the late operations and present plans of the Hudson’s Bay
Company in the North Pacific Ocean, I beg leave to present to
your notice some facts in relation to the same, and which have
come to my knowledge from personal observation, or from sources
entitled to the fullest credit.
All that extensive line of coast comprehending the Russian
possessions on the Northwest Coast of America, from Mount Saint
Elias south to the latitude 54° 40′ north (the last being the
boundary line between the Russian and American territories),
together with the sole and exclusive right or privilege of
frequenting all ports, bays, sounds, rivers, etc., within said
territory, and establishing forts and trading with the Indians,
has been leased or granted by the Russian-American Fur Company
to the British Hudson’s Bay Company, for the term of ten years
from January, 1842; and for which the latter are to pay,
_annually_, four thousand seal skins, or the value thereof in
money, at the rate of thirty-two shillings each, say £6,400
sterling, or $30,720.
In the above-named lease the Russians have, however, reserved to
themselves the Island of Sitka, or New Archangel; in which
place, you probably are aware, the Russians have a large
settlement—the depot and headquarters of their fur trade with
the Fox Islands, Aleutian Islands, and the continental shore
westward of Mount Saint Elias. All the trading establishments of
the Russians lately at Tumgass, Stickene, and other places
within said territory, leased to the Hudson’s Bay Company, have
of consequence been broken up. Thus the Hudson’s Bay Company not
content with monopolizing the heretofore profitable trade of the
Americans, of supplying the Russian settlements on the Northwest
Coast, have now cut them off also from all trade with the most
valuable fur regions in the world.
Whether the arrangements made between the Russians and English,
above alluded to, are conformable to the treaties existing
between the United States on the one part, and those nations
respectively on the other, I leave to your better knowledge to
determine.
With the doings of the Hudson’s Bay Company at Puget Sound and
the Columbia River you are doubtless fully informed; those,
however, lately commenced by them in California will admit of my
saying a few words.
At San Francisco they purchased a large house as a trading
establishment and depot for merchandise; and they intend this
year to have a place of the same kind at each of the principal
ports in Upper California. Two vessels are building in London,
intended for the same trade—that is, for the coasting trade; and
after completing their cargoes, to carry them to England. These
things, with others, give every indication that it is the
purpose of the Hudson’s Bay Company to monopolize the whole hide
and tallow trade of California, a trade which now employs more
than half a million of American capital. At the Sandwich Islands
the company have a large trading establishment, and have
commenced engaging the commerce of the country, with evident
designs to monopolize it, if possible, and to drive off the
Americans, who have heretofore been its chief creators and
conductors.
I have been informed, by one of the agents of the Hudson’s Bay
Company, that the agricultural and commercial operations of the
English at Puget Sound, Columbia River, California, and Sandwich
Islands, are carried on, not actually by the Hudson’s Bay
Company, but by what may be termed a branch of it—by gentlemen
who are the chief members and stockholders of said company, and
who have associated themselves under the firm Pelly, Simpson &
Co., in London, and with a capital of more than $15,000,000!
Seeing these companies, then, marching with iron footsteps to
the possession of the most valuable portion of country in the
Northern Pacific, and considering, too, the immense amount of
their capital, the number, enterprise, and energy of their
agents, and the policy pursued by them, great reason is there to
fear that American commerce in that part of the world must soon
lower its flag. But, sir, it is to be hoped that our government
will soon do something to break up the British settlements in
the Oregon Territory, and thereby destroy the source from which
now emanates the dire evils to American interests in the western
world. In the endeavor to bring about that desirable object, you
have done much; and every friend to his country, every person
interested in the commerce of the Pacific, must feel grateful
for the valuable services rendered them by you.
With great respect, your obedient servant,
HENRY A. PRICE.
HON. LEWIS F. LINN,
Senator of the United States, Washington.
[From the _Tribune_ (New York), July 4, 1842.]
SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION.
The Missouri _Reporter_ of the fourteenth instant contains a
notice of the expedition of Lieutenant Fremont, of the United
States Topographical Engineers, to the base of the Rocky
Mountains, in the latitude of the Platte and Kanzas rivers, with
a view to ascertain positions and localities, to explore the
face of the country, and to make the government fully acquainted
with that remote and important point of our extended territory
now becoming of so much greater interest from the extension of
our trade to the northern parts of Mexico and California, and
the settlement growing up in the valley of the Columbia River.
