Astoria (review) [pp. 59-68]

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
porium to an immense commerce; as a colony that
'would form the germ of a wide civilization; that w ould,
iti fact, carry the Aimiericani popuilatiuoin aCioss tilhe Rocy
Mountains, 1and spread it along, tie sholes of the Pacific, as it already animated the shore of the Atlantic."
A fewv words in relation to the Y i'tlh-.vst comnpany.
This body, f(uflowinig out in part the suLgaestion of Sir
Alexander Miackenzie, had alreidvy established a fewv
trading posts on the coast of the Pacific, in a region lying about two degriees northi of the Colunmbia-thus
throvwing itself between the PRussian and American territories. Thley w,ould contend with Mr. Astor at an
immense disadvantage, of course. They had no good
post for the receipt of supplies by sea; and must get
them w ith great risk, trouble and expense, over land.
Their peltries also would have to be taken home the
same way-for they were not at liberty to interfere
witlh the East India comipany's monopoly, by shipping
them directly to China. Mr. Astor would therefore
greatly undersell them in that, the principal market.
Still, as any competition would prove detrimental to
both parties, Mr. A. made known his plans to the
North-west company, proposing to interest them one
third in his undertaking. The British company, however, had several reasoins for declining the propositionnot the least forcible of which, we presunme, was their
secret intention to push on a party forthwith, and forestall their rival in establishing a settlement at the mouth
of the Coltmtbia.
In the meantime MIr. Astor did not remain idle. His
first care was to procure proper coadjutors, and he was
induced to seek them principally fi'om among such
clerks of the Northl-west company, as were dissatisfied
with their situation in that body-having served out
their probationary term, and bein, still, through want
of iinfluence, without a prospect of speedy promotion.
From among these (generally men of capacity and experience in their particular business), Mir. A. obtained
the services of Mr. Alexander Mi'Kay (who had accompanied Sir Alexander MIackenzie in both of his expeditions), Mr. Donald M'Kenzie, and Mr. Duncan
M'Doutlgal. Mr. WVilson Price Hunt, a native citizen
of Newv Jersey, and a gentleman of great worth, was
afterwards selected by Mr. Astor as his chief agent,
and as the representative of himself at the contemplated
e.stablishliment. In June 1510, "articles of agreement
were entered into between Mr. Astor and these four
gentlemen, actilng for themselves, and for the several
persons who had already agreed to become, or should
thereafter become, associated under the firm of " The
Pacific Fur Co,lupaiy." This agreement stipulated that
Mr. A. was to be the head of the company, to manage its
affairs at New York, and to furnish every thing requisite
for the enterprize at first cost and chaores, provided an
advance of more thaii four hundred thousand dollars
should not at any time be involved. The stock was to
consist of a hundred shares, Mr. Astor taking fifty, the
rest being divided among the other partners and their
associates. A general meeting seas to be held annually
at Columbia river, where absent members might vote
by proxy. The association was to continue twenty
years-but might be dissolved within the first five years,
if found unprofitable. For these five years Mr. A.
agreed to bear all the loss that might be incurred. An
agent, appointed for a like term, was to reside at the
mrain establishment, and Mr. Hunt was the person first
selected.
Mr. Astor deternmined to begin his enterprize w%ith
two expeditions-one by sea, the other by land. The
forimert aws to carry out every tliing necessary for the
establishment of a fortified post at the mouth of the Coluembia. The latter, under thl.e conduct of Mr. Hunt,
was to proceed up the Missouri and across thle Rocky
Mountains to the same point. In the course of this
over-land journey, the most practicable line of commtnication would be explored, and the best situations noted for the location of trading rendezvous. Following
Mr. Irving in our brief summary of his narrative, we
will now give some account of the first of these expeditions.
A ship was provided called the Tonquin, of two hundred and ninety tons, with ten guns, and twenty men.
Lieutenant Jonathan Thorn of the United States navy,
being on leave of absence, received the command. He
was a man of courage, and had distinguished himself
in the Tripolitan war. Four of the partners went in
the shliip-M'Kay and M'Dougal, of whom we have already spoken, and Messieurs David and Robert Stuart,
new associates in the firm. M'Dougal was empowered
to act as the proxy of Mr. Astor in the absence of Mr.
Hunt. Twelve clerks wvere also of the party. These
weree bound to the service of the company for five years,
and were to receive one hundred dollars a year, payable
at the expiration of the term, with an annual equipment
of clothing to the amount of forty dollars. By promises
of future promotion, their interests were identified with
those of Mr. Astor. Thirteen Canadian voyageurs,
and several artisans, completed the ship's company.
On the Sth of September, 1810, the Tonquin put to sea.
Of her voyage to the mouth of the Columbia, Mr. Irving has given a somewhat ludicrous account. Thorn,
the stern, straight-forward officer of the navy, having
few ideas beyond those of duty and discipline, and
looking with supreme contempt upon the motley "lubbers" who formed the greater part of his cotiipany,
is painted with the easy yet spirited pencil of an artist
indeed; while M'Dougal, the shrewd Scotch partner,
bustling, yet pompous, and impressed with lofty notions
of his own importance as proxy for Mr. Astor, is made
as supremely ridiculous as possible, with as little apparent effort as can well be imagined;-the portraits, however, carry upon their faces the evidence of their own
authenticity. The voyage is prosecuted amid a series
of petty quarrels, and cross purposes, between thle captain and his crew, and, occasionally, behtwecn Mi. M'Kay
and Mr. M'Dougal. The contests between tlhe two
latter gentlemen were brief, it appears, although violent.
" Within fifteen utinutes," says Captain Thorn in a letter to Mr. Astor, "they wvould be caressing each other
like children." The Tonquin doubled Cape Horn on
Christmas day, arrived at Owbyliee on the eleventh of
February, took on board fresh provisions, sailed again
w,ith twelve Sandwich islanders on the 28th, and on the
22d of March arrived at the mouth of the Colttmbia.
In seeking a passage across the bar, a boat and nine
men were lost among the breakers. On the way from
Owhyhee a violent storm occurred; and the bickerings
still continued betw een the partners aud the captainthe latter, indeed, grievously suspecting the former of a
design to depose him.
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