Chap. V.J

DUELLING.

429

in that way. * Still, I am unwilling to leave an evil so dangerousand so pernicious, without giving it some further consideration, fUnder these circumstances, I can think of no way which prom-ises to be more useful, than to take one of the most celebratedcases of duelling on record, and carefully analyze it, and consider, its moral character and complexion. To this end, I am unhap-pily furnished with an instance as well suited to my purpose ascould be desired.

In the year 1804, the celebrated Alexander Hamilton and Col-onel Aaron Burr met in personal combat, occasioned by a differ-ence arising out of the political relations which subsisted betweenthem. General Hamilton had been Secretary of the Treasuryduring President Washington’s administration, and Colonel Burrhad been Vice-President of the United States. General Ham-ilton was mortally wounded in the combat, and died the next day.Previous to the meeting, he drew up a paper to be left behindhim in the event of his falling, which makes us fully acquaintedwith his views on duelling. It is subjoined in the note. J The

* Boswell’s Life of Johnson, Vol. I. p. 294. t See above, pp. 109, 303, 304.

j: “ I was certainly desirous of avoiding this interview, for the most cogentreasons. 1. My religious and moral principles are strongly opposed to thepractice of duelling; and it would ever give me pain to be obliged to shed theblood of a fellow-creature in a private combat forbidden by the laws. 2. Mywife and children are extremely dear to me, and my life is of the utmost impor-tance to them in various views. 3. I feel a sense of obligation towards mycreditors, who, in case of accident to me, may, by the forced sale of my prop-erty, be in some degree sufferers. I did not think myself at liberty, as a man ofprobity, lightly to expose them to this hazard. 4. I am conscious of no ill-willto Colonel Burr, distinct from political opposition, which, as I trust, has pro-ceeded from pure and upright motives. Lastly, I shall hazard much, and canpossibly- gain nothing by the issue of the interview.

“ But it was, as I conceive, impossible for me to avoid it. There were in-trinsic difficulties in the thing, and artificial embarrassments from the mannerof proceeding on the part of Colonel Burr. Intrinsic, because it is not to bedenied, that my animadversions on the political principles, character, and viewsof Colonel Burr have been extremely severe ; and on different occasions, I, incommon with many others, have made very unfavorable criticisms on particularinstances of the private conduct of this gentleman.

“ In proportion as these impressions were entertained with sincerity, anduttered with motives and for purposes, which might to me appear commendable,would be the difficulty (until they could be removed by evidence of their beingerroneous) of explanation or apology. The disavowal required of me by Colo-