444 PROOFS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. [G. 



otters, two shillings and six pence each; sea otters, large, sixty shillings 

 each. 



And for the faithful performance of all and singular the said covenants 

 and agreements, to be by them respectively kept and performed, all and 

 every of the parties to these presents bind themselves, separately and 

 jointly, for their several associates, firmly by these presents. In witness 

 whereof, the parties to these presents have hereunto set their hands and 

 seals, this 16th day of October, 1813, at the entrance of Columbia River, 

 north-west coast of America. 



Duncan McDougal, 

 J. G. McTayish, 

 Witnesses. J. Stuart. 



John C. Hasley, Angus Bethune, 



Gabriel Franchere, James McMillan, 



Alfred Seaton, Joseph McGillivray. 



William Wallace, 



(3.) 



Account of the Capture of Astoria by the British Sloop of War Raccoon, 

 Captain Black, in December, 1813. Extracted from "Adventures on 

 the Columbia River, by John Ross Cox'' 



The Isaac Todd sailed from London in March, 1813, in company 

 with the Phoebe frigate, and the Cherub and Raccoon sloops of war. 

 They arrived safe at Rio Janeiro, and thence proceeded around Cape 

 Horn to the Pacific, having previously made arrangements to meet at 

 Juan Fernandez. The three men-of-war reached the latter island, after 

 encountering dreadful gales about the cape: they waited there some time 

 for the Isaac Todd; but, as she did not make her appearance, Commo- 

 dore Hillyer did not deem it prudent to remain any longer inactive. He 

 therefore, in company with the Cherub, proceeded in search of Commo- 

 dore Porter, who, in the American frigate Essex, was clearing the South 

 Sea of English whalers, and inflicting other injuries of a serious nature 

 on our commerce ; he shortly after met the Essex at Valparaiso, and, after 

 a severe contest, captured her. 



At the same time, he ordered Captain Black, in the Raccoon, to 

 proceed direct to the Columbia, for the purpose of destroying the Ameri- 

 can establishments at Astoria. The Raccoon arrived at the Columbia on 

 the 1st of December, 1813. The surprise and disappointment of Captain 

 Black and his oncers were extreme, on learning the arrangement that had 

 taken place between the two companies, by which the establishment had 

 become British property. They had calculated on obtaining a splendid 

 prize by the capture, of Astoria, the strength and importance of which 

 had been much magnified; and the contracting parties were therefore 

 fortunate in having closed their bargain previous to the arrival of the 

 Raccoon. On looking at the wooden fortifications, Captain Black ex- 

 claimed, "Is this the fort about which I have heard so much? D — n me 

 but 1 'd batter it down in two hours with a four-pounder •." Captain Black, 

 however, took possession of Astoria in the name of his Britannic majesty, 



