try's praise. It is, however, with the characters of distinguished men as with their bodies: the phosphoric light never rises till they have decayed: the grave, only, elicits truth.

Forty years have elapsed, since Aaron Burr occupied a position on the political horizon, which made him an object. of astonishment to the whole world. Eight years have passed since he died in poverty and suspicion. It is a happy moment for an impartial pen to review his life. He is no longer in a state to be affected by praise or censure: no direct descendant lives to be mortified or gratulated in his history. The country in which he lived and died, with whose early struggles for freedom, with whose civil administration, with whose parties he was associated, may learn wisdom in the page which records his adventurous life.

New-Jersey saw the birth of Burr in 1756. His father, the Rev. Aaron Burr, was, at that time, President of the College of that State. His mother was Esther, daughter of Jonathan Edwards, the second President of Princeton College. Of the protection and care of parents, Burr was bereaved before the age of three years. Very early in life he gave manifest indications of superior intelligence, and bold, impetuous temper. From his youth, he was associated with the Sophomores of Princeton in 1769, though qualified to enter a higher class. While in College he established a character for industry, abstinence and temperance. He graduated at sixteen, and bore away the highest honors of the institution. Passing his time from this period, alternately in the pursuit of knowledge and the pleasures incident to his age, Burr reached the year 1775. The memorable occurrences of this period roused him from the listlessness of his occupations. The battle of Lexington gave a military impulse to his life. He immediately prepared to join the army, and prepare for the engagements of the soldier. While connected with the American forces at Cambridge, he learned of Arnold's contemplated expedition to Quebec. From a bed of sickness, he rushed to partake of this bold enterprize. Amidst the inclemencies of the season and dangers of the route, his fragile form remained unaffected, while hundreds of robust soldiers sank under the infliction of rains, hunger and cold. On the arrival of Arnold at Chaudiere Pond, he was impressed deeply with the courage, prudence and patriotism displayed by Burr on the

journey. He was therefore selected to convey a message of importance to General Montgomery.

In the disguise of a Catholic priest, he encountered various dangers and discharged his trust in a manner securing him the confidence of Montgomery. He became the aid of this general; and at the attack upon Quebec, displayed a cool courage, which distinguished him above all his station. Having obtained the command of a company of forty men, he disciplined them to a high state of military perfection, and awaited with impatience, the onset in which he was to be entrusted with a perilous service. The plan of operations however, being changed, he accompanied the Commander-in-Chief in leading the advance, and was near that brave Captain when he fell. In connexion with the death of General Montgomery, it is stated on the authority of the Rev. Samuel Spring, volunteer chaplain under Arnold, that when Montgomery had fallen, and the British troops were advancing towards the dead body, Burr was discovered amidst the snow, hastening from the fire of the enemy, staggering under the weight of Montgomery's body, which he was endeavoring to convey into the American lines. During the period of this disastrous campaign, Burr performed the duties of Brigade Major, and never evinced a higher sense of duty as an officer, than when he indignantly refused, at the command of Arnold, to convey a communication to the British camp, in terms dishonorable to the American cause. Returning, he expressed constantly in the strongest terms. his disgust at the conduct and manners of Arnold, and excited much indignation against that officer. But praise met Burr at every step. From all sides flowed in upon him the highest commendations for the zeal, bravery and prudence which his conduct had, on all occasions exhibited. He now at the instance of Washington joined the military family of that Commander. But the inactivity of his situation rendered him discontented and impatient. In a letter to John Hancock he indulged his spirit of dissatisfaction in terms which lost him the confidence of Washington, and obtained for him the station of aid to Putnam. At this time, Putnam's family was the asylum of Miss Moncriff, the daughter of a Major in the British service. The chance of war had thrown this girl, at the age of fourteen under the protection of Putnam. Her abilities, personal attractions, and engaging manners, were the occasion

of constant remark; and her admiration for Burr was not concealed. On these facts is based the report of her seduction. We think, if permitted to digress from our narrative, that the suspicion of this lady's dishonor by Burr rests on very slight proofs. The beauty and accomplishments of an indiscreet girl of fourteen, when connected with the reputation of her lover for gallantry, are not enough to authorize a conclusion, that chastity has been violated. But so far as we discover, these are alone the grounds of the accusation. To admit such a result as necessarily arising from the intercourse of the parties, merely because the lady was youthful and engaging, and Burr an unprincipled flatterer, would be to admit that the restraints society has imposed upon licentiousness, have no effect upon an ambitious man, anxious for the admiration of the world; and that Miss Moncriff herself was the perfection of weakness, credulity and passion. Again, the continued confidence of Putnam in Burr, after this period dissipates the feeble presumption of his guilt. Such an occurrence could not have been concealed, if true, and the generous soldier who could lay his hand on his sword and refuse, with an oath, to obey the commands of Washington, to retain this lady a prisoner, would not have extended his friendship to the man, violating thus, the rights of his hospitable mansion.

