In the present study my researches have been directed toward the discovery of the legal, political, and economic relations between Great Britain and the Illinois colony, and the political events in Illinois which illustrate some of those general relations. In addition to the Illinois settlement, the great West which was ceded to England in 1763 included other colonies of comparatively equal importance, the chief of which was Detroit. Whatever general principles, therefore, are ascertained with reference to the relations between the home government and the Illinois French apply equally to the whole West. In the discussion of the illustrative events, however, I have followed their course in Illinois alone.