man, In My Opinion, Every Way

Qualified To Fill The Office. Has Always Been Of Your Party, And

Supported Jay'S Election. He Is Withal A Generous, Manly, Independent

Fellow, Of That Cast Which You Like; One Who Will Feel Sensibly Any

Favours Or Civilities Which May Be Done Him. If You Should Not Be

Otherwise Pledged, You Will Oblige Several Of Your Personal Friends By

Supporting His Pretensions.

 

 

I Have Drawn Out A Plan For A Bank, But Find That It Will Require So

Many Explanations That I Forbear To Send It. I Perceive That You Are

About Selling Our Stock In The Funds Of The United States. We Have

Already Talked Over This Matter. The More I Reflect, The Stronger

Appear The Objections. It Will Doubtless Be Urged In Favour Of An

Immediate Sale, That Our Funds Are In Danger Of Seizure By The United

States. This Is A Mere Bugbear. Such A Thing Will Never Again Be Even

Proposed, And, If Proposed, Will Never Receive Three Votes In The

Senate. I Hope, Therefore, Our Legislature Will Not Suffer Themselves

To Be Precipitated Into This Sale From Any Such Unfounded

Apprehensions.

 

 

Mr. Belasies, A Gentleman, A Man Of Education And Fortune, By Birth An

Englishman, Has Come Out With His Family To Reside In This Country. If

He Should Apply For Leave To Hold Lands In This State, I Hope He May

Be Gratified; From The Little I Have Seen, And The Much I Have Heard

Of Him, I Am Persuaded That He Will Be A Valuable Acquisition To Any

State And To Any Society. He Is No Politician.

 

 

I Return To-Morrow To Philadelphia, Where I Shall Remain For This

Month. May L Expect To See You Here In The Spring? Present Me Most

Respectfully To Williamson, And Be Assured Of My Esteem And

Attachment.

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVIII Pg 404

In April, 1798, Colonel Burr Was Elected A Member Of Assembly For The

City And County Of New-York By The Democratic Party. This Year Was

Marked With More Political Virulence Than Any Other Year Since The

Independence Of The Country. It Was During The Year 1798 That The

Alien And Sedition Laws Were Passed. In The Autumn Of 1798, Matthew

Lyon, Then A Representative In Congress From Vermont, Was Endicted For

Harbouring An Intention "To Stir Up Sedition, And To Bring The

President And Government Of The United States Into Contempt," &C. He

Was Convicted, And The Sentence Was--"Matthew Lyon, It Is The Pleasure

Of This Court That You Be Imprisoned Four Months, Pay Costs, And A

Fine Of One Thousand Dollars, And Stand Committed Until The Judgment

Be Complied With." This Year The Celebrated Mission To France,

Consisting Of Messrs. Marshall, Pinckney, And Gerry, Excited The

Attention Not Only Of The American People, But Of The Civilized World.

In Short, This Year The Foundation Was Laid For The Overthrow Of

Federal Power In The United States.

 

 

In No Section Of The Country Was There More Political Excitement Than

In New-York. Parties Were Nearly Balanced. There Were Only Two Banks

In The City; The Bank Of New-York, And The Branch Of The United States

Bank. They Were Charged With Being Influenced In Their Discounts By

Political Considerations. At All Events, They Were Under The

Management And Control Of Federalists; And To Counteract Their Alleged

Influence, Colonel Burr Was Anxious For The Establishment Of A

Democratic Institution. With This View He Proposed To Obtain A Charter

For Supplying The City With Water; And As It Was Certain That If

Confined To That Particular Object The Stock Would Not Be Subscribed,

He Caused The Application To Be Made For Two Millions Of Dollars, And

Inserted A Clause In That Charter, That The "Surplus Capital Might Be

Employed In Any Way Not Inconsistent With The Laws And Constitution Of

The United States Or Of The State Of New-York." It Is Under This

Clause That The Manhattan Company Use And Exercise All The Privileges

Of A Bank. The Directors Were Named In The Charter, And A Majority Of

Them Were Of The Democratic Party.

 

 

It Has Been Said That The Charter Was Obtained By Trick And

Management; And That, If Suspicion Bad Been Entertained By Any Of The

Federal Members, Colonel Burr Could Not Have Got The Bill Through The

Legislature. It Is Due To Him, So Far As It Can Be Justly Done, To

Rescue His Memory From The Imputation Of Having _Misrepresented_ Or

_Misstated_ To Any Member The Object He Had In View. The Facts In

Reference To The Passage Of The Charter Of The Manhattan Company

Through The Senate Will Now Be Given. The Statement Is Upon Authority

That Cannot Be Contradicted.

 

 

When The Bill Had Passed The Assembly And Was Sent To The Senate,

Colonel Burr, During The Hours Of Business, Went Into The Senate

Chamber, And Requested A Federal Senator (Now Living) From The Western

District To Move A Reference Of That Bill To A Select Committee, To

Report Complete, Which Would Supersede The Necessity Of Its Going To A

Committee Of The Whole.

Chapter XVIII Pg 405

The Senator Replied, That Though He Had No

Objection To Make The Experiment, Yet That He Was Persuaded The Motion

Would Not Prevail, Because The Senate, Not Having A Press Of Business

Before Them, Uniformly Refused Thus Committing Bills To Select

Committees Instead Of A Committee Of The Whole. Colonel Burr Then

Suggested, That Perhaps If The Mover Would Intimate, While On The

Floor, That The Honourable Samuel Jones Was Contemplated As Chairman

Of That Committee, The Confidence Which The Senate Was Known To Repose

In Him, And In His Uniform Attention To Every Thing Relating To The

City Of New-York, Would Perhaps Induce The Senate On This Occasion To

Depart From Its Accustomed Mode Of Proceeding. Accordingly The Motion

Was Made, And Passed Without Opposition.

 

 

The Committee Named By The Honourable Stephen Van Rensselaer, Then

Lieutenant-Governor, Were Samuel Jones, Ambrose Spencer, And Thomas

Morris. It Was Suggested To One Of These Gentlemen That The Part Of

The Bill Authorizing The Employment Of The Surplus Capital Had Better

Be Stricken Out Of It; In Consequence Of Which That Gentleman Applied

To Colonel Burr For An Explanation On This Point. Mr. Burr Promptly

And Frankly Informed The Honourable Member, That It Not Only Did

Authorize, But That It Was In Tended The Directors Should Use The

Surplus Capital In Any Way They Thought Expedient And Proper. That

They Might Have A Bank, An East India Company, Or Any Thing Else That

They Deemed Profitable. That The Mere Supplying The City With Water

Would Not, Of Itself, Remunerate The Stockholders. Colonel Burr Added,

That The Senator Was At Liberty To Communicate This Explanation To

Other Members, And That Be Had No Secrecy On The Subject. The Bill Was

Subsequently Reported By Mr. Jones And Passed.