Burr continued to serve in the army as an aid to Putnam, until 1777, when he received the commission of lieut. colonel in the regiment of Col. Malcolm. In this position he continued until 1779, when forced, on account of his shattered constitution to resign. In 1782, Burr was admitted to the bar at Albany; and in 1784, married Theodosia Prevost, the widow of Col. Prevost, of the British army. His connection with this lady was of a most romantic and affectionate character. She was accomplished and intelligent; and Burr's affection as exhibited, both in his treatment of her, and of her children by the former marriage, was ardent and highly creditable to his heart. Soon after his marriage, Burr removed to the city of New-York, and in 1789, was appointed Attorney General. From 1785 to 1788, he participated little in political affairs, being engaged honorably and prosperously in his profession. In 1791, he was elected to the Senate of the United States; and in 1792, nominated and confirmed as Judge of the Supreme Court of the State of New-York. This latter office he declined; and his ser

vices as Senator terminated in 1797. While in the Senate, he was distinguished for industry and efficiency in the discharge of his duties. In 1794, the democratic party having insisted upon the recall of Governeur Morris from France, on account of his being supposed to discountenance the revolution in that country, a committee, on which were Madison and Monroe, pressed upon Washington the nomination of Burr. This the President more than once declined. In 1800, Burr was selected as a candidate for the Vice Presidency, and in that year received from the republican party, a tie vote with Jefferson. The election going into the House of Representatives, parties divided their votes between the republican candidates: and after thirty-six ballotings, Jefferson was declared the President. This event. severed all the political and family ties previously uniting Burr and Jefferson. To the year 1804 Burr was engaged in stormy political conflicts, from which resulted his duel with Hamilton, in July of that year. In 1805, Burr exhibited himself in his last public attitude while head of the Senate of the United States, on the trial of Judge Chase. On this occasion, he presided with a dignity and impartiality, honorable to himself, and highly creditable to the distinguished occasion. From this period, he travelled over the Western country employed in schemes and negotiations which produced his arrest, trial and acquittal on the charge of treason, in 1807. In 1808, he sailed for England, where he suffered the extremes of poverty and insult.

But, amidst this poverty and insult, his cheerfulness and patience seem never to have deserted him. The conduct of the government agents was disgraceful to the stations they occupied. His want of the necessaries of life was sufficient to have driven many proud souls to the extremes of rash despair but Burr remained unmoved. He writes his journal in the same playful style, while recording his daily rambles to barter the trifles gathered for Theodosia and her child, for a few pounds of coffee and sugar, as when detailing the most brilliant conversationes with the elite of Paris: when describing the classic erudition of Bentley, as when building his miserable fire on his cold and desolate hearth. If Burr was a bad man, he was surely the most resigned, patient bad man, in affliction, whose history we have ever read. There are few, if any, who can imitate such conduct, and feel as they look and act. The heart of the bad man is seen in his

face, heard in all his sentiments, and especially in affliction. Like the ocean, the surface cannot be calm and unruffled, when the deep workings of its currents toss and heave to and fro. In June, 1812, he returned to New-York, and practised law until the 14th September, 1836, when, in his eighty-first year, he was freed from the trials of life."

In the meantime, in addition to his political troubles, he had suffered many domestic afflictions. His wife, whom he unquestionably loved tenderly, died in 1794; and, in 1813, the beautiful and graceful Theodosia, his daughter, who had married Joseph Alston of South-Carolina, perished under circumstances to render death more terrible.

It is but a just digression to stop, and pay a tribute to the intelligence, virtue and amiable character of this interesting lady. She received from nature, a form and features of the utmost beauty and grace. Her mind was of a superior order, and improved and embellished by every species of knowledge and accomplishment. Her parent made her education much of the business of life. Believing that female instruction partook too little of the masculine character, he sought to educate Theodosia as if destined to some manly employment. Latin, French, Algebra, Mathematics, Philosophy and Politics, were her studies; and the ordinary education of females of her day, music, dancing and drawing, but subjects of her leisure employment. Her case is a striking example of the utility of the course of education she received. So far from exhibiting the objection of a literary lady, neglecting the great duties of her station, as the mother of her household, and impaired in the more soft and delicate qualities of the sex, she presents herself, in her history, with a mind highly and beneficially cultivated by what are termed the harsher studies; her sympathies softened, and rendered still more sensitive, by their influence. Her case was, truly, the case of a most virtuous and intelligent female mind, quickened to the intensest virtue and knowledge. No child ever leaned more upon a father: none was ever more affectionate and kind. Her piety clung around her father, with an embrace not to be shaken except by the whirlwind which shook the parent trunk. A continued disease preyed upon her system when he was miserable,—a constant sunshine lit up her life when he was happy. The insults which he received in Europe, from those whose stations should have, irrespective of personal feeling, insured their magnanimity, affected her