HALF-TONE PLATE ENGRAVED BY H. DAVIDSON. THE PEEGOLA. follow winter, for life renewed to follow design and beauty—has not here and there death; and realizes the joy and love of the a human being been allowed to taste this Creator in his creation. This joy of creation, divine joy, and thereby been made more of thought becoming form and life in infinite specially in the likeness of God?

THE TEUE STORY OF HARMAN BLENNERHASSETT.

BY THERESB BLENNERHASSETT-ADAMS.

HE intimate relations which existed be­ misstatements may properly be refuted by T tween Aaron Burr and Harman Blenner- a frank presentation of the facts. hassett, and the mystery surrounding the The purpose of this paper is to give, for latter, have given rise to many public mis­ the first time, the true story of Blennerhas­ statements. It is the opinion of surviving sett, his origin and antecedents, his social relatives, who have carefully guarded the standing, and his financial responsibility, and private papers of Harman Blennerhassett, to set forth why, more than a hundred years that the time has come, all of his children ago, he sold his birthright, a magnificent pa­ and grandchildren being dead, when these trimony, and crossed the Atlantic for the pur- PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 352 THE CENTURY MAGAZINE. pose of establishing a new home in another during the reign of Elizabeth. Harman Blen- country. Prom time to time articles con­ nerhassett's father was Conway Blennerhas­ cerning him and his wife, Margaret Agnew, sett of Castle Conway, Killorglin; his mother, have appeared in print, but they have always Eliza, was a daughter of Major Thomas La- been singularly inaccurate in detail. cey. As the youngest of three sons, Harman Harman Blennerhassett, born in Hamp­ Blennerhassett, in selecting a profession, shire, England, in 1765, was a direct descen­ chose the law, but soon after finishing his dant of King Edward HI of England through studies, the death of his brothers, John and Constance of Langley, wife of the Earl of Thomas, made him head of his branch of the Gloucester and daughter of Edward, Duke family. Of his sisters, one was married to of York and Isabel of Castile. The Blen- Lord Kingsale, Premier Baron of Ireland; nerhassetts are English in origin, none of another to the brother of Lord Kingsale,

