The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1858-02-03
DUEL OF BURR AND HAMILTON.


Parton has so accumulated and presented
the facts of the case, that any reader of in
telligence, after. reading the work, will be
in position TO Judge for himself The book
is an honest one. 1t will be read with in.
tense interest by all who are curious in the
personalities Of history, and we believe thai
more real knowledge of our history can be
obtained from it than from many works de.
voted exclusively to that period.
We have room only for an anecdote OF
two. Here is one 10 show ,he command
which Burr had over his Textures and de-
meanor. The duel between Burr and Ham.
ilton was fought at seven o'e'ock in the
morning, and, Immediately ai,erward, Burr
returned TO his own house on Richmond
Hill (now corner of Varick and Charlton
| streets:)
eOn the morning of the duel it chanced
| that one of Burr's cousins arrived in town
from Connecticut and made his way, about
| eight o'clock, to Richmond Hill. Alexis,
the factotum of the establishment, obeyed
his summons 10 the door, and showed him
| into the library, where he found Colonel
Burr, alone, and engaged in his usual avo-
cations. Burr received his young relative
cordially, and in every respect, rs usual
Neither in his manner nor in his conversa-
ton was there any evidence Of excitement
or concern, nor anything whatever 10 at
tract the notice of his guell Except the
master Of the house, not soul in Rich
mond Hill yet knew aught of that mornings
work; nor, indeed, could ii be said, that the
master himself knea0 what he had done.
'In few minutes breakfast was announ-
ced, and the two gentlemen went into the
dining room and breaklasted together. The
conversation was quite Oh The ordinary
strain, Burr inquiring after friends in the
country, and the youth giving the infoma-
tion sought. After breakfast, The guest babe
his host good morning, and strolled off TO-
wards the city, which he reached about 10
O'Clock. AS he walked down Broadway,
he iancied he observed in passers-by the
signs that something extraordinary had oc-
Cured or was expected. Near wall street
an acquaintance rushed up TO him, breath
less and said:
"Colonel Burr has killed General Ham-
teil "a a. t.oel lt!.is--o-->.sst%tIips. --.s5.--
"Why no he hasn't,t yad the young
gentleman, itA sthe .-sl'suI1 llitiveness--
"I have this moment Eey on The
bulletin"
The cousin reflected for a moment on the
absolute serenity Of Burr's manner, and
concluding that he would certainly have
mentioned so interesting an occurrence if it
had taken place, was still utterly incredu-
lous, and denouncing the report as false,
went on his way. Before turning into Wall
Greet, he, found The whole city astir, and
soon had reason to suspect that the Bulletin
was only too true. So completely could
Burr command his features and conceal his
feelings.
To late period of his life, Burr justified
his conduct i'll regard to this duel. Once it
appears, only once, he revisited the ground
at Weehawken, where it was fought. The
sceno was remarkable indeed, as Mr. Par
ton observes:
"There was one remarkable occurrence
on which Burr spoke Of the duel seriously
and eloquently. l! was when, for the only
time in his life, he revisited the ground
where it was fought. He went there to
oblige young friend, who wished TO see
spot so famous. Leaving their boat at the
foot of the heights of Weehawken, just
where Burr had left his boat on that fatal
inorning quarter of century before, they
climbed over the same rocks, and soon
reached the ground. Except that the rocks
were covered with names, and that the
ground was more covered with trees, the
place had not changed in all those years
nor has it yet. 1t had changed owners,
however, and belonged 10 son of Rufus
King, Burr's colleague in the Senate, and
Hamilton's friend and ally. I In the boat,
Burr hadbeen somewhat thoughtful and 81
lent, but seemed 10 ENJOY the bright day
and pleasant shores, as he a ways enjoyed
bright and pleasant things. On reaching
the scene, he placed his companion on the
spot where Hamilton had STOOL and went 10
the place where he had stood himself, and
proceeded to narrate the Incidents of the
occasion.
"Tle conversation turnedto the cause of
the duel. AS he talked, the old fire seemed
to be kindled within him; his eyes blazed;
his voice rose. He recounted the long cat
alogue of wrongs he had received from
Hamilton, and told how he had forbome
and forborne, aud forgiven and forgiven,
and even stopped 10 remonsrate-until he
had no choice except TO sink out of sight,
wretch degraded and despised, or meet
calumniatcr on the field and silence him..
He dwelt much on the meanpess of Hamil-
ton. He charged him with being malevo-
lent and cowardly-a man who would SLAM
der a rival, and not stand TO it unless he
was cornered. when he stood up TO fire.
said Burr, 'he caught my eye and quailed
under ii; he looked like convicted felon.'
1t was not true, he continued, that Hamil-
ton did not fire at him; Hamilton fired first
he heard the ball whistle among the BRAN
ches, and saw the severed twig above his
head He spoke of what Hamilton wrote
Lzc..a .ba d,,ol xooJ,