First Edition of One of the Foundational Documents on the Settlement of Oregon

KELLEY, Hall J.

Settlement on the Oregon River. Memorial of Citizens of the United States, Praying for a Grant of Land, And the aid of Government in Forming a Colony on the Northwest Coast of the United States. February 11, 1828. Read, and referred to the Committee of the Whole House, to which is committed the Bill [No. 12,] to authorize the occupation of the Oregon River.

Washington: Gales & Seaton, 1828.

Full Description:

KELLEY, Hall J.. Settlement on the Oregon River. Memorial of Citizens of the United States, Praying for a Grant of Land, And the aid of Government in Forming a Colony on the Northwest Coast of the United States. February 11, 1828. Read, and referred to the Committee of the Whole House, to which is committed the Bill [No. 12,] to authorize the occupation of the Oregon River. Washington: Gales & Seaton, 1828.

First edition of "the first Hall Kelley item on Oregon in print." (Streeter). From the 20th Congress, 1st session. House of Representatives. Doc. No. 139. Pamphlet. Octavo (8 1/2 x 5 1/4 inches; 215 x 130 mm). 4pp. We could only find two other copies at auction since the Streeter copy in 1969.

A four leaf pamphlet, bound in newer paper wrappers. Wrappers with title stamped on the front. A minor closed tear to title-page, not touching any text. Very good. Housed in a brown cloth chemise with brown morocco spine label, lettered in gilt.

One of the foundation documents of the settlement of Oregon. "Kelley, Hall Jackson, [who was] a promoter of Oregon settlement... [became] totally obsessed with the distant land of Oregon, which since 1818 had been jointly occupied by the United States and Great Britain. Periodically prominent writers and statesmen, including Thomas Hart Benton, had urged the United States to strengthen its claims through settlement. In 1824 Kelley announced to the world his intention to settle and propagate Christianity in Oregon; in 1828 he presented to Congress a “memorial of citizens” praying for a grant of land and aid; and by 1829 he had found enough men to join him in establishing the American Society for Encouraging the Settlement of Oregon. As publicity agent, he was “the body and brains, the fingers and tongue of it” (H. H. Bancroft, History of the Northwest Coast, vol. 2 [1886], p. 545). Although he had never been to Oregon, he published A Geographical Sketch of the country in 1830 and the next year outlined the details of a plan for emigrating there in Manual of the Oregon Expedition."

In Kelley's present speech to Congress, he states that "the time has fully come when it is the wisdom and policy of Congress to open this western wilderness to the skilful and persevering industry of civilized man."

Streeter 3341.

HBS 69564.

$850.

Price: $850.00

Item #69564