 

 

This View Of The Proceedings Of The Legislature Is Sustained By What

Occurred In The Council Of Revision, From The Minutes Of Which An

Extract Has Been Made.

 

 

"_At A Meeting Of The Council Of Revision, Held At The City Hall Of

The City Of Albany, On Monday, The 1St Of April, 1799._

 

 

"Present--His Excellency The Governor, The Honourable The Chancellor,

The Chief Justice, And Judge Benson.

 

 

"Mr. Reynolds And Mr. Robbins, From The Honourable The Assembly,

Delivered To The Council The Bill Entitled _An Act For The Relief Of

John Lansing_, The Bill Entitled _An Act For Supplying The City Of

New-York With Pure And Wholesome Water_, And The Bill Entitled _An Act

To Amend The Statute Of Limitation_, And The Bill Entitled _An Act

Making Provision To Keep In Repair The Bridge Over Schoharie Creek, At

Fort Hunter, In The County Of Montgomery_.

Chapter XVIII Pg 406

"The Council Proceeded To Take The Said Bills Into Consideration, And

Thereupon

 

 

"_Resolved_, That The Bill Entitled _An Act For Supplying The City Of

New-York With Pure And Wholesome Water_ Be Committed To The Honourable

The Chief Justice; That The Bill Entitled _An Act To Amend The Statute

Of Limitation_ Be Committed To The Honourable The Chancellor."

 

 

"_At A Meeting Of The Council Of Revision, Held At The City Hall Of

The City Of Albany, On Tuesday, The 2D Of April, 1799._

 

 

"Present--His Excellency The Governor, The Honourable The Chancellor,

The Chief Justice, And Judge Benson.

 

 

"The Honourable The Chief Justice, To Whom Was Committed The Bill

Entitled _An Act For Supplying The City Of New-York With Pure And

Wholesome Water_, Reported The Following Objections, To Wit:

 

 

"_Because_ The Bill Creates A Corporation, With A Capital Of Two

Millions Of Dollars, Vested With The Unusual Power To Divert Its

Surplus Capital To The Purchase Of Public Or Other Stock, _Or Any

Other Moneyed Transactions Or Operations Not Inconsistent With The

Constitution And Laws Of This State Or Of The United States_, And

Which Surplus May Be Applied To The Purposes Of Trade, Or Any Other

Purpose Which The Very Comprehensive Terms In Which The Clause Is

Conceived May Warrant; This, In The Opinion Of The Council As A Novel

Experiment, The Result Whereof As To Its Influence On The Community

Must Be Merely Speculative And Uncertain, Peculiarly Requires The

Application Of The Policy Which Has Heretofore Uniformly Obtained,

That The Powers Of Corporations Relative To Their Money Operations

Should Be Of Limited Instead Of Perpetual Duration."

 

 

"The Council Proceeded To Take The Preceding Objections Into

Consideration, Which Were Overruled; It Was Thereupon

 

 

"_Resolved_, That It Does Not Appear Improper To The Council That The

Said Bill, Entitled _An Act For Supplying The City Of New-York With

Pure And Wholesome Water_, Should Become A Law Of This State.

 

 

"_Ordered_, That The Honourable The Chancellor Deliver A Copy Of The

Preceding Resolution, Signed By His Excellency The Governor, To The

Honourable The Assembly."

 

 

"_State Of New-York, Secretary'S Office_.

 

 

"I Certify The Preceding To Be True Extracts From The Minutes Of The

Council Of Revision Of This State.

Chapter XVIII Pg 407

(Signed)

 

 

"Archd. Campbell,

 

 

"_Deputy Secretary_.

 

 

"_Albany, April 29Th_, 1836."

 

 

 

Of The Correctness Of The Above Statement, And The Fairness Of Mr.

Burr'S Conduct In Relation To The Manhattan Company, There Cannot Be

The Shadow Of A Doubt; But It Is Probable That A Large Portion Of The

Members Never Attempted To Examine Into The Extent Of The Powers

Granted To The Manhattan Company; While Another Portion Considered The

Project Of Colonel Burr, In Reference To An East India Company Or A

Bank, As Chimerical And Visionary. It Is, However, Evident That No

Trick Or Misrepresentation Was Practised To Procure The Passage Of The

Bill; Unless, Indeed, His Silence On The Floor Of The House As To His

Ulterior Views May Be So Construed. His Object Was A Bank; And When

Appealed To On This Particular Point, He Admitted The Fact. At All

Other Times He Remained Silent On The Subject. When The Bill Had

Passed He Was Lauded By The Democratic Party For His Address, And They

Rejoiced In His Success. Its Political Effect Was Considered Highly

Important, As It Tended To Break Down A System Of Pecuniary

Favouritism, Which Was Made To Operate In Support Of The Party In

Power.

 

 

During The Summer Of 1799 Vague Rumours Were Privately Circulated

Respecting Certain Transactions Of Colonel Burr With The Holland Land

Company. It Was Whispered That A Bond, Which The Company Held Against

Him For Twenty Thousand Dollars, Had Been Given Up For Secret Services

Rendered Them. In Other Circles It Was Hinted That The Compensation

Was For Procuring The Passage Of A Bill Through The Legislature

Authorizing Aliens To Hold Lands, &C. Connected With These Rumours,

John B. Church, Esq. Had Spoken With So Much Freedom As To Produce A

Challenge From Colonel Burr. On The 2D Of September, 1799, The Parties

Met At Hoboken, And Having Exchanged A Shot Without Effect, Mr. Church

Made The _Amende Honorable_, And The Affair Was So Satisfactorily

Adjusted As To Restore The Social Intercourse Of These Gentlemen. Mr.

Church Was Attended By Abijah Hammond, Esq., And Colonel Burr By Judge

Edanus Burke, Of South Carolina.

 

 

On The Ground A Most Ludicrous Incident Occurred. Previous To Leaving

The City Of New-York, Colonel Burr Presented To Judge Burke His

Pistol-Case. He Explained To The Judge That The Balls Were Cast

Intentionally Too Small;

Chapter XVIII Pg 408

That Chamois Leather Was Cut To The Proper

Size To Put Round Them, But That The Leather Must Be Greased (For

Which Purpose Grease Was Placed In The Case), Or That There Would Be A

Difficulty In Getting The Ball Home. After The Parties Had Taken Their

Stand, Colonel Burr Noticed The Judge Hammering The Ramrod With A

Stone, And Immediately Suspected The Cause. When The Pistol Was Handed

Him By His Friend, He Drew The Ramrod, And Ascertained That The Ball

Was Not Home, And So Informed The Judge; To Which Mr. Burke Replied,

"I Forgot To Grease The Leather; But You See He Is Ready, Don'T Keep

Him Waiting; _Just Take A Crack As It Is, And I'Ll Grease The Next_!"

