The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-20

points in the work which had been particularly
touched. We beg leave to refer TO others
Among those portions Of the history which APP
pear particularly worthy of attention the follow
ing The account of Brakes visit to the northwest
coasts in 1879, to which such long answers have
been published in the Morning Chronicle and other
London papers; the review of the principal nara
tives of supposed or pretended voyages to those
coasts during the sixteenth and seventeenth centu-
ries the short notices of the establishments Of the
Jesuits, and, after their expulsion OF the Francis
cans, in California; the particulars of the important
discoveries Of the Spaniards in liza and ITS, as
here first brought to light from the Journals of the
voyages procured by MIR. Greenhow from Madrid;
the review Of the discoveries of the early farraders
between 1855 and 1895, Of which those of the
Americans are shown to have been by far The most
mportant-pa the accounts of the discov-
cry of the Columbia, and Of the passage Of the
schooner Washington, under Captain Kendrick,
through the strait Of Fuca, in 1889, which is In this
work placed beyond question: the particulars Of the
pretended British settlement at Nootka Sound, and
of the dispute and negotiation between the British
and Spanish governments occasoned by it; and the
natcd and which the British, in 1927, rested all
their claims To the possession Of Oregon. The linn
its of Louisiana in Che north and west are dis
cussed in the 18th chapter, preliminary TO the
counts of the expedition of Lewis and Clarke,
those of the American and the British traders and
the Astoria Settlements; after which are related the
particulars of the various negotiations between the
United States and Great Britain, Spain and Russia,
with remarks on the views and arguments adduced
on each side. The history is terminated by sketch
of the present condition of Oregon and California,
with few speculatons to their future prospects;
and the author concludes by the following observa-
tons, which appear worthy Of attention.
''lt is the unobectionable and, indeed imperative
policy of the United States TO receive the possession
of those territories order provide places of re-
sort and refreshmen for their numerous vessels en-
gagged in the trade and fishery of the Pacific, partic-
ularly there is prospect that they may in time
be excluded from the Sandwich Islands; and also TO
prevent those territories from falling into the hands
Of any other power, which might direct against
their western frontiers the hordes of Indians rowing
through the middle and westernmost divisions OF
| the continent. Great Britain, on the other hand,
can have no motive for opposing the occupation of
Oregon by the United States, except that Of check
ing their advancement by excluding their vessels
| from the racine, ana by MAINTAINING an influence
| deeterious to their interests and safety over the
savages in their vicinity.
"Great Britain at present possesses the advantage,
| as regards the forcibe and temporary occupation
both of Oregon and California, where a few ships
Of war stationed in the bay of San Francisco, the
Columbia, and Puget's sound, might doubtless con-
troll the American settlements all necessarily situ-
ated in the vicinity of the coast and receiving nearly
all their supplies Of foreign articles by But that
she should, within any period that it is possible
to foresee, furnish apopulaon to the regions in ques-
ton, there are certainly no grounds for supposng.
| Her provinces in America have no redundance OF
inhabitants; and what inducements can be offered in
good faith to her subjects in Europe, for undertake
| ing voyage of six months to the Columbia, or
voyage to Canada, and subsequent journey OF
four thousand miles through her wild and frozen
Indian territories, so long as the West Indies,
Southern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and last
ly the United States, are open to themi The diff
culties experienced by Americans in their passage
to Oregon, along the valleys of the Platte and the
Lewis, great though they may be at present, sink
into insignifcance when compared with those which
British subjects must encounter, in proceeding to
that country by either of the routes above indicated
and the constrast becomes still stronger, when We
compare the character and habits Of Americans
trained from their childhood to struggle and provide
against the hardships and privatons incident to the
settlement Of new country, with those of Europe
ans, accustomed only to a routine Of labor the mos
simple and the least calculated to noursh energies
or to stimulate invention" ~
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