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CHAPTER X. 



1790 to 1792. 



Vancouver sent by the British Government to explore the Coasts of America, and 

 receive Possession of Lands and Buildings agreeably to the Convention with 

 Spain — Passage of the Washington, under Kendrick, through the Strait of Fuca, 

 in 1789 — Nootka reoccupied by the Spaniards — Voyages of Fidalgo, Quimper, 

 Elisa, Billings, Marchand, and Malaspina — Voyages of the American Fur Tra- 

 ders Gray, Ingraham, and Kendrick — Discovery of the Washington Islands by 

 Ingraham. 



In execution of the first and second articles of the conven- 

 tion of October, 1790, between Spain and Great Britain, com- 

 missioners were appointed on each side, who were to meet at 

 Nootka Sound, and there to determine what lands and buildings 

 were to be restored to the British claimants, or what amount of 

 indemnification was to be made to them by Spain. The British 

 government at first selected Captain Trowbridge as its agent for 

 this purpose ; but the business was afterwards committed to Captain 

 George Vancouver, who was then about to sail on a voyage of ex- 

 ploration to the Pacific. 



Vancouver was instructed to examine and survey the whole 

 shores of the American continent on the Pacific, from the 35th to 

 the 60th parallels of latitude ; to ascertain particularly the number, 

 situation, and extent of the settlements of civilized nations within 

 these limits ; and especially to acquire information as to the nature 

 and direction of any water-passage, which might serve as a channel 

 for commercial intercourse between that side of America and the 

 territories on the Atlantic side occupied by British subjects. For 

 this last-mentioned object, he was particularly to " examine the sup- 

 posed Strait of Juan de Fuca, said to be situated between the 48th 

 and the 49th degrees of north latitude, and to lead to an opening 

 through which the sloop Washington is reported to have passed in 

 1789, and to have come out again to the northward of Nootka."* 



* Introduction to Vancouver's narrative of his voyage. 



