Burr (Gore Vidal)

Burr is a novel written by Gore Vidal. Released in 1973, it is the first novel in Burr's Narratives of Empire series and recounts the life of the infamous Aaron Burr.

Characters[]

Aaron Burr (or the Colonel)
Charles "Charlie" Schermerhorn Schuyler - a journalist whom Burr hires to recount his life story
Madame Eliza Jumel - Burr's second wife
William Leggett - a failed actor turned editor for the Evening Post who is dying from "consumption"
Mr. Bryant - The assisstant editor of the Post whom has been dubbed "America's First Poet". Presumably William Cullen Bryant
Matthew L. Davis - Charlie's "rival" for chronicling Burr's life
Helen Jewett - a young "working girl" within Mrs. Townsend's bordello with whom Charlie falls in love with
Dr. Bogart - a member of the clergy with whom Burr is friends with
Mrs. Townsend - the owner of a bordello
Nelson Chase - Burr's law clerk
Andrew Jackson - the then-president
Washington Irving - a famous author and confidante of both Burr and Van Buren
Martin Van Buren - Jackson's then-vice president. It is assumed by numerous characters that Van Buren is Burr's illegitimate son.
Richard Robinson - a young man who murders Helen Jewett
Aaron Columbus Burr - one of Aaron Burr's sons. Has a strong French accent.
Sam Swartwout - the collector of the port of New York
Davy Crockett
Reginald Gower - a bookseller
Edwin Forrest - an actor whom Leggett is friendly with
Charles Baldwin - an "old batchelor"
William de la Touche Clancey - a gay Tory and presumably a satire of William F. Buckley, Jr.

Burr's narrative[]

General George Washington - described by Burr as a somewhat incompetent general but an extremely adept politician
Thomas Jefferson
Alexander Hamilton
John Marshall
John Hancock - the president of the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War
Dan Morgan - a "famed Indian killer" and an officer in the Revolutionary War
Matthias "Matt" Ogden - an American soldier
Dolly Quincy - Hancock's fiance, whom Burr has an affair with
Jonathan Dayton
Colonel Benedict Arnold
James Madison
John Adams
Captain James "Jamie" Wilkinson - an old friend of Burr's who becomes a major figure within the conspiracy and later betrays him
Phillip Freneau
Dr. James Hutchinson
Theodosia Prevost - Burr's first wife
DeWitt Clinton - a prospective
George Clinton
General Montgomery - a general whom Burr briefly serves under. Burr witnesses the general's death.
General Israel Putnam - a general whom Burr served under
Gouverneur Morris - an Ambassador to France
Senator Timothy Pickering - the leader of a group of senators who wish to secede from the Union
Albert Gallatin - a Secretary of the Treasury with a pronounced French accent
Margaret Moncrieffe - General Montgomery's cousin and a British spy
John Marsh - a bookseller
General Schuyler
General Howe - a British general
Lieutenant-Colonel Roger Enos
Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Greene - a Colonel whom Burr briefly serves under

Publisher's summary[]

Gore Vidal's American Chronicle series spans the history of the United States from the Revolution to the post-World War II years. With their broad canvas and large cast of fictional and historical characters, the novels in this series present a panorama of the American political and imperial experience as interpreted by one of its most worldly, knowing, and ironic observers.

Burr is a portrait of perhaps the most complex and misunderstood of the Founding Fathers. In 1804, while serving as vice president, Aaron Burr fought a duel with his political nemesis, Alexander Hamilton, and killed him. In 1807 he was arrested, tried, and acquitted of treason. In 1833, Burr is newly married, an aging statesman considered a monster by many. Burr retains much of his political influence if not the respect of all. And he is determined to tell his own story. As his amanuensis, he chooses Charles Schermerhorn Schuyler, a young New York City journalist, and together they explore both Burr's past and the continuing political intrigues of the still young United States.

Plot[]

1833[]

In 1833, a young journalist for the New York Evening Post named Charlie Schuyler is invited to write about the much-maligned Colonel Aaron Burr by his editor. As such, Charlie begins following Burr around while writing down everything about his time with the Colonel.

