New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-12-30
LIFE OF AARON RrYpp


PAsros. limo PIP. css. Mason BrS,Aess. ~ JAxss
The reputation of Aaron Burr, as eo,o,aSkr a.
popular traditions concerning his charsete, vuk.
modified TO considerable degree, BY thu 49,.
ments of his biogapher in this singulsrly iuters.,n
ing volume. Mr.. Parton has obviously pursued n.
elaborate researches with determination 70 ,.car.
tain the exact truth in the matter, without rer,,a
to current opinions or prejudces, in spite Of se,.
tain natural leaning in favor Of man whom be IA
eves to have been too rgidly dealt with BY bic %.
tempOraries. He does not, however, blind hou,sl
to the fatal defects in the character Of Burr-AA
treats bis subject generously, but not intAc spine
Of chivalrous romance-presenting the e1tenuAtine
circumstances of his career, without attempting IA
gloss over the interruptions love Of intrigue and
want Of high principle which were the distinguish.
ing features of his life. In the hands Of Mr. Parton
Aaron Burr ceases to be the malignant, ferocious.
Satanic monster Of prevailing tradition, but Il con-
yerted rather into the smooth smiling, plausible
demon, best represented by Goethe in the eharac.
ter of Mephistopheles. From the beginning to tho
end of his career we find no trace Of moral prpci.
ple-among the elements of which be was com.
pounded, conscience was Omitted-there was no
touch of piety toward God or man in his nature-nA
CLEAN of human tenderness, or Of divine aspiration
his heart was cold and hard as rock-his amhi.
ton knew neither limit nor restrant-his sel6sh.
ness was as exclusive as it was subtle; but still, hs
gave no evidence of love of the grcseer forms OF
deprayity-he was polished and refined, even 70
fastidiousness, in his exteriOr-he was not ioui.
mouthed scoffer at relgion-nor did he rudely vie-
late the prophecies of life-the cloven loot ms
usually concealed beneath the incest alken nose
and vanished eather--and for GOODNESS, selfposses
sion. and courtesy of manners he was scarcelye
whit inferior to his gentlemanly prototype in Faust.
Burr was left an orphan before he was two
years old and he had scarcely cut his teeth before
he began to show the love of mischief and intrigue,
which proved the "child was father Of the man."
When be was only four years old, he engaged Ia .
violent rebellion against his leading strings, took sno
bit between his teeth, and, swapping his fingers a.
the tutor in charge, ran away from home. 1t was
some three or four days before the precociOus tr.
ant could be found nor is it related With what de-
mure grace he received the consequent shastises.
ment; but hecontinued his pranks, as opportunity
Afforded. and BY tho time he was ten yeafs GA raa
away for the second time in order to 20 10 ~.
y He went to New.Yort, took the pvstof cabin
boy on board ship getting ready for sea, snd "a
tually served in that capacity for short time, But
one day while hv wus at work on the ausrfefAssk,
he spied suspicious clerical.looking gentlenAa
coming rapidly down tho wharf, who, he soon saw,
was his uncle, bent on the capture Of cabn-boy.
He sprsug into the rigging, and before his uncle got
on board the ship, had ciaabed to the masthead.
He saw his advantage, and resolved to profit BY IT.
He was ordered down, but refused to come. AS
his uncle was gentleman who would have been
nowhere less at home than at the mast-head Of .
ship, the command had to soften itself into an en-
treaty, and it became, finally, negotiation. Upon /,
the condition that nothing dsagreeable should be.
fall him in consequence of the adventure, tho rum
away agreed to descend, and go homo sgaln 70 MS
books" The young scape-grace, however, naa 40
active brain. When no deviltry was at band, 10
took well to bis studies. He got fitted for college
at the age eleven, and applying for admission az
Princeton was rejected on account OF his extreme
youth. At this time he was dapper little genIle'
man. with fair, handsome face, his keen black
eyes already beginning to be dangerous, and his
soH' ehticing ways making him general fayorite.
tie at length became old enough to enter college,
where he was occasionally a hard student, and ali
ways greatly addicted to multifarous reading. A
curious indication Of his love Of mysti6cation and
intrigue was here given in his habit Of writing his
confidential letters 10 cipher, although as boy OF
fifteen he could scarcely be supposed 10 have been
burdened with any secrets of moment. Soon after
leaving college, he went to reside in the family Of
DR.. Belamy, the celebrated Calvinistic divine Of
Bethlehem, Conn.,, with view to the study Of
theology. But one years trial was enough to con-
vince him that he had neither the faith nor works
requisite to the exercise of the clerical profession.
He turned his back upon the creed Of his ances.
tors, and exchanged the robust and sinewy belief of
Jonathan Edwards for tho gospel according 70
Chesterfield and Voltaire.
The breaking out of the Revolution gave strong
impulse to the military spirit which was certainly
o natural element in Burr's character. On receive
ing the news Of the battle Of Lexington, nc nuhg
aside the law.books to which he had recently been
devoted: and, Selling the sword, fastened 10 JON
the patriot forces in the vicinity OF Boston. mo
felt that be was formed to excel as soldier. A
mere stripping in appearance, with stature OF hVe
feet six inches, slender form and youthful face,
be yet possessed power Of prolonged e1ertlon'
and capacity for enduring privation, that were
wonderful in youth of nineteen. His courage
was perfect-he never knew fear; even his nerves
could not be startled by any kind Of sudden noloi
He was good horseman, good heimsman' toll ,