Star.
London, England, 1807-03-25 00:00:00

REVEKSIONARY GR•NTS.

Mr. BANKES rote, and (poke upon this fubjeB
as follows I rife, in putluance of a notice I gave
yelierday, to fubmit a Refolution and Motion to the 11
Houfe, founded upon the previous Refolution of a
Committee of Finance. In doing this, I (hall not
have occafion to detain the Houk lung. It is in the
recolletion of the Houfe, that a Committee was
lately appointed to inquire into the Rate of Public
Offices; of that Committee I have the honour to be
Chairman, and therefore I have it more immediately
in my power to Rate the purport of part of their invef-
I ciliation. It (truck that Committee, that the granting
of places in reverfion, although not hitherto much
' abufed, was a fubjed exceedingly fit to be reformed
and altered. The papers already before the Houfe
will thew the extent to which thcfe reverGons have
gone in this country. By our conneCtion with Le-
i land, as lately formed, this praCtice of granting re-
vet fions is—carried much farther than formerly. 1
I (hall not enlarge upon this topic, but merely add,
that after the Houfe (hall have agreed to the Refolu-
tion of the Paid Committee, it would be necetrary, in
order to reftrain the praCtice, before it rifer to a great
abufe, to bring in a Bill for that purpufe. This is,
therefore, the plan I propufe, after fubmitting the
Refolution to which I allude, for the acquiefcence and
approbation of the Houfe."
Mr. BANKES then moved, ,4 That there he a
Refolution of this Houfe, in conformity with that of
the Committee o' Finance and Inquiry into the State
of Public Offices, that nu office, place, employment,
or falary, in any part of his Majefty's dominions,
ought hereafter to be granted in reverfion."
Mr. YORKE—" Sir, I molt confefs that I feel
confiderable difficulty in affenting to this motion, be
ing very doubtful as to the propriety of making an
alteration of this kind, in this country ; the more ef-
pecially, when the Hon. Gentleman himfelf Oates,
that no confiderable abufe has exilted in regard to

reverfionary grants. I am exceedingly loath to •
change the accutiomed praCtice in this particular, •
without very throng reafons being afligned. Without
going to agitate the queaion fully, I will only fay,
that this power in the Crown, in granting offices in
teverfion, has been long enjoyed without abufe—it
has been enjoyed, for the purpote of rewarding the
fervices of thofe who . have ditlinguifhed themfelves
in their exertions for their country's good. On the le
principles, I ()mold by no means with to take away
that power from the Crown, the more 10, as in my
opinion and view of the fobjeCt, it is an a/in:it laving
to the State, that filch apr aCtice be continued. The
public are, at prefent, only paling one perfon, by
granting him the emoluments and falary of one of-
fice at a time ; whereas, by the propofed alteration
and innovation, they would, in cafes of meritori us
fervices, be under the necealty of rewarding one per-
fon with two or more offices, fu as to compenfare the
fervices he may have rendered. Notwithflanding this
being the cafe, we are now called on at once, or
I upon a notice merely of yellerday, to rake away from
the Crown part of its prerogative. That notice was
In given, that I declare I did not know whether the
Hon. Member had pothponed a motion, or given no-
lice of one, when I came down to the Houfe thisday.
I fh iuld recommend, at all events, that the Houfe
fhould take more time to confider of a matter of Inch
material importance. I think it is a very grave and
ferious matter, and ought not to be decided woe
without mature confideration."

