Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/28

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
18
F. W. Howay

pounds Sterling, for which Sum she was actually and bona fide sold to Daniel Beale Esq. Agent at Canton, for the Associated Merchants trading to the North West Coast of America.

(Signed) John Etches.

Sworn at Guildhall,

London, the 4th of November, 1791,

Before me

John Boydell,

Mayor.


Harrogate,

15 September, 1792.

Private.

My dear Lord,

As I imagine that you are by this Time returned to town and are prehaps preparing to send instructions to Mr Jackson for the final adjustment of the Nootka claims, I take the Liberty of laying before you a few remarks that have occurred to me in looking through MessTM Meares and Etches last letter upon that subject to Sr R. Woodford.

In the first place, it seems to me that their demands of an indemnification for the Ship the Pss Royal, over and above the 50,000 £ which they expect to receive by way of compromise, is by no means well-founded, since it is in reality asking to be paid for her twice over; neither can they have any kind of claim to the cargo which she brought to China, and which they themselves admit to have been purchased and loaded upon Spanish account. But in other respects the circumstances which this letter mentions relative to that Vessel (and which I do not recollect to have seen distinctly stated before) are, I think, deserving of notice, and, should Your Lordship be inclined to press the Spanish Minister to increase his offer, of a nature to give great weight to such a requisition. For I well remember that the only reason which he