Note 87 — {243} CHAPTER XV

Astor felt that he had been cheated in the transfer of Astoria, and charged McDougal with betraying his interests. See his letter to John Quincy Adams, January, 1823, in Lyman, History of Oregon, ii, pp. 298–301; also Irving, Astoria, chap. 29. Astor stated that McDougal sold the entire property for about $58,000, less the wages due the men; that beaver was sold for two dollars and otter for fifty cents a skin, both of which were at the time worth five or six dollars each in Canton, China. Altogether he considered the property worth nearly $200,000 above the sum received. Bancroft defends McDougal at length—History of North-west Coast, ii, pp. 221–230. Admitting that the property was sold at a loss, he contends McDougal was justified in thinking Astoria could not be maintained, and that it was better to get what he could for Astor, before fort and furs were captured by a British ship of war.—Ed.