Genl. Wilkinson has asked permission to make use, in the statement of Burr’s affair which he is about to publish, of the documents placed in your hands by mr Rodney. to this, consent is freely given with one reservation. some of these papers are expressed to be confidential. others containing censures on particular individuals, are such as I always deem confidential, & therefore cannot communicate, but for regularly official purposes, without a breach of trust. I must therefore ask the exercise of your discretion in selecting all of this character, and of giving to the General the free use of the others. it will be necessary that the whole be returned to the Attorney General by the first week in the next month, as a selection will be made from them to make part of the whole evidence in the case which I shall have printed and communicated to Congress.   I salute you with great esteem & respect.