Page 6

6

the civil authorities, as might enable them to seize on
all boats and stores provided for the enterprize, to
arrest the persons concerned, and to suppress effec-
tually the further progress of the enterprize. A little
before the receipt of these orders in the state of Ohio,
our confidential agent, who had been diligently em-
ployed in investigating the conspiracy, had acquired
sufficient information to open himself to the governor
of that state, and to apply for the immediate exertion
of the authority and power of the state, to crush the
combination. Governor Tiffin and the legislature,
with a promptitude, an energy, and patriotic zeal,
which entitle them to a distinguished place in the
affection of their sister states, effected the seizure of
all the boats, provisions, and other preparations with-
in their reach ; and thus gave a first blow, materially
disabling the enterprize in its outset.

In Kentucky a premature attempt to bring Burr
to justice, without sufficient evidence for his convic-
tion, had produced a popular impression in his favor,
and a general disbelief of his guilt. This gave him an
unfortunate opportunity of hastening his equipments.
The arrival of the proclamation and orders, and the
application and informatin of our confidential agent,
at length awakened the authorities of that state to the
truth, and then produced the same promptitude and
energy of which the neighboring state had set the ex-
ample. Under an act of their legislature of December
twenty-third, militia was instantly ordered to different
important points, and measures taken for doing what-
ever could yet be done. Some boats (accounts vary
from five to double or treble that number) and per-
sons (differently estimated from one to three hundred)
had in the mean time passed the falls of Ohio, to ren-
dezvous at the mouth of Cumberland, with others
expected down that river.

Not apprized, till very late, that any boats were
building on Cumberland, the effect of the proclama-
tion had been trusted to for some time in the state of