himself with a circle of enthusiastic admirers.
Indeed, such was his skill in politics, that in 1800
he upset the Federalists, after a pitched battle of
three days, (the old duration of an election,) which
was one of the most exciting scenes I ever witnessed.
Horatio Gates, of Saratoga fame, was one of his nominees
for the State Legislature, (Gates was then enjoying
those undeserved laurels which posterity has since
taken away,) and it was surprising to see the veterans
of the Revolution abandoning their party to vote for
their old comrade and leader. The result was,
that the Federalists were most thoroughly worsted,
and the party never recovered from the blow. Such
were the exciting events which identified the young
politicians of the metropolis, and which inspired
their speeches and their press. Burr’s
headquarters were at Martling’s Tavern, 87 Nassau
street. On being torn down, the business was
removed to Tammany Hall, which has inherited a political
character from its predecessor. Besides this,
he used to meet his friends in more select numbers
at a Coffee-house in Maiden Lane. His office
was Number 30 Partition street, (now Fulton,) and his
residence was at Richmond Hill. This place has
lately been pulled down; it stood far away from the
city, in a wild, secluded neighborhood, and in bad
going was quite an out of the way spot, though now
it would be in the densest part of the city.
As there were no public vehicles plying in this direction,
except the Chelsea (Twenty-eighth street) stage, which
was very unreliable, one either had to hire a coach
or else be subjected to a walk of two miles.
But such as had the
entree of this establishment
would be well rewarded, even for these difficulties,
by an interview with Theodosia Burr, the most charming
creature of her day. She was married early, and
we saw but little of her. From the interest which
the Irvings felt in Burr’s fortunes, it might
have been expected that they should sympathize with
him in his subsequent reverses.
The biographer presents Washington Irving as an attendant
at the famous trial at Richmond, where his indignation
at some of Burr’s privations are expressed in
a most interesting letter. This sympathy is the
more touching from the fact that Washington was a
Federalist, and in this respect differed from his
brothers. We have an idea that his youthful politics
were in no small degree influenced by those of that
illustrious personage for whom he was named. Another
of the sons was John T., who became a successful and
wealthy jurist, and for many years presided at New-York
Common Pleas, while Ebenezer was established in trade
at an early day. Such was the development of that
family, which in rosy childhood followed William Irving
to the old Brick Church, and whose early progress
he was permitted to witness. The biographer passes
lightly over the scenes of boyhood, and there was hardly
any need for his expatiating on that idolatry which
surrounded the youngest. He was no doubt the