Had I not been certain of the latitude of this bay, from my observations of the same day, I might easily have believed it to be the passage discovered by Juan de Fuca, in 1592, which is placed on the charts between the 47th and the 48th degrees; where I am certain that no such strait exists; because I anchored on the 14th of July midway between these two latitudes, and carefully examined every thing around. Notwithstanding the great difference between the position of this bay and the passage mentioned by De Fuca, I have little difficulty in conceiving that they may be the same, having observed equal or greater differences in the latitudes of other capes and ports on this coast, as I shall show at its proper time; and in all cases the latitudes thus assigned are higher than the real ones. I did not enter and anchor in this port, which in my plan I suppose to be formed by an island, notwithstanding my strong desire to do so; because, having consulted the second captain, Don Juan Perez, and the pilot, Don Christoval Revilla, they insisted that I ought not to attempt it, as, if we let go the anchor, we should not have men enough to get it up, and to attend to the other operations which would be thereby rendered necessary. Considering this, and also that, in order to reach the anchorage, I should be obliged to lower my long-boat, (the only boat that I had,) and to man it with at least fourteen of the crew, as I could not manage with fewer, and also that it was then late in the day, I resolved to put out; and at the distance of three or four leagues I lay to. In the course of that night, I experienced heavy currents to the south-west, which made it impossible for me to enter the bay on the following morning, as I was far to leeward. These currents, however, convinced me that a great quantity of water rushed from this bay on the ebb of the tide. The two capes which I name in my plan Cape San Roque* and Cape Frondoso,t lie in the angle of ten degrees of the third quadrant. They are both faced with red earth, and are of little elevation. On the 18th, I observed Cape Frondoso, with another cape, to which I gave the name of Cape Falcon, ‡ situated in the latitude of 45 degrees 43 minutes, and they lay at the angle of 22 degrees of the third quadrant, and from the last-mentioned cape I traced the coast running in the angle of five degrees of the second quadrant. This land is mountainous, but not very high, nor so well wooded as that lying between the latitudes of 48 degrees 30 minutes, and 46 degrees. On sounding, I found great differences: at the distance of 7 leagues, I got bottom at 84 brazas; and nearer the coast, I sometimes found no bottom; from which I am inclined to believe that there are reefs or shoals on these coasts, which is also shown by the color of the water. In some places, the coast presents a beach, in others it is rocky. A flat-topped mountain, which I named The Table, will enable any navigator to know the position of Cape Falcon without observing it; as it is in the latitude of 45 degrees 28 minutes, and may be seen at a great distance, being somewhat elevated. Cape Disappointment. + Cape Adams. 55 Cape Lookout. (2.) Extract from the Second Volume of the Log-Book of the Ship Columbia, of Boston, commanded by Robert Gray, containing the Account of her Entrance into the Columbia River, in May, 1792.* May 7th, 1792, A. M.-Being within six miles of the land, saw an entrance in the same, which had a very good appearance of a harbor; lowered away the jolly-boat, and went in search of an anchoring-place, the ship standing to and fro, with a very strong weather current. At one, P. M., the boat returned, having found no place where the ship could anchor with safety; made sail on the ship; stood in for the shore. We soon saw, from our mast-head, a passage in between the sand-bars. At half past three, bore away, and ran in north-east by east, having from four to eight fathoms, sandy bottom; and, as we drew in nearer between the bars, had from ten to thirteen fathoms, having a very strong tide of ebb to stem. Many canoes came alongside. At five, P. M., came to in five fathoms water, sandy bottom, in a safe harbor, well sheltered from the sea by long sand-bars and spits. Our latitude observed this day was 46 degrees 58 minutes north. May 10th.-Fresh breezes and pleasant weather; many natives alongside; at noon, all the canoes left us. At one, P. M., began to unmoor, took up the best bower-anchor, and hove short on the small bower-anchor. At half past four, (being high water,) hove up the anchor, and came to sail and a beating down the harbor. At May 11th. At half past seven, we were out clear of the bars, and directed our course to the southward, along shore. At eight, P. M., the entrance of Bulfinch's Harbor bore north, distance four miles; the southern extremity of the land bore south-south-east half east, and the northern north-north-west; sent up the main-top-gallant-yard and set all sail. four, A. M., saw the entrance of our desired port bearing east-south-east, distance six leagues; in steering sails, and hauled our wind in shore. eight, A. M., being a little to windward of the entrance of the Harbor, bore away, and run in east-north-east between the breakers, having from five to seven fathoms of water. When we were over the bar, we found this to be a large river of