Interview in Weehawken by Syrett Harold C.;Cooke Jean G.;Wallace Willard M.;

Author:Syrett, Harold C.;Cooke, Jean G.;Wallace, Willard M.;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wesleyan University Press
Published: 2018-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

Letter of Burr to Hamilton, June 21, 1804.

Courtesy of The New-York Historical Society, New York City.

Aaron Burr to William P. Van Ness1

[New York, June 26, 1804]

The last propn. of Gen1 H. is a worse libel then even the letter of Dr C & throughout manifests a disposition to evade.

A “letter properly adapted”2 — who is to judge of this — Mr B. will judge for himself & thinks his two letters very properly adapted & having expressed himself definitively on that point he is surprized to find it again brought in question.

“Any particular instance of dishonorable Conduct”3 This seems intended to leave ample Room for the inference that there have been general opinions and general charges.

“in relation to any other language &c” which “Col. B. shall specify”4 — Col. B. is ignorant of the particular Conversations & expressions which Gen1 H. may have had or used & he will only inquire from Gen1. H. himself. That he has said things derogatory to Mr B’s honor is to be presumed from the letter of Dr C. until it shall be contradicted by Gen1. H.

If Mr B. should specify & Gen1. H. should deny as to one particular Conversation, Dr C. & the world may say “true, but the day anterior or the day subsequent, such things were said by Gen1. H.” and this would indeed be a fair inference from such partial negation. These things must be perfectly obvious to the perspicatious mind of Gen1 H. Propositions therefore fraught with such ambiguity and liable to such injurious Construction must be considered as insidious and insulting and they call imperiously for the last appeal.

I was writing the preceeding by way of notes for you when your boy arrived. They are sent to you unfinished. It seems that our sentiments are pretty much in harmony. Interweave into your’s what you think proper of the preceeding. I will be at your house before noon & will dine with you. [June] 26

1. AD, in writing of Burr, New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown, N.Y.

2. This quotation is from “Nathaniel Pendleton’s Second Report of Remarks Made by Alexander Hamilton in the Presence of Dr. Charles Cooper,” June 25, 1804.

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

William P. Van Ness’s Further Account of the Events of June 26, 18041

The following day (Tuesday 26. June) as early as was convenient I had an interview with Col: Burr, who informed me that he considered Gen1 Hamiltons proposition a mere evasion, which evinced a desire to leave the injurious impressions which had arisen from the conversations of Gen1 Hamilton in full force. That when he had undertaken to investigate an injury his honor had sustained it would be unworthy of him not to make that investigation complete. He gave me further instructions which are substantially contained in the following letter to Mr. xxx2 No 103

1. “Van Ness’s Narrative,” AD, New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown, N.Y.

At this point, the “Draft of Van Ness’s Narrative” is substantially the same as the “Narrative.”

2. Pendleton.

3. Van Ness to Pendleton, June 26, 1804.

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