uld have been impolitic, after the parade
we had made, to entirely abandon the country," he left Maj. John F.
Hamtramck, with ninety-five men, at Vincennes.(103) Harmar's visit was
doubtless of some value, but he had not been gone five weeks when
Hamtramck wrote to him: "Our civil administration has been, and is, in a
great confusion. Many people are displeased with the Magistrates; how it
will go at the election, which is to be the 2d of Decr, I know not. But it
is to be hoped that Congress will soon establish some mode of government,
for I never saw so injudicious administration. Application has repeatedly
been made to me for redress. I have avoided to give answer, not knowing
how far my powers extended. In my opinion, the Minister of War should have
that matter determined, and sincerely beg you would push it. I confess to
you, that I have been very much at a loss how to act on many
occasions."(104)

Not earlier than the 24th of November, Tardiveau set out for Congress with
his petitions from the Illinois country. Harmar was much pleased to have
so able a messenger, and spoke of him as sensible, well-informed, and able
to give a minute and particular description of the western country,
particularly the Illinois. He had been preceded to Congress by Joseph
Parker, of Kaskaskia. Harmar seems to have regarded Tardiveau as a sort of
antidote to Parker, for he closes his recommendation of the former by
saying: "There have been some imposters before Congress, particularly one
Parker, a whining, canting Methodist, a kind of _would-be governor_. He is
extremely unpopular at Kaskaskia, and despised by the inhabitants."(105)

This detracts from the value of Parker's representations, which had been
made in a letter to St. Clair, the President of Congress. After explaining
that when he left Kaskaskia, on June 5, 1787, the people did not have an
intended petition ready, Parker complained of the lack of government in
Illinois, the presence of British traders, the depopulation of the country
by the inducements of the Spaniards, and the high rate at which it was
proposed to sell lands. His complaints were true, although he may have
failed to give them in their proper proportion.(106)

On July 13, 1787, the Ordinance of 1787 had been passed by Congress. The
Illinois country was at that time ready for war against the Spanish, who
persisted in closing the Mississippi. The troops, irregularly levied by
George Rogers Clark at Vincennes, h