CHRONICLE. 



405 



as a dangerous man, and one unfit 

 to be trusted with the reins of go- 

 vernment." — In another place Dr. 

 C. says, " General Hamilton has 

 expressed of Mr. Burr opinions still 

 more despicable." This latter pas- 

 sage excited the resentment of Col. 

 B. who sent his friend with a letter 

 to General H. in which he demands 

 " a prompt and unqualified acknow- 

 ledgment, or denial of the expres- 

 sion which could justify this infer- 

 ence on the part of Dr. Cooper." — 

 General H. in his answer, admits 

 the first statement, the language of 

 which, he contends, comes fairly 

 within the bounds prescribed in cases 

 of political animosity. — He objects 

 to Col. Burr's demand, by consider- 



ing it as too indefinite 



, or as calling 



on him to retrace every conversation 

 which he had held, either publicly 

 or confidentially, in the course of 

 1 5 years opposition, and to contra- 

 dict that which, very possibly, might 

 have escaped his memory. — If any 

 thing more definite should be pro- 

 posed, he expresses his willingness 

 to give Col. B. all due satisfaction, 

 — Col. B. in his reply, insists upon 

 a general retractation, and says, it is 

 no matter to him whether his ho- 

 nour has been attacked loudly or in 

 whispers. — General H. rejoins by 

 calling for something more defined, 

 and refuses either a general denial 

 or general acknowledgment. — -The 

 meeting was then demanded by the 

 Colonel. — rPrevious to the repairing 

 to the ground, the General drew up 

 his will, and iudosed with it a pa.^ 

 per containing his retlections on the 

 meeting. — He says, 



" On my expected interview with 

 Col. Burr, 1 think proper to make 

 some remarks explanatory of my 

 conduct, motives, and views. I was 

 certainly det>irous of avoidtng this 



interview, for the most cogent rea- 

 sons. — 1. My religious and moral 

 principles are strongly opposed to 

 the practice of duelling : and it would 

 ever give me pain to be obliged to 

 shed the blood of a fellow-creature 

 in a private combat forbidden by the 

 laws. — 2. INIy w ife and children are 

 extremely dear to me, and my life is 

 of the utmost importance to them, 

 in various views. — 3. 1 feel a sense 

 of obligation towards my creditors," 

 Avho, in case of accident to me, by 

 the forced sale of my property, may 

 be in some degree, sulTerers. 1 did 

 not think myself at liberty, as a man 

 of probity, lightly to expose them 

 to this hazard. — 4. I am conscious 

 of no ill-will to Colonel Burr, dis- 

 tinctfrom political opposition, which, 

 as I trust, has proceeded from pure 

 and upright motives. Lastly, I shall 

 hazard much, and can possibly gain 

 nothing, by the issue of the inter- 

 view." 



It also appears that General IT. 

 had determined not to return Colonel 

 B-'s first fire; but that, on his receiv- 

 ing the shock of a mortal wound, 

 his pistol went off involunfaril}', and 

 without being aimed at Colonel B. 

 This statement being denied by the 

 opposite party, search was made for 

 the ball, which was found lodged in 

 a cedar-tree, at the height of 1 1 feet 

 and a half, 14 paces from the place 

 where General II. stood, and more 

 than 4 feet out of the line of direc- 

 tion between the p;irties. When th« 

 General fell, Cojoncl B- walked to- 

 wards him, with apparent gestures 

 of regret; but he did not speak to 

 him, as ho was hurried from th« 

 ground by his friends. 



The funeral of the General wag 

 observed at New York with unusual 

 respect and ceremony. All the jnib- 

 lic Functionaries attended; all (he 

 . D d 3 bells 



