The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-06-24
SKETCH OF A soHEMER.
"Reminiscences Of Aaron Burr, the
Great Politician, Lawyer and
Intriguer.
ans DEEDS AND DIsAPPoINTMENTs.

HIS DEEDS AND DISAPPOINTMENT 10.
THE CENTENNIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF BURR
his CHARMING AND ILL-FATED DAUGH-
TER rHEODosIA-THE DUEL AND DEATH OF
HAMILToN-THE sroIcTsM OF BuKk- HI
DEATH AND BURIAL-THE TRUTH OF HIS
TORY.
Knickerbocker, the New York CORE
snondent OF the Cincinnati Gazette, con-
tributes the following to that paper; Inc
passion for things ancient, or what might De
called the centennial fever" Is now raging.
Those who have ancient letters and docu-
ments are putting them into print. Ola
furniture is coming into vogue, and trifiing
points in history are revived and discussed
with great pertinacity. The Evening Post is
the principal medium of these productions
which is proper both to its age and It's tone.
| The Posi- is more than three score ana Ien'
while its editor (Mr. Bryant) Is four score.
Hence there is propriety in this patronage
of the antique. 1t is TO be observed that just
| in proportion as relics are in demand they
| will be manufactured. Autograph letters OF
great men can be got up to order, aud other
/ curiosities are furnished with equal facility.
| THE most valuable collection of letters con-
/ uected with the revolution was Tor many
| wears in possession of the late Judge Ogden
Edwards. He was grandson OF the famous
/ President Edwards, and cousin OF Aaron
|
covered all of his papers were placed In the
hands of this family, and filed three or
/ four barrels No one found time to examine
them for MANY years, ana these barrels were
eventually stored in Judge Edwards's car
riage house. He was then living on staten
Island, where he died about ten years ago.,
and these relics were given freely to such
Icuriosity-hunters as solicited them. have
seen in this collection some of Arnold's' let
tiers to his wife, which contain CONCESSIONS
OF adultery, and they prove that he was
! thoroughly
DEMoRALIZED LONG BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.
He lived in Norwich, Connecticut, and was
accustomed to make expeditions of bust
ness nature to Canada. L found in one OF
his letters reference TO trip thither with
load OF whisky. This fact mentioned be-
cause it explains the readiness with which
he subsequently invaded Canada with an
army. A numDer OF documents from this
collection have this season appeared in the
newspapers. Among other antiquarian re-
searches, fresh dip has been made into the
character of this notorious man. Old
John Mclean, formerly president
of Princeton College, is giving the
world some "reminiscences OF Burr's funeral,
and mas referred to the discourse which was
delivered on that occasion, which was no.
ticeable for it's omission to the character OF
the deceased. 1t IL nearly forty years since
: Burr died, and already fiction has been
woven about the Incidents of the funeral.
It was said in print that the stone which
marks his grave was "placed there secretly
and during the night" Another story,
equally ridiculous, is the account OF q
marked insult cast upon Burr in court
: room in this city by one of Hamilton's sons
Burr was capital theme for sensation vri
ters and James Parton found him rich sub
iect, since $1,000 copies of his biography
= strict
lly accurate, but, like all other wrl
D tiers, be falls into error. l have beeI
: reading on this subject frequently durinI
= the last 25 years, and have found much thai
was new and interesting. great many
: sermons have been sharpened by allusion t:
Burr, and morslists generally have found
: BIN powerful illustration of their lessons
= On the other hand he has had number o
apologists, and his friends did all in thei
o power to abate public opinion. Three bi
? written by Samuel L. Knapp, a former 30
hemian of this city, and attracted littl
n notice; another was the work OF Burr
friend, Matthew l.. Davis, and this Is reall,
y of value. Burr was more intimate wit
Davis than. with any other man, and
though much older, found him defende
u through sympathy with his faults.
J. BURR WAS NOTORIOUS FOR HIS IMMORTALITY
while Davis had children born out of wed
lock. The latter was politician and had
> berth in the custom house. He was an abb
writer, and for many years was correspond
eut of the London Times. He was common
Ia " called the sold man ia Specs" and is sti
remembered by some of tho ancient polit
= clans of this city. His life of Burr is now
III very rare volume. The third biographer
Parton, who lsbored assiduously to get 6
. the facts, and presented them in an attractiv
> form. He has made more money out OF th
N subject than any other author. Burr's lii
seems divided into four parts, the frs
including from his birth in 1855 to his er
10 tering the revolutionary army in 1776. Th
b, facts here presented are his early orphan
In age, guardianship by his uncle, Timoth
le Edwards, strong religious convictions, whic
were stitied, college life at Princeton, an
ST then his enlistment. The first action of in
= portance he was engaged In was the stoTmin
re OF Quebec, ID scember 81, 1775. He saw h
~ leader Montgomery shot, and assisted
GO carry off the dead body. Subsequent
he returned TO this city, and was undo
ne Washington, VINO soon took dislike to hin
OF though ne had confidence in his miltsr
m character. Burr bore part at Monmouth
s. and then retired from the service, viii
y Hamilton continued till the close
the war. Both of these men the
opened law offices here, and their nam
no are found in The first directory, whiC
I'd was published in 1856. The second pa
ne opens with the talented but unprinciplt
re- lawyer-probably no more unprincipl'
VS. than hundreds at the present day. He W
well known to be libertine but the w
oh had degraded the moral sense. Hamilto
with all his talents, was guilty, though n
ne to an equal degree. Burr was then 81, al
n was an ardent politician, and, as a leade
v came in conflict with Hamilton, who head
IRE the Federalists. For IA years Burr's st
Ter was in the ascendant. He was elected Sta
SENATOR, and while holding this office, /
,la daughter was married to Gov. Aston,
80 South Carolina. This daughter (Theodosi
20 was
10y A REMARKABLE FEATURE IN BIS HISTORY
to Take that away and you have lost its /
ms nance. Theodcsia was one of the mo
charming women this city ever produces
OF Strange elements combined her charsct
Dry Her mother was English. her father Anne