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PUBLISHEb cWttKLT) BY ALLMAND HALL. TVESt AY, AUGUST 7, 1804.
roL. riii. iro; 39.
StB DOLLS. PR AlfX.
- t. -V
. Trbm the New-Tort Herald.
TO THE AMER1 CANi PUBLIC. '
.The (hocking cataftrbphe which his
recently occurred; terminatingthe life of
ALtxANDiR llAMlLTOH,'ancl which has
fprearfa gloom over our city (hit will not
be fpeedily dfftipated, denfiands that the
ctrcurnftatices which led to it,, or were
intimately connected with' it, flxould not
be concealed from the World. ."Wfien
they 'Ihatl be truly 'and fairly difclofed,
however forrie mayqueftfon the found-
ref of Tits jutlgment on this Ibccafion, all
mud be ready to do juftice to the purity
ot his views, and the ndblenefs. of his na
ture. 'It will only here b'e 'added, that the
authenticity of the documents and the ac
cu racy of the information that we have at
laft obtained, are beyond any queftion" ;
and mull put an end to 'all miftake or
mifrcprefentation, . !
- ' ' No. i. :
SIR, New-York, June 18, 1804.
I fend for your perofal a letter ligned
Charles D.Cooper, which, though ap
parently publiuSed tome time ago, has
but very recently cotrte to rhy knowledge.
Mr. Van Ncfs who does me the favor to
deliver this,, will point out to you that
claufe of the letter to which I particular
ly requeft your attention.
You muft perceive, Sir, tWneceffit'y of
a prompt and unqualified acknowledge
ment or denial of the ufe of any expref
fion which would warrant the aflertions
of Dr. Cooper.
1 have the honor to be,
,. Your obedient ferv't,
A. BURtX.
General Hamilton . ...
' "' No. 2. '
SIRj ' -New-Tori. June 30,-1804.
I have maturely reHeded ou the fubjectof
your letter ot the isthtnil. and the more
I have reflected the more I have become
convinced that I could not "without rhanh
feft impropriety, make the avowal or dis
avowal whica you feem to think neceiTa-
ry. The claufe pointed out by Mf. Van
Nefs U. in tlkie terms," I could detail to
ybu a, fiitl more defpicable opinion which
Hamilton has expreffed of Mr. Burr."
To endeavour todilcover the meaning of
this declaration, I was obliged to Peek in
the . antecedent part of this letter for the
opinion to which 'it referred, as having ;
been already difclofed : I found it in
thefe words 11 General Hamilton and
judge Kent have declared ,ih fubjlance,
that they looked upon Mr. Burr to be a
dangerous mt'n and ont 'whi ought hit ti be
Uufted with the reins of government. ,
The languagVbf Doctor Cooper plain- -'
"My implies, that he confldered this opinion
or you,, which he Htftibutes to me, as a
dtfplcahle one, but he affirms that I have
exprcfleJ fome other,? mare dtfpkobU)
without, however, mentioning to whom',
when, or where. 'Tis evident that the
chute "dill more tlcfpickble" , admits o7
Infinite ftiades from very light to very
dark. How am t to ui'ge of the degree
Intended? or how (ha I 1 annex any pre
c fe idea to language fo indefinite
Between Gentlemen, defpicable ihd
Vnorf d fflicahle are not worth the pains of
- k dillinctton ; when" therefore, you do not
In'ertoga'e mepis to hc opinion which
isfpecifieal'y afcribed to me, I mud con
clude that you view it as within the li
mits to which the animadverfions of poli-
tiV opponents totacb-other may-juflifi--
ab.y extend, and confequerttly at rot
warranting the idea of it which Doclor
Cooper appears to entertain. If fo, what
prrcife inference could you draw, as a
cuide for your conduct, were I to ac
k'iolc Ice, that 1 ha I ex prefTel an opin-
Mn ot you Jlill mire isfpkahle than the
one whhhti particularlied I How could
jui be furc tnat even this opinion had
exceeded the bounds which you would
yourfelf ileem admiffible between political
opponents
But I farbear further comment on the
embarralTmenf, to which the requifition
You have made naturally leads. The oc
casion forbids a more ample i luft ration-
though nothing could bemorc eafy than
to purlue itt
ilcneatitif that I csnnot reconcile it
with propriety to make the ackttowledg
mctit or denial Jrou.defire, I will add,
that I deem It lOilmilTib'.e on principle,
to confent to be interrogated as to the in
ftrmee which mif be drawn br others
from whateter I may have faiJ of a poli.