Colonel Burr Bowed Courteously, But Made No Reply, And Discharged His

Pistol In The State It Had Been Given To Him. The Anecdote For Some

Time After Was The Subject Of Merriment Among Those Who Had Heard It.

 

 

No Explanation Was Ever Given, It Is Believed, Of The Transactions

Between Colonel Burr And The Holland Land Company. It Was His Practice

To Let His Actions Speak For Themselves, And To Let The World Construe

Them As They Pleased. This Was A Great Error, And Was The Source In

After Life Of Much Trouble And Suffering To Him, Yet He Would Not

Depart From It. A Few Weeks Subsequent To This Duel, However, Be

Received From A Friend A Kind Letter, Asking Confidentially An

Explanation Of These Transactions, To Which He Replied,

Chapter XVIII Pg 409

Colonel Burr To -----.

 

 

New-York, 6Th October, 1799.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

I Cannot Refuse To The Manner Of Your Request, Nor To The Friendly

Motives Which Have Produced It, To Satisfy Your Inquiries With Regard

To Witbeck'S Bond And The Holland Company.

 

 

In December, 1795 Or 1796, I Forget Which, I Entered Into A Covenant

With The Holland Company For The Purchase Of One Hundred Thousand

Acres Of Land, At Twelve Shillings Per Acre, Payable By Instalments.

The Covenant Contained A Penalty Of Twenty Thousand Dollars; As

Security On My Part For This Penalty, In Case It Should Become Due, I

Mortgaged To Cazenove, Or The Holland Company, Twenty Thousand Acres

Of Land In Presque Isle, Being One Hundred Shares Of Two Hundred Acres

Each In The Population Company, And I Assigned To Him Thomas L.

Witbeck'S Bond, Payable To Me, For Twenty Thousand Dollars, As Further

Collateral Security.

 

 

In The Fall Of 1797 Cazenove Joined With Me In A Power Of Attorney To

James Wadsworth, Then In Europe, For The Sale Of One Hundred Thousand

Acres, And, Until The Summer Or Fall Of The Year Following, We Had

Reason To Believe That They Were Or Would Be Sold, Which Of Course

Would Have Terminated All Questions About The Penalty. Some Time In

The Year 1797 Or 1798, It Was Noised In Albany That Thomas L. Witbeck

Had Given A Bond For Twenty Thousand Dollars, And His Credit At The

Bank And Elsewhere Became Affected By It. He Wrote Me Often On The

Subject. In Reply, I Begged Him To Explain That The Bond Was Not For

The Payment Of Money, And That, Even If It Should Become Forfeited,

The Twenty Thousand Acres Of Presque Isle Lands Were Alone A

Sufficient Security. Witbeck, However, Continued To Be Uneasy For His

Credit, And Teased Me To Take Up His Bond By Giving Other Security. I

Thought This Rather Unkind, And Did Not Trouble Myself About It.

Indeed, I Was In Hopes That The Sale Of The Land In Europe Would Have

Closed The Transaction. Not Long After This, I Think In November Last,

Cazenove Informed Me That Be Had Been Applied To By Witbeck To Change

That Security, And Added That He Was Willing To Change It For One Of

Equal Solidity, Provided It Would Not Impair His Rights.

 

 

Witbeck'S Importunities Continued, And He Became So Very Urgent And

Repeated That I Was Finally (November Last), Long After The Passing Of

The Alien Bill, Induced To Offer A. I. Frederick Prevost'S Bond In The

Place Of Witbeck'S. Cazenove Took Time To Consider And Inquire; And

Finding, In Fact, That Prevost'S Bond Was A Much Better One Than

Witbeck'S, Agreed To Take It. Prevost Accordingly Executed _To Me_ A

Bond For Twenty Thousand Dollars, Of Which Harrison Drew A Special

Assignment To The Holland Company. We Made A Memorandum That This

Exchange Should Not Vary The Rights Of The Parties (Viz., The Holland

Company And Aaron Burr), And Thomas L. Witbeck'S Bond Was Given Up. In

This Transaction I Never Suspected That Cazenove Imagined That _He_

Was Doing A Favour Either To Me Or Thomas L. Witbeck, And I Am

Confident That He Never Entertained So Absurd A Belief. It Was With

Great Reluctance That I Gave Prevost'S Bond. I Had Claims On Witbeck

Which Justified Me In Exposing Him To Some Hazard. Prevost Had A

Family, A Clear, Independent Estate, And Did Not Owe A Cent In The

World; But He Had Better Nerves Than Witbeck, And Would Not Tease Me.

 

 

About This Time We Learned That All Prospect Of Selling The Land In

Europe Had Failed, And As I Never Had An Expectation Of Paying Except

From The Land Itself, It Became Necessary To Close The Transaction. It

Should Be Observed, That Soon After My Contract With Cazenove He

Received Orders, As He Informed Me, To Sell No More Under Sixteen

Shillings (Two Dollars), And Afterward I Understood That He Had Raised

The Price To Twenty Shillings. In December Last We Had Several

Conferences For The Purpose Of Settling This Business. I Offered To

Give Back The Land And Cancel The Covenants. He Talked Of The Penalty.

I Replied That Be Would Only Recover The Damages Sustained, Which, By

His Own Account, Were Nothing; For, As The Price Of The Land Was

Raised To Twenty Shillings, The Holland Company Would, By Their Own

Estimation, Gain One Hundred Thousand Dollars By Taking Back The Land.

He Appeared To Feel The Unreasonableness Of His Demand, And Finally

Evaded My Proposal By Questioning His Own Authority. This I Considered

As A Pretence; Some Irritation Ensued, And We Parted Without

Concluding Any Thing.

 

 

Thus The Matter Remained Until May Last (1799), When Our Negotiations

Were Renewed. After Various Overtures And Propositions On Either Side,

It Was At Length Agreed That I Should Convey To The Holland Company,

Absolutely, The Twenty Thousand Acres Presque Isle Lands. That This

Should Be Received In Discharge Of The Advances That Cazenove Had Made

Thereon, And In Full Satisfaction Of All Damages Claimed On The

Covenants; And That Thereupon The Covenants Should Be Cancelled, The

Bond Of I. A. Frederick Prevost Be Given Up, And The Holland Company

Take Back Their Lands. This Was Accordingly Done A Few Days Before

Cazenove Sailed For Europe, Which Was, I Think, In June Last.

