ably to the injunctions contained in the fecond paffport from the viceroy
of Mexico.
In the year 1792, the fur trade, between the north-weft coaft of America
and China, gave employment to upwards o f twenty fail of ffiips
and veffels, whofe names, and the countries to which they belong, I
have thought proper to infert, for the purpofe of {hewing that my opinions,
refpeCting the value of this trade, were not only founded upon
obfervation, but confirmed by the practice of feveral European ftates,
and adventurers from the Afiatic, Chinefe, and American Ihores.
‘Ships &nd veffels. Commanders. To what country 1
Ship Butterworth, - Brown, -■ London.
Sloop Le Boo, - - Sharp, - ditto. ,
Cutter Jackal, - ■ Stewart, I ditto.
Brig Three Brothers, - Alder, - . ditto.
Schooner Prince William Henry, Ewen, - ditto.
Ship Jenny, Baker, - Briftol.
Brig Halcyon, - - - Barclay, - Bengal.
Brig Venus; - -■ Shepherd, - ditto.
Snow------ - ■ - - Moor, - Canton.
'Brig ------ - . - Coftidge, 1 ditto.
Brig ------ - Barnett, - ditto.!
Ship Columbia, - • Gray, - Bofton, Am
Sloop Adventure, - - | Hafwell, ditto.
(Built at Clayoquot, tender to the Columbia) 1
Ship Jefferfon, - - - Roberts, - ditto.
Brig Hope, - - . - Ingraham, - ditto.
Brig Hancock, -f, Crowell, - ditto. ,
Brig Wafcington, , - , - Kendrick, '-.r ditto.
Ship Margaret, - ! Magie, - New York.
Ship Ephigenia, - . , * Viana, Portugal.
Brig Fenis and St. Jofeph, - Andrede, - ditto.
Ship------ - - - • Unknown, - France,
Befide
Befide thefe, the veffels already mentioned in my journal, belonging
to His Catholic Majefty, frequently reforted to the port of Nootka.
When fuch a fpirit for enterprize as this, is thus manifefted by the
people of fo many different nations, and direfted from all quarters of the
globe to thefe thores, there can remain no more doubt, with refpeft to
the commercial advantages which are likely to be attendant on fuch {peculations,
than that many unjuft proceedings will take place amongft
the feveral perlons concerned, who, in the avidity for promoting their
refpeft-ive interefts, become competitors for the commodity of which each
is in purfuit, and deftroy the general benefits which, under wife and good
regulations would refult to all. A retrofpeflive view of thefe circum-
ftances, and the behaviour of Senr- Quadra, in the -négociation which,
with him, I had the honor to conduél refpe&ing the ceffion of the territories
at Nootka to the crown of Great-Britain will ferve to {hew
in what an important point of view the court of Spain beholds her
interefts in this valuable country, and what alfo are the commercial
advantages that raoft probably would accrue to the adventurers on. the
coaft, were their dealings properly reftrained, and their general conduH
wifely regulated.
Although we did .not meet with any Ruffian .yeffels at Nootka, yet I
am clearly of opinion the people o f that nation are more likely than
thofe of any other to fucceed in procuring furs, and the other valuable
commodities, from thefe ffior.es, with which a moft beneficial trade might
be eftabliffied between North-Weft America, Japan, and the northern
.parts of China. O f this I was well perfuaded, from the accounts. I received
from Sroyloff, and from my own obfervations on the general
conduft of the Ruffians towards the Indians, in the feveral places where
we found them under their controul and dire&ion. Had the natives
about the Ruffian eftabliffiments in Cook’s inlet, and Prince William’s
found been oppreffèd, dealt hardly by, or treated by the Ruffians as. a
conquered people, fome uneafinefs amongft them would, have been, perceived,
fome defire for emancipation would have been difc.overed ; but
no fuch difpofition appeared, they feemed to be held in no reftraint, nor
3 S. 2 - did