As July begins, Burr invites Charlie to an event at the Haarlem Heights alongside an old friend named Dr. Bogart. Though Burr does not reveal what the event is, it is soon revealed to be his wedding to a recent widow named Madame Eliza Jumel. Charlie writes a summary of these events and sends them to the Evening Post. Though the assistant editor of the Post edits down the summary to a single sentence, Charlie's editor suggests that Charlie write more about Colonel Burr. This is not due to an interest in the Colonel but rather to see if Charlie can prove that then-vice president Martin Van Buren is actually Burr's illegitimate son.

On returning to Burr, the two briefly talk about Burr's plan to bring a group of German immigrants into Texas and take control of the territory before Madame Jumel arrives. While Burr leaves, Charlie is brought into Madame Jumel's carriage. The Madame briefly talks about a large sum of money which she thinks that the Colonel stole from her to use in a plot to settle Mexico with German settlers before losing her train of thought and simply talking about politics and Burr's dead daughter alongside the port collector of New York City.

The next day, Charlie visits a bordello owned by one Mrs. Townsend to see if Townsend (who knew the Van Buren family) can tie together Burr and Martin Van Buren. Though Mrs. Townsend reveals little, Charlie stays for more "lascivious" reasons. While there, he finds his editor and accompanies him to a bar. While at the bar, the two talk about those who might have links to Burr and Van Buren (with Matthew Davis and Sam Swartout being named) before they watch an actor fight with a gay Tory. It is here that Charlie inserts part of Burr's memoirs into the narrative.

Burr entered into the armies of the Continental Congress shortly after the battle of Lexington. Around this time, Burr dated the fiancé of then-President John Hancock. According to him, General Washington effectively stole control of the Army from Hancock. Burr was present for the very beginning of Washington's tenure as the commander-in-chief of the Army but was stricken with a fever for several days. During this time, Burr was cared for by two friends (the future Senior Officer and Spanish spy James Wilkinson and Matthias Ogden, a somewhat major and largely forgotten figure within the Revolutionary War) and learned that a planned assault on Boston had been canned and that the army was instead going to march on Canada to stop a supposed assault by the British.

Once he had fully recovered, Burr joined into a company led by Commander Benedict Arnold. The company began to march into Canada in September and soon discovered that Arnold had been supplied with extremely faulty maps. By October, the company reached a river named the "Dead River" (a river now in Maine) which soon flooded. Though the company thought of deserting, they were persuaded not to by Arnold. Shortly after this, Arnold left the company for several days to get food from a nearby village.

In the middle of November, the company reached Quebec (and began to approach General Montgomery). Though Arnold initially wished to make a truce agreement with the British (stopping any further assaults on Canadian soil if the British handed over the Quebec territory to the Continental Congress), he changed his mind and decided to besiege the city of Quebec alongside General Montgomery after the British fired on the soldier announcing his agreement. After several days with no news from Montgomery, Arnold sent Burr to speak with Montgomery and reveal the planned siege to him. According to legends (which Burr absolutely denies), Burr disguised himself as a priest and had various swashbuckling adventures before reaching Montgomery.

Shortly after Burr reached the General, he was promoted to Captain by Montgomery and attached to his staff. In this role, Burr began to plot the Siege of Quebec. Montgomery decided to attack Quebec on the last of Quebec (as he feared his soldiers fleeing en masse once their period of enlistment ended). Though the assault initially went well despite a snowstorm, Montgomery was killed by cannon fire and most of his troops fled after this. Burr was left alone with Montgomery's corpse and attempted to carry it out of the battlefield before fleeing. Shortly after the battle, Burr was promoted to brigade-major and became something of a hero due to carrying the body of Montgomery.

Due to his status as a hero, Burr was inserted into General Washington's personal circle at Richmond Hill on Manhattan. This was where Burr first met the young Alexander Hamilton for the first time - with Burr stating that it was this moment that made sure that they would be rivals forever. Though Burr spoke with Washington on military strategy used in the Siege of Quebec, Washington effectively made Burr into a secretary. Several months into his stay at Richmond Hill, General Howe disembarked from Staten Island. Around this time, Burr joined the company of General Israel Putnam. While staying at Putnam's house, Burr met a young girl named Margaret Moncrieffe and discovered that she was a spy for the British and had her moved from the house.

