854. BOLLMAN (Eric), Burr and.—
I
am sorry to tell you that Bollman was Burr's
right hand man in all his guilty schemes. On
being brought to prison here [Washington], he
communicated to Mr. Madison and myself the
whole of the plans, always, however, apologetically
for Burr, as far as they would bear.
But his subsequent tergiversations have proved
him conspicuously base. I gave him a pardon,
however, which covers him from everything but
infamy. I was the more astonished at his engaging
in this business, from the peculiar motives
he should have felt for fidelity. When I
came into the government, I sought him out on
account of the services he had rendered you,
cherished him, offered him two different appointments
of value, which, after keeping them
long under consideration, he declined for commercial
views, and would have given him anything
for which he was fit. Be assured he is
unworthy of ever occupying again the care of
any honest man.—
To Marquis de Lafayette. Washington ed. v, 130.
Ford ed., ix, 114.
(W.
July. 1807)
