44 The Winning of the West 



forced to restrain its own citizens, and to enter into 

 quasi-diplomatic relations with its neighbors. Thus 

 early this year fifteen men, under one Colbert, left 

 the settlements and went down the river in boats, 

 ostensibly to trade with the Indians, but really to 

 plunder the Spaniards on the Mississippi. They 

 were joined by some Chickasaws, and at first met 

 with some success in their piratical attacks, not only 

 on the Spanish trading-boats, but on those of 

 the French Creoles, and even the Americans, as well. 

 Finally they were repulsed in an attempt against 

 the Spaniards at Ozark; some were killed, and the 

 rest scattered. 6 Immediately upon learning of these 

 deeds, the Committee of Triers passed stringent 

 resolutions forbidding all persons trading with the 

 Indians until granted a license by the committee, 

 and until they had furnished ample security for 

 their good behavior. The committee also wrote a 

 letter to the Spanish governor at New Orleans, dis 

 claiming all responsibility for the piratical misdeeds 

 of Colbert and his gang, and announcing the meas 

 ures they had taken to prevent any repetition of the 

 same in the future. They laid aside the sum of 

 twenty pounds to pay the expenses of the messen 

 gers who carried this letter to the Virginian "agent" 

 at the Illinois, whence it was forwarded to the Span 

 ish Governor. 7 



One of the most difficult questions with which 

 the committee had to deal was that of holding a 



6 Calendar Va. State Papers, III, pp. 469. 527- 

 1 Putnam, pp. 185, 189, 191. 