As August ended, General Howe began his attack on New York City, Burr attempted to convince Washington to burn the city to the ground and draw Howe's forces into the wilderness. Unfortunately for Burr, Washington decided to defend the city. This led to a disastrous battle which ended with a decisive victory for the British. According to Burr, Washington's retreat from this battle was the lowest point of the General's career.

Soon, Burr's plan to settle Mexico falls through and he effectively vanishes (at least to Charlie). Charlie meets with Madame Jumel and Burr's law clerk Nelson Chase. Though the failing of Burr's plans means the loss of Jumel's sum of money, she is angered more by the fact that Burr sold a somewhat expensive coach for less than it was worth. She also knows that she knows about an affair between Burr and a woman named Jane McManus, though she seemingly does not care about it. Soon, Jumel and Chase leave. Charlie is left alone with Dr. Bogart, whom he tries to ask about Burr. He soon realizes that this is a lost cause, as the elderly Bogart simply tells of a rambling story of his own past. Shortly after this, Charlie breaks into a trunk of papers used by Burr to find any link between the Colonel and Martin van Buren. Though he finds nothing in the vast sum of papers that links the two, he does find a series of letters from Burr to his daughter Theodosia.

The next day, Burr and Charlie talk about his affair with a young woman from Jersey City (something which does not disturb Madame Jumel) and the sale of the carriage before presenting Charlie with a copy of Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. That night, Charlie visits 3 Bridge Street and meets then-famous author Washington Irving. The two talk about Burr (whom Irving knew in very vague terms) and Van Buren (whom Irving is a somewhat close associate of). Before Charlie leaves, Irving promises to give him notes on Burr's treason trial.

The day after the meeting with Washington Irving, Charlie meets with Burr once again. During this meeting, Charlie briefly sees his father (whom he is estranged with due to his father killing his mother) before Burr looses feeling in his leg while talking about Henry Clay and promptly faints. While Burr recovers from his stroke in Madame Jumel's mansion, he gives Charlie access to his papers on the Revolutionary War.

According to Burr, Washington's career as the commander of the Revolutionary Army was fraught with problems. He claims that Washington was not an accomplished general and was largely propped up by a group of yes men within Congress. Though a few people tried to oppose Washington (including a conspiracy that Burr talks little about), Washington was able to outmaneuver them. One of the major boosts for the Revolutionary cause was when France allied with them - sending over a large fleet.

By this time, the British cause was only being propped up by war-hawks within their Parliament. One of Washington's most fervent rivals within Congress claimed that the Revolutionary Army should just let the British retreat to New York City. Unfortunately, Washington decided to attack them (largely, as Burr claims, to finally get an actual victory against the British). This battle (the Battle of Monmouth Court House) was a resounding failure for Washington's forces. The only positive (for Washington) was that it firmly crushed the drive of his rival General Lee.

Some time after the Battle of Monmouth Court, Benedict Arnold was found to be a British spy. Arnold's wife (an extremely fervent Tory named Peggy Shippen who possibly corrupted Arnold into betraying the Revolution) feigned mental illness to escape being jailed. While being escorted, she visited Burr's future first wife (who was accompanied by Burr). Though at first she kept up the act of insanity, she quickly dropped it. She and Burr talked of her marriage, her lover (a British Major who helped in the corruption of Arnold), and politics before trying to flirt with Burr. As he was even then in love with Theodosia, Burr turned down her advances.

1834[]

As the election for New York City's mayor looms, the Colonel fully recovers from his stroke. Shortly after returning, Burr reveals that he temporarily separated from Madame Jumel and takes Charlie to the Park Theatre. While there, Charlie finds Leggett (whom is wearing a disguise, having been banned from the Theatre due to disputes with its owner). Once the show ends, the Colonel reveals that he has to leave for Jersey City. Charlie and Leggett accompany the Colonel to his small boat but do not leave with him. They instead visit Mrs. Townsend's establishment - where they talk with Mrs. Townsend on Jonathan Edwards before "using" the "services" she offers.

