CHAPTER XXI.

THE WAR FEELING IN OREGON.

1846.

Social Efforts of the Crew of the « Modeste '-First Theatrical Social Efforts o* American Newspaper on the Pacific

Entertainments — First American x>^

COAST-A MILITARY COMPANY-ARRIVAL IK THE SOUND OF H. B M. SmP^GARD '-PRESIDENT POLKAS MESSAGE-ARRIVAL OF THE U. S. SOHOOEER. SHARK ■-HORBE-RA.EO-HOW.OE ON ™E S = OE-

Wreck of the ' Shark '-A Flag and Guns for Oregon-Passage of

™ TJIL-O,^^""- 1 " BOENEARV TjETERMINED-

How Tidings of the Treaty were Received.

While the events just narrated were taking place the political condition of the colony remained un- changed. From the newspapers brought by the im- migrants, and occasional news received by way of the Hawaiian Islands, the Oregon question still ^threat- ened war. Among other rumors was one that the British plenipotentiary had proposed as a demur res- fort to leavethe question open for twenty years to be settled finally by the choice of the people. But this was believecl by Americans to be ^p^abk because it was shown by Gallatin in 1827 that the country must be settled by Americans, and the late immigrations had demonstrated it. 1 British ^subjects received the rumor with equal incredulity, believing that England would not consent to any compromise by which the country north of the Columbia would hi endangered. 2 So uncertain and critical seemed the

> Honolulu Polynesian, Jan 10 and ^March U, 1846. p n < s g rmt

'Roberts' Recollections, MS., 0>; Niles Re,^ tax J , Quardhm, July

Divide, 330; Yreka IW, June 2 I, 1871, ,Jgn Vern MS 3>

20, 1871; Atdioch Led'jer, Aug. 5, 1871, Mca.ay, in ^^