Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/470

 438 T. C. Elliott I have received from that country to the following- effect. Extract from Capt Harris' letter dated Inde- pendence June 4th, 1841, "Your name is well known in the mountains by many of your old friends who would be glad to join the standard of their country, and make a clean sweep of what is called the Origon Territory; that is, to clear it of British and Indians. I was one of the seven hundred who invited you to take command and march through to California, and will be with you if you can get the Government of the United States to authorize the occupancy of the Origon Country. I have been, as you know, 20 years in the mountains. The British have now taken possession of Fort Hall, formerly a trading post of some American trappers, and are repairing and putting it in military customs. Why our Government suffers these things I know not. The North west Com- pany does not only take from our territory from one to two millions of furs and peltries per year but they influ- ence the Blackfeet, and other tribes of Indians, to take our scalps. "In addition to this they introduce British goods there free of duty, by which they are enabled to sell cheaper than any American can, who purchased British goods in our Eastern cities. Our old friend Bent will hand you this, and I enjoin it upon you to talk with him on the subject." From the above you can see what is going on in that quarter, and when I have opportunity of verbal inter- course with Col. Bent, above referred to, I shall take the liberty to address you again. Col. B. has been some 20 years in the mountains and Santafee trade. I remain, with great respect, Your Ob't Servant, Thornton Grimsley. Honorable John Bell, Sect'y of War.