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Hamilton-Burr Correspondence That Led to Their Fatal Duel
Hamilton-Burr Correspondence That Led to Their Fatal Duel
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Description:

Alexander Hamilton
New London, CT, July 25, 1804
Hamilton-Burr Correspondence That Led to Their Fatal Duel
Newspaper

[ALEXANDER HAMILTON.] The Connecticut Gazette and the Commercial Intelligencer, July 25, 1804. New London: Samuel Green. 4 pp., 12" x 20.25". General toning; expected folds; some separation on central fold; small loss in top margin; small holes in all pages, with minimal impact on text.

This issue reprints the correspondence between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr that led to their fatal duel on the first page. The issue also includes a copy of Hamilton's will and Gouverneur Morris's oration at Hamilton's funeral.

Excerpts
"The shocking catastrophe which but recently occurred, terminating the life of ALEXANDER HAMILTON, and which has spread a gloom over our city that will not speedily be dissipated, demands that the circumstances which led to it or were intimately connected with it, should not be concealed from the world. When they shall be truly and fairly disclosed, however some may question the soundness of his judgment on this occasion, all must be ready to do justice to the purity of his views and the nobleness of his nature. It will only here be added, that the authenticity of the documents and the accuracy of the information which we have at last obtained, are beyond any question; and must put an end to all mistake and misrepresentation.
"The following is the correspondence that passed between General Hamilton and Colonel Burr, together with an explanation of the conduct, motives, and views of General Hamilton, written with his own hand the evening before the meeting took place and only to have been seen in the deplorable event that followed." (p1/c1)

Hamilton's Statement on Duel:
"It is not my design, by what I have said, to affix any odium on the conduct of Col. Burr, in this case; he doubtless has heard of animadversions of mine which bore very hard upon him; and it is probable that as usual they were accompanied with some falsehoods. He may have supposed himself under the necessity of acting as he has done—I hope the grounds of his proceedings have been such as ought to satisfy his own conscience.
"I trust, at the same time, that the world will do me the justice to believe, that I have not censured him on light grounds, or from unworthy inducements. I certainly have had strong reasons for what I may have said, though it is possible that in some particulars, I may have been influenced by misconstruction or misinformation. It is also my ardent wish that I may have been more mistaken than I think I have been, and that he, by his future conduct, may shew himself worthy of all confidence and esteem, and prove an ornament and blessing to the country.
"As well because it is possible that I may have injured Col. Burr, however convinced myself that my opinions and declarations have been well founded, as from my general principles and temper in relation to similar affairs—I have resolved, if our interview is conducted in the usual manner, and it pleases God to give me the opportunity, to reserve and throw away my first fire, and I have thoughts even of reserving my second fire—and thus giving a double opportunity to Col. Burr to pause and to reflect." (p2/c1)

"To those, who, with me, abhorring the practice of dueling, may think that I ought on no account to have added to the number of bad examples, I answer, that my relative situation, as well in public as private, enforcing all the considerations which constitute what men of the world denominate honor, imposed on me (as I thought) a peculiar necessity not to decline the call. The ability to be in future useful, whether in resisting mischief or effecting good, in those crises of our public affairs, which seem likely to happen, would probably be inseparable from a conformity with public prejudice in this particular." (p2/c2)

"FUNERAL ORATION.
"On a stage erected in the portico of Trinity Church, Mr. Governeur Morris, having four of General Hamilton's sons, the eldest about sixteen & the youngest about six years of age, with him, rose and delivered to the immense concourse in front an extemporary oration...." (p2/c2)

Historical Background
Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr had been rivals in law and politics for twenty years. The cordiality of their relationship was broken when Hamilton endorsed Thomas Jefferson over Burr during the electoral college tie of 1800-1801. Hamilton encouraged fellow Federalists to vote for the lesser of two evils, explaining in a letter to Oliver Wolcott that Burr was "bankrupt beyond redemption except by the plunder of his country. His public principles have no other spring or aim than his own aggrandizement.... He is truly the Catiline of America."

