of November, where the bark remained till the 12th of December. While at this port, where the progressive American was making a great stir and business was extremely brisk, Thornton disposed of a quantity of flour which constituted a part of the cargo of the Whiton, loaned to him by Noyes Smith, one of those who came in 1844,[1] as a means of raising money for his expenses. He had received from Rev. George Gary a draft on the treasury of the Methodist society in the east, and from Abernethy whatever more it required to furnish him with means for his journey.
At San José in Lower California was found the sloop of war Portsmouth, Captain J. B. Montgomery, to which Thornton was transferred on invitation of the commander, and was carried to Boston, where he arrived May 5, 1848.[2]
When the legislature met in December, a set of resolutions were introduced in the house by Nesmith, remonstrating against the appointment of Thornton to any office in the territory, which were at first adopted, afterward reconsidered, and finally lost by the speaker's vote.[3] It is but just to Thornton,
- ↑ The career of Noyes Smith is given as follows: 'Over a quarter of a century since, the world was astonished at hearing of the defalcation and disappearance of an Albany bank officer. Having made the circuit of the world, he some years afterwards appeared in Oregon under this name, became a merchant's clerk, then himself a merchant, and was rich and prospering when he was recognized by an officer of the U. S. army. Exposure drove him to dissipation and ruin. His friends at the east seem to have finally compromised his case, and his family sent for him to return home, which he did to find his children grown up, and everything much changed during his long absence.' S. A. Clarke, in Overland Monthly, x. 410–15. Noye's real name was said to be Egbert Olcott. Buck's Enterprises, MS., 13.
- ↑ Thornton's Or. and Cal., ii. 247–8. I think it not unlikely that the Whiton was looking for a vessel of the U. S. navy for this very purpose; since Benton in his letter to the people of Oregon had assured them that detachments of the army and navy should give them all the assistance in their power, while waiting the action of the government; on which hint the governor seems promptly to have acted.
- ↑ Or. Spectator, Dec. 25, 1847; Grover's Or. Archives, 232, 242. So well had the secret of Thornton's agency been kept that the preamble to the resolutions declares only that it is 'generally believed' that Thornton had been secretly despatched to Washington City with recommendations, petitions, and memorials for the purpose of obtaining for himself and friends the most important offices in the territory.
