former contracts-Nolan's account-current, notwithstanding! And how does the General escape the force of this testimony? Does he attempt, according to his usual method, to discredit the witness? No. Does he sturdily deny the alleged acknowledgment? No: even his impudence fails him on this occasion; he admits, that the statement is substantially true, but hints, that it was all a joke—a mere quiz upon the Quaker !a

Well might the Court Martial find the evidence such as tended to excite unfavourable suspicions of his views, in his connexion with the Spanish authorities! Well might the General himself exclaim, that the odium thus excited, would descend with him to the grave!

Of Conspiracy and Treason.-Some men possess, in an eminent degree, the art of making "the worse appear the better reason;" but by what obliquity of mind, of conduct, or of character is it, that in the General, this quality is reversed, and that the best things, under his management, become suspected? What more sacred, than the rights of the West? Yet mark, how at his touch, they wither and taint. The trade of a whole people, becomes a subject of barter! the boon he solicits for them, is turned into a job for himself! A firkin of butter cannot find its way to market, but by a passport from him, and-what would excite laughter, if it did not awaken suspicion-the invoice of this slippery cargo, is the subject of a despatch to the Spanish Governor, and is written in cyphers! Again: the universal consent of mankind, bestows upon him, who by defeating treason, has served, perhaps saved his country, the highest honours of the Commonwealth. To these, Gen. Wilkinson thinks himself justly entitled, and often and loudly proclaims his own merit;-but why is it, that in him, these high pretensions never fail to excite a smile or a sneer? Because his conduct on that occasion, induced a very general belief of a double treason; that he first listened to the tempter, and conspired against his country;-that he ultimately weighed the danger, and betrayed his friend and associate. Let us trace the causes of these humiliating effects.

The friendship between Burr and Wilkinson was kindled during the war of the revolution, amidst scenes of suffering, of danger, and of glory, and was continued, perhaps increased, (but in ordinary forms,) until the winter of 1800; when becoming more extended, serious and intimate, a cypher was devised to give security to its communications; and-to make assurance doubly sure—a few hieroglyphics were superadded. Having passed the winter of 1804 together at Washington, they parted in the spring, to meet again and soon, on the great theatre of the West.

At the rapids of the Ohio, our author recollected, that it was

a See document 59. Vol. II.

the wish of his friend, to be known to Gen. Adair of Kentucky; and a letter to that gentleman was accordingly written: "I was "to have introduced," he says, " my friend Burr to you, but in this I "failed, by accident. He understands your merits, and reckons on you. Prepare to visit me, and I will tell you all. We must "have a peep at the unknown world beyond me."a Eight days afterwards the friends met at Fort Massac. The Colonel had great locomotive faculties, and had already traversed Kentucky and Tennessee, and was now literally on the wing for New-Orleans, the principal avenue to that unknown world at which the General was so eager to have a peep. A letter to Daniel Clark, (then an intimate friend of the Gen.) might be useful, and was given. "This will be delivered to you by Col. Burr, whose worth you "well know how to estimate. If the persecutions of a great and "honourable man can give title to generous attention, he has "claims to all your civilities and all your services. You cannot "oblige me more than by such conduct; and I pledge my life to you, it will not be misapplied. To him I refer you for many "things improper to letter, and which he will not say to any other." What Burr communicated at New-Orleans is not told, but about the middle of September, we find him at St. Louis, communicating so freely to the General himself, as apparently to awaken his sense of duty. I feared,' he says, that ambition and revenge were 'leading him astray.' And what, under this solemn impression, was the conduct of the commander of the army and the Governor of the Province? A curious one, truly. To a member of the cabinet, he denounces Burr as about something, whether external ' or internal, he could not discover; but thinks they ought to keep an eye upon him;' while to Gen. Harrison, he recommends him warmly, as the representative of the Indiana Territory, in Congress. "If you ask what is the important boon which I so earnestly crave? I will say to you, return the bearer to the councils "of our country; where his talents and abilities are all important, "at the present moment. But how is this to be done? By your "fiat-let Mr. Parke adhere to his profession; convene your "Solomons, and let them return him [Col. Burr] to Congress."

