The Enquirer

FROM THE SCIOTO GAZETTE.

The aspect of the affairs in the Western Country and Col. Burr's late visit.

When we took leave of col. Burr in our last number, we left him, as we supposed, proceeding on from Frankfort to see general Wilkinson.

On leaving Frankfort, he visited col. Charles Lynch, of Shelby county, who is connected with baron P. N. Tor Bastrop, a man who, not long since, removed from Kentucky to the Louisiana country.

Bastrop contracted with the Spanish government, previous to the cession of Louisiana to America, for settling about two hundred families at, or near Natchitoches, for which he was to receive land to the amount of thirty miles square. Bastrop never complied with his contract. He therefore made Lynch interested in a considerable amount, who will probably, swindle the American government out of the greater part of the land held by Bastrop under the contract, which was never complied with on his part. With col. Lynch col. Burr spent several days, and then proceeded to Louisville, and report says he drew from mercantile houses in different towns in Kentucky, about two hundred thousand dollars. We have good authority for saying, that he drew from a house in Louisville, of the firm of Messrs. Prather and Smiley, very considerable sums.

How col. Burr should become possessed of such large sums of money, cannot be accounted for: It is generally understood that he is a bankrupt, and supported chiefly by Alston, his son-in-law, who a few weeks ago, together with his wife, descended the Ohio, and are probably on their way to Kentucky, as their attendants and cavalry, passed through Chillicothe.

We cannot ascertain, certainly, whether col. Burr went on to St. Louis or fort Adams in person, but it has been reported that he dispatched a messenger, who probably was the bearer of secret communications between them.

Nor have we been able to learn the result of the return of col. Burr's messenger to Wilkinson, or whether col. Burr actually pursued his journey either to Fort Adams or St. Louis; but the latest accounts we have of him, are from Nashville, where he was not long since.

It has been reported by some, that colonel Burr will return to Chillicothe in a few days, on his way to Pittsburgh, to meet Comfort Tyler and his retinue. If this secret and mysterious plan is not hostile towards the general government, why is the veil of mystery thrown over the whole of these transactions? Why are those secret agreements entered into at Frankfort and St. Louis, not made known? Why those secret dispatches of messengers from one part of the country to another? Why those precautious steps to impose on the credulity of others? Why are those secret letters to the different associates, and in fact, why do we see their agents and tools at work all over the western country, sounding the minds of the people?

Fellow citizens, a few more weeks and the doors of this nefarious plot will be thrown open. You will then believe what has been advanced on this subject to be true: You will then discover in their lurking holes, the traitors of your country: You will then behold them writhing under the scourge and lash of the indignation of an enraged people: and fellow citizens, you may then rejoice at your safe delivery from a plot so deeply laid to entrap and sever you from your Atlantic brethren.