In  times  of  peace  the  influence  of  the  Catholic  missionarie
is  good  in  that  quarter,  and  their  good  offices  are  desirable  til
some  outrage  is  committed,  or  war  breaks  out.  But  since  th*
war  has  broken  out,  whilst  they  have  made  every  exertion  t
protect  individuals,  and  to  prevent  other  tribes  joining  in  th*
war,  they  have  occupied  a  position  which  cannot  be  filled  oi
earth,  —  a  position  between  the  hostiles  and  the  Americans.  S
great  has  been  their  desire  for  peace  that  they  have  overlooks
all  right,  propriety,  justice,  necessity,  siding  with  the  Indians


THE  HUDSON  BAY  COMPANY  229

ffldizig  with  the  Americans,  bat  advising  the  hitter  partionUrly
taagree  to  all  the  demands  of  the  former,  —  murderers  to  go
free,  treaties  to  be  abrogated,  whites  to  retire  to  the  settlements.
And  the  Indians,  seeing  that  the  missionaries  are  on  their  side,
ire  fortified  in  the  belief  that  they  are  fighting  in  a  holy  cause.
I  state  on  my  official  responsibility  that  the  infiuence  of  the
Oatliolic  missionaries  in  the  upper  country  has  latterly  been
most  baneful  and  pernicious.
Again,  what  is  the  interest  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  ?
There  are  unquestionably  large  deposits  of  gold,  both  north  and
Mmth  of  the  49th  parallel,  east  of  the  Cascade  Mountains.  A
road  has  been  made  connecting  Fraser  Biver  with  the  British
interior,  and  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  have  established  a  post
in  connection  therewith  on  the  main  Columbia,  north  of  the
49th  paralleL  This  post  and  Fort  Colville  were  supplied  oyer
this  load  the  present  year.
