BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF HARMAN BLENNERHASSETT.* "Even the storm-swept bird from land, A universal interest seems to pervade the public mind in regard to HARMAN BLENNERHASSETT. Hundreds of the most refined and intelligent, on both sides of the Atlantic, have canvassed his career, attempted to throw back the veil of mystery which enveloped his political transactions with Aaron Burr, and mourned over his fate. In the minds of many, he bears the brand of the traitor; some regard him as the mere elegant tool of an arch-intriguer: while others, deriding the idea of a treasonable plot against the United States, view Blennerhassett as a splendid visionary, or the participator in a scheme, military and political, whose aim was to throw MEXICO under a new regime, which should bless its inhabitants with more enlightened institutions, and infuse into their veins the vigorous blood of the Anglo-Saxon. Harman Blennerhassett drew his origin from Ireland, where his ancestors ranked among the most distinguished of the gentry so far back as the reign of the English King John. The family consists of branches located in the counties of Cork and Kerry. Many of the ancient heads were the chiefs of Balaceady Castle, and held numerous important offices. The subject of this sketch belonged to the Balaceady branch, and was born in England, where his parents happened to be on a visit. Every attention was bestowed on his education: the early portion of which he received at Westminster school, so renowned for its classical excellence. He also passed through the full course of the Dublin Trinity College, as class "THE EMIGRANT'S SONG." mate of Thomas Addis Emmet, the Patriot and Orator. The attachment which grew up between the collegiates, endured undiminished through their long lives on the wider and more stormy arena to which they were called. They read LAW together, and were cotemporaries at the Irish Bar with the illustrious Curran. By a document now in our possession,† issued from the King's Inns, Dublin, in the year 1795, we find that Blennerhassett was "called to the degree of Barrister therein," in the year 1790. Mr. Blennerhassett being gay, fond of Belles Lettres, in easy circumstances, and heir-expectant to a large estate, made but few reaches towards the legal laurel. After visiting the Continent, he returned to Ireland, when he fell into the possession of a splendid property. About this period, he married an English lady, Miss Margaret Agnew, who, as events have shown, was doomed to figure so frequently in American journals, and to become immortal in the flowery periods of William Wirt. Miss Agnew was the daughter of Captain Agnew, a brave and celebrated British officer, and the granddaughter of General Agnew, who was with Wolf on the Plains of Abraham, and acted as an English commander during the American Revolution. We may state, also, that Lord Kingsale and Admiral De Courcey, of the Royal British Navy, married the sisters of the subject of this paper. At the period of Mr. Blennerhassett's marriage, political feeling raged so hotly in Ireland as to endanger the safety of its Who was indicted with the Ex-Vice President AARON BURR for high treason against the United States. Founded on, and embracing original manuscript documents hitherto unpublished, placed in the author's hands by a relative of the subject of the “Sketch." † See Appendix. + Ibid. VOL. II.-NO II. 10 population. Mr. B. held certain republican opinions which tended to estrange the friendship of Lord Kingsale; and not knowing to what extent family ties might be permanently impaired by the political atmosphere and sharing, with many lovers of liberty, a profound interest in her new home, he determined to visit America. This he accomplished, after selling his estates and purchasing, in London, a large quantity of valuable books and a magnificent philosophical apparatus. He landed in New York, and was immediately received into those elegant circles, of which Mr. James Seaton, and the mother of Ogden Hoffman, Col. De Peyster, Gen'l. John Swartout, the Ogdens and the Livingstons, were conspicuous ornaments. But the star of Blennerhassett's fortune moved still onward. The gorgeous descriptions of Western travelers fascinated him, and he panted to view the lovely scenery, and to inhale the untainted breezes of the beautiful Ohio. Having received such friendly aid and advice as Joseph S. Lewis, a celebrated merchant of Philadelphia, could afford him, he commenced a Western pilgrimage which ended on the picturesque island that to this day bears his name. This spot of earth, "the rich gift of the generous river," he immediately purchased, subdued its ruggedness, and erected a tasteful and commodious residence. The island-edifice became the Temple of Hospitality. How wonderful to find a gem, like this wave-girt home, in the domain of a wilderness, where the song of the savage yet vibrated on the pulses of the air! where the robes of Nature still trailed in primal fullness over the silent waters! With Blennerhassett the emigrant from the salons of Paris found the elegances of the gayest metropolis; the adept in chemistry met a congenial spirit, who, like himself, sat musing in Nature's laboratory; the naturalist could attempt those secrets of earth which had lain buried since the last great geological change in her elements; the metaphysician was met by the works of Kant and Zimmerman, which embellished a library selected by one acute as he was elegant; and the astronomer, standing on a green world, yet almost unmarked by the foot of human progression, gazed through the telescope at the spheres whose splendor seemed as new and as radiant as the scenery around. Here speculated the