Oracle post — Portsmouth, N.H., 1804-07-31 00:00:00, page 1

MtgreMramßm
Vol. XIV.I
QfIQ^QQ — QQ_QQ^^
Painfully Interesting.
FROM THE (NEW-YORK) EVENING POST?
To the Public.
THE shocking catastrophe which has recently
occurred, terminating the life of Alexander
Hamilton, and which has spread a gloom over
our city that will not be speedily dissipated, demand
that the circumstances which led to it, or were in
timately connected with it, should not be concealed
from the World. When they shall be trujy and
fairly disclosed, however some may question the
soundness of his judgment on this occasion,all must be
ready to do justice to the purity of his views, and the
nobleness of his nature. It will only here be add
ed, that the authenticity of the documents and the
accuracy of the information which we have at last
obtained, are beyond any question ; and must put
an end to all mistake or misrepresentation.
The following is the correspondence that passed
between General Hamilton and Col. Burr, to
gether with an explanation of the conduct, motives
and views of General Hamilton, written with his
own hand the evening before the meeting took place,
and only to have been seen in the deplorable event
tMtfclto^L —='\
AU. I,
n R New-York, June 18, 1804.
I SEND for your perusal a letter signed Charles
D. Cooler, which though apparently published some
time ago, has but very recently come to my knowl
edge. Mr. Van Ate, who does me the favor to
deliver this, will point out to you that clause of the
letter to Which I particularly request your attention.
.You must perceive, Sir, the necessity of a prompt
and unqualified acknowledgment or denial ofthe use
of any expressions which would warrant the asser
tions ofDr. Cooler. —I have the honour to be, Your
Obedient Servant, A. BURR.
General Hamilton.
No'll.
New-York, June 20th, 1804. 1
SER,
I HAVE maturely reflected on the subject of your
letter of the 18th. inst. and the more I have reflected
the more I have become convinced that I could not
without manifest impropriety make the avowal or
disavowal which you seem to think necessary. The
clause pointed but by Mr. Van Ness is in these tei ms,
« I could detail to you a still more despicable opiit
ion which Hamilton has expressed of Mr. Burr.?'
To endeavour to discover the meaning of this declara
tion, I was obliged to seek in the antecedent part of
this letter for the opinion to which it referred, as
having been already disclosed : I found it in these
words' “ General Hamilton and Judge Kent have de
clared in substance that they looked upon Mr. Burr
to be a dangerous man and one who ought not to be
trusted with the reins of Government.
The language of Doctor Cooper plainly implies,
that he considered this opinion of you which he at
tributes to me as a dispicable one ; but he affirms
that i have expressed some other, still more des
picable ; without however, mentioning to whom,
when or where. It is evident that the phrase “ still
more despicable" admits of infinite shades from
b~lr to ^ ^* # How am Ito judge of the
defree intended !—or how shall I annex any precise
idea to language so indefinite ?
Between Gentlemen despicable and more despi
cable are not worth the painsofa distinction : When
therefore you do not interrogate me as to the opin
ion which is specifically ascribed to me. I must
conclude, that vou view it as within the limits to
which the animadversions of political opponents up
on each other may justifiably extend, and conse
quentlv as not warranting the idea of it which Dr.
Cooper appears to entertain. If so, what precise
inference could vou draw, as a guide for your con
duct were Ito acknowledge that I had expressed
an opinion of vou still more dispicable than the one
which is particularized ? How could you be sure
that even this opinion had exceeded the bounds
wliich vou would vourself deem admissible between
political opponents?
But I forbear further comment on the embarass
ment to which ti e requisition you have made nat
urally leads. The occasion forbids a more ample
illustration though nothing could be more easy than
to pursue it. ,
Repeating that I cannot reconcile it with proprie
ty to make the acknowledgement or denial you de
sire I will add that I deem it inadmissible on prin
ciple, to consent to be interrogated as to the just
ness of the inference which may be drawn by others'
from what ever I may have said of a political^ op
ponent in the course of a fifteen years competition.
