Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 37.djvu/85

 now know what right they have to reclaim it and I hope that Great Britain will never consent to part with such a prosperous country. In point of commercial views there is no country equal to it. the navigable waters of the Columbia abound in timber of all descriptions and the River itself is inexhaustible in Salmon. they have petitioned the Congress to send them a civil administrator and protection of its army. I do not know whether their petition will be attended to time will only tell. Last summer we had a visit from an English Surveying Squadron here they surveyed the River and the principal harbours on the Coast it was a gay time for those who were present here, but I had not that pleasure For I was then travelling on horseback to red River annoyed by swarms of mus-quitos for all that I never yet had such a pleasant journey it is worth any ones trouble who is fond of seeing beautiful sceneries

I do not believe that there is an office in Montreal that has so much to do as ours. We are in it from ½ past 6 in the morning till nine at night. I have learned more in the way of transacting business here than I should have done in Montreal in the same space of time. If you were to see our establishment you would be highly delighted with it. ...

Remember me kindly to your good mother and tell her that I shall never forget her kindness to me. ...

I am Your Cousin

John McLoughlin Junr

Fort Vancouver 24th Oct 1840

My Dear John

Though certainly I have nothing particular to inform you still in justice to my feelings I could not let this opportunity pass (which only occurs once a year) and not drop you a few Lines. Merely to assure you that I am well and that I sincerely hope that you are not only Well but that you are also doing Well I arrived here on the 17th Oct and had the pleasure to