" the com-
mittee consisting of Nesmith, Rice, and Rector; second, the commander-in-chief of the naval and land forces in California was " requested to furnish us all the assistance in his power, not inconsistent with his instructions, or his duty to his country;" and, third, that a copy of the pre ceding resolution should be sent to the commander-in- chief in California.
On the twenty-seventh of January, the governor for warded to Jesse Applegate these documents, with a letter instructing him if he could not go on this mission, to em ploy some other person. The following is the governor s letter:
OREGON CITY, January 25, 1848.
DEAR SIR : As Mr. J. L. Meek is still at The Dalles, and does not intend going to California, Rev. H. H. Spalding proposed ad vancing a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, to be paid at Vancouver any time after March twentieth next, for the purpose of sending a messenger with dispatches to California. I immediately proposed you as the man, and as the Vancouver funds will just answer your purpose, and can at the same time render essential ser vice to this country by informing the proper authorities of California of our situation, I see nothing in the way to prevent your immediate departure. If you conclude to go, let me know how much you will require to fit out the mission. If a government vessel comes up soon you can return on her.
I received a letter from Major Lee last Sunday, in which he in forms me briefly, he has had a skirmish with the Indians who were running off the cattle. Some of our men went to bring them back, not seeing but two or three Indians ; but twenty-five of them were hidden among the hills and rocks. Fortunately, more men were sent out, when a fire was opened upon them, and a running fight took place. One of our party was wounded in the leg. It was thought some of the Indians were killed, as two horses saddled were left on the field. Soon after this, our own men being out on an ex pedition, brought in about sixty horses, so this puts the party on horseback.
Thus you see the war is opening, and the Indians are uniting against the Americans. You cannot set forth in too strong a light the absolute necessity of a man-of-war being sent forthwith. We see that the Indians look on the Hudson's Bay Company as friends ; on the Americans as enemies; Catholics remain unharmed among them; Protestants are murdered. Why that is so I cannot say; but that it is so, we all know. Mr. Spalding says that the Indi