HALF-TONE PLATE ENGRAVED BY H. DAVIDSON. HARMAN BLENNERHASSETT, FROM A MINIATURE TAKEN IN LONDON IN 1796, NOW OWNED BY DR. FRANCIS C. MARTIN OF BOSTON. them having been known in Ireland before the Hon. Michael de Courcy, Admiral of the reign of Elizabeth; but previous to the Blue; one other to Daniel McGilly- that time, as far back as 1357, the family— cuddy, high sheriff of Kerry; one to an Ag­ originally of Blennerhassett, a small town in new; one to Captain Coxon; and the last, Cumberland, afterward of Carlisle, subse­ Avice, never married. The children of these quently of Plimby Hall, Cumberland—many sisters in turn married men of high position: times represented Carlisle in Parliament. a daughter of Admiral de Courcy being the They have been continuously in Parliament wife of Sir J. Gordon Sinclair; a daughter for more than five hundred years; on one of Lord Kingsale, the Hon. Martha de occasion a father and two sons represented Courcy, the wife of Major Andrew Agnew, their county and county town at the same son of Sir Stair Agnew of Lochnaw. Added time. to these strong family connections, the power The old manor-house of Flimby Hall is and standing of the family to which he be­ now owned by the Earl of Lonsdale, whose longed brought Harman Blennerhassett in ancestors bought the Blennerhassett estates. contact with the best people of the day. Over three of the doorways of Flimby Hall Conway Blennerhassett died a very rich the Blennerhassett crest is cut in stone; the man, leaving his daughters handsomely por­ walls are ten feet thick, and the great oak tioned, and bequeathing a large fortune to his beams look as if they'would last forever. son. When Harman Blennerhassett broke The first of the Blennerhassetts to settle the entail and sold the estate to Thomas in Ireland was Thomas, who, with his son Mullin, afterward Lord Ventry, he received Robert, went from Plimby Hall to Kerry $160,000 in money. Outside of this was an PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED THE TRUE STORY OP HARMAN BLENNERHASSETT. 353 income not vested in the $160,000, and besides that she was disinherited. The young lady a small income of $6600, which belonged to was absent at school; her uncle was sent the entailed property as a separate portion, to take her home; instead of doing so, he and could not be transferred, the use of which married her. But he reckoned without his he had until he died. His wife also came of a host, or perhaps he did not reckon at all. family with money; but, as will be seen, she When he returned with his bride, the family was disinherited when she married Harman afliection that he thought would greet them, Blennerhassett. Her sisters, however, laid the family influence that he thought would aside money for her benefit, and sent it to protect them, were wanting. The couple her regularly. were met only with reproaches: because of Early in 1796 Har'man Blennerhassett, his thirty-one years he was held responsi­ then thirty-one years old, married in Eng­ ble; because of her eighteen years she was land Miss Margaret Agnew, daughter of pitied, but not the less blamed. Since re­ Captain Robert Agnew of Howlish, County maining in his own country meant social Durham, a young lady of eighteen. Her ostracism,^ Blennerhassett sold his property, father was lieutenant-governor of the Isle and brought his young wife to America. No of Man, and a son of General James Agnew political entanglements were about him to of Revolutionary fame. Soon after their cause him to come to this country, for though marriage, the young couple embarked for a close observer of current events, he took America, landing August 1,1796. After ex­ little interest in politics; his tastes were tensive travels through the eastern part of quiet—literary and musical. Nothing the country, a portion of the island in the brought, him to America but the fact that Ohio which bears their name was purchased, his family would not countenance his mar­ and preparations for building were begun. riage.^ The house and grounds when completed rep­ When news of the strange marriage be­ resented an investment of sixty thousand came noised about in their own country, dollars. After the island house was no those relatives not closely enough alhed to longer an abode, Blennerhassett and his fam­ •feel injured began to nod their wise heads ily removed to a plantation of one thousand in time to prophesy of dire disaster for the acres on the Mississippi River, six miles above future of the young couple. 'But when it Port Gibson. This home they called " La was decided to sell the estate and leave the Cache," and here they lived for twelve years, country, then indeed all the kith and kin, to when they sold the property for twenty-eight the most remote degree, were up in arms thousand dollars, and, after stopping in New against the breaking of the entail. A few York to pay a visit to the family of Mr. Em­ of the younger kinsfolk sympathized with met, proceeded to Montreal. In 1821, Blen­ the young people, but they were in the nerhassett, after a residence in America of minority. twenty-five years, left Canada for England, Let us see how the prophecies referred to where he hoped to be benefited through an were verified. During their residence on the influence he no longer possessed. Ten years island three children were born to Blenner­ of heartache and buflieting passed, and then hassett and his wife. Of these the eldest, came failing health, which ended in his death Dominick, was, be it said with keen pity, a at Port Pierre, on the island of Guernsey, moral degenerate. No one can read the ref­ February 2, 1831, in the sixty-sixth year of erences made to him in the letters of his his age. heartbroken mother and not feel sympathy We now come to the secret of the Blen- for her. The second child, Margaret, died nerhassetts,, which was carefully kept from in infancy. The third, Harman Blennerhas­ their children. Catharine, one of the sisters sett, Jr., was little better than his eldest of Harman Blennerhassett, married an Ag­ brother, and was restrained from excesses new. It was her daughter Margaret who as great only by the watchfulness of the married Harman Blennerhassett, her mo­ youngest brother, Joseph Lewis, during a ther's brother,^ and it was for this cause portion of his life. The fourth child, an-

