As To Comcomly, He No Longer Prided Himself Upon His White Son-
In-Law, But, Whenever He Was Asked About Him, Shook His Head, And
Replied, That His Daughter Had Made A Mistake, And, Instead Of
Getting A Great Warrior For A Husband, Had Married Herself To A
Squaw.
CHAPTER LXI.
Arrival of the Brig Pedler at Astoria.- Breaking Up of the
Establishment .-Departure of Several of the Company. - Tragical
Story Told by the Squaw of Pierre Dorion.- Fate of Reed and His
Companions. - Attempts of Mr. Astor to Renew His Enterprise.-
Disappointment. - Concluding Observations and Reflection.
HAVING given the catastrophe at the Fort of Astoria, it remains
now but to gather up a few loose ends of this widely excursive
narrative and conclude. On the 28th of February the brig Pedler
anchored in Columbia River. It will be recollected that Mr. Hunt
had purchased this vessel at the Sandwich Islands, to take off
the furs collected at the factory, and to restore the Sandwich
Islanders to their homes. When that gentleman learned, however,
the precipitate and summary manner in which the property had been
bargained away by M'Dougal, he expressed his indignation in the
strongest terms, and determined to make an effort to get back the
furs. As soon as his wishes were known in this respect, M'Dougal
came to sound him on behalf of the Northwest Company, intimating
that he had no doubt the peltries might be repurchased at an
advance of fifty per cent. This overture was not calculated to
soothe the angry feelings of Mr. Hunt, and his indignation was
complete, when he discovered that M'Dougal had become a partner
of the Northwest Company, and had actually been so since the 23d
of December. He had kept his partnership a secret, however; had
retained the papers of the Pacific Fur Company in his possession;
and had continued to act as Mr. Astor's agent, though two of the
partners of the other company, Mr. M'Kenzie and Mr. Clarke, were
present. He had, moreover, divulged to his new associates all
that he knew as to Mr. Astor's plans and affairs, and had made
copies of his business letters for their perusal.
Mr. Hunt now considered the whole conduct of M'Dougal hollow and
collusive. His only thought was, therefore, to get all the papers
of the concern out of his hands, and bring the business to a
close; for the interests of Mr. Astor were yet completely at
stake; the drafts of the Northwest Company in his favor, for the
purchase money, not having yet been obtained. With some
difficulty he succeeded in getting possession of the papers. The
bills or drafts were delivered without hesitation. The latter he
remitted to Mr. Astor by some of his associates, who were about
to cross the continent to New York. This done, he embarked on
board the Pedler, on the 3d of April, accompanied by two of the
clerks, Mr. Seton and Mr. Halsey, and bade a final adieu to
Astoria.
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