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Allegany mountains ; the other an attack on Mexico.
A third object was provided, merely ostensible, to wit,
the settlement of a pretended purchase of a tract of
country on the Washita, claimed by a baron Bastrop.
This was to serve as the pretext for all his preparations,
an allurement for such followers as really wished to
acquire settlements in that country, and a cover under
which to retreat in the event of a final discomfiture of
both branches of his real design.

He found at once that the attachment of the western
country to the present union, was not to be shaken ;
that its dissolution could not be effected with the con-
sent of its inhabitants, and that his resources were in-
adequate, as yet, to effect it by force. He took his
course then at once, determined to seize on New Or-
leans, plunder the bank there, possess himself of the
military and naval stores, and proceed on his expedi-
tion to Mexico; and to this object all his means and
preparations were now directed. He collected from
all the quarters where himself or his agents possessed
influence, all the ardent, restless, desperate, and dis-
affected persons who were ready for an enerprize
analagous to their characters. He seduced good and
well meaning citizens, some by assurances that he
possessed the confidence of the government, and was
acting under its secret patronage ; a pretence which
procured some credit from the state of our differences
with Spain ; and others by offers of land in Bastrop's
claim on the Washita.

This was the state of my information of his pro-
ceedings, about the last of November ; at which time,
therefore, it was first possible to take specific mea-
sures to meet them. The proclamation of November
twenty-seventh, two days after the receipt of general
Wilkinson's information, was now issued. Orders
were dispatched to every interesting point on the
Ohio and Mississippi, from Pittsburgh to New Orleans,
for the employment of such force, either of the regu-
lars or of the militia, and of such proceedings also of

5

Allegany mountains ; the other an attack on Mexico.
A third object was provided, merely ostensible, to wit,
the settlement of a pretended purchase of a tract of
country on the Washita, claimed by a baron Bastrop.
This was to serve as the pretext for all his preparations,
an allurement for such followers as really wished to
acquire settlements in that country, and a cover under
which to retreat in the event of a final discomfiture of
both branches of his real design.

He found at once that the attachment of the western
country to the present union, was not to be shaken ;
that its dissolution could not be effected with the con-
sent of its inhabitants, and that his resources were in-
adequate, as yet, to effect it by force. He took his
course then at once, determined to seize on New Or-
leans, plunder the bank there, possess himself of the
military and naval stores, and proceed on his expedi-
tion to Mexico; and to this object all his means and
preparations were now directed. He collected from
all the quarters where himself or his agents possessed
influence, all the ardent, restless, desperate, and dis-
affected persons who were ready for an enerprize
analagous to their characters. He seduced good and
well meaning citizens, some by assurances that he
possessed the confidence of the government, and was
acting under its secret patronage ; a pretence which
procured some credit from the state of our differences
with Spain ; and others by offers of land in Bastrop's
claim on the Washita.

This was the state of my information of his pro-
ceedings, about the last of November ; at which time,
therefore, it was first possible to take specific mea-
sures to meet them. The proclamation of November
twenty-seventh, two days after the receipt of general
Wilkinson's information, was now issued. Orders
were dispatched to every interesting point on the
Ohio and Mississippi, from Pittsburgh to New Orleans,
for the employment of such force, either of the regu-
lars or of the militia, and of such proceedings also of