Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 13.djvu/216

 208 DOCUMENT be used. General Figaroa died, and his successor, "Chico, " pro- hibited the Russians from erecting their block-house. Mr. Rostrometinoff readily granted me permission for the party that accompanied me from the Columbia to land at Bodega. He also furnished a house for their use until their cattle could be collected, and provided me with horses and guides to proceed by land to the bay of St. Francisco. Of my proceedings in California, I must beg to refer to the com- munication which I shall have the honor to lay before you in a few days, accompanied by a chart of the Columbia, etc. In the mean time, I have the honor to remain your most obedient servant, WILLIAM A. SLACUM. To the Hon. JOHN FORSYTHE, Secretary of State. (A.) OREGON TERRITORY, Wallamette Settlement. Articles of agreement made and entered into this 13th day of January, m the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven. Whereas we, the undersigned, settlers upon the Wallamette river, are fully convinced of the importance and necessity of having neat cattle of our own, in order successfully to carry on our farms, and gain a comfortable, livelihood ; and whereas we find it impossible to purchase them here, as all the cattle in the country belong to the Hudson Bay Company, they re- fusing to sell them under any circumstances; and as we be- lieve that the possession of cattle would not only benefit us personally, but will materially benefit the whole settlement, we, the undersigned, do therefore agree 1st. To avail ourselves of an offer of W. A. Slacum, Esq., of the United States Navy, to take passage in the American brig Loriot, Captain Bancroft, free of charge, to proceed to California, to purchase cattle for ourselves and all our neigh- bors who choose to join us in this enterprise, either by accom-