Viicount HOWICK—" Sir, I rife to Rate, that
this motion has my ninft decided fupport. I cannot
think it neceffary to pofipone the confideration of
fuch a Refolutiog to a futute occafion. The notice
was given yefterday in a hilt Houfe, and was, I re-
member, particularly marked by my obferving that
I would fuppnt t it. 'Vile prefent Adminiftration, far
from being inclined to grant reverfions, have only
granted one, and that was under certain ciresim-
ftances. There has beer. a reverfion given to a eel-.
tain Law Officer in the Court of Chancery, and in
that cafe an application was made immediately t 3 the
Crown. The Lord Chancellor has obtained his Ma-
jelly's permiffion to grant two (mall places in rever-
lion to a very old and met itorious fervant, a man who
had long been clerk to him, and enjoyed a very com-
fortable and lucrative fituation, till that Noble Lord
came into office; at which time it became abfulutely
necefFary to provide for him. The additional rever-
fion which has been thus created, is the Tellerfhip of
that Court. As to the propriety of the motion, I do
not think that the mere tiatement of any ufage, how.,
ever old, thould induce the Houfe to continue it, if
it is found not to be conducive to the public fervice.
I think that no ocelot end can be attained by it, and
I never met with a difference of opinion upon the
fubjeEt. When the Bill is brought in, there may be
future Rages in which further argumehts may be gone
into ; but I cannot think, that in any point of view,
the prefent motion, as to the Houfc agreeing with
the refolution of their Committee, and allowing that
refolution to be entered upon their Journals, can be
in the fro:tiled degree objectionable. The Right
Hon. Gentleman has °blared, that it may be necef-
fary to grant double appointments, were fuch rever-
lions put an end to : whereas the public are at pre-
fent only (addled with one ; but I think, Sir, that
the cafe is perfeltly the reverie, and therefore, I am
inclined to fuppofe that that Right Hon. Gentleman
moil have , my looked at the matter nightly. Grants
of reverfion have been often given to perfons tusk
for the fituation they hold, and nut given merely as
the reward of fervices—while the public is thereby
(addled with additional expences. Upon the ground
aline of this meafure tending to prevent a double
burden coming upon the public, I thould be inclined
to fupport the propofition. The Right Hon. Gen-
tleman teems to difapprove of the mode of bringing
the matter forward—but as to that point I have only
to obierve, that as I approve of the meafure, fo I ap-
prove of the method by which it has been brought
forward, it being founded upon the Refolution of a
Committee already appointed by the Houfe. I ap-
prove very much of that Refolution !Landing upon
the Journals of the Houfe; for when that is the cafe
no Minister will ever take upon himfelf to grant any
reverfion, contrary to a Rending order, even although
no Bill was actually brought in. As to insinuations
which have been made in this Houfe, relative to more
reverfinns having been granted of late years than for-
merly, I am not prepared to anfwer ; but this I may
(late, that, undoubtedly, the practice has been carried
much too far, both in this country and in Leland.
Upon the whole, Sir, I have only further to °blare,
upon the prefent occafion, that I with this motion had
gone a little fat thee, and had beat accompanied with
a propofal that there timid be a declaration of the
decided and general opinion of the Houle, againft the
praaice even of granting any places for life."—
( Loud and general crier of bear, hear ! from all parts of
the Houfe.)
Mr. PLUMER, as loon as 'Hence was again re-
Roved, rofe and faid-4, I with, Sir, that this mea-
ftire had been brought forward forty years ago.—
This has been hitherto my fincere defire ; and
therefore, give the Motion, now made, my molt
hearty affent. Having faid thus much upon the
meafure itlelf, I cannot help embracing this °ppm-
tunic! of paying a compliment to the prefent Ad-
minillration (I lay prefent, upon the fuppofition that
they are Rill in office), as I really think they have
thwart every difpnfition to benefit the country by
their judicious meafure3, and their avoiding the prac-
tice of former Adminifirations, of granting rever-
lions. Upon this rocafion, too, I have another ob-
fervation to make, which is this: io corning down
to the Houle this day, I have heard a report, which
I am very lorry to hear ; I have heard, Sir, that the
new Government which is now forming, or to be
formed, have agreed to give to a Right Honotirable
and Learned Member of this Houfe (a .riding to Mr.
Perceval, who was not then in the Houle) an ap.
pointinent to the Giancelhojlilt of th: Du.l.v f Law.ger

it !ft, ir. order to tempt that Gentleiran to take a
r;:4,-e in that new Government. Upon this, 1 may
()Verve, that if men of great abilities are not fatielied
with the rewards attached to tl:e fituations which his
choofes to appoint them to In.id in the Go
vernmtnt of their country, if they do not think the
ufual cnmrerfatif n ient. they ought tint to ac•
cept oft ffices at all. I do, hose ever, at all events,
cutter my protcfl nn. Ii lnlemnly ngainli the meal-tire
of giving a man a fit uation for life, in order to entice
to occupy another, which may be mote fiet:ling
and temporary." (Tt.tle obfervations of Mr. Plumer
v.ere followed by loud marks of approbation horn
the majority of the Members prefent.)
Sir JOHN NEWPORT Paid, that if this plan of
aboldhing reverfions had been brought into the Houft
two or three years agn, the Houle would not have
been in the fituation it now is, in regard to certain
offices in Ireland, fuch as the Colleaor of the Culloms
in Dublin, &c. for which le vet flons had been granted,
previous to the Bill which had been lately brought in
for the abolitlou and better regulation of fome of
theft offices.

