I enclose you the copy of a letter received last night, and giving
singular information. I have inquired into the character of Graybell. He
was an old revolutionary captain, is now a flour merchant in Baltimore,
of the most respectable character, and whose word would be taken as
implicitly as any man's for whatever he affirms. The letter-writer,
also, is a man of entire respectability. I am well informed, that for
more than a twelvemonth it has been believed in Baltimore, generally,
that Burr was engaged in some criminal enterprise, and that Luther
Martin knew all about it. We think you should immediately despatch a
subpoena for Graybell; and while that is on the road, you will have time
to consider in what form you will use his testimony; e.g. shall Luther
Martin be summoned as a witness against Burr, and Graybell held ready
to confront him? It may be doubted whether we could examine a witness
to discredit our own witness. Besides, the lawyers say that they are
privileged from being forced to breaches of confidence, and that
no others are. Shall we move to commit Luther Martin, as _particeps
criminis_ with Burr? Graybell will fix upon him misprision of treason at
least. And at any rate, his evidence will put down this unprincipled and
impudent federal bull-dog, and add another proof that the most clamorous
defenders of Burr are all his accomplices. It will explain why Luther
Martin flew so hastily to the aid of 'his honorable friend,' abandoning
his clients and their property during a session of a principal court
in Maryland, now filled, as I am told, with the clamors and ruin of his
clients. I believe we shall send on Latrobe as a witness. He will prove
that Aaron Burr endeavored to get him to engage several thousand men,
chiefly Irish emigrants, whom he had been in the habit of employing in
the works he directs, under pretence of a canal opposite Louisville,
or of the Washita, in which, had he succeeded, he could with that force
alone have carried every thing before him, and would not have been where