marriage. She was not beautiful, but ac complished, ref1ned, intelligent, and in style and manners without a peer among the women of her time. There was a con geniality of mind as well as of heart between husband and wife which made their married life one of ideal beauty. Within a year of their marriage, their only child was born, the beautiful, the beloved, the brilliant Theodosia, who lived to love her father as few fathers have ever been loved, and whose tragic death was a blow which staggered even his rare fortitude. The following pas sage from one of her letters to him shows with what enthusiastic admiration she re garded him: "I witness your extraordinary fortitude with new wonder at every misfortune. Often, when reflecting on this subject, you appear to me so superior, so elevated above other men, I contemplate you with such a strange mixture of humility, admiration, reverence, love and pride, that very little superstition would be necessary to make me worship you as a superior being; such enthusiasm does your character excite in me. When I after wards refer to myself, how insignificant do my best qualities appear. My vanity would be greater, if I had not been placed so near you; and yet my pride is our relationship. I had rather not live than not be the daughter of such a man." After practicing law with great success in Albany for eight months, Burr removed to New York on the twenty-fifth of November, 1783, soon after the British evacuated that city, at that time a place of twenty-five thousand inhabitants. In this larger field he soon made himself felt as a lawyer pre pared to take his place among the leaders of the bar. With the exception of serving two sessions in the State Legislature ( 17845), his profession took up his entire time during the next eight years.
Aaron Burr was not a great lawyer in the same sense that Marshall, Taney, Luther Martin, Pinkney, Webster, and Charles O'Conor were great. But as a lawyer who possessed all the legal weapons of offense and defence, and could use them with skill and daring, his equal has never lived. He was indefatigable in preparing his causes, examining evidence, and employing every expedient. He was never surprised by his adversary, but often took his adversary by surprise; no adversary ever found him trip ping, but he often tripped his adversary. He was regarded as a martinet in the pro fession; he asked no favors, and granted none. Matthew L. Davis, who knew Burr long and intimately, said he would no more have solicited indulgence from an opponent in his professional practice than from an armed foe; but, at the same time, he rarely withheld any courtesy that was asked of him, not inconsistent with the interest of his client; like a gallant knight he struck rapid blows when engaged in legal combats. He was a strict practitioner; and was so fond of legal technicalities that he never omitted an opportunity of trying his own skill with that of the opposing counsel, in submitting pleas, demurrers, etc. He did not pretend to be an orator. He never declaimed; his arguments were de livered in a quiet, calm, deliberate manner. He was never diffuse, but always to the point; sometimes sarcastic, but never domineering; his address was unrivalled, his manner courtly, his bearing cool and dignified. He never undertook a case which he did not feel sure of winning, and never lost a cause which he personally conducted. His style of speaking has been described as unique, as peculiarly his own; he was always brief; never loud, vehement or impassioned; but conciliating, persuasive and impressive; stern and peremptory, when the subject
