Power had intended to return from Detroit by the way of Louisville, as at first intimated, to Mr. Sebastian; but General Wilkinson compelled him, doubtless to prevent detection, to take a route through the unsettled country of the Miami of the Lake, and the Wabash, to St. Vincennes, and thence by Massac, to New Madrid; under the care of Captain Chamburgh of the United States' troops, and an escort; ostensibly alleging that he was a messenger charged with despatches for him, as commander of the American army, which required an answer by the shortest, as the most speedy route.

At St. Vincennes, Power despatched a messenger to Mr. Sebastian; and doubtless awaited his return; but certainly giving an account of what had passed with Wilkinson; and his reasons for not returning by the way of the Ohio and Louisville.

If Mr. Sebastian had not been furnished with two letters, from Colonel Nicholas and Judge Innis, so that he should be ready to present Mr. Power, with an answer suitable to the general's determination, upon which they had "hung the law and the prophets," without more trouble; why, then it was but to send to Judge Innis, and get the answer, as soon as he could see Colonel Nicholas, have it written, copied, and transmitted.

Is this an uncharitable surmise? Why had not the letter to Power, a date? If it had been written at the first interview between Innis and Nicholas, in July, no reason can be assigned for not dating it. It was a despatch of a kind which required a date. But if it was not written until the last of September, or the first of October, then there was an important reason, why it should not bear date. Because there is a possibility, in every case where any matter is committed to paper, and delivered to another, that it may appear again: while Power's proposals were known to be in duplicate, with the 19th of July as their date; and should the reply to them shew a lapse of two months, or more, it would irresistibly imply, that the interval had been taken for information, consultation, and decision. Then common prudence, as well as

intriguing craft, and political sagacity, would withhold the date from the letter written at the time now suggested, and send it as it was, without a date.

Had these been young and inexperienced men, had this been the first time of their meeting to consult on the subject of separate treaty with the Spanish authorities, it should be passed over without a critical expose. But it has been ascertained, by written documents, and the oath of Judge Innis, habituated, to this intrigue, and a most reluctant witness, as will hereafter appear, that these four persons, last designated for consultation, had in 1795, after a similar consultation agreed to send Mr. Sebastian as envoy--and who was prevented from concluding a treaty only, by that which the United States had, very unexpectedly to them, just concluded, as already noticed--and to defeat which, had most undoubtedly been a part of their object. "Once a prostitute, and always a prostitute," is a fair mode of argument--at least, among politicians. And the historian has a right to adopt it, and apply it, in the elucidation of his narratives, of political transactions. For although suspicion is an unlovely trait in private character; it is the parent of scrutiny; the vigilant sentinel on the popular watchtower; and the indispensable concomitant of political. sagacity. But suspicion ceases, when facts, and their consequences, become established upon a rational basis of certainty; resulting from corroborating documents.

Spanish negotiators, and negotiators with Spaniards, had been accustomed to correspond in cipher; and to write, and read letters with double aspects. And such is that returned for an answer to the treasonable propositions made through Power, to the four distinguished Kentucky patriots, Sebastian, Nicholas, Innis, and Murray-the latter of whom had, it seems, become "infidel" to the Spanish cause--and of course was not called into council, by that ever useful emissary, Judge Innis. But, the letter without date: whatever character may be ascribed to the previous paragraphs; the last, is an overture for entering into a treaty, with the inhabitants of the western country, by Spain, in case of the inexccution of the treaty between Spain

and the United States, at that time obstructed, and suspended, by the Spanish authorities; in expectation of the event of this mission by Power.

But Wilkinson, gave way; and all failed. The general, knew the army: it was composed of citizens, faithful to the United States: it had been trained, and fashioned, under the eye, and in the spirit of General Wayne; before whom treachery cowered, and sought refuge in secrecy, antipathy, and concealment. Except a few corrupted by Wilkinson, the fidelity of the army was unshaken--its courage high--its sentiments truly honourable, and federal. Wilkinson was suspected, and he knew, as well as Judge Innis, and Col. Nicholas, that he was watched--even by that arch enemy to treachry, John Adams--president of the United States, at that time. Wilkinson knew more: he knew there were officers in the

army,

whose eyes were open to him; and that upon any demonstration of treachery, he would have been denounced, and arrested.. And he,--what else could he do?--bitterly reproached his friend Power, and postponed the execution of his projects, in favour of Spain, to a future day-perchance, he might be named, for governor of Natchez: a hopeful event.

