Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-10-16
NEW SENIES,---NO. 1G

ut your command tomorrow morning, from 8
TO 10 o'clock
have the honor to he respectfully,
Your obedcnt servant,
NA1'H'L PENDLETON.
WV. p. VAN Mss, Esq.
To this letter Mr.. Van Ness sent reply en-
closing II message in form TO Cen Hamilton,
which was accepted. GcnIIamilton, after COM
mrn'ing upon the communication, gives the
following instructions to Mr.. Pendlcton.
Whether the observations on this letter are
designed merely TO Justify the result which is in
Dictated in the close of the letter. or may be in-
tended TO give an opening for rendering any thing
explicit which may have bCch deemed vague
heretofore. can only be judged of by the sequel.
At any rate. it appears to me necessary not to
be misunderstood Mr.. Pcndlcton is therefore
authorized TO say, that in the course of the pre-
sent discussion. written or verbal. there has
been no intention to cvade. defy, or insult. but
sincere disposition to avoid cXtremities, if it
could be done with propricty.
With this view. Gen. Hamilton has been
ready to enter into frank and free explanation
on any and every object of Il specific nature
but not to answer to general and abstract in
qury, embracing period too long for any ac-
curate recollection. and exposing him to UNI
pleasant criticisms from, or unpleasant discuss
sion with. any and every person. who may have
{
admitting that he could answer in a manner
the most satisfactory to Col. BURR he should
deem inadmissable. in principle and precedent.
and humlating in practice. To this. therefore,
he can never submit. Frequent alluson has
been made to ISLANDERS said to be in circulation.
Whether they are openly or in whispers, they
have a form and shape. and might be specified.
- If the alternative alluded to in the close of
the letter is deIinitively rendered. it must be
ceptcd the time, place. and manner. to be after
wards regulated. should not think it right in
the midst of II Circuit Court to Withdraw my
services from those who have contided important
interests to me, and expose them to the embar-
rlSsment of seeking other counsel, who may
not have time to be sufficiently instructed in
their causes. | shall also want little time to
make arrangements respecting my own
affairs
On Friday, the 9Th of July. the circuit being
CLOSED. Mr.. Pendleton informed Mr.. Van Ness
that Gen. Hamilton would be ready at any time
after the Sunday following On Monday the
particulars We're arranged-on Wednesday the
parties met at Wechawk, on the Jersey shore,
at 7 o'clock. A. NJ. The particulars of what
then took place will appear from the following
statement.
1t was nearly seven in the morning when the
boat which carried Gen. Hamilton, his friend
, Mr.. Pendlcton. and the Surgeon mutually a.
greed on, DR.. lIosack. reached that part of the
Jersey shore called the Veeh0rk. There they
found Mr.. Burr. and his friend Mr. Van Ness,
who. as am told. had been employed since
their arrival, with coats off, in clearing away
/, the bushes, limbs OF trees. &c so as to make
Il fair opening. The parties in few moments
were at their allotted situations when Mr.. PEN
, dletUn gave the word. Mr. Burr raised his arm
slowly. deliberately took his aim and fired His
| ball entered Gen. Hamtons right side
, soon as the bullet struck him. he raised himself
f Involuntary on his toes, turned little to the
left. (at which moment his pistol went OFF, and
fell upon his face Mr.. Pcndlcton Immediately
called out for Dr. lIosack, who, in running to
the spot, had to pass Mr.. Van Ness and Col
Burr: but Van Ness had the cool precaution to
cover his principal with an umbrella, so that
, DIR. llosack should not be able to swear that he
saw him on the field. What passed after this,
the reader will have in the following letter from
DR.. lioSack himself
: August 18th. 1904.
Dear Sir-To comply with your request is
, painful task but will repre-s my feelings while
, cndeavor To furnish you with an enumeration
, of such particulars relative to the melancholy
end of our beloved friend llimilton, us dwell
, most orcbly on my recollection.
when called to him upon his receiving the
| fatal wound, found him half sitting on the
, ground, supported in the arms of Mr.. Pendleton.
Ills councnauce of death | shall never forget
h had at that instant just strength to say, This
Is mortal wound Doctor: when he sunk away
| and became to appearance Hleless. | immed-
atcly stripped up his clothes, and soon, alas
cerained that the direction of the ball must have
: been through some vital part. His pulses were
1 not to be felt his respiration was entirely sus-
: pended; and upon laying my hand Oh his heart
: and pcrceivng no motion there. considered him
as irrnr Il, | how ,,,. IN
Il Mr.. Pendlcton, that the only chance for his re-
1 covering was immediately to get him upon the
d water.
We therefore lifted him up, and carried him
r out OF the wood. to the margin of the bank where
the blrgcmcn aided II, in conveying him to the
boat which Immediately put OFF During all this
time could not discover the least symptom of
G returning life. now rubbed his face, lips and
Y temples, with spirits of hartshorn, applied it to
:, his neck and breast. and to the wrists and palm
|. of his hands, and endrayored 10 pour some into
t his mouth. When he had got as should Judge,
: about fifty yards from the shore, some imperfect
efforts to breathe were for the first time manifest
in few minutes he sighed and became sensible
= To the impression of the hartshorne, the fresh
: air ofthe water. lie brcathed his eyes, hardly
opened wandered, without fixing upon any OBJ
iccts 10 our great joy he at length spoke My
h vision is ndStinct, were his first words His
= pulses ptNdllit TtsplTdtiOu
= more regular his sight returned. then exam
A ned the wound To know i, there was any danger
+ Gus discharge of blood upon slightly pressing
r has side it gave him pain; on which desisted.
/ Soon after recovering his sight, he happened
To cast his eye upon the case OF PISTOLS and OBJ
+, serving the one he had in his hand lying on the
outside, he said, Take care of that pistol; it is
undischarged and still cooked it may go off and
r do harm ;--Pendleton knows, attempting to turn
? his head toward him) that did hot intend to fire
= at him." YES said Pcndeton, understanding
4 his wish, Il have already made DIR. Hosack ac-
' qualnted with your determination as to that. =
He then closed his eyes and remained calm with
out any disposition to speak nor did he say much
afterwards, excepting in reply to my questions
? as to his feelings. He asked me once or twice
: how found his pulse; and he informed me that
his lower extremties has lost all feeling; mani
| testing to me that he entertained no hopes that
t he should long survive. | changed the posture
of his limbs but To no purpose; they had totally
f lost their sensibility.
Perceiving that we approached the shore, no
: said let Mrs. Hamilton be Immediately sent
, for-let the event be gradually broken to her;
, but give her hopes" Looking up we saw his
friend Mr.. Bayard standing on the wharf in great
4 agitation lie had been told by his servant that
1 all had