Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 19.djvu/291

SURRENDER AT ASTORIA IN 1818 273 Captain Biddle, now in New York (the sloop lately destined to take commissioners to South America). "To touch at Rio Janeiro (sic) and deliver such dispatches to Mr. Sumpter as he shall be charged with. To proceed round Cape Horn and afterward touch at the principal port in Chili (name not recollected), and also at Lima in Peru. * * He will thence proceed to the River Columbia, with a view to assert there the claim of sovereignty in the name and on behalf of the U. States, by some symbolical, or other appro- priate, mode of setting up a claim to national authority and domination but no force is to be employed by Captain Biddle if, in the attempt to accomplish this object any unex- pected obstructions should occur. The ship will then return to the United States, stopping at Lima to leave Mr. Prevost, where, and in the adjoining province, he will remain and act under the instructions already made out for him and now in his possession. "It is the desire of the President that Mr. Astor, of New York, be informed of the measure contemplated in relation to Columbia River. ****** "A copy of the instructions, or as much of them as will be necessary, to be furnished the navy department, in order that the proper naval orders may be given to Captain Biddle for the voyage. "September 25, 1817. R. R." President Monroe spent the summer of 1817 on an extended tour of the New England states and Mr. Richard Rush was Secretary of State pro tern during March-September, 1817, waiting the return of Mr. John Q. Adams from England to enter upon the duties of that office. Mr. Adams reached Washington on September 20th and a note of Mr. Adams to President Monroe dated September 29th, says: "After I had prepared from the minutes furnished me by Mr. Rush the new instructions for Mr. Prevost a question was started by Mr. Brent whether it had not been your intention to associate Captain Biddle with that gentleman, in the authority to assert the claim of territorial possession at the mouth of the Columbia