Page:The Burr-Hamilton duel with correspondence.djvu/39

 the forced sale of my property, may be in some degree sufferers. I did not think myself at liberty as a man of probity lightly to expose them to this hazard.

"4. I am conscious of no ill-will to Col. Burr distinct from political opposition, which, as I trust, has proceeded from pure and upright motives.

"Lastly. I shall hazard much, and can possibly gain nothing by the issue of the interview.

"But it was, as I conceive, impossible for me to avoid it. There were intrinsick difficulties in the thing and artificial embarrassments from the manner of proceeding on the part of Col. Burr.

"Intrinsick, because it is not to be denied, that my animadversions on the political principles, character and views of Col. Burr have been extremely severe, and on different occasions, I, in common with many others, have made very unfavorable criticisms on particular instances of the private conduct of this gentleman.

"In proportion as these impressions were