The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-08-22

portrait OF the late DIR. Preiton, painted By Mr. Weh
Ih's portrait, underand, will be placed in the ~
Partment of the library which iha be ALIGNED for the
books, &c beqaeathed to that inittuton by the Rev.
DR.. Prsffcn.
From TIE MesV Tort GaGeits.
The gentleman to whom the following letter
from Commodore Truxton was adtlrefed has
put 1t into our hands for publication
My DEAR SIR,
1t has been extremely painful for me to
hear OF 70 many erroneous Ratements Rejecting
Col. Buir's arrival and reception at this place,
and am induced in conitquence thereof, and
IN confederation ofiome circumstances in which
my name has been frequently mentioned, to de.
tail to you facts as they are at leat in fubfance
MiirepreieniationS cannot, in the end, be ufeful,
or corhdered advilable even in this cafe, but
on the contrary, men of honour will want
truth told with candor, and fuch only with to
crafty: / diidain and conGder as inadmiilibe,
in a vrtuous community, and unworthy of nv
character, that unfoundcd reports fhould have
currency, when can relate the truth of what
has come within my own obiervation.
On Sunday morning, the 22d inf. between
the hours of nine and ten o'clock, was enga-
ged in my itudy, when fervant came 10 me and
1t to be one of my neighbors, I defired him to
ak the gentleman TO be ieated in the drawing
room tor few minutes, and | would wait upon
him. Soon after Mrs. Truxton came in, and
told me 1t was the vice-prelident. | immedi-
ately went down fairs, and a negro boy walked
up to me, whom did not at the moment recoe.
nlze he iaid that Col. Burr was in boat and
wiihed to fee me. | went out and difcovered
the boat that landed the boy, lying off at fhort
dItance from the fhore, and the bargemen ON
their oars, keeping petition oppoiite to my
landing place. As ioon as approached near
enough to the boat, the vice-preiident and my
ielf exchanged falutations the boat then came
In, when he landed Immediately, as did MIR.
SwartWout, whom he introduced to me, never
haying Teen that gentleman before.
In walking up to my houfe, the vice-prefident
told me they had been mott of the night on the
water, and that diih of good coffee would not
come aIniis. l told him it fhould be furnifhed
with pleaiure ; and as foon as we got on the pi-
azZa, ordered breakfaR, which was foon pre-
pared, as the equipage Of that meal was not vet
removed below. After breakfaft, MIR. Swart-
won't returned to New York, and the yice-preii-
dent afked me if horles were to be procured to
take him on his journey further fouthward.
Not believing (as it was Sunday, and as I after
wards was informed) that he could be accommo-
dated with convenience in this reipe6t, told
HIM 10 and that he mutt content himfelf where
he was. On Monday morning, however, or
dered up my own horfeS and carriage, and tool,
him to Cranberry, about twenty miles from this
place, and at that village he hired carriage
and hories to proceed with him to the Delaware,
and l returned home. During the time that
Col. Burr was with me, but little was fad of the
duel-deiIcacy on his part, IA well as mine, pre-
vented fuch conversation. He appeared to me
to feel much more forrow and real regret than
have obferved in any other perfon on the occa-
flon-though / have ieen many who exprefied
unfelgned regret, and was certain that they felt
1t. In conversation, / took an opportunity OF
ohferving my own feelings on the fnbett, ard
that general Hamilton had efteemed as an inva-
liable friend, fatefinan and folder-that as
politician admired him always, & in fact loved
him as brother. Thefe exprefiions were made
rather involuntary, and was forty made them,
as they excited an increafed emotion in the
breaft of Col. Burr, which ought not to have
been made by me; but it feemed unavoidable
added at the fame time, however, that had
and always had an unfeigned and iincere regard
for COL Burr; and that while regretted the paft
event, l at the fame time gave him hearty
welcome, as fhould have done gen. Hamilton,
had the fate of their interview been reverted, and
he had made me Witt. / have taken time and
pains TO recollect and relate as nearly verbatim
dS polnDle, every material eXpreiflOn on the fub~
ject introduced, in confequence of the unfortu-
nate catalfrophe, or that pafied between us !;
and hope it will prevent any farther mifeprefen-
, tatlon, at leaft as far as you can prevent it.
The difference of thefe two gentlemen's poll
tical opinions, could not but know but not
withdrawing this difference, had often met
them together, when the demon of difcord in no
initance excited an expref1ion or gcfure in the
one that could difurb the harmonious feelings
of the other. But l always obferved in both a
difpoition, when together, to make time agree
able, according TO the end intended by flch
meetings, in focety, at the houfes Of each other,
and of friends; and il was never until the I'M
happy affair of the duel was announced here,
that could have believed fuch a bulinefs was in
contemplation between thofe gentlemen.
No man, fir, can lament this fad event more
iincerely than ] do ; and particularly ince have
examined the correspondence, and other papers
on the fubjett. But let the melancholy ef1on
teach the inconfderate, that while any gentle
man may express his opinion of men & things as
he pleaies by letter or otherwiie, under his own
responsibility, that he lhoud be cautious how
he duplicates or commits others who, in good
faith, perhaps, and in private conversation, com.
munlcates ientiments never intended for the
public ear. That fuch conversations daily hap
pen among gentlemen, there can be no doubt !;
I but for the honour offocety they are but fedom
promulgated to the world, without permifIion
I or by fOme uncommon accident