.ticil opponent in the coutfe pf a fifteen
years citmce'ition. it mere were no o-
therobjeclionto it this is fudlcient, that
k wouU tendtoexpure my fmccrity and
w 9
deVifi'acy to injurious ImpuUtions from e-'
very perlon who may at any muc iu
conceived the import of " my expreflions,
differently from what I may then have in
tended or may afterwards recblleia. I
ftand ready to avow or dffavbw promptly
and explicitly any precife or definite opi
nion. Which I may be charged with ha-
ving eciara or any vjcnuciun. y"
than this cannot ritiy De.expectea irom
me : and elpecialjy it cannot be rea-
fiynablv tXDeced that I lhall enter
into an explanation upon a bafis fo vagije
as that which you have adopted. I trutt
on more reflection you'will lee the matter
in the fame light with me. it not, I can
only regret the circumflarice, and mult a.
bide the confequence3.
I he publication ot Doctor trooper war
never feen by me till alter the receipt of
your letter,
I have the honor to be, &c.
A. HAMILTON.
Colonel Burr.
- No, 3.
SIR, . ' New-York, June 2 1,18,04.
Your letter of the 2oih inlt. has lt"tii
this day received. Having confiJered it
attentively I regfet. to find in it nothing
of that fincerity and delicacy which you
profefs to valie.
PeliticaKoppofitlon can never absolve
gentlemen from the neceftity of a rigid
adherence to the taws ot honour, and the
rules of decorum, ,' f neither claim f uch
privilege nor indulge it in Oihcrs.
inecommon lente-otmanKinc atnxesto
the epithet adopted byDr-Cpoper, the idea'
of di (honour. 1 1 hax been publicly applied to
me under i he fan&ion of your name. The
'queftionjs not wlieiher)ie has underflbod
the weaning of the word, 4 or lias .ufed it
according to fyntax, & with graminatical
accuracy -j but, whether you have, autho
rifcJ this application, either diretly, or
by uttering expreflions or opinions derbV,
gatory tomyhonot. The time when''
is in ybu i own knowledge, but no way
material to me, a; the calumny has now
firtt.been difclofed, fo . as to become the
fubje&of my noiijc', and as the efFccl is
prcfent and palpable. , . ,
Your letter has furniflieJ me with new
rcafons for requiring a dcfiniic reply..
i have the honor to be.
Sir, your obedient ferv't.
A. BURR.
General Hamilton.
On Saturday the 2i of June, , Gene
ral Hamilton, for the firll time, called on
Mr. P. and communicated to him the
preceliug correfpondence, He inform'
ed him that in a converfation with Mr
V. N. at the time, of , receiving the lad
letter, he told Mr. V.N. that he confi-
dered that letter as rude and oifenflve, an I
that it was not poflible for him to give it
any otKer anfwer than that Mr. Burr
miht take fuch fteps as he might think
proper. He faid farther that Mi. V, N
requeued him to take lime to deliberate,
and then return an anfwer, when he might
poinbly entertain a different opinion, and
that he would call on him to receive it.
That his reply to Mr. V. N- wa, that
he did not perceive it poflible for him to
give any other anfwer than that he hid
mentib'icdi unlefs Mr. Burr would take
back his lad letter and write one which
would admit of a different reply. He then
gave Mr. f. the letter hereaher mention
ed of the aid of tune'., to be delivered to
-Mr.-VrNrwhcn be motrldxaHotrMiTPr
tor an anfwer, and went to his country
houfe.
The next dijr General Hamilton recei
vetT while iheref the following letter,
N. 4.
SIR, , t June 33, 1804,
In the. afternoon of yedcrdiT 1 report
ed to Col. Burr thereiult of my latf in
terview with you, and appointed the e
vening to receive, his furtncr inflruclioni.
Some private cneigements, however, pre.
... .'II I !
vented me worn canine on mm mi mis
mornin. On my tetwrft to the city, I
found uDon cnouirv. both at your office
and your houfc, that you had returned to
vourrefidence iri th country. Leaft an
interview there might be lefi agreeable to
you than elii where, I nave taicn the liber
ty ol adrefHng you this note, to enquire
wrcn int wncre it win oe moil conven
ient to yoti to receive a communication.
Your moll oaedienf,
And very humble ferv't.
W. P, VAN NESS.
General Hamilton.
Mr. P- tindirftooi from General
Hsmi'ton that he immediately anfwered.
that if the Communication wai prcfOng
he would receive it at his country houfe
that day, if not, he would beat Tsis houfc j
in .town next morning- at o'clock.