 

 

I Should Have Noted, That About The Year 1792 Or 1793, I Became

Jointly Concerned With The Holland Company And Sundry Individuals In

The Purchase From The State Of Pennsylvania Of The Whole Presque Isle

Angle, And Of Other Lands Adjoining To The Amount Of A Million Of

Acres. The Association Was Called The Population Company, And Was

Under The Management Of Directors, Who Had A Right To Assess On The

Proprietors Or Associates Any Sums They Might Think Proper To Promote

The Settlements Required By The Patents. My Interest Was One Hundred

Shares, Or Twenty Thousand Acres, For Which I Had Paid, At The Time I

Mortgaged To Cazenove, Upwards Of Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars.

The Thing Was Considered As Extremely Valuable, And I Have No Doubt

But My Interest Would, If I Could Have Retained It Five Years, Have

Been Worth To Me More Than One Hundred Thousand Dollars. Lands Within

The Angle Were Last Year Sold At Twenty Dollars Per Acre.

 

 

Though It Be Obvious That No Damages Were Due Or Could Have Been

Recovered By The Holland Company On The Penalty Contained In The

Covenants, Yet I Had Several Motives To Urge Me To Some Sacrifice In

Order To Get Rid Of The Business. _First._ I Could Not Repay The

Advances Made By Cazenove, Which Amounted To Several Thousand Dollars.

_Second._ I Could Not Bear To Give Any Uneasiness To Frederick

Prevost, Which Might Have Been The Consequence Of A Legal Proceeding.

_Third._ I Was A Little Apprehensive Of Being Sued On The Covenants

For Payment Of The Purchase Money. Cazenove, On His Part, Had But A

Single Motive, To Wit--He Found That These Lands Were All I Had To

Give, And That A Suit Would Have Produced Only Expense.

 

 

The Aforegoing Facts Are Substantially Known To Le Roy, Bayard, And

Mcevers, And To Harrison And Ogden. The Two Last Were Consulted On The

Closing Of The Business In May And June Last (1799). The Former Of

Them, Harrison, Several Times On The Exchange Of The Bonds. I Have Not

Spoken To Either Of Those Gentlemen On The Subject Since The

Transactions Took Place; But Any Person Is At Liberty To Do It Who May

Choose To Take The Trouble.

 

 

I Have Given You A Summary Of My Whole Concern With Cazenove And The

Holland Company, Not Knowing What Part Of It Might Tend To Elucidate

Your Inquiries.

 

 

By Those Who Know Me, It Will Never Be Credited That Any Man On Earth

Would Have The Hardiness Even To Propose To Me Dishonourable

Compensations; But This Apart, The Absurdity Of The Calumny You Allude

To Is Obvious From The Following Data, Resulting From The Deeds And

Known Facts:

 

 

That At The Time The Alien Bill Was Under Consideration, And Long

After, The Bond, The Covenant, And The Penalty Were Objects Of No

Concern, As We Had Reason To Believe That The Lands Were Or Would Be

Sold In Europe, So As To Leave Me A Profit:

 

 

That Witbeck'S Bond Was _Never Given Up_, But Exchanged For One More

Safe And Valuable:

 

 

That I Had Not, Nor By Possibility Could Have, Any Interest In This

Exchange, As It Was Relieving One Friend To Involve Another Still More

Dear To Me:

 

 

That, So Far From Any Understanding Between Cazenove And Me, We Had

Controversies About The Very Bond And Penalty For More Than A Year

After The Passing Of The Alien Bill: That No Part Of The Penalty Was

Ever Due From Me To The Holland Company; And That Of Course, They

Could Never Have Demanded The Bond, Which Was Expressly A Security For

The Penalty, And Not For The Payments:

 

 

That Nevertheless I Did Finally Give Cazenove A Valuable And

Exorbitant Compensation To Induce Him To Cancel The Covenants And

Discharge The Penalty.

 

 

This, Sir, Is The First Time In My Life That I Have Condescended

(Pardon The Expression) To Refute A Calumny. I Leave To My Actions To

Speak For Themselves, And To My Character To Confound The Fictions Of

Slander. And On This Very Subject I Have Not Up To This Hour Given One

Word Of Explanation To Any Human Being. All The Explanation That Can

Be Given Amounts To No More Than This--_That The Thing Is An Absolute

And Abominable Lie_. I Feel That The Present Detail Is Useless And

Trifling; But You Have Asked With Good-Nature, And I Could Not, With

The Appearance Of Good-Nature, Refuse. I Pardon You The Labour I Have

Had In Writing, And For That Which You Will Have In Reading No Apology

Can Be Due From

 

 

Your Friend And Obedient Servant,

 

 

A. Burr.

Chapter XVIII Pg 410

In January, 1801, Colonel Burr'S Daughter Theodosia Was Married To

Joseph Alston, Esq., Of South Carolina. Mr. Alston Was In His

Twenty-Second, Miss Burr In Her Eighteenth Year. He Was A Gentleman Of

Talents And Fortune, And A Few Years After His Marriage Was Chosen

Governor. Some Opinion Of His Style Of Writing May Be Formed By His

Defence Of Early Marriages; While That Portion Of His Letter Which

Relates To His Native State Cannot Be Uninteresting To South

Carolinians.

Chapter XVIII Pg 411

Theodosia Burr To Joseph Alston.

 

 

New-York, January 13Th, 1801.

 

 

 

I Have Already Written To You By The Post To Tell You That I Shall Be

Happy To See You _Whenever You Choose;_ That I Suppose Is Equivalent

To _Very Soon;_ And That You May No Longer Feel Doubts Or Suspicions

On My Account, I Repeat The Invitation By A Packet As Less Dilatory

Than The Mail; But For All These Doubts And Suspicions I Will Take

Ample Revenge When We Meet.

 

 

I Yesterday Received Your Letter Of The 26Th Of December, And Am

Expecting Your Defence Of Early Marriages To-Day. My Father Laughs At

My Impatience To Hear From You, And Says I Am In Love; But I Do Not

Believe That To Be A Fair Deduction, For The Post Is Really Very

Irregular And Slow--Enough So To Provoke Anybody.

 

 

We Leave This For Albany On The 26Th Inst., And Shall Remain There

Till The 10Th February. My Movements Will After That Depend Upon My

Father And _You_. I Had Intended Not To Marry This Twelvemonth, And In

That Case Thought It Wrong To Divert You From Your Present Engagements

In Carolina; But To Your Solicitations I Yield My Judgment. Adieu. I

Wish You Many Returns Of The Century.

 

 

14Th January.

