31To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 23 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
“A moment of awful suspense has arrived. Mr. Burr’s letter to Mr. Mead, of the 12th instant, transmitted to the secretary of war, is not indicative of doubts, fears or despondence; and if he is able to put off Mr. Mead for four or five days from the present, we may expect unpleasant scenes to ensue. The friends of Mr. Burr and my enemies, labour at this moment to stamp on the public mind that...
32To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 9 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Accompanied by governor Claiborne, I, a few minutes since, met the merchants of the city, and in a short address, to which my sensibilities gave direction, I explained to them the causes which had produced the assembly of the troops at this place, and the preparations which were making to fortify the town; painted to them, in glowing colors, the impending dangers which menaced the city and...
33To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 26 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The following information appears to rest on such broad and explicit grounds, as to exclude all doubts of its authenticity: A numerous and powerful association, extending from New York through the western states to the territory bordering on the Mississippi, has been formed with the design to levy and rendezvous eight or ten thousand men in New Orleans at a very near period; and from thence,...
34To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 29 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Could I be so vain as to impute aught of personal regard, to the generous & paternal support which you have recently given to my official pretensions, I should not hesitate to implore you to forbear the indulge of every sympathy towards me, which might cause you one single Enemy, however undeserved or contemptible—Dispose of me Sir as your private Interests, or the National Service may...
35To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 30 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Bonaparte aims at universal Dominion to attain his views it is necessary to destroy all the present Dynastis of Europe and Establish his Own favourites on the Thrones of their present Monarchies, he will not rest so long as one of the Bourbon Family is on a Throne.— Poland is United of which he has made a Kingdom and one of his favourites placed on its throne. He has dethroned the King of...
36To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 13 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I last Evening had the Honor to receive your Letter of the 3rd. Ultmo., & rejoice at M: Briggs’s safe arrival, however unseasonable, for I had begun to feel serious concern for his safety.— You must long before this Period have heard of the salutary decision, to which I have been driven in this City, and of the persecution & abuse I have suffered & am suffering in consequence thereof: The late...
37To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 21 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Whatever may be the general impropriety, I pursuade myself that on a Subject irrelative to my official obligations, I shall be excused for addressing you directly & confidentially; But I have another & a more cogent reason, for deviating, in this instance, from the ordinary course of my Correspondence; It is possible the momentous occasion of this Letter, & the vital importance attached to it,...
38To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 9 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I must trust to the peculiar delicacy and difficulty of my situation for the motive and the excuse of this third intrusion on the same momentous subject.—Between the alternatives of waiting for instructions from the proper department (whose last orders to me bear date the 9th. of June) until from the feeble and defenceless condition in which I find this place, the enemy should gain the portal...
39To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 20 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Milligan the Express delivered me Your Letter of the 3rd. Ultmo. the Evening of the 14th. Inst:, which lifted from my Breast a load of anxeity, and I will confess furnished a sweet Solace to my poor heart depressed with cares & sorrows—your sympathy for my difficulties, your admonition for my Conduct, & your solicitude for my welfare, impress deeply my affections, and are received as the...
40To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 6 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the Honor to enclose you a list of the Articles transmited you by Captain Stoddard, which may I hope afford you an Hours amusement.— The Cotton Tree (Populus Deltoide of Bartram) is rarely to be found above limestone on the Ohio, but abounds on the Bottom of that River below the Rapids, and on the Mississippi & Missouri as high up as I have been—The favourite Soil of this Tree is...
41To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 1 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The recent explosion in Spain and the probable results, will command universal attention and surprize, but can be no where so interesting as to the people of these States; because our proximity to the Spanish Indies, and the effects which must at an early period Spring out of that Vicinity.— In all my Enterprizes, Intrigues, researches and inquiries, in relation to Spanish America for more...
42To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 3 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
By a singular concatenation of incidents, I have ascertained that Depestre mentioned to you in a former Letter, was the accredited Agent of Burr, who visited St. Louis in October last; and that Mr. Depestre bore a Letter from Burr to a Mr. Provenchere, giving Him assurances that a revolution of the Western States would take place on the 15th. Day of November & inviting Him to join in it. This...
43To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 12 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I again intrude upon you the subject of the duplicate under cover, which presents a spectacle of human depravity, to excite our sorrow, indignation and abhorrence. Many circumstances have intervened since my last, confirmatory of the information previously received, and demonstrative of a deep, dark and wicked conspiracy. My doubts have ceased, and it is my opinion, that nought but an...
44To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 17 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The Engagements, Soul & Body, which have occupied me since my Arrival here the 13th. Inst:, must be my Apology for not giving you this assurance sooner— I dreamt, not of the importance attached to my presence before I reached Hampton, & had directed my views more to the vindication of my own Fame, than the crimination of the abandoned wretch, who had dared to implicate it; for I had...
45To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 11 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
It is my purpose to advise you from time to time of our proceedings at this place, pending the passing scenes which Interest our Country in its most vital concerns; for this intrusion I shall offer you no apology, since my motive will be your Information and amusement. The trial of Burr commenced Yesterday, & his Exceptions for cause swept away forty four out of forty eight Jurors—preconceived...
46To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 15 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I transmit you a duplicate of my last, in which you will perceive my ignorance of the Arrangement, you had made for the Territory of Louisiana; and also of the violent & uncharitable attacks, made on my Character & Conduct, in the publick prints & even on the floor of Congress.— Sunk by the severest domestic Calamity into a State of apathy & despondance, my Mind had fastened upon the “Luxury...
47To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 13 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I tresspassed on you some time since by Doctr. Upshaw, a crude partial Sketch of our doings here, in which I believe I anticipated the result of Burrs trial for treason: I know little of Law & less of Judicial proceedings, but Common sense suggests that He has been hastily acquited, under certain refinements & subtilties of Sentiment, opposed to the claims of Justice, & apparently calculated...
48To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 23 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The opposition of a party of Kances Indians, to a small detachment destined up the Missouri, for the purpose of returning to their respective Nations, the Riccari & otto Chiefs, sent down last Spring by Captain Lewis, puts it in my Power to introduce the former to You. From observation & the limited Enquiry to which I am confined by an illiterate Interpreter, I think you may be able to derive...
49Enclosure: Comments on Orleans Residents, with Jefferson’s Notes, 1 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
84. Borés—Character is not fully drawn,—for it might be said, that he is Industrious; Honorable in all his transactions, the ablest agriculturist in the Province and the author of the culture of Sugar, but He does not speak a word of English. 85. Detrihan—is well described, but does not understand English. 86. Poydras—of Pointe Coupeé, the Patron Friend & Representative of that very opulent...