held in the two veflels, the North-Weft America and Ephigenia, then
on the coaft of Nootka ; for as to the land, he entertained no doubt of
its belonging to Great-Britain, as the fubje&s of that ftate were the firft
European people who had difcovered the country ; and he was further
well fatisfied, that no other power whatever had a right to difpoffefs the
gentlemen with whom he had engaged, o f their property at Nootka,
becaufe he and they confidered it to be exclufively their own. The intention
of forming a fettlement was known to Mr. Hudfon before his
departure in the Princefs Royal from Macao; and on his arrival before
Captain Colnett at Nootka, fuch intention was moft probably communicated
to the Spaniards and the native Indians, who appeared to have
been long in expectation of the Argonaut’s arrival, and had referved the
greateft part of their furs for the purpofe of exchanging them with
Captain Colnett, for the articles with which, they had learned, his veflel
would be freighted.
Under the idea's which Captain Colnett entertained, that this part of
the coaft of North-Weft America belonged to Great-Britain, he had no
fear of entering any of its ports, becaufe he was duly authorized by the
South-Sea company to trade in thofe feas, and had leave to abfenthim-
felf from His Majefty’s fervice, 'being at that time a lieutenant in the
royal navy. As a defence againft hoftile Indians, the Argonaut had twelve
carriage guns, befide fwivels and fmall arms ; but not apprehending any
thing unfriendly from the inhabitants o f Nootka, nor having become acquainted
before he left China, that any difference exifted between the
courts of London and Madrid, when he arrived off Nootka, on the 3d
of july, 1790, the guns of the Argonaut were difmounted, and were all
in the hold o f the veflel.
About nine o’clock that evening, when at the diftance o f about three
leagues from the entrance into the port, a boat was obferved coming
towards the Argonaut; but, as the weather was very hazy, it could not
be difcovered to what nation it belonged. On being hailed* the perfons
in her laid upon their oar?, and requefted, in Spanifh, permiflion to
come on board, with which Captain Colnett inftantly complied-. Soon after
another Spaniflr hoat, and one belonging to an American veflel, came
alongfide
alongfide his veflel, and Captain Colnett now underftood that there
were two Spanilh men of war, and an American (hip and floop, at anchor
in Friendly cove. On receiving this information, Captain Colnett
hefitated for fome time, whether he fhould, or not, go into Friendly
cove; as he had fome doubts as to the propriety of putting himfelf under
the command of Spanifh fliips of war. This objection being made
known to Don Martinez, who had arrived in the firft boat, he requefted,
through an interpreter, that Captain Colnett would; neverthelefs, afford'
him fome afliftance, as the veflels under his command were in great dif-
trefs for the want o f provifions and other neceflaries ; and as he had
paid fome attention to Mr. Hudfon, the commander of the Princefs
Royal, one of the four veflels under Captain Golnett’s dire&ions (as
would be feen by a letter which he produced to Captain Colnrtt from
Mr. Hudfon) Martinez hoped Captain Colriett would not be wanting in
a return of civility, and intreated him, in the moft earned manner, to
enter Friendly co v e ; pledging his word of honor, not only as com*
mander in chief of all the fhips belonging to His Catholic Majefty, on
the northern Coafts of the pacific ocean, but alfo as nephew to the viceroy,
and in his capacity at Nootka, as the reprefentativé of the King
of Spain; that Captain Colnett fhould be at liberty to depart whenever
he might think proper; Don Martinez flaring, at the fame time,
that he was then at Nootka for the foie purpofe of watching the operations
and proceedings of the Ruffians. Thefe affurances induced Captain
Colnett to confider Don Martinez as an officer of high rank and
char a t ie r ; and as he did not entertain the moft diftant idea that any
falfehood was attempted to be impofed upon him, or that he was in the
leaft danger of being treated by Martinez with duplicity, he fuffered the
Spanifh launches to tow the Argonaut into port, where fhe did not- arrive
until midnight.
The next morning Don Martinez invited Captain Colnett to breakfaft
on board the Princiffa, and afterwards accompanied him on his return to
the Argonaut, where Captain Colnett ordered fuch provifions and ftores
as he could fpare to be got to hand, gave a lift of them to Don Martinez;
and, at the fame time, requefted his acceptance of them, with which civility
he