Shortly after this, Leggett invites Charlie to the Washington Hall Hotel for lunch alongside Washington Irving and various political figures. While there, Irving invites Charlie to Richmond Hill. While in Richmond Hill, the two are found by a drunken janitor who (believing that they are thieves) boots them out of Richmond Hill. After this, Charlie attempts to get Irving to speak about Martin Van Buren but finds that (like Dr. Bogart), Irving can only think of the past.

Soon, the election begins. An extremely turbulent event, this election leads to riots in the streets. While walking the streets, Charlie finds Mr. Davis alongside a few other supporters of the anti-Tammany candidate Verplanck. He briefly joins their number during the worst of the rioting and learns that they believe that the election of Verplanck (and by extension Henry Clay) is a sure thing. Despite this, Verplanck is beaten by the Tammany Hall candidate (though a few "Whigs" enter into the city's common council).

As the riots die down and New York City begins to recover from the riots, Charlie spends more time with Burr so that he can get his hands on Burr's memoirs. Presumably around this time, one M. L. Davis publishes a short work summarizing the life of Aaron Burr. Though this work tells him very little, it does feature a letter implying an affair that could have produced Martin Van Buren. Shortly after this, Burr begins recounting his life after the Revolutionary War.

After the British troops left America completely, Burr and Hamilton (alongside a third lawyer named Troup whom Burr was friends with) met Washington during a ceremony celebrating the states' victory. Shortly after this, the Constitution was drafted (an event that Burr had little influence over). In 1791, after becoming a senator to New York and while trying to write out a history of the Revolution, Burr privately interviewed President Washington. This interview revealed much of Washington's almost serpentine character. After the interview, Burr found that he had been barred from the archives he was using beforehand.

In 1789, Burr was made attorney-general of New York by the recently-elected Governor Clinton. Around this time, Alexander Hamilton fell out of favor with the powerful Livingston family. As such, the Livingstons pressured Burr into becoming a member of the state Senate. Shortly after this, Burr met Jefferson (alongside his acolyte Philip Freneau) for the first time at a dinner for the Secretary of State. Jefferson talked about an "attack" on him published by one Publicola (whom Jefferson suspects is John Adams) and Hamilton (whom Jefferson claims is "corrupt through and through". In October of 1791, Burr officially became a Senator for New York and visited Philadelphia for the first time. During a meeting of the Senate, Burr met Hamilton for the first time after becoming a Senator. They discuss Jefferson (who Hamilton claims is "mad" and a "hypocrite") and his plans for America. Though Burr doubts Hamilton's claims at the time, he claims that they were at least partially true. Shortly after leaving Hamilton, Burr briefly met with John Adams and his wife, along with James Madison.

In 1793, the French people revolted against their King and executed him. Though the French kingdom was an ally of the Revolution, the American people fell under the spell of an envoy of the new French nation named Genêt. The government was split between those who supported the Revolution (the "Republican" party, including Jefferson alongside Burr) and those who did not support the new French nation (the "Federalist" party, including Washington and Hamilton). While Genêt was still in America, he was declared an enemy of the Revolution. Though the government of France demanded he return to his homeland to be executed, Genêt refused to do this.

While at the City Hotel, Charlie meets Mr. Davis and Nelson Chase. The two reveal that Burr first "fell out" with the future President Jefferson in the election of 1792. According to Davis, many wanted Burr to be a candidate in the election due to the failure of Hamilton's banks. While Hamilton attempted to stop this, Burr was considered a somewhat serious candidate and began to accrue votes. Jefferson put a stop to Burr's candidacy and made him give his votes to Governor Clinton. Shortly after this, Charlie receives the next part of Burr's memoirs.

In 1793, a plague of yellow fever struck Philadelphia. Many were killed or nearly died due to the illness (including Alexander Hamilton, who many thought would die after he caught the fever). In September of that year, Burr visited the summer palace of Jefferson. In his company were two leading Republicans, James Hutchinson and Jonathan Sergeant. First, Jefferson attempts to show off one of his new inventions. This invention fails spectacularly and nearly kills Jefferson. Next, Jefferson reveals that he plans to resign as Secretary of State. Though this would leave him effectively exiled from American politics, he does have a plan to do one last subterfuge - to secretly help the French claim the city of New Orleans (then owned by the Spanish). While leaving this meeting with Dr. Hutchinson, Burr realizes that the doctor is ill with the fever. A day later, Hutchinson dies from the illness.

