First Claslzes witlt tlze United States
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there is no doubt that his primary aim was directed to what he and his companions referred to as the "liberation of Mexico." 121 We are here concerned only with the Mexican aspect of the conspiracy and its effect on Texas and Spain. It seems that during his visit to New Orleans, Burr enlisted the cooperation not only of the high officials, as already indicated, but also of the clergy. The bishop of New .Orleans himself was interested and seems to have actually appointed three Jesuits to act as agents for the revolutionists in Mexico. In his illemoirs, Burr writes, "The bishop was an intelligent and social man. He had been in Mexico, and spoke with great freedom of the dissatisfaction of the clergy in South America." It was agreed that the religious establishments of the country were not to be molested. The Superior of the Ursuline Convent, Madame Xavier Tarjson, was in the secret also, and some of the Sisters were to be employed in Mexico.1" Francisco Morales, the former intendant of New Orleans who abrogated the right of deposit on the eve of the Louisiana Purchase, daily became more distrustful of the Americans and from Pensacola warned Viceroy Iturrigaray in May, 1806, that there was a strong and active party in New Orleans whose object was to revolutionize Mexico. He wisely added that conditions on the frontier were entirely favorable for such a design. In June, Inspector Viana wrote Cordero from Nacogdoches that per- sistent rumors indicated that a large force was gathering in Kentucky to invade Texas. "I have neither munitions, arms, provisions, nor soldiers wherewith to uphold our authority." A more concrete, if exaggerated, report of the danger that threatened New Spain in general and Texas in particular is found in the letter of Vicente Folch, governor of West Florida. In October, 1806, he advised Iturrigaray that the movement to revolutionize Mexico was stronger than ever. According to the plans of the conspirators, the weather permitting, the expedition was to set out in February or March. It was to consist of 10,000 Kentuckians, 3,000 regular troops, and 8,000 or 10,000 militia from Louisiana. A corps of 5,000 Negroes were expected to be recruited on the plantations by offering UlThe bibliography of Burr's conspiracy is so voluminous as to be appalling. Few subjects have elicited more profuse and contradictory treatises and cliscussions. One of the best, in the opinion of the writer, is McCalcb, W. F., Tiu Aaron Burr Con• spiracy. Useful printed sources arc: Clark, Daniel, Proofs of tlte Corruption of Gen. James Wilkinson, and of ltis connexion wit/i Aaron Burr (Philadelphia, 1809); Wilkinson, James, Memoirs of M,, Own Time,· and Davis, .Mathew L., Memoirs of Aaro11 B11rr. WDavis, Memoirs of Aaro11 Burr, II, 382.
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