Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/660

Rh the third was reserved to be carried overland in the spring by W. Finley, who was returning to the States.

Months passed away after the first news of the treaty without bringing any message from the government of the United States to eagerly expectant Oregon. In February the Spectator gave expression to the disappointment of the people, who it said had "expected and expected until they were heart-sick." There was indeed a feverish state of anxiety, for which there was no very justifiable cause, which arose chiefly from the desire of every man to receive some direct benefit from the change so long desired. There was now no fear of 'war with England; California was secured, and was already seeking supplies from Oregon; the crop of 1846 had been abundant, and there was promise of still greater abundance in the coming harvest. The health of the colony was excellent, and improvements were being made on every side with encouraging rapidity. But many persons were dissatisfied at the tardiness of the government in furnishing them with titles to their land claims; many were covetous of the possessions of others, and some had trouble to defend their rights against aggression, for there were those holding themselves in readiness to seize the lands of the Hudson's Bay and Puget Sound companies as soon as the terms of the treaty should be made known.

When the terms became known, what a falling of high hopes was there! The government confirmed the company in their possessory rights; there was no need to memorialize congress to reserve town sites and