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The island hove in sight to great advantage from the middle of the river, from which
point of view little more appeared than the simple decorations of nature; trees, shrubs,
flowers, of every perfume and kind. The next point of view on running with the current,
on the right hand side, varied to a scene of enchantment. A lawn, in the form of
a fan inverted, presented itself, the nut forming the centre and summit of the island,
and the broad segment the borders of the water. The lawn contained one hundred
acres of the best pasture, interspersed with flowering shrubs and clumps of trees, in a
manner that conveyed a strong conviction of the taste and judgment of the proprietor.
The house came into view at the instant I was signifying a wish that such a lawn had
a mansion. it stands on the immediate summit of the island, whose ascent is very
gradual; is snow white; three stories high, and furnished with wings which interlock
the adjoining trees, confine the prospect, and intercept the sight of barns, stables, and
out-offices, which are so often suffered to destroy the effect of the noblest views in
England.

The full front of the house being the signal for pulling in for the island, we did so
immediately, and fell below a small wharf that covered an eddy and made the landing
both easy and secure. There was no resisting the friendly importunity of my fellow
passengers; no excuse would be taken; to stop the night at least, was insisted upon,
and with a convincing expression that showed the desire flowed from hearts desirous not
to be refused. There is something so irresistible in invitations of such a nature that
they cannot be denied. I gave instructions respecting the boat, and giving the lady my
arm, we walked up the beautiful lawn, through which a winding path led to the house.
It was tea-time. That refreshment was served and conducted with a propriety and
elegance I never witnessed out of Britain. The conversation was chaste and general,
and the manners of the lady and gentleman were refined, without being frigid; distinguished,
without being ostentatious; and familiar, without being vulgar, importunate,
or absurd.

Before the decline of day we walked into the gardens, which were elegantly laid out
in your country's style; produced remarkably fine vegetables, and had a very favorable
show of standard peaches, and other fruit. The island abounds with vines, which grow to
great height and strength, but never produce to any perfection. The path we had taken led
to the water, the border of which brought us to the boat, where it seems all the servants
of the family had assembled to hear what news my people might have brought into their
little world. We found them seated on the green around Mindreth, who, proud to be
their historian, related tales of such peril and affright, that they gazed on him with sensations
of wonder and astonishment. The poor Mandanean, excluded by his color and
aspect from participating in the social pleasures of the whites, had built himself a good
fire, made himself the section of a tent, and was preparing his rod and line to catch
some fish for supper. I saw the lady so pleased with this scene, and so delighted with
Cuff's truly rural establishment, that I proposed supping on the shore, and by displaying
a specimen of my evenings on the river, give some idea of former times, and the innocent
enjoyments of primitive life. The night being perfectly fine, and the moon out, and
some light clouds hindering the dew from falling, my proposition was joyfully acceded
to, and instructions were given accordingly.

This determination gave life and interest to a scene that before was calm and pleasing.
All was action and bustle. The historian no more attended. Every one assumed an
occupation, and Cuff saw his tent surrounded by twenty willing assistants. The lady
being busy instructing the servants, and sending them to the house for a few necessary
articles, I proposed to the gentlemen to take the canoe across the current, and under the
shade of the trees of the bank, with a lighted torch, attract the fish to the surface, and
spear them while gazing at the blaze. We crossed over, and met with the success of
striking seven large cat and sunfishes, in less than half an hour. We returned with the
torch still burning, and the hands singing "The Beauteous Month of May," in cadence
to the paddles, which rose and struck with a preconcerted regularity. This mode of
nocturnal fishing was quite novel to the inhabitants of the little insulated world. The
lady was charmed with it, and declared that the view of the canoe by torchlight, across
the water; the conversation, obscurely heard; the sudden bursts of exultation announcing
every success; and the cheerful return, with mirth and song, was an improvement
of the finest sort to a scene she before deemed incapable of augmentation. After
chatting some time on subjects immediately arising out of occurring incidents, and

admiring the versatility of mind which one time finds felicity in towns and midnight
masquerades, and at another acknowledges happiness on the contrasted theatre of the
rivers and wilderness, we sat down to our repast, and in a short time paid the encomium
of a satiated appetite. After which we returned to the house, where, over a bottle of
wine, one hour longer we conversed on the pleasures of our rural sports, and retired to
rest with that heartfelt ease which follows an innocent and well-spent day. Next morning,
after breakfast, I with difficulty tore myself from this interesting family. You will
excuse me for omitting the names of this amiable couple. They were from Ireland.