The line of communication now followed by immigrants, traders
and travelers to the Columbia and California, is upon this
route, and through the famous South Pass—a depression in the
Rocky Mountains at the head of the River Platte, which makes a
gate in that elevated ridge, passable in a state of nature, for
loaded wagons, of which many have passed through. This
examination of the country on this side of the Rocky Mountains
comes at a very auspicious moment to complete our researches in
that direction, and to give more value to the surveys and
examinations of the Columbia River, its estuary, and the
surrounding country, made by Lieutenant Wilkes in his recent
voyage, and of which a full report has been made to the
government. These two examinations will give us an authentic and
interesting view of the important country belonging to the
United States on each side of the Rocky Mountains; and taken in
connection with the great scientific survey of Mr. Nicollet,
commencing at the mouth of the Missouri River, and extending
north to the head of the Mississippi, and to latitude 49°, and
covering all the country in the forks of these two rivers, over
an extent of ten degrees of latitude, will shed immense light
upon the geography and natural history of the vast region west
of the Mississippi River.—_Globe_.
The following is the article from the Missouri _Reporter_:
Lieutenant Fremont, of the corps of the topographical engineers,
left here under orders from the war department, about ten days
ago, with a party of twenty men on a tour to the Rocky
Mountains. The object of the expedition is an examination of the
country between the mouth of the Kanzas and the headwaters of
the great River Platte, including the navigable parts of both
these rivers, and what is called the Southern Pass in the Rocky
Mountains, and intermediate country, with the view to the
establishment of a line of military posts from the frontiers of
Missouri to the mouth of the Columbia River. This expedition is
connected with the proposition now before congress to occupy the
territory about the Columbia River as proposed by Dr. Linn’s
bill.
The great River Platte is the most direct line of communication
between this country and the mouth of the Columbia, and that
route is known to be practicable and easy. It therefore becomes
important to ascertain the general character of that river and
the adjacent country, and the facilities it will be likely to
afford in prosecuting contemplated settlements in Oregon. This
Southern Pass, or depression in the Rocky Mountains, is near the
source of the extreme branch of the River Platte, and affords an
easy passage for wagons and other wheel carriages, which have
frequently passed over the mountains on that route without
difficulty or delay; and it is important that the latitude of
this point should be ascertained, as it is thought that it will
not vary much from the line established between the United
States and Mexico by treaty with Spain, 1819. If this pass
should fall south of that line (the forty-second degree of north
latitude) it may become necessary to examine the country north
of it, the line of the Yellowstone and south branch of the
Columbia would, it is thought, afford the next best route.
Lieutenant Fremont, though young, has had much experience in
surveys of this kind, having made the topographical survey of
the Des Moines River, and having assisted the scientific Mr.
Nicollet in his great survey of the Upper Mississippi. He is
well supplied with instruments for making astronomical
observations; for fixing the longitude and latitude of important
points; and a daguerrotype apparatus for taking views of
important points and scenes along the route; and, if not
obstructed in his operations by large bands of wild, wandering
Indians, which sometimes trouble small parties passing through
that region, may be expected to impart much valuable information
to the government and to the country.
Since the attention of the country has been directed to the
settlement of the Oregon Territory by our able senator (Doctor
Linn), and by the reports of those who have visited that region
in person, the importance of providing ample security for
settlers there, and of opening a safe and easy communication
from the western boundary of Missouri to the Columbia River has
been universally admitted.
The day is not far distant when, if the general government shall
do its duty in the matter, Oregon will be inhabited by a hardy,
industrious, and intelligent population, and the enterprise of
our citizens find a new channel of trade with the islands of the
Pacific, the western coast of this whole continent, and perhaps
with Eastern Asia. Notwithstanding the many obstacles at present
in the way of the settlement of this territory, emigrants are
rapidly pouring into it, and only demand of government that
protection which is due to all our citizens, wherever they may
choose to reside. While negotiations are pending at Washington
to adjust all existing difficulties between this country and
Great Britain, our right to this territory should not be
forgotten. At present, it may seem a small matter to the
negotiations; but they should remember that every year’s delay
will only render the final adjustment of the disputed
northwestern boundary more difficult.
We are pleased to learn that the proper authorities at
Washington evince a disposition to do something toward
encouraging the early occupation of Oregon by permanent American
settlers. It is known that many of the islands in the Pacific
have already been settled by Americans, and trading houses
established, by which a large and profitable business is carried
on with the Indian tribes on the northwestern coast of America,
and with the East Indies and China. There is nothing to prevent
trading establishments in Oregon from ultimately securing a
large share of this trade, and adding much to the wealth and
prosperity of the whole union.
