67 De Peyster to Powell, from Detroit, Nov. 13, 1780—“Mich. Pioneer Coll.,” XIX., 581; Same to Haldimand, Nov. 16, 1780—_Ibid._, X., 448-9; Linctot to Slaughter, “O’Post,” Jan. 11, 1781—“Cal. of Va. State Papers,” I., 429; J. L. William to Lyman C. Draper, from Fort Wayne, Ind., Oct. 1, 1881—“Draper Coll., Clark MSS.,” XXVI., 92; McCarty to Slaughter, from Ill., Jan. 27, 1781—“Cal. of Va. State Papers” I., 465; Col. Brodhead to Washington, from Fort Pitt, Mar. 10, 1781, “Olden Time,” II., 391; Col. Levin Powell, from Harrodsburg, Jan. 21, 1781—“Pa. Archives,” VIII., 768; De Peyster to Haldimand, from Detroit, Nov. 13, 1780, Farmer, “Hist. of Detroit and Michigan,” 257; Letter from J. M. P. Legras, from Vincennes, Dec. 1, 1780—“Draper Coll., Clark MSS.,” L., 77, original corrected draft; “Rept. on Canadian Archives,” 1888, 904-5; extract from “Scot’s Magazine,” May, 1781, in “Draper Coll., Clark MSS.,” XXVI., 82. Whether La Balme had any countenance from either the French government or its representatives is an unsettled question. That France should regain her hold in America was desired by many Frenchmen, but on the other hand, the French government was pledged by its treaty of alliance to make no acquisitions of territory in America. The following references raise the question, but I know of none which settle it: Kingsford, “Canada,” VI., 342-3; Sparks, “Washington,” VI., 106 ff., 113; Stevens, “Facsimiles,” XVII., No. 1609; “Secret Jour. of Cong.,” II., 111-117, 125. 68 Haldimand to De Peyster, from Quebec, Jan. 6, 1781—“Mich. Pioneer Coll.,” IX., 641. 69 This amounts to but sixteen men. De Peyster says that the party was one of sixteen; McCarty says there were seventeen. 70 McCarty to Slaughter, from Ill., Jan. 27, 1781—“Cal. of Va. State Papers,” I., 465; Sinclair to Mathews, from Michilimackinac, Feb. 23, 1781—“Mich. Pioneer Coll.,” IX., 629; De Peyster to Powell, from Detroit, Jan. 8, 1781—_Ibid._, XIX., 591-2; Same to Haldimand, same date—_Ibid._, X., 450-1; Same to McKee, from Detroit, Feb. 1, 1781—De Peyster, “Miscellanies,” p. xxvi.; Linctot to commanding officer at the Falls of Ohio, “Opost Vincennes,” Jan. 13, 1781—“Cal. of Va. State Papers,” I., 432; Draper on date of the expedition, “Draper Coll., Clark MSS.,” XXVI., 88; De Peyster to Powell, from Detroit, Mar. 17, 1781—“Mich. Pioneer Coll.,” XIX., 600; Sinclair to Powell, from Michilimackinac Id., May 1, 1781—_Ibid._, XIX., 632; “Chicago Hist. Soc. Coll.,” IV., 216.