Page:Quarterlyoforego10oreg 1.djvu/29

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Warre and Vavasour, 1845-6.
21

him exhibiting the spirit of military surveying by very able officers, and also the instructions for the commisariat, etc., as lately issued.

3. It would be desirable, if he have an opportunity, for him to read a report upon the country into which it is sup- posed he is now going, by Lieut. Fremont, United States Army, and the reports of the late Secretary of War of the United States (Mr. Wilkins) in Nov., 1844, recommending measures which in their impatience to occupy the disputed territory the present Government of the United States appear disposed to overlook, although so obviously prudent, that they may be adopted when that Government finds that its plans cannot be carried into effect without opposition. I advert to the establishment of a "new Territory" preparatory to the formation of a new state on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, before forming a new territory or state on the western side of the mountains.

4. He will pay attention to the plans proposed for the defense of the western states by General Gratiot, etc., and the extract given him of the journal of expedition under Colonel Dodge of the U. S. Army in 1835, from Fort Leavenworth to the Rocky Mountains and back by way of the Arkansas River.

5. It would be desirable to see how such sort of expeditions if carried into the disputed territory for hostile purposes might be interrupted or cut off.

6. It is not impossible that Sir George Simpson may deem it prudent to give to the settlers and other inhabitants connected with the country under the control of our British Companies some sort of military organization, toward which military advice and assistance may be required. In such cases the officers will be prudent in avoiding any attempts to imitate the tactics or discipline of regular troops.

P. S. For the reasons given in No. 1 no attempt at instructions is made as to the survey of particular rivers, mountains,