No. 12

1. I herewith transmit for your information copies of a
correspondence with His Excellency Isaac I. Stevens Governor of
Washington Territory [Marginal note: Nos 1 & 5], on the subject of an
apprehended hostile movement of the Northern Indians against the United
States Settlements in Puget's Sound.

2. The alarm which has spread very generally among the inhabitants
of those settlements has, it appears, been increased by certain
incautious statements made by Mr Griffin the gentleman in command of
the Hudson's Bay Company's settlement on the Island of San Juan, in a
letter addressed by him to Mr Frost [Marginal note: No 4, 4th
April], Collector of the Customs for the United States at Port Townsend
of which a copy is forwarded; a letter which induced Mr Olney, to
abandon his Post at San Juan.

3. Mr Olney was stationed at San Juan by the United States
Authorities, as sub-Collector, with the view, I presume, of tacitly
maintaining the claim of the United States, to that portion of Her
Majesty's Territories; but, at the same time, without pretending to levy
duties, or otherwise exercise any official power or authority, in the
disputed Territory.

4. Governor Stevens in his letter appeals to me for information
relative to the statements of Mr Griffin, and respecting the reported
hostility of the Northern Tribes. On those subjects I have told the
simple truth, that Mr Griffin had made no communication to me on the
subject of those statements; but I supposed that he had acted from
motives of humanity, in advising Mr Olney's retirement, from the Island of San Juan.

5. The presence of the vast 
number of Northern Indians, who have
lately swarmed into this Colony, has justly alarmed the people of our
own settlements; but there is no present remedy for the evil; except the
measures to which I have resorted, for maintaining quiet and order.

6. I have stated in my reply to Governor Stevens [Marginal note:
No 5 1t May], that the Northern Indians, do not evince any
unfriendliness of disposition, and I have promised to communicate with
him, should any thing hereafter appear to the contrary.

7. I trust that the assurance so conveyed in my letter, may serve
to allay the fears of the inhabitants of Washington Territory, and to
inspire them with greater confidence in their own power and resources.

8. The other day a Requisition for aid was made upon me, by the
inhabitants of "Soake," (Vancouver's Island), in consequence of the
great concourse of Northern Indians at that place. I responded to the
call without delay, and returned from thence yesterday in the Hudson's
Bay Company's Steamer "Otter", which I made use of for the occasion.

The Indians who caused the alarm have been dispersed, and
confidence restored to the people of that Settlement. I advised them to
conceal their fears, and to assume on all occasions, a bold countenance
with Indian visitors, in order to impress their rude minds with a
feeling of respect, for the power and resources of Government.