The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-08-17 00:00:00

No. I.

SIR,.

Nett York,..l.me 18, 1834

I send (or yonr perusal a letter signed Charles D Cooper,
which, though app:rently publishe I v.me time ag.i, has but
ten• rrc.•ntly come to my knowledge. Mr. Van Ness who door
me the favour to deliver this, will point out to you that clause
of the letter, to whi..7li I particularly request your attention.
You must perceive, Sir, the neceriity of a prompt Anri un-
qualified acknowledgment or den.al of tht use of any copra
sion which would warrant the assertions of Dr. Cooper.

I have the honour to be
Your obedient servant,
General Hamilton. A 81.7R2.

No. H.

SIR, New York, June 20,18n4
I have maturely reflected on the subject rd your letter of the
lath inst. and the inert I have reflected, the more 1 have be
convinced, that 1 could not, without manifest impropriety,
mak a the avowit nr disavowal which you seem to think litres-
airy. The clau.e pointed out by Mr. Van New is in these
terms, I could detail to you a will more despicable opinion
which liamiltrati has eapressed of Mr. Burr." 1) endeavinir
to dircorer the meaning of this declaration, I was 01)14ed to
seek in the antecedent part of this letter for the opinion to
which it referred, as having been already disclosed: I tnund M in
these words.

" General Harni!ton, and Judre Kent, have declared in sub-
armee, that they lo.ilt.!cl upon Mr. Burr to he a dangerous
man. and one who /ight not to be trwitest with the none of
Governinent."

The language of Dr. Cooper plainly implies, that he con •
sidered thisopinion of you, which he an:Annie to me, as a
despicable one; but he affirms, that I have expreosed some other
still mon/despicable; without, however, mentioning to olioni,
when, or where. It is evident that the phrase o still more
despicable" aslrriin of infinite shad-4 from rely light to very
dark. How am Ito judge of the degree intended ! or hoer
si'all I snore any retitle idea to lauguage so indefinite ?
itotween Gentlemen, delpicible and more despicable are not
*oth the psis of a distinction; when, therefore, you do nut
isiterromee roc, as to the wham which ie ape:eh:ally ascribed
to me, I must conclude, that you view it, ac within the limits
to which the animadversions of political opponents upon each
Miser may lustifiably extend, and contivquently as not ss sirint-
iag the idea of it which Dr. Cooper appear• to entertain. If
se, what recice inference could you draw, as a guide for your
conduct, .were I to acknowledge that I had garnered an opinion
of you toll more despicable than the one which is porticidar.
hoot'. 11-/M could you be sure that even this opinion had cc-
cattle' the bounds which you would yourself deem admissible
hetween political opponents!
But I forto-ar further comment on the embarrassment, to
which thr requisition you have made naturally leads. The tic.
ration forbids a moor ample illustration, though nothing could
h.! more easy than to pursue it.
Repeating that I cannot reconcile it with propriety to make
the acknowledgment or denial yon desire, I will aild that I
de.on it inadmissible on principle, to consent to be interns.
gated at to the justice of the inferences which may be drawn
by <Athos from whatever I may have said of a political oppo-
netit iii the cows, of a fifteen year. If there
were no other objection to it, this is stifficienr, that it would
feud to eapom my sincerity anti tlehescy w ininrioiss imputa-
tions from every person, who may, at any titer, have conceived
the import of my expression., differently from what 1 may then
have intended, or may afterwaid, recollect. I stand ready to
avow or disavow promptly and explicitly any precise or definite
o:iiiiion which I may be rhacgoi with having declared of any
t:entlernan. More than that c.ainot fitly be expeetiol from
me ; and eseecially it cannot be reasonably expo. ted that I
shall enter into an explanation upon a basis se vague as that
which you have adopted. I trust, on more reduction, you will
see the matter 111 the same light with me. If nut, I can only
regret the circumstance, and must abide the consequence*.
oublitation of Dr. Cooper was never seen by me till
after the receipt of your Letter.
I have the Honour to be, &c.
Coln iel Herr A. HAMILTON.

_
No. 111.
SIR, New York, inne 21,1804.
Y.Ater Letter of the 10:is irutant has been this day r,ceired.
!faring constden-d it attentively, I regret to find in it nothing
af that sincerity And st•licacy which you pc to value.
Political opposition can never stouts's Gelid...ten (torn the
neces.ity of a rigid adherence to the laws of honour, and the
rote. of decorum. I neither claim such pusdrge, nor • indu`ge
et in others. _

The common sense of mankind affixes to the epithet adopt.
ed by Dr. Cooper the idea of dishonour. It has been publicly
applied to me under the moction of your name. The gyp-
tiun 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 authwised this application,
either directly, or by uttering expressions or °minims deroga-
tory to my honour. The t.me ss when" is in your know-
ledge, but no war msterial to rue, as the calumny has now fist
been disclosed so a, to become the suttect of my notice, and as
the effect is presroit palpable.
Your letter has fern shed me with new r •ascas fur requiring
a definite reply. I have the honour to ra,
Sir, your obedient,
General Hamilton. A. BURR.

On Saturday, June 42, Gen. H. for the first time,
called on Mr. P. and communicated to him the pro.
ceding correspondence. He informed him, that in
conversation with Mr. V. N. at the time of receiv-
ing the last letter, he mentioned it as rude and
offensive, and that it was not possible fur him to
give it any other answer, than that Mr. Burr must
take such steps as he might think proper. He sued
farther, 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 call to receive it. That his reply to
Mr. V. N. was that he did not pnzeive it possible
for him to give any other answer 'lists that lry had
mentioned, unless Mr. Burr wpeld take back bis last