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the restriction of private confidence, neither safety nor
justice will permit the exposing names, except that of
the principal actor, whose guilt is placed beyond
question.

Some time in the latter part of September, I received
intimations that designs were in agitation in the wes-
tern country, unlawful, and unfriendly to the peace of
the union ; and that the prime mover in these was
Aaron Burr, heretofore distinguished by the favor of
his country. The grounds of these intimations being
inconclusive, the objects uncertain, and the fidelity
of that country, known to be firm, the only measure
taken was to urge the informants to use their best en-
deavors to get further insight into the designs and
proceedings of the suspected person, and to commu-
nicate them to me.

It was not till the latter part of October, that the
objects of the conspiracy began to be perceived ; but
still so blended, and involved in mystery, that nothing
distinct could be singled out for pursuit. In this state
of uncertainty, as to the crime contemplated, the acts
done, and the legal course to be pursued, I thought
it best to send to the scene, where these things were
principally in transaction, a person in whose integri-
ty, understanding and discretion, entire confidence
could be reposed, with instructions to investigate the
plots going on, to enter into conference (for which he
had sufficient credentials) with the governors and all
other officers, civil and military, and, with their aid,
to do on the spot whatever should be necessary to
discover the designs of the conspirators, arrest their
means, bring their persons to punishment, and to call
out the force of the country to suppress any unlawful
enterprize, in which it should be found they were
engaged. By this time it was known that many boats
were under preparation, stores of provisions collect-
ing, and an unusual number of suspicious characters
in motion on the Ohio, and its waters. Besides dis-
patching the confidential agent to that quarter, orders