Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-08-01
Merr- York, July Is, 1904.

led to the interview between General tia-
milton and Col Burr, published in the E
yening Post on Monday last. studiously
avoided mentioning any particulars Of
what past at the place of meeting. This
was dictated by suitable considerations al
the time, and with the intention, that
whatever it might be deemed proper TO lay
before the public, should be made the sub
ject OF future communication. The
following is therefore now submitted.
In the interviews that have since taken
plaza between the gentlemen that were
present, they have rot been able 10 agree in
Two important facts that passed there
Tor which reason nothing was said on those
subjects in the paper lately published as
TO other particulars in which they were
agreed.
MIR. P. expressed 4 confident opinion
that General Hamilton did not FIRE FIRST
and that he did not fire al Rii al Col. 6urr.
Mr.. V. n. seemed equally confident in
opinion that General II did fire first
and Of course that it must have been al
his antagonist.
General Hamiiton's friend thinks it to
be sacred duty hs owss TO the memory
of that exalted man, TO his country, and
his friends, 10 publish TO the world such
facts and circumstances as have produced
decisive conviction in his own mind,
that lie cannot have been mistaken in the
belief he has formed on those points
lst. Besides the testimonies OF Bishop
Moore, and the paper containing an ex
press declaration, under General Hamil
tons own hand, inclosed TO his friend in
packet, not To be delivered but in the
event of his death, and which have al
ready been published, General Hamilton
informed MIR. p. at least TEN days prcvi-
Gus to the affair, that he had doubts whe-
Their he would not receive and not return
Mr.. Burr's first FIRE. MIR. p. remonstra
ted &ganst this determination, and urged
many considerations against il, as DANCE
rous 10 himself and not necessary in tbs
particular case, when every ground Of &C
commodation, not humiliating, had been
proposed and rejected. He said he would
not decide lightly, but take time to deli
berate fully. TWAS incidentally mentioned
again at their occasional subsequent con-
versations, and on the evening preceding
the time of the appointed interview, he
informed Mr.. P. he had made up his
mind NOT TO fire at Col. Burr me first time,
bur 10 recsiOe his fire, and fire in me cir.
MIR. p. again urged him upon thi. sub
jet, and repeated his former arguments.
His final answer was in terms that made
an impre ssion on Mr.. P's. mind which
can never be effaced. "My friend it is
RI e
does not admit of reasoning it is useless
to say more on the subject, as my pur.
pose is dehni,ively fixed"
I'd. His last words before he was wound.
ed afford proof that this purpose had
not changed. When he received his pii.
tol, after having taken his position, he
was asked it he would have the hair sprig
set !-His answer was Not this time"
Sd. After he was wounded, and laid III
the boat, the first words he uttered after
recovering the power of speech, were,
addressing himself to a gentleman pre-.
sent, who perfectly well remembers III
e" Pendieton knOsOs I did not mean 10 fire az
Coll Burr tie. frEt time"
9Th. This determination had been COM
municaied by Mr.. p. TO that gentleman
that morning, before they left the city.
sth. The pistol that had been used by
General Hamilton, lying loose over the
other apparatus in the case which was o.
pen; after having been some time in the
boat, one of the boatmen took hold Of it
to put it into the case. General Hami-
ton observing this, said " Take care Of that
f'istoi--if is cocked--h may go of and do
mischief" 7 his is also remembered by
the gentleman alluded to.
This shews that he was not sensible Of
having fired at all. If he had fired fire-
Uisus toreceivngih wound he would have
remembered it, and therefore have knoSn
that the pistol could not 30 off; but if qC
ferWards it must have been the cffe9 Of
an involuntary eTertion Of the muscles
produced by a mortal wound, in which
case, he could not have been conscious of
having fred.
5lh. Mr.. p. having strong convict.
on that If General Hamilton had fired
FIRST, it could not have escaped his stten-
ton, all his anxiety being alive for the CT
feet Of the first fire, and having no reason
to believe the friend Of Col. Burr was not
sincere in the contrary opinion he deter.
mined TO SO TO the spot where the affair
took place, to see is he could mt discover