Mr. JOHNSTONE approved the Refolution, but
thought it a little odd, that thole who were the mon
clamorous in their applaule •rf the meafure, were the
friends of a Noble Family who were already loaded
with falaries and reverfionary emoluments, derived
from the Public burthens. If fuch a Refolution had
been adopted twenty years ago, this country would
not now be bur thened with a charge of 60,0cp1. per
annum paid to that family; and he hoped Gentlemen
would henceforward adhere to thole principles which
they teemed now fo much to applaud.
Mr. PLITMER. anfwered, that he was not me of
0 e Noble Family alluded to by the Honourable
Gentleman ; and he had only to obferve, that if the
rumour he had flatted refpeaing the proffered rever-
lion was falfe, no harm would be done by his having
mentioned it ; but if it were true, the mention might
do lonic grod, by warning use parties concerned, and
preventing the mifchief, by the adoption of fume
t melt' meafure.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQJER
role to fay a very few words in his own vindication,
for not having fooner brought forward a Refolution
fimilar to that now propofed by an Honourable Gen-
tleman, and following it up by a(king leave of the
Houle to bring in a Bill upon the fubjett. He did,
in the commencement of the laft year, fignify his in-
tentions on this head, and did aflually move for the
production of certain documents whereon to found
tome proceeding, though perhaps he had not fully
explained to the Houle the whole of his purpole. And
he could now folcmnly affure the Houfe, that nothing
could have induced him to withhold the Bill which
he had intended, hut the firong affurances he had re-
ceived from the Noble Duke now in the Chief Go-
vcrnment of Ireland, and the Noble Lord at the head
of the Treafury in this country, that they would both
abftain from any fuch reverfionary grants : this pro-
mile they had faithfully kept. The Houle would
bear in mind, that one of thole Noblemen was a prin-
cipal branch cf the Noble Family, which had jolt be-
come the fubjerl of an Honourable Gentleman's
animadverfion, and who, inftead of meriting foci
obfervations by a mifufe of his power in this refpee,
had carried into praCtice and effect that very principle
which the Refolution now before the Honk propofed
in theory, by totally abftaining from the exercife of
his power, which had been uniformly made by his
predectffora in office, in the making of revetfionary
grants.%
Mt. H. MARTIN Paid, he fo fully coincided in
the propriety of the Refolution now before the
Houle, and felt it fo neceffary to countera& a fillem
fo mirchievous as that which had been alluded to
this night, that he (hould now give notice, that he
would to-morrow move an humble Addrefs to his
Maj:lly, praying that he would be gracioully pleated
not to grant any place in the Duchy of Lancatler, or
eliewhere, for I ifs, which had hitherto been ulually
held by the poffeffors dining his Majefty's Eleanore.
(llear, tear, hear, from all parts of the ilotO )
General GASCOYNE thought, that fuch a Refo-
lotion, moved in the abfence of every individual who
was fuppofed to be moll likely to compofe the New
Adminitlration, and at fo fhort a warning, was not
cor.fi:lent with the ufual courtefies of Parliamentary
practice, and therefore he would not give it his fop-
port. Upon the fame ground he objected to the notice
jolt given by the Honourable Gentleman for his
motion to-morrow.

Mr.HORNER affitred the Houfe, that in the Com-
rnitt:_e of Enquiry, by whole direflion the Honour-
able Gentleman had afted, who brought forward the
Iteinlutinn now before the Houfe, one of the very
t;rit lubjeets which excited their attention, was the
identical obje& of this Refoluzicn ; and that they bad
eery early come to the refolution of moving the
Houfe to grant- leave for the intreduelion of a Bill
to prevent fuch reverfionary grants in future ; and
chat a Gentleman now in his eye, and who was very
likely to pallet's a place under the new Adminiaration,
w.ts a Member of that Committee, and one c.f the
atto4 zealous fuppos tet snf .ht propolition. He fhould
nave thought that the friends of the new arrange.
roe it would nut be the firti to oppoce a crealute of
t..is lost.

