Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 6.djvu/379

 DALLES CITY IJ. MISSIONAEY SOCIETY. 367 �whom but ia few reiuained in the country, were devoted to the growing "whitesettlements" in the Wallamet valley. In the language of one of them: "The finances of the Oregon mis- sion were thus summarily bronght to a close, and the mission' was not only relieved of a ponderous load, but assumed a decidedly spiriituil character." Hines' Oregon, 242. �In July, 1847, Mr. Gary was succeeded as superintendent > of the mission by the Eev. William Eoberts. Prior to this, and in the spring of that year, Mr. Gary had disposed of nearly ail the live stock of the Dalles mission station, and was negotiating with Dr. Whitman for the transfer of the sta- tion itself. Mr. Eoberts, in continuation of the policy man- ifested by hia predecessor, followed up these negotiations until in August an agreement was mado for the abandon- • ment or transfer of the station to Whitman, together with the sale of a canoe, some farming utensils, grain, and household furniture, for the sum of $600; and between September 1 and 10, 1847, Messrs. Waller and Breweri the agents of tbg defendant, delivered the possession of the premises to Whit- man, who took actual possession thereofj and placed his nephew, Perrin B. Whitman, a youth of 17 years, in charge, while he proceeded to his mission station at Wailatpu. �Dr. Whitman was not a minister, but at the time of the transfer of this station to him it was understood and expeeted that religious services and instruction would in some way be kept up there for the benefit of the Indians; but there was no legal obligation to that effect, nor did the defendant or its agents have any intention or expectation of returning or occupying the statioii, if such services and instruction were not: f umifihed or otherwise. In pursuance of the settled policy of the defendant, the station wasabsolutely and unqualifiedly; abandoned to Dr. Whitman, with outany r-eservation or righii to resume the possession under any circumstances. Dr. Whitman, whatever Ma purpose may havetbeen in regard to the Indians, purchased the station primarily for himself and nephewi Perrin B., to whom he promised the west half of it if he would remain and take care of it until the spring, when the former intendedito return there and make it his ��� �