32 LIEUTENANT HOWISON REPORT ON OREGON, 1846
out those tender ties which it is the weakness of humanity to yearn after, they have not yet been legitimated by marriage. A handsome, lady-like daughter of his is married to a Scotch- man, and these in turn have a family of childre'n. Mr. Ogden is a jocose and pleasing companion ; has at least one brother liv- ing in New York, but says he was born on the lines between New York and Canada. I mention the domestic relations of these gentlemen with reluctance; but it is necessary, to illus- trate how completely their interests and affections are fixed upon things inseparable from Oregon. This remark will apply to every Englishman who has been five years in the country; and although when news of the boundary treaty arrived they undoubtedly were much mortified, they soon recovered their composure, and, I believe, were very well satisfied with their future prospects. Mr. Douglass, loyal to his king and country from principle, observed that "J onn Bull could well afford to be liberal to so promising a son as Jonathan, for the latter had given proofs of abilities to turn a good gift to the best ac- count." I cannot but suppose that, before the expiration of the company's trading privileges here, the very respectable and intelligent body of. men engaged in conducting its business will become blended with us in citizenship, and good members of our great democratic society. The number of British sub- jects throughout this Territory does not exceed six hundred, exclusive of French Canadians, and this number is not increas- ing. With three days' notice, double that number of Ameri- cans, well mounted and armed with rifles, could be assembled at a given point on the Wilhammette river. In the excited state of public feeling which existed among the Americans upon my arrival, the settled conviction on the mind of every one that all Oregon belonged to us, and that the English had long enough been glea'ning its products, I soon discovered that, so far from arousing new zeal and patriotism, it was my duty to use any influence which my official character put me in possession of to allay its exuberance, and advise our country- men to await patiently the progress of negotiations at home.
