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pany's affairs in the Northwest were investigated by a House of Commons Committee in 1857 and 1858, and, on the recom- mendation made, the monopoly was not renewed when it ex- pired in 1859. This was the result of great opposition both in British Columbia and in England.) Complaints were loud and powerful enough to reach Washington, causing the United States Government to send a special agent to the seat of the trouble. Mr. John Nugent, Special Agent of the United States, was in Victoria and vicinity during October and November, 1858; he presented his report in January, 1859. 10
The grievances of the Americans were sufficiently Sjerious toTiaye been made the subject of conversations withthc iBrit- ish representative. Repeated assurances" of Lord Napier, the British Minister at Washington, had aroused the hope that the heavy exactions would be lightened if the request were presented in specific detail. The Special Agent was to pro- cure first-hand information; also to do what was possible to lessen the friction between the citizens of the two powers. The report states:
"The chief purpose of the special agency intrusted to me I understand to be, to infuse among the citizens of the United States, temporarily resident in the vicinity of Eraser River, a spirit of subordination to the colonial authorities, and of respect for the laws of Great Britain, and, at the same time, by such representations to the Governor of Vancouver Island as circumstances would suggest, to en- deavor to obtain from the functionary the abrogation of the rigorous systems of exactions theretofore pursued, and the adoption for the future of such a policy toward Americans as would not be inconsistent with their right as the citizens of a friendly power, and would, further- more, tend to promote among them feelings of kindness and good will towards the government and the subjects of Great Britain. Some such intervention by the United States was deemed necessary, for the reason that much exasperation was alleged to exist among those of our citizens, then making their way to the Eraser River mines, against the servants of the Hudson's Bay Company and
10 Ex. Doc. No. Ill, 35th Cong. 2nd Sess.
