your further request, to furnish copies of the orders which had been
given respecting Aaron Burr and his property; and in a subsequent letter
of the same day, I forwarded to you copies of two letters from the
Secretary at War, which appeared to be within the description expressed
in your letter. The order from the Secretary of the Navy, you said, you
were in possession of. The receipt of these papers had, I presume, so
far anticipated, and others this day forwarded will have substantially
fulfilled, the object of a subpoena from the District Court of Richmond,
requiring that those officers and myself should attend the Court in
Richmond, with the letter of General Wilkinson, the answer to that
letter, and the orders of the departments of War and the Navy, therein
generally described. No answer to General Wilkinson's letter, other
than a mere acknowledgment of its receipt, in a letter written for a
different purpose, was ever written by myself or any other. To these
communications of papers, I will add, that if the defendant supposes
there are any facts within the knowledge of the Heads of departments, or
of myself, which can be useful for his defence, from a desire of doing
any thing our situation will permit in furtherance of justice, we shall
be ready to give him the benefit of it, by way of deposition, through
any persons whom the Court shall authorize to take our testimony at
this place. I know, indeed, that this cannot be done but by consent of
parties; and I therefore authorize you to give consent on the part of
the United States. Mr. Burr's consent will be given of course, if he
supposes the testimony useful.

As to our personal attendance at Richmond, I am persuaded the Court
is sensible, that paramount duties to the nation at large control the
obligation of compliance with their summons in this case; as they would,
should we receive a similar one, to attend the trials of Blannerhassett
and others, in the Mississippi territory, those instituted at St. Louis