library he obtained a set of United States statutes. Edward Everett was a member of both committees, and his cooperation was probably the cause of these favors.
Kelley also made formal application to the Mexican government through Jose M. Montoya, chargé d'affaires at Washington, for permission to enter the port of Vera Cruz with a vessel free from port charges, to land his effects, and to transport them across the country to Acapulco without liability of any kind to the revenue laws. Montoya agreed to forward the letter, and he also countersigned the passport which Kelley obtained from the state department. Thus equipped Kelley left Washington for New Orleans on March 1, 1833, proceeding by the Cumberland road and the Ohio and Mississippi rivers under a grant of free passage from the post office department.[1] To continue from his narrative:
"At New Orleans I again met the party provided with good quarters at my expense. . . .
"Two of the party, who a few days before leaving New York were known to be destitute of money, and poorly clad, whose passage I had paid, were now found dressed in new and costly apparel, and had plenty of money. Without the remotest cause of action, they brought, one after another, suits at law against me, until I was harrassed with five such cases. The Foster and Lovett who joined the party in New York, resorted to acts of felony, forging several papers; one, a draft of fifteen hundred dollars in my favor on J. Ogden, a wealthy merchant of New Orleans, purporting to have been drawn by a friend of mine in Wall street. New York. . . .
"Getting access to my property in storage, they stole over a thousand dollars of it, and started with it for Texas. Fortunately, they were on the same day overtaken, brought back, examined before Judge Perval, and with the crime of larceny labeled to their character, were committed to prison, where, doubtless, it was the divine purpose they should realize a portion of the reward of evil doers. After a day and a night
- ↑ Narrative of Events and Difficulties, 70; Colonization of Oregon, 23; Petition, 1866:3; Settlement of Oregon, 113.
