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the United States was about to sacrifice their dearest interest by ceding to Spain, for twenty years, all rights to the Mississippi. They were so completely dissatisfied with their government that they were on the point of seceding from the Union. Spain should try to win their friendship by per- mitting them to navigate the Mississippi, rather than to provoke them into an invasion of Louisiana. He concluded by offering his services in the pro- motion of the policy outlined. How far these treasonable designs had advanced, is revealed by Miro's letter of January 8, 1788, in which he wrote: "The delivery of Kentucky to His Majesty, the principal object to which Wilkinson has promised to devote himself entirely, would assure forever this province as a rampart to New Spain." 21 On May 15 Wilkinson wrote the Spanish governor an incriminating letter in cipher, which was brought to New Orleans in a pirogue by Colonel Dunn. He assured Miro that Kentucky would soon separate from Virginia. The separation would be followed by open negotiations through an agent "with power to treat of the union in which we are engaged.... I anticipate no obstacle on the part of Congress," he added, "because of the weakness of this body under the Confederation and the uncertainty of the establishment of a new congress." 22 Miro was not completely fooled. His suspicions, aroused by the ambitious commercial transactions of the would-be conspirator, are expressed in a letter of June 15. "Although his candor and whatever information I have obtained from many who have known him," he says, "seem to assure us that he is working in all cordiality, I am aware it is possible that his intention may be to enrich himself by means of inflating us with hopes and advantages, knowing that they will be in vain." There were good grounds for the suspicions. The message of May had been followed by the arrival of five boatloads of tobacco which were sold for seven thousand ,pesos. This money was reinvested in mer- chandise valued at more than eighteen thousand. In 1789 Wilkinson visited New Orleans again. It was at this time that he wrote the incrimi- nating letter of February 14, 1789, signed "Un buen Es,pa,-iol" (A good Spaniard). The open hints for remuneration were answered by Miro with the statement, "according to the answer of the court [of Spain], you are our agent, and I am ordered to give you hopes that th_e king will recom- 21 Whitaker, A. P., Tlte s,;anislt-American Frontier, 97-99; Fortier, op. cit., II, 131-132. 21 James Wilkinson to Miro, May 15, 1788. Cited by Fortier in A History of Louisiana, II, I 33-135.
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