1834, Chapter Thirty-two Summary

After the duel, Burr's career in eastern politics is over and his old friend and military companion, Brigader-General James Wilkinson talks to Burr regarding a conquest of the west. In 1787, Wilkinson takes a secret oath swearing his loyalty to Spain, a common enough step for American merchants in Louisiana. Jamie has ideas of taking the western states, combining them with Louisiana, and creating an independent state or territory; later this is called the Spanish Conspiracy. At the time they speak, Burr finds Wilkinson's idea intriguing and yet cannot understand why the people of New Orleans wish to break with the administration. Burr reveals that he has heard bits and pieces of this plan since 1794, from Jamie, written to him in code, at Jamie's insistence. Burr also recalls the caution with which Wilkinson was assigned because of his relationship to the Dons...