loaned to James Wilson, a lawyer of Virginia, a few days before he left the island, is now among his papers in the hands of his agent at Marietta.

Mr. Blennerhassett dressed in the old English style, with scarlet or buff-colored small clothes, and silk stockings, shoes with silver buckles, and coat generally of blue broadcloth. When at home, his dress was rather careless, often, in warm weather, in his shirt-sleeves, without coat or waistcoat; and in winter, he wore a thick woollen roundabout or short jacket.

In this quiet retreat, insulated and separated from the noise and tumult of the surrounding world, amidst his books, with the company of his accomplished wife and children, he possessed all that seemed necessary for the happiness of man. And yet, in common with many of the distinguished men of his time, he gave no evidence of that clear religious faith without which there can be no solid contentment in any condition of life. The works of the French skeptics and enthusiasts, which were his favorites, could not guide his intellect to the simple truths of Christianity. He laid out his plan of existence for the indulgence of every lawful pleasure, but lacked those higher motives of action which inspire men with true firmness and dignity.

the most perfect proportions, with dignified and graceful manners, finely moulded features and very fair, transparent complexion; eyes, dark blue, sparkling with life and intelligence; hair, a rich, deep brown, profuse and glossy, dressed in the most elegant manner. When at her island home, she often wore a headdress of colored silk stuff, folded very full, something in the manner of an eastern turban, giving a noble and attractive appearance to the whole person. These were of various colors, but always composed of a single one, either of pink, yellow, or white, adjusted in the most becoming manner and nicest taste, in which particular few women could equal her. White was a favorite color for dress in the summer, and rich colored stuffs in the winter. Her motions were all graceful, and greatly heightened by the expression of her countenance. No one could be in her company, even a few minutes, without being strongly attracted by her fascinating manners. A very intelligent lady, who was familiarly acquainted with her in her best days on the island, and has since visited and seen the most elegant and beautiful females in the courts of France and England, as well as Washington city, says that she has beheld no one who was equal to her in beauty of person, dignity of manners, elegance of dress, and in short, all that is lovely and finished in the female person, such as she was when "queen of the fairy isle."

When she rode on horseback, her dress was a fine scarlet broadcloth, ornamented with gold buttons, a white beaver hat, on which floated the graceful plumes of the ostrich, of the same color. This was sometimes changed for blue or yellow, with feathers to harmonize. She was a perfect equestrian, always riding a very spirited horse, with rich trappings, who seemed proud of his burthen, and ac

Mrs. Blennerhassett was more aspiring and ambitious, with a temperament in strong contrast with that of her husband. Her maiden name was Margaret Agnew, the daughter of Captain Agnew, a brave officer in the British service, and at one time the Lieut. Governor of the Isle of Man. General Agnew, who fell at the battle of Germantown, in the American Revolution, was her grandfather; and a monument was erected to his memory by his grand-daughter, after her arrival in America. She was educated and brought up by two maiden aunts, who took great care to instruct her in all the useful arts of housewifery, laundry, pastry, sew-complished the ride to Marietta, of fouring, &c., which was of great use to her in after life, when at the head of a family. They were led to this, in part, from their own limited means, teaching them to be frugal, and the need there is for every woman, who expects to marry, to be acquainted with all the useful branches of housekeeping. In person, Mrs. Blennerhassett was tall and commanding; of

teen miles, in about two hours; dashing through and under the dark foliage of the forest trees, which then covered the greater part of the distance; reminding one of the gay plumage and rapid flight of some tropical bird, winging its way through the woods. In these journeys she was generally accompanied by Ransom, a favorite black servant, who fol

fluence of that false pride so often seen to attend the high-born and wealthy. She was a very early riser, and when not prevented by indisposition, visited the kitchen by early dawn, and often manipulated the pastry and cakes to be served up on the table for the day. When this service was completed, she laid aside her working dress, and attired herself in the habiliments of the lady of the mansion. At table she presided with grace and dignity; and by her cheerful conversation, and pleasant address, set every one at ease about her, however rustic their manners, or unaccustomed they might be to genteel society. Her mind was as highly cultivated as her person. She was an accomplished Italian and French scholar, and one of the finest readers imaginable; especially excelling in the plays of Shakspeare, which she rehearsed with all the taste and spirit of a first rate actor. In history and the English classics, she was equally well read, and was often called upon to decide a disputed point in literature, under discussion by her husband and some learned guest. Her decisions were generally satisfactory to both parties, because founded on correct reasoning, and delivered in so gracious a manner. Few women have ever lived, who combined so many accomplishments and personal attractions. They strongly impressed not only intellectual and cultivated minds, who could appreciate her merits, but also the uneducated and lower classes. One of the young men, a farmer's son of Belprie, rented and cultivated a field of corn on the island, near the avenue leading from the house to the river, for the sole purpose of stealing a look at her beautiful person, as she passed by on her way to ride or walk, as she was wont to do every pleasant day. Wirt's celebrated panegyric on this lady, was in no way undeserved, although, in appearance, so much

