AN HISTORICAL ADDRESS. peal § 
petition before George III. Unfortunately for the success 
of this scheme, the difficulties which eventuated in the war 
of American Independence interposed delays and subse- 
quent failure, and Carver, unable to secure his claim or to 
receive any compensation for his services from the British 
Crown, died in actual poverty in 1780, in London, soon 
after the publication of his travels. 
This so-called Carver’s grant was afterward transferred 
to various parties, and was brought before the United States 
Congress with a view to the ratification of Carver’s claim, 
but for want of sufficient evidence, was reported against 
and the claim disallowed. A very full and condensed doc- 
umentary history of this claim is contained in Vol. VI. of 
Wisconsin state historical collections, lately published. The 
war of American Independence, which so seriously inter- 
fered with Capt. Carver’s land speculation in the northwest, 
produced little outward effect in the sparse and remote set- 
tlements of the Mississippi Valley, except doubtless in 
checking emigration. 
There was at this time little to encourage military occu- 
pation among the peaceful French settlers of Illinois, while 
at the same time the outlet of the Mississippi and its west- 
ern bank was under the military rule of Spain, then in hos- 
tility with Great Britain. In this condition of affairs, Eng- 
land was content with holding a menancing attitude to- 
wards the northwest from her strong-hold at Mackinaw, 
and the possession of Detroit, which was maintained through 
the war. 
Only two prominent events directly connected with the 
history of this region need arrest our attention during this 
eventful period, viz: The’ Successful attack on St. Louis, by 
British and Indian forces, in 1780, and the military occupa- 
tion of Illinois, by Col. George R. Clark, of Virginia. The 
attack on St. Louis, then, of course, under Spanish rule, 
was directly instigated as a matter of retaliation for the part 
