Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-01-20
Yurr,s Corrsspond.uc,

A new life Of Aaron Burr has recent,
made its appearance, in which the auto.
has undertaken the difficult tax of yinlI,a.
ting Burr's private character, and attemp,,
! TO throw the blame OF ml'repr esentIng 'la,
on his literary executor, Mttth ew i. Dag.
| The editor of the Albany Eve ming journal
comes forward in defe. c. OF Davis, and ~,
that be was permitted by that gentleman %
see Burr's papers while he was constructing
his biography, and hat from what be saw aui
read, bio is satisfied that Burr was relieve!
nv the course which Davis ursued from deey
and general execratlen. lie say:
Colonel Burr not only preserved, but with
scrupuIous care filed the letters he received
His CORES pondence, e. specially with the f.
male sex was extensive. Much OF this vas
evidently with tue educa ted aud aud retuei
much IF it showing his association with
the gifted and tie pure Of mind -mdch more
with those whom his "wile," had underHIL-
ell and poisoned. These were, found IN con.
mon with letters from an exceptIonable class
and Of an offensive character. All vera
carefully endorsed, with the places, dates anI
names of the writer's. Where letters wefs
signed with initials or were anonymous, ths
full name appeared in Col. Burr's handwr
ting With many Of these letters were copies
of Col. Be. replies. We remember most
interesting series between Colonel Burr aul
a West Indian lady Of high culture, ta.ta alI
purity, who for long time combattei auI
resisted the false and fatal teachings Of the
tempter, only 10 the end t. exempliiy the e..
perience Of those who first endure aud teen
embrace" error.
The night before Colonel Burr met Gen.
eral Hamilton, be wrote u letter ~ his dausL
ter Theodosia, Mrs. Aston 10 which be se
queathed his CORES pondence, contained, as
he says, in six blue boxes, to her. with the
request that those which would "iujure' ID.
writers, should be burned. I'm his will. re.
ferring 70 these blue boxes again as contain.
ing his Confidential Female Currespor.
deuce," he says to bis daughter, "l.u Will
find in them something 10 amuse, much T.
instruct, and more to forgive"
But AS Gen. Hamilton, instead Of Col.
Burr, fell, these blue boxes remained 10 DE
possession OF COL Burr and came, after biz
death, into the hands OF his literary exetu-
tor
Like Thomas Moore, who suppressed h,
personal memoirs Of Lord Byron, Mr. ID.
vs, governed by kindred sense Of wha, va,
due to society, is entitled to commentator,
rather than reproaeh Nor was the sacrifice
all inexpensive one. Mr.. Davis was tempted.
by large pecuniary Offers to give this cgrre..
pondence 10 the public. The late v. ".
Noah we remember as among those WI, o.
tered Mr.. Davis handsome sum tor the e..
ters. But be always, and with great en-.
phasis, declared that they should ueSer a..
pear, either TO blast Col. Burr, or wound rho
feelings Of persons whom they c0mprom,c.
Some Of these letters were returned by
Mr.. Davis, in carefully sealed package %
persons remotely connected with the writer,
4 person in Virginia, after Colonel Burr;
death, wrote to bis Literary Executor ak.
ing that if letters, concerning his family
should be found among his papers they
might be delivered 70 distinguished Viz
gDian then in New York, which request vs.,
complied with. Mr.. Davis himself deliver
q package of letters 10 the lady by whom they
were written; and be requested the writer o..
this article to make similar restitution %.
another package But that too delicate CON.
mission was declined"