Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 23.djvu/342

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

292 F. W. HOWAY

it was subsequent to 1st March 1793, for on that date he wrote from "Port Independence, on the Island of Hong Kong" to Thomas Jefferson, the Secretary of State. It is likely that he departed shortly afterwards, as that would be necessary if he were to trade on the coast that season. From Menzies' Journal, already referred to, we learn that Kendrick was on the Northwest coast in the summer of 1793. Writing in his journal at Karakakooa Bay (Kealaqequa Bay), Hawaiian Islands, under date 13th January 1794 Menzies says: "We found here the Lady Washington Snow under American colours com- manded by Mr. Kendrick. She had been on the North West Coast last summer collecting furs and meant to re- turn again in the Spring to compleat her cargo. It was in this vessel Mr. Howell came from China with an in- tent to remain some time at these Islands and for this purpose he had now taken up his abode on shore." There is in existence a letter from Kendrick to Thomas Jeffer- son, the Secretary of State, written during this summer from "On Board the ship Lady Washington, Harbor of Maw-win-na, St. Glair's Island, North-west coast of America," which most unfortunately is undated. It shows the kind heart of John Kendrick. It begs the in- tercession of the United States on behalf of Don Bias Gonzales who had been punished because of his kindness to Kendrick on the voyage of 1787. It would seem from its contents that Kendrick had met his son, Solomon, who was on the Jefferson on the coast in the summer of 1793, and had learned from him of the treatment of Gonzales. At once he writes to the United States authorities urging prompt action especially as the sea-letter had declared that the government would "stand willing indebted" for any assistance rendered to him on that voyage. 36

Vancouver states that on his arrival at Karakakooa Bay (Kealakekua Bay) on 13th January 1794 he found


36 These two letters are in Senate Document, No. 335 mentioned in note 26, pp. 17-20.