The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-17

ell in any plans, or intrigue injurious tothe Uni
ted States. On the contrary in all our privaty
& confidential conversations, he appeared strongle
attached to the interest and welfare of couii-
try. =
With that candor which is due from one gen.
tleman to another, shall relate the whole of my
agency in the business to which you allude. Mr.
Eppes's resolution in some measure removes the
Injunction of secrecy
Before left Philadelphia in the year 1876, as
commissioner on behalf of the United States, to
carry into effect our treaty with Spain, president
Washington communicated to me in the most
confidential manner, that suspicious had been ig-
nified to him of certain citizens of the United
States, improperly connecting themselves with
the Spanish government, among whom you were
particularly noticed. He thought it \ business
OF SO much Importance, both: to the honor and
safety OF the country, as to merit thorough,
though private investigation, and directed me to
pay strict attention to that subject
On my arrival at Cincinnati, it was limited to
me, that you had had several interviews, (some
of them private) with Spanish agent and who,
it was asserted, had brought considerable sum
OF money into Kentucky. This information APP
peared to me at that time to merit so little atten
ton, that never communicated it to our 60
yernment.
Immediately on my arrival at Natchez, I heard
the common reports of the time, from Green,
Hutchins, and others they never had any influ
SiCe On my Inbnu ne CcuOtS ana suspicious OF
Col. Bruin, and the late Daniel Clark, made
some impression, but never SO much as to be tire
subject of communication.
About the latter end Of May, or the beginning
of June, in the year 1877, was infinitely iffor-
med of the mission of Mr.. Power, to the state
of Kentucky and Tennessee-The object of the
mission, with the propositions he would make to
those states, to induce separation from the Uni
on, and that he was instructed by the Baron de
Carondelet, not to return without having an IN
teySie.p with yon. His being often detained
and examined in the,states above mentioned, was
owing to letters which 1 had forwarded to some
confidential persons for that purpose. Mr. Pow
erleft Natchez TO effect the object of his missi.
on on the 5th OF June, 1877, which believe, is
the date of my communication to the Depart
ihent of State on tliat subject.
In October, 1877, received, {and probably
from the same source, the outlines of plan for
Remembering the United States in which Your
name was mentioned as of the principals
That the correspondents, between yourself and
the officers Of his Catholic Majesty was decy-
phered by the aid of pocket dictionary. This
circumstance, think, is mentioned in my COM
munication' to the department of state on tina.
subject, bearing date the 18th day of Novem'
Der, 1897.
In the beginning of November, 1873, a conf
dental letter of governor Gayoso fell into my
hands for short time--in that letter, vou, with
several others, are mentioned as having been in
the interest and pay of Spain. The interesting
parts of that letter were reduced to cypher, and
accompanied my dispatches of the 9Th of the
month above mentioned. The original is, pre-
sumo, in the hands of either d. Clark, or T.
Power.
About the 10Th of Oct 1899, captain Portell,
who then commanded at Apalachy, informed me,
that at New-Madrid, in the year 1896, he put on
board a boat under the direction OF Mr. T. Pow
err, 9640 dollars for your questioned him
frequently, whether this money was not on ac-
count of some mercantile transaction He de-
clarcd it was not. He likewise mentioned seve-
raj other gentlemen, who received money from
the Spanish government by the same conveyance.
and assured me, that they were considered a.
pensioners by the officers of his Catholic majesty
entered the 9640 dollars or piece of paper
(now in my possession) And handed it to capt.
Portell, who told me it was correct''
Thus far is one side of the picture but let us
now take view of the other. So far as your
conduct in that country, while we were both en-
ployed i'll it, came under my observation, it was
perfectly correct, and such as l should expect
from gentleman, and friend to his country,
and is mentioned with eulogium in several Of my
communications to the Department of State.
I am, Sir, &c
(Signed) ANDREW ELLICOTT.
Gen. flames Wilkinson.
This communication is in Eybher