Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-10
THE GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY MORNING. FEnRUARr 10, / '5s
THE BURR DUEL.
srv ypps,oS RynMEs PARTON.

ANEW VERSION, BY JAMES PARTON.
On the morning of the duel it Glanced thas
o,o nc Rnrr's cousins arrived 10 town from
Connecticut and made his way, about eight
o,cIocl IN Richmond Hill. Alexis, the tao
to,nm of the establishment, obeyed his sum
mons at the door, and showed him into the
Ghra,v where he found Colonel Burr, alone,
and engaged in his usual avocations. Burr
received his young relative with cordialty,
and, in every respect. as usual. Neither III
his manner nor in his conversation was there
any evidence of excitement OF concern. nor
anything whatever to attract the attention OF
his guest. Except the master OF the house,
not a soul at Richmond Hill yet knew aught
of that mornine's work; nor, indeed, could
it be said. 10 any sense Of the word, that the
master himself knew what he had done.
In few minutes breakfast was announced,
and the two gentlemen went TO the dining
room and breakfssted together. The con-
versation was still quite in the ordinary
strain, Burr inquirog after friends in the
country, and the youth giving the iptorma-
ton sought. After breakfast, the guest babe
his host good morning, and strolled OF to-
ward the city. which be reached about ten
O'Clock. As he walked down Broadway
he fanced be observed in passers by the
signs that something extraordinary had &C.
CURED or was ex pected. Near Wall street.
an acquaintance rushed up to him. breath
less, aud said:
"Col Burr has killed Gen. Hamilton in q
duel this morning"
why, no he hasn't" replied the young
gentleman, with the utmost posltiVeuess, ~
have lust come from there and taken break
fast with him."
But" replied the other, 81 have this mo-
mept seen the news on the Bulletin"
The cousin reflected q moment on the alb
solute serenity OF Burr's manner, aud conclu-
ding that he would certainly have mentioned
SO Interesting an occurrence if it had taken
place, was still utterly incredulous, and d.
nouucng the report as false, went Oh HE
wav. Before turning into Wall street, he
found the whole city sstir; and soon bad rea-
son to suspect that the bulletin was only too
true. So completely could Burr command
bis features and conceal his feelings.
There was one remarkable occasion on
which Burr spoke of the duel seriously and
eloauently. 1t was when, for the only time
in his life, be revisited the ground where II
was fought. He went there to oblige a
young friend, who wished to see spot 50 Ia
NOUS Leaving their boat at the foot OF the
heights of Weebawkeu, just where Burr had
left his boat on that fatal morning, 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 over.
grown with trees, the place bad not changed
in all those years; nor has it yet. Ii had
changed owners, however, and belonged
to a son of Rufus King, Burr's colleague
in the Senate, and Hamilton's friend and
ally. In the boat, Burr had been somewhat
thoughtful and silent, but seemed to ENJOY
the bright day and pleasant shore. as be
always enjoyed bright and pleasant things
On reaching the scene, eplaced his compan'
ion on the spot where Hamilton had stood,
and went to the place where he had stood
himself, and proceeded to narrate the incI'
dents OF the occasion.
The conversation turned to the cause OF
the duel. As he talked, the old fire seemed
to be rekipdled within him; bis eyes blazed;
his voice rose. He recounted the long cata.
loeue of wrongs he had received from Hamil-
ton, and told how he had forb6rns and for
borne and forgiven and forgiven, and even
stopped to ACKNOWLEDGEMENT he had no
choice except to stink out of sight. wretch
degraded and despised, or meet the calumni-
ator on the field and silence him. lie d~eit
much on the meanness of Hamilton. lie
charged him with being msevolent and COW
ardly-a man who would Islander rival /,
and not stand to it unless he was cornered.
"Wbep he stood up to fire." said Burr. "he
caught my eye and quailed under 1t; be
looked like a convicted felon." 1t was not
true. he continued, that Hamilton did not
fire at him; Hamilton fired first; he heard
the ball whistle among the branches, and
saw the severed twig above his head. lie
spoke of what Hamilton wrote on the evening
before the duel with Infinite contempt. Ii
reads" said he, like the confessions OF a
penitent monk These isolated expressions
nv informant says, convey no loea Whatever
of the fiery impressive1ess with when De
spoke. He justified all be had done nay
applauded it.
"He was moved to the depths OF his soul;
the pent up feelings of twenty-five years burst
into speech. His companion, who had
known him intimately many years. ana mao
never seen him reused before. was aimos'
awe-struck at this strange outburst OF emo
ton, and the startling force OF many OF ms
expressions. Ho remembers wondering that
that he should ever have thought Burr small
of stature, for, during this scene, the ioinnes'
of his demeanor was such that his form
seemed to rise and expand. TWAS long before
he regained his usual cOmposure. All the
way home he spoke of the oiden time, ana
seemed to renew his youth, ard live over
again his former life." =,
A few years after, VIXEN be lay sick with
psralysis and near death, he said, after read,
inc Sterne's "Tristram Shandy," eft had
read Sterne more, and Voltaire less, should
bave known that the world was wide enough
for Hamilton and me" ---
ssy- AMERICAN NJ E I G.-lhe
,,anhars of the American party. and others