32      THE  AARON  BURR  CONSPIRACY

acquired  while  on  trading  voyages  to  the  chief  seaport
of  Mexico.  Of  these  voyages  there  are  frequent  ac-
counts in  the  Spanish  official  reports,1  for  Clark  was
wont  to  recite  to  Government  the  news  of  Europe  and
America.  But  an  end  came  to  this  when  the  Spaniards
learned  that  he  had  been  chosen  a  Delegate  to  Congress.2
Burr  no  doubt  profited  by  what  Clark  had  learned  of  the
conditions  of  society  in  Mexico,  and  the  merchant  was
observer  enough  to  note  that  a  revolution  was  imminent.
That  he  agreed  to  join  with  Burr  there  is  little  doubt ;
but  he,  like  many  others,  wished  to  see  the  movement
triumphant  before  sharing  its  fortunes.  Certain  it  is
Clark  never  set  out  to  play  a  heavy  part  in  the  plot,
which,  as  he  understood  it,  was  wholly  against  Mexico.
It  was  a  matter  for  jest  with  him  when  he  heard  on
the  streets  of  New  Orleans  the  extravagant  designs
attributed  to  his  new  acquaintance,  whose  address  even
was  unknown  to  him.  September  7th,  a  few  weeks
after  the  departure  of  Burr  from  New  Orleans  and
almost  at  the  hour  of  his  arrival  in  St.  Louis  on  his
visit  to  Wilkinson,  Clark  wrote  to  the  General  :3 —

"Many  absurd  and  wild  reports  are  circulated  here,
and  have  reached  the  ears  of  the  officers  of  the  late
Spanish  Government,  respecting  our  ex- Vice-President.
.  .  .  You  are  spoken  of  as  his  right-hand  man.  Entre
nous,  I  believe  that  Minor  of  Natchez  has  had  a  great
part  in  this  business,  in  order  to  make  himself  of  impor-
tance— he  is  in  the  pay  of  Spain  and  wishes  to  convince

^larkto  Pedro  de  Alamo,  September  26,  1805;  MSS.  Mex-
ican Archives.
