Influenced By These Representations, The British Government
Ordered The Frigate Phoebe To Be Detached As A Convoy For The
Armed Ship, Isaac Todd, Which Was Ready To Sail With Men And
Munitions For Forming A New Establishment.
They were to proceed
together to the mouth of the Columbia, capture or destroy
whatever American fortress they should find there, and plant the
British flag on its ruins.
Informed of these movements, Mr. Astor lost no time in addressing
a second letter to the secretary of state, communicating this
intelligence, and requesting it might be laid before the
President; as no notice, however, had been taken of his previous
letter, he contented himself with this simple communication, and
made no further application for aid.
Awakened now to the danger that menaced the establishment at
Astoria, and aware of the importance of protecting this foothold
of American commerce and empire on the shores of the Pacific, the
government determined to send the frigate Adams, Captain Crane,
upon this service. On hearing of this determination, Mr. Astor
immediately proceeded to fit out a ship called the Enterprise, to
sail in company with the Adams, freighted with additional
supplies and reinforcements for Astoria.
About the middle of June, while in the midst of these
preparations, Mr. Astor received a letter from Mr. R. Stuart,
dated St. Louis, May 1st, confirming the intelligence already
received through the public newspapers, of his safe return, and
of the arrival of Mr. Hunt and his party at Astoria, and giving
the most flattering accounts of the prosperity of the enterprise.
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