Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-02-28

days. A: the age Of ten, he escaped from
the family Of his uncle, in EIizabethtown,
New Jersey, and engaged to 60 Out as Il
cab;n.boy in vessel at New York, but
was discovered and brought back before IL
sailed. Such vas the childhood Of his way
ward career.
A Short lime before Burr graduated at
Princeton College, (Which he did at the
early age Of siXtcen,) many conversions
took place among the students. His bog
raphcr observes that from his infancy strong
impressions had been made upon his mind
ofihe :'ex;stcnce of "a Deity, and the ac-
countabIi'y OF man," but he was moi P ieas-
cd with someof the circumstances OF this
"awakcning." Yet he seems to have been
somewhat influenced by the prevalent state
of feeling, for it is said that he sought "a
free and full conversation with DIR. Wl;her-
spoon, then the President of the College, Oh
the subjecf," the result Of which. as the au-
thor states, was that his mind was some
what tranquilized by the belief that 1t was
the spirit Of fsnaticism and not OF religion
by which his companions were excited.
He wrote as College exercise. an Essay on
the passions, which now stands in his life
as striking rebuke upon his own course,
which had already begun 10 be llcenious.
Here is one paragraph:
Do we not frequently behold men of
the most sprightly genius, by giving the
reins to their passions, los, TO society, and
reduced = the lowest cbb of misery and
despair? Do we not frequently behold per-
sons of the most penetrating discermncni
and happy turn for polite literature, b. min
Cling with the sons OF sensuality and riot,
blasted in the bloom ofliie2 Such was the
fate of the late celebrated Duke of Whar-
ton--Wi.mot, Earl of Roches;er-and vii.
licrs, Duke Of Buckingham-;hrce noble
men as cminenty distinguished by their
wit, TASTE, and knowledge, as for their ex-
travagance, revelry, and lawless passions.
ln such cases, the most charming elevation,
the finest fancy. the brightest blaze OF gen
ius, and the noblest busrt Of thought, call for
louder vengeance, and damn them to last
ING infamy and shame.
There were some other incidents showing
that, no wthstanding the vicious course he
was pursuing, there was still a secret unea-
siness in his mind that he had 10 dispel be.
fore he could enter upon his unbridled liber.
tinism. One Of his correspondents. in
1772, afterwards the Rev. DR.. S. Spring,
reminded him Of the desire of his parents
that he should follow his father and grand
father in the Ministry, and calling upon him
to improve his present opportunities fturn-
ing 10 God. In the next year, we find him
resolving not 10 enter upon any permanent
employment in life until his religious unea.
sincss was in some manner composed.
With this object he visited the Rev. DR..
Bellamy, in Connecticut, who kindly re-.
ceived him. and whose library supplied him
with religious books that occupied him for
whole winter from sixteen TO eighteen hours
daily. The result of his reading, and free
conversations with DIR. Be!Iamy, are stated
in this indetini'e manner -
Here he remained until the spring ofl77l.
when to use his own language, ne "came
to the conclusion that the road TO heaven
was open to all alike" lie, however, from
that time forward, avoided most studiousIy
all disputa,ion on the subject of religion.
Judging from the records and correspon-
dencc of the remainder of the volume. we
understand this assertion to mean that he
from that time made no farther inquiry or
reference to the subject Of religion. This
was at the age Of seventeen, up to which
time al least he seems TO have been obliged
TO maintain conflict with the feelings that
had their origin in the associations of his
infancy, andthe prayers ofhis dying mother.
Military ambition soon afterwards inAamed
him, and we read no more Of any anxiety
respecting the condition Of his soul.