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 FEDERAL RELATIONS OF OREGON

37

Sir George learned, when at Sitka, that the Russian American Company had sold their holdings at Bodega to a Swiss because the post had always been unprofitable. "The sale," he commented, "was effected previous to my arrival or I would have made the purchase for the Hudson's Bay Com-

later

pany as a basis for a future claim by Great Britain." Evidently the unattainable had greater attractions than that which might have been secured, for Sir George had reported in November that the Russians were in California in defiance of the Mexicans

who were

powerless to drive them out, even though

the former admitted that they had no title to the soil other than that afforded by occupation he had further stated that

which the Russians could give would be of no value unless backed by eighty or one hundred men, so he could see no use in purchasing on any terms. These reports arc interesting for the light they throw on the attitude of the Hudson's Bay Company which was the most important influence working with the British government to prevent a compromise at 49 or on any line which would not leave the whole of the Columbia River to the free and unhampered use of the Company. This influence was recognized by those American ministers in London who had occasion to deal with the Oregon Question and it was magnified the

title

power by the Oregon men in Congress. Lord Ashburton, when he was in the United States

into a sinister

to

negotiate the question of the Northeast Boundary, had heard that Wilkes was going to urge the United States to claim to 6

was partly on this account, partly because he wished up all outstanding issues between his own and the government of the United States, that he left America regretting that he could have done nothing with the Oregon 54

40'.

It

to help clear

7

He

advised the Foreign Office to push the matter immediately since the great controversy, that over the Maine boundary, was settled and so could no longer be endangered dispute.

Am.

6 Ashburton to Aberdeen, 29 June, 1842. Hist. Rev. 1911, 297. 7 Everett to Webster, 19 Oct. 1842.

F. O.

Am.

379; quoted by Schafer,

No. West Bound. Arb.,

27.