1815 Matthew L. Davis, Autograph Signed Letter, Publisher & Aaron Burr Biographer

1815 Matthew L. Davis, Autograph Financial Investments Letter, Aaron Burr Biographer, At Duel

Matthew L. Davis (1766-1850), prosperous printer & writer, friend & biographer of Aaron Burr..  Signed letter to G.A. Worth, Cashier, Farmer's and Mechanics' Bank, Albany, NY, includes directions regarding his interest incomes and his Treasury notes.  Includes a slip written in 1839 noting his authorship of works on Burr.

A friend and admirer of Aaron Burr, Davis was present at the duel between Burr and Alexander Hamilton, after which he went to jail rather than testify against his friend. Davis's career in journalism began with the short-lived New York "Evening Post" in 1794; in 1797-98 he was associated with Philip Freneau on the "Time Piece and Literary Companion." Many of Burr's private papers were left to Davis; he published "Memoirs of Aaron Burr" and "The Private Journal of Aaron Burr."

For many years he wrote letters from the national capital to the New York " Courier and Enquirer " under the pen name of " The Spy in Washington." He also corresponded with the London " Times," signing his letters " The Genevese Traveller." He was associated with Philip Freneau in the publication of the " Timepiece and Literary Companion" in New York City, which was begun on 15 September 1797, and ceased on 30 August of the following year. For many years before Burr's death Davis was his only intimate friend and associate. He published "Memoirs of Aaron Burr, with Miscellaneous Correspondence" (New York, 1836'7), and edited Burr's "Private Journal during his Residence in Europe" (1838).