The Dutch spelt It Wlehachan, and it is now commonly wi-itten Weehawken ; I Jiave adopted the ortliography that expresses the pure Indian pronunciation.

THE HUDSON. 449

famous by its connection with the duelling ground where General Alexander Hamilton, one of the founders of the Eepublic, was mortally wounded in single combat, by Aaron Burr, then Vice-President of the United States. They were bitter political foes. Without just provocation, in the summer preceding an important election, Burr, anxious to have Hamilton out of his way, challenged him to fight. The latter, out of unnecessary respect for a barbarous public opinion, accepted the challenge ; and early in the morning of the 11th of July, 1804, they and friends crossed the Hudson to Weehawk, and stood as foes upon the duelling ground. Hamilton was opposed to duelling ; and, pursuant to his previous resolution, did not fire his pistol. The malignant Burr took deliberate aim, and fired with fatal precision. Hamilton lived little more than thirty hours. His deatli produced the most profound grief throughout the nation. Burr lived more than thirty years, a fugitive, like Cain, and suffering the bitter scorn • of his countrymen. This crime, added to his known vices, made him thoroughly detested, and few men had the courage to avow themselves his friend. A monument was erected to the memory of Hamilton, on the spot where he fell. It was afterwards destroyed by some marauder. The place is now a rough one, on the margin of the river, and is marked by a rude arm-chair or sofa (seen in our sketch, in which we are looking up the river) made of stones. On one of them the half-effaced names of Hamilton and Burr may be seen.