Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-20
United States Decides After 79
Years lust to File Request
in National Museum.
PAPER Of GREAT VALUE.
Letter to Former Vice President
From Washington Throws Light
on Writer'S Character.
BY JONATHAN WINFIELD.

WASHINGTON. July I9.-After
some delays years, 10 be more or
less exact-the United States Gov
eminent has decided on a final action
on Aaron Burr's application for a
pension. The Government proposes
to put the application in the Ma
tional Museum. This is a patriotic
and quite inexpensive method Of dis
posing Of a formal application for
money
Exhibited in glass inclosed case
in the museum, the papers may rest
peacefully and indefinitely telling
future generations that in his last
DAYS Burr was considerably hard 70
up" This is a fact not generally
known But II future generations
happen to be observant they may
notice that the papers show Uncle
Sam 10 be a bit tardy in matters Of
pensions
Papers Valuable Historically.
Historically, the papers are very
valuable. They contain "A letter writ
ten by George Washington 10 Aaron
Burr. which even day-abOut 1876
years after the letter was penned-
IL in a state Of perfect preservation.
ANY student Of values Of historical
relics can tell how much such a
thing is worth officials at the Ma
tional Museum declare the letter to
be Invaluable"
The paper IL a bit yellow but il is
intact The ink is "A trife faded. but
can he read without difficulty even
without the aid Of glasses. And. fur
thermore, the letter reveals a bit of
Washington's character more clearly
than a volume Of history. The miss
i've shows how the general treated
with his officers Burr had written
to Washington requesting leave OF
absence from military duty on ac-
count OF IN health and suggesting
that while of duty his pay may be
discontinued
Here is George Washington's re-
ply TO Burr:
Headquarters.
Frederick. 2Gth oct, l1IS.
Dear Sir.
Il have your favor Of the gath. You
in my opinion, carry your ideas o
delicacy too far when you propose e
drop your pay while the recovery o
your health necessarily requires you
absence from the service. II Is no
customary and II would be unjust
You therefore have leave TO retire
until your health Is so far re-estab'
lished as to enable you TO do YOU
duty.
BE pleased TO give the Colonel no.
tice of this. that he may know where
20 call upon you should any unfore
seen exigency require IL,
Il am. dear sir.
Your mo. obi. servt.
GEO. WASHINGTON.
1T. Col Burr"
Burr's Final Appeal.
George Washington letter is re.
garded as the most valuable papel
among the sheaf composing Burr's APP
plication. but the application itself
Burr's formal appeal for a pension
has much historical worth because Il
is Burr's own record OF his military
service. written In 1894 Just two year,
before his death. at the age OF 81
years, in Port Richmond. Slater
Island, n Y. The papers contain n,
mention of Burr's famous duel viii
Alexander Hamilton in which Ham
iltou was mortally wounded.
Burr even failed to mention in tn,
papers that he had been Vice Presi
dent Of the United States, and refer
ence to the fact that he was arrested
and tried for treason for attempting
TO form a republic west of the Mis-
sissippi Is also omitted In the ap
plication It is recited however, tina
Burr was unable TO appear IN court {,
swear 10 the facts by reason Of bod
ny infirmity"