, and particularly the western
expedition; that he spoke to him of the advantages that country would
have in joining France when she should hold Louisiana; showed him a map
he had drawn of that part of the country; pointed out the passes in the
mountain, and the facility with which they might hold them against
the United States, and with which France could support them from New
Orleans. He says, that in these conversations, Collot let himself out
without common prudence. He says, Michaux (to whom I, at the request of
Genet, had given a letter of introduction to the Governor of Kentucky as
a botanist, which was his real profession,) called on him; that Michaux
had a commissary's commission for the expedition, which Genet had
planned from that quarter against the Spaniards; that ----------,
the late Spanish commandant of St. Genevieve, with one Powers, an
Englishman, called on him. That from all these circumstances, together
with Ross's stories, he did believe that there was a conspiracy to
deliver our country, or some part of it at least, to the French; that he
made notes of what passed between himself and Collot and the others, and
lent them to Mr. Ross, who gave them to the President, by whom they were
deposited in the office of the Board of War; that when he complained
to Ross of this breach of confidence, he endeavored to get off by
compliments on the utility and importance of his notes. They now cooled
towards each other; and his opposition to Ross's election as Governor
has separated them in truth, though not entirely to appearance.

Doctor Rush tells me, that within a few days he has heard a member
of Congress lament our separation from Great Britain, and express his
sincere wishes that we were again dependent on her.

December the 25th, 1800. Colonel Hitchburn tells me what Colonel Monroe
had before told me of, as coming from Hitchburn. He was giving me the
characters of persons in Massachusetts. Speaking of Lowell, he said he
was, in the beginning of the Revolution, a timid whig, but as soon as he
found we were likely to prevail, he became a great office-hunter. And in
the very breath of speaking of Lowell, he stopped: says he, I will give
you a piece of information which I do not venture to speak of to others.
There was a Mr. Hale in Massachusetts, a reputable, worthy man, who
becoming a little embarrassed in his affairs, I aided him, which
made him very friendly to me. He went to Canada on some business. The