Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1802-07-21

ulONy CT lsletf WIG ttl :.et fsrfdN TgCEs nc
6r'srh o. the e,yf.ish batteries shat a.iec-
dote he might be excused tor. hccetsc, it
mas been foisted into The h;st5rs CT Arc
rica IN tie Encyclopedia published 5y Dob
SON. Il! like manner did bet, q could
not ne 50 disregalylfil of The OPINIONS Of
oi'Acrs,) say chat Mr.. u0mi,ton's literary
talents were not superior 70 those os -,ss,
newspaper scrihbier; but did say, that
&c has held too hi,h u ran: as q writer
AMI Statesman, that ignorance or pre;u-
olce alone could attribute 10 linn either the
merits OF good writer or an able, much
less an homes. politician gave 1t as my
opinion that a Dabit of intrigue exertsd
with success in &c early pa,t of his life,
n favorable juh6iurc, and a1ronp persons
nothighly faYoured by peniesor education.
was the foundation of all his consequence,
that h': manifested want OF ta,sats b,,
the littlencss Of his artcices. ard an i,,o,n..
Petent and inludicous politician bv II. die
regard which he eyincc:. Gr1lorality. ard
the want of foresight 10 two pa1.yh,e;s
which he had puslished vithin a few years.
These were, and arc, my sentimeDts. I
was more loqaaciou3. OH this point than
any other, for these reasons--tGat xoaa
net INFORMED, that ar. IFood heid an inter
course Nth Mr.. HaruHsn. k1ro me mc9i.,q,
Of a tutoc then hvigg u, ne family of DG.
Hamilton, q coaApfymGa Of Nh Bood's.
SO TAR as relates to Mr.. Burr-iny OPT
mons have been uniform, from the frst
blush of the transa6tionS nor hidden So
| phistical opinion, but declared to himself
and reiterated TO his particular friends,
fhat Il the moriVes for me sllz5 essioa Of the
6qok were'iot satigfactoyFiy e.rlal1iaed 70 The
iia5hc, his standing with the lepubhcan in
f;ssrest was gone.
Mr.. Woods capaciTy is to be appreci-
ated by his history Ibis character by his
conduct. The Former affords no one evi-
dence of mind qualification an historian
there isneither industry nor discrimination
yeracity nor dignity; heappears equally in
capable of penetrating the sources OF e.
vents as the sentiments of men, even
where he IS himself concerned; his igno.
rance or disregard Of the laws of propriety.
require no Illustration, but in his conduct
first IN delivering my confidential letters,
and then attributing the contempt which |
telt tor him into uneasiness for myself
My letters were delivered to Mr. Burr be-
fore knew that he had suppressed the
book.--lt was not until after had written
for my letters that / had discovered chat
he had suppressed it.
] owe MIR. Burr neither gratitude for
tavors conferred, nor dislike for disseryics
OF his disposition to render me service
have had proof, of mine to maintain m,
independence he is not ignorant. as ;
man taken up blythe public choice az chi
teal time, my duty as the organ of the DO
pular VIII, was to rcspeel and to supper
hirn. But there IS duty superior, tia,
OF maintaining the principles upon which
| the constitution of my country is establish
ed, without regard 70 men--in this view
am bound to judge Of facts and the a6(i
ons OF men, as they appear to me calcu,
4 lated to serve or observe the public inter.
est--but not to Judge rashly, where a great
public interest or an important charaGte,
j Is concerned.