The Shasta courier., 1870-10-01
SHASTA COURIER.
Burr and Hamilton Rivals In
Love.

Jacksons respect for the abilities of Colon
ell Burr was quite as exalted as for Hamil-
| tor, but he had no confidence 10 his honesty
or truth, and, consequently. very soon got
rid Of b n Burr's liason with Margaret
Moncref destroyed entirely the little regard
left for him in the mind of Washington.
| asked Col. Talmage if Burr and Hamilton
! ever were friends. They were very close
friends apparently; but it was palpable
that each entertained jealousy Of the other,
| however much he strove to conceal it. They
we're both ambitious, and felt the wav to
preferment was through the favor Of the
commander-in chief. Burr was the more
sensitive and the more impulsive of the two
They knew the abilities of each other, and
they knew these were highly appreciated by
the General and at the moment when this
jealousy was likely to interfere with this
friendship. Burr left the position Of aid to
the General. He knew he had forfeited the
confidence of Washington, and he figured in
the army very little altar this The rivalry,
however. did not stop here, nor did the se
cret enmity in their hearts die. The world
is not aware of the true cause of the hatred
between them. and may never be.
Col. Burr has ever been remarkable for
his abilities since his boybood. Reeve and
the celebrated Samuel Lathrop Mitchell
were his classmates, and agree that he had
no equal in college. They were educated
at Princeton. Burr showed not only talent
but application, and most burning ambi-
ton. He showed. too. that be was already
unscrupulous in the use Of means to accom-
plish his object. There are stories told of
his college life very discreditable to his fame.
lie was as remarkable in his features n in
his mind. His capacious forehead. aquiline
nose, and piercingly brilliant eyes, black as
night with large flexible mouth, Grecan
in form, made him extremely handsome as a
youth. His manners were natural and
elegant, and conversational powers unequal-
ed. Think of these gifts in man uninflue-
need by principle, and onlK obedent to the
warmer passions. He ever Stunned collec-
tive society, and seemed (for the time. at
least. totally absorbed by one or two only.
The eloqueuce of his manner. the persuasion
OF his words. was in him trancendtnt. The
whispered sohims of his genius burned into
the heart, and it was remarked of him. bv
one wise and discreet. that he could, in fewer
words. win the sympathy and start the
tenrs Of a female audience than nDv preach
er in the land From boyhood he seemed to
have the key to every heart he desired to
uhibAhs Idthi CIV dllu leTTlbiJ latdi Qlu /
prove to many victila, and especially to
that fair girl Margaret Moncrief.
Margaret Moncrief was the daughter of
an officer of the British army, and had been
left with that old veteran Putnam, after this
officer was prisoner of war. Hamilton
formed an attachment for her, and Burr.
more from vanity than from any other feel
ing. determined to win her away from him
She was, for her sex. as remarkable as Burr
Tor hls her education was very superior
her reading as extensive as most professional
men, and entirely out of the ordinary line
ot female reading; she was familiar with
the entire rye of science-her person in
form was perfect, in features exquisitey
beautiful. She. too, possessed the art to
steal away the affections of any one around
whom she threw her spell. Apparently
unconscious of her great gifts, she displayed
them without reserve. and so artlesslv as to
lure and beguile almost to frenzy such TEN
peraments as those Of Burr and Hamilton.
Never before had Burr met his equal and
bis vanity and ambition were equally stimu-
lated to triumph in her conquest, and ere he
was aware of it. what had been commenced
in levity had become passion which held
him in chains. The sequel was the ruin of
both. Here commenced the heart hatred
which terminated in the duel and the death
of Hamilton-IW. H. Sparks.