Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/222

Rh winter. In his imperfect English he told marvellous stories of the Columbia River, and the salmon it contained, which excited a desire among some of the young men to enter into business there, and to found a city at the mouth of that magnificent stream. Of this attempt details will be given in another chapter.

At New York Lee made his report to the missionary society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and upon his information a call was published in the Christian Advocate and Journal for five missionaries, and for laymen, physicians, farmers, mechanics, and young women for teachers. This call was responded to by thirty-six persons, and sixteen children increased the number to fifty-two, all whom the missionary society .was asked to employ in Oregon in addition to those already there. The ship Lausanne, owned by Farnham and Fry of New York, and commanded by Captain Josiah Spaulding, was chartered, and laden with everything that an infant colony could require, at a cost to the society of $42,000. It was not without effort that this extraordinary sum was raised; and the talent of the Oregon superintendent is well illustrated in his success. Hines says that Lee met with warm opposition from some members of the board, who doubted the expediency of the measure; but the superintendent, who had just come from the field of operations, perseveringly and powerfully urged the claims of the Mission, and succeeded in obtaining more than he demanded, for in his opinion but two ministers were required, but in the estimation of a majority of the board, if there were to be as many laymen sent out as Lee called for, two ministers would not be sufficient.

While the missionary board were considering the question of ways and means, the missionary colonizer