lowed on horseback in a neat showy dress, and had to apply both whip and spur to keep in sight of his mistress. She sometimes came to Marietta by water, in a light canoe, (the roads not being yet opened for wheel carriages,) navigated by Moses, another of the colored servants, who was the principal waterman, and had charge of the boats for the transport of passengers from the island to the main. Her shopping visits" were made in this way, as she directed the purchase of groceries, &c., for the family use, as well as for the clothing. She possessed great personal activity, sometimes, in fine weather, choosing to walk that distance, instead of riding. In addition to her feats in riding and walking, she could vault with the ease of a young fawn over a five-rail fence, with the mere aid of one hand placed on the top rail, and was often seen to do so, when walking over the farm, and a fence came in the way of her progress. It was performed with such graceful movement, and so little effort, as to call forth the wonder and admiration of the beholder. She was passionately fond of dancing, and greatly excelled in this healthful and charming exercise, moving through the mazes and intricacies of the various figures with the grace and lightness of the queen of the fairies." Her tastes, in this respect, were often gratified in the numerous balls and assemblies given, at that day, in Marietta and Belprie, as well as at her own house, where the lofty hall frequently resounded to the cheerful music and lively steps of the dancers. With all this relish for social amusements, Mrs. Blennerhassett was very domestic in her habits. She was not only accomplished in all the arts of housewifery, but was also an excellent seamstress; cutting out and making up with her own hands, much of the clothing of her husband, as well as preparing that for the servants, which was then made by a colored female. At that period, when Eight years had passed rapidly and tailors and mantua-makers were rare in happily away, since they took possession the western wilderness, this was an ac- of their island home. Two children, Hercomplishment of real value. That she was man and Dominic, had been added to their willing to practice these servile arts, when domestic blessings, whose lively prattle surrounded by all the wealth she could and cheerful smiles seemed to make life desire, is one of the finest and most re- still more desirable. Parties of the young markable traits in her character, indicat- people from Marietta, Belprie, and Wood ing a noble mind, elevated above the in-county, with occasional visitors from more

like romance.

was kiln-dried or parched corn, ground into meal, which is another evidence that the men engaged in the expedition were to march a long distance by land, and carry their parched meal on their backs; of which a pint, mixed with a little water, is a day's ration, as practiced by the West

this article were prepared, some of which was raised on the island, and parched in a kiln built for that purpose.

for a participation in the purchase of Baron Bastrop's land on the Washita, as he had addressed a letter to him on that subject before leaving home in December, wishing to become a partner in any purchase he might make of western lands; also offering to aid in the Mexican enterprise, as was afterward ascertained in the trial at Rich-ern Indians. Several hundred barrels of mond. The next August we find Aaron Burr at Pittsburgh, in company with his accomplished daughter, Mrs. Theodosia Alston, on his way down the Ohio river. He again visited the island, with his daughter, where she spent several days: he in the mean time taking up his abode at Marietta, where several of the inhabitants received him with marked attention, while others looked upon him with contempt and abhorrence, as the murderer of Col. Hamilton, especially the old officers, friends and associates of that excellent man. It was in September, at the period of the annual militia muster; the regiment was assembled on the commons, and Col. Burr was invited by the commander to exercise the men, which he did, putting them through several evolutions. In the evening there was a splendid ball, at which he attended, which was long after known as the "Burr ball." Early in this month the contract was made for boats to be built on the Muskingum river, six miles above the mouth, for the purpose, as was said, of conveying the provisions and adventurers to the settlement in the new purchase.

There were fifteen large batteaux, ten of them forty feet long, ten feet wide, and two and a half feet deep; five others were fifty feet long, pointed at each end, to push or row up stream as well as down. One of these was considerably larger, and fitted up with convenient rooms, a fireplace and glass windows, intended for the use of Mr. Blennerhassett and family, as he proposed taking them with him to the new settlement; which is an evidence he did not then think of any hostile act against the United States. To these was added a "keel-boat," sixty-six feet long, for the transport of provisions. A contract for bacon, pork, flour, whisky, &c., was made to the amount of $2000, and a bill drawn on Mr. Ogden, of New York, for the payment. The boats cost about the same sum, for which Mr. Blennerhassett was responsible. One main article of the stores

