the county court of New York. Mr. Burr immedi ately fled from that state, and amused himself in tra expressed of Mr. Burr." To endeavour to discover the meaning of this declaration, I was obliged to seek in the antecedent part of this letter for the opinion to which it referred, as having been already disclosed. I found it in these words: "General Hamilton and Judge Kent have declared in substance that they looked upon Mr. Burr to be a dangerous man, and one who ought not to be trusted with the reins of government." The language of Dr. Cooper plainly implies, that he considered this opinion of you, which he attributes to me, as a despicable one; but he affirms that I have expressed some other still more despicable, without, however, mentioning to whom, when or where. 'Tis evident that the phrase "still more despicable," admits of infinite shades, from very light to very dark. How am I to judge of the degree intended; or how shall I annex any precise idea to language so indefinite? Between gentlemen, despicable and more despicable are not worth. the pains of a distinction: when, therefore, you do not interrogate me as to the opinion which is specifically ascribed to me, I must conclude that you view it as within the limits to which the animadversions of political opponents upon each other may justifiably extend, and consequently as not warranting the idea of it which Dr. Cooper appears to entertain. If so, what precise inference could you draw as a guide for your conduct, were I to acknowledge that I had expressed an opinion of you still more despicable than the one which is particularised? How could you be sure that even this opinion had exceeded the bounds which you would yourself deem admissible between political oppo nents ? But I forbear further comment on the embarrassments to which the requisition you have made naturally leads. The occasion for bids a more ample illustration, though nothing could be more easy than to pursue it. Repeating that I cannot reconcile it with propriety to make the acknowledgment or denial you desire, I will add, that I deem velling in the south, till the session of Congress began in November; his term as vice-president not expir it inadmissible on principle, to consent to be interrogated as to the justness of the inferences which may be drawn by others from whatever I may have said of a political opponent in the course of a fifteen years competition. If there were no other objection to it, this is sufficient, that it would tend to expose my sincerity and delicacy to injurious imputations from every person who may at any time have conceived the import of my expressions, differently from what I may then have intended or may afterwards recollect. I stand ready to avow or disavow promptly and explicitly any precise or definite opinion which I may be charged with having declared of any gentleman. More than this cannot fitly be expected from me; and especially it cannot be reasonably expected that I shall enter into an explanation upon a basis so vague as that which you have adopted. I trust, on more reflection, you will see the matter in the same light with me. If not, I can only regret the circumstance, and must abide the consequences. The publication of Doctor Cooper was never seen by me till after the receipt of your letter. Colonel BURR. I have the honour to be, &c. On the morning of Thursday the 21st, I delivered to Colonel Burr the above letter, and in the evening was furnished with the following letter for General Hamilton, which I delivered to him at twelve o'clock on Friday the 224 instant. SIR, No. III. New York, June 21, 1804. Your letter of the 20th inst. has been this day received. Having considered it attentively, I regret to find in it nothing of that sin cerity and delicacy which you profess to value. Political opposition can never absolve gentlemen from the ne, cessity of a rigid adherence to the laws of honour, and the rules of decorum. I neither claim such privilege, nor indulge it in ethers. ing till the March following, he appeared, and took his seat as usual, at the head of the Senate. In the The common sense of mankind affixes to the epithet adopted by Dr. Cooper the idea of dishonour. It has been publicly applied to me under the sanction of your name. The question is not, whether he has understood the meaning of the word, or has used it according to syntax, and with grammatical accuracy; but whether you have authorized this application, either directly, or by uttering expressions or opinions derogatory to my honour. The time "when" is in your own knowledge, but no way material to me, as the calumny has now first been disclosed, so as to become the subject of my notice, and as the effect is present and palpable. Your letter has furnished me with new reasons for requiring a definite reply. General HAMILTON. I have to be, Sir, your obedient, A. BURK. General Hamilton perused it, and said it was such a letter as he had hoped not to have received; that it contained several offensive expressions, and seemed to close the door to all further reply; that he had hoped the answer he had returned to Colonel Burr's first letter would have given a different direction to the controversy; that he thought Mr. Burr would have perceived that there was a difficulty in his making a more specific reply, and would have desired him to state what had fallen from him that might have given rise to the inference of Dr. Cooper. He would have done this frankly; and he believed it would not have been found to exceed the limits justifiable among political opponents. If Mr. Burr should be disposed to give a different complexion to the discussion, he was willing to consider the last letter not delivered; but if that communication was not withdrawn, he could make no reply, and Mr. Burr must pursue such course as he should deem most proper. At the request of General Hamilton, I replied that I would detail those ideas to Colonel Burr; but added, that if in his first letter he had introduced the idea (if it was a correct one) that he could mean time, the grand jury for the city of New York found a bill against him and the two seconds; so that could recollect the use of no terms that would justify the construction made by Dr. Cooper, it would, in my opinion, have opened a door for accommodation. General Hamilton then repeated the same objections to this measure, which were stated in his first letter to Colonel Burr. When I was about leaving him, he observed, that if I preferred it, he would commit his refusal to writing: I replied, that if he had resolved not to answer Colonel Burr's letter, that I would report that to him verbally, without giving him the trouble of writing it. He again repeated his determination not to answer, and that Colonel Burr must pursue such course as he should deem most proper. On the afternoon of this day I reported to Colonel Burr, at his house out of town, the answer and determination of General Hamilton, and promised to call again on him in the evening, to learn his future wishes. I was detained, however, in town this evening, by some private business, and did not call on Colonel Burr until the following morning (Saturday the 2 3d instant). I then received from him a letter for General Hamilton, which is numbered IV.; but as it will presently be explained, never was delivered. The substance of it will be found in No. XII. When I returned with this letter to the city, which was about two o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, I sent a note to General Hamilton's office, and also to his house, desiring to know when it would be convenient for him to receive a communication. The servant, as he informed me, received for answer at both places, that General Hamilton had gone to his country seat. I then wrote the note, of which No. V. is a copy, and sent it out to him in the country. SIR, No. V. June 23, 1804. In the afternoon of yesterday, I reported to Mr. Burr the result of our last interview, and appointed the evening to receive his further instructions; some private engagements having prevented me the United States exhibited the curious and humiliating scene of the second magistrate in the common me from calling on him till this morning, on my return to the city, I found upon enquiry, both at your office and house, that you had ret rned t your residence in the country. Lest an interview there might be less agreeable to you than elsewhere, I have taken the liberty of addressing you this note, to inquire when and where it will be most convenient for you to receive a communication? General HAMILTON. Your obedient servant, W. P. VAN NESS. To this I received for answer No. VI. which follows: SIR, VI. Grange, June 23, 1804. I thank you for the If it is indispensable I was in town to-day till half past one. delicacy which dictated your note to me. the communication should be made before Monday morning, I must receive it here; but I should think this cannot be important. On Monday, by nine o'clock, I shall be in town at my house in Cedar-street, No. 52, where I shall be glad to see you. An additional reason for preferring this is, that I am unwilling to occasion you trouble. To W. P. VAN NESS. With esteem I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, A. HAMILTON. At nine o'c'o k on Monday the 25th inst. I called on General Hamilton, at his house in Cedar-street, to present the letter, No. IV. already alluded to, and with instructions for a verbal communication, of which the following notes, No. VII., handed me by Mr. Burr, were to be the basis; the substance of which, though in terms as much softened as my instructions would permit, was accordingly communicated to General Hamilton. No. VII. A. B. far from conceiving that rivalship authorizes a latitude not otherwise justifiable, always feels greater delicacy in such eses, and would think it meanness to speak of a rival but in terms |