nemies, and therefore, he would have
nothing to do with it.'

December the 31st. After dinner to-day, the pamphlet on the conduct of
Colonel Burr being the subject of conversation, Matthew Lyon noticed
the insinuations against the republicans at Washington, pending the
Presidential election, and expressed his wish that every thing was
spoken out which was known; that it would then appear on which side
there was a bidding for votes, and he declared that John Brown of Rhode
Island, urging him to vote for Colonel Burr, used these words. 'What is
it you want, Colonel Lyon? Is it office, is it money? Only say what you
want, and you shall have it.'

January the 2nd, 1804. Colonel Hitchburn, of Massachusetts, reminding
me of a letter he had written me from Philadelphia, pending the
Presidential election, says he did not therein give the details. That he
was in company at Philadelphia with Colonel Burr and ------ that in the
course of the conversation on the election, Colonel Burr said, 'We must
have a President, and a constitutional one, in some way.' 'How is it to
be done,' says Hitchburn; 'Mr. Jefferson's friends will not quit him,
and his enemies are not strong enough to carry another.' 'Why,' says
Burr, 'our friends must join the federalists, and give the President.'
'The next morning at breakfast, Colonel Burr repeated nearly the same,
saying, 'We cannot be without a President, our friends must join the
federal vote.' 'But,' says Hitchburn, 'we shall then be without a
Vice-President; who is to be our Vice-President?' Colonel Burr answered,
'Mr. Jefferson.'

January the 26th. Colonel Burr, the Vice-President, calls on me in the
evening, having previously asked an opportunity of conversing with me.
He began by recapitulating summarily, that he had come to New York a
stranger, some years ago; that he found the country in possession of two
rich families (the Livingstons and Clintons); that his pursuits were not
political, and he meddled not. When the crisis, however, of 1800 came
on, they found their influence worn out, and solicited his aid with the
people. He lent it without any views of promotion. That his being named
as a candidate for Vice-President was unexpected by him. He acceded to
it with a view to promote my fame and advancement, and from a desire to
be with me, whose company and conversation had always been fascinating
to him. That, since, those great families had become hostile to him,
and had excited the ca