Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/212

158 That very evening we had the explanation of the uneasiness that our presence had seemed to cause Governor Simpson. There was at the Fort a member of the United States scientific expedition, Mr. Hale, who had been left at Van Couver for the apparent purpose of studying Indian languages, but in reality to follow the movements of the Company, and later render an account of them to his government. We understood, Mr. Hale and I, that our presence could be nothing but disagreeable to the agents of the Company, who monopolizing all information concerning the Territory in dispute, could see only with a certain displeasure the country explored by two envoys of the French and American governments. Doctor MacLoughlin gave us lodging in the fort, and was full of kind attentions to us, and as soon as the agents of the Company saw that they need not fear any commercial competition on my part, and that I was in no way occupied with mercantile affairs, their anxiety ceased, and they treated me as perfect gentlemen. Sir George Simpson declined to accept the price of my passage on board one of their ships, but I was unwilling to accept the favor and I acquitted faithfully at London all the expenses on land and at sea. All the time I could not help comparing the cold and formal reception of these English merchants with the frank, cordial and I repeat it, truly imperial welcome that I received from the Russian officers at Bodega.

The only event which interested us during our sojourn at Van Couver was an earthquake shock, which occurred December 2, 1841, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. We felt three oscillations, of a second at most, and in the direction of north and south.

The Hudson's Bay Company possesses, several days' journey from Fort Van Couver, two important agricultural establishments; these are Forts Nesqually and