The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1867-02-14
SCENES IN THE LIFE OF "A
RON BURR.
BY JAMES PARTON

In 1912, Aaron Burr, returned from
Europe, fifty-six years Of age, a ruin
ed man. Although acquitted in his
trial for treason, his countrymen be
lieved him guilty, and his old friends
generally Stunned his company. For
four years he had wandered about Eu-
rope, and now returned home deeply
endeavor to earn his livelihood by his
old profession Of the law.
The first news which met him on his
arrival was that his only daughter had
lost her only child, a boy of whom
Burr was extrayagantly fond. Heurg-
ed bis afflicted daughter, who then re-
sided in South Carolina, to visit him
in New York; and for this purpose she
embarked on board Of a small schoon
er, which was wrecked a few days af-
ter, an all on board perished. Ere
long, her husband died, and Burr was
alone ON the earth. To use his own
language, he was severed from the hu-
man race"
These heavy blows, following one
another so quickly, touched the hearts
Of some who had known him formerly
with compassion, ,and this feeling would
have prompted them to offer him con
ISOLATION but for the belief that his heart
was not contrite, and that his life was
no purer than it had been during lis
fortunate days. Respectable citizens,
therefore, still held aloof from the man
whom once they had courted, and
whose company they had once consid-
cred an honor.
There was at that time in New ork
q society Of religious ladies, Of differ
ent churches, who were in the hab-
it of meeting weekly for conversation
and religious exercises These ladies
remembered that Aaron Burr was the
grandson Of one distinguished clergy
man, and the son Of another, and that
his mother had been 4 woman eminent
for her goodness. Often, in their
meetings, Colonel Burr, his errors and
his sorrows and the virtues Of his an
cestors, were the subject Of conversa
ton; and it occurred to them that,per-
haps, if he were kindly approached
and wisely admonished, be might re-
pent Of the past, reform his conduct,
and restore himself to the respect of
his fellow citizens. AS he was never
seen in church, the ladies were puz-
zled to devise scheme for getting ac-
cess to his ear
They concluded, ,at length, to request
one of the clergy to call upon him, ,and
remind him Of his virtuous ancestry,
and urge him to follow their example,
The person whom they selected for the
errand was the Rev Dr. j. NJ Mathews,
Of the Deutch Reformed Church, after
wards chancellor of the New York Uni
versity, and still living among us. DR..
Mathews was strenuously objected to
undertake SO delicate and embarrass-
ing mission but the ladies continu-
ing to persuade him, he at length re-
luctantly undertook it.
Colonel Burr then lived and practic-
ed law in Nassau street, within few
steps from the spot where he had es-
tablished himself as a young practi-
toner thirty years before. DR.. Math
eWs called in the evening, and was in
formed that Colonel Burr was at tea
He sent in his name, however, and Burr
Immediately came into the hall, asked
him into his parlor, and behaved to
him. with that exquisite courtesy fol
which he was so famous. He invited
the doctor to take a cup of tea, which
he sal |, was to him tired natures
sweet restorer," and added that tea was
everything to him, and added that he
often slipped it through the whole ev-
ening. He resumed his tea, and con
tinued to taste it occasionally during
most Of the conversation which follow
ed. AS DR.. Mathews did not immedi
ately explain the object of his coming
they cOnversed for a while upon vari
Gus topics; and the doctor testifies, il
his ''Recollections," that nothing car
beimagined more delightful than Burr
conversatio nor more fascinating tina;
his manners.
The clergyman ventured, after some
delay, to approach the object of hi
visit by saying, that Col, Burr's return
to New York was a proof that the for
eign lands, upon which he had beer
conversing, had not weaned him from
his own country, and that he might b.
glad to know that he still had friend'