If there were no other objection to it, this is sufficient
that it would tend to expoe my sincerity and deli
cacy to injurious imputations from every ]>eison who
may at any time have conceived the import of my
expressions differently from what I may then have
intendedor may afterwards recollect. I stand ready
to avow or disavow promptly and explicitly any
precise or definite opinion which I may be charged
with having declared of any Gentleman. More than
this cannot fitly be expected from me ; and especi
allv it cannot" be reasonably expected that I shall
enter into an explanation upon a basis so vague
as that which you have adopted. I trust on
more reflection you will see the matter in the
same light with me. If not, I can only regret the
circumstance, and must abide the consequences.
The publication of Doctor Cooper was never seen
by me until after the receipt of your letter. I have
the honor to be, &c. A HAMILT()N
Col. Burr,'
nZiii.
g IR New-York, June 21, 1804.
YOUR letter of the 20th instant has been this
day received. Having considered it attentively I
regret to find in it nothing of that sincerity and del
icacy which you profess to value.
Political opposition can never absolve gentlemen
from the necessity of a rigid adherence to the laws
of honor, and the rules of decorum. I neither claim
such privilege nor indulge it in others.
The common sense of mankind affixes to the ep
ithet adopted by Dr. Cooper, the idea of dishonor.
It has been publiclv applied to me under the sanc
tion of your name. ' The question is not, whether he
has understood the meaning of the word,' or has
used it according to syntax, and with grammatical
accuracy ; but whether you have authorised this ap
plication, either directly or by uttering expressions
ot opteims derogatory to my honor. The time
OF ALL THE DISPOSITIONS AND HABITS WHICH LEAD TO POLITICAL PROSPERITY, RELIGION AND MORALITY ARE INDISPENSABLE SUPPORTS.— Washington. '
OR ACLE POST.
"when" is in your own knowledge, but no way ma
-.terial to me, as the calumny has now first been dis
closed, so as to become the subject of my notice,
f and as the effect is present and palpable.'
Your letter has furnished me with new reasons
for requiring a definitive reply. I have the honor
to be, Sir, your obedient, A. BURR.
General Hamilton. <
On Saturday the 22d of June, General Hamilton,
for the first tirtie, called on Mr. P. and communica
ted to him the preceding correspondence. He in
formed him that in a conversation with Mr.V.N.at
the time of receiving the last letter, he told Mr. V.
N.tluit he considered that letter as rude and offen
sive, and that it was not possible for him to give it
any other answer than that Mr. Burr must take
such steps as tie might think proper. He said far
ther, that Mr. V. N. requested him to take time to
deliberate, and then return an answer, when he
might possibly entertain a different opinion, and
that he would pall on him to receive it. That his
reply to Mr. V. N. was, that he did not perceive it
possible for him to give any other answer than that
he mentioned, unless Mr. Burr would take back his
last 'letter, and write one which would admit of a
different reply. He then gave Mr. P. the letter
hereafter mentioned of the 22d of June, to be deliv
ered s o Mr. V. N- when he Humid cHI on Mr. L for
sa answer, and went to hie country house.
The next day General Hamilton .received while
there the following letter.
No. IV.
Sir , - June 23, 1804.
IN the afternoon of yesterday, I reported to Col.
Burr the result of my last interview with you, and
appointed the evening to receive his further instruc
tions. Some private engagements, however, pre
vented me from calling on him till this morning.
On my return to the city I found upon inquiry, botli
at your office and house, that you had returned to
your residence in the country. Lest an interview
there might be less agreeable to you than elsewhere,
I have taken the liberty of addressing you this note
to inquire when and where it will be most conve
nient to you to receive a communication. Your
most obedie.it and very humble servant.
W. P. VAN NESS.
Gen. Hamilton.