fresh water, up which we steered. Many canoes came alongside. At one, P. M., came to with the small bower, in ten fathoms, black and white sand. The entrance between the bars bore west-south-west, distant ten miles; the north side of the river a half mile distant from the ship; the south side of the same two and a half miles' distance; a village on the north side of the river west by north, distant three quarters of a mile. Vast numbers of natives came alongside; people employed in pumping the salt water out of our water-casks, in order to fill with fresh, while the ship floated in. So ends. May 12th.Many natives alongside; noon, fresh wind; let go the * This extract was made in 1816, by Mr. Bulfinch, of Boston, one of the owners of the Columbia, from the second volume of the log-book, which was then in the possession of Captain Gray's heirs, but has since disappeared. It has been frequently published in newspapers and reports to Congress, accompanied by the affidavit of Mr. Bulfinch to its exactness. - See 236 of the History. - p. best bower-anchor, and veered out on both cables; sent down the maintop-gallant-yard; filled up all the water-casks in the hold. The latter part, heavy gales, and rainy, dirty weather. May 13th.-Fresh winds and rainy weather; many natives alongside; hove up the best bower-anchor; seamen and tradesmen at their various departments. May 14th. Fresh gales and cloudy; many natives alongside; at noon, weighed and came to sail, standing up the river north-east by east; we found the channel very narrow. At four, P. M., we had sailed upwards of twelve or fifteen miles, when the channel was so very narrow that it was almost impossible to keep in it, having from three to eighteen fathoms water, sandy bottom. At half past four, the ship took ground, but she did not stay long before she came off, without any assistance. We backed her off, stern foremost, into three fathoms, and let go the small bower, and moored ship with kedge and hawser. The jolly-boat was sent to sound the channel out, but found it not navigable any farther up; so, of course, we must have taken the wrong channel. So ends, with rainy weather; many natives alongside. May 15th.-Light airs and pleasant weather; many natives from different tribes came alongside. At ten, A. M., unmoored and dropped down with the tide to a better anchoring-place; smiths and other tradesmen constantly employed. In the afternoon, Captain Gray and Mr. Hoskins, in the jolly-boat, went on shore to take a short view of the country. May 16th.-Light airs and cloudy. At four, A. M., hove up the anchor and towed down about three miles, with the last of the ebb-tide; came into six fathoms, sandy bottom, the jolly-boat sounding the channel. At ten, A. M., a fresh breeze came up river. With the first of the ebbtide we got under way, and beat down river. At one, (from its being very squally,) we came to, about two miles from the village, (Chinouk,) which bore west-south-west; many natives alongside; fresh gales and squally. May 17th. Fresh winds and squally; many canoes alongside; calkers calking the pinnace; seamen paying the ship's sides with tar; painter painting ship; smiths and carpenters at their departments. May 18th. Pleasant weather. At four in the morning, began to heave ahead; at half past, came to sail, standing down river with the ebbtide; at seven, (being slack water and the wind fluttering,) we came to in five fathoms, sandy bottom; the entrance between the bars bore southwest by west, distant three miles. The north point of the harbor bore north-west, distant two miles; the south bore south-east, distant three and a half miles. At nine, a breeze sprung up from the eastward; took up the anchor and came to sail, but the wind soon came fluttering again; came to with the kedge and hawser; veered out fifty fathoms. Noon, pleasant. Latitude observed, 46 degrees 17 minutes north. At one, came to sail with the first of the ebb-tide, and drifted down broadside, with light airs and strong tide; at three quarters past, a fresh wind came from the northward; wore ship, and stood into the river again. At four, came to in six fathoms; good holding-ground about six or seven miles up; many canoes alongside. May 19th.-Fresh wind and clear weather. Early a number of canoes came alongside; seamen and tradesmen employed in their various departments. Captain Gray gave this river the name of Columbia's River, and the north side of the entrance Cape Hancock; the south, Adams's Point. May 20th.-Gentle breezes and pleasant weather. At one, P. M., (being full sea,) took up the anchor, and made sail, standing down river. At two, the wind left us, we being on the bar with a very strong tide, which set on the breakers; it was now not possible to get out without a breeze to shoot her across the tide; so we were obliged to bring up in three and a half fathoms, the tide running five knots. At three quarters past two, a fresh wind came in from seaward; we immediately came to sail, and beat over the bar, having from five to seven fathoms water in the channel. At five, P. M., we were out, clear of all the bars, and in twenty fathoms water. A breeze came from the southward; we bore away to the northward; set all sail to the best advantage. At eight, Cape Hancock bore south-east, distant three leagues; the north extremity of the land in sight bore north by west. At nine, in steering and top-gallant sails. Midnight, light airs. May 21st. - At six, A. M., the nearest land in sight bore east-southeast, distant eight leagues. At seven, set top-gallant-sails and light staysails. At eleven, set steering-sails fore and aft. Noon, pleasant, agreeable weather. The entrance of Bulfinch's Harbor bore south-east by east half east, distant five leagues. -- F. SHOWING THAT THE FORTY-NINTH PARALLEL OF LATITUDE WAS NOT SELECTED AS THE LINE OF SEPARATION BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND THE BRITISH TERRITORIES IN NORTH AMERICA, BY COMMISSARIES APPOINTED AGREEABLY TO THE TREATY OF UTRECHT.