Memoirs of Aaron Burr | Page 9

my
soul left my mind in a quiet and steady trust in God. A few days after
this, one evening, in talking of the glorious state my dear departed must
be in, my soul was carried out in such longing desires after this glorious
state, that I was forced to retire from the family to conceal my joy.
When alone, I was so transported, and my soul carried out in such eager
desires after perfection, and the full enjoyment of God, and to serve
him uninterruptedly, that I think my nature would not have borne much
more. I think I had that night a foretaste of Heaven. This frame
continued, in some good degree, the whole night. I slept but little; and
when I did, my dreams were all of heavenly and divine things.
Frequently since I have felt the same in kind, though not in degree.
Thus a kind and gracious God has been with me in six troubles, and in
seven. But, oh! Sir, what cause of deep humiliation and abasement of
soul have I, on account of remaining corruption which I see working,
especially pride! Oh, how many shapes does pride cloak itself in! Satan

is also busy shooting his darts; but, blessed be God, those temptations
of his that used to overthrow me, as yet, have not touched me. Oh to be
delivered from the power of Satan as well as sin! I cannot help hoping
the time is near. God is certainly fitting me for himself; and when I
think it will be soon that I shall be called hence, the thought is
transporting.
"Your dutiful and affectionate daughter,
"Esther Burr."
Such were the parents of Colonel Aaron Burr. Of the natural
guardianship and protection of both he was deprived before he had
reached the third year of his age. He was born on the 6th of February,
1756, in Newark, State of New-Jersey. His father died in August, 1757,
and his mother the year following, leaving two children, Aaron, and his
sister Sarah. She subsequently became the wife of Judge Tappan Reeve,
of Connecticut. On the decease of his father, Colonel Burr inherited a
handsome estate.
In the year 1760 Aaron was sent to Philadelphia, under the care of an
aunt and Dr. Shippen. For the family of the doctor he entertained a high
degree of respect. He frequently spoke of them in the kindest terms,
and recurred to this early period of his history with emotions of
gratitude for their care and protection.
Boswell, in his Life of Johnson, remarks that, "In following so very
eminent a man from his cradle to his grave, every minute particular
which can throw light on the progress of his mind, is interesting."
Johnson himself, in the Life of Sydenham, says "There is no instance of
any man, whose history has been minutely related, that did not, in
every part of life, discover the same proportion of intellectual vigour."
These high authorities are now quoted in justification of some of the
details which will be given in the progress of this work, and which, in
themselves, may appear trifling and unimportant. When Aaron was
about four years old, he had some misunderstanding with his preceptor,
in consequence of which he ran away, and was not found until the third
or fourth day after his departure from home; thus indicating, at a tender
age, that fearlessness of mind, and determination to rely upon himself,
which were characteristics stamped upon every subsequent act of his
life.

Footnotes:
1. Col. Burr, at that time about twenty months old.

CHAPTER II.
In 1761 he was removed to Stockbridge, in Massachusetts, and placed
in the family of Timothy Edwards, his mother's eldest brother. In 1762
his maternal uncle, Timothy, removed to Elizabethtown, New-Jersey.
Aaron and his sister Sarah remained in the family until the former
entered college, and the latter became the wife of Judge Reeve. A
private tutor was employed for them in the house of Mr. Edwards. For
a considerable portion of the time, Judge Reeve was engaged in that
capacity.
When about ten years old, Aaron evinced a desire to make a voyage to
sea; and, with this object in view, ran away from his uncle Edwards,
and came to the city of New-York. He entered on board an
outward-bound vessel as cabin-boy. He was, however, pursued by his
guardian, and his place of retreat discovered. Young Burr, one day,
while busily employed, perceived his uncle coming down the wharf,
and immediately ran up the shrouds, and clambered to the
topgallant-mast head. Here he remained, and peremptorily refused to
come down, or be taken down, until all the preliminaries of a treaty of
peace were agreed upon. To the doctrine of unconditional submission
he never gave his assent.
In 1769