Mr. P understood from Gen. Hamilton that
he immediately answered, that if the communica
tion was pressing he would receive it at his Country
House that day ; if not, he would be at his house in
town the next morning at nine o'clock. But he did
not give Mr. P. any copy of this note.
No. V.
Sir, ^ New-York, June 22.
YOUR Ist letter, in a style too peremptory,
made a demand, in my opinion, unprecedented and
unwarrantable. My answer, pointing out the em-?
barrassment, gave you an opportunity to take a less
exceptionable course. You have not chosen to do
it ; but by your last letter received this day, con
taining expressions indecorous and improper, you
have increased the difficulties to explanation intrin
sically incident to the nature of your application.
If by a "definity reply," you mean the direct a
vowal or disavowal required in your first letter, I
have in, otiicr a:®^er ../g''~, thau Liat ahieii AUS
already been given. If you mean any thing differ
ent, admitting of greater latitude, it is requisite you
should explain. I have the honor to be, Sir, your
obedient servant.
ALEX. HAMILTON.
Aaron Burr, Esq.
This letter, although dated on the 22d June, re
mained is Mr. P's possession until the 25th, within'
which period he had several conversations with Mr.
V. N. In these conversations Mr. P. endeavoured
to illustrate and enforce the propriety of the ground
Gen. Hamilton had taken. Mr. P. mentioned to
Mr. V. N. as the result, that if Col. Burr would
write a letter requesting to know in substance whe
ther in the conversation to which Dr. Cooper allu
ded, any particular instance of dishonorable con
duct was imputed to Col. Burr, or whether there
was any impeachment of his private character, Ge
neral Hamilton would declare to the best of his re
collection what passed in that conversation ; and
Mr. P. read to Mr. Van Nessa paper containing
the substance of what Gen. H. would say on this
subject, which is as follows:—
No. VI.
"General Hamilton says he cannot, imagine to
what Dr. Cooper may have alluded, unless it were
to a conversation at Mr. Taylor's in Albany, last
winter (at which Mr. Taylor, he, & General H. were
present.) General Hamilton cannot recollect dis
tinctly the particulars of that conversation so as to
undertake to repeat them, without running the risk
of varying, or omitting what might be deemed im
portant circumstances. The expressions are en
tirely forgotten, and the specific ideas imperfectly
remembered ; but to the test of his recollection it
consisted of comments on the political principles and
views of Col. Burr, and the results that might be
expected from them in the event of his election as
Governor, without reference to any particular in
stance of past conduct, or to private character."
After the delivery of the letter of the 22d, as
above mentioned ; in another interview with Mr.
Van Ness he desired Mr. P. to give him in writing
the substance of what he had proposed on the part
of General Hamilton, which Mr. P. did in the
words following :—
No. VII.
"In answer to a letter properly adapted to obtain
from Gen. Hamilton a declaration whether he had
charged Col. Burr with any particular instance of
dishonourable conduct, or had impeached his pri
vate character, either in the conversation alluded
to by Dr. Cooper or in any other particular in
stance to be specified.
He would be able to answer consistently with his
honour, and the truth, in substance, that the con
versation to which Dr. Cooper alluded, turned
wholly on political topics, and did not attribute to
Col. Burr any instance of dishonorable conduct, nor
relate to liis private character, and in relation to
any other language or conversation of Gen. H.
which Col. Burr will specify, a prompt and frank
avowal or denial will he given.
On the 28th June Mr. P. received the following
letter :—
Sir, No. VIII.
THE letter which you yesterday delivered me
and your subsequent gommuaication, in Col. Burr's
TUESDAY, July 31, 1804
fflnraffQQraQQ^ — ==-—^ — -x^
opinion evince no disposition on the part of Gen.
Hamilton to come to a satisfactory accommodation.