Mr. SHERIDAN nhferved that the Honourable
General oppolite to M.n (General G.tfcoyne) cer-
tainly had not thrown, by his Ipetch, any cenfure
upon the meafure now propoCed ; but he had thrown
A very violent imputation urn his friends in the new
Adtrni:trazinn ; and ono f. .r which (he beli:ved at
lealt) they would he very little obliged to the zeal
of ti c Honourable General For his own part, though
cite lICW Ministers were Alictlt to occupy thole places
tr. to which he lurnfelf and hi- colleagues mutt thortly
reheat, yet he Lad I, little of political animolity to.
w .rds ther.,, that he was ar.willing to impute to them
oily inch it:tend:llS •13 which the zeal of the
Gehet ti t;.i, night btrpoke. Fle hoped
utey were atc.:trateu by finite Itroliger motives for ac-
..irh-n to post, er, than :little of bargaining and huying
t ten way ilito r tricc. 'I in Honourable General's
4,nl,:tin;ed to this; It you attempt to
e.lrry a of this foit, )ou Will throw the
inti,ediment in the v..ty of forming a new
And viitncus .-kc:rainittiatinn, to luer••ed the wicked
And corrupt nue 'pot turned nett of r flice ; You will
die t. .e vig,:ut of their ezertions I You will
futews of their plans, if you prevent
trt m tak'ng, er granting hicrative places in
'or life, it, at!tifit•it to Catfe they are to
13s::.1slur itt the Kill's rr:alanNatiun for

their great let vices and fplendid talents." lhis,•kow•
ever, was a doarine to which he ct.uld not fubfelibe,
and a kind of fupport from the Honourable General,
which, he believed, would not be very graidful irr
his friends. Some allofion bad been made in the

cootie of this difcuffion, to yet lain reverfrms held by
a Noble Family, feveral branches of which formed i
parts of the psefent Adminitlration; but he could
fee no analogy between the cafes alluded to, and thole
now in contemplation of the Houle ; between revel.-
fions during pleafure, enjoyed for fervices long ren-
dered to the State, and tevet lions and places for life,
to be granted in the fira intlance before any fervice
whatever was rendered, and given as a kind of Lowery
to entice a placeman to cilia for a high office to wilt:11
alfo a high Wary was to be attached. This was in-
deed a novel mode of recruiting an Adminiftration.
But whenever the new Minifiers Ihould appear in
their places, he hoped the Honourable General
would give them a very different fupport, from the
kind of obfetvations he had this day pointed again&
them.

Mr. HUSKISSON, in anfwer to what had fallen
from an Honourable Member who fpoke loft but
one, acknowledged that he was a Member of the
Committee of Enquiry alluded to ; that the principle
now propofed had occupied their early difcuffions,
and that be, with feveral other Members, who were
in the habit of (peaking their fentiments on either
fide of the Houfe, had lupported the ptinciple; but
if the Honourable Member alluded to him as a per-
fon likely to have a place under the new Admini-
firation, and as having any privity on this fnbjea,
he could affure him, that he had no tuber privity
than mere rumour, like that of the Hon. Gentleman
near him (Mr. Plumer), and he therefore could not
give his fupport to any tefolution founded upon ru-
mour only.
Mr. WHITBREAD, in alltifion to the cbferva-
tions which had been made refpeCting the revedio-
nary emoluments enjoyed by a Noble Family, ob
ferved that there was
kwide difference between the
enjoyment of reverfions long in a family, and granted
to men of talents and influence, in confideratinn of
great fervices rendered to the State, by which they
ought not to be made Infers, and rc vet lions granted
for life, granted in the firft inflance when no fervice
had been rendered, and only as an inducement to an
Honourable and Learned Gentleman to accept ano-
ther lucrative office. But he was very little indeed
prepared to cape& fuch animadverfions upon the
Noble Family in queflion, would come from the
friends and advocates of the Honourable and Learn-
ed Gentleman who had been alluded to by every
Member who had fpoken in the debate, cfpecially
when looking over the lift of Reverfionary Grants to
perfons in this country, he found one appointment in
the Admiralty Department worth above to,oool. per
annum, granted for life to one perfun of the name of
Perceval, and one Reverfion for life to another per-
fon of the name of Perceval. If the rumour was
well founded, that the fervices of the Hon. Gentle.
man alluded to were propofed to be retained by fuch
a grant as that Rated, he trolled the Houfe would
nct hefitate to adopt the Refnlntion propofed, and he
had only to regret it had not been adopted fifty years
boner.

