Hall Jackson Kelley 295

Having, by the hardships and exposures of a lonely and long continued adventure of life, been deprived in a great degfree of the use of my eyes, my health broken down, and my constitu- tion shattered, I have, of course, since my return, found my exertions restricted and impaired, but by no means terminated. It is consoling to me, in the midst of poverty and suffering, to believe that my fellow-citizens and my country are at last beginning to appreciate the value of the objects and measures for which I have sacrificed my possessions, my health, and the best portion of my life. It is also a matter of congratu- lation to me that some of those whom my persuasion induced to emigrate to Oregon have there fotaid prosperous settle- ments, and are now asking Congress to accept them and pro- tect them as citizens ; and that I have, therefore, been instru- mental in planting the seed of American empire in a soil where it shall take root and spring up and flourish like the luxuriant productions there scattered by the bounty of nature.

I have the honor to be, dear sir, yours, with the highest con- sideration and respect Hall J. Kelley.

Hon. Caleb Cushing. [61]

1

NEWS AND COMMENT

THE PIONEER PARK AT CHAMPOEG.

Champoeg, overlooking Willamette River, the place where the Oregon provisional government was founded May 2, 1843, will always be a center of Northwest history, and a marker of National expansion. A pioneer memorial building will rise at the site of Champoeg this year, built with $5,000 state fimds, appropriated by the Legislature at last year's session. The site of this structure is in an enclosure of twelve acres, which was deeded to the State of Oregon in 1913, by Mr. P. H. D'Arcy, of Salem, trustee of nimierous fund contributors, who gave the money for purchase o