The question of legality of claims at Oregon City was every day growing more important to the contestants. They now took the ground that McLoughlin as a British subject was precluded from holding land by preëmption. Thereupon McLoughlin consulted Ricord on points of American law, but found him unwilling to give advice. Not long after, however, he visited Vancouver in company with Jason Lee and made a proposition in writing to the following effect: He would become McLoughlin's legal adviser, provided the doctor should so alter his preemption boundaries as to exclude the island part of his claim, on which had been erected the saw and grist mills of the Island Milling Company, conceding to them as much water as was necessary for their mills; that Waller should be secured in the ultimate title to two lots in Oregon City, already in his possession, and other lots, not to exceed five acres, to be chosen by him from lots unsold; and that Jason Lee should be in like manner secured in the possession of certain lots in Oregon City not described or numbered, to be held for the Methodist Episcopal Mission; all of which conditions he considered necessary to an amicable arrangement.
For his services in attempting to establish McLoughlin's preëmption rights, Ricord demanded the sum of three hundred pounds sterling, to which was added the request that the fact should not be made public that he had been retained by McLoughlin, and the suggestion that some person not directly connected with the Hudson's Bay Company should be appointed as McLoughlin's agent at Oregon City. Should these terms not be complied with, he should proceed, at the earliest opportunity, to the Hawaiian Islands. "These terms of Ricord's," says McLoughlin, "appeared to propose an amicable arrangement, when all the sacrifices were to be made by me." Ten days were asked in which to consider this proposition, at the expiration of which McLoughlin wrote to Ricord
