that when this disposition shall take place, time ought to be granted in a ratio with the distance, to enable them to obtain the means of transporting the private property deposited there, consisting of dry goods, furs, and implements of war, to a large amount. Shortly after the ceremony and surrender, I received a Note on this subject from Mr. Keith, the Gentleman whose signature accompanies that of Captain Hickey, which, together with a Copy of my Answer, also marked B, is submitted for your inspection. A sense of justice would have dictated the assurances I have given him in reply; but I had a further motive, which was that of subsiding the apprehensions excited by the abrupt visit of the Ontario. It appeared to me prudent, in this view, to take no notice of the suggestion relative to a discussion of Boundary, and, in answering, to avoid any intimation of immediate, or of future removal, as either might have induced him to form a Settlement elsewhere on the River, and thus give rise to collisions between the two Governments which may now be wholly avoided. The Bay is spacious, contains several anchoring places in a sufficient depth of water, and is by no means so difficult of ingress as has been represented. Those enjoying the exclusive commerce have probably cherished an impression so favourable to its continuance, growing out of the incomplete Survey of Lieutenant Broughton, made under the orders of Vancouver, in 1792. It is true that there is a Bar extending across the mouth of the River, at either extremity of which, are, at times, appalling breakers; but it is equally true that it offers, at the lowest tides, a depth of 21 feet of water, throughout a passage, exempt from them, of nearly a league in width. The Blossom, carrying more guns than the Ontario, encountered a change of wind while in the Channel, was compelled to let go the anchor, and when again weighed, to tack and beat in order to reach the Harbour, yet found a greater depth, and met with no difficulty either then or on leaving the Bay. The Survey marked C may be relied on for its accuracy. The bearings, distances, and soundings, were taken by Captain Hickey, who was kind enough to lend himself to the examination, and to furnish me with this result. It is the more interesting, as it shews that, with the aid of buoys, the access to Vessels of almost any tonnage may be rendered secure. In addition to this, it is susceptible of entire defence, because a Ship, after passing the Bar, in order to avoid the breaking of the Sea on one of the Banks, is obliged to bear up directly for the Knoll forming the Cape, at all times, to approach within a short distance of its base, and most frequently then to anchor. Thus, a small Battery erected on this point, in conjunction with the surges on the opposite side, would so endanger the approach as to deter an Enemy, however hardy, from the attempt. This outlet, the only one between the 38th and 53d degrees of Latitude, embraces the entire range of Country from the ocean to the mountains, and its interior unites the advantage of a water communication throughout, by means of the many streams tributary to the Columbia, two of which disembogue opposite to each other, within 25 leagues of the Port, are navigable, and nearly of equal magnitude with this beautiful river. The ocean teems with the otter (mustela), the seal, and the whale; while the main land affords, in innumerable quantities, the common otter (musk), the bear, the buffalo, and the whole variety of deer. It has been observed by those exploring this Coast, that the climate to the Southward of 53, assumes a mildness unknown in the same Latitude on the Eastern side of the Continent. Without digressing to speculate upon the cause, I will merely state that such is particularly the fact in 46° 16', the site of Fort George. The mercury, during the winter, seldom descends below the freezing point; when it does so, it is rarely stationary for any number of days, and the severity of the season is more determined by the quantity of water than by its congelation. The rains usually commence with November, and continue to fall partially until the latter end of March, or beginning of April. A benign spring succeeds, and when the summer heats obtain, they are so tempered by showers as seldom to suspend vegetation. I found it luxuriant on my arrival, and during a fortnight's stay experienced no change of weather to retard its course. The soil is good; all the cereal, gramina, and tuberous plants, may be cultivated with advantage, and the waters abound in salmon, sturgeon, and other varieties of fish. The Natives, in appearance, as well as in character, differ essentially from those with us. They are less in stature, more delicately formed, and singular in the shape of the head, which, in infancy, is compressed between two small plates of wood or metal, so as in its growth to obtain the semblance of a wedge. They are inquisitive, cheerful, sagacious, possess fewer of the vices attributed to the savage, and are less addicted to cruelties in war: scalping is unknown to them, and a Prisoner suffers the infliction of no other punishment than that of becoming slave to the Captor; but as they neither sow nor reap, an observer cannot easily discern in what the servitude consists. The wants of the one are supplied by his own address in the use of the bow and the spear, while those of the other require the same efforts and equal skill for their gratification. The language on the side of the Falls bears a strong analogy with that of Nootka, so much so, that with the aid of a Spanish Vocabulary of the latter, accompanying the voyage of Valdes, I could, notwithstanding the imperfection in this mode of conveying and of obtaining sounds, express my wants, and be perfectly understood. I met with several of the Natives, who had heretofore volunteered on board of some one of our Vessels, in their fur excursions, two of whom had acquired a sufficient knowledge of our language to speak it with some ease, and were extremely solicitous to embark with us. I regret that I could not collect sufficient data upon which to ground an estimate of the furs gathered on the Columbia: it was impossible, for reasons that are obvious. Humboldt has undertaken to number those of the otter, taken on the Coast and shipped to China, of which he assigns five-sixths to the American: he may be correct in the quantity, but I doubt whether the proportion be quite so great, as it frequently happens that the English Adventurer confides his stock to our Countrymen, in order to participate in the benefit of a market, from a direct intercourse with which he is excluded by the Laws of his Country. Perhaps I have gone too much into detail; but it appeared to me that, by exhibiting the importance of the position only, I should not have fulfilled the object of the President; that it was equally incumbent upon me to present a view of the Country, of its Inhabitants, of its resources, of its approach, and of its means of defence. I shall now conclude with the relation of an occurrence which may and ought to influence the course to be adopted and pursued as to this Station. The speculations of Humboldt, his glowing descriptions of the soil and climate of this Province, have probably given a new direction to the ambition of Russia, and determined its Emperor to the acquisition of Empire in America. Until 1816, the Settlements of this Power did not reach to the Southward of 55,* and were of no consideration, although dignified by them with the title of Russian America. In the commencement of that Year, two distinct Establishments were made, of a different and of a more imposing character: the first at Atooi, one of the Sandwich Islands, the other in this vicinity, within a few leagues of St. Francisco, the most Northerly possession of Spain, in 37. 