My dear T., I am sick at heart, having made the most afflicting of all discoveries, the perfidy of a friend. A few days ago, a slight suspicion was excited in my mind, as you may recollect, but I rejected is as unworthy of him and unworthy of me. It is confirmed with every circumstance of aggravation. I had confided to him my speculation [in regards to the Holland Land Company] with unqualified frankness; disclosed every circumstance; things known to me alone. I had built on it the hopes of fortune. He pledged solemnly his honor to speak of it to no one without my leave; not to take a step but in concurrence with me, on terms we had agreed. He went, I believe the same day, disclosed the whole, and associated himself with another to take it wholly from me. The object is irrevocably lost; for even if he should repent, he cannot take back his communications. This man first sought me under very peculiar circumstances; such as denoted generosity of sentiment, sensibility, and independence of mind. ‘What dost thou not drive mortal beasts to do, cursed lust for gold!’

…At last a letter from Amsterdam; nothing, however, decisive, nor very satisfactory. But as the speculation is ruined by the perfidy of Crede, I have less solicitude. I am yet in hopes to make 1,000 dollars out of some of them, but how easy a million ought to have been made!

I have never known the prejudice in favor of birth, parentage and descent, more conspicuous than in the instance of Col. Burr. That gentleman was connected by blood with many respectable families in New England…He had served in the army, and came out of it with the character of a knight without fear, and an able officer. he had afterward studied and practiced law with application and success; Buoyed up on those religious partialities, and this military and juridical reputation, it is no wonder that Governor Clinton and Chancellor Livingston should take notice of him. They made him Attorney General, and the legislature sent him to Congress, where, I believe, he served six years. At the next election, he was, however, left out, and being at that time somewhat embarrassed in circumstances, and reluctant to return to the bar, he would have rejoiced in an appointment in the army.

In this situation I proposed to Washington, and through him to the tiumvirate to nominate Col. Burr for a brigadier-general. Washington’s answer was, ‘by all that I have known and heard, Col. Burr is a brave and able officer; but the question is whether he has not equal talents at intrigue.’ How then shall I describe to you my sensations and reflections at that moment? He had compelled me to promote over the heads of Lincoln, Gates, Knox and others, and even over Pinkney, one of his own triumvirates, Hamilton, the most restless, impatient, artful, indefatigable and unprincipled intriguer in the United States, if not in the world, to be second in command under himself, and now dreaded an intriguer in a poor brigadier.

He did, however, propose it, at least to Hamilton. But I was not permitted to nominate Burr. If I had been , what would have been the consequences? Shall I say that Hamilton would have been now alive, and Hamilton and Burr now at the head of our affairs.