The boats were to be ready by the 9th of December, rather a late period on account of ice, which usually forms in this month; but they were tardy in making the contract. Col. Burr remained in the vicinity three or four weeks, making a journey to Chillicothe. His son-in-law (Alston) came out and joined his wife at the island, and with her and Mr. Blennerhassett, who accompanied them, proceeded on to Lexington, Kentucky, early in October. Many young men in the vicinity of Marietta, Belprie, and various other points on the river, were engaged to join in the expedition, of which Col. Burr was the leader. They were told that no injury was intended to the United States; that the President was aware of the expedition and approved of it, which was to make a settlement on the tract of land purchased by the leaders in the Baron Bastrop grant; and in the event of war breaking out between this country and Spain, which had for some time been expected, they were to join with the troops under General Wilkinson, and march into the Mexican provinces, whose inhabitants had long been ready for revolt, and prepared to unite with them. This was no doubt the truth, as believed by Mr. Blennerhassett and those engaged under him, whatever may have been the ulterior views of Burr. Not one of all the number enlisted on the Ohio would have hearkened for a moment to a separation of the Western from the Eastern States; and when the act of the Ohio Legislature was passed to suppress all armed assemblages, and take possession of boats with arms and provisions, followed by the proclamation of the President, they almost to a man refused to proceed further in the enterprise.

The batteaux were calculated to carry about 500 men, and probably a large portion of that number had been engaged,

expecting to receive one hundred acres of land for each private, and more for officers. As to their being required to furnish themselves with a good rifle and blanket, it was of itself no evidence of hostility; as it is customary in making all new settlements, for the men to be armed, as was the case with the forty-eight pioneers of the Ohio Company settlers in 1788.

ing her husband immediately to return, where he had gone on a visit with Mr. Alston. The history of this journey, as related by Peter, in his evidence on the trial, is an amusing sketch of simplicity and truth. He was the gardener on the island for several years, and was a singlehearted, honest Englishman; who, after his employer's ruin, purchased a farm at In the mean time a rumor had gone Waterford, in Washington county, Ohio, abroad that Col. Burr and his associates where he lived many years, much respectwere plotting treason on the Western ed for his industry and integrity. During waters, and assembling an army to take the month of September and fore part of possession of New Orleans, rob the banks, October, there appeared a series of artiseize the artillery, and set up a separate cles, four or five in number, published in government, west of the Alleghany moun- the Marietta Gazette, over the signature tains, of which he was to be the chief. of " Querist," in which the writer adFrom the evidence on the trial at Rich-vocated a separation of the Western from mond, and other sources, it appears that Mr. Jefferson was acquainted with the plan of invading Mexico, in the event of a war with Spain, and approved it, so that Burr had some ground for saying that the government favored the project. But when

no

war took place, and the parties had become deeply involved in building boats, collecting provisions, and levying men, to which the baseness and treachery of Wilkinson directly contributed, it was thought a fitting time to punish the archenemy of the President, who, by his chicanery, had well nigh ousted him from the Chair of State, and had since taken all opportunities to vilify and abuse him.

the Eastern States; setting forth the reasons for, and the advantages of such a division. These were answered in a series of numbers, condemning the project, over the signature of "Regulus." They were well written, spirited articles, and both are now understood to have been furnished by Mr. Blennerhassett, to ascertain the public mind on this subject in the West. As one of these neutralized the other, no direct proof can be adduced from them of his designing such a measure. The result, however, was unfavorable to his project, and roused the public mind in opposition, both to the man and the cause he had espoused. Some of the articles by "Regulus" were much applauded by the editor of the Aurora, a leading government paper of that day, who considered the writer a very able and patriotic man. The last of November, Mr. Jefferson sent out John Graham, a clerk in one of the public offices, as a spy or agent to watch the motions of the conspirators in the vicinity of the island, and to ask the aid of the Governor of Ohio in By the last of October, rumor with her suppressing the insurrection, by seizing on thousand tongues, aided by hundreds of the boats and preparations making on the newspapers, had filled the minds of the Muskingum. While at Marietta, Mr. people with strange alarms of coming Blennerhassett called on the agent once or danger, to which the mystery that over- twice; talked freely with him on the object shadowed the actual object of these prep- of the expedition, and showed him a letter arations greatly added; and many threats which he had recently received from Col. were thrown out of personal violence to Burr, in relation to the settlement on the Mr. Blennerhassett and Colonel Burr. Washita, in which he says that the proAlarmed at these rumors of coming dan- ject of invading Mexico was abandoned, ger, Mrs. Blennerhassett dispatched Peter as the difficulties between the United Taylor to Kentucky, with a letter, request-States and Spain were adjusted. He also

Another evidence that the government was supposed to favor the enterprise, is the fact, that nearly all its abettors and supporters in the West, until the Proclamation appeared, were of the party called Republicans, or friends of Mr. Jefferson, who hated and despised Burr and all in which he was engaged, as from the character of the man, they thought it boded nothing good.