56. The Sketch I subjoin, marked D, was procured from a Member of the Government at this Place; from whom I also learned that its augmentation has since become so considerable, as to excite serious alarm. Two Russian Ships left this, on their way thither, a few days anterior to our arrival, the one having on board Mechanics of every description, together with implements of husbandry. We passed sufficiently near the spot assigned to it, to distinguish the Coast with some precision, and ascertained that it was an open road, a circumstance that renders the position liable to many objections, if intended to be permanent in other respects the choice is judicious for an infant Colony. Chart of the Discoveries of Russian Navigators, published by order of the Emperor, in 1802; referred to by Humboldt, in his View of New Spain; Translation, Page 270, 2d Vol. (Note.) It enjoys a climate still milder than that of Columbia, is environed by a beautiful Country, and its proximity to an old Settlement enables the Russian to partake of the numerous herds of black cattle and horses that have been there multiplying for the last 50 years. The Port of St. Francis is one of the most convenient, extensive, and safe, in the World, wholly without defence, and in the neighbourhood of a feeble, diffused, and disaffected Population. Under all these circumstances, may we not infer views to the early possession of this Harbour, and, ultimately, to the Sovereignty of entire California? Surely the growth of a Race on these Shores, scarcely emerged from the savage state, guided by a Chief who seeks not to emancipate, but to enthral, is an event to be deprecated! An event, the mere apprehension of which ought to excite the jealousies of The United States, so far, at least, as to induce the cautionary measure of preserving a Station which may serve as a Barrier to a Northern aggrandizement. I have not been able to gather other information respecting the Settlement at Atooi, than that of an assurance of its existence, a fact corroborated by the visit of the 2 Ships to those Islands, in their route hither. The Russians are not yet such enterprising Navigators as to augment sea risks, by extending a voyage several thousand miles without an object. Such was the case in this instance, unless connected with the Settlement, as they had sailed from Lima abundantly supplied, a few weeks prior to my first visit to that City, in April last. These Islands yield the sandal wood, so much esteemed in China, and have been resorted to by our Vessels for years past, not only in search of this valuable article, but of the necessary stock of fresh provisions to supply the Crew during their Cruise on the North-west Coast. How far this intercourse may be affected hereafter by this encroachment, is also a subject for the consideration of the President. I have taken the liberty to inclose a Note, marked E, of the Authorities, Spanish as well as English, that have fallen under my view, illustrating the discovery of the Columbia by Mr. Gray, in 1791. Its subsequent occupation in 1811, by which the Sovereignty of The United States was completed, to the exclusion of any European Claimant, is a fact, of which the Surrender of the sole Establishment on the River is conclusive evidence. I have the honour to be, &c. The Hon. J. Q. Adams. J. B. PREVOST. (Inclosure A.)-Act of Surrender and Acknowledgment. IN obedience to the commands of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, signified in a Dispatch from the Right Hon. Earl Bathurst, addressed to the Partners or Agents of the North-west Company, bearing date 27th January, 1818, and in obedience to subsequent Orders, dated the 26th July last, from William H. Shirreff, Esq. Captain 1 of His Majesty's Ship Andromache, we, the Undersigned, do, in conformity to the first Article of the Treaty of Ghent, restore to the Government of The United States, through its Agent, J. B. Prevost, Esq. the Settlement of Fort George, on the River Columbia. Given under our hands, in Triplicate, at Fort George, Columbia River, this 6th of October, 1818. F. HICKEY, Captain of His Majesty's Ship Blossom. I do hereby acknowledge to have this day received, on behalf of the Government of The United States, the possession of the Settlement designated above, in conformity to the first Article of the Treaty of Ghent. Given under my hand, in Triplicate, at Fort George, Columbia River, this 6th of October, 1818. SIR, J. B. PREVOST, Agent for United States. (Inclosure b.)-Mr. Keith to Mr. Prevost. Fort George, Columbia River, 6th October, 1818. Now the Restitution and the Settlement have been made, and that the North-west Company are still allowed to occupy it in the prosecution of their commercial pursuits, permit me to submit to you the following important queries, to which I request a candid and explicit reply: Whether, or not, you feel authorized, on behalf of The United States, to tender me any assurance, or to afford any security, that no abandonment, or relinquishment of said Settlement will be claimed by your Government in favour of any of its Subjects, to the ejectment and exclusion of said North-west Company, prior to the final decision of the right of sovereignty to the Country, between our respective Governments? And pending such discussion, as also in the event of such sovereignty being confirmed to The United States, may the North-west Company implicitly rely on the justice and equity of your Government, that adequate allowance will be made for any extension, or amelioration of aforesaid Settlement, or of the trade dependent thereon, of which circumstances may from time to time suggest the propriety? I have the honour, &c. JAMES KEITH, acting for Self, and North-west Company. J. B. Prevost, Esq. SIR, (Inclosure b.)-Mr. Prevost to Mr. Keith. Fort George, Columbia River, 6th October, 1818. In answer to your Note of this morning, I have the honour to state, that the principal object of the President in sending me thus far, was to obtain such information of the Place, of its access, and of its commercial importance, as might enable him to submit to the con |