Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/351

300 Although McLoughlin had taken no open part in these proceedings, he was naturally and rightly supposed by the rebuked and offended originators of the provisional government idea to be responsible for the attitude taken by the French settlers, and a feeling of hatred toward him had much to do with the drawing-up of the Shortess–Abernethy petition, the history of which has already been given.

Meetings were likewise held in other parts of the colony; one at the Oregon Institute, where Gray resided, being ostensibly called for the purpose of devising means of protecting the herds of the country from wild animals, but really as a device by which the settlers, French and American, might be brought together, and the plan of a provisional government broached. The minutes of the meeting occupy less than half a page, the only business accomplished being the appointing by Babcock, the chairman, of a committee of six, to give notice of a general meeting to be held at the house of Joseph Gervais on Monday the 6th of March.