Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-12

active and thrifty class of people, body, be found
within the whole compass of the States han be found
in Oregon. The people of Oregon, for steady habits for
their high moral tone that prevails in community there, for
their general intelligence aud natural capacities understand
for their courage and hardhood for their love of liberty OF
republican institutions and their constant and ardent de-
votion TO the Republic and the unity Of the Union, will
proudly compare with like NUMBER taken they come, in
any section Of the United States whatever And being so,
you they will look with becoming contempt upon the
ISLANDERS Of hired Judas writing from British FORT ex-
cited by the fumes of British cine, and most PROBABLY i'm
PEELED by the "hirty pieces Of silper."
He next takes you the bar of the Coumta river, and
tells you, There immense sand bar stretching entirely
across the mouth excepting about quarter of mile"
Now. Captain Wkes's chart Of the mouth of that river will
show that your correspondents quarter is in fact orr three
quarters Consequently be hits the truth in this
nearly is to and fraction Which is better than he
has usually done. But, the mouth Of that river all
right here is letter from one of the successful navga
tors on the Pacific coast
PORTLAND, AUGUST 3, ls49.
DEAR SIR Your request of date reached me- ask
ing simple statement of facts regarding the safety and prac
tlcabiy OF entering and navigating the Columbia and Will
lamette rivers In answer will just say that during the
last four years have been sailing (most Of the time master
OF different vesses from Oregon the Sandwich Islands
and California, also have acted pilot Of vessels owned
chartered by myself; during which time have stood my
pilot and have crossed the bar OF the Columbia thirty
five times and in each menth in the year and since first
have been detained three days at
time for chance to get out come in neither do believe
there ever three days succession when vessel could
get in safety. My first voyage detained
forty five days in Bakers bay for chance then hough
get during which me now believe, there
three days time that might not have gone
out and should have gone had been alone But of the
Hudsons Bay Companys ships there and the captain
said he thought it unsafe to go and, being stranger of
course believed him for time until, getting discouraged BY
delay set about surveying the channels setof currents &c.
and then cut ahead and much against the will OF the
Hudson Bay Companys captain.
Since that time have gone and come in under almost
every circumstance have beat and tack for tack,
with the wind dead ahead have in at midnight end
in thick foggy weather. and found less than five ahoms
the bar Of the Columbia also believe the vessels
lost here were lost careessy purpose and further be-
leve the Columbia easy of the harbor OF New
York After crossing the bar it Of the easy rivers
naygaed have been in affords good beating channel,
with less than three fahoms water the mouth Of
the Willamette, and the latter less than twelve feet
water have been surprised that United States Govern
have had poor idea of these rivers from their hav
ing located the customhouse and distributing post office at
Astoria. Now, obliged discharge my cargo at As
toria would not submit to it. would lief be in the
middle of Delaware bay, and be compelled TO land my cargo
the vessel and would be both exposed open road
stead and be liable to be lost If the channels of the above
rivers regularly surveyed buoyed out, with the advan-
tage of good and experienced pilots believe these to be the
best rivers for navigation have up to Portland
distance of hundred and twenty miles this place being
the lower part Of the principal settlements in the Territory
and the head of navigation for shipping.
have doubt, from the increase Of trade and the stua
ton the country that these rivers will before the expra
ton of many years. be fairly KNOWN and steamers being of
great advantage, in towing in and out vessels during Gains
and contrary Winds enterprise and trade will be set upon
fair footing here as in any part of the world.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. S. R. TnuRsTos, Delegate to Congress u S.
from Oregon Territory.
This letter. you will perceive scatters the four winds
the ohy declarations of your correspondent concerning the
Columbia ver all of which either absolutely
grossly exaggerated Captain Roberts, who he
was Bakers Bay, the bar while the
mouth of the river He beat in oper that bar against cind
and tide. The French 'Mornng STAR he also tells
yeu wrecked the bar l happen TO know better.
This vessel undertook in without pilot and struck,
but got of AFTER and lying at Portland, 100
miles up when came down the river The &C Svie de
Grasse" biged while at Astoria, through sheer
careessness by allowing her to get far out of the channel
with reef of rocks between her and the channel. In
running her this reef to the channel, she struck,
Dhe tide going down she left the rocks, and the
Great weight of her load six hundred thousand feet
lumber, broke her back, she struck " mid ship
She owned in New York; but by W. H. Gray, ESQ.,,
of Oregon and two gentlemen of California. They paid
$780, 900 for her. Here is Of your correspondents
correctness
Here, Mr. Editor, I will close my structures upon your
correspondents letter. have noticed things which appear
Of but little moment and not worthy Of my notice. But il
has been my design all these points show how far be OF
the TRUTH in order impress the public mind of the mpo
prety Of placing any reliance what he has said, not only
against but for Oregon If it is said have been severe,
reply that has business to write concerning that
of which he knows nothing, and that in positive Ian
guage though he well informed If he has been led
into these through ignorance mnformaton pity
his folly. If he has been hired, than suspect to
traduce the country, in order prevent its settlement and
thereby proong the yranncal existence of the erprg Hud
sons Bay Company, then he second Benedict Arnold,
and should be treated accordingly.
l am, srs, yours truly, &c,
SAMUEL R. THURSTON.
GIRARD COLLEGE.
The installation of WIN. H. ALLEN, Esq as President of