The sun., 1902-03-09
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THREE UNPUBLISHED LETTERS
TELLING or MS LAST HOURS.
They Are Owned by Col. Richard church
OF Rochester - One Contro, erted Point
settled i History OF the Pistols Used In
IiamIlt0n's Duet With Aaron Rurr.

I
| THE Sun has obtained three hitherto un-
published letters describing the last hours
of Alexander Hamilton. Aside from the
sentimental interest that Ia attached to
any new evidence bearing on the tragic
| Burr Hamilton duel and its result. these
| letters establish one point that has been
| a subject of controversy.
] II has been asserted that Hamilton did
not received the sacramepts before he
| dieu. One OF these letters says:
He received peculiar comfort from the
sacraments having been administered TO
him by Bishop Moore
This was undoubtedly Bishop Benjamin
Moore. the Episcopal Bishop of this diocese,
who died in Greenwich Village in 1915.
and whose son. DR.. Clement C. Moore, the
author of Twas the Night Before Christ
mas contributed TO the General Theologi-
cal Seminary the ground on which it now
stands.
Col Church. who owns the originals Of
the letters published below. also owns the
pistols used in the Burr-Hamilton duel.
These pistols had a history before that
tragic event.
They were purchased in London by Col
Churchs grandfather, John b. Church.
who married Angelica Schuyler, sister
Of Mrs Alexander Hamilton. John b.
Church was an authority on the duelling
code and man who had played a conspicu-
GUS part in the Colonies fight for freedom.
The pistols were used in the first duel
that Aaron Burr fought, his antagonist
being John b. Church, IL came about
through bit of scandal that was ahoat
to the effect that for legislative services
rendered the Holland Land Company had
cancelled bond held against Burr for
500. 900.
The duel was fought at Hoboken on Sept.
?, 1899, and although il was bloodless II
was the talk of the town because of ri-
dculous incident that varied the regular
routine of such affairs. The balls had been
cast too small for the pistols and they were
wrapped in chamos leather. Burr's second
forgot to grease the leather and Burr dis
covered that the ball in his pistol had not
been rammed home.
Il forgot to grease the leather" said
his second, wiping the perspiration from
his face; "but, you see, your man is ready.
Don't keep him waiting. just take crack
as il is and I'll grease the next
Shots were exchanged without effect,
and, honor having been satisfied, the prin-
cipals made up. shook hands and the parties
separated in good humor.
The next occasion in which Mr.. Church's
duelling pistols figured was when Philip
Hamilton. a son Of Gen. Alexander Hamil-
ton, met Eckert in a fatal duel on the same
spot where his father fell later. Philip
Hamilton showed much promise, but he
became involved in a political quarrel
and Eckert challenged him.
The duel was fought at Weehawken on
Nov. "a. 1901. Hamilton's second was
Philip Church, a son of John b. Church.
and the father of the present Col. Richard
Church Of Rochester. Young Hamilton
received a mortal wound, and after this
affair Gen. Hamilton regarded with alb
horrence the practice of duelling, though
he Welded himself TO that then imperious
custom later
Gen. Hamilton was not duellist, and
when his encounter with Burr was seen To
be inevitable his friend, Nathaniel Pende-
ton. who acted as his second, borrowed
the Church duelling pistols. 1t has been
asserted that Burr owned these pistols
and several sets Of duelling pistols have
been put forward as the ones used in this
affair
DR.. Hosack, who attended Hamilton,
eaid that when the wounded man revived
in the boat that was bringing him TO this
city, she happened 10 cast his eye upon
the case of pistols and observing the one
that he had had in his hand lying on the
outside he said:
Take care of that pistol; II is undis-
charged and still cooked, it may go off and
do harm. Pendleton knows that I did not
intend TO fire at him
Mr.. Pendleton restored the pistols to the
Church family They have nine-inch bar
rels and they are fine examples Of that kind
OF weapon.
The letters below were written 10 Philip
Church. who was then at Angelica. and
had just become engaged to William
Stewards sister William Stewart was
the son of Gen Stewart of Revolution
ary fame and an intimate friend of the
miltons.
Here are the letters:
NEW YORK. July II. 1904.
sO'CLoCE EVENING.
My DEAR FRIEND: II is with much re-
luctance that | commence "A correspond
encc which l hope will be lasting. by
giving YOU piece of information 80
truly distressing. II is AT the request
of your mother who feels herself so agitated
as 10 be unable TO write to you at this
moment.
Your friend, Gen. Hamilton, has been
this morning dangerously, and fear NOR
tally, wounded in a duel with Col Burr
The latter challenged the General on account
(as il is said of some expressions made by
him respecting Burr's political principles.
Thoy met this morning az O'Clock on the
Jersey shore. where Gen. Hamilton received
the ball in his side which il lodged near
the backbone. |
left Mr. William Bayard's about a |
half hour ago. where the General now is. |
and DR.. HosaCk. who attended him to the |
field, and has been constantly with him
assured me that he has not the least hope |
of his surviving many hours The whole |
of your family are IN the greatest distress,
your father and mother.
Mrs Hamilton was much shocked when |
she first heard It, but has resumed her
fortitude, and has not left the Generals
side for some hours He retains his facul-
ties, and is perfectly collected. and aware
of the situation.
You cannot conceive the agitat ion which
this deplorable circumstance has occasioned
in this place. People of all classes and of |