Year: 1867

and fixed his eyes upon his visitor as
though eager for an explanation of his
remark. The doctor then stated his
mission, and informed him at whose re
quest it was undertaken. Burr listen
ed most attentively, and when his yisi-
tor ceased speaking, he exclaimed;


DO l understand YOU rightly? Do
yo say that these Christian ladies-and
with the husbands Of some Of them |
have been formerly acquainted-haye
thought Of Aaron Burr with kindness,
and have made me a subject Of their
pray ers for Divine mercy on my be-
half? is what little expected ,and,
as a gentleman, ! thank them for their
kind rememherance Of me, Be so good
as to assure them Of it. But, sir I fear
it is all in vain; l fear they are asking
Heaven for what Heaven has not in
store for me"


DR.. Mathews assured him that the
ladies hoped for better things, and ask
ed permission to speak plainly to him.


"Certainly, certainly-most certain
ly," be answered; why should you
not? You can have but one motive in
holding this interview. Let lne hear
what you would say. You have met
with look Of kindness. l do not so
often meet with this from gentlemen
in New York as to cast it behind me
Speak plainly to me, and l will speak
plainly to you


The doctor then asked him this
question:


'Do you believe in the truth and il
spiration Of the Bible -


II suppose" he replied, II am gen
orally considered an infidel. But am
not an infidel in the proper sense Of the
word. | will notso disparage my own
power tojudge Of evidence as to deny
that the Bible is true The only real
infidel is the man who does not think,
and because he is afraid to think, We
will proceed on the supposition that the
Bible is to be believedr' p


DR.. Mathews then proceeded to &C
complish the object of his coming. He
spoke OF Burr religious ancestors, and
dwelt upon his mothers hopes for him
at his birth, when she prayed that her
son might be as good man as his faith
er. At considerable length he review
ed his past history, and TIE efforts that
had been made in his childhood and
youth to train him up in the way
he should go. At the mention Of his
mother, Col. Burr appeared to he deep
y moved, and he listened to all the re-
marks Of his visitor with every appear
ance oi interest The doctor paused
at length, and waited for him to speak


"Perhaps,' said Burr, "you would
like to proceed.


You know we are to speak without re-
straint; | takeit all well, for know it
is well meant


The doctor answered that there was
another subject to which he wished to
allude, and yet scarcely knew how to
introduce it.


II wish to hear yon," said Col Burr


The clergyman then cut deeply into
the heart Of the bereaved Gl,l solitary
man by speaking to lin Of his lost
daughter, whose voice, Ire said, ought
to speak to him from tie deep, warning
him to repent


While DR. Matthews was upon this
subject the heart-brohen father moan
ed and wept to such a degree that his
visitor paused, and there was long 81
lence. Then Burr spoke as follows:


''You are doing nothing more than
your duty, and am the more pleased
with you for doing it so fully. This is
a new scene for me. You have open
ed fountains that have long been dry,
and that, perhaps, I may have thought
were dried up forever. 1t is true, it is
true, judgements have followed me for
years-judgments in every form, in the
heaviest form, till / am left alone OF all
that loved me, as father or near rela-
tive. There is q desolation here,
laying his hand OH his heart, ''that
none but the Searcher Of Hearts can
understand"


Even these pathetic words did not
induce the clergyman to spare him.
He asked him if there was not some
thing in the desolation Of his own
household which called to mind anoth
er household which his own hand had
desolated.


Burr's eyes flashed fire, but the ex-
preston passed away in a moment, and
he asked, with tone and look of sor-
row:


''What would you have me do p
How and where would you have me
turn p


The clergymen then urged him again
to repentance; advised him to return,
like the prodigal son, to attend church,
and devote his future life to good
works


Col. Burr interrupted his visitor, and
said:


"You don't seem to know hoy I am
viewed by the religious public, or by
those who resort to your churches
Where is there a man among all such,
whom would be willing to meet, and
who would welcome me into his pew ?
OF your own congregation, would,
Or, or-give me seat? These
are our merchant princes-men who
give tone to Wall Street, and fix the
standard of mercantile morals in
our city Would they make Aaron
Burr welcome visitor to your church !!
Rather, indeed, I may ask would you
Yourself do so? How would you feel
walking up the aisle with me, and op-
ening your pew door for my entrance =


DR.. Matthews replied that such an
event would give him great pleasure.


Then said Burr, ''yOu would in
dulge your feelings of kindness at the
expense of your usefulness as the min
lister of your congregation Do you
believe that such gentlemen as | have
named would be pleased, or rather that
they would not be highly displeased,