After watching an "old bachelor" named Charles Baldwin choke on his food and die, Burr tells of his friendship with James Madison. The two first met in the College of New Jersey and remained friends for many years. Shortly after the end of the yellow plague and the death of Burr's first wife, Burr played Eros for Madison and introduced him to a woman with whom he fell in love with and married. Shortly after this reveal, Madame Jumel files for a divorce - leading Burr to file a countersuit. This pauses the reminisces. During this time, Charlie and Mr. Leggett visit an Episcopal African church. While they are there, the church is attacked by a mob of anti-Abolitionists. Though the two are attacked, they are able to escape to Charlie's boarding-house. Shortly after this, Burr is able to resume his recollections.

In 1795, after the final session of the Third Congress and as a presidential election loomed, Burr embarked on a voyage to Monticello. Before he could reach Thomas Jefferson's plantation, Burr was stricken with yellow fever shortly after riding through New York and Washington. After recovering from the illness, Burr briefly visits the White House before reaching Monticello. While at Monticello, Burr learns of Jefferson's numerous affairs with his slaves and attends dinner. During this dinner, Jefferson discusses politics (including the extremely brutal slave revolt in Haiti and his endorsement of Burr's vice-presidential campaign) and his views on race (which are somewhat positive towards the Native people but are extremely disparaging towards black people) with his guests. Shortly after this, John Adams is elected president with Thomas Jefferson as his vice-president.

Two years later, Burr helped stop a duel between James Monroe and Alexander Hamilton. Back in 1792, Hamilton was involved with an "unsavory speculator" named James Reynolds who used a mole within the Treasury for personal gain. Hamilton was questioned by James Monroe due to this and revealed that he was committed adultery with Reynolds' wife but he never revealed if he had any part in Reynolds' illegal business dealings. In 1797, a pamphlet was anonymously published revealing Hamilton's possible part in Reynolds' scam. Hamilton assumed that Monroe had told on him. As such, he demanded that Monroe duel with him. Deeply frightened by this, Monroe met with Burr and asked him to be his second. Instead of doing this, Burr helped Monroe convince Hamilton not to go through with the duel.

After explaining how he and Hamilton worked together to form a private company to bring water to New York City, Burr reminisces on the leadup to the election of 1800. Shortly before this election, then-President Adams passed a series of bills known as the "Alien and Sedition Acts". These bills (only passed due to fears of a war with France) guttered any chance of Adams' reelection. Around the same time, Alexander Hamilton became a major figure in America's armies (working to begin a war with France so that they could use it to claim Latin American from Spain) and General Washington died. As the election loomed, Burr met with Jefferson and convinced him to make him his vice-president for his campaign.

While writing with Burr, Charlie also begins writing a series of articles from the perspective of an old and extremely conservative man named "Old Poltroon". On finding this out, Burr is wryly amused and then recounts the tale of the election of 1800. Before the presidential election, Burr helped the Republicans to win the legislature by giving them extremely popular candidates. This was not helped by Hamilton choosing extremely lukewarm candidates. Enraged by this, Hamilton hastily wrote a pamphlet denouncing then-President Adams. This pamphlet was found and published by Burr - somewhat helping the election of Jefferson. During the presidential election, both Burr and Jefferson got 73 votes. Burr wrote several letters saying that he did not wish to be an adversary to Jefferson - despite the wishes of his daughter Theodosia who said that he would "regret" letting the presidency slip through his hands.

While Martin Van Buren holds an event in the American Hotel, he is visited by Leggett and Charlie. Shortly after this, Burr recounts his first days spent in Washington. In these days, Washington was still being finished. As such, Burr and his daughter Theodosia (along with Theodosia's husband) had to stay in a room together. Meanwhile, Jefferson stayed in a room all of his own. Shortly after arriving in Washington, the two gave their Oaths of Office.