rest [August, less Volney. Here, in his youth, the distinguished Cass acquired that rudimental knowledge which formed the basis of those solid acquisitions that have enabled him to ornament his country at home, and to represent her so honorably abroad. Here, many an embryo statesman of the West caught the first grand glimpses of that civilization whose power was destined to place STATES on the pinnacles of empire. While on the island, Blennerhassett became acquainted with Aaron Burr, Ex-Vice President of the United States, who visited the emigrant as he descended the Ohio. Col. Burr received that hospitality from Blennerhassett and his family which had never been denied to any traveler. The guest remained but a few hours, when he re-embarked and continued his voyage down the river. We shall presently see whether it is probable that Burr intimated, during his sojourn on the island, any design or designs, which he might have entertained, to Blennerhassett. Thomas Addis Emmet arrived in New About this epoch in the life of Mr. B., York, having been compelled by political causes to leave his native land. Blennerhasset, immediately on the reception of the news of the great patriot's advent, hastened to visit him. We leave the meeting of the exiles to be imagined. After renewing many valuable acquaintances came his home, Blennerhassett returned which he had formed when America beto the Island. this month the subject of this sketch reWe now reach December, 1805. In ceived a letter from Burr, in which he regretted Mr. Blennerhassett's absence from the Island, during the last October, as he had called and was disappointed at not seeing him. Thus we find Burr gradually forming an acquaintance with the elegant and wealthy emigrant-an acquaintance which was destined to produce such strange surmises in the public mind, and to bear an influence so important on Blennerhassett's future career. well as of this, indulged in the visions of Mr. B., like hundreds of that period, as land speculations. A world lay at his feet, whose soil, still a stranger to the plough, was radiant with the wealth of ages. Jewels, richer than Peruvian treasure, sparkled in the recesses of the west and south west; the wealth seemed to court the grasp of the enterprizing. Besides, the terrible barriers presented by the Alleghanies on one side, and the long, tedious and dreary navigation of the Mississippi, on the other, naturally inclined a person of Mr. Blennerhassett's habits to look for a location more commodious, and easier of access to the marts of civilization, than the Island. Pleasing as were the picturesque localities and scenery, he thought the interests of a growing family demanded a temporary change of residence. The necessity for a removal induced him to address a note to the ExVice President, which drew forth the following answer: Thus it appears by his own letter, that in seeking Blennerhassett in the October of 1805, Burr intended to disclose some plan relative to lands, and to seek the aid of his former host. We have now followed Mr. Blennerhassett to that period (1806) so fraught with the materials and appliances of political excitement. Thus it was that Burr and the subject of this memoir, became engaged in the prosecution of some enterprize, which many, even to this day, regard as treasonable. Thus we enter into a detail of Col. Burr's political, military and land speculations in the West and South West. The learned and venerable author of Burr's Memoirs, has given a very clear account of the "intriguer's" manipulation of men, things and States. We condense. A separation of the South American provinces from the Government of Spain had long been anticipated. As early as the year 1796, while John Jay was Governor, Col. Burr had various conversations with him on the subject of the provinces. Burr said he could revolutionize and take possession of them. Jay thought the boldness of the project would contribute to its success-the affair was practicable. From 1796 until 1805, Burr seems to have revolved the scheme in his mind. In connection with this subject, it may not be improper to refer to an occurrence as ear "WASHINGTON CITY, 15th April, 1806. "DEAR SIR--Your very interesting letter of the 21st December, arrived here just after I had passed through this city on my way to South Carolina, and was not received until about two months after its date: the subject of it" (securing land in the South West,)" has been daily in my mind. Independently of considerations personal to myself, I learn with the utmost pleasure that you are to be restored to the social and the active world. Your talents and acquirements seemed to have destined you for something more than vegetable life, and since the first hour of our acquaintance, I have considered your seclusion as a fraud on society. The confidence you have seen fit to place in me is extremely flattering, and it would seem that there has been, without explanation, a sort of consent be tween our minds. In a matter of so much moment, and on which I am so imperfectly informed, it would be hazarding too much to offer advice; yet it is due to the frank ness of your letter, to acknowledge that had projected, and still meditate, [partly obliterated,] a speculation precisely of the character you have described. It would have been submitted to your consideration in October last, if I had then had the good fortune to find you at home. The business, however, in some degree depends on contingencies, not within my control, and will not be commenced before December, if matter in its present state, cannot be satis-ly as the year 1797-98, in which General factorily explained by letter, the communition will be deferred till a personal interview can be