Mr. EIUSKISSON explained, faying, that what
he meant was, that the Noble Lord (Grenville) held
an office by Grant from the Crown, which rendered
it impoffible for him to be a Firß Lord of the Trea.
fury without a new law at the time of his appoint•
ment to that office.

Mr. PARNELL.—" I hope the Noble Lord,
(Caftlereagh) when he (hall be placed in a fituation
in the new Miniftry, will not think of advifing the
Crown to purfue the praCtice of making grants in
this country, as he did in Ireland. I had the honour
of a feat in the Houle of Commons of Ireland, dur.
ing the whole . progrefs of the Union ;—it is well
known that the majority was againft that meafure
in Ireland, for the Miniiter was left in the minority;
and the reafon was that two or three eonfiderable
inoerefts there were againft it. In the cootie of twelve
months it was tried again, and then the Miniller
carried it by a majority of 30 ; and on that occafion
thefe two interelts united in its fupport ; and imme-
diately we difcovered, that a branch of one of thefe
two families, whole interea thus turned the kale, had
the reverfion of the Clerk of the Pelts in Ireland. I
cannot fay the fame thing precifely of the other fa-
mily, becaufe I do not know of any reverfionary
grants to it ; but I believe that family had a promife
made on which it ailed ; and I think I have fome
prefumptive proof of it, for one of that family had the
&ft Bilhopric that fell vacant after the Union."
Mr. JOHNSTONE—" I did not (late, that the
neccfrary confequence r-f this refolution would be to
keep men from being rewarded for doing their public
duty ; but that it afforded me great fatisfatlion, that
thole who appeared to be loud now againft grants
in revelry-In, were dude who are molt remarkably
loaded with public benefits."
The motion was then put and carried.

Mr. BANKES—" I now move, Sir, that leave be
given to bring in a Rill conformably to the faid Re-
folution."—Gr anted.

Sir J. NICHOL gave notice of a rider, which he (hall propofe to-
morrow, in the Siciiiitt Prize Bill.

• -
The Pill for regulating the office of the Treafurer of the Navy,
paired a Comniltti e of the whole Houfe ; and the Report was re-
ceived intm.diately,.n the motion (4 Mr. Sheridan.
The Pill for Correeting a tiered in the Royal Family Annuity
Aet, of Taft Seffion, was conitnitted, reported, and ordered to by
read a third time to-morrow _

Sir JOHN NEW PORT brought in a Bill for extendirg to Cities
and Counties of Towns in irelind the Law with regard to the
Payment of Servant Wages.—Read a brit and ordered to be read
a fecond time to-mt.rrow.
Orderfd, on the motion of Mr. VANSiTTART, that the
Houle fhould to-morrow refolve into a Committee to rln6der of
the Estee Adta, with reek to the Duty on Salt tired to Bleach-
The Irifh Stamp Duty kill was read a fecond time, and com-
mitted for td-nOrrow ; as uas the Englifla Malt Duty Regulation
Bill. _ _

Sir J NEWPORT obtained leave to bring in leveret Bills for
the ret alatian of the Revenue Laws of Ireland.
Sir J. NEWPORT propoled the COOMilttal of the Dublin Coal
Dill: but _ .

Nfr. TA YI,OR chferved, that front the converfat;nn which took
place Lyon a tornm evening. the Right Honuarahle Baronet mull
Le awa:e of an nnpoition to this locator,.'There were many
pertons indeed with whom he had cnnv. tied, who were esceed•
ingiv alarmsd by futh a prapotaiou ; and co. coned with them, as
the Riche linnonre le baronet was I efolvc.l to pref.% the meature,
and as he had tett it his duty by tvtry trcans to relift it, he mould
more to count the kioure.

