New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-13
LITERARY ITEMS.
PARTON VS.. HAMILTON.

ri
although the following communication from ha'
James Parton is entirely without Justiheauoh'
We print 1t rather than even seem to be unfair.
A, Hamilton who stigmatizes Mr.. Partons story VI
Rurrs,s reply to the forged challenge as pure III
yention." not The TRIBUNE. We are unapie W pc.
ceiye how we dishOnor our professloh' ""'OS
insult one of its members" or ln]ure our p
sions by making such quotation as tnaS "niUn N
liudled the whitening scOrn OF the Dlohi"P -
Aaron Burr; but if it is any rehei 10 Hi' 49,
feelings to say that we do all theso
he ia welcome to the use Oh our 80
for the purpose We think ne ousnS IT,
had little difficulty in "ascerlainins VI" -,
oIo,,t tho Rnrr Hamilton story, when MI halhlieon
- and ut hand to tell it: whether he has
..;,o,so dificulty In telling the truth, he mmsen
80 better than we do. Finally into thedscus
80 90 Ieffersun's character do not purpose 10
- Mr. Parton saws he does not believe MI
uam;lton's statement that Washington cailed 'oi
ferson hypocrite That is an affilctlon WHICH W
trnst Mr. Hamilton may be enabled to bear ou' 'no
question AZ between us and correspondent Dlu''
rest where it is.
tn the Reciecer of HdmiltOn's "reminiscences
SIR: You dishonOr your profession wheh w" "s
,nsn,t the humblest of its members You lh)ure your
-",o.s,on ond Won mslead the public when yon ins'nu
ate that class Of your fenowcraftsmeA hao'ua! e "
their readers.
In your entertaining review of Mr.. Hamltons Reminis
Fences you intimate that invented, in whole or part
the anecote OF one of General Hamitons sons chaeng
hg Burr and that inventing anecdotes is q common
practice with those who write popular biographies
That anecdote received from lady TO whom Burr him
self related it, and she was able without any great effort
Of memory, to remember the eleven striking "orus %
Burr's reply to the forged challenge.
AS writer, you ought to know the immense difheuy
both of ascertaning and of telling the truth have ne
doubt that, writing your review, you meant 10 dea
honestly with your book and your readers and yet there
10 one sentence it that contains falsehoods Msed by
your impressions or by those OF the circle IN WINCH
YOU i've you presume say that the world has lone
since come to the conclusion that Thomas Jefferson
"most profound hypOcrte" Here the falsehood lies IL
the word e Your world may, indeed, have arrived al
that conclusion but my world knows its friend better
and never honored the author Of the Declaration OF lnde
pendence much it does to-day. The world" is al
exceedingly large thing and he must be exceedingly
large person who is entitled to speak for it.
Nor do believe that General Washington ever de
elared Jefferson hypocrte. During the last fewyear
OF his life when the question getting decided whether
Hamilton should make America into large England, oil
Jefferson keep it America the Father Of his Country wa
much Influenced by the English Hamilton. 1t is possible
that Hamilton may have far deceived him that in
moment of anger such expression that quoted by
you may have escaped his lips It's just possibe but
is very unlikely and il the words were used, they do no
convey General washingon's habual normal opinion
the man whom he placed at the head OF his Cabinet
Have we not enmity enough Of our own without need
lessly revivng the transient Observation-Disclosures Of thu
pastS jefferson and Hamilton were both honest, abt
men, and faithful servants to their country according
the light they had They unfortunately, could not un
derstand nor appreciate allow for one another But
soc can If we try Let us do it them Very respectfully,
JAMES PARTON.