had. With this view, I pray to be informed of your intended movements the ensuing season, and in case you should visit Orleans, at what time and at what port you may be expected, on the Atlantic coast. But I must insist that these intimations be not permitted to interrupt the prosecution of any plans which you have formed for your self. No occupation which will not take you off the continent, can interfere with that which I may propose." [The letter then gives an account of the society of Orleans, and concludes :] ever. From this circumstance, and as the Miranda was engaged. This officer communicated to Generals Alexander Hamilton and Knox, a project of revolutionizing the South American provinces. Meeting with their approbation, he proceeded to England, and presented himself be fore the British ministry with success. It seems he made the proposal that the United States should furnish ten thousand troops, and in that event the British Government agreed to supply the necessary funds and ships, to carry on an expedítion. The "plot" was succeeding admirably, when the coldness of Mr. Adams, Senior, the President of the United States, lar force, consisting of about six hundred put a stop to all proceedings. It has been seen that Mr. Burr was actively engaged, during the years 1805 and 1806, in traversing the Western country. In his latter days, Burr had no longer any motive for concealment, nor did he evince the least desire to suppress the facts in relation to any of his acts, even where a promulgation was calculated to affect his moral character. According to his representations, (we quote Mr. Davis's words without abridgment,) repeated at a time and under circumstances the most solemn and impressive, his views were two-fold; viz: first, the revolutionizing of Mexico; and second, a settlement, on what was known as the Bastrop lands. Burr, from early manhood, had a turn for speculation, and frequently entered into large contracts for the purchase and sale of lands. At this period, 1806, the difficulties with Spain, in relation to the Mississippi and the right of deposit at New Orleans, created an opinion that a Spanish war was inevitable. Such a war would have been popular with the Western people. Of these opinions and these feelings Burr took advantage, and undoubtedly, by inuendos or otherwise, induced some to believe that his arrangements for the invasion of Mexico, were with the knowledge, if not the approbation of the Government. Previous to the cession of Louisiana to the United States, Baron Bastrop contracted with the Spanish Government for a tract of land, near Natchitoches, exceed ing thirty miles square. By the terms of the contract, he was, within a given period of time, to settie upon these lands, two hundred families. Subsequenty, Col. Chas. Lynch made an arrangment with Bastrop for an interest in his contract. Burr purchased from Lynch nearly four hundred thousand acres, lying between the Sabine and Natchitoches. This purchase was proved on Burr's trial for trea son. As the time within which the two hundred families were to be settled on the land was rapidly drawing to a close, Lynch conveyed one half of his right to Burr for fifty thousand dollars. In the purchase many private citizens of worth and family were interested. The two projects a settlement of the land, and the attack on Mexico became in some degree blended. Burr's great object was the conquest of Mexico. With this view he conferred with Wilkinson, who was ardent in the cause. Wilkinson's regu men, was intended as a nucleus around which Burr's followers were to form. They were the only disciplined troops that could be expected. As Wilkinson was the commander-in-chief, and stationed on the borders of Mexico, he possessed the power, and was pledged to strike the blow, whenever it should be deemed expedient. This commencement of the war would have been apparently under the sanction of the American Government, and would have drawn to the standard of Burr numerous volunteers from the Western States. Such undoubtedly was the plan, and Burr entertained no suspicion of Wilkinson's treachery towards him until his interview with Swartout. As soon as he made that discovery, in the language of Gen. Adair, "he turned his attention towards strengthening himself on the Washita (a river watering his purchase), and awaited a more favorable crisis." Mr. Davis continues: Without Wilkison's troops, Burr declared most solemnly, a short time before his death, that he would not have made the attempt on Mexico; that he was perfectly aware the men he would collect, so far as it respected military operations, would be at first little better than a mob. Col. Burr had repeated conferences on the subject with Mr. Merry, the British Plenipotentiary, resident in the United States. Mr. Merry communicated to his government the project of Mr. Burr. Col. Chas. Williamson, the brother-in-law of Balgray, went to England on the business; and from the encouragement which he received, it was hoped and believed, that a British naval squadron would have been furnished in aid of the expedition. At this juncture, Mr. Pitt died. Wilkinson must have heard of the Premier's death late in the spring or early in the snmmer of 1806. Burr believed, from this moment, that Wilkinson became alarmed and resolved on an abandonment of the enterprise at the sacrifice of his associates. On the suggestion of Wilkinson, continues Burr's biographer, Mexico was twice visited by Daniel Clark. He held conferences and effected arrangements with many of the principal militia officers who engaged to favor the revolution. * * During the year 1806, Col. Burr was at the house of General Andrew Jackson for some days. Repeated and detailed con |