Sir J NEWVORT role—hut the Speaker (Intim{ it to he his
imprrxive duty irimediytely to comply with the motion—the
Houre was counted, and there being but about half a doarti Mem •
bcrs prtfo.t, an adjournment took place.

t •
TKE MIWGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES.
CONTAINING A DILVELOPtiIIiNT Or Tat cormiaAcir•

111 E RICA.

To the Scu3te and Houfe of Remfeutatives of the United States.

" Agreeably to the requeft of the Houle of Re-
prefentatives, communicated in their refolution of the
t 6rh intl. I proceed to Rate, under the referve therein
expreffcd, information received touching an illegal
combination of private individuals againfl the peace
and fafety of the Union, and a military expedition
planned by them againft the territories of a power in
amity with the United States, with the mestures I
have put bed for fuppreffing the fame.
" I had, for tome time, been in the conflant ex-
pettatifm of receiving filch further information, as
would have enabled me to lay before the Legiflature
the termination, as well as the beginning and pro.
grefs of this fcene of depravity, fn tar as it has been
acted on the Ohio and its waters. From this the
Rate of lately of the lower country might have been
etlimated on probable grounds, and the delay was
indulged the rather, becaufe no circumnance had yet
made it neceffary to call in the aid of the legiflative
funCtions. Information now recently communicated,
has brought us nearly to the period contemplated.
The mats of what I have received in the courfe of
theft tranfaCtions is v^luminous ; but little has been
given under the fanCtion of an oath, fo as to conflitute
formal and legal evidence. It is chiefly in the form
of letters, often containing loch a mixture of rumours,
conjectures, and fufpicions, as render it difficult to
flit out the real fans, and unadvifable to hazard more
than general outlines, strengthened by concurrent in-
formation, or the particular credibility of the relator.
In this Rate of the evidence, delivered fometimes too
under the reftrielion of private confidence, neither
Way nor juffice will permit the expofing names, ex-
cept that cf the principal actor, whole guilt is placed
beyond quellion.
Some time in the latter end of September, I re-
ceived intimations that defigns were in agitation in
the Weßern country, unlawful and unfriendly to the
peace of the Union : and that the prime mover in
thefe was AARON BURR, heretofore diftinguiffied by
the favour of his country. The grounds of thefe in•
timations being inconclutive, the objets uncertain,
and the fidelity of that country known to be firm, the
only meafore taken was to urge the informants to
ufe their bell endeavours to get further Wight into
the defigns and proceedings of the fulpeded petfons,
and to communicate them to me. _ _