The injury complained of and the reparation ex
pected, are so definitively expressed in Col. Burr's
letter of the 21st inst. that there is not perceived a
necessity for further explanation' on his part. The
difficulty that would result from confining the inqui
* ry to any particular times and occasions must be
manifest. The denial of a specified conversation
only, would leave strong implications that on other
occasions improper language had been used. When
and where injurious opinions and expresssious have
been uttered by Gen. Hamilton, must be best known
to him, and of him only will Col. Burr inquire. No
denial <r declaration will be satisfactory, unless it
„be general, so as wholly to exclude the idea that ru
mours derogatory to Col. Burr's honour have orig
inate I.with Gen. Hamilton or have been fairly in
ferred from any thing he has said. A definitive re
ply to a requisition of ffiis nature was demanded by
Col. Burr's letter of the 21st instant. This being
refused invites the alternative alluded to in Gen.
Hammon's letter of the 20th.
It v u required by the position in which the con
trove: ;, was placed by Gen. Hamilton on Friday
last, ; id 1 was immediately furnished with a com
muni fin demanding a personal interview. The
n f -, of this measure has not in the opinion of
Cut. h^A been diminished by the General s last let
w?, 4^hy commas,cation which lias since 'pen re
ceived. lam consequently again instructed to de,
liver you a me sage, as soon as it may be convenient
for you to receive it. I beg therefore you will be
so good as to inform me at what hour I can have
the pleasure of seeing ybu. Your most obedient,
and very humble servant.
W. P. VAN NESS.
Nath'l Pendleton, Esq. June 26th.
No. IX.
SIR, 26/4 June, 1804.
I HAVE communicated the letter which you did
me the honour to write to me of this date to Gen.
Hamilton. The expectations nowtdisclosed on the part
of Col. Burr appear to him to have greatly exten
ded the original ground of inquiry, and instead of
presenting a particular and definite case for ex
planation seem to aim at nothing less than an inquisi
tion into his most confidential conversation, as well
as others, through the whole period of his acquain
tance with Col. Burr.
While he was prepared to meet the particular
case fairly and fully, he thinks it inadmissible that
he should be expected to answer at large as to every
thing that he may possibly have said, in relation to
the character of Col. Burr, at any time or upon
any ocasion. Though he is not conscious that any
charges which are in circulation to the prejudice of
Colonel Burr have originated with him, except one
which may have been so considered, and which has
long since been fully explained between Col Burr
and himself, yet he cannot consent to be questioned
' generally as to any rumours which may be afloat
derogatory t) the character of C&.Burr without spe
cification of the several rumours many of them prob
ably unknown to him. He does not however mean to
authorise any conclusion as to the real nature of his
conduct in relation to Col. Burr, by his declining so
loose and vague a basis of explanation, and he disa
vows an unwillingness to come to a satisfactory,
Orided it be an honourable accomodation. His ob
&s the ver '.. '.:k.Ae ground, \hich Col. Burr,
has assumed, in which he is sorry to be able to dis
cern nothing short of predetermined hostility. Pre
suming therefore that it will be adhered to,he has in
structed me to receive the message which vou have
it in charge to deliver. For this purpose 1 shall be
at home and at your command to-morrow morning
from Bto 10 o'clock. I have the honor to be respect
fully, your obedient servant,
NATHANIEL PENDLETON.
WiUiflm'P. Van Ness, Esq.
Sin, No. X.f
THE letter which! had the honour to receive
from you, under the date of yesterday, states among
other things, that in General Hamilton's opinion,
Col. Burr has taken a very indefinite ground, in
which he evinces nothing short of predetermined
hostility, and that Gen. Hamilton thinks it inadmis
^ble that the inquiry should extend to bis confiden
tial as well as other conversations. In this Col.
Burr can only reply, that secret whispers traducing
hisfame, and impeaching his honour, are, at least,
equally injurious with slanders publicly uttered :
That Gen. H. had, at no time and in ro place, a
right to use any such injurious expressions ; and
that the partial negative he is disposed to give,
with the reservations he wishes to make, are proofs
that he has done the injury specified.
