CAPTAIN GRAY OF THE SHIP COLUMBIA.



of the fur companies is a history of Oregon up to the
year 1834, so far as the occupation of the country was
concerned. But its political history was begun long be-
fore-from the time (May 11th, 1792) when the captain
of a New England coasting and fur-trading vessel entered
the great " River of the West," which nations had been
looking for for a hundred years. At the very time when
the inquisitive Yankee was heading his little vessel through
the white line of breakers at the mouth of the long-sought
river, a British exploring expedition was scanning the
shore between it and the Straits of Fuca, having wisely
declared its scientific opinion that there was no such river
,on that coast. Vancouver, the chief of that expedition,
so assured the Yankee trader, whose views did not agree
with his own: and, Yankee-like, the trader turned back
-to satisfy himself.
  A bold and lucky man was Captain Gray of the ship
Columbia. No explorer he only an adventurous and,
withal, a prudent trader, with an eye to the main chance;
emulous, too, perhaps, of a little glory! It is impossible
to conceive how he could have done this thing calmly.
We think his stout heart must have shivered somewhat,
both with anticipation and dread, as he ran for the " open-
ing," and plunged into the frightful tumult-straight
through the proper channel, thank God! and sailed out
on to the bosom of that beautiful bay, twenty-five miles
by six, which the great river forms at its mouth.
  We trust the morning was fine: for then Captain Gray
must have beheld a sight which a discoverer should re-
member for a lifetime. This magnificent bay, surrounded
by lofty hills, clad thick with noble forests of fir, and
-fretted along its margin with spurs of the highlands, form-
ing other smaller bays and coves, into which ran streams
whose valleys were hidden among the hills. From beyond



266