"In signifying, therefore, to Mr. Adams the full acquiescence of your government in the reoccupation of _the limited position_ which the United States held in that river at the breaking out of the war, _you will at the same time assert, in suitable terms, the claim_ of Great Britain to that territory, upon which the American settlement must be considered as an encroachment." This instruction was executed verbally by the person to whom it was addressed. The following is a transcript of the act by which the fort was delivered up, by the British, into the hand of Mr. Prevost, the American agent:-- "In obedience to the command of H. R. H. the prince regent, _signified in a despatch from the right honorable the Earl Bathurst_, addressed to the partners or agents of the North-West Company, bearing date the 27th of January, 1818, and in obedience to a subsequent order, dated the 26th July, from W. H. Sheriff, Esq., captain of H. M. ship Andromache, We, the undersigned, do, in conformity to the first article of the treaty of Ghent, restore to the government of the United States, through its agent, J. P. Prevost, Esq., the settlement of Fort George, on the Columbia river. "Given under our hands, in triplicate, at Fort George, (Columbia River,) this 6th day of October, 1818. "F. HICKEY, _Captain H. M. ship Blossom_. "J. KEITH, _of the N. W. Co_." The following is the despatch from Earl Bathurst to the partners of the North-West Company, referred to in the above act of cession:-- DOWNING-STREET, _27th January, 1818_. "Intelligence having been received that the United States sloop of war Ontario has been sent by the American government to establish a settlement on the Columbia river, which was held by that state, on the breaking out of the last war. I am to acquaint you, that it is the prince regent's pleasure, (_without, however, admitting the right of that government to the possession in question_) that, in pursuance of the first article of the treaty of Ghent, due facility should be given to the reoccupation of the said settlement by the officers of the United States; and I am to desire that you would contribute as much as lies in your power to the execution of his royal highness's command. "I have, &c. &c. BATHURST. "_To the Partners or Agents of the North-West Company, residing on the Columbia river._" The above documents put the case of the restoration of Fort Astoria in too clear a light to require further observation. The case, then of Great Britain, in respect to the country west of the Rocky Mountains, is shortly this:--