proud.' Little did the author of this letter then dream of that more
crushing blow which within one year was to fall upon him, and from whose
weight he was never wholly to recover.

William Irving, the brother of the biographer, was a model of manly
beauty, and early remarkable for a brilliant and sparkling intellect,
which overflowed in conversation, and often bordered on eloquence. Had
he been bred to the law, he would have shone among its brightest stars;
but those gifts, which so many envied, were buried in trade, and though
he became one of the merchant-princes of the city, even this success
could not compensate for so great a burial of gifts. As one of the
contributors to _Salmagundi_, he exhibits the keenness of a flashing
wit, while, in subsequent years, he represented New-York in Congress,
when such an office was a distinction.

Peter Irving, like his brother, united personal elegance with talents,
and conducted the _Morning Chronicle_, amid the boisterous storms of
early politics. This journal favored the interests of Burr; but it must
be remembered that at that time Burr's name was free from infamy, and
that, as a leader, he enjoyed the highest prestige, being the centre of
the Democracy of New-York. Burr's powers of fascination were peculiarly
great, and he had surrounded himself with a circle of enthusiastic
admirers. Indeed, such was his skill in politics, that in 1800 he upset
the Federalists, after a pitched battle of three days, (the old duration
of an election,) which was one of the most exciting scenes I ever
witnessed. Horatio Gates, of Saratoga fame, was one of his nominees for
the State Legislature, (Gates was then enjoying those undeserved laurels
which posterity has since taken away,) and it was surprising to see the
veterans of the Revolution abandoning their party to vote for their old
comrade and leader. The result was, that the Federalists were most
thoroughly worsted, and the party never recovered from the blow. Such
were the exciting events which identified the young politicians of the
metropolis, and which inspired their speeches and their press. Burr's
headquarters were at Martling's Tavern, 87 Nassau street. On being torn
down, the business was removed to Tammany Hall, which has inherited a
political character from its predecessor. Besides this, he used to meet
his friends in more select numbers at a Coffee-house in Maiden Lane. His
office was Number 30 Partition street, (now Fulton,)