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A Voyage to the Northwest Coast of America

by Gabriel Franchère

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541475,799 (3.5)2
I felt justly proud of this notice of my unpretending work especially that the latter should have contributed as it did to the amicable settlement of the then pending difficulties. I have flattered myself ever since that it belonged to the historical literature of the great country which by adoption has become mine.… (more)
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The "cutting edge" of opportunity in America for 200 years lay in the Frontier, and specifically, with the Indian Trade. Furs. Coastal opportunities had been monopolized by European Lords in the Colonial period of sot-weed factors and rum-runners. The Indian Trade was the single most lucrative enterprise open to the folks who did not have titles and powdered wigs.
John Jacob Astor, a German-born son of a butcher, took immediate interest in the opportunities. He set up a trading post in New York, and then franchised the concept, losing money on the furs -- paying more and selling for less -- but becoming wealthy from the appreciation of the land around the network of posts. He also was one of the first to realize the capacity of the Clipper Ship, a uniquely American technology, for the globalization of trade. The fur trader became the richest man in America.
By the 1800's, however, the furs and the Indians were disappearing. In a daring move, Astor hired French-Canadiens to set up a trading posts across the Pacific Northwest from a hub at the mouth of the Columbia. Astor keenly appreciated the experience the Frenchmen had with the wilderness and the Indian trade.
One of these voyageurs was Gabriele Franchere, the author of a journal kept of his 1810-1814 travels on behalf of Astor in this project of opening the Pacific Northwest to his vision of world-wide trade.
The Journal speaks to the initiative, and to the failure, of the project, without boast or whining, or unnecessary bitterness. In fact, Franchere is often quite wooden about the account -- describing the surrender of Astoria (and the loss of his hopes for a fortune) to the British who seized the post, as simply "...for we were inferior in point of numbers, although our position was exceedingly advantageous." [143]
The Voyage included a visit to Hawaii 32 years after Cook was killed there. Described Tamehameha, the usurper who conquered all of the islands, and witnessed a trial he conducted. [40] Contradicts some of the details collected by Washington Irving in his "ASTORIA" [qv][291] which clearly drew from this author's accounts. ( )
  keylawk | Sep 26, 2006 |
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» Add other authors (8 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Gabriel Franchèreprimary authorall editionscalculated
Quaife, Milo MiltonEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Quaife, Milo MiltonEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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I felt justly proud of this notice of my unpretending work especially that the latter should have contributed as it did to the amicable settlement of the then pending difficulties. I have flattered myself ever since that it belonged to the historical literature of the great country which by adoption has become mine.

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Franchere was an employee on an expedition sent by J. J. Astor of the Pacific Fur Co., to the Columbia River in 1810-1814. He describes events at Astoria from its founding at the mouth of the Columbia River until its surrender to the Northwest Co., the nature of the adjacent country and the indians, and his own return overland to Montreal in 1814 by travelling up the Columbia, over Athabasca Pass to the Saskatchewan River, and finally, down to Montreal. This is a classic account of the early days of the fur trade and early settlement in the Oregon country. This book formed the basis of Washington Irving's later work "Astoria".
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