But, regardless of these ultimate advantages, the prospect of
immediate success is so great that many of our hardy pioneers
are already turning their attention to the settlement of Oregon,
and many years will not elapse before that territory contains a
large population. Doctor Linn has done much to urge a speedy
occupation of it by permanent American residents. If Lieutenant
Fremont shall be successful in his contemplated exploration of
the route, and if the government shall furnish proper protection
to those who shall seek a home in that distant region, the
English may not only be completely dislodged from the foothold
they have already acquired there, but prevented from making
further inroads upon our western territory, and long
monopolizing the greater part of the trade at present carried on
with the Indian tribes at the Northwest and West.
[From the _Tribune_ (New York), July 15, 1842.]
THE EXPLORING EXPEDITION.
The Washington correspondent of the _Journal of Commerce_ writes
as follows of the results of the exploring expedition:
The universal opinion here on the subject of the conduct and
results of the exploring expedition is highly favorable to the
officers who had charge of it. It has certainly given to
Lieutenant Wilkes a reputation as an accomplished seaman and an
energetic and scientific officer.
He delivered before the national institute a course of lectures,
at the request of that body, on the subject of the expedition,
which gave satisfaction and instruction to a numerous and
enlightened auditory—among whom were Mr. J. Q. Adams, Mr.
Poinsett, Mr. Woodbury, the members of the cabinet, and many
scientific gentlemen from every portion of the union.
At the close of his last lecture the honorable Secretary of the
Navy (Mr. Upshur) rose and addressed the assembly in the warmest
terms of commendation of the successful labors and efforts of
Captain Wilkes, and the officers and scientific corps under his
command. He adverted to one fact which of itself spoke strongly
of the skill with which the expedition had been conducted—that
it had visited the remotest quarters of the globe, traversed the
most dangerous seas, surveyed the most impenetrable coasts, and
encountered the vicissitudes of every climate with so little
difficulty or loss.
The secretary also remarked on the immense treasures in natural
science which the officers of the expedition had collected and
transmitted to the government in such admirable order, and which
now formed the basis of the museum of the national institute.
He commented, also, on Captain Wilkes’ report upon the Oregon
Territory, and declared that this report was alone an ample
compensation to the country for the whole cost of the
expedition. He expressed the opinion, in fine, that the results
of the expedition were highly valuable and honorable, not to
this country alone, but to the cause of civilization in the
world.
[From the _Tribune_ (New York), August 10, 1842.]
_Correspondence from Washington._
Points of the treaty. * * * The boundary line agreed upon runs
to the Rocky Mountains, and leaves unsettled the question of the
Oregon Territory. There is nothing lost by this, for our
emigrants are daily settling this question. We grow stronger
there by time, and become _nearer_, too.
In the same paper of the same date as the above:
THE OREGON FUR TRADE.
This valuable traffic, which is at once the instrument of
exploration and the nursery of seamen, was by the convention of
1818 suffered to be pursued promiscuously by British and
Americans, and in consequence of that suicidal provision is fast
being diverted from the latter to the former. Our exports of
furs to Canton amounted in 1821, to $480,000; in 1832, to about
$200,000, and in 1839, to $56,000, showing a gradual decrease
between the years 1821 and 1839 of more than seven-eighths, in
the amount and value of this trade. A better practical
commentary is not needed upon the effect of our legislation, and
while Americans are thus annually withdrawing from this trade,
Great Britain is extending her facilities for commanding it
every day. Her hunters and trappers are scattered over the whole
extent of the territory; nor are they content with the
legitimate profits of the business. While within the British
Territory the strictest provisions are made to prevent the
destruction of game unnecessarily, no such precautions are
enforced here, but on the contrary the Indians and others are
encouraged to hunt at all seasons of the year without regard to
the preservation of game. The result of this will be the
extermination of the beaver and other animals killed for their
fur within a few years unless the United States interferes.
[From the _Tribune_ (New York), December 14, 1842.]
THE NORTHWEST COAST.
Some apprehension exists that a settled design is entertained by Great
Britain of disputing our claim to the territory beyond the Rocky
Mountains and the whole Pacific Coast in that quarter. A letter to the
editor of the _Globe_ from an officer of the United States ship Dale,
belonging to the Pacific Squadron, dated “Bay of Panama, September 23,
1842,” contains the following paragraph:
We sailed from Callao seventh instant in company with the frigate
United States (Commodore Jones’ flagship), and sloop-of-war Cyane,
but we separated from them and bore up for this port on the seventh
day out. Just previously to our departure two British ships-of-war
(the razee Dublin, and sloop-of-war Champion) sailed thence on
_secret service_! Of course this mysterious movement of Admiral
Thomas elicited a thousand conjectures as to his destination,
the most probable of which seemed to be that he was bound for
the Northwest Coast of Mexico, where, it is surmised, a _British
station_ is to be located in accordance with a secret convention
between the Mexican and English governments! And it is among the
_on dits_ in the squadron that the frigate, the Cyane, and the
Dale, are to rendezvous as soon as practicable at Monterey to keep
an eye upon John Bull’s movements in that quarter.
