CHAPTER I

ALIASES

I

THE next four years were to be, in many ways, the most extraordinary in a life of many extraordinary moments; and the account of their passage spread upon the pages of the journal kept by Colonel Burr-in the form, frequently, of imaginary conversations with Theodosia-is an astonishing record of vicissitudes and pleasures, of desperate dilemmas and shameless subterfuges, of public pretences and private depravities. And at the same time of amazing fortitude, of unconquerable tenacity, of immeasurable spirit.

That during these years one is to see him at his worst, is undeniable; that occasionally, for a laugh flung at adversity, for a splendid gesture in the face of ruin, he is to compel an almost incredulous admiration, is also incontestable; that a less guarded, a more spontaneously genuine revelation than ever before of his mysterious personality-a truer conception of the processes of his mind and of the complexities of his character-are to be obtained, will perhaps become apparent. One is to see great

courage, great folly, great suffering, great degradation-although an adequate comprehension of them can only be furnished by a perusal of the original, unexpurgated journal itself—and in the midst of it all, shining upon his whole life, the sinister illumination of an inevitable conclusion.

The Clarissa Ann stopped at Halifax, where a Prevost relative at Government House gave Mr. Edwards a passport allowing the bearer to "proceed without delay from Falmouth to London having dispatches for . Lord Castlereagh, at whose office he is immediately to present himself on his arrival in London." And Mr. Edwards would also have liked to purchase a Newfoundland dog, but none could be found to suit his taste, and he was obliged to content himself with smaller pets which he subsequently acquired in Europe.

A month afterwards he was at Falmouth, and three days later, on July 16, 1808, in London. The Colonel found lodgings in Craven Street, and at first his prospects seemed encouraging. He delivered his letters to Lord Castlereagh, he interviewed Lord Mulgrave and Mr. Canning, he outlined to these dignitaries his plans for an invasion of the Spanish dominions in America. And if these prudent Ministers were not consumed with eagerness-if, indeed, at the moment, the prevailing governmental policy was one of friendship for Spain and its now dethroned monarch-in private circles, and among the more adventurous young noblemen, Colonel Burr's proposals were enthusiastically discussed. And the excellent Mr. Merry was again appealed to, and his interest enlisted; until, in November, he

was obliged to notify the Colonel that "although I could not see Mr. Canning yesterday. I conversed with another person of nearly equal authority, who told me he was sure that what you proposed to me . . . . could never be consented to, pointing it out in every way to be impracticable."

But long before that, in August already, the British Government had begun to show in Colonel Burr's presence in England that interest which it had withheld from his schemes. He was summoned to Lord Liverpool's Home Office and required to make application for an alien's license. "For what reason or purpose are you come?" they asked him. "I am known personally to Lord Mulgrave and Mr. Canning," he replied, "to whom the motives of my visit have been declared. These reasons have long been known to Lord Melville." They gave him his license, but in November he returned it to Mr. Reeves of the Home Office, and "claimed the privileges of a British subject as a birthright, which I had a right to resume, and gave him notice that I should go where I pleased." On his application Colonel Burr had stated that he had been "born within the King's allegiance and his parents British subjects," which was perfectly true. But this "violent measure" grew out of the suggestions of Mr. Reeves who promised to have the case examined.

The report of this action was of course widely discussed and criticized in America, so that several years later Colonel Burr thought an explanation of it necessary. A rumor, he wrote Erich Bollmann, had been "industriously circulated" that he had claimed protection as a British subject, having

had some difficulty with the Home Department

about passports and permission to travel.

It was strongly recommended to me by a man of very high consideration, enjoying an important place under government, but hating personally Lord Liverpool, to defend myself against his persecutions by claiming my birthright as a British subject. It was presumed I would cheerfully seize this mode to disengage myself from thralldom.

It became a topic of conversation and many distinguished persons took a very lively interest in the question. My rights were demonstrated beyond a doubt." However-in spite of his statement to Mr. Reeves-"I refused to suffer myself to be called a British subject, for a single day, for any purpose, under any circumstances; nor did I at any moment swerve from this determination."

Colonel Burr was very positive about that in 1812; but in November, 1808, he was writing in his journal that he had called on Reeves who reported that "Dampier has given opinion" concerning his "pretensions as a British subject" that he might 'resume at pleasure. The Lord Chancellor

that I cannot and am forever an alien. The Attorney General is doubting, Lord Hawkesbury thinks the claim monstrous. I begin to think the policy of this movement very doubtful." It was just one of many subterfuges, of which he may well have been ashamed subsequently.

2

In the meantime, in spite of the restrictions placed upon him by the authorities-so that he concealed