The colonial policy of Great Britain, which was adopted immediately after the treaty of Paris, was not calculated to facilitate the settlement of the fertile country west of the Alleghany mountains. The king's proclamation, issued almost immediately after the signing of the treaty, prohibited his subjects from "making any purchases or settlements whatever, or taking possession of any of the lands beyond the source of any of the rivers which fall into the Atlantic ocean from the west or northwest." In pursuance of this policy the government rejected the urgent offers of various wealthy and enterprising individuals to establish English colonies in the West. However we hear of nothing that disturbed the peaceful pursuits of the French settlements in Indiana, until a proclamation of General Gage, in 1772, declared that "Whereas, many persons, contrary to the positive orders of the king upon the subject, have undertaken to make settlements beyond the boundaries fixed by the treaties made with the Indian nations, which boundaries ought to serve as a barrier between the whites and said nations, and a great number of persons have established themselves, particularly on the river Ouabache, where they lead a wandering life, without government, and without laws, interrupting the free course of trade, destroying the game, and causing infinite disturbance in the country, which occasions considerable injury to the affairs of the king as well as to those of the Indians, His Majesty has been pleased to order, and by these presents, orders are given in the name of the king, to all those who have established themselves on lands upon the Ouabache, whether at St. Vincent [Vincennes] or elsewhere, to quit those countries instantly and without delay, and to retire at their choice into some one of the colonies of His Majesty, where they will be received and treated as the other subjects of His Majesty." The principal inhabitants of Post Vincennes replied to this official document on the fourteenth of September of the same year, stating that their possessions were held by "sacred titles," that the French settlement of that place was of "seventy years standing," and that their "land had been granted by order and under the protection of his most Christian Majesty." To this General Gage made answer, demanding the proof of their assertions, which he descried "to be transported to the feet of His Majesty," and leaving them meanwhile in the quiet possession of their dwellings and lands. CHAPTER II. CLARK'S CELEBRATED EXPEDITION. FROM 1673 to 1778 there is but little to record in the history of Indiana. The Western settlements were for the most part neglected by the English colonists, owing to the difficulties between them and the British Government, and the few French settlers, aside from their efforts to instigate another Indian war against the English colonies, then struggling for independence, did but little worthy of notice. In this endeavor they succeeded so far as to give the settlers on the borders of Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York considerable trouble and uneasiness. Indian depredations were common occurrences, and at intervals a merciless slaughter pervaded the frontier settlements. Dunmore's expedition did much to discourage the Indians from a continuance of these outrages, but not until the celebrated expedition of Colonel George Rogers Clark penetrated the Western country was the French and Indian power in Indiana completely broken. It was in 1775 that Colonel Clark's attention was first directed to the French settlements in Indiana and Illinois, and in the following spring he visited them with a view to having them annexed to Virginia. In pursuance of this end he assembled the people at Harrodstown, Ky., and requested them to elect delegates, with power to treat with the Assembly of Virginia respecting the political affairs of the country. It was, at that time, the intention of Colonel Clark, if suitable conditions could be procured, to have the inhabitants of these Western settlements declare themselves citizens of that State, otherwise to establish an independent government. The meeting was held at Harrodstown on the sixth of June, 1776, and George Rogers Clark and Gabriel Jones elected delegates to the Assembly of Virginia, with instructions to present a petition to that body, praying the Assembly to accept them as such. The papers were prepared and in a few days they set out for Williamsburg in the hope of arriving before the Assembly, then sitting, should rise. They proceeded on their journey as far as Bottetourt county and there learned that they were too late, for the Assembly had already adjourned. At this point they resolved to wait for the fall session. When it was convened Messrs. Clark and Jones presented their credentials. The Assembly resolved that the Western delegates could not take their seats as members, but that their business should be attended to. "It was late in the session," says Clark, "before we got a complete establishment of a county by the name of Kentucky." He continues: "The commandants of the different towns of the Illinois and Wabash I knew were busily engaged in exciting the Indians. Their reduction became my first object expecting, probably, that it might open a field for further action. I sent two young hunters to those places (in the summer of 1777) as spies, with proper instructions for their conduct, to prevent suspicion. Neither did they, nor any one in Kentucky, ever know my design unti it was ripe for execution. They returned to Harrodstown with all the information I could reasonably have expected. I found from them that they had but little expectation of a visit from us, but that things were kept in good order, the militia trained, etc., that they might, in case of a visit, be prepared that the greatest pains were taken to inflame the minds of the French inhabitants against the Americans, notwithstanding they could discover traces of affection in some of the inhabitants. When I left Kentucky, October first, 1777, I plainly saw that every eye was turned toward me, as if expecting some stroke in their favor. Some doubted my return, expecting that I would join the army in Virginia. I left them with reluctance, promising them that I would certainly return to their assistance, which I had predetermined. On my arrival at Williamsburg, I remained a considerable time settling the accounts of the Kentucky militia and making remarks of everything I saw or heard, that could lead me to the knowledge of the disposition of those in power. Burgoyne's army having been captured, and things seeming to wear a pleasing aspect, on the tenth of December I communicated my design to Governor Henry. At first he seemed to be fond of it; but to detach a party at so great a distance, ROBERT BRACKENRIDGE, ESQ. (although the service performed might be of great utility,) appeared daring and hazardous, as nothing but secrecy could give success to the enterprise. To lay the matter before the Assembly, then sitting, would be dangerous, as it would soon be known throughout the frontiers; and probably the first prisoner taken by the Indians would give the alarm, which would end in the certain destruction of the party. He had |