In the mean time, the patriots of Kentucky, (if it be allowable to use the word ironically, so often) conclude their rejection of proposals to disunion, to the party who made them, in the following terms, viz:

"We flatter ourselves that every thing respecting this important business will be set right by the governments of the two nations; but if this should not be the case, it appears to us that it must be the policy of Spain to encourage, by every possible means, the free intercourse with the inhabitants of the western country, as this will be the most efficacious means to cultivate their good will; and to obtain without hazard, and at reduced prices those supplies which are indispensably necessary to the Spanish government, and its subjects."

Now, the plain import of this is, that if Spain will persist in refusing to carry into effect, her treaty with the United States, so that this important business shall not be adjusted between

the two governments, which we, however, would prefer should be done; why then it appears to us, that Spain pursuing her true interest, will by every possible means open a free intercourse with the inhabitants of the western country. What then, is within the scope of possible means of opening this intercourse for commercial purposes? Certainly, a commercial treaty between Spain, and the inhabitants of the western country. This is not only a possible means; but it is the obvious, and direct means. Not only that, but the parties had already digested the articles of such a treaty, ready for signature, and for use-had it not been obstructed by the public treaty made between the two governments; the execution of which, was the subject then in controversy.

Add to these facts, and reflections, that these treasonable ☛vertures, were waved not only with a gentle hand, and a new inducement to Spain for refusing to execute the treaty-but that the whole transaction, was withheld from the knowledge of the president, because these good citizens disapproved of his administration, and both their motives, and the true character of their letter, will be manifest. Not withholding from Col. Nicholas, the full merit of disclosing to James Ross, a senator of the United States, his own representation of the proposals, and rejection, "AFTER the posts had been surrendered by the Spanish authorities”—which tested the execution of the public treaty.

An event of deep interest to Kentucky, not only as it secured to her citizens the free navigation of the Mississippi; but rendered an intrigue, which had divided the people and jeopardised the peace of the country for ten years, destitute of a plausible object, for its continuance. Of those who received pensions, only one has been completely detected—that was Sebastian: hereafter to be noticed, as an event of 1806.

It was rumoured that two Indians were killed on Stone's river, twenty miles above Nashville, by two young men who had been seen with them the preceding day--1st Nov. 1797.

The year 1797, being that immediately under review; produced an association in Lexington, and which was probably

imitated in a few other places, denominated the "Lexington Emigration society." The object appeared to be laudable, as a source of information, and in holding out inducements, to industrious farmers, and mechanics, to remove to the country; by stating the amount of the ordinary products of the soil, per acre; and the common prices of marketing; and also of the various species of mechanical labour, and productions. Of this society, Thomas Hart was president; John Bradford, secretary. The following particulars are extracted for preservation:

Average produce of one acre of land.

Oats

25 bush.

35 ::

60 ::

Hemp

25 ::

Tobacco

40 ::

Hay

Lexington market prices.

$1 00 | Potatoes, Irish, per b. $0 33

20

Sweet

::

1.00

On the 3d of November the governor, James Garrard, issued His proclamation for assembling the legislature on Monday, the 27th instant; alleging "an extraordinary occasion," though speeifying no object whatever.

An anonymous writer in one of the public gazettes, suggested, rather waggishly, both the governor and his secretary being ex-ministers of the gospel, as a cabinet secret, that the object was to put a stop to the vice of gaming, which had become too prevalent.

But the session being formed, the "occasion" was found to have grown out of the approaching expiration of the act entitled "An act to repeal an act entitled 'An act concerning entries and surveys on the western waters.' Which had been frequently continued: but omitted at the last session. The act passed upon this call, was the last enacted upon that subject. It gave ten months from the last day of the November