 

 

I Have Not Yet Received Your Promised Letter; But I Hope It May Be

Long In Proportion To The Time I Have Been Expecting It. The Packet

Has Been Delayed By Head-Winds, But Now That They Are Fair She Will

Have A Quick Passage; At Least Such I Wish It. Adieu, Encore.

 

 

Theodosia.

Chapter XVIII Pg 412

Joseph Alston To Theodosia Burr.

 

 

Charleston, S. C. December 28Th, 1800.

 

 

Aristotle Says "That A Man Should Not Marry Before He Is

Six-And-Thirty:" Pray, Mr. Alston, What Arguments Have You To Oppose

To Such Authority? Hear Me, Miss Burr.

 

 

It Has Always Been My Practice, Whether From A Natural Independence Of

Mind, From Pride, Or What Other Cause I Will Not Pretend To Say, Never

To Adopt The Opinion Of Any One, However Respectable His Authority,

Unless Thoroughly Convinced By His Arguments; The "Ipse Dixit," As

Logicians Term It, Even Of Cicero, Who Stands Higher In My Estimation

Than Any Other Author, Would Not Have The Least Weight With Me; You

Must Therefore, Till You Offer Better Reasons In Support Of His

Opinion Than The Grecian Sage Himself Has Done, Excuse My Differing

From Him.

 

 

Objections To Early Marriages Can Rationally Only Arise From Want Of

Discretion Or Want Of Fortune In The Parties; Now, As You Very Well

Observe, The Age Of Discretion Is Wholly Uncertain, Some Men Reaching

It At Twenty, Others At Thirty, Some Again Not Till Fifty, And Many

Not At All; Of Course, To Fix Such Or Such A Period As The Proper One

For Marrying, Is Ridiculous. Even The Want Of Fortune Is To Be

Considered Differently, According To The Country Where The Marriage Is

To Take Place; For Though In Some Places A Fortune Is Absolutely

Necessary To A Man Before He Marries, There Are Others, As In The

Eastern States For Example, Where He Marries Expressly For The Purpose

Of Making A Fortune.

 

 

But, Allowing Both These Objections Their Full Force, May There Not Be

A Single Case That They Do Not Reach? Suppose (_For Instance, Merely_)

A Young Man Nearly Two-And-Twenty, Already Of The _Greatest_

Discretion, With An Ample Fortune, Were To Be Passionately In Love

With A Young Lady Almost Eighteen, Equally Discreet With Himself, And

Who Had A "Sincere Friendship" For Him, Do You Think It Would Be

Necessary To Make Him Wait Till Thirty? Particularly Where The Friends

On Both Sides Were Pleased With The Match.

 

 

Were I To Consider The Question Personally, Since You Allow That

"Individual Character" Ought To Be Consulted, No Objection Clearly

Could Be Made To My Marrying Early.

 

 

From My Father'S Plan Of Education For Me, I May Properly Be Called A

Hot-Bed Plant. Introduced From My Infancy Into The Society Of Men,

While Yet A Boy I Was Accustomed To Think And Act Like A Man. On Every

Occasion, However Important, I Was Left To Decide For Myself; I Do Not

Recollect A Single Instance Where I Was Controlled Even By Advice; For

It Was My Father'S Invariable Maxim, That The Best Way Of

Strengthening The Judgment Was To Suffer It To Be Constantly

Exercised. Before Seventeen I Finished My College Education; Before

Twenty I Was Admitted To The Bar. Since That Time I Have Been

Constantly Travelling Through Different Parts Of The United States; To

What Purpose I Leave You To Determine.

 

 

From This Short Account Of Myself You May Judge Whether My Manners And

Sentiments Are Not, By This Time, In Some Degree Formed.

 

 

But Let Us Treat The Subject Abstractedly; And, As We Have Shown That

Under Particular Circumstances No Disadvantages Result From Early

Marriages, Let Us See If Any Positive Advantages Attend Them.

 

 

Happiness In The Marriage State, You Will Agree With Me, Can Only Be

Obtained From The Most Complete Congeniality Of Mind And Disposition,

And The Most Exact Similarity Of Habits And Pursuits; Now, Though

Their Natures May Generally Resemble, No Two Persons Can Be Entirely

Of The Same Mind And Disposition, The Same Habits And Pursuits, Unless

After The Most Intimate And Early Association; I Say Early, For It Is

In Youth Only The Mind And Disposition Receive The Complexion We Would

Give Them; It Is Then Only That Our Habits Are Moulded Or Our Pursuits

Directed As We Please; As We Advance In Life They Become Fixed And

Unchangeable, And Instead Of Our Governing Them, Govern Us. Is It Not

_Therefore_ Better, Upon Every Principle Of Happiness, That Persons

Should Marry Young, When, Directed By Mutual Friendship, Each Might

Assimilate To The Other, Than Wait Till A Period When Their Passions,

Their Prejudices, Their Habits, &C. Become So Rooted That There

Neither Exists An Inclination Nor Power To Correct Them? Dr. Franklin,

A Very Strong Advocate For My System, And, I Think, At Least As Good

Authority As Aristotle, Very Aptly Compares Those Who Marry Early To

Two Young Trees Joined Together By The Hand Of The Gardener;

  "Trunk Knit With Trunk, And Branch With Branch Intwined,

  Advancing Still, More Closely They Are Join'D;

  At Length, Full Grown, No Difference We See,

  But, 'Stead Of Two, Behold A Single Tree!" [1]

 

 

Those, On The Other Hand, Who Do Not Marry Till Late, Say "Thirty,"

For Example, He Likens To Two Ancient Oaks;

 

 

  "Use All Your Force, They Yield Not To Your Hand,

  But Firmly In Their Usual Stations Stand;

  While Each, Regardless Of The Other'S Views,

  Stubborn And Fix'D, It'S Natural Bent Pursues!" [2]

 

 

But This Is Not All; It Is In Youth That We Are Best Fitted To Enjoy

That Exquisite Happiness Which The Marriage State Is Capable Of

Affording, And The Remembrance Of Which Forms So Pleasing A Link In

That Chain Of Friendship That Binds To Each Other Two Persons Who Have

Lived Together Any Number Of Years. Our Ideas Are Then More Refined;

Every Generous And Disinterested Sentiment Beats Higher; And Our

Sensibility Is Far More Alive To Every Emotion Our Associate May Feel.

