view, the gratification of an all grasping never to be fatisfied ambition; and this he purfued with exhaustless ardour and indefatigable activity. But as it is with him now, so it was then, the very means he employed for the attainment of his wishes, were of all others the best calcu lated to defeat himself.

The Republican Interest again determined to support the re-election of Governor Clinton: the Federalifts were fomewhat at a lofs for a Candidate ; their former one, Judge Yates, having declined to be held up against the Governor.* In this fituation of affairs, Mr. Burr deemed it expedient to cause himself to be announced as a candidate in oppofition to the one whom the Republicans had agreed to fupport. This was done in the full expectation that the Federalifts would readily and cordially unite to raife him to the Chief Magiftracy of the State-Accordingly correfponding exertions were made by a few of Mr. Burr's friends. A meeting was held in the city confisting of feventeen perfons only, who agreed to support him in oppofition to the Governor. This meeting was compofed partly of his personal friends, who then refided in the city, and others from the country; the principal part of whom were Federalifts. It was foon, however, perceived, that nothing could be done by a number fo fmall, without the aid of one of the great contending parties; and it was found, in despite of the many machinations which were employed, that the adherence of the Republicans to the

*See Greenleaf's Journal, and Patriotic Regifter, February 29th, 1792.

It feems the Vice-Prefident had a "little band," as the "American Citizen" terms a few of his thorough-going friends, even at that early period.

Governor, could not be fhaken. Application was there fore made to the federal party, by a few of Mr. Burr's friends; and it is prefumed with his concurrence, to take him up as their candidate. Here General Schuyler, to whom the application was made, found himself in a deli cate fituation. It was the policy of himself and his party to avail themselves of any and every mean to obtain afcendency over the Republicans; but he could not forget that he was superceded in the Senate by Mr. Burr ! During the negotiation a federal meeting was called, and a committee appointed to wait on Mr. Jay, to request him to consent to be confidered their candidate for the office of Governor.* Mr. Jay gratefully accepted the offer, to the infinite disappointment and mortification of Mr. Burr!

At this time Mr. Burr was at Philadelphia, where the Senate of the United States were in feffion. Immediately

*The Refolution of the federal meeting is as follows:

"Whereas fome doubts have been expreffed, whether Mr. Jay would ferve in the office of Governor of this ftate, therefore Refolved, that a committee be appointed to wait on Mr. Jay, and communicate our wishes for his election, as a measure, in our opinion, highly conducive to the honour and happiness of the flate, and requeft him to declare his confent to ferve, if he has the fuffrages of his fellow citizens." The committee having accordingly waited on Mr. Jay, with a copy of the preceding refolution, reported, that Mr. Jay had authorized them to inform the meeting, that he had confented to be proposed as a candidate for the office of Governor, at the enfuing election, and that it would give him great fatisfaction to ferve his fellow itizens in that office, if honoured with their fuffrages."

(Signed) JOHN ALSOP, Chairman, Greenleaf's Patriotic Regifter, March 3, 1792.

C

after it was known that the propofition had been made to Mr. Jay, and that he had affented to it, two of Mr. Burr's friends were dispatched to meet him at Princeton, in New-Jersey. Here a consultation was held, and it appearing that there was no prospect of success from either party, it was fagely concluded that Mr. Burr's friends fhould declare his difinclination to be a candidate! This ridiculous farce was accordingly announced in the papers! Governor Clinton was re-elected.

*

Henceforward one would imagine Mr. Burr would throw off this duplicity, affume a definite character, and act the part of a wife and upright Statesman. The chagrin, which, labouring under this accumulated load of difgrace a man of ordinary fenfibility must have felt, would have induced expiation by future exemplary conduct. But Mr. Burr's purfuits were not to be impeded by pebbles!

Still were his views directed to the Chief Magiftracy of the State Government. He entertained no hopes of a foreign Embaffy from the Federal executive. WASHINGTON knew his character, and it was now generally believed would never confer an office upon him.

Greenleaf notices this annunciation of Mr. Burr's extreme delicacy in the following paragraph.

"We hear from Albany, that every exertion is making to promote the intereft of Mr. Jay; and from fundry other places that the fame zeal is manifefting itself for Mr. Clinton. Mr. Burr's friends having declared his unwillingness to be a candidate; these two powerful competitors, left fole poffeffors of the ground, have a fair opportunity to try their acknowledged merits for the exalted office of Governor of this ftate."

Journal, and Patriotic Register, March 7th, 17924

In 1794 and the early part of 1795, the health of Governor Clinton was much impaired. Labouring under bodily infirmity, he intended to decline the acceptance of a re-election which was tendered him by the Republican party. The Governor, however, obferved a judicious filence on the subject of his refignation, and communicated his intention to decline a re-election to a few confidential friends only. It was foreseen that a two early disclosure of his intentions, would, in all probability, be attended with injurious confequences; that various candidates would arife, and clashing pretenfions be urged, which might fo diftract the party as to prevent unanimity upon any one candidate. The State Legislature were to meet at Poughkeepfie, on the 6th of January, 1795, but the Governor's ill health preventing his attendance at that place, the feat of deliberation was transferred to New-York, where they met on the 20th. It was deemed expedient for the Governor to announce his intention to decline to be a candidate at the approaching election, at this time and place only, where a general meeting of the Republican party was expected, and where the jarring pretenfions of the rival candidates might be imperatively fettled by as large a number of Republicans as could be conveniently got together. Accordingly on the 22d, Governor Clinton, and on the 24th of January, Pierre Van Courtlandt, the venerable Lieutenant Governor, announced in the papers their *declining a re-election.

Mr. Burr was fenfible that the federal party were now committed to Mr. Jay, and that he had nothing to expect from them at the then coming election. The finall chance

Greenleaf's Regifter, January 28th, 1795.

he had was with the Republican party, and to them all his attention was directed. To fucceed it was neceffary that Governor Clinton fhould not be the Republican candidate. He, therefore, long before it was generally known that the Governor intended to decline a re-election, and even previous to the meeting of the Legiflature at Poughkeepfie, fixed his mind on this effential point. A project was 1 reforted to, to compel the Governor, by ftratagem, to decline. Various attempts under plaufible pretexts were accordingly made; and it is believed, indirectly on the part of Mr. Burr. A letter was written, by three Republicans of this city to an influential member of the Legiflature, then (on the 6th of January) in feffion at Poughkeepfie, cautioufly worded, but evidently intended to unite the Republican party in reprefenting to Governor Clinton the expediency of his declining, and the propriety of taking up Mr. Burr in his ftead. The refpectable member to whom the fetter was addrefsed very properly refented and expofed the fineffe. It was his opinion that the finger of Mr. Burr was vifible in the tranfaction; and it was apprehended, from this fample of intrigue, that Mr. Burr would continue his attempts un-. duly to influence the opinions of individuals in his favour,. and by fo doing palm himself upon the party against their better judgment. Measures were taken to counteract this defign. A meeting of the Republicans was had, who unanimoufly refolved to fupport Governor Clinton if he wifhed to ferve. An ultimate decifion was however deferred until it could be known at New-York, (to which place the Legiflature intended to adjourn,) whether the

* The writer knows their names, and the contents of the letter. Delicacy prevents his mentioning the former. One of them is a member of the prefent little band.