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shameless was the proposal of General Wilkinson to Secretary of War Eustis. In a discussion of measures which should be adopted for the de- fense of New Orleans against any possible British attack, he strongly recommended that due consideration be given in any plan to the "Mexican Provinces." Wilkinson firmly believed that Great Britain would attempt to gain control of the Interior Provinces. His interest in this region of New Spain dated back to the Burr conspiracy. 26 He was very much con- cerned about the matter and urged the need of effecting an understanding with the leaders of the Revolution in the Interior Provinces. He suggested that the United States make arrangements to supply the Insurgents in Mexico with arms, munitions, artillery, and trained officers as military instructors. Wilkinson advocated dispatching to Mexico a corps selected from different branches of the service to act as a nucleus for the reorgani- zation of the rebel forces. The General further proposed exploring the Gulf from the Mississippi to the mouth of the Rio Grande to secure perti- nent information for naval action. He particularly called attention to the importance of the Bay of Espiritu Santo as the most desirable port on the Texas coast for communications with the people. 27 Spanis/1, intelligence officials at work. The ever watchful Onis faith- fully informed the Viceroy that numerous agents of both Napoleon and the United States, although for different reasons, were m~ing strenuous efforts to promote the independence of New Spain. In April, 1812, he warned that one such agent from the United States had recently gone to Natchitoches. 21 Governors Herrera and Salcedo, likewise, reported the increasing restlessness and discontent prevalent in the Interior Provinces. In attempting to explain the cause, they declared that some persons were spreading seditious propaganda against the Spanish Government and the King's army in Texas. These pernicious stories were circulated with in- credible rapidity. Added to the disturbing activities of agents of the United States in the Spanish provinces, the situation grew more critical by the hour. To make matters worse, the Indians of the north seemed to have lost their former friendliness for the Spaniards and to have become ar- rogant and openly defiant. Glaring proof of the perfidious plots being hatched was a letter sent to Colonel Herrera by Samuel Carr, Justice of the Peace in Natchitoches. None other than Chief Clerk Graham had dispatched the letter to Carr, 26 Castaiieda, Our Catnolic Heritage in Texas, V, 273-279. 27 Foote, Texas and Texans, I, 132-134, 21 Alaman, Hutoria de Mexico, III, Appendix, Document 46, Nos. 9, 49.
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