Depend Upon It, The Man Who Does Not Love Till "Thirty" Will Never,

Never Love; Long Before That Period, He Will Become Too Much Enamoured

Of His Own Dear Self To Think Of Transferring His Affections To Any

Other Object. He May Marry, But Interest Alone Will Direct Him In The

Choice Of His Wife; Far From Regarding Her As The Sweetest Friend And

Companion Of His Life, He Will Consider Her But As An Unavoidable

Encumbrance Upon The Estate She Brings Him. And Can You Really Hope,

My Theodosia, With All Your Ingenuity, To Convince Me That Such A

Being Will Enjoy Equal Happiness In Marriage With Me? With Me, About

To Enter Into It With Such Rapture; Who Anticipate So Perfect A

_Heaven_ From Our Uniting In Every Study, Improving Our Minds

Together, And Informing Each Other By Our Mutual Assistance And

Observations? No--I Give You Full Credit For Your Talents, But There

Are Some Causes So Bad That Even You Cannot Support Them.

 

 

Enough, However, Of This Topic Till We Meet; I Have Already Given You

A Volume Of Nonsense Upon It.

 

 

Now For The Fable, I Cannot Call It Description, Your "Dear Friends"

Have Given You Of This State. "The Country," They Say, Because Of The

Marshy Grounds, "Is Rendered Continually Unhealthy With Fever And

Agues." One Would Really Conclude From This That We Were A Good

Representation Of A Meeting Of _Shaking Quakers_. Alas! Beautiful And

Romantic Hills Of Carolina, Which The Delighted Traveller So Often

Stops To Admire; Fair And Fertile Plains Interspersed With Groves Of

The Orange, The Lemon, And The Myrtle, Which Fling Such Healthful

Fragrance To The Air, Where Are Ye Fled? Has Some Earthquake, Some

Sudden And Dreadful Concussion Of Nature, Ingulfed You? No! You Still

Remain For The Delight And Ornament Of Our Country; You Have Lost

Existence Only In The Imagination Of Some Beau Or Belle Of New-York;

Who, Ignorant Of The Geography And Appearance Of The Most Celebrated

States, Believes Every Other Place Except The Park And The Battery A

Desert Or A Marsh. But Let Us Proceed:--"As To Charleston, An Annual

Epidemic, Joined To The Yells Of Whipped Negroes, Which Assail Your

Ears From Every House, And The Extreme Heat, Make It A Perfect

Purgatory!" What! Is Charleston, The Most Delightfully Situated City

In America, Which, Entirely Open To The Ocean, Twice In Every

Twenty-Four Hours Is Cooled By The Refreshing Seabreeze, The

Montpelier Of The South, Which Annually Affords An Asylum To The

Planter And The West-Indian From Every Disease, Accused Of Heat And

Unhealthiness?--Island Of Calypso, Where Reigned Perpetual Spring! May

We Not, After This, Expect Thy Flower-Enamelled Fields To Be

Metamorphosed Into Dreary Wastes Of Snow, And The Sweet Concerts Of

The Feathered Choir, Which Elysionized Thy Woods, Converted Into The

Howling Of The Tiger, Or The Horrid Bark Of The Wolf? But This Is Not

All, Unfortunate Citizens Of Charleston; Your Disposition Has Been

Even Still More Outraged Than Your Climate. Your Mildness, Humanity,

And Benevolence, Are No More; Cruelty, Barbarity, A Sanguinary Love Of

Torture, Are Now Your Distinguishing Characteristics; The Scream, The

Yell Of The Miserable, Unresisting African, Bleeding Under The Scourge

Of Relentless Power, Affords Music To Your Ears! Ah! From What

Unfriendly Cause Does This Arise? Has The God Of Heaven, In Anger,

Here Changed The Order Of Nature? In Every Other Region, Without

Exception, In A Similar Degree Of Latitude, The Same Sun Which Ripens

The Tamarind And The Anana, Ameliorates The Temper, And Disposes It To

Gentleness And Kindness. In India And Other Countries Not Very

Different In Climate From The Southern Parts Of The United States, The

Inhabitants Are Distinguished For A Softness And Inoffensiveness Of

Manners, Degenerating Almost To Effeminacy; It Is Here Then, Only,

That We Are Exempt From The General Influence Of Climate: Here Only

That, In Spite Of It, We Are Cruel And Ferocious! Poor Carolina!

 

 

"The State Of Society, Too, Is Equally Inviting. The Men And Women

Associate Very Little; The Former Employ Themselves Either In The

Business Of Life, Or In Hunting Horse-Racing, And Gaming; While The

Latter Meet In Large Parties, Composed Entirely Of Themselves, To Sip

Tea And Look Prim!" Would A Stranger Who Had Been Among Us, Who Had

Witnessed The Polished State Of Our Society, The Elegance Of Our

Parties, The Case And Sociability Of Manners Which Prevail There, The

Constant And Agreeable Intercourse Between The Sexes, The

Accomplishments Of Our Ladies, That Proud And Elevated Spirit Among

The Men Which Would Feel "A Stain Like A Wound," Believe The Account

You Have Written Meant As A Picture Of South Carolina? Would He

Believe, Still Further, That It Was Drawn By An American? No. He Would

Suppose It The Production Of Some Jaundiced Foreigner, Who Had Never

Visited Us, And Who Set Down Every Thing Out Of His Own Country As

Rude And Gothic. Now I Recollect Morse Gives A Description Something

Like This Of _North_ Carolina; And I Suspect Your "Friends" Stole

Their Account, With A Little Exaggeration, From Him, But Mistook The

State. I Have Now Replied To The Fable Of Your "Dear Friends" In A

_Veritable_ Style; But, Setting Aside Rhapsody, If You Have Time To

Read It, I Will Give You A Proper And Impartial Account Of Our Country

In A Few Words. Possibly It May Serve To Amuse You, If Still Confined

By Your Ankle.

 

 

For About Sixty Or Seventy Miles From The Seacoast, The Land Is,

Perhaps, More Uninterruptedly Level Than Any Equal Tract Of Territory

In The United States; From That Distance It Gradually Becomes More

Hilly, Till, As You Advance Into The Interior, You Become Entangled In

That Chain Of Mountains Which, Rising In The Back Parts Of

Pennsylvania, Runs Through That State, Touches A Corner Of Maryland,

And, Extending Through North Carolina, South Carolina, And Georgia,

Forms A Line Between The Atlantic And Transatlantic States. In Upper

Carolina It Is As Healthy As Anywhere On The Continent. The People Are

Robust, Active, And Have A Colour As Fine As Those Of Rhode Island. In

The Low Country, It Is True, We Are Visited By "The Fevers And Agues"

You Mention, But It Is Only At A Particular Season, And Near The Banks

Of The Rivers. In This We Are By No Means Singular; Those Who Reside

On The Borders Of The Lakes, The Connecticut, The Delaware, And The

Potomac, Are Equally Exposed. On The Seacoast We Again Find Health;

Charleston, Till Within A Few Years Past, Was Remarkably Healthy.