The immediate provocation for the duel was Burr's attempt, while still a sitting vice president, to win election as governor of New York in 1804. Even though Burr had broken from his own party and was supported by many New York Federalists, Hamilton used his influence against Burr, which was a factor in the eventual victory of Republican Morgan Lewis.

Charles Cooper wrote a private letter relating incidents at a dinner in March 1804, at the Albany home of John Tayler, attended by Hamilton and James Kent. Cooper told his friend that Hamilton had described Burr as "a dangerous man and one who ought not to be trusted." Unfortunately, the friend leaked the contents of the letter, and before long, they appeared in print. Defenders of Hamilton, such as his father-in-law Philip Schuyler, said Cooper must be erroneous, for Hamilton's neutrality in the gubernatorial contest was well-known. But Cooper wrote another letter, telling his friend that his previous comments were quite correct, and he could tell him of a "still more despicable opinion which Hamilton has expressed of Mr. Burr." It was this mysterious allusion that both deeply offended Burr and gave Hamilton little room to apologize or retract with honor when they began to exchange letters through their soon-to-be seconds, Philip Van Ness (for Burr) and Nathaniel Pendleton.

In late June and early July 1804, both Burr and Hamilton followed the known rules of the Code Duello, by which gentlemen of the early modern period settled differences and tested their honor. Owing to his defeat in the gubernatorial election and his growing political irrelevance, Burr became desperate – his decision to enlarge his demands, arguing that Hamilton should disclaim having leveled any private criticism of Burr, quickened their two-step to the dueling grounds at Weehawken. Hamilton could not lie—he had criticized Burr many times—but he also could not meet Burr's demands without surrendering his ability to lead men in the future, in a political or military sense.

Hamilton, according to biographer Ronald Chernow, knew that Burr might shoot to kill, but was not suicidal. In fact, he set appointments for July 11, the day of the duel, with the expectation that he would conduct a normal day of business after the interview. Hamilton also resolved not to fire at Burr (at least on the first round), because he had become convinced by religious arguments that dueling was immoral – he had also lost his eldest son, Philip, in a duel at Weehawken two years earlier.

Burr afterward wrote of Hamilton's bellicose disposition at their morning interview as a justification for his own decision to shoot at Hamilton. Many Federalists countered by relating rumors that Burr had, for months, been engaging in target practice with his pistol. At their duel, Hamilton's shot hit a branch above, while Burr's hit Hamilton's torso, striking his liver and lodging in his spine. He suffered grievously and died the next day. Gouverneur Morris eulogized Hamilton at his funeral on Saturday, July 14, at Trinity Church, and moved for the establishment of a fund to support his widow and children. Observers agreed that the sight of Hamilton's four sons, all eighteen years or younger, crying on the stage next to Morris, was the most affecting scene of the funeral.

Additional Content
This issue also includes foreign news (p2/c4-5, p3/c1-3); details of Hamilton's funeral (p3/c1); and numerous notices and advertisements, including three offering rewards for the return of several indentured servants (p4/c2, 4, 5).

The Connecticut Gazette (1763-1844) was a weekly newspaper established in New London by Timothy Green (1735-1812) as the New-London Gazette, published by the authority of the colonial government. Green was a member of the prominent Green family of Connecticut, which included twenty-three printers and publishers over several generations. Timothy Green's son, Samuel Green (1768-1859), became a partner in 1789 and took over publishing the newspaper in 1793. In 1773, the newspaper became the Connecticut Gazette; and the Universal Intelligencer, then The Connecticut Gazette in 1787. In 1800, it became the Connecticut Gazette, and the Commercial Intelligencer, and continued under a series of titles and publishers, including Ebenezer P. Cady & Nathaniel Eells (1805-1808), Samuel Green again (1808-1838), John J. Hyde (1838-1840), Samuel H. Green (1840-1841), and Albert G. Seaman (1841-1844); it ceased publication in 1844.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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