The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-19
80


MON his antagonist As specimen OF rhetor-
icI invective, the discourse became famous,
AID was largely quoted in the journals and dis'
sannirated .hrough the country. Many years
ayrer. its author received letter appealing to
bio7. So the almoner Of many wealthy denizsns
in the city OF broiherly love, 10 furnish pecunl-
arv aid ia a case where the previous high stand
ipgand prosperity of the individual Represented
AZ an accomplished LADY, made more public
application offensive both 10 pride and delicacy.
The clergyman promptly called at the house,
had ar interviewer with the unfortunate, and
promised, if possible, to obtain the requisite
sum 10 relieve her immediate wants, from some
lich and liberal members of his church. Her
apparently comfortable situation was explained
az he result of temporary kindness; and the
r.-iapchoy of the fair petitioner, as well as her
evident mplishments, stimulated the good
pastor to exertion, and, in week, he wrote
her that the money was at her disposal; she
declined coming for it, and begged her benefac
tor 10 visit her at certain hour next day, and
deliver the gift intrusted to him. as well as give
her The benefit of his advice in a plan she had
formed for her own future and honorable sub
sistence.
at the appointed time the clergyman entered
tie draWing-room, and, while awaiting the lady,
took up a beautiful edition of Horace, his fa
voFie classic, from the centre table; surprised
TO find marginal notes, indicative of the most
tasteful erudition, in a female hand, his won
der increased when the object of his kind eff
forts appearing, confessed herself the author
an animated conversation ensued, and so in
terested was the visiter in the novel ex pertinent
of learned discussion with one of the gentler
sex, that he was not at first aware that she had
gradually drawn nearer and nearer to him, and
her manner exhibited sudden empire sseDgent;
raising bis eyes in perturbation, as the idea oc.
CURED to him, he caught sight in the mirror
Of face peering through the slightly open
door at his back, which, at his quick movement,
was instantly withdrawn. Though naturally OF
an unsuspicious temper, be felt a glow of in.
dignati- u at the mere idea Of having had his
confidence and the benevolence of his friends
abused and, laying down the money, took a
formal and somewhat abrupt leave. 1t so hap
pened his next engagement was at the studio
of fashionable artist, to whom he was sitting
for bis picture. While arranging bis colors, the
painter rallied his subject on the absent mood
he was in, whereupon the clergyman described
the scene be had just passed through, and the
unpleasant doubts it had excited in his mind.
The artist grew serious in q moment, and
asked for a particular description of the lady I;
be then begged bis auditor not to speak of the
matter until be heard from him, ss a clue to
the mystery had suggested itself. The artist
was not deceived; the "indigent lady" was
one of Burr's creatures she confessed to hav.
ing, at his instigstion, planned to entrap the
clergyman, and compromise his position, in
order to revenge the bitter hemily launched
years before at the destroyer of Hamilton.
Our limits do not allow Us to make so ex.
tended extracts from this article as we could
wish. We have only room for the closing pas
sage:
When be lay in the cradle, his mother wrote:
I" Aaron ID very sy and resolute /" and eighty
years after, when he was passing away he
spoke politely of dying 'gsme;' herein we
have the clue to the whole labyrinth of his ex-
istence; pluck, duphcity, and engaging man
Ders, were his armor, creed, instincts, reliance
not without efficiency at crimes and for tempo
rary ends, admirable means of success In war
and intrigue, but the most undesirable combins
ton for permanent and satisfactory triumphs-
alien to the manly trust, to the frank enjoy.
ments, and TO the moral security wherein true
fame and genuine love are forever entrenched
They account for all that Burr did and failed
to do; for his repute AS a young soldier his
success in gallsntry his attainment of the
second Office in the gift of the people, after only
four years pCliucal probation, and the total
loss ct the confidence of his party in almost the
same brief period of time; for MS ill-starred
Mexican expedition, for his generosity as a
donor and his unrelablity as debtor, for the
suspicion be excited in men, and the favor he
won from women, for the cool reconciliation
of his duel and his indifference to conse
quences-moral, social, and physical; for his
derogation OF Washington, and his admiration
OF French philosophers, for his frivolous tall
and his studied manners, for his fortitude and
his tkepticism, for his legal shrewdness and
saeiAl BIsHsiRtE fes big AsFffAAiGizt in
and irreverent spirit, his fascination and hit
fate.