Col. Burr's request was, in the first instance, pro
posed in a form the most simple, in order that Gen.
Hamilton might give to the affair that course to
which he might be induced by his temper and his
knowledge of facts. Col. Burr trusted with confi
dence, that from the frankness of a soldier and the
candour of a gentleman, he might expect an inge
nious declaration. That if, as he had reason to be
lieve, Gen. H. had used expressions derogatory to
his honour, he would have had the magnanimity to
retract them; and that if, from his language, inju
rious inferences had been improperly drawn, he
would have perceived the propriety of correcting
errors, which might thus have been widely diffused.
With these impressions, Col. Burr was greatly sur
prised at receiving a letter which he considered as
evasive, and Which in manner he deemed not alto
gether decorous. In one expectation, however, he
was not wholly deceived, for the close of Generaf
Hamilton's letter contained an intimation that il
Col. Burr should dislike his refusal to acknowledge
or deny, he was ready to meet the consequences.
This Col. Burr deemed a sort of defiance, and
would have felt justified in making it the basis of an
immediate message. But as the communication
contained something concerning the indefiniteness of
the request ; as he believed it rather the offspring
of false pride than of reflection, and as he felt the
utmost reluctance to proceed to extremities, while
any other hope remained, his request was repeated
in terms more explicit. The replies and proposi
tions on the part of Gen. Hamilton have in Col.
Burr's opinion been constantly in substance the
same.
1 Col. Burr disavows all motives of predetermined
hostility, a charge by which he thinks insult added
to injury—He feels as a gentleman should feel when
his honour is impeached or assailed, and without
sensations of hostility or wishes of revenge, he is de
termined to,vindicate that honour at such hazard as
the nature of the case demands.
The length to which this correspondence has ex
tended, oily tending to prays that the satisfactory
redress, earr estiy desired, cannot be obtained, he
deems it useless to offer any proposition except the
simple message which I shall now have the honour
to deliver; I have the honour to be, with great re-,
spect, your obedient and very humble servant,.
W.P.VAN NESS.
Wednesday morning, June 27, 1804.
With this letter, a message was received, such as
was to be expected, containing an invitation, which
was accepted, and Mr. P. informed Mr. V. N. he
would hear from him the next day as to further
particulars.
I Fills letter was delivered to Gen. H.on the same
evening, and a very short conversation ensu a be
tween him and Mr. P. who was to call on him eai iy
the next morning for a further conference Wh ahe
did so, Gen. Hamilton said he had not unde stood
whether the message and answer was detiniuvel,
concluded or whether another meeting was to take
plae for that purpose between Mr P. afid Mr. V.
N. Under the latter impression, and as the last lete
ter contained matter that naturally led to animad
version, he gave Mr. P. a paper of remarks in his
ownhand writing, to be communicated to Mr. V.
N. if the state of the rendered it proper..
In the farther inters iew with Mr. V.N. that day,
after explaining tha Causes which had induced Gen.
Hamilton o suppose that the state of theadaii uid
.not render it improper, he offered this paper to Mr.
V N.—^ :t he debited receiving. it. alJedging, that
he considered the correspondence as closed j, thu
acceptance of the message that he had delivered.
Mr. P. informed Mr. V. N. of the inducements
mentioned by Gen. Hamilton in these remarks, for
tte postponing the meeting until the close of the cir
cuit ; and as this was uncertain, Mr. P. was to let
hingnow when it would be convenient.
On Friday the 6th of July, the Circuit being clo^
ed, Mr. P. gave this information, and that General
Hamilton would be ready at any time after the Sun
day following. On Monday the particulars were
arranged, and the public are but two well acquaint
ed with the sad result.
The paper aboxe alluded to, is as follows:
No. XI.
Remarks on the letter of June 27, 1804.
