525 DE FUCA'S STRAITS AND 



kindness of Dr. M'Laughlin and the officers of the Hudson Bay 

 Company. 



As soon as I learned the exact state of affairs in the river, I deter- 

 mined to make such disposition of the squadron as would be most 

 advantageous, in the performance, under the new circumstances, of 

 the duties vi^hich remained to be accomplished. 



With this intent, I resolved to shift my pennant to the Porpoise, 

 and with that vessel, the Flying-Fish, and the boats of the Peacock, 

 to survey the Columbia to its extreme navigable point. This force 

 would be amply sufficient to perform this survey in the shortest 

 possible time, and yet enable me to despatch a party, as I had 

 before intended, through the southern section of the Oregon Terri- 

 tory to San Francisco. The Vincennes, to which I ordered Lieu- 

 tenant-Commandant Ringgold, I resolved to send to San Francisco, 

 to make a survey of the Sacramento river, while I was engaged upon 

 that of the Columbia. 



In conformity with this plan, I directed the Vincennes to lie off 

 and on at the mouth of the river, while I proceeded in with the 

 Porpoise to make the necessary changes and transfers. Taking Mr. 

 Knox, and Ramsey the pilot, on board the latter vessel, we passed 

 the bar and stood towards Astoria, but were compelled by the tide 

 to anchor before reaching that place. On the morning of the 7th, 

 we anchored in front of Astoria, where all the necessary arrange- 

 ments were completed ; and Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold, on 

 the next day, proceeded in the Flying-Fish, with the transferred 

 officers, to join the Vincennes. As soon as this was effected, that 

 vessel bore away for San Francisco, and the tender returned to the 

 river. 



As it became absolutely necessary to economize our time as much 

 as possible, every disposition was now made of the men and boats. I 

 soon, however, found that, although I had sent a number of men to 

 the Vincennes, there would be many that could not be well accom- 

 modated in the smaller vessel, and I was desirous of procuring some 

 extra accommodation. Fortunately, the American brig, the Thomas 

 H. Perkins, Captain Varney, was lying at Astoria ; and a reasonable 

 agreement was entered into for her purchase. Dr. M'Laughlin, who 

 had entered into a charter party, readily agreed to surrender it for a 

 small consideration, if the goods he had on board were delivered at 

 Vancouver. This there was no difficulty in, as it was found neces- 

 sary to make some alterations in her accommodations, and it would 



