Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 25.djvu/58

 48 RALPH S. KUYKENDALL on the island. Thereupon Quimper wrote a letter to Col- nett informing him that the Princess Royal was on her way to Manila and thence to Macao to be delivered up to her owners. The Argonaut had by this time come in sight and from the way she was handled Quimper at first thought Colnett was afraid to bring the ship into the anchorage where the Princess Royal lay. He therefore —a nd this was certainly an evidence of his friendly dis- position—sent one of his officers, John Kendrick, Jr., in a small boat to pilot the larger vessel in. Colnett needed no pilot, but for other reasons he kept Kendrick on board the Argonaut for the time being. He brought his ship up to within a cable length of the Princess Royal, presented her broadside to the smaller vessel, and began ranging her guns on deck. From these operations and from information which the natives had brought to him, Quimper concluded that Colnett in- tended to fight. Nothing daunted, the Spanish commander appealed to his men and proceeded as unostentatiously as possible to get the sloop ready for action. He also called to Kendrick to return with the small boat, but the latter replied that Captain Colnett was dressing in order to come and pay his respects to Quimper. The Englishman failed to come, but hostile preparations continued. After a short time Quimper called again, this time remonstrat- ing with Colnett over the demonstration which he was making and asking him to state clearly what his intentions were. Colnett replied that he was sending the small 'boat with one of his officers. When this officer came on board the Princess Royal he handed to Quimper the following letter: Sir Argonaut, April 2, 1791. Your letter by Mr. Kendrik informs me that you are to convey the Sloop Princess Royal to Manilla and thence to Macao but as that is contrary to the Law of all Nations and particularly contrary to the Constitution of