" It was not till the latter part of Odober, that
the objefts of the confpiracy began to be perceived,
but Hill In blended and involved in myflery, that no-
thing•dilliat could be Tingled out for purfuit. In
this Hate of uncertainty, as to the crime contemplat-
ed, the ads done, and the legal eourfe to be purfued,
I thought it bell to fend to the fcene where thefe
things were principally in tranfaftion, a perfon in
whole iategrity,under (landing, and difcretior., entire
confidence could be repofed, with inftrations to ins
velligate the plots going on, to enter into conference
(for which he had firfficient credentials) with the
Governors, and all other Officers, civil and military,
and with their aid to do on the fpot whatever was
neeeffary to difcover the defigns of the confpirators,
al reft their meani, bring their perfons to purfithment,
and to call out the force, of the country to fupprefs
any unlawful enterprife in which it fhould be found
they were engaged. By'this time it was known that
many boats wete under preparation, Horeb of provi-
lions collating, and an unidual number of fuipicions
charaders in motion on the Ohio, and its waters. Be-
fides difpatching the confidential agent to that quarter,
orders were at the fame time ftnt to the Governors of
the Orleans and Miffiffippi territories, and to the Com-
manders of the land and naval forces there, to be on
their guard againtl furprife, and in conitant readinefs
to refill any enterprife which might be attempted on
the veffels, polls, or other objets under their care: and
on the Bth of November, initiations were forwarded
to General Wiwissow, to batten an accommodation
with the Spanifh Commandant on the Sabine, and, as
loon as that was efFefted, to fall back with his prin-
cipal force to the hither bank of the Mifliffippi, for
the defence of the interetting points on that River.
By a letter received from that Officer, of the 25th of
November, but dated ac.tober 2111, we learned that a
confidential agent of AA mow Bu a R had been deputed
to him with communications, partiy written in cypher,
and partly oral, explaining his defigns, exaggerating
his refouices, and making fuch offers of emolument
and command, to engage him and the army in Isis
unlawful enterprife, as he had flattered himfelf would
be fuccefsful. The General with the honour of a
foldier. and fidelity of a good citizen, immediately
difpatched a trufty officer to sue, with information of
what had paffed, proceeded to eitablifis fuch an un-
derflanding with the Spanifh Commandant on the
Sabine, as permitted him to withdraw his force acids
the Aliffiflippi, and to enter on meafures for oppofing
the projeti.ied enterprife.
" The General's letter, which came to hand nn the
agth of November, as has been mentioned, and force
other information, received a few days earlier, when
brought together, developed Buaa's general defigns,
different parts of which only bad been revealed to
different informants. It appeared that he contem-
plated two dillinft objear, which might be carried
either jointly or feparately, and either the one or the
other fit tl, as circumliances Ihnuld direft. One of
thele was the feverance of the Unir.n of thefe States
by the Allegany mountains, the other an attack on
Mexico. A third objed was provided, merely often-
fible, to wit, the fettlement of the pretended purchafe
of a track of count, y on the Wafhita, claimed by a
Baron BASTROP. This was to fel ve as the pretext
for all his preparations, an allurement for fuels fol-
lowers as really wifhed to acquire lettlements in that
country, and a cover under which to Farad in the
event of a final difcomfiture of both branches of his
real defign.
" He found at once, that the attachment of the
Wellern country to the prefent Union was not to be
Ihaken ; that its diffolution could n. t be effeEted with
the confent of its inhabitants; aid that his refnurces
wete inadequate, as yet, to effeCt it by force. He
took his entitle then at once, determined to feize on
New Orleans, plunder the Bank there, poffefshimfelf
cf the military and naval flares, and proceed on his
expedition to Mexico, and to this Objea all his means
and preparations were now direfleit. He colleded
from all the quarters where himfelf or his agents pnf.
feff;cl influence, all the ardent, relit:ls, defperate, and

