After Ross became a Senator,
and particularly at the time of the western insurrection, they still
were in concert. After the British treaty, Ross, on his return, informed
him there was a party in the United States who wanted to overturn the
government, who were in league with France; that France, by a secret
article of treaty with Spain, was to have Louisiana; and that Great
Britain was likely to be our best friend and dependence.
On this information, he, Breckenridge, was induced to become an advocate
for the British treaty. During this intimacy with Ross, he says, that
General Collot, in his journey to the western country, called on
him, and he frequently led Breckenridge into conversations on
their grievances under the government, 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.
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