NEWS OF THE TREATY. C09

the third was reserved to be carried overland in the spring by W. Finley, who was returning to the States.

Months passed away after the first news of the treaty without bringing any message from the govern- ment of the United States to eagerly expectant Ore- gon. In February the Spectator gave expression to the disappointment of the people, who it said had " expected and expected until they were heart-sick." There was indeed a feverish state of anxiety, for which there was no very justifiable cause, which arose chiefly from the desire of every man to receive some direct benefit from the change so long desired. There was now no fear of 'war with England; California- was secured, 11 and was already seeking supplies from Oregon; 12 the crop of 1846 had been abundant, and there was promise of still greater abundance in the coming harvest. The health of the colony was excel- lent, and improvements were being made on every side with encouraging rapidity. But many persons were dissatisfied at the tardiness of the government in furnishing them with titles to their land claims; many were covetous of the possessions of others, and some had trouble to defend their rights against ag- gression, for there were those holding themselves in readiness to seize the lands of the Hudson's Bay and Puget Sound companies as soon as the terms of the treaty should be made known.

When the terms became known, what a falling of high hopes was there! The government confirmed the company in their possessory rights; there was no need to memorialize congress to reserve town sites and

11 About 50 persons emigrated from Oregon to California in the spring of 1847, and among them James Marshall, the discoverer of gold in 1848, Cap- tain Charles Bennett, who also worked with him at Sutter's mill, and Stephen Staats. Bennett and Staats returned to Oregon. Or. Spectator, June 10, 1847.

12 C. E. Pickett wrote from California to Burnett, McCarver, Ford, and Waldo, that 20,000 barrels of flour and several thousand bushels of seed- wheat, besides lumber, potatoes, and butter, were wanted in that country, all of which would bring high prices; lumber $50 per M. ; butter 50c. to 62c. per lb.; potatoes $2.50 per bushel, and flour $15 to $17 per barrel. Id.

Hist. Or., Vol. I. 39