From the Journal of the Senate of the United States. "MONDAY, February 10, 1840.-On motion by Mr. LINN, "Ordered, That a history of the northwest coast of North America and the adjacent territories, communicated to the Select Committee on the Oregon Territory, be printed, with the accompanying map; and that two thousand five hundred copies, in addition to the usual number, be printed for the use of the Senate." "WEDNESDAY, February 12, 1840.-On motion by Mr. LINN, "Ordered, That the history of the northwest coast of North America, ordered to be printed on the 10th instant, be printed under the direction of Mr. Greenhow." The Memoir relates principally to the southern and middle portions of the northwest coast of this continent and the adjoining territories, which have for many years formed the subjects of discussions between the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, and Russia; and it is designed to show the origin, nature, and extent of the several claims, in order to afford the means of correctly estimating the justice of each. In prosecuting these objects, it has been found necessary to trace the whole progress of discovery and settlement, not only in the territories above mentioned, but also in those farther north, in which the exclusive right of the Russians to form establishments has been recognised by the other Powers, and in the region called California, on the south, which constitutes a part of the Mexican republic. With this view, the original authorities have been carefully examined and compared, and the facts thus elicited are here related concisely or at length, as their general importance or their bearing upon the chief objects of the Memoir appeared to justify. Expeditions for the purposes of discovery, trade, or settlement, and disputes between the Governments or the people of distant civilized nations, have afforded, as yet, the only materials for the history of this section of America; and those materials have remained scattered through the annals of other countries, the journals of voyages and travels, and official or private reports and letters, the correctness of which could not be ascertained without great labor and research. Accounts of all these expeditions and discussions are here presented, arranged in the form of a regular narrative, so as to embrace a complete history of the western portion of our continent—if it be allowable to speak of the history of a country which still remains almost entirely in a state of nature. This work is, however, not strictly a history; nor is it merely an argument in support of the title of the United States to the possession of the territories in dispute. The writer has endeavored, agreeably to the directions of Mr. Forsyth, to afford a clear and distinct view of the pretensions of each of the claimant Powers, and of the circumstances on which they are based. Although he has, for the sake of completeness, introduced some facts and reasonings not directly relevant to those objects, he has, on the other hand, suppressed none which, if given, might have led to conclusions more nearly just. In illustration of the Memoir, a geographical account of the western section of North America has been prefixed to it, together with a map of those countries, drawn from the best authorities which could be procured. The geographical account has been necessarily much compressed, the limits of the work not permitting details; while the map is, on the whole, much fuller than any other of that part of the world which has yet been, published. With regard to the correctness of the descriptions, the coast will, it is believed, be found represented with sufficient accuracy, both in the account, and on the map; but the interior of the continent, from the Pacific to the Rocky Mountains, and, indeed, to the vicinity of the Mississippi, has been as yet so imperfectly examined, that very little precise topographical information respecting it can be procured. Great care has been taken to present the dates of the several occurrences, and the authorities on which they are recounted, so that the reader will have the means of satisfying himself as to the truth of each statement; with regard to the reasonings and deductions, he must rely upon his own powers of discrimination. WASHINGTON, May 12, 1840. Great natural divisions of the western section of North America Claims of Great Britain, Russia, the United States, and Mexico General view of the whole coast Description of the northernmost territories of the western section General view of the mountain-ridges of the western section Particular description of Oregon, or the country drained by the Columbia Second region, or middle country Third region, or upper country The Columbia and its branches 1122349124678 First voyage from Europe to India, by Gama, around Africa Discovery of the Strait of Anian (probably Hudson's Strait) by Cortereal Voyage of Magellan from Europe to India, westward across the Pacific Conquest of Mexico completed by Cortes, who explores the adjacent coasts in search of rich countries and passages for ships between the Atlantic and the Journey of Friar Marcos de Niza, who pretends to have discovered a rich country, called Cibola, northwest of Mexico 1540-'3. Expeditions of Alarcon and Coronado in search of Cibola Voyage of Cabrillo and Ferrelo, who discover the west coast to the 43d degree Expedition of Villalobos from Mexico to India, and discovery of the Philippine Expedition of Legaspi from Mexico to India; conquest of the Philippine Islands, and discovery of the mode of navigating the Pacific from west to east, by Ur- Establishment of the Spanish trade between America and India Prohibitory measures of the Spaniards against the trade or settlement of other 1578 '80. Voyage of Francis Drake, who visits the northwest coast Voyage of Gali from China to Mexico, in which he sails along the northwest Year. Page. 1587. 1588. 1592. 1594. 1596. Voyage of Cermenon, who is wrecked on the Bay of San Francisco Attempts of the English to discover passages for ships between the Atlantic and 1602. 1603. Survey of the west coast to the 43d degree of latitude by Vizcaino Discovery of the navigation around Cape Horn, by Lemaire and Van Schouten Charter given to the Hudson's Bay Company by King Charles II. of England Father Kuhn, a Jesuit, ascertains that California is connected with the Amer- Peter the Great, Czar of Russia, forms plans for exploring the seas east of Kam- Treaty of Utrecht between Great Britain and France, no boundary-line estab- 1712. Louis XIV., King of France, grants Louisiana to Crozat 1714. 1728. 1741. 150 150 150 Voyage of Beering, by order of the Empress Catherine of Russia, from Kam- The sea east of Kamschatka ascertained to be a part of the Pacific Beering discovers the American continent near Mount Saint Elias Tschirikof discovers America near the 56th degree of latitude, and returns to The survivors of Beering's crew return to Kamschatka, and begin the fur trade General peace; British and French voyages of discovery 1766-8. Journey of Carver through the country west of Lake Superior 149 1769-72. Journeys of Hearne, west and north west from Hudson's Bay, to the Arctic Sea 1770. Dispute between Great Britain and Spain about the Falkland Islands Establishment of the first colonies on the west coast of North America by the 1771. 1774. First voyage from Kamschatka to China, by a party of Polish exiles, under 1775. Voyage of the Spaniards, under Heceta, Bodega, and Maurelle, to the 58th de- Voyage of the Spaniards, under Perez, along the northwest coast to the 53d de- Heceta discovers the mouth of a river, named by him San Roque, now called Captain Cook sails from England for the Pacific, in search of a northern pas. Cook examines the northwest coast of America to the 70th degree The English, under Gore, on their way to England, carry to Canton the first Voyage of the Spaniards under Arteaga, Bodega, and Maurelle, to Prince Wil- Association of merchants in Siberia for carrying on the fur trade Expedition under Shellikof, who establishes settlements on the Island of Kodiak Preparations begun in many countries for carrying on the fur trade between |