Page:Narrative of a voyage to the northwest coast of America.djvu/12

Rh Mr. Harmon, the American writer whom I quoted, ever thought of our claiming New Caledonia. It is the work of Mr., a gentleman of Montreal, with whom I have the pleasure to be personally acquainted, and one of those employed by Mr. in founding his colony. He was at the founding of Astoria, at its sale to the Northwest Company, saw the place seized as a British conquest, and continued there after its seizure. He wrote in French: his work has not been done into English, though it well de- serves it; and I read from the French text. He gives a brief and true account of the discovery of the Columbia."

I felt justly proud of this notice of my unpre- tending work, especially that the latter should have contributed, as it did, to the amicable set- tlement of the then pending difficulties. I have flattered myself ever since, that it belonged to the historical literature of the great country, which by adoption has become mine.

The re-perusal of " Astoria" by (1836) inspired me with an additional