asserting Spanish sovereignity. Yet in this village,
on the wild shores of Nootka Sound, the courtly forms
of Old Castile held sway.’’ This encampment existed
until 1795, when by treaty, Spain relinquished her
sovereignity upon the British Columbia coastline.

Let it suffice to say in reference to the Nootka Con-
vention and subsequent treaties dealing with the
right of sovereignity of British Columbia, that England
suppressed Spain's dream of a world empire embra-
cing the whole country of the Pacific North-West.

In consequence of the treaty, Captain George
Vancouver was sent out by the British Government
to search again for the North-West Passage. He
proved himself to be a man of great capabilities as
he was the first to consider a geographical survey
a more pressing and important duty than the trading
of furs for private gain. Having sailed up the coast
of Southern America, he at length came to the mouth
of the Columbia River, but owing to the heavy
breakers, considered it unnavigable. It was left to
an American schooner under Capt. Gray to further
explore this magnificent river, and on this fact was
later based the claim of the United States to the
Oregon Territory. Vancouver then set upon his sur-
veying, usually leaving his flagship and continuing
in a small boat. In this manner he sailed up the

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