The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-14
No T..

Translation Of letter .froD, Ihonds Posve,
10 Don Thomas PORTED, comni0nt!Gat Of
.htgp-Madrid, dared June 27th, 1876, az
.Sesp- Madrid.
Having received verbal instructions from
Mr.. James Wilkinson, the American general,
TO take charge OF the money. which by a let
ter he received from the Secretary of the
government, -. Andres Armesto, under date
the 9TH or Sth March last, of which / was
bearer, he has advice, is deposited in this
post, and being informed by the official let
ter whichsyou have received on this business
from the governor general of this province,
of which, YOU viii be pleased to furnish
me a copy, that said MONEY is not to be de-
fivered without an express order from the
said Mr.. Wilkinson. / find myself forced
TO relate circumstantially, some particulars
20 smooth and remove the difficulty which
the want of 4 written order on the part of
the aforesaid General Wilkinson presents.
Although this relation NAV appear an abuse
Of the confidence with which the governor
general of the province, and the governor of
,Natchez, and particularly Cen Wilkinson
have honored me, am persuaded that the
urgency Of Che case which offers, will serve
me rs an excuse and justification. You are
not ignorant of the fact, that Don Manuel
Gavoso de I.enos, being here in the month
OF September, Of the year last past, he in
trusted'to ne some dispatches OF the greatest
Importance for C General Wilkinson, which
carried to Cincinnati, and returned with the
answers in the month of November. By
order of the said Don Manuel Gayoso, /
made immediately another journey in the
Ohio, $nd l assembled it to the Red Banks.
in search of Mr.. Sebastian, who came with
me 70 the Ohio, where we met with the
governor of \ stchez. At the end of Deeem-
Der, accompanied this gestleman to Nat
chez, and went thence to New Orleans
The pr::,;ipal object of my going down, was
10 t1ke charge, by order of Gen. Wilkinson,
of the money which you have now in dcpo-
sit for him, which is shewn by che letters
which he wrote to the governor of this pro-
vince and of Natohez but at my arrival,
the money had been sent off in one OF his
msjesty's gall-ys for this place, which I
learned from The baron de Carondclet, the
intcndant, and Don Andres de Arnesto I
repeatedly tConyersed] on this business with
the two last of these persons, urging forcibiy
the necessity of sending sugar, coffee and
powder to New-Niatirid to form Il cargo TO
take to Kentucky with Wlkinson's money,
hiding by this means, the true intention of
the voyage, and giving it the appearance of
a commercial speculation. All this, Wilkin-
son had before represented as indispensable,
Tor many reasons, particularly in order to "a
void misfortune similar to that which had
already occurred. At last, the Secretary
told me, that the barge in which Mi. Aaron
Gregg, the American officer, was to go ND,
was destined for this service, and that as for
the crew, he would permit me to choose
among the Crcdaes, residents in this post,
those who might appear to me most worthy
of confidence SO that left Ncw-Orleans,
with the belief that at my return to this post,
/ should find every thing disposed confor-
.,aEI To t.,ha
irving at GrenviIie,' | informed General
Wilkinson of the steps, had no doubt, had
been taken, from whence has resulted, that
he like myself was Impressed with the be-
1iefthat all the measures for executing this
service with success, had been taken. |
Caniot communicate all the motives WHY
Wilkinson has not given me an order in
writing but one of them was, that he did
not know the sum of money which you had
todelivei' to his order, the Governor not ha-
wing written word TO him on the subject
the Secretary only saying that his money
was deposited in New Madrid, without ex-
pressing the sum. In the letters in cypher
from General Wilkinson for the governors,
which are here inclosed, he tells them, that
he has sent me TO bring the aforesaid MONEY, :.
informing you that the number / is for the
governor general of the province, and the
number for Don Manuel Gayoso. 7 will
add, that General Wilkinson, when repre-
scented to him, that on presenting myself
withonthis order in writing, some difficulty
might arise, authorized me, il tile case re-
Quired it, co write an order that you should
deliver his money, specifying the sum there
might be, signing it in his name, and giving
you a receipt therefore. cannot omit, that
the commission OF Gen. Wilkinson was so
sudden, so urgent, that twas extended even
to limiting my return 70 my destination by
the lst of Augusr, of which ] advise you,
thatyou may endeavor not to delay the SER
vice. ] believe that the governor general
is not ignorant of the embarrassments Of
Gen. Wilkinson, nor can he be ignorant,
that for Tong time past, he has been expec-
ting tffis money, the delay of which has been
the cause of much trouble to him, Involving
him in great difficulties ; and caap assure
you, confidently, that he will be very much
disguised with any delays in the expedition,
which might be productive Of serious injury.
As for the mode of carrying the money, it
is evident that 10 take,it openly, would be
eoo scandalous thing, if it we're not to say
madness The unhappy result Of the ex--
pedition of the unfortunate Henry Owen,
Ought to serve u3as abeaCou, in order not to
lose ourselves on the same rock, and to make
jas take another course less dangerous