Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/119

Rh under great obligations to the labors of the late Dr. Elliott Coues, for his edition of 1893, with notes and commentary—the best ever published.

A first-rate authority for the condition of affairs at Astoria, from the arrival of the Astoria party in March, 1811, till abandonment of the enterprise in 1813, is Gabriel Franchere, whose book, written in French and published in Montreal in 1819, was translated into English and republished in New York in 1854. Franchere. it is well known, came in the Tonquin. and remained in the country till Astor's partners here sold out the business to agents of the British Northwest Company, when he returned home, across the continent. It was a large party that left Astoria April 4, 1814. In all there were ninety persons, who embarked in ten canoes. Franchere reached Montreal in September. His statements make it certain that the partners of Astor could have maintained their position in the country had they possessed resolution and courage. Astoria was not in fact captured by the British, but was transferred under a business arrangement to agents of the Northwest Company. True, the British sloop of war Raccoon, of 26 guns, arrived at Astoria soon after the transfer had been made, and it would not have been possible to hold Astoria after that, even had the Americans desired. But Franchere says the Pacific Fur Company need not have retired from the country. "It was only necessary," he explains, "to get rid of the land party of the Northwest Company, who were completely in our power; then remove our effects up the river upon some small stream, and await results. The sloop of war arrived, it is true; but as in the case I suppose she would have found nothing, she would have left, after setting fire to our deserted houses. None of their boats would have dared to follow, even if the Indians had betrayed them to our lurking place. But those at the head of affairs had their own fortunes to seek, and thought it more for their interest, doubtless, to act as they did ; but that will not clear them in the eyes of the world, and the charge of treason to Mr. Astor's interests will always be attached to their characters."