Herman Blannerhasset was from a distinguished and wealthy Irish family, and was
born in England while his mother was there on a visit. He received part of his education
in England, and afterwards graduated at the University of Dublin, and acquired
the profession of the law. He married Miss Adeline Agnew, a grand-daughter of the
Gen. Agnew who was with Wolfe at Quebec. Being in principle a republican, he sold
his estates, and coming to this country, landed at New York, where he was hospitably
received by the first families. About the year 1798, he commenced his improvements
on the island. His workmen were principally from Philadelphia. While his house was
building, himself and family resided at Marietta. One who knew Mrs. Blannerhasset informed
the writer that she was the most beautiful and accomplished lady she ever knew.
She was gay and dressy, and an elegant dancer. She was fond of walking and riding,
and on one occasion walked up to Marietta, a distance of ten or twelve miles. She was
also a splendid equestrian, and was accustomed to ride attired in a scarlet riding-dress,
and made her horse leap fences and ditches with ease. While at the island, Mr. Blannerhasset
"possessed a voluminous library of choice and valuable books; a full set of
chemical apparatus, and philosophical instruments, to the accommodation of which one
wing of the dwelling-house was appropriated. He was a fine scholar, well versed in
the languages, and refined in taste and manners. So tenacious was his memory, that
he could repeat the whole of Homer's Iliad in the original Greek. With an ample fortune
to supply every want, a beautiful and highly accomplished wife, and children just
budding into life, he seemed surrounded with every thing which can make existence
desirable and happy. The adjacent settlements of Belprie and Marietta, although secluded
in the wilderness, contained many men of cultivated minds and refined manners,
with whom he held constant and familiar intercourse; so that he lacked none of the
benefits of society which his remote and insular situation would seem to indicate. Many
were the cheerful and merry gatherings of the young people of these two towns beneath
his hospitable roof, while the song and the dance echoed through the halls."[1]

In 1805, Aaron Burr, then sailing down the Ohio, landed uninvited on the island,
where he was received with frank hospitality by the family. He remained but three
days; but afterwards frequently visited the island, and finally enticed Blannerhasset
into his plans. These were to settle an armed force on the Washita, for the purpose of
colonizing that region, and, in case of war between Spain and the United States—at that
time threatened—to subjugate Mexico. It was charged against Burr at his trial, that
he meditated the severing of the eastern from the western states; but the folly of such
a scheme was too absurd for the sagacity of this artful man. And he solemnly declared
on his death-bed that he never meditated treason against the United States. If he did,
Blannerhasset was not aware of the fact, as the letters of himself and wife evince.
Burr did not, however, impart to him all his plans. He only wished to excite the cupidity

of Blannerhasset with the prospect of great gains from his land speculations on
the Washita, so as to gain access to his purse. Burr gave security for moneys advanced,
on his son-in-law, Mr. Allston, of South Carolina; and while their plans were consummating,
the accomplished daughter of Burr, Mrs. Allston, was a guest of Mrs. Blannerhasset.
In the mean time Mr. Blannerhasset had constructed a flotilla of about twenty
barges, in the vicinity of Marietta, for the expedition. The peculiar form of these
boats excited curiosity and apprehension. In December, 1806, he went down the Ohio
with them, having on board about thirty men, and loaded with parched corn meal. In
the mean time an order was received by Col. Phelps, the commandant of the militia of
Wood county, for his arrest, with his associates. Mrs. Blannerhasset met the military
with unblanched cheeks, and forbade their touching any thing not mentioned in the
warrant; but "the mob spirit of the militia ran riot, the well-stored cellars of the mansion
were assailed, fences were destroyed to feed the sentinel's fires, the shrubbery was
trampled under foot, and for amusement, balls fired into the rich gilded ceiling of the
wall." "By the aid of some of her kind neighbors in Belprie, who were friendly to her
husband, and greatly pitied her unpleasant condition, she was enabled to embark a few
days after, with her two little sons, the most valuable of her effects, and black servants,
in a boat; but did not rejoin Mr. Blannerhasset until he reached Louisville. Well
might they look back in after years with fond regret, to the fair Eden from which they
had been expelled by their own indiscretion, and the deceptive blandishments of Aaron
Burr. In the year 1812, the dwelling-house and offices were destroyed by an accidental
fire. The garden, with all its beautiful shrubbery, was converted into a corn-field, the
ornamental gateway which graced the gravelled avenue from the river to the house, was
thrown down; and for many years not a vestige has been left of the splendid and happy
home of Herman Blannerhasset but the name. Nearly forty years have elapsed since
some of these events were transacted, and the thousands of passengers who annually
travel up and down the Ohio in steamboats, still eagerly inquire after, and gaze upon
the `island of Blannerhasset' with wonder and delight."[2]

At the time of the trial of Burr at Richmond, Blannerhasset had been arrested, and
was placed in the penitentiary at Richmond. His description of the trial, as preserved
in his correspondence, the graphic picture of Judge Marshall, of Wirt, and the celebrated
Luther Martin, is drawn with the skill of a master.

As the jury failed to convict Burr, the principal, his accomplice Blannerhasset was
not brought to trial, and was set at liberty. He was, however, about ruined. The security
which Burr gave for moneys advanced failed, and Blannerhasset, from being a
very wealthy man, was reduced to indigence. He had gone through this fiery ordeal
with a character unimpeached, although subjected to the severest calumnies. This is
evinced by his continuing to enjoy the friendship of that worthy patriot Thomas Addis
Emmet, and of many other men of standing.

Mr. Blannerhasset after this settled on a cotton plantation in Mississippi. At the
close of the war he came on to the north to educate his children, from whence he removed
to Canada, where he practised his profession as a lawyer. In 1822 he went to
England with his family; and finally died on the island of Guernsey, at the age of
sixty-three years. He left his wife and three children. Mrs. Blannerhasset came to
America, and preferred claims against the United States, but without success. She
died in New York city, in 1842, where one of her sons is now residing.