Our Catliolic Heritage in T e:xas
Referring to the plot as the "infernal conspiracy," he went on to say that it was made up mainly of Kentucky frontiersmen and settlers of the Ohio Valley, who, led by able and ambitious veterans of the Revo- lutionary War, and aided by the British Navy, planned first to gain possession of New Orleans, then to descend upon Vera Cruz and march on Mexico City. He assured the viceroy, however, that he would obstruct their designs and emulate the example of the great Spartan Leonidas. He suggested that Vera Cruz be reenforced by 10,000 men and that vigilance along the entire coast be redoubled. He also warned Iturrigaray against a possible understanding between the leaders of the conspiracy and the daring spirits of the Interior Provinces. Burling, the bearer, could give him any additional information he might desire. In an effort to shroud the whole affair in mystery, yet to put himself in a heroic light, he concluded by stating that he had risked his life, his fame, and his fortune to ascertain the facts just recounted in order to safeguard the king's possessions in America. He begged the viceroy, therefore, to destroy the letter and when making the information public, not to reveal his identity, particularly to England, France, and the United States. He finally came to the real point of the whole farce. In securing this vital information for the safety of Mexico and in foiling the purJ?OSe of the conspirators, he declared he had spent $85,000, besides $36,000 paid to spies and special agents. He did not doubt that the generosity of the king would reimburse him for these expenses and liberally reward him for his services.u 7 Even a child could have seen through such a rustic ruse. Iturrigaray replied politely, however, to Wilkinson the very day he received the letter and thanked him for his great diligence and extreme concern. But one can see the viceroy's contempt in his statement that the newspaper accounts of the conspiracy had for some time made him aware of the plot. The general need not worry himself about the danger to New Spain. The forces of the viceroyalty were fully capable of coping with any emergency that might arise. Iturrigaray deeply regretted his inability, without an order from the court, to reimburse the general for the expenses incurred in the performance of his duty. He assured
U7WiJkinson to Iturrigaray, November 17, 1806. A. G. I., Audiencia de Mexico, 90-r-8. (Dunn Transcripts, r800-r8r9, pp. 25-28.)
Powered by FlippingBook