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Story
November 19, 1807
Alexandria Daily Advertiser
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
Affidavit by Julian Depestre in Colonel Aaron Burr's 1807 treason trial, recounting travels from Marietta to Chillicothe and Lexington, discussions on land purchases and potential Spanish war, and denying any talk of western separation from the Union.
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FROM THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER
TRIAL
COLONEL A. BURR
MOTION FOR COMMITMENT
EXAMINATION OF EVIDENCE
Monday, October 5.
Julian Depestre's affidavit concluded.
We arrived at Marietta the 26th August, and the 27th we went to visit Mr. Blennerhassett on his island--we dined and passed the night there; the 28th we came back to Marietta, and the 29th we took the road to Chillicothe, where we arrived the thirtieth first.
The 2d of September I left colonel Burr about 20 miles from Chillicothe, he pursuing his journey to Cincinnati, where I declined going with him, having an intention of visiting Upper Louisiana, and fearing my time was already too short: from that time I have not seen him (except a moment at Louisville) where I had spent a few days with my friends; that was about the 16th of September. At my return about the 20th of October I found him again at Lexington, busy and much engaged with old papers and others; he told me he had made the purchase of the Ouachita lands of which he had spoken to me, and offered to accommodate me with as much as I pleased for the same price it cost him; I acknowledged this mark of friendship; but told him that I declined for the moment, because I wanted to see and provide for my family; he then asked me if I had renounced to take part in the Spanish war, if there was one; I told him that there was none yet, that even it was my opinion there would be none, but that in case there should be one, if he was pleased to send me word of it, and of the situation in the army he would have obtained for me. I would be on the spot as soon as himself; he agreed I was right, but told me he believed there would be a war, and he hoped that I should stay a day to take his letters. I agreed, and the next day he sent me a letter for Mr. H. B. Latrobe, which I delivered at my passage at Washington City.
The deponent, on cross-examination on the part of colonel Burr, being asked the following questions, viz.
Q Did you, when at Morgan's, hear col. Burr talk of any military expedition, or of a separation from the union?
A No, except during the dinner, when old Mr Morgan began once or twice to speak about the rumors of a separation of the western from the eastern states; but colonel Burr seemed not willing to engage in such conversation, and did all he could to get rid of it, seeming more pleased with the conversation of the ladies.
Q Were you generally near colonel Burr or separately engaged. Did you see him engage in particular conversation during that visit?
A I heard the Morgans' give their testimony, and I do not know for my part, when such long conversations could take place; it was not before me, and colonel Burr was but very little time absent from me; after dinner I left him with the company, and went with old Mr Morgan into the garden where colonel Burr came and joined us with the ladies, about 15 minutes after; we were together all the remaining of the day, in the walks we took, and visits we made, except when I was abed, colonel Burr took the candle, and went out the doors for a few minutes, and then came back to his bed.
Did you hear colonel Burr, during the time you was with him, talk of a separation of the western from the eastern states
A Never; I only remember that in almost all the houses we stopped to, people would often engage a conversation with us upon that subject; but colonel Burr would always laugh at the idea.
Q Did it appear to you that he was or he was not, seriously interested in making some new establishment in lands?
A His project of purchasing lands on the Ouachita was a more general topic of our conversation when we were travelling, and he seemed anxious to prevail upon me to engage in it.
Q In what state of mind was then old Mr Morgan?
A We were told that he had been of late very sick, and he appeared to me quite in dotage.
(Signed)
JUL. DEPESTRE.
City of Richmond, ss.
Personally appeared before me, Edward Carrington, a magistrate for said city, the above named Julian Depestre, and made oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Given under my hand this 1st October, 1807.
E. CARRINGTON.
TRIAL
COLONEL A. BURR
MOTION FOR COMMITMENT
EXAMINATION OF EVIDENCE
Monday, October 5.
Julian Depestre's affidavit concluded.
We arrived at Marietta the 26th August, and the 27th we went to visit Mr. Blennerhassett on his island--we dined and passed the night there; the 28th we came back to Marietta, and the 29th we took the road to Chillicothe, where we arrived the thirtieth first.
