From the St. Louis Enquirer.
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MOUTH OF THE COLUMBIA.

Most of our readers, it is presumed, are already appraised of the fact that government has sent the Macedonian frigate and a sloop of war to take possession of the mouth of Columbia river, and to cruise on the shores of the Pacific ocean. This measure, it is conceived, evinces great extension of views in the administration, and probably, in the lapse of a few years will be considered of more importance than is at present attached to it.

The views of the British government, or more properly speaking, of the fur companies of that nation, have been long turned to this point. They have sent several travellers to explore the Columbia river, and examine into the practicability of carrying on a trade with the East Indies by this channel, and in case of its being feasible, their intention was to exchange the valuable furs of the North American forests for the elegant luxuries of the east. They were only prevented from acting upon this suggestion from the want of proper means.

With a view to this object, a company of gentlemen of the city of N. York, at the head of was Mr. John Jacob Astor, despatched two ships to establish a settlement at the mouth of this river; they arrived at their place of destination, and settled themselves at a place which they called Astoria. In consequence of the rupture between the U. States and Great Britain, this establishment was broken up by an armed force of the latter power.

The distance, by this route, to a country, the commodities of which enriches every nation engaged in its trade, will be considerably shortened, and an examination into its practicability will perhaps not be uninteresting. The best route to the Pacific ocean will be, to cross the mountains south of the returning track of Lewis and Clark, and descend Clark’s river to the Columbia, thence down the latter to the Pacific ocean. To show the advantages of this route, we will extract an article from Mr. Brackenridge’s Views of Louisiana: “The route taken by Lewis and Clark, says he, across the. Rocky mountains, was perhaps the very worst that could have been selected. Mr. Henry, a member of the Missouri company, and his hunters, have discovered several passes, not only very practicable, but even in their present state less difficult than those of the Alleghany mountains. These are considerably south of the sources of Jefferson river. It is the opinion of the gentle man last mentioned (Mr. Henry) that loaded horses, or even wagons, might in its present state go in the course of six or eight days from a navigable point on the Columbia to one on the waters of the Missouri. Thus rendering an intercourse with settlements that may be formed on the Columbia, more easy than between those on the heads of the Ohio, and the Atlantic states. Mr. Henry wintered in a delightful country on a beautiful navigable stream.”

“Whether,” continues the author above quoted “the returns could be introduced into the United States across the Rocky mountains to any advantage, might be worthy of experiment. A shortening of the distance by more than a thousand leagues, will certainly make it an object to lessen the expense and difficulty of transporting goods across the mountains and down the Missouri. It is worthy of consideration, that articles usually imported from the East Indies are not of great bulk or weight, and that a small compass will include goods of great value. Hence this transportation will be attended with much less difficulty.”

If this route is taken, no adequate idea can easily be formed of the future importance of a town at the mouth of this river. Mr. Brackenridge observes that the soil in the vicinity of the Columbia “is represented as rich and highly susceptible of cultivation; the climate is more temperate than in the same latitude in the United States. “The natives on the Columbia river are very numerous; Gen. Clark informed me that their number might be safely estimated at 80,000 souls.”

This seems to indicate a capacity of supporting a dense population, practicably exemplified by the number of its inhabitants who live upon its spontaneous productions. Probably there are as many Indian inhabitants on this river and its branches as in any other of North America, of the same extent.

Among other objections against expediency of taking this route, it been urged, that the distance of the Columbia river from any white settlement, and the consequent difficulty of making it the channel of active commerce, will present insufferable obstacles to the successful prosecution of this plan. To this objection we answer, that until the country becomes inhabited, posts might be established at proper distances, as is frequently done in other countries thus situated, which will subserve every necessary purpose. In the process of time, these posts will become the residence of families, and assume the appearance of towns. The fertility of the soil will invite farmers to settle around them, and by this means the country contiguous to the route will acquire a population sufficiently dense to answer the demands incident to such a trade.

If it be asked where can be obtained the requisite means of carrying on this intercourse, we answer, that independent of the supply derived from the fur of this country, the mines of Mexico can be very easily diverted to this channel, that in such quantities as to obviate the inconvenience arising from a scarcity of specie, in consequence of the drainage produced by this trade. But it may be said that the Spanish system of restriction, which forces the produce of those mines to their ports, may defeat, or defer, the attainment of this advantage. If the obstinacy of Spain will still protract the reciprocal adjustment of all differences existing between her government and ours, it would then, it is conceived, be advisable to obtain, by a resort to arms, that redress diplomacy could not effect. An efficient aid would then be given to the Mexicans, and their independence would be established. The local situation of Mexico renders it impossible for them ever to become a maritime nation, and the American possessions contiguous to it will come in for their share of the carrying trade. By this means the gold and silver will flow into New Orleans, and thence into the territory, and the western country generally. St. Louis will be the medium of exchange between the mouths of the Columbia and Mississippi; it will not only: advance her prosperity, but that of the United States.

The Pacific ocean, so called, from the placidity of its waters, will enable the merchant to trade backwards and forwards with the greatest celerity and despatch, and the shortness of the distance will enhance its advantages.

This plan may appear visionary, but that which is now speculation, will, it is confidently believed, shortly become a fact, and this country will be enriched by the overflowings of its benefit.

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