Page:The Columbia river , or, Scenes and adventures during a residence of six years on the western side of the Rocky Mountains among various tribes of Indians hitherto unknown (Volume 1).djvu/86

 north-west coast. We now sounded, but got no bottom with one hundred fathoms: and while this was going on we were all busy in forming conjectures respecting this terra incognita. The first thing to be decided on was the name. One thought that Mr. Astor, being the owner of the ship, and the founder of the company, had the best claim, and therefore moved that it be called "Astor's Island:" this having been seconded, an amendment was moved by another person, who argued that the ship had a prior right to the honour, and stated he would have it called "Beaver Island:" the amendment having been seconded, was about to be put, when the captain declared that, fond as he was of his ship, and highly as he respected his owner, he thought the claims of their immortal president superior to either, and that he would therefore, without consulting the wishes of any one, call it "Maddison's Island." Although there were few admirers of the "immortal" president on board, the captain's decision settled the controversy; for on such occasions he is always the high priest. Mr. Clarke said, if it proved any way fruitful, he would colonize it, and appoint Wadsworth, with his island beauty, king and queen. Some hoped the inhabitants would not be afraid of