The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1896-02-28

sett mansion the center about which
all things in the fashionable world re-
voved. For eight years they dwelt
there, entertaining all corners with
open-handed hospitality, making fire.
quent trips to the east to visit friends,
It's well as to make purchases. They en-
tertained laNishly for the times and for
the surroundings, and the fame of their
hospitality reached far and wide.
Such was the island home, and such
were its inhabitants, when the serpent
entered this Eden and wrought its
ruin. Aaron Burr was one of the most
fascinating of men. A graceful man,
of handsome aquiline features, with
high mental endowments and in pos
session of rare conversational powers,
he had the instincts of vulture and
was eternally scheming for his own
personal qualification and aggrandize-
ment, reckless of the ruin and misery
his selhshness wrought. His career had
been brilliant until when, as vice pres
ident of the United States during Pres
ident Jctferson's first term, he imbrued
his hands in the blood of Alexander
Hamilton and brought upon himself
the excavation OF his countrymen. 1t
was then he formed the Napoleonic
conception, and apparently feasible one,
of wrestling from Spain the empire of
Mexico, and from the United States the
vast and almost unsettled solitudes of
the Mississippi valley, there to organize
a magnificent empire, of which he was
10 be imperator.
Burr had heard of Blennerhassett,
of his wealth, and of his influence over
the rapidly-increasing population OF
the Ohio valley, and he resolved to enlist
him in the enterprise. In the spring
of the year 1906. Burr appeared upon
Blennerhassett island and was the re
cipient of distinguished attentions at
the hands of its hospitable owners. 1t
is not my purpose to follow i'll detail!
the intrigues and intricacies of the
dealings between Burr and Blennerhas
sett. Suffice it to say that both host
and hostess were charmed. He was as
artless as a child. Familiar with the
secrets of state, he spoke of the prospect
of war with Spain and of the ease with
which the Mexicans with a little help
might throw off the Spanish yoke and
establish an Independent government
Having taken the first step, he went
on his way. The next autumn, however
Burr and his beautiful daughter, Theo
dosia, made a short visit to the island
and in the following winter, Mr.. and
Mrs: Blennerlfassett We're lured east fol
the purpose Of further interviews, anC
il is presumed that they entered into /
sort of partnership for land speculation
Blennerhassett was incapable of trea
son, and it cannot be doubted, as it ap
peared afterward at the trial, that Burr
adroitly yelled his real purpose from
him by the projected land speculation
In the summer Of 1906, Burr CANT
west, and active measures were taker
to organize an expedition. The in
triguer had such influence with Blen
nerhassett's wife that she readily per
suaded her husband to pledge himsel1
for the payment of expenses. Eateau'
sufficient to carry 500 men were bull
and provisioned at Marietta, and Col
Burr visited many settlements in Ohio
and Virginia to engage enterprisins
and hardy young men as recruits, ant
he speedily secured the required muir.
Der. Each emigrant was required tt
bring rifle and blanket. The little
colony was organized with military pre-
cison, for it's leader WIS an accom-
rlishcd soldier. Every one was to re
ceive the gift of 100 acres of land. Bur-
told them that President Jefferson, The
was very popular in the west, approved
of the expedition. Confidently he .
sured them that, while their expedition
was a peaceful one and lis object thu
settlement of vast tract of land pur
chased of Baron Eastrop, still
there was thc certainty Of war between
the United States and Spain. in which
event Mexico would free licri4lf. ard hi!
colony would have the nclj'rg of ;
grand empire on the foundations o
democratic equality, and they might en-
rich themselves beyond the dreams @
romance.