First Clashes wit/, tlie United States 2 79 Wilkinson that he would report the whole matter to the king, and extend every facility to Mr. Burling for his prompt return.m Burling left Mexico shortly afterwards for Vera Cruz, where he embarked Feb- ruary 10, 1807, on the American schooner Liberty for New Orleans. True to his promise, Iturrigaray reported the disgraceful proposal to Godoy on March 12, sending him a copy of the translation of Wilkinson's letter, and stating that, agreeable to the request of the general, the original draft had been destroyed in the presence of Mr. Burling. The report is most revealing. Iturrigaray pointed out the great stress placed upon the measures alleged to have been taken by the · general "at the risk of his life, his fame, and his fortune in order to save, or at least protect the Kingdom," but in reality to come finally to "what I had anticipated, the question of payment for his services." He explained that he had refused to pay one cent and added, "I gave him to under- stand [in my reply] that the revolutionists had not caused me any alarm; for I had been long prepared to repel them by force, even though their number had been much greater." 129 By a curious coincidence, the same day that Iturrigaray reported the Burling mission to Godoy, "the General forwarded to Jefferson a report of the condition of Mexico, purporting to have come from Burling. This was accompanied by the request for one thousand five hundred dollars, the amount alleged to have been expended on Burling's praiseworthy undertaking. And Jefferson had not the heart to deny one whom he regarded a faithful servant." 130 Pike's expedition. Closely associated with Burr's conspiracy and Wilkinson's shady activities was the expedition undertaken by Zebulon M. Pike in 1805. The purpose of the enterprise has never been absolutely clear. He received his instructions from General Wilkinson on June 24. 1805, just as the frontier situation was becoming acute, and as Burr -was planning to make his tour of Louisiana. Contrary to general belief. the expedition was ordered, not by the Secretary of War, but by the new commander-in-chief of the Army. It is not strange that under the circumstances the Spaniards should have regarded Pike's expedition with 128 Jose de Iturrigaray to Diego (James) Wilkinson, January 21, 1807. A. G. /., Audiencia de Jlfexico, 90-1-8. (Dunn Transcripts, 1800-1819, pp. 29-30.) 129 Iturrigaray al Principe de la Paz, .March 12, 1807. A. G. I., Audiencia de Afex;co, 90-1-8. (Dunn Transcripts, 1800-1819, pp. 31-33.} 130 McCaleb, Tl,e Aaro" Burr ConsjiracJ, 171.
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