The people of the country to which we are going are prepared to receive us; their agents, now with Burr, say that if we will protect their religion, and will not subject them to a foreign Power, that in three weeks all will be settled.

"The gods invite us to glory and fortune; it remains to be seen whether we deserve the boon. The bearer of this goes express to you. He is a man of inviolable honor and perfect discretion, formed to execute rather than project, capable of relating facts with fidelity, and incapable of relating them otherwise; he is thoroughly informed of the plans and intentions of Burr, and will disclose to you as far as you require, and no further. He has imbibed a reverence for your character, and may be embarrassed in your presence; put him at ease, and he will satisfy you."

To Doctor Bollmann's copy was added the postscript "Doctor Bollman, equally confidential, better informed on the subject and more enlightened, will hand this duplicate."

And so, in August, 1806, Colonel Burr rode westward, "never to return."

VOL. II-6

PART VII

The Filibuster

1806-1807

AARON BURR.

"The gods invite us to glory and fortune; it remains to be

seen whether we deserve the boon."

CHAPTER I

BOATS FOR BASTROP

I

LATE in August, accompanied by his secretary, Charles Willie, and a French officer named Julien De Pestre, Colonel Burr was on the Ohio. He] seemed extremely "taciturn," and was travelling "incognito." At Pittsburgh, several young men were enrolled, including Morgan Neville, a son of the Chief Justice of Pennsylvania; and a visit was made to Colonel George Morgan.

The Morgans, father and sons, had been previously engaged in certain questionable land transactions, claims concerning which on their part were at the time pending before Congress—a circumstance which may or may not have influenced their subsequent behavior. At all events, after his departure, it occurred to the Morgans that Colonel Burr's conversation had been of an alarming and mysterious nature -he probably had talked grandiosely, as seems to have been his habit when haranguing mediocre persons and Colonel Morgan reported certain misgivings aroused in his mind to three gentlemen of