Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/103

Rh the Hudson's Bay CompayCompany [sic] and the officers of the United States in Oregon, that the government would soon purchase the possessory right of the company, which was a reason, in addition to the eligibility of the situation, for beginning an establishment at Vancouver. This view was entertained by both Vinton and Ogden. There being at that time no title to land in any part of the country except the possessory title of the fur company under the treaty of 1846, and the mission lands under the territorial act, Vancouver was in a safer condition, it might be thought, with regard to rights, than any other point; rights which Hathaway respected by leasing the company's lands for a military establishment, while the subject of purchase by the United States government was in abeyance. And Ogden, by inviting him to take possession of the lands claimed by the company, not inclosed, may have believed this the better manner of preventing the encroachments of squatters. At all events, matters proceeded amicably between Hathaway and Ogden during the residence of the former at Vancouver.

The same state of tenancy existed at Fort Steilacoom where Captain Hill established himself August 27th, on the claim of the Puget Sound Agricultural Company, at a place formerly occupied by a farmer or herdsman of the company named Heath. Tolmie pointed out this location, perhaps with the same views entertained by Ogden, being more willing to deal with the officers of the government than with squatters.

On the 28th of September General Smith arrived in Oregon, accompanied by Vinton, with the purpose of examining the country with reference to the location of military posts; Theodore Talbot being ordered to examine the coast south of the Columbia, looking