LESTER BURRELL SHIPPEE
36
from this remark were no doubt strengthened by Sir George's account of finding at Vancouver in August, 1841, Wilkes at the head of an American government exploring expedition. 2 Wilkes, he wrote, was not communicative as to his surveys and examination of the country, but from an
modore was
"intelligent
and
the party he learned that the Comthat his government claim to recommend intending
confidential"
member of
the whole region from 42 to 54 40' 3 Simpson's informant, 4 however, held more moderate views; he intended to recom.
mend
a line through the Straits of Fuca to the mainland south
of Whidby's Island, thence straight to where the Nez Perce (Snake River) emptied into the Columbia. This, he maintained, could not be refused by the British government, for
the justice of allowing the United States the portion of territory with its harbors inside of Cape Flattery could easily be seen; if the southern line of the Columbia should be taken
no secure harbor would
fall to
the United States.
Sir George
took occasion to impress the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company with the significance of this statement and wrote, "I trust you will urge Her Majesty's Government not to consent to any boundary that would give the United States any portion of the Territory north of the Columbia, as it would
deprive the Britsh of the only valuable part of the territory, the country north of the Straits of Fuca not being adapted to Agriculture, or other purposes connected with colonization." The report also called attention particularly to the fact that Wilkes had sent one division of his party overland through the Willamette valley and on into California to San Francisco
Bay, near which the Russian settlement at Bodega was located. This post was of especial interest to the Company and to look into the question of reasons for sending
acquisition had been one of the 5 Simpson to the Pacific Coast.
its
2 Simpson to Pelly, dated 10 Mar., 1842, Honolulu; Ibid,, 86^93. says this was probably Captain Wm. L. Hudson, 3. Schafer
A
main little
second
in
command. 4 Wilkes did make such a recommendation in strong terms, but his report was not allowed to come before Congress. See Chapter V. 5 See Adams, British interests and activities in Texas, 1838-1846, on the topic of Simpson's orders to look into the matter of the Russian settlement in California as a possible means of securing for the company and for England A foothold at San Francisco Bay.
