The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-09-20
AARON BURR'S LOVE LETTERS.
"hnt n Veteran Now Yort Editor hns l.
Say About Thcm.

In his autobiography, Thurlow Weed
tells some interesting facts about the
correspondence of Aaron Burr, which he
learned from Mr.. Matthew l.. Davis
who was Burr's literary executor. For
nearly forty years, Mr.. Davis was the
only reliable friend whom Burr had.
During his absence in Europe he corr s.
sponded only with his daughter and Mr.
Davis, the latter being tho only person
who welcomed the return of the once
pop'larVicc President.
Davis informed Mr.. Weed that Colonel
Burr's first inquiry on landing was for
Mrs. Eden, n widow lady, once happily
and prospcrously situated, but who Ind
during Burrs absence supported herself
and two daughters as n laundrcss
Colonel Burr's first professional service
natter his return was i'll bringing the well
Wown cJcctmcnt suit, which, after two
!,,&rs OF litigation resulted in favor CT
!h% Misses Eden, who, has Mr.. Davis
nihoNNcd Mr.. Weed confi,lcntinlly, were
tne mural daughters of Colonel Burr.
Co'ohcRurr made Mr.. Davis his literary
cNecutor\with the understanding that
WIN tile nNtcrinls beQucathCd to him n
history OF h1 life should he written.
me conhdciEl female correspondence
OF mr. Burr co!Stitutcd n large portion
OF these materlaS, leaving Mr.. Davis, so
far rs he understood the views of Colonel
Burr, Mt liberty V make such usc of
| those letters rs he night think proper.
Says Mr.. Weed:
ihG preservation If such letters
carefully filed, and, when either anon
ymous or with initials, having the
full name of tho writer inl9rscd. was M
act OF treachcry and hascne,s of which
happily for society, few human beings
have been found capable. blc Colonel
Burr looked upon the matter with ewes
and from standpoint still moro unnat
ural, for on the day before his lorel with
General Hamilton, in letter TO his
daughter, Mrs. Thcodosia Allen, Me be-
lueathcd, in the event of his fall Atbesc
confidential letters to her, indicating
tho boxes III which they would be found
and instructinG her to read them anil to
nurn all such as, if matle public. would
ln]urc any person. AS, however. Hun
ilton instead of Burr fell. those letters
were preserved from 1904 to 1926, and
then bcqucathcd without instruction to
Mr.. Davis. For two or three years be-
Tore Colonel Burr's death | Occasionally
visited him i'll company witln Mr.. Davis,
and although gen .crally rcticcnt, he was
Som:ttimcs drawn into conversation
","out early and interesting events, al
ways in tho morbid spirit of n disap-
pointed man. His manner was quiet
and subdued, and although seldom i'll
dulging in bitterness of language, he
Hcvcr spoke nppro>ingNy of any of the
distinguished men with whom he had
been associated. / frequently visited
AR. Davis while he was preparing his
| llie OF Burr, and had free access totho
blue boxes which contained the conf
dental female correspondence. The
Letter" were from ladies residing in New
York, Trenton. N. j., Philahlphia, Pa,
tI1chmond, W., New PHycn, Conn.,.
Albany, N. Y, Troy, e. Y, etc, and
most of them from Ihlembers of we'll
known families. Ja some cases the cor
but generally of moro questionable
character In several instances the let
J tcrs embraced n period of several wears.
concluding with charges of trcachcry,
fAlschood and dcscrtion. Mr.. Davis was
particularly anxious to restore all such
letters to the persons who wrote them.
Two packages were delivered by Mr..
Davis personally to ladies residing in the
city of New York. One package was
transmitted to lady in Richmond, Va. -,
through General Scott. MIR. Davis
earnestly requested me to deliver pack
age to n highly respectable lady with
whom was acquainted, but when de-
clmcd that too delicate duty he COM
mlttcd them to the flames. 1t is due to
the memory of my old friend Davis that
l should say that, although poor man,
ilVlng upon the weekly compensation of
Two gnmcas received for letters written
"the London Times, his honor and i'll
trgrlty resisted large offers of compcnsa-
non for Colonel Burr's confidential cor
Icsnondence. Tne late Major NJ. NJ.
Noah was not only liberal in his offers
IF money, but importnnatc in his ap-
pcals to Mr.. Davis. All, however.
| proved Intellectual. Mr.. Davis made an
end of the matter by consi3hng all the
letters that had not been rcttrncd 10
the writer's to the flames"