Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-02-02
COPY
DARLING's CREEK,
p SNGGh,
November 8, 1909.

DARLlNG'S CREEK,
November 8, 1909.
SIR,
81 ON the 10th Of last month, having OMEN
ed the boundary between the United States
ard his catholic majesty, from the Missis-
sippi river to the chin pine country, we cea-
sed carrying the line ~ in that accurate,
scientific manner in which it was begun,
and from the end of the line, designated in
the report which accompanies THIS, the
work will generally be done with a com,Hon
surveying compass, and corrected at the
different navigable water courses which il
NAV happen to cross.
The line mentioned in the report is open.
ed si'ity feet wide, and passes through a
country impenetrable TO any but Americans
The labor has been equal TO what would in
our country, have opened at least one hum
dred miles. The business, it is evident.
will not SO on with that rapdity we could
wish; nothing however will be wanting on
our part, and | think it will be completed
the ensuing season. Governor Gavoso has
evidently been brought into a Cooperation
very reluctantly, and certainly has no de-
sire OF having 1t pushed. Mr.. Power. n
gentleman we'll known for his intrigues in
hentucSy, and other parts of the United
otates, IS the surveyor on the part of the
crown OF Spain; he has attended bur one
week on the line, and do not believe thar
he will attend another during the execution
of the work. He has however, employed =
deputy, who is Mr. Daniel Burnet. the same
person who carried Mr.. Hutchins' pap.rs
TO congress last winter he has vet beha-
we'd very well. The others emDloved. m,-
lor Minor excepted, arc OF little conse
quence except to disorganize and talk poli.
TICS The acting commissary is a Mr. Gen
SACK: he was taken by the British AT the
Cape and carried to Jamaica, from whence
he made his escape to the United States,
where he found safety; but in the true cha
racter OF ms nation he equally hates both
americans and British. He is suRen, re-
served aud intriguing. There are no Spa
nIardS concerned III the business. but a few
of the common soldiers Major Minor and
Mr.. Burnet are Americans. The others.
including the laborers arc generally French.
or descended from French ancestors. mr.
Roman catholic Irish. When | look over
this strange heterogeneous collection, | can
not help asking this question: "Cnn the
SpaniardS really be serious in CARRYING the
treaty into effect :" II they are, it is very
extraordinary that there is not one of that
nation employed above the rank of a CONF
mon soldier
| have always been Of opinion that it was
happy circumstance for both countries,
that MAJOR Minor was appointed the com
missioner ON behalf Of the crown of Spain
MS prudence and sound judgment viii, in
all probability, enable us to carry the work
through, which / ann confident would not
have been the case, had Mr.. Power been
appointed TO that trust, rs was proposed by
governor Gayoso, and to which ] pointedly
objected, as did Mr.. Dunbar also.
flour surveyor had been a man of pru-
dcnce and talents, our difficulties would
have been much less but his want of in
formation, extreme pride, and uneoverna-
bic temper, constantly furnishes the oppo-
site party with weapons He has insinua
ted that the work is erroneous, and that
major Minor and myself have combined to
inIure both governments, and wantonly la
wish away public money. He himself has
been the only idle person on the side of the
United States; his whole attendance on the
line As surveyor would not exceed one week.
His insnuations, am confident, would have
but little weight with the people of the u.
States; but the case is very different with
the Spaniards, naturally jealous, and unn-
formed in science, particularly so far as it
relates TO astronomical operations.
On Friday the 18th of last month, Gen.
Wilkinson arrived at our camp, and conti-
nued with us till Sunday the 14th. We had
much conversation OF the state and situa-
tion OF the country; his ideas respecting
both appeared very correct, so far as was
able to determine. He Informed me that
he had seen some of Mr.. Freeman's COR
respondence with captain Guion, which, in
his opinion, came fully within the meaning
OF The late sedition law and recommended,
in the most serious manner, that he should
be Immediately suspended from his employ
ment ON the line. This, added TO the Opt
mon OF governor Sergeant, (who spent a
number Of days at our camp) colonel Bruin,
and many other respectable gentlemen, de-
termined me in taking that measure. The
surveying at present is done by Mr.. ellis
pie, the chain carrying by Eilicott and Wal
ker. General Wilkinson has removed MIR.
MClary from the command of my escort.
Ills condnct was far less exceptionable than