Middletown transcript., 1871-06-17

gainst such use of harsh language, aud OBJ
tained from him ,act pledge that there
should be no more violations Of courtesy
on his part. When, therefore, the SEN
'cnce VIC have quoted was reported to Burr
he had literally no alternative but to per-
emp,orially dcihaal u disavowal or an
apology. or to bacomc--in the opinion
which then controlled socie,y-a dishon-
ored man lie did make the demand, and
Hamilton did decline to disavow or to a.
pologzc. This is the real history Of the
affair. stripped of all prejudice, and con-
seoucntly the Burr. Hamilton duel was no
worse aud no better than the hundreds
which occurred before and have occurred
since.
Some particulars Of the tragedy will not
be unintercsiing to those in whose minds
i, is only dim legend, indistnct and un-
satisfactory. Burr was at the time living
at Richmond ilill, beautiful residence
then on the outskirts Of the town. bu; now
in the heart of the great city. lie spent
the evening before the meeting in arrnng-
ing his papers and writing farewell note
to his daughter Thcoaosia, giving minute
and characteristic directions as TO the man
agcmcnt Of lis and her own affairs in ease
he should fall Ills done, he laid aside
Goa, and vest, threw himself upon couch
in the library and slept as peacefully as
child His f,irnl Swartwout, who came
at an early hour in the morning, found
him still wrapped in slumber and gazcd
with wonder and Aspiration nt TIE man
whose iron nerves and indomi,nbe will no
anxiety could disturb. no danger sac.
The sleeper was aroused, and in company
with William T. Van Ness. his second,
Matthew l.. Davis, his friend and future
bingraphcr, and we believe one or two 9TH
crs, entered boat in waiting and was
rowed to the appointed ground. The far.
ty. by previous arrangement, cam, an
hour before the others. and spent the in
tcrsening time in walking nro-Ll aud in
clearing away the branches Of unicrbush
and oycrhauging trees Thr spot was
then narrow ledge, elevated at n consid-
cradle height above the level Of the river,
and shut in on the ia.l ,ilc by steep cliii,
There was Jast room enough TO measure
of the required ten paccs, aud that was
all Hamilton arrived promptly with his
second, Mr. pcudlct1n, and the surgeon
aud mutual friend ot both rombntants, nr
llesar,; S4luuions were exchanged,
aud tie usual rre.iniuar.ey arranged At
once Hamilton won The choice Of posi-
tion, aid was placed with his face looking
gu. on the bosom Of the stream, then
cleaning with the reflected rays of mellow
sunlight Bnrr's eyes were turned toward
the barrier OF rocks behind The word
was to he given in tbs way :-'' Gentle
men. nre YOU ready -" Present aud
they were there and then to fire Is they
chose. When 4endletun handed his pt.n-
ripal the pistol, he inquired " Shall SCI
the hair trigg the rC-i4.sc was.
= Mol ,his time \ the las, signal was
uttered, Burr raised lis weapon, air.ed
and frcl Hamilton conSnl.iHrly on iip
toe. turned half round aud discharged his
pistol The ball cut twig seven fee,
above Burr's heal. who, with nu expires
sion Of pain upon his coun,cnancc. start
ed toward his antagonist. but was caught
by hi. friends. hurried into the boat, and
rowei away pr llesack Immediately
removed ianiltous garments, saw tie il
rcriion Of the bullet, aad knew what the
result mus, be The wounded man wa,
conveyed us speedily Ms possible TO the ci.
ty, fingered for hours in intense suffering.
bu, perfectly conscious and died
That Burr, in view Of the consequences
which the deed cptailea regretted his dn-
el with Hamilton is probable but that he
q L., Ia
self there is no record Tn the contrary,
whenever the subject was hrough, up,
he boldly and unqualiicdly justified his
course. One anccdpte oi. this pont will
give mn idea of the unquenehablc purpose,
the daun,lcss resolution. which never for
sook him Many years after the event u
relative of his. young man from Con-
nccticut, was his guest in New York. lie
asked Burr to 60 with him to the duclling
ground and explain the combat there.
This curious request was granted and the
two went alone to Wcchakcn. landed on
the old rock, and proceeded together to
the spot. Burr had never been there
since the fatal morning, aud after giving
his companion the desired information, he
took his stand on the very sod from whence
he had sent the messenger Of death.
There it was that age and inirmi,y,
sorrow and disappointment. seemed TO Flip
away from him; his form grew aud dilat.
cd, his features glowcd with pcnt up cu,o-
ton, his eyes flashing fire, aud he poured
out torrent of cloqucncc which the one
who heard never forgot. He went back
to those carly days. he rccounted the
wrongs, the outrages, the insults, he had
endured from Hamilton he told Of the
prosecutions and the SANDERS which he
had submitted to until patience ceased to
be virtuc--and then he flung defiance in
the worlds teeth, and gloried in the shot
which rid the certh Of his unrclcnting
foe. Whatever else Aaron Burr may have
been, he was neither n coward nor a pen
itcnt monk.
------=----- -
A New Hampshire lrishman became
frightened while being lowered into decp