But Le'did not give Mr.' P. any copy of
this ricte.
. . : No. 5. "
SIR, . 'New-York, June 22, 1804. ;
Your firft letter in a fty je too peremp
tory, made a demand, in my opinion,
'unprecedented and' tipwarrantable. My
anfwer pointing out ("be embarralTment,
gave you an opportunity to take a lefs
exceptionable coarfe. . You have not
choTen tc do it, but by our laft letter, re
ceived this dV, containincexpreftons in.
decorous And improper, ybu have increaf-
CJ ine (iimciiiiies to explanation in inn.
fically incident to the nature cf your ap
plication. , - ,
If by a " definite rep," you mean the
direct avowal or difavowal required in
Ljour firlt letter, I naveno other anfwer,
to give, than whichhas already heen gu
ven. 'If youmeao any thing differeht, ad
mitting of greater latitude, ic is rerqui'fite
you ftiould explain.
1 have the honor to be,
1 Sir, your obedient ferv't. ; , ,
v ; A. HAMILTON,
Aaron Burr.
vThis let'er, although, dated on trhe 2'3d
of June, remained in Mr. P's polleffion
until the 25th, within which period he had
feveraleo:erfations with Mr. V. N.Tn
thefe convertios Mr. P. endeavoured
to illullrate and enforce the propriety of
the ground General Hamilton had taken.
Mr. F. mentioned to Mr. V.N. as . the
refult that if Col, Burr would vyrite a
letter requeuing to khow in .fubllance,
whetfier in the converfation to wh'ch
Di. Cooper alluded, "any particular in
ftaice of .difKonourableconducl, wasim
pu.ed toCol. Burr, or whether there was
any impeachment of his private character.
G. Hamilton would declare to the beft of
his rccollecYiou.whit palTedlin thaf con
verfation, and Mr- P. read to Mr. V. N.
a paper containing the fubflance of what
General Hamilton would fay' on that fub
jecf, which is as -follows':
. No. 6.
. "Gen. Hamilton fay? he cannot ima
gine to what Dr. Cooper may have allu-
oed unlets it were to a converlatton at
Mr. Taylor', in A!bar, lait winter .f at
which Mr. Taylor, be and Gcnar'al Ha
milton were prcfent) General. Hamilton
cannot recollecl diltintll the particulars
cf that converfation fo a to undertake to
repeat them, without running the rific of
varying,' or. omit:ingi what might be
e'eemed important circumftanvcs. The
cxpreffions are entirely forgotten,' end the
Ipecihc ideas, imperfctlly remembered ;
kut to the beft of his recollection it con-
hfted of comments on the political, princi-
I-e and views of Col. Burr, t and the re
ulis that might be expected frbtn them in
the event of his election as Governor,
without reference to any particular in
lance of pad conducl or to private char-
er. , . , . .
After the delivery of the letter of the
irf tKnumnr!Anrl t in snnihrr
;nterview with Mr, V, N. he defircd
Vfr. P. to ij,ive him intv'itt the fub-
lanreof what he had oronored.on the part
f General Hamilton, which Mr.P-did in
the words following j
preued in Col. Burr's letter of the aiH
inft. that there is not perceived a rtectfUty;
for further explanation'oii his part. . The)
difjiculty that would refult from cor.finirg
the enquiry to any particular times arid
occafions muft be manifeft. The denial
of a fpecifitd converfation, only, would
leave (trong implications that on other oc
cafions improper language had been ufedi
when and where injurious opinions and,
exprefftons have .been ottered, by General
Hamilton muft be belt kno Aii to him, and
of him onjy will Col ."Burr enquire,, jj
denial or declarzt ion will be latistadlory',
unlefs it be general, fo as wholy , to ex
clude the idea. tSat rumours derogatory to
Col. 'Bun's- honor have originated "with
General Hamilton or have been fairly in
ferred from any thing he has "laid. A de
finite reply to a reqwtfuion.of this hatur
was demanded by Col. .Burr's letter ot ihe
2lft inft. This being refufed invites the
alteihatiye alluded to in Gen.' Hamilton's
letter of the ioth, i
; "It was required by the pofitipn in whicri
the contrbvrfey was placed, by Gen. Ha
milton on Friday laft, and I was immc
diately iYurnfflied with a communication
demanding aperfonal interview. Thene.
ceflity o.f this rncafure has no t in the opi
nion of Col. Burr been diminifned by the
. General's laft ietteri or any 'communica
tion which has fi nee been received. Tarri
confeueptly again inftrucled to deliver .
you a melTage , as foon as it may be con
venient for you to recei ve it. I teg there- ""
fore you will inform me at what hour I
can have the pleafure of feeing you.