dilaffeeted perfons, v.ho were ready for any enterprize
analogous to their charaaers. He reduced grooi
well meaning citizens, fume by affurances that he
pelfeffed the confidence of the Government, and war
acting under its fecret patronage ; a pretence which
procured Tome credit (ram the nate of
our differ.
ences with Spain; and others, by offe: s of land in
Baftrnp's claim on the Wait*.
" This was the hate of my information oflii. pro.
ceedings about the lett of November; at which time
therefore it was fit it potlible to take fpecific mealuter
Ito meet them. The proclamation of November
two days after the itceipt of General Vs'itxtesoe's
information, vas now iffued. Orders uet e difpatched
to every interesting point on the Ohio and Mitliffippi
from Pittiburgh to New Oilcans, for the employment
of fuch force, tither of the regulars or of the militia,
and of Inch proceedings elf() of the civil authorities,
as might enable them to feize on all boats and
Itores provided for the enterprize, to arreft the per.
forts concerned, and to fupprefs efFeaually the further
progrefs of the enterprize. A little before the receipt
of there orders in the Sate of Ohio, our confidential
agent, who had been diligently employed in invefli.
gating the confpitacy, had acquired fufficient infor.
motion to open.himfelf to the Government of that
State, and to apply for the immediate exertion of the
authority and power of the State to croft the com.
bination. Governor Tiffin, and the Legiflature, with
a promptitude and energy, and patriotic zeal, which
entitle them to a diltinguifhed placemintrhiaenayffedairiaobn..
of their Sitter States, effe.ted
boats, provifions, and other preparations within their,
reach, and thus gave a firtt blow, ate
ling the enterprize in its outlet.
" In Kentucky a premature attempt to bring Bute
to
_indict, without funijent evidence for his convic-
tion, had produced a popular impreflion in his fa-
your, and a general difbelief of his guilt. This gave
him an unfortunate opportunity of haflening his
equipments. The arrival of the proclatnatitn and
orders, and the application and information of our
confidential agent, at length awakened the authorities
of that Stare to the truth, and then produced the
fame promptitude and energy, of which the neigh.
booting State had fet the example. Under an alt
of their LegifLture, of Demembei 23, toe Militia
was inflantly ordered to different important points,
and meafures taken for doing whatever could yet be
done. Some boats (accounts vary from five to double
or treble that number), and perfons (differently'eai•
mated from one to three hundred), had in the mean
time paired the falls of Ohio, to rendezvous at the
mouth of Cumberland, withothers expeeteddown that
river. Not apprifcd till very late, that any boats were
building on Cumberland, the effea of the proclama.
tion had been trufted to for fume time in the State
of Tenneffee. But on the l*h of December, fimilar
communications and inflruCtions, with thofe to the
neighbouring States, were difparched by exprefs to
the Governor, and a General Officer of the Weflern
Divifion of the State ; and on the 23d of December
our confidential Agent left Frankfort for Nafhville,
to put into aaivity the means of that State alfo. But
by information received yeflerday, I learn, that on
the tad of December, Mr. Beta defcended the Cum,
berland with two boats, merely of accommodation,
carrying with him from that State no quota towards
his unlawful enterprise. Whether after the arrival
of the proclamation, of the orders, or of our agent,.
any exertion which could he made by that State, or
the orders of the Governor of Kentucky, for calling
out the Militia at the mouth of Cumberland, would
be in time to allele thefe boats, and thofe from the
falls of Ohio, is fill doubtful.
" On the whole, the fugitives from,the Ohio, with
their affocßtes from Cumberland, or any other place
in that quarter, cannot threaten ferious danger to the
city of New Orleans.
" By the fame exprcfs of December 19, orders '
were fent to the Governors of Orleans and Miffif-
fippi, fupplementary to thole which had been given
on the 25th of November, to hold the Militia of their '
territoties in readinefs to co-operate for their defence,
with the regular troops and armed veffels then under.
the command of General WILKINSON. Great alarm,
indeed, was excited at New Orleans, by the exagger-
ated accounts of Mr. BURR, diffeminated throu his
emit:fat-ice, of the armies and navies he was to affemble
there. General WILKIN sow had arrived there him-
(elf on the 24th of November, and immediately put
into aelivity the refources of the place for the purpofe
of defence, and on the loth of December he was
joined by his troops front the Sabine. Great zeal was
(hewn by the inhabitants generally : the merchants of
the place readily agreeing to the mon laudable ever-
lions and facrifices for manning the armed veal(
with their (cameo ; and the other citizens manifening
unequivocal fidelity to the Union, and a fpirit of
determined refinance to their expeacd affailonts.

Surmifes have been hazarded that this enter.
prife is to receive aid from certain foreign powers.—
But thee furmifes are without proof or probability.
The wifdom of the meafures fanainned by Congrefs
at its Taft Seflion, has placed us in the paths of peace
and juftice with the only powers with whom we hail
any differences; and nothing has happened luxe,
which makes it their intereft or ours to purfue another
courfe. Nu change of meafures has taken place on
our pail, none ought to take place at this time. With
the one, friendly arrangement Ives propofed, and the
law, deemed neceffary on the failure of that, was
fufpended to give time for a (Air trial of the atm—.
With the fame power, friendly arrangement is now
proceeding, under good expeetations, and the fame
law, deemed neceffary on failure of that, is Rill fuf-
pended to give time for a fair trial of the iffue. With
the other, negnciatinn was in like manner preferred,
and provifional meafures only taken to meet the event
of rupture. While therefore we do not defied in the
flightelt degree from the murk we then affunied, and
are Rill purfuing, with mutual confent, to relit:ire a
good underttanding, we are riot to impute to them
praaices as irteconcileable to intereft as to good feiths
and changing necelferily the relations of peace and
juftice between us to thofe of war. Thefe furmitcs
are therefore to be imputed to the vauntings of the
author of this enterprife, to multiply his
partizans,
by magnifying the belief of his pro(pcifts and fttpport.
" By litters from General WiLRINSON, of the 14th
and 18th of December, which came to hand two
days after the dete of the refolution of the 1-I.inte of
Reprefentatives, that is to fey, on the morning of
the 18th intl. I received the important affidavit,
copy of which I now communicate,
with aired; ot
ft much a thi let:ets as comes within the fop
e o