66

'I

We pause for a moment, to consider the character of these three extraordinary letters. They are all strongly marked by the General's characteristical love of mystery. In that to Adair, he says -Burr knows your merit and reckons upon you. Meet me and 'you shall know all. We must have a peep at the unknown 'world.' Burr's project could not have been characterized in fewer or better words: the Spanish provinces the object,-and military merit like Adair's, the means. But the General says,

a Vol. II. p. 203.

this is all a mistake, and that the first and second sentences apply to Burr's political game in Tennessee, and that the merits so well known to him, meant only Adair's electioneering ability. Unfortunately for this interpretation, neither Tennessee, nor the election, nor Congress, nor political standing, is once mentioned, throughout the whole letter. Again: in that to Clark, where he hints at unutterable things, or rather, at things which he cannot utter, he means another snug, sub rosa, electioneering plan; by which the Col. was to become the representative of the New-Orleans Territory, without the privity of a single elector in it, excepting Daniel Clark! How extraordinary is this, and how very different from the General's own method of backing his friend, when that friend had become an object of his political suspicion.a

At the time the letters to Adair and Clark were written, nothing had occurred to shake the General's belief in the integrity of Col. Burr; yet we have seen that the means hitherto employed to serve him, were dark, doubtful and inefficient;-but now, that the General suspects him, his zeal is redoubled, and he most fervently and distinctly entreats Harrison, to assemble his Solomons and send the Colonel to Congress! And why? Because his talents and knowledge are, at this moment, all-important in the councils of his country. And is this the man, upon whom he has just attempted to fix the eye of national suspicion? Can this be the Aaron Burr, whom he has but this moment denounced to the Secretary of the Navy, as having some iniquitous project, external or internal? Reader, spare your indignation; the denunciation never was received, perhaps never was sent. Writing the letter, was sufficient to quiet the General's conscience, and getting his aid-de-camp to copy it, was a sure and easy method of obtaining another testimonial to his own loyalty.b

We now return to our narrative. Burr left the western country in September, 1805, and from this point of time until the spring of 1806, the ciphers and hieroglyphics were in constant requisition. The character of Burr's letters, during this period, is given by the General in the following words,—they were of an ambiguous as'pect,' 'and were calculated to inculpate me if exposed.' That of his own, in reply, has been furnished by accident. Swartwout saw one of them and deposed to the following passage, in which the

a Vol. II. p. 303. General Wilkinson's letter to General Harrison. By the way—this last-mentioned gentleman declared, at a public dinner in this city in the fall of 1813, that, if he chose to do so, he could (by discovering a secret of Wilkinson's) destroy him. Gen. S. Smith was among the number of those to whom General Harrison made this declaration. Did he allude to Newman's desertion? to the Spanish pension? or to Burr's conspiracy?

b The General has all his life been a great collector of credentials, which honest men do not require, and proud men will not employ.

c See Burr's trial, page 311.

General, in a prophetic and reproachful strain, says to Burr- Mi'randa has taken the bread out of your mouth, and I shall be ready for the grand expedition before you.'a What effect this stimulus had upon his friend, we know not, but this we do know, that on the 12th December following, Burr says-"On the subject of a certain "speculation, it is not deemed material to write, till the whole can "be communicated. The circumstance referred to in a letter from "Ohio, remains in suspense; the auspices however are favourable, "and it is believed, that Wilkinson will give audience to a delega"tion, composed of Adair and Dayton, in February. Can 25.... b "be had in your vicinity to move at some few hours' notification ?" His next letter is dated on the 16th of April, 1806, and deciphered, is as follows:

