The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-02-03
n,issed; and. Of eourfe. grew Indifferent, abou, the

n,itted; and, Of eourfe, grew Indifferent about the
fubjea.
Mr.. Burr's vifa. to nc became lefs frequent, and
his conversation lefs familiar. lie appeared have
abandoned The idea Of general revolution but leem-
ed determined that OF the NlilIiiippi; and al
though eoald perceive fynptoms Of diftruR in him
towards me, he manefted great folictude engage
me with him in the enterprise. Weary of his impor-
tunity, ard at enes to convince him of my ferrous
taehmenss, gave the following toaff to the pub
lie THE United S.ates-Pafy to the brain that
Rould plot to difmember, and leprofy to the hand
that will not draw to defend union
doubt whether the fentimen, was better under
hood by any Of my acquaintance than COL Burr
Our intercourse ended here-we met but feldom af-
eerwafd. returned to my farm in MafIachufetts,
and thought no more Of MIR. Burr, nor his empire,
till fome time late in September beginning of OSfo-
Der, when letter from Morris Belknap, of Mariet-
ia, to Timothy E. Danellon, fell into my hands at
Brimheld, which fatisfied ME that Mr. Burr had ac-
taaliy commenced his preparatory operations the
Ohio. now fpoke publicly of the faSf-tranfmis-
ted cePy Of the letter from Belknap the Depart
nent of fate, and about the fame time forwarded
through the hands Of the poa matter general to the
PRECEDENT OF the United States Ratement in fub-
fance, of what is here above detailed concerning the
MiiiifiPpi confpiracy of the faid Col Aaron Burr
which is fad to have been the hrit formal ntell-
genee received by the executive the fubjea of the
coniprator being in motion.
hu"W uot whether my country Will allow me the
merit OF correctness Of condu& in this affair. The
novelty OF the duty might, perhaps, have en-
barrafied aronger minds than mine. The uprightners
Of nay intentions hope will not be queaioned.
The interviews between Col. Burr and myfelf,
from which the foregoing aatement has reulted were
chiefly in this city, in the months of February and
March, laRyesr.
VIM. EATON
Warrington City, ian. &c, 1907.
Sworn to in open court this Goth day of January,
1907.
WIN. BRENT, cl1.
DEPOSITION OF JAMES L. DONALDSON.
In open courtperionally appears James Lowry Do,
naldion, who being duly fworn, depofeth and fait
leans territory and the environs of faid city, from
the J. th of October to the 10TH day of December
lso6-hat during the latter part of this time he was
frequently in the company of General James Wkin-
fon, and vted the General the day after his arrival
at NewOrleans, On this location this deponent re-
eeived in confidence from General Wkinfon informa-
ton to the following Purport-That the General had
undoubted and indfputable evidence of treafonabe
dehgn formed by Aaron Burr and others to diinem-
Der the union, by fepara,ion of the weifern iates
and territories from the Atlantic hates-that New
Orleans was in immediate danger, and that he had
eonoludeda hafy compromise with the Spaniards 70
as to be able to withdraw his troops inanty to this
the immediate Object Of attack and great vulnerable
point-That ne had received letter from Burr hold
ing forth great inducements to him to become par
ty, of which he hewed me the original in CIPHER,
and another written paper purporting to be decy-
phered copy Of the letter. He expreiIed great in
dgna,ion at the plot and furrrife that one 70 well
acquainted with him as Burr Mould dare to make to
him 70 degrading prOpofal, and declared his deter
mnation OF defeating the er..erprize or perHing in
the attempt. He obferv'.d in addition chat there
were many agents of Mr.. Burr then in the town. who
Il IL
whom be was determined TO acf with cautious ambi-
guilty 70 the fame time to become poiIened of
the whole extent OF the plan, the perfons engaged
and the time of Its execution, and alfo prevent any
attempt his perfon, of which he declared he had
ferrous apprehenfiona-Of the number of thefe A.
gents he was not aware, but mentioned the name of
two OF whom he was certain, h1eifrs. Bollman and
Alexander From time time as this deponen. had
interviews with General WiIkinfon, he informed
this opponent that he had received additional infor
nation refpectng the and deiigns of Burr
by meas of thele agents of whom he conidered
Bollman as the principal. In the courfe of thefe
tTaniatfioRs, this depoDent employed by Gene
raj Wiknfon in the copying of certain papers and
documents, and preparing certain dispatches for the
general government which the general intended TO
forward by the brig Thetis While thus employed
the Generals lodgings, this deponent has remarked
Upon two different occaiionss perfsn knock for adj
nnittance at door with window in it oppofte the
table where this deponent fitting, who this de-
fonent informed by Gen. Wilkinfon was Dr.
Bolinnan. Upon theie locations the General has fud-
denly ren from his feat, and accompanied this per-
fon iii number of turns up and down balcony in
the front Of the houfe, apparently engaged in deep
conversation Upon the latter of thele occaions the
genecal on his return into the chamber fad to th,
opponent, i" that 10 DR.. Bollmsn, his infauation is
truly extraordinary, he perffs in his belief that
4" am with Burr, and has this moment fhewn me
ga letter from the latter, in Which, he fays that he
is to be at Natehez on the 2o.h December with two
g thouiand men, thar 1000 will follow in the courfe
of few days, and that he could with the fame cafe
have procured double that number" Cen. Will
kinfon then obfeved that he had obtained all the in
formation he wanted and that the affair would not
be KEPT much longer feeret from the public
When this deponent left the city Of New Orleans
che Inhabitants Of thst city in fate of great a.
larm and apprehended ferrous attack from Mr..
Burr and his ronfederates this deponeDt nnderaood
that mercantile bpfinefs was MUCH embsrraGed and
great fears entertained Of comfortable CONNER
eia failures in .onequence Of the embargo which had
been innpofrd--thst Gen. Wilknlon was taking
hrong niesfures Of defence, and that four hundred
perfons then actually engaged in the forti6cat-
ons OF the city.
And further this depon.nt faith not
JAS. l.. DONALDSON
sgcsh, 60 in open court.
Wa. BRENT, Crk.
Ian. &c, 1907