"I frequently mentioned to Captain Lewis that Hawkins' knowledge of the army, and the secrets of the commander-inchief, was something mysterious to me. He told me that he suspected General Wilkinson, as did the commander-in-chief also. The whole proceeding tended to keep up the idea that I had been guilty of desertion, nor was it in my power to prevent its progress.

"There is one thing which may be necessary to mention to you that Captain Lewis was particularly solicitous that I should not return from that country till Hawkins could be taken, and the party be brought to justice. He furnished me with fifty dollars, out of his own purse, he said, and was to have brought me money to Louisville, but you know the issue of that affair.

"Now, Mr. Nolan, I hope this will be satisfactory at least; it will enable you to conceive more perfectly of the subject. 1 wished to have been brought to trial, but could not obtain one, and one of the pretenses to avert it was that the circumstances would then be public in which would furnish the party with advantages. Wayne had acted wrong. Oh! he knew, I was sensible of it.

"R. NEWMAN."

"April 30, 1797.

"Mr. Nolan:

"SIR-In answer to your questions, I shall be explicit. First, I received a letter from Mr. James Hawkins, dated Louisville, requesting I went to meet him at Mathew's Ford, Floyd's Fort, on business of importatnce. I did so.

"He told me he was empowered to engage some person of activity to undertake an enterprise in favor of the army; that he wished me to engage, feeling a disposition to serve me, and that he believed it would render me independent for the future, if I was so fortunate as to be successful.

"I observed to Mr. Hawkins I should be glad of an opportunity of rendering my condition more eligible. He replied that I was acquainted with him, and if I wanted to depend on him and be guided by him, he would make my fortune; that he had no doubt of the generosity of General Wayne, and if I acted to advantage I should not only meet his approbation, but that of the whole army. He then pointed out the object, the principle to deceive the enemy in the quantity of provisions and bring them to a general action. He observed that for my own safety, measures had been concerted for my departure; that the greatest secrecy must absolutely take place; that the idea of desertion must exist in the army as well as with the enemy, and the more effectually to execute the plan, I must join the army in some capacity which would be given me on application by Colonel O'Hara.

"Mr. Hawkins did not go to the army with me; I left him in Kentucky. Colonel O'Hara gave the place of lieutenant quartermaster to me, and it was three days before the expected opportunity offered for my departure. I had no written instructions, and I was sorry for it; no communication but with Hawkins.

"Colonel O'Hara furnished me with a horse, but for no particular purpose. My instructions were to report at the War Office, that I was taken, and then on my return to the army I asked Hawkins why that report must be made. He said General Wayne had so ordered it, and that he expected he had some particular reasons for it; but that that was nothing to me; that I would find no difficulty.

"I thought Hawkins was doing me a service. I expected nothing. I proceeded to the execution of what I had undertaken. I completed it. Be the original authors whom they may, it was of infinite advantage to the army. I have suffered and perhaps may be the only one.

"However, sir, notwithstanding my taciturnity and apparent reservedness on the subject, I was, I am and will forever be engaged in the pursuit of a discovery of the authors of my destruction. And the day I left Lewis, I swore by the Gods to him, that if he deceived me, I would slay him wheresoever I found him. "R. NEWMAN."

In the same month, April, 1797, we have another letter from Nolan to Wilkinson :

"I have gotten such a passport that I apprehend neither risk nor detention. I have instruments to enable me to make a more correct map than the one you saw. Ellicot assisted me in acquiring a more perfect knowledge of astronomy and glasses. Gayoso has made me a present of a portable sextant. My timepiece is good. I shall pay every attention and take an assistant with me who is a tolerable mathematician. I will write you again from Natchez by land. Minor's brother sets out next month. I shall take ten good riflemen with me from San Antonio. The Indians, Comanches and Apaches, are at war with the Spaniards. I calculate on a little fight.'

As the writer of the interesting article on Nolan, in the Texas Historical Quarterly says:

"This letter of Nolan's is of double interest, in view of a statement of Wilkinson's in 1806, viz.: 'I have been reconnoitering and exploring the route (to Santa Fé) for more than sixteen years. I know not only the way, but all the difficulties and how to surmount them.' And we must conclude with the writer: "The close relations between the General and his protégé and the mention by the latter of maps and sextants, strengthens the suspicion that something more than horse trading was to characterize

'Nolan's new venture into Texas.' He explains that some shrewd, diplomatic work in the quarrel between Gayoso and Andrew Ellicot, the American Boundary Commissioner, then at Natchez, coupled with Wilkinson's letter of introduction, had won for Nolan the favor of the Spaniards.

Gayoso's response to Wilkinson's letter of introduction was prompt and cordial, and Nolan, to judge by the following letter, which bears out the suspicions mentioned above, was made a third in the bond that united the Spanish Governor with the American commander.

"My Very Esteemed Friend:

"NATCHEZ, 1st April 1797.