After this recollection, Charlie meets with Mr. Davis at the City Hotel. While there, he asks Mr. Davis about the relationship between Burr and Jefferson before meeting a bookseller named Mr. Gower who gives Charlie an advance of five hundred dollars. Charlie visits Mrs. Townsend and speaks with her about Aaron's son before visiting Helen. Charlie attempts to convince his lover to move out of Thomas Street with him but she refuses. Some time after this, Charlie visits Aaron Columbus Burr in a small shop. Charlie tries to get Columbus to speak about his father's ties with the van Burens but learns little from the silversmith. Despite this, Leggett is overjoyed when Charlie tells him about this and asks Charlie to begin writing an anonymous pamphlet that he hopes will destroy Martin van Buren's career.

Shortly after Helen agrees to move into Thomas Street, Burr resumes his narratives. Six month after the inauguration, Jefferson attempts to replace Aaron Burr as a candidate for the New York governorship with a member of the esteemed Clinton family named DeWitt. Meanwhile, Burr and Hamilton met in the bookstore of John Marsh. They reconvene at a nearby tavern and discuss recent events (including a duel that killed one of Hamilton's children and the recent Judiciary Bill). They are soon joined by French ambassador Gouveurneur Morris and continue discussing politics.

By the beginning of 1804, Burr had discovered Jefferson's attempts to sabotage his political career. Burr met with Jefferson at the President's House and (after a discussion of the recent Louisiana Purchase) reveals his plan to run against DeWitt for governor of New York as an independent Republican. Discussion soon turns to the recent "betrayal" of James Callender and Jefferson's views on the First Amendment.

Shortly after the Louisiana Purchase, a group of senators led by one Senator Pickering tried to convince the states of New England to secede from the Union. This group attempted to convince Burr to join their league but, though cordial to them, he refused. Around this time, Burr lost the vote for governor of New York and Hamilton and Jefferson fought a court case which involved the very nature of the First Amendment and slander. Once this court case finished, Hamilton began defaming Jefferson's vice-president. This began a paper war which soon turned into a duel. Though Hamilton attempted to delay Burr by sending one of his friends to duel with Burr, the two engaged in their fateful duel on July 11th which left Hamilton dead. After recounting the circumstances leading up to the duel, Burr visits the site of the duel with Charlie and has a vivid recollection of the actual duel - almost dropping into a fugue state during this remembrance.

Shortly after this remembrance, Charlie meets with a former acolyte of Burr's named Sam Swartwout (now a port collector for New York City) who reveals what it was that enraged Burr enough to shoot Hamilton - a rumor spread by Hamilton that Burr was sleeping with his own daughter. Swartwout also reveals that Burr recently met with President Andrew Jackson.

Shortly after the remembrance, Burr suffers a stroke that paralyzes him from the waist down. Despite this impediment, Burr launches into a recollection of his attempt to destabilize the American and Spanish rule of the lower half of the Americas. After the fateful duel, Burr's reputation was tarnished by newspapers and the state of New York attempted to have him charged with murder (somewhat illegally). Due to this, he left Richmond Hill for Philadelphia. While in Philadelphia, Burr met his old friend Jamie Wilkinson. Jamie described the hatred that the people in the south/west of America held for the Spanish and their "easterner" neighbors. As such, Jamie convinced Burr to join his conspiracy to claim the west (including Florida and Mexico). After joining into the conspiracy, Burr met with English and Spanish ambassadors who had been shafted by President Jefferson. During one of these meetings, Burr learns that New Jersey plans to extradite him for murder charges.

Burr then fled to the new territories in the Southeast of America but soon returned to Washington D.C. to preside over the Senate. He was summoned by Jefferson and ate dinner with him before the two began discussing politics. Burr carefully avoided mentioning his plans but told Jefferson to put several people close to the conspiracy into positions of power in the Southeast. Burr then argued against the power of the Supreme Court on the orders of Jefferson and remained in D.C. for two weeks before leaving for Philadelphia.

