1. '
QfT
FREE PR
E S S
for tub
VOL. t.)
WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, APRIL IS, 184S.
(N'0.2.
HISTORICAL 'INCIDENTS AliOUT OREGON.
In Ihe year 1834, Ihe Itev. Messrs. Jason and Daniel
T.ee, accompanied by Messrs. Walker and Edwards, of
Ihe Methodist Episcopal Church, sunt by their church,
arrived at Vancouver in company with Mr. Wyelh.
They, came with ,tlni intention of establishing them
selves in the Flathead country but the offleers of I lie
Hudson's Bay Company represented fo them that lhat
section of country Was so oxorrun with hoslilo tribes
that it would bo exposing lliemsehes to inevitahle. des
truction that to do real atid Substantial goiRl (o the lu
tjians could only be effected by establishing a religious
influence in this country and, as the Willamct was
the first place where a permanent settlement would be
formed, (a few settlers had located there at lhat peri
od,) they should cstablMi themselves there if they
wished rlleetually to secure these laudable objects.
They accordingly settled in this valley, and it i. due to
them to say, that these first missionaries devoted them
selves most .zealously to their sacred calling, afcu exer
ted a most salutary influence, by their precept and ex
ample, over the whiles and Indians.
As importing provisions from Europe to the Colum
bia was found to be more expensive than Jhu trade
"coTlurattord, the Hudson's Bay Company, in 1821 and
'25, removed their establishment from Fort George (As
toria) to Vancouver, ivhere they began to farm. But
the only seed they bad were potatoes and peas of the
latter, only half a pint of the early kind, which were
planted with great care .and attention of course. In
the fall,lhey received a bushel of red wheatthe same
quantity of peas, and of Indian corn, (which the Gov
ernor, Sir George Simpson, sent them from Red river,
in the vicinity of lake Winnipeg,) with which they be
gan their farming operations in 1826. But though the
peas cooked well, still, as they were brown, tho
people did not like Ibem. On that account, the officers
husbanded the early pea so as to increase tlteir slock.
But in 1828, by some mistake, they were issued to the
trapping parties, unknown to the officer in charge, who
found in tho binn oi?Jy a few that had got in belvven
the boards; with these bo began again, and from this
is sprung the stock of early vvhito field peas in this
country. In regard to the red bearded wheat, it may
be interesting to know lhat it was introduced into the
Indian country by the late Mr. Alexander McKay, father
of Capl. Thomas McKay. The Jato Mr. McKay in 1808,
received at bis place, Fort Alexander, at Ihe mouth of
tho river Winnipeg, some beaver traps, packed with
straw, in a case, in which he found two grains of red
bearded wheat, which he planted in his garden and
from these two grains of red bearded wheat, are come
nil the red wheal in the Hudson's Bay territories and
Oregon. A.
I m i m ii i
Our correspondents must bear in mind the small size
of our shcel.and shape their communications according
ly. The more they condense thought and expression
keeping the idea always perspicuous, however the
more effective will be their compositions.
Some Stanzas that have been handed us about the
tragical occurrence at VVaiilatpu, are susceptible of
improvement.
Fort Lkk, April I, 1848;
Dear Sir Bclievincr that it is berit to keen vnu ndviend
of all imporlaul facts connected with the army, 1 have
thought proper to give a few items, as I have- a chance
to send you by Capt. Smith.
.We have ascertained that Jesse Gage, R. Jikkiss and .
William Sisimonb, have left here without leave. Send
the boys back if you can, aud save them from disgrace.
We have 190 men here, and l?ere are about (GO at
Fort Waters. There are 65 horses wanting. Wc ex
pect to get about 25 from the Indians, for cattle they
have killed. They are making arrangements to gel
away without giving up stolen property. Proper mea
sures will be taken to get the properly. The Commis
sioners would do well to send a copy of their treaty.
U is needless to ask you to exert yourself in our com
mon cause. I know you are already in it, soul and
lMidy, I intend to remain in the service as long as I
think I am of any survive if t get nothing but burse
meat to subsist upon.
I have heard lhat the "ar is growing unpopular.
Write to ;ue if it is, and let me know who it is Ual
dares to raise his oire against so just a cause.
We will send you a report about the time wc leave
here. Heavens! That word leavk! It unnerves me.
Leave 1! when? how? without amunilion? TWnkrof-
it. I pledged my honor to the bravest and bestaf men
some of them wounded, who fell by my side, executing
my orders. For Heaven's ake foi your country's
sake hurry on Ihe.ammunilion.
If ammunition i.s not here soon, I shall come down
ajid spend uiv lust shilling fur powder and lead, and
take it to them I'm to them I ill go or die in the at
tempt. Every daj nay, every hour is big with dan
ger to the men at Fort Waters. Oh heavens ! the ery
thought of it sickens me. 1 can't write farewell. I
am your sincere friend and humble 6urvaut.
Gen. A. L. Lovejoy. H. J. G. MAXON.
Foreign Items. From European dales of August1
last, we condense the following intelligence, lhat may
not be without interest: e
Great excitement was prevailing in Italy. Tlve Pope
Pius IX, had granted free municipal institutions to his.
dominions had disbanded his guards and instituted a
species of National Guard in their place. He had also
granted an amnesty for all past political offences.
These, with the commission of other liberal acts, had
caused Ihe displeasure of Austria, who, fn consequence
had taken possession of Ferrarn, The Pope in his lib
eral measures, had received strong support from tho
Government of England, and the people of France.
An understanding is reported to exist between tho Gov
ernments of Franco and Austria, in regard to late de
velopments that France will not interfere with Aus
tria in the settlement of the Kalian affairs, nor Aus
tria with France in regard to Spain.
Tho Queen of Spain has sepcrated from her husband,
(having been married a whole year,) and is anxious
for a divorce. Her marriage is said to have been
brought about by the intrigue of Louis Phillipc that
the Queen was forced into it, against her will, by her
mother Christina, tho Queen Dovyagc.
Carroll McTavish, a great grand-son of Charles Car
roll, of Carrolllon, an American by birth, though or
English parentage, has been elected to Parliament as
a repeal member for Ireland. y