Mr. Burr was solicitous for the appointment of one Matthew L. Davis-a very humble creature of his-to fill the naval office in the custom-house of New-York. Two of the principal offices in the city were now filled by men devoted to his views; and though Davis had more than the common levity and indiscretion of youth, miserable in talents, without solidity of thought, and the mere buffoon of the city, Mr. Burr left no expedient untried to obtain the office for him. Mr. Burr's efforts to effect the removal of some of the officers. in the city of New-York, and the appointment of his crea

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moval!" Well might LucIus JUNIUS BRUTUS say that the character of Mr. BURR was intricate!

About the time when LUCIUS JUNIUS BRUTUS was written, to wit, in June or July 1801, Mr. Lang had a paragraph in his Gazette, ftating that Mr. Burr, a few days before, dined at a private house with many federal characters in this city, and had declared to the company, that unless the refpectable part of the federalifts would fupport the prefent adminiftration it could not stand! It went fo far as to infinuate in pretty plain terms, that Mr. Burr feemed to be of opinion that there was not fufficient talent and respectability in the Republican party, to support a truly dignified adminiftration. We have not the paragraph by us; its contents, however, are well remembered, and we believe correctly ftated. But if not, Mr. BURR, or Mr. Lane, or fome other of his friends, will doubtless set us right.

In all this there appears a coincidence. Nevertheless, it may be faid that Mr. LANG made a fulfe ftatement. And this, from the known propenfity of the Editor to mifreprefentation, may appear plausible. But we affert that there is the greatest reason to believe that the fubftance of the paragraph was ftrictly correct. It is knows that Mr. Burr was unwilling to have the fact examined!

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tures to succeed them, had hitherto been crowned with so much success, that he deemed it only necessary to demand from the executive removals and appointments to effect both. Davis's appointment, which was expected in June, 1801, did not arrive. Mr. Burr began to supect that the executive was disgusted with his importunities. This, however, did not cause him to relax in exertion in favour of his little friend. Finding that epistolary correspondence was inefficacious, het dispatched to Washington his trusty and well-beloved agent, Mr. William P. Van Ness, to watch the movements of the executive, spy out the nakedness of the land, and report on the probability of eventual success. The dispatches of this able minister, however, were unfavourable. It was thought that Chancellor Livingston, who was then at Washington,did not think quite so well of Davis as Mr. Burr. It was also supposed, that the executive had not the utmost confidence in Mr. Burr's recommendations, and it was suggested that a few lines from Gov. Clinton in favour of Davis, would tend to insure the success of his application. But the Governor, to whom application was made, begged to be excused from recommending Davis !

The Minister, having completed his mission, returned to New-York, and cast a gloom over Mr. Burr and his little expectant. It was believed that Davis would not obtain the appointment. It was supposed that the office was intended for, General Bailey, of Dutchess. Deep mortification ensued, and, we rather think, a little revenge was contemplated.

Soon after Mr. James Linn, of New-Jersey, was appointed

to the office of Supervisor of the District of New-Jersey." This gave great offence to Mr. Burr, to Davis, and the rest of the male-contents. They imagined they saw in it the completion of a system which alone kept Mr. Burr from the Presidency. It was openly insinuated by Davis that the election of Mr. Jefferson was the result of a compromise, which he stated to be of the following nature.

Mr. Linn had alternately voted with the Federalists and Republicans. General Bailey voted against the Republican party in the House of Representatives on the question for making appropriation to carry into effect the British treaty. This, he believed, was the only time he had abandoned the Republicans. It was, however, enough to show that he was not always to be relied on. Mr, Edward Livingston, too, was suspected; but on what account was not stated. Apprehensive, said Davis, that the firmness of these men would yield to the stubbornness of the federalists, a proposition was made to them by a confidential friend of Mr. Jefferson, to this effect: ❝ if you, Mr. Linn, will continue to vote for Mr. Jefferson, you shall be appointed Supervisor of the District of New-Jersey; if you, Mr. Livingston, will do the same, you shall be District Attorney of New York; and if you, General Bailey, will also continue to vote for Mr. Jefferson you shall be Naval officer of the *Custom-House of New-York." Accordingly, said the little disappointed applicant, Mr. Livingston has been appointed, and so has Mr. Linn; and the Naval office, it appears, is reserved

*We believe we are correct as to time; we are certain we are as to facts. But we have no documents to refer to respecting dates.

for General Bailey. But, why, Mr. Davis, is not Mr. Bailey appointed? Because I AM strongly recommended by Mr. BURR for that office, and Mr. Jefferson is afraid of offending him! These remarks came originally from Mr. BURR: Davis was only the open and licenced retailer of them.*

This was the first overt opposition of Mr. Burr and his little band to the measures of the administration. †

*Those who will take the trouble to read Mr. Bayard's speech on the abolition of the Judiciary Law, will find similar remarks in it: Indeed almost word for word the same. Whether Mr. Burr communicated these unfounded notions to Mr. Bayard or not, we cannot say.

+ Before Mr. Van Ness went to Washington, Davis had great hopes of obtaining the Naval-Office indeed he fancied he was counting the six or seven thousand dollars, the annual paoceeds of it. In imagination, he had made all his arrangements, taken his seat in the Custom-House, dismissed the Clerks, strutted like an officer, spoken like an officer, and placed his pen in his "fine powdered hair,” in imitation of a great man. Procrastination, however, chased away the spectres of his juvenile mind, and he had the mortification to find that all his " castles were built in the air."

He was determined, however, not to be appalled by trifles. Following the example of his prototype, he resolved to persevere to the end. Sensible that many things are gained by impudence, which a modest man would never think of, his hopes of success were commensurate with his brazenness. He concluded to make personal application for the office, and to have a denial, if one must be had, from the lips of Mr. Jefferson.

Accordingly, he danced attendance on every person from whom he thought a letter to Mr. Jefferson would be of service to him

Language is inadequate to the expression of the feelings which will be experienced by every enlightened man, who shall read this simple narration of an atrocious calumny, invented to glut the rage of an inordinately ambitious and disappointed faction. It will hardly be imagined that the three gentlemen of whom the story is told, were so unpatriotic as to stand in need of a bribe to stimulate them to the performance of their duty, or so criminally mean as to accept one. The story is too uncredible to gain belief. And the uniform tenor of the life of that exalted man who administers the

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self. Among others he applied to Mr. De Witt Clinton, who for good reasons, refused to write in his favour; and ever since his womanish tongue has never ceased to clack against him.

Thus "accoutred," he began his journey to Washington. On his arrival there he found that Mr. Jefferson had retired to his seat at Monticello. The ardency of the youth, however, was not abated by the length and ruggidness of the roads. Nor did the coolness of the Secretary of the Treasury retard his steps. He was bent on seeing the President. Accordingly,he hired a carriage and a footman, and, in the style of a Nabob, rode to Monticello in quest of an office! At Monticello he was received, as every stranger is, with the characteristic hospitality of the state, and the ease and frankness of the venerable sage who inhabits the charming mansion. After three days solicitation, Davis bid adieu to the executive, despairing of the attainment of his wishes. -In this unmanly expedition he expended about two hundred dollars, returned home giving up all hopes of removing the Clerks, and no doubt convinced that Mr. Burr would make a much better President than Mr. Jefferson! Such was the Quixotic expedition of our little expectant! Davis has ever since been an open opponent of the administration.