56 T. C. ELLIOTT
In the introduction to his "Travels," written just prior to 1778, Captain Carver sets up a claim to an original idea of Western exploration in the interest of his King and Country as early as 1763, and on that account has been awarded much credit as a man of vision and foresight. In the light of this association with Major Rogers in May, 1766, it is well, in a spirit of fairness at least, to inquire whether Carver may not at some time have inspired Rogers with this idea; for it will be remembered, by those who have followed this discussion, that, when in London in the summer of 1765, Major Rogers petitioned the King's Privy Council for permission and sup- port to conduct an expedition across the continent to the Pacific ocean in search for the river "Ourigan" and the mythical Northwest Passage. 1 The proposal however did not receive official sanction.
It seems perfectly reasonable to presume that at times during the French and Indian War these two men fell into each other's company, though an intimacy is not probable. Carver served in an infantry regiment, while Rogers was the organizer and leader of an independent partisan command widely known as "Rogers Rangers," and was active in scouting duties and dar- ing raids, after the Indian modes of fighting. In 1760 Rogers was sent, as already stated, to the Great Lakes region, and in 1763 was again sent to Detroit to assist in putting down the conspiracy under famous Chief Pontiac. Mean time he had been in service in the South against the Cherokees. But in the winter of 1764 he retired from active duty, on half pay, and spent all that year in land speculations in New Hampshire and Vermont, from Portsmouth as headquarters. 2 Future research may connect these men during that year, but it is easily recognized that Major Rogers was the dominating char- acter, the one with knowledge of the West and inherent spirit of adventure. Carver's claim should be regarded as another of his methods of book writing.
Official records 3 disclose quite clearly that Gen. Thomas
1 For transcript of this proposal, see Ore. Hist. Quarterly, Vol. 22, No. 2, p. 101.
2 The authority for this is on pages q2 and 93 of "Ponteach, Or the Savages of America." Caxton Club Edit., by Allan Nevins.
3 Johnson Mss., 12, 22, which is quoted by Nevins on page 104 of "Ponteach."
