Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 15.djvu/189



DIARY 177

January 9, 1850 This morning- I wrote till session time on an article in reply to contemplated Oregon emigrants, for the Ohio Statesman. I then attended the session of the House, during which time I wrote a letter to a Mr. Sawyer of Ells- worth, Maine, in answer to his letter of inquiry about Oregon. I then came home and wrote on my letter to the Statesman till eleven, when I went to bed.

January 10, 1850 This day, immediately after breakfast, H. H. Hunt 1 of Oregon called on me. After he went away, T wrote on my article to the Ohio Statesman until he called again, when we went to attend on the session of the House. After the session closed, I then wrote on my article. In the evening Hunt called again, and we agreed to call on the P. M. Gen'l to see if Hunt could not get the mail to carry from Astoria to Oregon City. After he went away, S. H. Blake of Bangor, Me., called. After he left, I continued and finished my article. I received a letter today from H. T. Webb of Johnsville, Md., inquiring after his brother Wm. Webb. I also received one from H. T. Blanchard, from Whitehall, N. Y., inquiring after Oregon &c.

In the evening I received one from Hon. Wm. M. Meredith, informing me that the President had this day signed a proc- lamation declaring Portland and Nesqually, ports of delivery, with all the privileges allowed by law to such ports. It was after twelve when I got through.

January 11, 1850 This morning, immediately after break- fast, I went with Mr. Hunt to the Post Master GenTs to see about getting for him the contract for carrying the mail from Astoria to Oregon City. We were informed that no contracts could be let till next May. I then went to the Secretary of the Treasury who had sent for me to come and see him about appointing surveyors of the ports of Portland and Nesqually. He asked me what King's politics were. I informed him that they were democratic. He then asked if there was no Whig there that he could appoint. I informed him that there were

i Henry H. Hunt, of the "Astoria Mill," who established it on the south bank of the Columbia river, a few miles east of Astoria, in 1845.