Whether the observations on this letter are de
signed merely to justify the result which is indicated
in the close of the letter, or mav be intended to give
an opening for rendering any thing explicit which
may have teen deemed vague heretofore, can only
be judged of by the sequel. At any rate it appears
to me necessary not to be misenderstood. Mr. Pen
dleton is therefore authorised to say, that in the
course of the present discussion, written or verbal,
there has been no intention to evade, defy or insult,
but a sincere disposition to avoid extremities it it
could be done with propriety.
With this view G. H. has been ready to enter into
a frank and free explanation on any and every object
of a specific nature ? but riot to answer a general
and abstract inquiry, embracing a period too long
for any accurate recollection, and exposing him to
unpleasant criticisms from, or unpleasant discussions
with any and every person, who may have under
stood him in an unfavorable sense. This (admit lag
that he could answer in a manner the most satis
factory to Col. Burr) he should deem inadmissible,\
in principle and precedent, and humiliating in prac
tice. T n this therefore he can never submit. Fre
quent allusion has been made to slanders said to be
in circulation. Whether they are openly or in
whispers they have a form and shape, and might
be specified.
If the alternative alluded to in the close of the let
ter is definitively tendered, it must be accepted ; the
time place and manner to be afterwards regulated.
I should not think it right in the midst of a Circuit
Court to withdraw my services from those who have
confided important interests to roe, and expose them
to the embarrassment of seeking other counsel who
may not have time to be sufficiently instructed in
their cause. I shall also want a little time to make
some arrangments respecting ray own affars.
No. 11. contains an exfolanation of the conduct, mo
tives and views of Gen. Hamilton, was ftuhlish
ed in the last Oracle.
WILL.
Tn the name of God, Amen^ I, ALEXANDER
HAMILTON, of the city of JVew-York, Coun
sellor at law, do make this my last Will and
Testament, as follows:
FIRST, I appoint John B. Church, Nicholas Fish,
and Nathaniel Pendleton, of the city aforesaid. Es
quires, to be Executors and Trustees of this my Will,
and I devise to them, their heirs and assigns, as joint
tenants and not as tenants in common, all my Estate
real and personal whatsoever, and wheresoever, up
on trust at their discretion, to sell and dispose of the
same, at such time and times, in such manner, and
upon such terms as they the survivors and survivor
shall think fit, and out of the proceeds to pay all the
debts which I shall owe at the time of my decease ;
in whole, if the fund be sufficient, proportionably, if
jt spall be insufficient, and the residue, if any there
shall be to pay and deliver to my excellent and dear
wife Elizabeth Hamilton.
Though if it should please G< d to spare my life, I
may look for a considerable surplus out of my pre
sent property ; yet ifhe should call me speedily to
the eternal world, a forced sale, as is utual, may
possibly render it in insufficient to satisfy my debts.
I pray God that something may remain for the
maintenance and education of my dear wife and
children. But should it on the contrary happen
that there is not enough for the payment of my debts
I entreat my dear children, if they or any of them
should ever be able, to make up the deficiency. I
without hesitation commit to their delicacy a wish
which is dictated by my own. Though conscious
that I have too far sacrificed the inteierts of my fam
ily to public avocation and on tl i, account have the
less claim to burthen my children, yet I trust in their
magnanimity to appreciate as they ought, this my re
quest. In so unfavourable an event of things, sup
port of their dear mother, with the most respectful
and tender attention, is a duty, all the sacredness
of which they will feel. Probably her own patri
monial resources will preserve her from indigence.
But in all situations they are charged to bqar in mind
that she has been to them the most devoted and best
of mother.
Tn testimony whereof T have hereunto M&crited
my hand, the 9th day of July in the year ts our
Lord, one thousand ei^h hundred and four
ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
.CDominickF Blake
Signed sealed,See. in presence of Graham BurrJ
Theo. P. Ca'leau.
[Certified to a + r ue copy, Julv 16, by Silvanas MWe
ty^ SuT^te.) ;
[No. 43.