Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 9.djvu/130

 112 T. C. Elliott. tion.' Newell looked confused, and I was satisfied that he had no conception of what I meant ; but he rallied, and, look- ing wise and severe (I have since seen presiding officers in Washington do the same thing) said: 'Sit down sir! Resume your seat ! Do you intend to trifle with the chair— when you know that we passed the previous question two weeks ago ! It was the first thing we done ! ' I got a vote, however, before the return of the horse billiards players, and Polk County has a legal existence today, notwithstanding the adverse ruling upon a question of parliamentary usage." Another incident, showing Dr. Newell's natural leadership, is told by Mr. John Minto and runs about as follows ; In the fall of 1845 the grist mill of Dr. John McLouglin at Oregon City was completed and the people obtained permis- sion to hold a ball or house-warming upon its floor. That fall the valley had been visited by Lieut. Wm. Peel (son of Sir Robert Peel) and Captain Park of the Royal Marines. These men were really agents of the British Government sent to as- certain the sentiment of the people as to British sovereignty and to report upon the actions of Dr. John McLoughlin ; and the British sloop-of-war Modeste was then anchored in the river off Vancouver. The ball was attended by Lieutenant Peel and some of the naval officers, and they became rather free in their actions in dancing with some of the half-breed girls who were present ; and Dr. Newell called the Lieutenant to one side and expostulated with him. The Lieutenant said, "I really did no harm, Doctor." Newell replied, "No, Lieu- tenant, but you know you would not have acted in that man- ner with a young lady of your own class in London." ''Well, Doctor," said Peel, "let us try another kind of amusement. I will bet you a bottle of wine that more of the men on this floor will in the case of a contest support the British side than the American." Newell promptly accepted the wager, and Mr. Robert Pentland, of late from Newcastle on the Tyne, and then a miller in Abernethy's mill, was asked to take a vote, and the result showed that the American sentiment was con- siderably in the majority. At this Lieutenant Peel said, "Well, Doctor, I'll bet you another bottle of wine that the