Burr first traveled to Pittsburgh before beginning a voyage down the Mississippi in a houseboat. During this voyage, Burr traveled to the states of Virginia (including Blennerhassett's Island, whose namesake owner was a huge admirer of Burr's), Ohio (where he made his plans to begin a war with Spain to claim Mexico alongside John Smith and John Dayton), Kentucky (where he met with Senators John Adair and John Brown), Tennessee (where he met with General Andrew Jackson), Illinois (specifically Fort Massac, where he met with Wilkinson), Louisiana (specifically New Orleans, which Burr found marvelous and nearly considers staying in, where he met with former New York mayor Edward Livingston), and Missouri - or at least, what will become Missouri, for then it was simply a part of the Louisiana Purchase and held its capital St. Louis (where Burr met with Wilkinson yet again), and Indiana (where Burr met with Governor William Henry Harrison). While Burr engaged in this voyage, a newspaper claimed that he plans to split the Union in two. Though Burr claims this is false, the rumor became somewhat common. Burr soon learned that he had basically lost the support of the British military. Believing that his plans had been scuttled, Burr returned to Washington even though he was no longer Jefferson's vice-president. During a dinner with Jefferson, Burr attempts to get the President to give him a position in the new territories. Jefferson flat out refuses, and it becomes clear that Jefferson is no longer Burr's ally.

1835[]

As 1835 begins, Charlie begins to think of Helen as his wife. He even begins to take her out as his wife, though he does worry (or anticipate) about someone recognizing Helen as one of Mrs. Townsend's girls. He also learns that Helen is pregnant with his child. Soon, Charlie visits Sam Swartwout in an attempt to get him to talk about the past yet again. Instead of doing this, Sam offers Charlie an enticing business deal - make sure that the Colonel will never find out about the real purpose of Charlie's writings by sneaking it into another work being written by a well-known author.

As snow falls in New York City, Burr resumes his narrative of the conspiracy. After being effectively burned by Jefferson, Burr set off to begin his plans once again. First, he visited Blennerhassett's Island once again to build up his resources and armies and then sent various coded letters to Williamson. While it seemed as though the plan would succeed, things soon began to unravel. First, various newspapers began discussing the conspiracy. Second, Burr learned some devastating news from Andrew Jackson - Williamson was a Spanish double agent. Shortly after this, Williamson betrayed Burr to save his own skin. Arrest warrants were put out for Burr in the Mississippi Territory and Wilkinson (who had already claimed to be the "defender of New Orleans against Burr's conspiracy") used martial law to arrest several of Burr's collaborators.

As the Presidential election looms, Senator Johnson (the candidate Leggett supported) agrees to be Martin Van Buren's vice president. As such, both Mr. Bryant and Leggett state that Charlie should not publish his narrative on Burr. Charlie still considers taking up Swartwout's offer but is also tempted by a proposed consulate gig for him.

Shortly after this, Burr begins his recollection of the beginning of the trial. Though Burr went into hiding in the Mississippi Territory and planned to flee to England, he was quickly captured alongside various other members of his conspiracy. Jefferson attempted to have habeas corpus suspended for Burr's acolytes and had his former vice president brought to Virginia, where he hoped the trial would end quickly with a guilty verdict. Unfortunately, the judge in the trial was Jefferson's rival John Marshall. For a large portion of the trial, Burr was defended by an extremely competent and spell-binding lawyer named Luther Martin who managed to poke holes in the credibility of James Wilkinson as a witness and nearly got Jefferson to travel to the courthouse and supply "incriminating" letters. During this time, Sam Swartwout (one of Burr's confederates) challenged Wilkinson to duel (something Wilkinson cowardly refused to do). Despite all of this, Burr was indicted for treason.

Swartwout asks Charlie to meet him and the author at the City Hotel. Here, it is revealed that the author is the ghost author for the extremely drunken and crass Davy Crocket, who plans on "writing" a satirical life of Martin Van Buren. The publisher of this book offers Charlie five thousand dollars (an immense sum in these times) and Charlie is overjoyed, believing that his dreams of travelling to Europe with Helen will come true.

Charlie then returns to Burr, who resumes his narrative of the trial. According to Burr, his defense began poking holes in what Jefferson defined as "treason" almost immediately. As Burr had not joined his "compatriots" on Blennerhassett's Island, they argued that Burr had not actually committed an act of treason, even if he influenced this. Though this was not helped by Marshall accidentally stating that "constructive treason" had some legal precedent, Marshall ruled in their favor and also claimed that the government had not proved that an act of treason had even taken place to the standards of the Constitution. After this, Burr grows too tired to continue, though he does state that he and Theodosia stayed in American for a brief time before leaving for Europe - first arriving in London and then throughout the continent (visiting places such as Sweden, Germany, and France). Charlie then departs.

