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The Burr-Hamilton Duel Correspondence (or Hamilton-Burr Duel Correspondence) are a series of letters exchanged between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton after Hamilton endorsed Thomas Jefferson over Aaron Burr, citing the idea of Burr's being in public office as "dangerous". These letters were sent and received between June 18th 1804 and June 25th 1804.

Correspondence[]

In the correspondence, there are 5 letters, 4 exchanged between Hamilton and Burr (2 from Burr, 2 from Hamilton) and one exchanged between William P. Van Ness and Nathaniel Pendelton, following the third rule in The Ten Duel Commandments,

 
"Have your seconds meet face-to-face. Negotiate a peace, or negotiate a time and place"
— Charles Lee/Aaron Burr/Alexander Hamilton, "Ten Duel Commandments"

This letter of course, proves Van Ness didn't meet him face-to-face to "negotiate a peace", however because there is no reply from Pendleton, it can be assumed they negotiated "a time and place" in person.

Musical[]

The correspondence in Hamilton does not 'correspond' with the actual letters, unlike Washington's Farewell Address or The Reynolds Pamphlet. The full letters can be found here. The only near-verbatim line is the sign-off the two characters read aloud during Your Obedient Servant is the partially titular line "I have the honor of being your obedient servant" followed by "A. Burr" or "A. Ham". Other than this near-identical line, the correspondence heard in Hamilton is completely original.

The Off-Broadway Production of Hamilton's version was a lot closer to the original, not ripped straight from the source but re-worded around it.

The line "An itemized list of 30 years of disagreements" is not a reference to any real document, rather a reference to Parks and Recreation. While this is not a quote from the show, Lin-Manuel Miranda noted in Hamilton: The Revolution that this is a reference to the premier character of that show, Leslie Knope. [1]

Your Obedient Servant (Draft)[]

In the original draft of Your Obedient Servant, released by Lin-Manuel Miranda in Hamildemos, the correspondence sang by the two men is a lot closer to the original content.

Your Obedient Servant (Draft) Burr-Hamilton Duel Correspondence
I submit for your immediate perusal a letter from a Doctor Charles Cooper who was kind enough to give me his approval to reprint a letter that he sent in confidence .He claims that on numerous occasions .You have called me "a dangerous man". Furthermore I "ought not be trusted with the reins of government". I send for your perusal a letter signed Ch. D. Cooper which, though apparently published some time ago, has but very recently come to my knowledge. Mr. Van Ness, who does me the favor to deliver this, will point out to you that clause of the letter to which I particularly request your attention.
Obviously such an accusation must be met with either an immediate acknowledgement or disavowal. Now, are you capable of such a thing? You must perceive, Sir, the necessity of a prompt and unqualified acknowledgement or denial of the use of any expressions which could warrant the assertions of Dr. Cooper.
I've reflected on the letter I received from you on the afternoon of June 18th and I'm afraid that I cannot provide you with the kind of answer that you're looking for I have maturely reflected on the subject of your letter of the 18th Instant, and the more I have reflected, the more I have become convinced that I could not without manifest impropriety make the avowal or disavowal which you seem to think necessary.
The phrase "numerous occasions", in place of actual situations, conveys infinite shades. It's way too vague a phrase to pin to serious allegations. Listen now; how am I to disavow something so unspecific? "Dangerous with the reigns of government"? Wow, surely I said something less banal. Be realistic now ‘Tis evident that the phrase “still more despicable” admits of infinite shades from very light to very dark. How am I to judge of the degree intended? Or how should I annex any precise idea to language so vague?

Song References[]

 
"If you’ve got something to say name a time and place, face to face"
— Aaron Burr, "Your Obedient Servant"
 
"Burr, your grievance is legitimate. I stand by what I said, every bit of it"
— Alexander Hamilton, "Your Obedient Servant"
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