H-] PROOFS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 461 



explored in 1791, by the Spanish Captains Quimpa and Eliza, beyond the 

 50th degree of latitude. Their complete survey, and the discovery of 

 the northern outlet, in 1792, are due principally to Captain Vancouver, 

 who sailed through them in company with the Spanish vessels Sutil and 

 Mexicana. 



The discovery, which belongs exclusively to the United States, and in 

 their own right, is that of the River Columbia. 



The continuity of the coast from the 42d to the 48th degree of latitude, 

 had been ascertained by the voyage of Ouadra, in 1775, and confirmed 

 by that of Captain Cook in 1778. The object of discovery thenceforth, 

 was that of a large river, which should open a communication with 

 the interior of the country. This had escaped Q-uadra, who had sailed in 

 sight of the entrance afterwards discovered. Meares failed likewise in his 

 attempt, in the year 1788, to make the discovery. Captain Vancouver 

 was not more fortunate. After having also sailed along the coast, from 

 south to north, to the 48th degree, he recorded in his journal of the 29th 

 April, 1792, which he had too much probity afterwards to alter, his opin- 

 ion that there was no large river south of 48 , but only small creeks. On 

 the ensuing day he met at sea with Captain Gray, then commanding the 

 American ship " Columbia," who informed him of the existence of the 

 river, at the mouth of which he (Gray) had been for several days without 

 being able to enter it. 



Captain Vancouver proceeded to Fuca's Straits, and Captain Gray 

 returned to the south, where he completed his discovery, having, on the 

 11th May, entered the river which bears the name of his ship, and as- 

 cended it upwards of twenty miles. He then, having also discovered 

 Gray's Harbor, went to Nootka Sound, where he again met with Captain 

 Vancouver, to whom he communicated his discoveries, and gave him' a 

 rough chart of the river. With this information, one of Captain Vancou- 

 ver's officers was sent to take a survey of Gray's Harbor, and another that 

 of the Columbia River, which he ascended about eight miles higher up 

 than Gray. 



Yet, in order to found a claim derived from a share in the discovery, 

 that of Captain Gray is called only a step in the progress of discovery ; 

 and it is attempted to divide its merit between him, Meares, and Captain 

 Vancouver's officer. 



It must again be repeated, that the sole object of discovery was 

 " the river," and, coming from sea, the mouth of the river. Meares 

 only followed Quadra's track. Had he suggested or suspected the ex- 

 istence of a river, when he was near its entrance, it would have been a 

 step in the progress of discovery. So far from it, that, in his map, he has 

 laid the presumed mouth of the great river of the west, of the tradi- 

 tional Oregon, of the real Columbia, in the Straits of Fuca. The very 

 names which he imposed, Cape Disappointment and Deception Bay, attest 

 his failure. 



Captain Vancouver, having completed his survey of that part of the 

 coast, with a conviction that no large river emptied there into the ocean, 

 would not have explored it again, had he not received the information from 

 Captain Gray of his discoveries. And, in fact, in his second visit to that 

 quarter, he surveyed, or caused to be surveyed, only the harbor and the 

 river which had been indicated to him. The lieutenant sent to the Co- 



