stice of the superior court was his stepson; the Creole
petitionists who had come to Washington to secure self-government had
been cordially received by Burr and had a lively sense of gratitude. On
his way down the Ohio, Burr landed at Blennerhassett's Island, where an
eccentric Irishman of that name owned an estate. Harman Blennerhassett
was to rue the day that he entertained this fascinating guest. At
Cincinnati he was the guest of Senator Smith, and there he also met
Dayton. At Nashville he visited General Andrew Jackson, who was thrilled
with the prospect of war with Spain; at Fort Massac he spent four
days in close conference with General Wilkinson; and at New Orleans he
consorted with Daniel Clark, a rich merchant and the most uncompromising
opponent of Governor Claiborne, and with members of the Mexican
Association and every would-be adventurer and filibuster. In November,
Burr was again in Washington. What was the purpose of this journey and
what did it accomplish?

It is far easier to tell what Burr did after this mysterious western
expedition than what he planned to do. There is danger of reading too
great consistency into his designs. At one moment, if we may believe
Anthony Merry, the British Minister, who lent an ear to Burr's
proposals, he was plotting a revolution which should separate the
Western States from the Union. To accomplish this design he needed
British funds and a British naval force. Jonathan Dayton revealed to
Yrujo much the same plot--which he thought was worth thirty or forty
thousand dollars to the Spanish Government. To such urgent necessity for
funds were the conspirators driven. But Dayton added further details
to the story which may have been intended only to intimidate Yrujo. The
revolution effected by British aid, said Dayton gravely, an expedition
would be undertaken against Mexico. Subsequently Dayton unfolded a still
more remarkable tale. Burr had been disappointed in the expectation of
British aid, and he was now bent upon "an almost insane plan," which was
nothing less than the seizure of the Government at Washington. With the
government funds thus obtained, and with the necessary frigates, the
conspirators would sail for New Orleans and proclaim the independence of
Louisiana and the Western States.

The kernel of truth in these accounts is not easily separated from the
chaff. The supposition that Burr seriously contemplated a separation of
the Western States from the Union may