"The execution of our project is postponed until December. "Want of water in the Ohio rendered movement impracticable. "Other reasons rendered delay expedient. The association is en"larged, and comprises all that Wilkinson could wish. Confi"dence limited to few. Though this delay is irksome, it will ena"ble us to move with more certainty and dignity. Burr will be throughout the United States this summer. Administration is "damned, &c. Is Cusion et Portes right? Address Burr at Wash"ington." This letter placed the General, as he tells us, in a situation of most painful perplexity and suspense; it was not sufficiently explicit for his taste; he could not yet penetrate the veil, with which the main objects were concealed, and of course, was at 'a loss how to act.' His former caution to a member of the cabinet, 'had been so entirely neglected, that he felt a repugnance to re'peat the information he had given.' He therefore determined to keep the secret, but at the same time to ensnare the writer inta greater confidence, both in relation to his object and his means. d 'I accordingly,' he says, 'wrote him such a letter,' (probably that post-marked 13th May,) 'as struck me to be best calculated to 'produce the desired effect."'

If Burr had hitherto suspected the strength of our author's mind, or its fitness for mischievous purposes, on the receipt of this trap letter, (as the General now represents it,) he could doubt no longer and we accordingly find him immediately despatching one in reply, that in every line presupposes, on the part of his correspondent, a thorough knowledge and entire approbation of the plan.

a Burr's trial. See depositions of Tazewell, Cadell and Brokenborough. b Why not decipher this question? Why leave us to guess at two figures and four dots? See Vol. II. Appendix, No. 84.

c Nothing is said about funds, of course not at all satisfactory.

d Here is a proof of nice and honourable feelings and principles; yet is the outcry of this monster, against perfidy, and dissimulation, and hypocrisy, without end.

This specimen of frankness and friendship, is in the following words:

"Your letter, post-marked 13th May, is received. I have at "length obtained funds, and have actually commenced; the east"ern detachments, from different points and under different pre"tences, will rendezvous on Ohio, on the 1st of November. Every "thing internal and external favours our view-Naval protection "of England is secured. Truxton is going to Jamaica to arrange "with the admiral there, and will meet us at Mississippi;-England "and navy of the United States ready to join, and final orders are "given to my friends and followers. It will be a host of choice "spirits. Wilkinson shall be second to Burr only, and Wilkinson "shall dictate the rank and promotion of his officers. Burr will "proceed westward 1st August, never to return; with him go his "daughter and grandson. The husband will follow in October, "with a corps of worthies. Send forthwith an intelligent and con"fidential friend, with whom Burr may confer; he shall return im"mediately with further interesting details; this is essential to con"cert and harmony of movement. Send a list of all persons known "to Wilkinson, westward of the mountains, who could be useful, "with a note delineating their characters. By your messenger send "me four or five of the commissions of your officers, which you "can borrow under any pretence you please; they shall be return"ed faithfully. Already an order to the contractor to forward six "months' provisions to points you may name; this shall not be used "until the last moment, and then under proper injunctions. Our "project, my dear friend, is brought to the point so much desired. "I guaranty the result with my life and honour; with the lives, the "honour and the fortunes of hundreds, the best blood of our coun"try. Burr's plan of operation is, to move down rapidly from the "falls on the 15th of November, with the first 500 or 1000 men, in "light boats, now constructing for that purpose; to be at Natchez "between the 5th and 15th December; there to meet you, there to "determine, whether it will be expedient, in the first instance, to "seize or pass Baton Rouge. On receipt of this, send me an an"swer; draw on me for all expenses. The people of the country "we are going to, are prepared to receive us; their agents, now "with me, say, that if we will protect their religion and will not sub"ject them to a foreign power, that in three weeks all will be set"tled. The gods invite us to glory and fortune; it remains to be "seen whether we deserve the boon. The bearer of this goes express to you, he will hand a f.mal letter of introduction from me. "He is a man of inviolable honour and perfect discretion, formed to "execute rather than to project-capable of relating facts with fi"delity, and incapable of relating them otherwise. He is thorough"ly informed of the plans and intentions of, and will dis