William P. Van Ness’s Narrative of the Events of June 22–23, 1804
William P. Van Ness’s Narrative of the Events
of June 22–23, 18041
In the afternoon of this day I reported to Col: Burr at his house out of town the above answer2 and determination of General Hamilton and promised to call on him again in the evening to learn his further wishes. I was detained in Town however this evening by some private business and did not call on Col: Burr untill the following morning Saturday the 23d Inst; I then received from him a letter for Genl Hamilton which is numbered 4,3 but as will presently be explained never was delivered. The substance of it will be found in No 12.4
“Van Ness’s Narrative,” AD, New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York; ADf, New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.
1. In the draft of his narrative, Van Ness gave the following account of these events: “In the afternoon of this day I reported to Col B at his house out of town the above conversation, and promised to call on him again in the evening for his further instructions. I was detained in town this evening by some private business, and did not call on Col: Burr according to appointment.
“On Saturday morning the 23d. I went out to his house, and received from him for Genl Hamilton, a letter of which No 4 [Burr to H, June 22, 1804] is a Copy with some instructions for a verbal communication of which No 5 [“Aaron Burr’s Instructions to William P. Van Ness,” June 22–23, 1804] is a copy.”