The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-07-27

And still, and forever, would it be the
same Hudson Bay Company, and entitled by vr-
tue OF the treaty to the right Of navigating the
Columbia river forever. Now, we say that the
difference between these two companies 81 above
stated-the one as it now is, and the other as II
may be under new charter-is so great that it is
incredible the treaty should leave it an open ques-
ton, TO which OF the two it gives the free navga-
ton of the Columbia. The treaty says, ''to all
British subjects trading with the H. B. Co." But
If the company can "wring itself in,'' and claim
the free navigation under new charter, what is
/ to prevent them from establishing their British"
agents al every trading post on the footsteo, and
thus completely evading the prima tacte restric-
ton of the rights of navigation "to the H. B. Co.
and to British subjects trading with the same ~
Why the treaty itself, in all its solemn formality,
would be little short OF one stupendous fraud, and
its negotiators set of land jockeys, and the
treaty precious bit Of chcanery by which, M
der cover Of double entendre, the United States
have been most scientifically and alphabetically
Jeremy Didded out of their just and exclusive
rights
And observe that all this perpetuity and extern
sion of rights upon American territory are given,
granted, and conferred solely by act of British
Parliament. For the H. B. Co. is not now
! perpetual body corporate by virtue of power to
elect and fill its own vacancies ad infnitum with
an unlimited charter. In 1859 it dies by limita-
ton, and becomes de facto and de jwe nullity.
And we must, therefore, take the ground that as
regards American territory, British Parliament can
give the company nothing at all which it either
has not now Inherently, or which is not given to
it by the treaty But it has not now the inherent
| IF al Alf tho
treaty give it any such power.
tbs, therefore, probably clear that the naviga-
ton of the Columbia is exclusively ours after
1852 Who can deny this
The Bay OF San Francisco-Is 1t to be ours -
The California Expedition.
On the outside of to-day's paper will be found
splendid engraving Of the magnificent harbor
OF San Francisco, situated in 80 degrees of lati-
tude, on the Pacific coast, Upper California.
The buildings seen in the cut compose the CASTILLO
or fort, with the house of the commandant among
them.
The harbor of San Francisco is unquestionably
one of the finest in the whole world. The en-
trance is so very narrow that it would require but
little to render it entirely impregnable; and its
towering cliffs, on each side, might be so fortified
as to bid defiance to any earthly foe, however
powerful. 1t is almost entirely landlocked, and
could be, if necessary, shut in from the ocean,
resembling more an inland lake than an ocean
harbor. Notwithstanding this, it is perfectly ac-
cessible, very large, and contains, in the mid
channel, from forty to forty-five fathoms of wa
ter, while the soundings throughout are very
deep. The navies of the whole world could ride
at anchor there with perfect ease.
There are five missionary establishments loca-
ted on the sides of the bay, containing popula-
ton of about five thousand Indians, and between
two and three hundred whites. There are about
forty thousand domesticated cattle here, exclu.
sive Of horses, sheep and mules. Game is plen-
tiful in the vicinity, and the rivers and creeks
abound with the choicest Of fish, The Ame-
rican antelope and elk, and great quanti-
ties of deer, are found upon the northern
side of the bay, affordng ample subsistence
to those who live by hunting The ELK is
hunted for its tallow, which is preferred to that
of bullocks. The soil is remarkably rich, and
probably for wheat there is none better in the
world. In one instance, twelve bushels of
wheat, were sowed, which yielded a crop OF
eighteen hundred bushels and the following
year, from the grain which fell at the time Of the
harvest, over thousand bushels were reaped;
and in the succeeding year three hundred. The
average production of wheat is a hundred fame
gas for every one sowed. The heavy dews
which fall at night in the vicinity of San Francisco
obvate the necessity of irrigation, which is prac-
tised in other portions Of California. The climate
is mild, and the islands and neighboring country
abound in the most excellent timber.
In addition TO the agricultural advantages, and
its depth and safety as a harbor, the location of
San Francisco for commerce and mercantile
business is probably the best on the whole Pacific
coast. East Of it is the United States, containing
a population of twenty millions of enterprisng,
industrious people and west of it is the broad
Pacific, filled with its innumerable islands, whose
inhabitants fast becoming civilized and
farther still is China, the ladies', and all Asia
From the east, railroad through the South Pass
to San Francisco has already been spoken of, and
is by no means impractcable and to the west
the whole of the rich Asatc commerce is open.
The Sandwich Islands at a sailing distance Of
about 5000 miles, and China about 5000, from
San Francisco. What, then, 10 to prevent this har-
Dor from being the depot Of all the trade and COM
merce between Asia and America, and, indeed,
Europe, If it passes into the hands of our enter
prising nation The advantages OF it are too
great for pen to describe faint glimpse of
them can only be caught in a moment of partial
enthusiasm, when the thought Of our great and
growing country fills our minds. 1t must be
plainly percephbe that the possession of thi,
harbor would be to its possessors an advantage
which the feeble word of man cannot describe,
and which only the pen of time can exhibit in its
fulness.
This point is at present nominally in the pos
session of Mexico, although its inhabitants, and
that of the neghboring districts, are, in fact, I'M
der a government of their own, or rather, of no
government at all. Its distance from the Mexican
seat OF Government, and the weak vacillating
state OF that Government, render the idea Of its