Plans for tlte Reorganization of tlze Frontier
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at the same time I govern the colony as if it belonged to the King of Spain. I have almost succeeded in being able to make French vivacity agree with Spanish gravity, by the trouble which I have given myself. There has happened, thanks to God, no accident; not a Spaniard killed, not even a quarrel at all serious." 13 The prudent policy of Ulloa and the tactful management by Aubry were misinterpreted by the citizens of Louisiana, who were emboldened in their determination to revolt against Spanish authority by its Yery mildness. The return of Milhet in 1767 fanned the spirit of discontent. "Every change made. though for the general benefit, was turned to sport and mockery. Every act, public and private, of Ulloa was burlesqued and caricatured, and his conversations and household customs (for he had returned with his wife to New Orleans) became the object of satire and disrespect, all without the slightest justification." 14 During the summer and fall of 1768 the leaders of the opposition held repeated secret meetings and sent agents to the remotest posts of the colony. It seems they in tended to proclaim their independence from Spain and then join the English. On the night of October 26, the guns of New Orleans were spiked and early next morning a large body of insurgents, under the command of Marquis unceremoniou~ly seized all the public places in the city. Ulloa and his wife took refuge in a ship and the Spanish officers barricaded themselves. determined to sdl their lives clearly. The revolt had been led by Lafreniere, attorney gl·neral of the colony, assisted by certain members of the Supreme Council. On October 28. a pt:tition signed by over six hundred citizens demanded the expulsion of Ulloa, who was giYen three days in which to leave. Aubry tried in vain to restore order. He was removed from office. On November 1, a group of drunken rebels cut the cable of the frigate and the ship bearing Ulloa drifted down the river and out of Louisiana. To his credit be it said that in the exciting days of the revolt, he found time to lea,·e instructions for the continuance of payment of Spanish and French soldiers and officers who remained behind. S-pain puts do.1111 tlie 1·evolt. Ulloa went to Ha,·ana and from there continued to Spain, landing in Cadiz on February 14, 1769, from where he forwarded a detailed report of events and his conduct to both the 13 Fortier, History of Louisiana, I, 159-162; Goodspeed, Tli11 Provi11C11 and t/11 States, I, 241-245; Wilson Lyons, Louisiana in Fr11ncl, Diplomacy, 44-45. 14 Goodspeed, op. cit., l, 250.
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