Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-02-10
BURR'S FEMALE CORES
P0NDENCE.

lame oil Col. Burr Literary Execu-
tor" than of the truth of history, we feel
it our duty to state facts, within our
knowledge, which but for provocation
toat will be deemed an acquitance." we
should never have publicly revealed.
Colonel Burr not emily preserved, but
with scrupulous care fled the letters he
received. His correspondence, especial
ly with the female sex, was extensive
Much of this was evidently with the ed
ucated and re6ned-much of it showing
his association with the gifted and the
pure Of mind-much more with those
whom his "wiles" had undermined and
poisoned. These were, however, found
in common with letters from an excep
tionable class, and of an offensive char
acter. All were carefully indorsed, with
tie places, dates and names Of the vii
ters. Where letters were simply sign
ed with initials, or were anonymous. the
full name appeared in Col. Burr's hand
writing. With many of these letters
were copies Of Col. Burr's replies. We
remember a most interesting series be-
tween Col. Burr and West Indian lady
of high culture, taste and purity, who for
long time combatted and resisted the
false and fatal teachings of the tempter.
only in the end to exemFlify the e1pe-
rience of those who "6rst endure and
then embrace" error.
The night before Col. Burr met Gen.
Hamilton he wrote a lelier to his daugh-
ter Theodosia, Mrs. Alston. in which
be bcqueathed his Correspondence. con
tanned, as he says, Gin six blue boxes"
to her, with the request that those which
would "injure" the writers should be
burned. In his will, referring to these
blue boxes again, as containing his Con
fidential Female Correspondence" he
says to his daughter: "You will find in
them something to amuse, much TO in
struct, and more to forgive"
But, as Gen. Hamilton Instead Of Col.
Burr, fell, these "blue boxes" remained
in the possession of Col. Burr, and came,
after his death, into the hands of his
Literary Executor"
During our long and close intimacy
with the late Mathew L. Davis, and par.
ticularly when he was engaged in wri-
ting his life Of Burr. we enjoyed. conf
dentially, the privilege, at his house in
Cherry street, of perusing the materials
out of which that History was woven
The "Confdential Female Correspon-
dence" was before us. with all its strange
and startling revelations. We thought
and felt then, as we think and feel now,
th at only devil incarnate-some fiend
in human shape let loose upon earth to
scourge our race-could have deliberate
ly preserved such evidence of his own
perfidy-for many of these Letters were
written in his bitter anguish, and con-
tanned scathing imprecations-and OF
the frailty of others.
Instead. therefore, of doing "gioss
wrong" to Col. Burr. in this respect, Mr..
Davis. by suppressing that Correspon-
dence, relieved the character of Burr
from deep and general execration. Like
Thomas Moore. who suppressed the per-
sonal Memoirs of Lord Byron. Mr.. Da-
Wis, governed BY kindred sense Of what
was due to society, is entitled to COM
mendation rather than reproach. Nor
was the sacrifice an inexpensive one
Mr.. Davis was tempted by large pecu-
MARY offers to give this correspondence
to the Public. The late NJ. n. Nsah,
we remember as among those who offer
ed Mr.. Davis a handsome sum for the
Letters. But he always, and with great
emphasis, declared that they should
never appear. either to blast Mr.. Burr, or
wound the feelings of persons whom they
compromised.
Some of the Letters were returned by
Mr.. Davis, in carefully sealed packages.
to persons remotely connected with the
writers. A person in Virginia. after Col.
Burr's death, wrote TO his Literary Ex-
ecutor," asking that if letters, concerning
his family, should be found among his
papers. they might be delivered to dis
tinguished Virginian then in New York,
which request was complied with. Mr.
Davis himself delivered a package Of
letters to the lady by whom they were
written; and he requested the writer of
this article to make similar restitution Of
another package. But that too delicate
commission was declined.-Al6anyJ Jour.