obstacle to any design formed by the English of becoming
predominant in America." In relation to the stipulations in the treaty,
that the inhabitants should be incorporated in the Union, and, in due
time, be admitted as a state, &c. M. Marbois records.

"The first consul, left to his natural disposition, was always
inclined to an elevated and generous justice. He himself
prepared the article which has been just recited. The words
which he employed on the occasion are recorded in the journal
of the negotiation, and deserve to be preserved. 'Let the
Louisianians know that we separate ourselves from them with
regret; that we stipulate in their favour every thing that they
can desire, and let them hereafter, happy in their
independence, recollect that they have been Frenchmen, and that
France, in ceding them, has secured for them advantages which
they could not have obtained from a European power, however
paternal it might have been. Let them retain for us sentiments
of affection; and may their common origin, descent, language,
and customs, perpetuate the friendship.'"

The arrangement being completed, M. Marbois says--"the following words
sufficiently acquaint us with the reflections which then influenced the
first consul. This accession of territory, said he, strengthens forever
the power of the United States, and I have just given to England a
maritime rival, that will sooner or later humble her pride."

We return to the History of Judge Martin, who describes the ceremonies
of delivering the colony to the United States. Some citizens of the
United States waved their hats, but "no emotion was manifested by any
other part of the crowd. The colonists did not appear conscious that
they were reaching the _Latium sedes ubi fata quietas ostendunt_."

We pass on to the year 1806, when the celebrated plot of Aaron Burr is
introduced. The president had received information of it, but not at
first with such certainty as warranted any steps to be taken against the
accused. General Wilkinson, then commanding in the west, afterwards made
communications to the president, "involving men distinguished for
integrity and patriotism; men of talents, honoured by the confidence of
the government, in the flagitious plot." The designs of Burr and his
associates were fully developed on his trial, and we need not repeat
them here; but the proceedings of General Wilkinson ar