T. C. ELLIOTT
30 the North
Company.
West Coast under the Firm of the Pacific Fur They fitted out two expeditions one by land and
the other by sea for the Columbia where they arrived in 1810 and established themselves on the South side of the River, naming their Settlement "Astoria" after their principal partner Mr. Astor of New York. The North West Compy. of Montreal however continued to extend their Trade with the Natives and in 1813 established themselves on the Coast within a few 10 yards of the American settlement of Astoria. and had remained at Astoria from time to Americans The time sent parties into the Interior, but had not made much progress in establishing themselves in the country, when in 1813 they sold their buildings at Astoria (which was afterwards named "Fort George") with the whole of their stock in trade in the Country to the North West Company as per Bill of Sale (Copy of which is annexed) and abandoned the Country. Since that time no American Trader has appeared nor has any settlement been formed by any others than the British Fur Traders. Upon reference to the above circumstances and to the dates of the transaction it does not appear that the Americans can establish any just claim to the Country on the Columbia or to the Northward of it, and that by actual possession Great Britian alone can establish a legitimate Title. In 1818, Captain Hickey of H. M. S. Blossom accompanied by Mr. J. B. Prevost, Agent for the United States Government arrived at the Columbia and delivered to Mr. James Keith of the North West Company, then in charge of Fort George, a letter from Earl Bathurst dated 27th January, H. M. S. Andromache, and in consequence Mr. Prevost took formal possession of the Settlement as his acknowledgment. 11 Copies of these documents are annexed but I think it right to observe that the Settlement and whatever had been previously occupied in that Country by American subjects had been acquired by the North West Company by purchase for a valuable consideration and not by
Capture. By the Convention 20th October, 1818, between Great Britain and America the Trade of the Country to the West of the Rocky Mountains is left open to the subjects of both
We
have the narrative of two eye-witnesses of how the large party of 10 "Northwesters" "established (?) themselves within a few yards of the American settlement of Astoria' in October, 1813; Gabriel Franchere and Alexander Ross. See Franchere' s Narrative, pp. 190-93, and Ross' Oregon Settlers, p. 254. ir For Mr. Prevost's official report of this event see Or. Quar. Vol. 19, p. 277.
