Famous Affinities of History: The Romance of Devotion. Volume 2Orr, Lyndon
History
Famous Affinities of History: The Romance of Devotion. Volume 2
Orr, Lyndon
Biography; Love; Women -- Biography
His wife died in 1794, and he then gave a double affection to his
daughter Theodosia, whose beauty and accomplishments were known
throughout the country. Burr took the greatest pains in her education,
and believed that she should be trained, as he had been, to be brave,
industrious, and patient. He himself, who has been described as a
voluptuary, delighted in the endurance of cold and heat and of severe
labor.
After his death one of his younger admirers was asked what Burr had
done for him. The reply was characteristic.
"He made me iron," was the answer.
No father ever gave more attention to his daughter's welfare. As to
Theodosia's studies he was very strict, making her read Greek and Latin
every day, with drawing and music and history, in addition to French.
Not long before her marriage to Joseph Allston, of South Carolina, Burr
wrote to her:
I really think, my dear Theo, that you will be very soon beyond all
verbal criticism, and that my whole attention will be presently
directed to the improvement of your style.
Theodosia Burr married into a family of good old English stock, where
riches were abundant, and high character was regarded as the best of
all possessions. Every one has heard of the mysterious tragedy which is
associated with her history. In 1812, when her husband had been elected
Governor of his state, her only child--a sturdy boy of eleven--died,
and Theodosia's health was shattered by her sorrow. In the same year
Burr returned from a sojourn in Europe, and his loving daughter
embarked from Charleston on a schooner, the Patriot, to meet her father
in New York. When Burr arrived he was met by a letter which told him
that his grandson was dead and that Theodosia was coming to him.
Weeks sped by, and no news was heard of the ill-fated Patriot. At last
it became evident that she must have gone down or in some other way
have been lost. Burr and Governor Allston wrote to each other letter
after letter, of which each one seems to surpass the agony of the
other. At last all hope was given up. Governor Allston died soon after
of a broken heart; but Burr, as became a Stoic, acted otherwise.
He concealed everything that reminded him of Theodosia. He never spoke
of his lost daughter. His grief was too deep-seated and too terrible
for speech. Only once did he ever allude to her, and this was in a
letter written to an afflicted friend, which contained the words:
Ever since the event which separated me from mankind I have been able
neither to give nor to receive consolation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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