Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1845-1851, 1846-06-17

miles anchor upon the left bank at the Of
deep bay lie there drew up chart Of what he dis
covered Of this and Of the neghboing country and
after having afcked with the natives, 1.-THE object r
which he upon these coasts he eganed the and
after Captain Vancouver who was sailing under the
orders Of the British government IN search OF discoveries
Captain GRAY made known him the discovery which
made and communicated the chart OF ii which he
had drawn up Vancouver sent his first lieutenant Buugh-
ton who ascended Is miles; took of IL
Of his Britauic majesty gave the name Of
Columbia aud to the bay where Clay had stopped, the
Of Grays bay Since this period the country has been much
frequented, especially by Americans
This brief and plain account OF the discovery Of
the Columbia is valuable for showing FIRST that we
discovered the river; secondly that we showed 1t TO
British navga,ors and thirdly, that of those TO
whom we showed II Immediately claimed 1t as Brit
isl property. We shall see that the British
government or lis agents in these parts the North
west Company, gave attention to this claim OF Mr..
Broughton little crcditabe to his candor and JUS
tce Vancouver, like a man OF honor, never claimed
Capt Gray's discovery, but assigned to him the en-
tire credit Of it, with thanks for his communication Of
II to himself.
The design of Mr.. Asors establishment is thus
spoken of:
"Mr John Jacob Astor me chant OF New York. who
lied alone the trade IN iuIs 10 the south Of the gea,
Lakes Huron and Superior and who had acquired 10y this
commerce prodgious fortune believed he could yet aug
mcnt this fortune by forming, The banks OF the Columbia
establishment Of which the cntrepot should be at its
mouth. lie communicated his views TO the agents OF the
Northwest Company; he wished even 10 make tins esiab-
ihment in concc,t with hcm but after negotiations
the wntcng partners cs proPriefdueS hirrndafs having
rejected his propositions. Mr. Ator dct mined to make the
attempt alone 1t essential 20 his that he
should have persons along accustomed 10 trade with the In
dams and he dad not delay to Gnd them. Mr.. Alex
andcr cKay (he same who accompanied Sir
Mackenzie ia his voyages man bold and enterpli,iug
Joined him and soon aiIer Me,s,s Donean; Mcpsngall
west Compny,) David Stuart, and Robert Stuart. all o
Canada did the same. Finally, in the winter Of 1870 Nh
Wilson r,'ce Hunt, u st. Louis on The Mississippi, havne
also joined them, they determined that the expedition should
take place the following spring"
This shows direct communication Of Mr.. Asior's
dcs IN to the Northwest Company, and of their rcfu-
sal II act IN concert with him, because of the Amer
lean character of the enterprise; also the why
lac employed many CANADIANS in his service. 1t was
for the sake OF having experienced traders to assist IL
conducting his business. 1t shows also that. among
other Canadian gentlemen, he had employed Mr.. Al.
exander Mckay, the faithful companion of Sir Alex
ander Mackenzie in his expedition To the Pacific occar
IN 1893. This gentleman knew where Mackenzie
discoveries were. and whether Mr.. Astor was abou
tc trcspass upon them THIS then, was the time Il
speak. on the contrary, the companion Of Mackenzie
goes assist IN Ia wing the foundation of the Amer
lean colony on the Columbia
Mr. Fmnclefc proceeds
at well t. state that during ,ur in New York
aud before leaving that city Nj. Mckay, believed IT wou,
be prudent 10 MI ckson the minister plcnipocnta,
OF his Britannia sly, order 10 Inform HIM of the OBJ
ct for which he about 10 emba and 10 ask his advice
10 what he should do of rupture between t'
two powers; iniman. TO him that we all British sub
ccls and that going tade under the American
nag. After moments reflection, MI. Jackson SAID 4
him that going TO form meicantile establish
mcnt al the risk of lives that all he could promise
that of a between the two powers, W,
should be respected British subject and traders This an
aTpeaied satisfactory aud MI Mckay bells we'd he ha
nothing more TO fea. fon that quarter"
This was in the year lsl0-seven,ecn years afte
the discoveries of Mackenzie, and eight years afte
Mr.. Broughon took possession of the Columbia in th
Of his Britannia majesty and at this time tia
minister of Great Britain, special cOmmunica
ton made to him of Mr.. Astors design to occupy tn
Columbia, has not a word to say against it. Up t
that time it had not occurred to the British govern
mcnt that the Columbia river theirs.
! (C0nciuCed in our ncIt