^ The bare fact is mentioned in Poster's " Noble and you are of her blood, and might be kind to her," said Gtentle Families of Royal Descent." the young husband, looking up. "Yes, that is the trou­ 2 One instance in illustration of this may be cited: ble; I am of her blood," was the rejoinder, as the Soon after his marriage Harman Blennerhassett, his haughty dame left the room. wife, and one of his sisters were seated together. The 3 Within the last twenty years a dispensation was younger woman asked the elder some passing question, granted to certain crowned heads of Europe to wed addressing her, as was her habit, as " Aunt Mary." " I whose consanguinity was of exactly the same degree as am not your 'Aunt Mary,'" was the quick reply. "But that of Harman Blennerhassett and Margaret Agnew. VOL. LXII.-41. PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 354 THE CENTURY MAGAZINE. other IMrargaret, died in infancy. The fifth For the "treasonable" feature charged to and last child, Joseph Lewis, was a man of them, ^severing the Southern and Western classical education. He was graduated in States from the Union,—that could not have law with high honors, and was a fine linguist. been through their thinking the then terri­ With all this he had distinguished manners. tory of the United States too large to hold Yet, though having the means upon which together, if they did think so. That opinion to live comfortably, he passed the last was held by a large number of influential twenty years of his life in various small people, so difiicult were all means of travel towns, where he taught school, practised a and communication over the vast country little law, and spent much time in dissipa­ separated by the Alleghanies before the days tion. of steam. Burr met Blennerhassett at a It is not the purpose of this paper to dis­ period of his life when Burr had little to cuss the connection of Blennerhassett with lose and much to gain. That Blennerhassett the so-called expedition of Burr beyond two sustained losses through indorsing for Burr points: first, the moneyed losses of Blen­ is shown by his papers. In a letter of Colo­ nerhassett through Burr, second, his object nel Alston, the son-in-law of Burr, to Blen­ in joining Burr at all. According to the brief nerhassett, dated June 22, 1807, the writer of Harman Blennerhassett, prepared by his states that he has that day written Colonel own hand for his expected trial at Richmond, Burr making certain ofllers which he hopes Virginia, Burr, while on a Southern tour in will facilitate a settlement; "but," he adds, the spring of 1805, visited Blennerhassett at " should they unfortunately fail, I shall cer­ his island home. On that occasion it appears tainly consider myself bound both in honor that the conversation was general. The fol­ and justice to fulfil my engagement to you." lowing December, on the return of Colonel In letters of Blennerhassett to his wife occur Burr from his Southern journey, he again the following passages: "On my arrival here called on Blennerhassett, who, with his wife, [Lexington] I was taken into custody for my was on a visit to New York and Baltimore. indorsement of some of Colonel Burr's bills, After his second visit. Colonel Burr ad­ of which I am now getting clear by an ar­ dressed a letter to Blennerhassett, in which rangement Mr. Clay is drawing up between he gave expression to regret at not having Mr. Sanders and me, affected by my trans­ found Blennerhassett at home. The latter ferring Colonel Alston's obligation." And, answered Burr's letter in like manner. Also " In the midst of my occupation by the cares he expressed a desire to be admitted to a par­ of my concerns with the government, I have ticipation in any speculation that might have made arrangements for removingthe greater engaged the attention of Colonel Burr dur­ part of the indebtedness affecting our prop­ ing his late journey through the Western erty on the island. Miller, who, you know, country. So the acquaintance between the attached the chief part of our effects, is not two men began—an acquaintance that meant here, but will probably accept the same ac­ moneyed losses for Blennerhassett, but which commodations by Mr. Sanders, namely, a did not destroy his home, as has been said. transfer of Alston's obligation, with a deed of Despite the eloquence of William Wirt, who trust on the island as a further security." depicted "the serpent entering the bowers Later Blennerhassett writes to his wife: of Eden," there is no evidence to support the " Alston is endeavoring to raise money here figure of speech. There is much and oft-re­ [Richmond] to meet all demands. On failing peated evidence of the trust in, and the of this, he, Alston, will assume the whole, devotion to, his wife on the part of Blenner­ payable one half a year from next January, hassett, which is a tribute that would not the remainder the January following, with have been paid to a wife who was a party to interest." Again he writes his wife: "Shall despoiling her home. go to Philadelphia with him [Burr] to try his success there in raising some money for me." There is no record of the direct plans or August 5, 1807, Blennerhassett says: "This intentions of Blennerhassett and Burr. evening ^I have inclosed various papers to Probably those were largely dependent on the Mr. Alston, showing him how my property shaping of events, foremost among which has been sacrificed on the Ohio, and praying would have been the United States becom­ his aid to recover it for my children, by ing involved in a war with Spain, in which virtue of his responsibility for my indorse­ case the perfidy of General Wilkinson, com­ ment of Colonel Burr's protested bills." mander-in-chief of the United States army, When Alston, by his unwillingness to make would have aided the scheme that has always any terms looking to a settlement with Blen- been credited to Burr and Blennerhassett. PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED THE TRUE STORY OF HARMAN BLENNERHASSETT. 