Rusk: The Adventures of Gilbert Imlay 
17 
the archives of the French foreig'n office and read the history 
of the intrigues of the Girondist leaders for the conquest of 
Louisiana from Spain — a conquest of which one purpose was 
the expansion of France’s sphere of influence, if not also the 
boundaries of her actual possessions in America, to include 
Kentucky and the other territory of the United States west 
of the mountains.^® 
Tho the Convention did not declare war on Spain till 
March 7, 1793, a group of men who wielded great influence 
over France’s foreign policy had been considering for many 
months the possibility of striking Spain a decisive blow thru 
her American possessions. Inseparably bound up with this 
policy was the desire of France to regain possession of Lousi- 
ana. Among the men interested in these plans the most influ- 
ential was J. P. Brissot, leader of the Girondists, or Brissotins. 
From October, 1792, until near the time of his death a year 
later he sought by every means in his power to induce his 
colleagues to act decisively. For some time he was bent on 
withdrawing the brilliant General Miranda from his impor- 
tant post on the battle front under Dumouriez that he might 
undertake the execution of the vast scheme.®'^ The selection 
of Genet as ambassador to the United States, in which capacity 
he undertook the immediate direction of the preparations 
being made in America toward carrying out the Louisiana 
intrigues, was, whether justly or not, attributed to the influ- 
ence of Brissot.®® In the Committee of General Defence, Bris- 
sot was recognized as the sponsor of the proposed expedition 
against the Spanish colonies.®® It was to this man that Gil- 
bert Imlay had found his-way as early as March, 1793, when 
the final break between France and Spain occurred. The 
English radical, Thomas Cooper of Manchester, whose earlier 
relations with Imlay are obscure,®® had recommended the 
For a general account of the French intrigues against Louisiana, see F. J. Turner: 
“The Policy of France toward the Mississippi Valley” {American Historical Revieiv, X), 
and the same writer’s “The Origin of Genet’s Pi’ojected Attack on Louisiana and the 
Floridas” (Ibid., Ill), in which Imlay is mentioned. 
See correspondence of Brissot with Miranda, Servan, and Dumouriez, especially 
the letters of October 13, November 26 and 28, and December 19 and 26, 1792 ; and of 
January 6 and 10 of the year following (J.-P. Brissot Correspondance et Papiers precedes 
d’un avertissement et d’une notice sur sa vie par Cl. Perroud, pp. 304ff.) 
^^J.-P. Brissot Mem.oires {175^-1793) puhlies avec etude critique et notes par Cl. 
Perroud, p. 257, 
Cf. Recusil des actes dti Comite de Salut Public et le registre du Conseil Execntij 
Provisoire public par F.-A. Aulard, II, 10. 
Cooper, who sailed from England for America in August, 1793, shows in his book 
Some Information respecting America, published the following year, that he was well 
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