Since '93 It Has Been Afflicted, At Different Times, During The

Summer, With An Epidemic, Which Has Certainly Proved Extremely Fatal;

But Ought It To Be Called An "Annual Visitant" Here Any More Than At

Boston, New-York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, &C., All Of Which Places

Have Been Equally, And Some Of Them More, Afflicted By It?

 

 

With Regard To Our Manners; If There Is Any State Which Has A Claim To

Superior Refinement, It Is Certainly South Carolina. Generally

Speaking, We Are Divided Into But Two Classes, Very Rich And Very

Poor; Which, If No Advantage In A Political View, Is Undoubtedly

Favourable To A Polished State Of Society. Our Gentlemen Having Large

Fortunes, And Being Very Little Disposed By The Climate To The

Drudgery Of Business Or Professions, Have Full Leisure For The

Attainment Of Polite Literature, And What Are Usually Called

Accomplishments; You Therefore Meet With Few Of Them Who Are Not

Tolerably Well Informed, Agreeable Companions, And Completely Well

Bred. The Possession Of Slaves Renders Them Proud, Impatient Of

Restraint, And Gives Them A Haughtiness Of Manner Which, To Those

Unaccustomed To Them, Is Disagreeable; But We Find Among Them A High

Sense Of Honour, A Delicacy Of Sentiment, And A Liberality Of Mind,

Which We Look For In Vain In The More Commercial Citizens Of The

Northern States. The Genius Of The Carolinian, Like The Inhabitants Of

All Southern Countries, Is Quick, Lively, And Acute; In Steadiness And

Perseverance He Is Naturally Inferior To The Native Of The North; But

This Defect Of Climate Is Often Overcome By His Ambition Or Necessity;

And, Whenever This Happens, He Seldom Fails To Distinguish Himself. In

His Temper He Is Gay And Fond Of Company, Open, Generous, And

Unsuspicious; Easily Irritated, And Quick To Resent Even The

Appearance Of Insult; But His Passion, Like The Fire Of The Flint, Is

Lighted Up And Extinguished In The Same Moment. I Do Not Mention His

Hospitality And Kindness To Strangers, For They Are So Common They Are

No Longer Esteemed Virtues; Like Common Honesty, They Are Noticed Only

When Not Possessed. Nor Is It For The Elegance Of Their Manners Only

That The South Carolinians Are Distinguished; Sound Morality Is

Equally Conspicuous Among Them. Gaming, So Far From Being A

Fashionable Vice, Is Confined Entirely To The Lower Class Of People;

Among Gentlemen It Is Deemed Disgraceful. Many Of Them, It Is True,

Are Fond Of The Turf; But They Pursue The Sports Of It Merely As An

Amusement And Recreation, Not A Business. As To Hunting, The Country

Gentlemen Occasionally Engage In It, But Surely There Is Nothing

Criminal In This! From My Education And Other Pursuits I Have Seldom

Participated In It Myself; But I Consider It, Above All Exercises, The

Most Manly And Healthful.

 

 

But Come, Let Us Dismiss The Gentlemen And Their Amusements, And Take

Up The Female Part Of The Community.

 

 

The Ladies Of Carolina, I Confess, Are Not Generally As Handsome As

Those Of The Northern States; They Want That Bloom Which, In The

Opinion Of Some, Is So Indispensable An Ingredient In Beauty; But

Their Paleness Gives Them An Appearance Of Delicacy And Languor Which

Is Highly Interesting. Their Education Is Perhaps More Attended To

Than Anywhere Else In The United States; Many Of Them Are Well

Informed, All Of Them Accomplished. For It Would Be Far More

Unpardonable In A Girl To Enter A Room Or Go Through A Congo

Ungracefully, Than To Be Ignorant Of The Most Common Event In History

Or The First Principles Of Arithmetic. They Are Perfectly Easy And

Agreeable In Their Manners, And Remarkably Fond Of Company; No

Charleston Belle Ever Felt "Ennui" In Her Life. In The Richness Of

Their Dress And The Splendour Of Their Equipages They Are Unrivalled.

From Their Early Introduction Into Company, And Their Constant And

Unreserved Intercourse With The Other Sex, They Generally Marry Young;

And If Their Husbands Want Only Companions For The Theatre Or The

Concert-Room, Or Some One To Talk Over The Scandal Of The Day With

When At Home, They Make Tolerable Wives. As We Have Now Brought Them

To The "Ne Plus Ultra" Of Human Happiness, Marriage, We Will Leave

Them There, And So Finish Our Description.

 

 

The Reason Of Your Not Hearing From Me So Long After Your Return To

New-York Was This: Not Knowing Till You Wrote Me From Ballston How My

Letters Would Be Received, I Was Really Afraid To Venture Writing.

 

 

You Ask How Miss P. Walks? If It Is Your Object, As You Say, From

Knowing Bow You Stand With Her In Point Of Forces, To Preserve Better

What You Have Won, Receive A General Lesson. "Continue In Every

Respect Exactly As You Are, And You Please Me Most."

 

 

You Wish Me To Acquire French. I Already Understand Something Of It,

And, With A Little Practice, Would Soon Speak It. I Promise You,

Therefore, If You Become My Instructress, In Less Than Two Months

After Our Marriage To Converse With You Entirely In That Language. I

Fix The Period _After_ Our Marriage, For I Cannot Think Of Being

Corrected In The Mistakes I May Make By Any Other Person Than My Wife.

Suppose, Till Then, You Return To Your Latin, And Prepare To Use That

Tongue With Me, Since You Are Averse To One Understood By All The

Canaille. Adieu. I Have Literally Given You A Folio Volume.

 

 

Yours, My Dear Theodosia,

 

 

Jos. Alston.

Chapter XVIII Pg 413

P. S. The Arrangement You Speak Of Proposing In Your Letter For An

Interview Has Determined Me. I Shall There Fore Sail Certainly In A

Few Days. Winds Be Propitious!

 

 

Miss Burr.

 

 

 

In April, 1799, The Federal Party Were Triumphant In The State Of

New-York. The City Was Entitled To Thirteen Members Of Assembly. They

Were Federalists, And Were Elected By An Average Majority Of 944; The

Whole Number Of Votes Being About 6000. Colonel Burr During This Year

Was Not In Public Life, But He Was Not An Idle Spectator Of Passing

Events. The Year Following A President Of The United States Was To Be

Elected. It Was Now Certain, That Unless The Vote Of The State Of

New-York Could Be Obtained For Mr. Jefferson, He Could Not Be Elected.