355 nerhassett, showed he was not acting in good was then living in Swansea, Souwi Wales. faith, and " Burr declared he did not believe At the time of Blennerhassett's death this Mr. Alston had executed any writing by youngest son was nineteen years old. It is, which he, Alston, could be bound " to Blen- then, a mistake that at her husband's death nerhassett, the latter exclaims: "What! did Mrs. Blennerhassett was left with a family his [Burr's] memory, perhaps the most ener­ of dependent children. On her arrival in getic of all his talents, here lose its polish by this country she desired to present a claim the abrasion of his own calamities? Did he to Congress for indemnity for losses on the forget that he himself drafted that very island through the Wood County militia, paper, after having considered another, sent to take possession of the property on which Alston had written, as insufficient?" account of the alleged treasonable character So extracts without number might be given of the expedition. Besides this, she wished, to prove the assertion of Blennerhassett's if possible, to regain possession of the island, moneyed losses at the hands of Burr; but on the ground that no record existed of its these may be passed until the letter of March transfer, and that the connection of her hus­ 2, 1811, is reached. That letter from Blen- band with Burr was not sufficient cause to nerhassett to Colonel Alston states Blenner­ make null the right of his wife and children hassett's losses through Burr at $50,000, to ownership of the island property. For the $12,500 of which had been paid. A request purpose of assisting his mother and brother, is made for the payment of $15,000 six Joseph Lewis decided on joining them in months hence, the balance to be adjusted June, 1841. A bill was introduced in Con­ by agreement, the alternative of acquies­ gress, and received some support, which cence to this proposition being the publica­ might have led to its passage but for the tion of a book containing much inner history, death of Mrs. Blennerhassett, which oc­ which Blennerhassett believes will yield curred in New York on June 16, 1842. She $10,000. On Burr's return from England, a died in her sixty-fourth year in the house she similar communication was addressed to him. herself rented and paid for at 75 Greenwich But that was not demanding $10,000 " hush- street. money." It was simply calling on Burr and Many misstatements have been made as Alston to fulfil an obligation of long stand­ to the circumstances of her death. She died ing, a just and honest debt which they were in the arms of her son Joseph Lewis, Har­ seeking to evade. man also being present. It is a mistake that Blennerhassett's reason for joining Burr " no soothing hand of a relative fanned her was not love of adventure, but to remove fevered temples," and that but for the himself farther from those who knew him. " kindly ministrations of a society of Irish He had family friends who respected him females" she was deserted. Her sons (her through the position he occupied in his own only living children), who idolized her, were country. Among those who knew the sad both present at her death-bed. They, with story of his life, there were not many on the family of Mr. T. A. Emmet, followed her this side of the water; but the dread was to her grave in the plot of Mr. Emmet in St. with him" always that the truth would be­ Paul's churchyard, Broadway. It was not come known to his children. In 1824 Blen­ necessity that caused her burial there, but nerhassett returned to Canada for his family. the fulfilment of a promise between Mrs. The intercession of his wife's sisters, who Emmet and Mrs. Blennerhassett that in were devoted to her, secured for Mrs.Blenner- death they would rest side by side. If sis­ hassett in England and Scotland respectful ters of charity were present, it was not treatment. Avice Blennerhassett, the mai­ known to her sons; it is not customary for den sister of Harman, who had willed him her them to attend the last rites for the dead if property, and who survived him, died in there is any one to take their place.^ But February, 1838. As soon as business matters why not, in the interest of fiction, let this connected with the settlement of the estate same "society of Irish females" follow her? permitted, Mrs. Blennerhassett returned to The abject-poverty tales of Blennerhassett this country, to join her son Harman in New and his family serve well the purpose of ro­ York, arriving in the summer of 1840. Jo­ mance, but not of fact, because they are seph Lewis, the youngest son, with his wife. untrue. While the family of Blennerhassett _ 1 After his mother's death Joseph Lewis returned to the good ladies of the "Old Bowery Mission." Dnhap- his wife at Swansea. He did not come to this country pily, his habits in his latter days led him to associate again until 1847. It is not true that Harman Blenner- with the class of people relieved by that excellent hassett, the younger, was dependent for necessities on charity; hence the mistake.

PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 356 THE CENTURY MAGAZINE. condemned his marriage, they would never sickness and trouble, and did many things have allowed him to be in need. The same "to aid in the welfare of mankind." Many is true of the sisters of Mrs. Blennerhassett. a struggling musician was aided substantially True, Blennerhassett lost heavily, and they in his work by Blennerhassett, himself a fine had serious moneyed trials, often traceable musician. to their own foolish expenditures. It has Joseph Lewis Blennerhassett died in Mis­ been said that the elder Harman Blenner­ souri on December 8, 1862. His two little hassett filled a drunkard's grave. As a mat­ boys, Robert Emmet and Harman, died some ter of fact, he was a man abstemious in the time before their father. With him the use of intoxicants. It has been said that he last direct descendant of Harman Blen­ was a shiftless Irishman with a few thousand nerhassett passed away; but even so the pounds. The incorrectness of this has been family is far from " extinct." There are a shown in this article. Also it has been stated number of people related by blood to Har­ that he lived " without doing even the small­ man Blennerhassett on this side of the est thing to aid in the welfare of mankind "; Atlantic,—among others Dr. Francis C. that "his own lack of purpose, and easy­ Martin of Boston, who is a greatgrand- going disposition, and a wife with an over- nephew of Mrs. Harman Blennerhassett,— |Weening ambition," were accountable for the and on the other side there are Rowland reverses of his latter days. These reverses Ponsonby Blennerhassett of Trales, who have been magnified to match other points represented Kerry in Parliament in 1885; already named. The "overweening ambi­ Sir Rowland Blennerhassett, president of tion " of Mrs. Blennerhassett has its origin Queen's College, city of Cork, Ireland; Ar­ in the articles of some of her biographers. thur Blennerhassett of Ballyseedy, repre­ There was too much sorrow in her life to senting the oldest branch; Mr. Blenner- make her "ambition" more than ordinary. hassett-Chute of Chute Hall, Blennerville, What field had her aching heart for ambi­ County Kerry. These gentlemen, who do tion? None except that grown in the fertile not comprise all of the family across the brain of her biographers. She and her hus­ water, have given more than one proof that band were kind, generous people in time of the family is not extinct.

THE FUGITIVE. BY ARTHUR STRINGER. HUNTED thing, through copse and wood A Night after night he skulked and crawled. To where amid dark homesteads stood One gloomy garden locked and walled.

He paused in fear each step he took. And waited till the moon was gone; Then stole in by the little brook That still laughed down the terraced lawn. And up the well-known path he crept, And through the tan'gled briars tore; And he, while they who sought him slept. Saw his ancestral home once more.

There song and lights were still astir., And by her he could see one stand, (And he had fared so far to her!) Who spoke with her and took her hand.

Then back by copse and wood he crept While yet the dawn was cold and dim; And while in her white room she slept, 'T was his old hound crawled back with him. PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED