CHAPTER LI.
Agreement Between Mr. Astor and the Russian Fur Company- War Between the United
States and Great Britain.- Instructions to Captain Sowle of the Beaver- Fitting Out of the
Lark.- News of the Arrival of Mr. Stuart.
IT is now necessary, in linking together the parts of this excursive narrative, that we
notice the proceedings of Mr. Astor in support of his great undertaking. His project with
respect to the Russian establishments along the northwest coast had been diligently
prosecuted. The agent sent by him to St. Petersburg, to negotiate in his name as
president of the American Fur Company, had, under sanction of the Russian
government, made a provisional agreement with the Russian company.
By this agreement, which was ratified by Mr. Astor in 1813, the two companies bound
themselves not to interfere with each other's trading and hunting grounds, nor to furnish
arms and ammunition to the Indians. They were to act in concert, also, against all
interlopers, and to succor each other in case of danger. The American company was to
have the exclusive right of supplying the Russian posts with goods and necessaries,
receiving peltries in payment at stated prices. They were also, if so requested by the
Russian governor, to convey the furs of the Russian company to Canton, sell them on
commission, and bring back the proceeds, at such freight as might be agreed on at the
time. This agreement was to continue in operation four years, and to be renewable for a
similar term, unless some unforeseen contingency should render a modification
necessary.
It was calculated to be of great service to the infant establishment at Astoria; dispelling
the fears of hostile rivalry on the part of the foreign companies in its neighborhood, and
giving a formidable blow to the irregular trade along the coast. It was also the intention
of Mr. Astor to have coasting vessels of his own, at Astoria, of small tonnage and draft
of water, fitted for coasting service. These, having a place of shelter and deposit, could
ply about the coast in short voyages, in favorable weather, and would have vast
advantage over chance ships, which must make long voyages, maintain numerous
crews, and could only approach the coast at certain seasons of the year. He hoped,
therefore, gradually to make Astoria the great emporium of the American fur trade in
the Pacific, and the nucleus of a powerful American state. Unfortunately for these
sanguine anticipations, before Mr. Astor had ratified the agreement, as above stated,
war broke out between the United States and Great Britain. He perceived at once the
peril of the case. The harbor of New York would doubtless be blockaded, and the
departure of the annual supply ship in the autumn prevented; or, if she should succeed
in getting out to sea, she might be captured on her voyage.
In this emergency, he wrote to Captain Sowle, commander of the Beaver. The letter,
which was addressed to him at Canton, directed him to proceed to the factory at the
mouth of the Columbia, with such articles as the establishment might need; and to
remain there, subject to the orders of Mr. Hunt, should that gentleman be in command
there.
The war continued. No tidings had yet been received from Astoria; the despatches
having been delayed by the misadventure of Mr. Reed at the falls of the Columbia, and
the unhorsing of Mr. Stuart by the Crows among the mountains. A painful uncertainty,
also, prevailed about Mr. Hunt and his party. Nothing had been heard of them since
their departure from the Arickara village; Lisa, who parted from them there, had
predicted their destruction; and some of the traders of the Northwest Company had
actually spread a rumor of their having been cut off by the Indians.
It was a hard trial of the courage and means of an individual to have to fit out another
costly expedition, where so much had already been expended, so much uncertainty
prevailed, and where the risk of loss was so greatly enhanced, that no insurance could
be effected.
In spite of all these discouragements, Mr. Astor determined to send another ship to the
relief of the settlement. He selected for this purpose a vessel called the Lark,
remarkable for her fast sailing. The disordered state of the times, however, caused
such a delay, that February arrived, while the vessel was yet lingering in port.
At this juncture, Mr. Astor learnt that the Northwest Company were preparing to send
out an armed ship of twenty guns, called the Isaac Todd, to form an establishment at
the mouth of the Columbia. These tidings gave him great uneasiness. A considerable
proportion of the persons in his employ were Scotchmen and Canadians, and several
of them had been in the service of the Northwest Company. Should Mr. Hunt have
failed to arrive at Astoria, the whole establishment would be under the control of Mr.
M'Dougal, of whose fidelity he had received very disparaging accounts from Captain
Thorn. The British government, also, might deem it worth while to send a force against
the establishment, having been urged to do so some time previously by the Northwest
Company.
Under all these circumstances, Mr. Astor wrote to Mr. Monroe, then secretary of state,
requesting protection from the government of the United States. He represented the
importance of his settlement, in a commercial point of view, and the shelter it might
afford to the American vessels in those seas. All he asked was that the American
government would throw forty or fifty men into the fort at his establishment, which would
be sufficient for its defense until he could send reinforcements over land.
He waited in vain for a reply to this letter, the government, no doubt, being engrossed
at the time by an overwhelming crowd of affairs. The month of March arrived, and the
Lark was ordered by Mr. Astor to put to sea. The officer who was to command her
shrunk from his engagement, and in the exigency of the moment, she was given in
charge to Mr. Northrup, the mate. Mr. Nicholas G. Ogden, a gentleman on whose
talents and integrity the highest reliance could be placed, sailed as supercargo. The
Lark put to sea in the beginning of March, 1813.
By this opportunity, Mr. Astor wrote to Mr. Hunt, as head of the establishment at the
mouth of the Columbia, for he would not allow himself to doubt of his welfare. "I always
think you are well," said he, "and that I shall see you again, which Heaven, I hope, will
grant."
He warned him to be on his guard against any attempts to surprise the post; suggesting
the probability of armed hostility on the part of the Northwest Company, and expressing
his indignation at the ungrateful returns made by that association for his frank and open
conduct, and advantageous overtures. "Were I on the spot," said he, "and had the
management of affairs, I would defy them all; but, as it is, everything depends upon you
and your friends about you. Our enterprise is grand, and deserves success, and I hope
in God it will meet it. If my object was merely gain of money, I should say, think whether
it is best to save what we can, and abandon the place; but the very idea is like a dagger
to my heart." This extract is sufficient to show the spirit and the views which actuated
Mr. Astor in this great undertaking.
Week after week and month after month elapsed, without anything to dispel the painful
incertitude that hung over every part of this enterprise. Though a man of resolute spirit,
and not easily cast down, the dangers impending over this darling scheme of his
ambition, had a gradual effect upon the spirits of Mr. Astor. He was sitting one gloomy
evening by his window, revolving over the loss of the Tonquin and the fate of her
unfortunate crew, and fearing that some equally tragical calamity might have befallen
the adventurers across the mountains, when the evening newspaper was brought to
him. The first paragraph that caught his eye, announced the arrival of Mr. Stuart and
his party at St. Louis, with intelligence that Mr. Hunt and his companions had effected
their perilous expedition to the mouth of the Columbia. This was a gleam of sunshine
that for a time dispelled every cloud, and he now looked forward with sanguine hope to
the accomplishment of all his plans.