It Was Equally Certain, That Unless The City Could Be Carried By The

Democratic Party, The State Would Remain In The Bands Of The

Federalists.

 

 

During The Winter Of 1799 And The Spring Of 1800, Colonel Burr

Commenced A System Of Party Organization For The Approaching Contest.

The Presidential Electors Were At That Time Chosen By The Legislature,

Meeting In Joint Ballot. His First Object Was To Secure Such A

Committee Of Nomination For The City And County Of New-York As, In The

Selection Of Candidates For The Assembly, Would Be Influenced By His

Recommendation. His Opinion, Often Expressed To His Confidential

Friends During The Winter Of 1800, Was, That Without A Most Powerful

Ticket There Was No Prospect Of Success; With Such A Ticket And Proper

Exertions It Could Be Elected. He Entertained No Doubt (And The Result

Proved That He Was Correct), That On The City And County Of New-York

Were Suspended The Destinies Of The Country, Whether For Good Or

Whether For Ill. These Views And These Opinions Were Presented And

Enforced By Him For Days, And Weeks, And Months Previous To The

Election Upon All The Young And Ardent Politicians Of The City With

Whom He Had Any Intercourse. The Effect Of Which Was, That When The

Crisis Arrived, Every Member Of The Party Seemed To Feel The Great

Responsibility Which Rested Upon Him.

 

 

The Next Object With Colonel Burr Was To Inculcate Harmony In The

Party And Concert In Action. It Was Known That A Most Unconquerable

Jealousy Existed Between The Clinton And Livingston Families And The

Adherents Of Those Factions. The Clintons And Their Supporters Were

Anti-Federalists. The Livingstons Were Not Less Distinguished As

Federalists, Until Some Time After The Organization Of The General

Government Under The New Constitution. Colonel Burr Enforced, In Mild

And Persuasive Terms, The Necessity Of Sacrificing All Prejudices And

Partialities; Of Surrendering All Personal And Ambitious

Considerations; Of Standing Shoulder To Shoulder, And Uniting In One

Great Effort To Rescue The Country From Misrule. By The Most Unceasing

Perseverance He Succeeded In Both These Objects.

Chapter XVIII Pg 414

Every Section Of The Democratic Party Felt The Necessity Of Colonel

Burr'S Being A Member Of The Legislature That Was To Choose The

Electors; But A Difficulty Arose. It Was Understood That General

Hamilton Would Personally Attend The Several Polls During The Three

Days Of Election; That He Would Counsel And Advise With His Political

Friends, And That He Would Address The People. Here Again All Seemed

To Feel That Colonel Burr Was The Man, And Perhaps The Only Man, To

Meet General Hamilton On Such An Occasion. But If His Name Was On The

Assembly Ticket As A Candidate, His Personal Exertions During The

Election Would Be Lost To The Party. To Place Him In That Situation

Appeared To Many Like Abandoning The Field Without A Struggle To The

Federalists. In This Dilemma, The County Of Orange Patriotically Came

Forward And Nominated Him As A Candidate On Their Assembly Ticket,

Thus Leaving Him Free To Act In The City Of New-York; And By The

People Of Orange Colonel Burr Was Elected A Member Of The Legislature.

 

 

All The Details Connected With The Formation Of The Assembly Ticket In

April, 1800, For The City And County Of New-York, Will Be Given

Hereafter. The Result Is Known. It Succeeded. The Legislature Was

Democratic. Presidential Electors Of The Democratic Party Were

Appointed. Colonel Burr'S Services Were Appreciated By The Democracy

In Every Section Of The Country, And He Was Nominated On The Ticket

With Mr. Jefferson For The Offices Of President And Vice President Of

The United States. By The Constitution, As It Was Originally Adopted,

The Person Who Had The Greatest Number Of Votes, Provided They Were A

Majority Of The Whole Number Given, Was President; And The Person

Having The Next Highest Number, With The Like Proviso, Was

Vice-President. When The Ballots Were Examined, It Appeared That Mr.

Jefferson And Colonel Burr Were The Two Highest Candidates, And That

Their Votes Were Equal. By The Provisions Of The Constitution, It

Devolved Upon The House Of Representatives Of The United States,

Voting By States, To Designate Which Of These Gentlemen Should Be

President, And Which Vice-President.

 

 

On Proceeding To The Ballot A Contest Ensued, Which Lasted For Several

Days, Producing The Most Implacable And Bitter Animosities; A Contest

Which Terminated In The Election Of Mr. Jefferson And The Ruin Of

Colonel Burr. Until Within A Few Years That Scene Has Been Completely

Enveloped In Mystery. A Part Of The Incidents Connected With It,

However, In A Fugitive Form, Are Before The World. But The Period Has

Arrived When The Question Should Be Met With Manly Firmness; When The

Voice Of History Should Announce To Posterity The Truth, The Whole

Truth, And Nothing But The Truth, So Far As It Can Be Ascertained. The

Generation Which Were The Actors In Those Scenes Have Passed Away. The

Parties Immediately Interested Are Sleeping The Sleep Of Death. Few,

Very Few Indeed Now Living, Understand The Nature Of That Contest. The

Curtain Shall Be Drawn Aside. The Documents Which Develop Its

Character, And Which Are Scattered In Fragments, Will Be Brought

Together, And Recorded (It Is Hoped) In A Permanent And Tangible Form.

Chapter XVIII Pg 415

It Will Be Seen That The Immediate Friends And Advisers Of Mr.

Jefferson, Until Within A Few Hours Of The Balloting, Had No

Confidence In Certain Leading And Distinguished Members Of Congress,

Whose Names Shall Be Given, But Who, On His Coming Into Power,

Promptly Received The Most Substantial Evidence Of His Kind Feelings

By Appointments To Office. The Clearest Evidence Will Be Presented

That Mr. Jefferson Entered Into Terms And Conditions With The Federal

Party Or Some Of Their Leaders; That The Honourable James A. Bayard,

Of Delaware, Acted On The Part Of The Federalists, And The Honourable

Samuel Smith, Of Maryland, At Present Mayor Of Baltimore, On The Part

Of Mr. Jefferson; And That Terms And Conditions Were Agreed Upon

Between Them Before Mr. Jefferson Could Be Elected; While, On The

Other Hand, It Will Be Demonstrated That The Charges Which Have Been

Made Against Colonel Burr Of Having Intrigued And Negotiated With The

Federal Party To Obtain The Office Of President Were As Unjust As They

Were Groundless. But "_I Come To Bury Cesar, Not To Praise Him_."

Footnote Pg 416

 

 

 

1. Manuscript Poem Of My Own.

Footnote Pg 417

 

 

2. From The Same.

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