The following document is a letter by William Plumer, then United States
Senator from New Hampshire. The original is in the possession of Dr. Jay
Tuttle, of Astoria. Bradbury Cilley, Esqr., to whom the letter is
addressed, was an ancestor of Doctor Tuttle. The copy was secured by
George H. Himes, Assistant Secretary of the Oregon Historical Society.
WASHINGTON, Feby 25, 1806.
MY DEAR FRIEND: A few days since I received your kind letter of
the 27th January. It had a long passage. Your letters need no
apology. They always afford me pleasure, and I regret that I so
seldom receive them.
The papers of the day inform you that we are doing little,
except meeting, talking, and adjourning. Indeed we have little
business to do that is of importance. The great, astonishing
changes that so rapidly succeed one another in Europe admonishes
us to deliberate much and act little in relation to our
connection with them. We ought, in my opinion, to reserve
ourselves for events.
I do not believe there is any fear of an invasion from any
nation. I am, therefore, opposed to expending millions in
fortifying our seaports. I consider the money to be thus
expended worse than lost. Those works, if erected, will compel
us to an annual expenditure, to a considerable amount, to
support them. The revenues of the United States, for years,
might be expended in erecting fortifications. This kind of a
defense is in its nature unavailing. Witness the great but
useless fortifications at Copenhagen in 1801; witness a single
British frigate in 1776, with the tide and a gentle breeze,
passing unhurt down the Hudson, by all our forts at New York.
If, instead of raising money to fortify against enemies that are
distant as the moon, a reasonable sum was annually and prudently
applied to building a permanent navy, we should then exert our
energies to a useful purpose. We should then find increasing
commerce would not in every sea depend, for protection, on the
capricious whims of nations whose interests it is to capture and
condemn it. But I presume we shall do nothing this session that
will be permanent. In a popular government there are too many
whose constant inquiries are directed rather to please, than
serve, the people.
The senate to gratify France has interdicted the trade to
Saint Domingo, and to restrain the President from warring
against Great Britain, they have resolved that he must resort
to negotiation. The fact is, the President knew Jay’s rendered
a former administration unpopular, and to remove the
responsibility from the President to the Senate, his friends
induced them in their legislative capacity to assume and
exercise their executive powers and request him to negotiate,—
the very measure he had adopted. I was apprised of the fact,
opposed and voted against it, much against the will of my
friends. I am unwilling to remove the responsibility which the
constitution has imposed on him—’tis dangerous.
Yesterday I dined with the President. I felt in high glee, and
enjoyed myself; but I thought the President discovered an
unusual weight of care. The times, indeed, require all his
vigilance.
Mr. Burr is here—but is not yet Minister to Great Britain—nor I
hope never will [be].
Our weather is remarkably warm. The grass is verdant, and the
birds of spring are come. I enjoy good health and spirits—but
wish to return to my friends and family—though I fear I shall
not for many weeks.
Make my compliments agreeable to Mrs. Cilley, and be assured
that I am with much esteem yours sincerely,
WILLIAM PLUMER.
BRADBURY CILLEY, ESQR.,
Nottingham, N. H.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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CONTENTS NO. 1, VOL. I, MARCH, 1900.
THE GENESIS OF POLITICAL AUTHORITY AND OF A COMMONWEALTH 1
GOVERNMENT IN OREGON—_James R. Robertson_
THE PROCESS OF SELECTION IN OREGON PIONEER SETTLEMENT— 60
_Thomas Condon_
NATHANIEL J. WYETH’S OREGON EXPEDITIONS—“In Historic 66
Mansions and Highways Around Boston”
REMINISCENCES OF F. X. MATTHIEU—_H. S. Lyman_ 73
DOCUMENTS—Correspondence of John McLoughlin, Nathaniel J. 105
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NOTES AND NEWS 70
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THE OREGON QUESTION—_Joseph R. Wilson_ 111
OUR PUBLIC LAND SYSTEM AND ITS RELATION TO EDUCATION IN THE 132
UNITED STATES—_Frances F. Victor_
GLIMPSES OF LIFE IN EARLY OREGON—_Mrs. William Markland_ 158
_Molson_
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REMINISCENCES OF LOUIS LABONTE—_H. S. Lyman_ 169
DR. ELLIOTT COURS—_Frances F. Victor_ 189
DOCUMENT.—A Narrative of Events in Early Oregon ascribed to 193
Dr. John McLoughlin
REVIEWS OF BOOKS.—“McLoughlin and Old Oregon”—_Eva Emery_ 207
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