The 2d of September I left colonel Burr about 20 miles from Chillicothe, he pursuing his journey to Cincinnati, where I declined going with him, having an intention of visiting Upper Louisiana, and fearing my time was already too short: from that time I have not seen him (except a moment at Louisville) where I had spent a few days with my friends; that was about the 16th of September. At my return about the 20th of October I found him again at Lexington, busy and much engaged with old papers and others; he told me he had made the purchase of the Ouachita lands of which he had spoken to me, and offered to accommodate me with as much as I pleased for the same price it cost him; I acknowledged this mark of friendship; but told him that I declined for the moment, because I wanted to see and provide for my family; he then asked me if I had renounced to take part in the Spanish war, if there was one; I told him that there was none yet, that even it was my opinion there would be none, but that in case there should be one, if he was pleased to send me word of it, and of the situation in the army he would have obtained for me. I would be on the spot as soon as himself; he agreed I was right, but told me he believed there would be a war, and he hoped that I should stay a day to take his letters. I agreed, and the next day he sent me a letter for Mr. H. B. Latrobe, which I delivered at my passage at Washington City.
The deponent, on cross-examination on the part of colonel Burr, being asked the following questions, viz.
Q Did you, when at Morgan's, hear col. Burr talk of any military expedition, or of a separation from the union?
A No, except during the dinner, when old Mr Morgan began once or twice to speak about the rumors of a separation of the western from the eastern states; but colonel Burr seemed not willing to engage in such conversation, and did all he could to get rid of it, seeming more pleased with the conversation of the ladies.
Q Were you generally near colonel Burr or separately engaged. Did you see him engage in particular conversation during that visit?
A I heard the Morgans' give their testimony, and I do not know for my part, when such long conversations could take place; it was not before me, and colonel Burr was but very little time absent from me; after dinner I left him with the company, and went with old Mr Morgan into the garden where colonel Burr came and joined us with the ladies, about 15 minutes after; we were together all the remaining of the day, in the walks we took, and visits we made, except when I was abed, colonel Burr took the candle, and went out the doors for a few minutes, and then came back to his bed.
Did you hear colonel Burr, during the time you was with him, talk of a separation of the western from the eastern states
A Never; I only remember that in almost all the houses we stopped to, people would often engage a conversation with us upon that subject; but colonel Burr would always laugh at the idea.
Q Did it appear to you that he was or he was not, seriously interested in making some new establishment in lands?
A His project of purchasing lands on the Ouachita was a more general topic of our conversation when we were travelling, and he seemed anxious to prevail upon me to engage in it.
Q In what state of mind was then old Mr Morgan?
A We were told that he had been of late very sick, and he appeared to me quite in dotage.
(Signed)
JUL. DEPESTRE.
City of Richmond, ss.
Personally appeared before me, Edward Carrington, a magistrate for said city, the above named Julian Depestre, and made oath that the foregoing affidavit by him subscribed is true.
Given under my hand this 1st October, 1807.
E. CARRINGTON.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Justice
Crime Punishment
What keywords are associated?
Aaron Burr Trial
Julian Depestre Affidavit
Blennerhassett Island
Ouachita Lands
Spanish War
Western Separation
Richmond Enquirer
What entities or persons were involved?
Colonel A. Burr
Julian Depestre
Mr. Blennerhassett
Old Mr Morgan
Mr. H. B. Latrobe
Edward Carrington
Where did it happen?
Marietta, Blennerhassett's Island, Chillicothe, Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Washington City, Richmond
Story Details
Key Persons
Colonel A. Burr
Julian Depestre
Mr. Blennerhassett
Old Mr Morgan
Mr. H. B. Latrobe
Edward Carrington
Location
Marietta, Blennerhassett's Island, Chillicothe, Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, Washington City, Richmond
Event Date
1807
Story Details
Julian Depestre's affidavit details his travels with Colonel Burr in August and September 1807, including visits to Blennerhassett's island and discussions on Ouachita land purchases and potential Spanish war participation; on cross-examination, he denies hearing Burr discuss military expeditions or western separation from the Union, noting Burr's disinterest in such topics.