WASHINGTON IRVINo's ASTORIA. 563 



prise succeeded so far as to build up for its originator a princely fortune, 

 and to establish a mighty influence, both of which were afterwards 

 employed in supporting the expedition which it is the business of 

 these volumes to describe. Mr. John Jacob Astor, a German, from 

 near Heidelberg, after a short commercial career in London, went 

 over to America in 1783, and, by accidental circumstances, was in- 

 duced to embark his little [property in furs, a cargo of which he 

 brought to England the following year, and sold so advantageously 

 as to induce him to engage seriously in that course of trade. In 179,5, 

 in consequence of a new treaty between England and the United 

 States, Mr. Astor made a contract with the North-west Company that 

 enabled him to import the furs of Canada to New York for reship- 

 ment to China and other parts; and by thus carrying on a foreign 

 trade, he, in ten or a dozen years, amassed a princely fortune. Still 

 he found in the Mackinaw Company an overwhelming influence that 

 crippled his exertions to carry on a successful fur-trade in the interior. 

 In such circumstances the enterprising and ambitious merchant re- 

 quested the aid and protection of the government; and under their 

 countenance was incorporated, in 1809, the "American Fur Company," 

 the capital of which was wholly furnished by Mr. Astor, who also di- 

 rected all its measures. In 1811 he bought out the Mackinaw Company, 

 and merged it with his own into a new association, called the " South- 

 west Company." The war of 181 2 suspended, and the subsequent 

 peace broke up this association. During this busy period the disco- 

 very of the western coast of North America had been making suc- 

 cessful progress, under the direction of Gray, Vancouver, Carver, 

 Mackenzie, Lewis, and Clarke ; and the idea began to be entertained 

 of the practicability of establishing a communication overland be- 

 tween the two great oceans. Mr. Astor's aspiring genius induced the 

 wish of grasping with his individual hands this great enterprise. 



" The main feature of his scheme was to establish a line of trading posts 

 along the Missouri and the Columbia to the mouth of the latter, where was 

 to be founded the chief trading house or mart. Inferior posts would be esta- 

 blished in the interior, and on all the tributary streams of the Columbia, to 

 trade with the Indians : these posts would draw their supplies from the main 

 establishment, and bring to it the peltries they collected. Coasting craft would 

 be built and fitted out also at the mouth of the Columbia, to trade, at favour- 

 able seasons, all along the north-west coast, and return with the proceeds of 

 their voyages to this place of deposite. Thus all the Indian trade, both of the 

 interior and of the coast, would converge to this point, and thence derive its 

 sustenance. A ship was to be sent annually from New York to this main 

 establishment with reinforcements and supplies, and with merchandises suited 

 to the trade. It would take on board the furs collected during the preceding 

 year, carry them to Canton, invest the proceeds in the rich merchandise of 

 China, and return thus freighted to New York." Vol. i. p. 44. 



President Jefferson and the American cabinet warmly approved 

 Mr. Astor's plans, and he forthwith proceeded to put them into ex- 

 ecution, notwithstanding the threatened opposition of the North-west 

 Company. Three discontented employes of the North-west Com- 

 pany, Messrs. M'Kay, M'Dougal, and M'Kenzie, easily embraced his 

 handsome offers ; and at the head of the enterprise, and as the re- 

 presentative of the merchant himself, was placed Mr. Wilson Price 