Several days later, as Martin Van Buren and "Tecumseh" Johnson are nominated by the Democrats and while Charlie is being visited by a practitioner of the developing science of phrenology, Helen miscarries their baby. In the wake of this, Helen grows more and more distant and eventually leaves Charlie entirely - returning to the bordello of Mrs. Townsend. Though Charlie visits in an attempt to win her back, he is thrown out by Mrs. Townsend. Several months later, Mr. Leggett voices his disagreement with the Democratic elite and is effectively forced to retire from the Evening Post. By the end of the year, New York is stricken by a massive fire which causes much damage. Charlie and Mr. Leggett survey the damage then visit Colonel Burr, who discusses his time in Europe and Jeremy Bentham.

1836[]

During the middle of April, Charlie wakes up to discover that the police want him in connection with the murder of Helen Jewett. Initially, he is the prime suspect but is acquitted after the main witness (a new maid of Mrs. Townsend's) realizes that it was not Charlie that visited Helen last. The real suspect (possibly one of William de la Touche Clancey's "flings") is soon caught but Charlie is left somewhat shook by the death of his former love.

While the suspect (one Richard Robinson) is presumably being arraigned, Charlie helps Burr move from his former residence of the Jay Mansion (which is to be torn down) and into a hotel. While Burr considers this to be the apotheosis of his life, he is resolved to live on for many more years. Soon, the trial of Richard Robinson begins. Due to his motive not being known and the crafty word of the defense team, he is acquitted - with the defense lawyer demanding that a new suspect be found.

Shortly after this, Charlie gets a letter from the White House stating that Martin van Buren wants an audience with him. Due to this letter, Charlie departs to Washington D.C. (which he finds to be a squalid city built upon a swamp). This audience turns out to be an invitation to a dinner at the White House. Before this dinner, Charlie speaks briefly with "Matty Van" and President Jefferson before joining them in the massive feast. After departing, Charlie writes an article on the dinner. He is then found by Madame Jumel, who claims that her divorce with Burr has been finalized. She plans on visiting the Colonel after their divorce but is jilted by Burr, who dies right before the divorce finalizes. Swartwout sums it up best by saying that the Colonel is now a "free man".

1840[]

In the aftermath of Burr's death, President Van Buren gives Charlie a consulate in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. He marries the daughter of a Swiss baron and sets himself up for a life as a consul. Unfortunately, this life is possibly interrupted by the downfall of Van Buren (which is somewhat due to the fallout of Sam Swartwout's fraud being revealed) and the election of William Henry Harrison. As fireworks are launched for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Swartwout visits Charlie. Though Charlie is hesitant to see the fraudster, he allows Swartwout to speak with him. Somewhat obliquely, Sam drops a huge revelation that the Colonel never did - that Charlie is his son.

Series continuity[]

Charles reappears in 1876 and his family become recurring characters within the Narratives of Empire series
William de la Touche Clancey reappears in Lincoln.

Sources[]

Wikipedia

Title	Author	Release date	Significance
Memoirs of Aaron Burr, Complete	Aaron Burr and Matthew L. Davis	1836	A contemporary biography of Aaron Burr
Jefferson	Max Byrd	1993	A novel based on the private life of Thomas Jefferson
Fallen Founder	Nancy Isenberg	2007	A modern-day biography of Aaron Burr
Mason & Dixon	Thomas Pynchon	1997	A novel featuring numerous figures from early American history
Memories of the Ford Administration	John Updike	1992	A novel with similar themes
Jackson	Max Byrd	1997	A novel based on the private life of Andrew Jackson
A Company of Heroes	Dale van Every	1962	A nonfiction book about the American frontier during the Revolutionary era
The British are Coming	Rick Atkinson	2019	A nonfiction book about the Revolutionary War
Heirs of the Founders	H.W. Brands	2018	A nonfiction book about Henry Clay
The First Salute	Barbara W. Tuchman	1988	A nonfiction book about the Revolutionary War