"I am infinitely obliged for the expression of your friendship on the occasion of my promotion to the command of this province. I assure you, my friend, that for a long time I have desired the opportunity of expressing to you the sincere affection I feel for you. No one better knows your worth; also no one more than I, interests himself more in the advancement of your fortune. In truth, it is a pity that you have lost so much time in the prosecution of a plan which can only produce for you fatigue and risks, without profit; nevertheless, it may have served to make known your character; and although it seems to me that in appearance you have not had time to acquire experience, those who have known you have formed the judgment that in you are summed up the energy, knowledge, good reputation and a genius for comprehension which assuredly will open to you the door of fortune in reward of your efforts. The plan which you have communicated to me, and of which I approve, is the one most suitable for you. As I fear I shall not arrive in New Orleans before you leave, I should, therefore, like to have another conference with you on the important and useful project. I shall content myself with recommending to you that you look well to those with whom you form connections that might work injury to the most useful and the easiest way of executing your plans in order to assure their good success and avoid contingencies, I confide to you that perhaps we shall see one another again at the end of September, when I (also in confidence) trust you will bring me all the information necessary to carry out a plan that may be useful to many. It is all that is needed, as you have credit (or the means) and only lack the opportunity to put them to such use as may profit

I shall not tire myself with repeating to you a thousand other things to strengthen you in your ideas, as I know you need no greater stimulant than that furnished by your own ambition. In this assurance and belief, I conclude, wishing you a happy

journey and a prompt return, reiterating to you with the greatest sincerity, the affection I feel for you.

"Your truly affectionate Q. B. S. M.,

"MANUAL GAYOSO DE LEMOS."

From the original in the Minor archives.

The following month, May, 1797, Gayoso writes to Nolan, this time in English:

"With pleasure I received your favor of the 22nd ultimo. Am very glad of the additional good prospect that offers for your future campaign, as I do not doubt but the new recommendations will be productive of the best effects.

"I am very much flattered with the good wishes of my friends in New Orleans. If the appointment takes place it shall be my particular study to make them as happy as it may be in my power...

Your most humble affectionate servant,

"MANUAL GAYOSO DE LEMOS."

(Copied from the original in Minor archives.)

The congratulations refer to the partnership recently made between Nolan and John Murdock, a citizen of Natchez, according to the following articles of agreement:

"The parties have agreed to enter into copartnership in Trade, and until a more particular Agreement shall be framed, the present is considered sufficiently binding and valid in law.

"The Capital to be employed shall not exceed ten thousand dollars. The Capital shall consist either of Cash in ready money, Goods at their Cost, Debts due from each Partner to the other, or such property as may be mutually agreed on.

"The said Murdock is to furnish two thousand four hundred dollars, on which he is to have one-third of the Profit (that is, one-third of the neat profit on his own Capital), and this seemIngly unequal Co-Partnership he enters into in consideration that said Nolan should instruct him in the purchase and conveyance of Horses, etc., from San Antonio and elsewhere to this place, introduce him to the Commander and others, and form an equal Co-partnership in any future adventure.

"The said Nolan will furnish Seven Thousand Dollars, or more if possible.

"The whole capital without discrimination shall be employed in the purchase of Horses, etc. The difference between the neat proceeds and the original Capital is the profit, which shall be divided as follows:

"In witness of the Foregoing Agreement, the parties have subscribed their names at Natchez, the Second day of April, One thousand seven hundred and ninety Seven, to two agreements of the same Tenor and date.

"Witnesses present:
"S. MINOR,

66

JOHN MINOR, "BEN CHEW.

(Signed) "PHILIP NOLAN,
"J. MURDOCK.

(Original in the Minor papers.)

There is also in the Minor archives an interesting document, an almost indecipherable fragment, recording that Philip Nolan and W. Lintot, "having in contemplation to make an experiment on the practicability of navigating against the current of the Mississippi with a horseboat, sought the exclusive privilege for the same for fifteen to twenty years, from the government, in order that they may have a hope of being compensated for their labor and loss of time and expense, that will attend the execution of the experiment." Signed P. N. and W. L., 27th Ap., 1800.

As Natchitoches was the gateway from Louisiana to Texas, and Natchez on the direct road to Natchitoches, the substitution of that place to New Orleans as a business headquarters was dictated by business reasons, and evidently Nolan, after his partnership, intended establishing himself there permanently. His next letter to Wilkinson was from Natchez, written a few months later and just before setting out on another expedition.

"July 21st, 1797.

"The Baron has given me every credential, and in my passport he says it is important to the Royal Service that I meet no embarrassment. shall return to this place in December, pass the winter here and proceed to Kentucky in the spring. Gayoso is at length appointed Governor General and will leave this place for New Orleans in a few days. Grandpré is appointed Governor of Natchez by the King. 'Blue Eye' (reference is impossible of verification) has no doubt made you acquainted with Gayoso. He is a vile man and my implacable enemy, yet he treats me with attention. During the commotions here he wrote to the Baron requesting that he would not permit me to leave New Orleans. He will take an active part against us; he is popular and enterprising; secure him.' Under the same cover he subscribed himself my friend, and but a few days before made me a present of a sextant.

"The Baron knows him, and has done all in his power to secure me from his vengeance. I have, however, my fears, and I may yet be obliged to shoot the monster with a poisoned arrow. (From General Wilkinson's Memoirs, Volume 11.)