Page:A History of the Pacific Northwest.djvu/105

 A History of the Pacific Northwest

longings, with all furs, supplies, and other property at the interior stations as well, to the Northwest Company. One incident remains, and the story of Astoria is finished. "On the morning of the 30th "(November), says Franchere, "we saw a large vessel standing in under Cape Disappointment; . . . she was the British sloop-of-war. Raccoon, of twenty-six guns, commanded by Captain Black." . . . The long lookedfor British ship had come, and on the 12th of December (Henry says the 13th) the American flag was hauled down at Astoria to make place for the Union Jack. The station itself was rechristened Fort George. More than two months later (February 28, 18 14) Mr. Hunt appeared once more, in the brig Pedlar, purchased by him for the purpose of carrying away Astor's property. He was too late, and sailed away again, first to the north, then down the coast to California and Mexico.^

1 Most of the Canadian partners of Mr. Aster accepted positions with the Northwest Company, as did also many of the clerks and labourers. A few, including IMr. Gabriel Franchere, went back to Canada overland in the spring of 1814, with the Northwest Company's express. Franchere's "Narrative," and two similar books, also by clerks of the Astor Company, A. Ross's "Fur Hunters of the Far West "and Ross Cox's "Adventures on the Columbia," are the principal sources for the history of the Astor enterprise. All of these have long been out of print. The " Henry-Thompson Journals," recently published, throw additional light on some phases of the history, and Irving's "Astoria "contains some matter taken from manuscript sources not now accessible.