Burr was vastly amused by it and it became "a standing joke with him for the rest of his life." (See Parton: Burr, 506.) But it was no "joke"—standing or otherwise—to the people. They believed Wirt's imagery to be a statement of the facts.
[1229] "Wirt raised his reputation yesterday, as high as MacRae sunk his the day before." (Blennerhassett Papers: Safford, 366.)
[1230] Burr Trials, ii, 123-24.
[1231] See Hay's complaint that Botts talked so fast that he could not make notes on his points. (Ib. 194.)
[1232] Burr Trials, ii, 128-35.
[1233] Ib. 168. Another story "propagated through the crowd" was that Burr had, by his "emissaries," attempted to poison with laudanum one of the Government's witnesses—this although the particular witness had been brought to Richmond to testify only that Wilkinson was not in the pay of Spain. (Blennerhassett Papers: Safford, 367.)
[1234] Burr Trials, ii, 164-73.
[1235] Botts here refers to the public outcry against Jefferson, while Governor during the Revolution, that nearly resulted in his impeachment. (See vol. i, 143-44, of this work.)
[1236] Burr Trials, ii, 135-92.
[1237] Ib. 224.