Letter to Gardoqui, Jan.

22, 1788.] Clark's Proposal.
Another adventurer who at this time proposed to found a colony in Spanish territory was no less a person than George Rogers Clark.

Clark had indulged in something very like piracy at the expense of Spanish subjects but eighteen months previously.

He was ready at any time to lead the Westerners to the conquest of Louisiana; and a few years later he did his best to organize a freebooting expedition against New Orleans in the name of the French Revolutionary Government.

But he was quite willing to do his fighting on behalf of Spain, instead of against her; for by this time he was savage with anger and chagrin at the indifference and neglect with which the Virginian and Federal Governments had rewarded his really great services.