Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-06-19

almost alone in the world. On the 9TH
er hand. Hamilton was the head of
large family, which depended solely up
on his earnings. Both men were in en-
barrassed circumstances, and, though
holding large amounts of real estate,
they were deeply in debt Hamilton had
a country seat called "The Grange" but
his family lived in the city in the win
ter He was in the fulness of his pow
ers, and had recently delivered at Hud-
son his great effort in defense of the lib
erty of the press, being counsel for Har-
ry Crosswell, who was prosecuted for IL
bel on Thomas Jefferson. Burr preVi-
ously had an Office at the corner of &C.
dar and Nassau streets, but on his elee-
tion to the Vice Presidency he abandon
ed the profession of the law. The d.
rectory records him thus: eAaron Burr,
Vlce-President of the United States,
Richmond Hill" His place was in the
suburbs of the city, and had been occu-
pied by very distinguished men. Gener-
al Washington used it as his headquar-
ters in the summer of 1776. and after
the establishment of the federal govern
ment, Vice President Adams lived there
until the removal to Philadelphia. Burr
was the third historical character who
occupied the noted dwelling. and his
name has clung to it longer than that of
his predecessors. The building remain
ed as late as 1910, and was at that time
place of amusement, where the writer,
who was then mere youth, attended
dancing school.
Having resolved on the duel, Burr
sent Hamilton message demanding ex-
PLANTATION of the remarks which the lat
ter had made. This took place on the
18th of June. 1t is not proposed to give
these well-known facts in detail, but the
writer may mention that four letters
were exchanged between the principals,
and nine days elapsed before challenge
was sent. Hamilton had clear view
of the determination of his correspond
| ent. He saw that a hostile message was
inevitable, and being in obedience to
what are falsely called the laws of hon.
or, he accepted it as soon as offered. He
was conscientiOusly opposed to the prac
tice, with very good reason indeed, since
his son Phillip had fallen in duel with
Adam Eacker two years previously but
he could not break the iron rule of mill
tary life. He would not send a chal-
lenge, but he would not refuse one. He
had twenty years previously served as a
second, and now he appeared as a prin-
cipal
On the Fourth of July, 1904, just a
week before the duel, both parties at
tended the dinner of the Society of the
Cincinnati. Hamilton was in good splr-
its and sang "The Drum" which then
was popular song. How little was il
then dreamed that he had accepted a
challenge Burr, on the other hand
conversed very little. 1t was said after
the duel that Burr had been practicing
with pistol, and also that he had dis
covered that silk was bullet-proof
Hence, as the report went, he had order
ed suit of this material for the very
occasion, and, according to the ridicu
lous notion. he stood fre-proof How
ever, there was no need of this or am
other precaution, for Hamilton had de
termined to throw away his fire which
as is we'll known, was done. Indeed, /
was said that his second, Mr.. Pendleton
revisited the spot and found Hamilton
bullet lodged in tree The paper tina
Hamilton left as a testimony agains
dueling shows that his conduct was il
opposition to his conscience He feI
{ that he had no right to expose lif
, which his family needed so deeply, AM
| acting as he did in face of this conelu
: sion, he was guilty of dreadful wrong
, Hamilton's second was Nathan Pen
r dleton Burr's second was VIM. z. Va
Ness. By special arrangement the meet
r ing was postponed until after the Circui
; Court, which was held on the 9th, i
, which Hamilton had an important case
e When this had been disposed of. Nh
e Pendleton informed Van Ness that hi
j., principal was ready. Sunday, the 8th
was passed by Hamilton in the bosOr
5 of his family. What grievous wron
t he was about to infict upon them o
5 Monday he made his viii, leaving every
5 thing to his wife and commenting he
r to his children. Tuesday was spent i
: preliminaries to the meeting. which va
D to come off early the next day. A SUI
geon and boatman were to be engaged
: and the former was found in Dr. Ho:
e ack, who was ore of the leading pract
: TONERS of the age. On that day Bun
Y wrote long letter to Theodosia, givin
i explicit directions as to the dispositio
5 of his affairs, and also advice in refel
: ence to the education of her little boz
r He also wrote careful and elaborat
e letter to her husband, in which other d.
S tails are given, and be concludes wit
: the brief explanation: Il have calle
:, ont General Hamilton and We meet I.