52 JUKES BD WARDS 



and Edwards, who might have been led into a 

 glorious career, bat was instead repelled, and went 

 back to his uncle's home, with no profession and 

 no plan for life, with no one to advise him. 



The battle of Bunker hill aroused Burr to patri- 

 otic purpose, and, though but nineteen, he started 

 for Cambridge to enlist. He was stricken with 

 fever, however, and before he was recovered he 

 heard of Arnold's proposed expedition to Quebec, 

 and, though he had better be in bed, he took his 

 musket and walked to Newburyport, 30 miles, in 

 season to ship with the troops. Two men were 

 there ahead of him awaiting his arrival with instruc- 

 tions from his uncle to bring him back to New 

 Jersey. This was too much for young Burr, who 

 did not recognize the right of his uncle to interfere, 

 and he expressed his mind so vigorously as to com- 

 mand the admiration of the soldiers and arouse the 

 fears of the two messengers, who returned without 

 him. This was the last of his uncle's interference. 

 Who that reads of the childhood life of this orphan 

 can wonder that he lacked patience under the severe 

 reverse of political fortune at fifty years of age? 

 That he is the one illustrious exception among the 

 1,400 need cause no surprise. 



