Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 20.pdf/343

 RESTORATION OF ASTORIA far operated to redouble our vigilance that

325

on your arrival with

J. B. Prevost, Esqr., every gun was shotted and small arms ready for all hands. The agreeable contrast since experienced it would be deemed flattery in me to dwell upon. Justice,

however, demands that

should bear testimony to the handsome, unassuming, yet dignified manner in which Mr. Prevost I

comported himself, during the disappointed in

my

late

changes and though much

expectations relative to the pledges of

security and publick faith, without which no commercial body much less contribute to the national

can promote their own,

prosperity, I attribute the cause solely to his circumscribed powers and must act accordingly. There is nothing of a

public or private matter connected with the late change, of which you have not official documents, or are perhaps ac-

quainted with, excepting my communication with Mr. Prevost 39 copies of which I herewith transmit together with his replies, you, and as your short stay precludes the possibility of my completing the various papers I intended forwarding for London, as well as Canada, I request that you will be pleased to hand the present for the perusal of Mr. Prevost to enable him to extract such materials for the information of the Govern-

ment of the United

States,

as he

be, sir,

your obedt

may

think proper to lay

before them. I

have the honor to

& humble

servant,

JAMES KEITH.

"To Frederick Hickey, Esq., Captain H. M. S. Blossom, Bakers Bay." Meanwhile, on the other side of the continent. British commissioners and John Quincy Adams were debating a treaty which should settle the boundary of the North- West Coast of America. In orders to F. Robinson and Henry Gouldburn from Lord Castlereagh, dated London, August 24th, 1818, he

gave as a fifth point to be considered under consideration 40

in the

commercial treaty



39 F. O. 40 F. O.

5, 5,

Vol. 147; also V. Vol. 138.

2,

Miscellaneous American State Papers.