Your moll obedient, and . " ' 1
Very humble ferv't. .
., , W. P. VAN NESS.
Nathaniel Pendleton, Efq.
" " juneis . -;. ---
v...:, -... No. 9.-
StR, , wi6,180
1 have communicated the leirer which
ybu did me the honor to write to me of
this date to Gen. Hamilton.- The ex
pectation now difclofed on the part of
Col. Burr appear to him to nave greatly
exiended the original grount of enquiry,
and inftead prefenting a particular kndde- -
finite cafe for explanation, feem to aim at .
nothing lets than an inquisition into his
if oft confidential cbnverlations, as well as
r!hers, through the whole period of his
acquaintancewhh Col. Burr.
While he was prepared to meet the par j
tlcular cafe flirty and fully, he thinks if
inadiT-ifTiblc that he fhould be expected to
anfwer at large as to every thing that hd
may pofTibly have faidj in relation to tho "
character of Col. Burr, at any time or
ijpon any occafion. , Though he is not con
fcious that jny Charges which are in cir
culation tD.the. prejudice cf Col. Burr
except one which may have been fo con
fidered,, and which has long fjnee been
fully explained between Col, Burr and
liimfclf yet he cannot confent f to be
queftioned, gencrslly as to any rumours
which may be afloat derogatory to the
character of Col. Burr without fpecifica-;
.tion ol the fevcral rumours many of ihepi
torobbliinknown tohim. He. does nqf,
however mean to authorife any concj'i-
uon as to the real nature of his conduct
jnfelaticjn to Col. Burr, by hj is dcclir.ing
folooTe ahd vague a bafisof explapation,
and he ilifavows.an unwil'ingnefs to.corae
to ,a fatiifaclory'; ptovided it.be. an nond-
rapie accommodation., II is obiection if
II the very indefinite eround. which Col.
rted t obtain from Genenl-Hamitton HrPu".hM-lmeJ m ,che U fo"r
declaration whether he had charged. Col. oeaoieju uucern noimng motr i pre-
Burr wih any particular inflancc of dil-
hbnorabU conduct, or had impeached his
private charatter, either in the convetla-
non alluded to D ur. hooper, . or in
any other particular inftance to be fpeci-
hed. , .
He would be able to anfwer confidently
with his hon'ori & the truth, in fubflance,
that theconverfaiion to hich Dr. Coop.
er alluded, turned wholly on political to
pics, and did not attribute to Lol. liurr a.
ny inflance of difaonourabe conduct, nor
relate tb his private chancier ; and in re
lation to any other language or convctfa
tion of Gen. Hamilton, which Col. Butr
will fjxcify, a prompt ar.d frai.k avoWaf
onUnial wilf be eiyen.
On the i6th of June, Mf. P. received
the following letter.
Mi-
1 he letter wnich you yefterdiy deliver
ed to me and your fubfeqnetit communi
cation in Col. Bun's opinion evince ro
difpofition on the part of General Hamil
ton to come to fatitfaOorv accommo
dation. Tl e irjurv complained of arid the
reparation expefica, ate fo definitely tx-
clctcrmincd boftility, Prefuming there
fore that it will be adhered to, .he has in
inftrucled me to receive Jhe melTaga
which you have it in charge to deliver.
For this purpofel fh all be at home, and
at your command to-morrow morningfromt
8 to 10 o'clock.
I have the honor to be refpeflful!
Your obedient fcrvanr
NATH: PENDLETON
ty.r.Vantfefi,Efq.
Koiti
The letter which 1 had the honor jo re
ceive from you, under date of yellf rday'
flates, amongothcr things, that in. Gene-'
ral Hamilton's opinion, Col. Burr has ta
ken a very indefinite gtour.d, in which ho
evincti nothing fWt of of prcdeterminej
hollility, and that Gen. Hamilton thinkf
ft inadmiQibie that ike enquiry fhould ex
tend to his confidential as well as other
convetfationi. in this Col. Burr can on
ly reply, that fccrctwhifperi traducing hiT
fame, and Impeaching hit honor, ire at
Icifl, equally irtjuiious with (landers pub
licly uttered ; that Gen. Hamilton had,
co tior.e. at d go place 1 right to uf in
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