* MR. MONROE, minister plenipotentiary of the United States in London, in his letter of September 5th, 1804, to Lord Harrowby, the British secretary for foreign affairs,† makes the following statement with regard to the adoption of the 49th parallel of latitude as the northern boundary of Louisiana: "By the tenth article of the treaty of Utrecht, it is agreed that 'France shall restore to Great Britain the Bay and Straits of Hudson, together with all the lands, seas, sea-coasts, rivers, and places, situate in the said bay and straits, which belong thereto; and it is also agreed, on both sides, to determine, within a year, by commissaries to be forthwith named by each party, the limits which are to be fixed between the said Bay of Hudson and the places appertaining to the French, which limits both the British and French subjects shall be wholly forbid to pass over, or thereby to go to each other, by sea or by land: the same commissioners shall also have orders to describe and settle in like manner the boundaries between the * See p. 282 of the History. Communicated to Congress, and published with President Jefferson's message of March 30th, 1808. other British and French colonies in those parts.' Commissaries were accordingly appointed by each power, who executed the stipulations of the treaty, in establishing the boundaries proposed by it. They fixed the northern boundary of Canada and Louisiana by a line beginning on the Atlantic, at a cape or promontory in 58 degrees 30 minutes north latitude, thence south-westwardly to the Lake Mistissin, thence farther south-west to the latitude of 49 degrees north from the equator, and along that line indefinitely." This statement was made agreeably to the instructions of Mr. Madison, the Secretary of State, contained in his letter of February 14th, 1804, wherein he refers to an accompanying paper, as showing "the authority on which the decision of the commissioners under the treaty of Utrecht rests." This paper was not printed with the other documents, and no copy of it can now be found, so that the authority for the statement is not known; though it was undoubtedly derived, in part at least, from the " Summary of the British settlements in North America," by Dr. Douglas, published at Boston in 1749, in which (p. 10) it will be found nearly in the words used by Mr. Monroe. An examination of the works in which such a settlement of boundaries is affirmed, and of those in which it should have been recorded if it had been made, will, however, serve to show that there is not the slightest foundation for the supposition. The earliest assertion of the adoption of such a boundary has been found in the 31st volume of the Modern Universal History by Salmon, (1738,) in which it is stated that a line drawn from the coast of Labrador in latitude of 58 degrees 30 minutes south-west to Lake Mistissin, and "thence farther south-west direct to the latitude of 49 degrees," was ascertained by commissaries of France and England under the Utrecht treaty as the dividing line between the Hudson's Bay territories and Canada; and this assertion is copied verbatim, without addition or remark, by Hutchins, in his Topographical Description of Louisiana (1784,) and in some other works; though Salmon, in his Geographical and Historical Grammar, published long after his History, expressly declares that those same "limits are not settled to this day." Douglas, the next author who wrote on this subject, improved upon Salmon, by making the line run not only from the coast south-west to the 49th parallel, but also indefinitely westward in that latitude; and Bolton, in his map of America published in 1751, in the first volume of Postlethwayt's Dictionary of Commerce, presents a line nearly as described by Douglas, with a note stating that it had been so "settled by commissaries, after the peace of Utrecht, making a course from Davis's Inlet, on the Atlantic Sea, down to the 49th degree, through the Lake Abitibis, to the North-West Ocean." On the other hand, Mitchell, in his great map published in 1755, and adopted as authority by the British and American. plenipotentiaries, in settling the limits of the United States, in 1783, gives as the "Boundary of Hudson's Bay by the treaty of Utrecht," a line passing irregularly along the highlands which separate the waters flowing to the St. Lawrence and the lakes, from those entering Hudson's Bay; without any reference to the 49th parallel, or any other straight line. One or the other of these lines is to be found on many English maps published about the middle of the last century; though no boundary whatsoever appears on the greater number, including the large and beauti |