Letter : Mexico, to Syde Goodwin and George Winchester, Baltimore, Md., 1823 Mar.

Autograph letter signed written by James Wilkinson to Syde Goodwin and George Winchester, who were associated with the Baltimore Mexican Company. Wilkinson reports on his efforts to press the Company's claims in Mexico and recommends purchase of land in Texas for recovery of Company capital. He discusses communications with D.A. Smith, referring to an enclosed letter from Smith which is not present, and he asks for further instructions regarding the Company's interests. Wilkinson also briefly discusses Mexican politics and his opinions regarding the Mexican government.

James Wilkinson was born in Maryland and served as an officer in the American Revolution. In 1783 he settled in Kentucky, where he engaged in politics, land speculation, and trade. In 1805 he was appointed governor of Upper Louisiana. Wilkinson's activities in the West implicated him in the Spanish Conspiracy and the Burr Conspiracy; he was acquitted by a court of inquiry during the Burr investigation and by a court martial in 1811. He served as a military commander in the West during the War of 1812. An unsuccessful Canadian campaign in this war resulted in another court martial and acquittal. Wilkinson published Memoirs of My own Times in 1816. In 1821 he went to Mexico, where he attempted to obtain Texas lands. Wilkinson died in Mexico in 1825.