on which a British man-of-war departing, an American steamer arriving. The second, quartering with a sheaf, plow, and pick-axe. Crest, the American eagle. Legend,-State of Oregon." No. 5. It was further provided by the laws that "The secretary shall be required to procure the seal described in the preceding section, and draw his warrant on the treasurer therefor." The act of 1856, the convention of 1857, and the election and inauguration of state officials in 1858, sadly mixed affairs, for Oregon was not admitted to statehood until February 14, 1859, and until June 2 of the latter year the territorial seal was used. At this time a seal was received which has since been used as the seal of the state. In this pretended seal will be found the faults enumerated in illustration No. 8. Before the receipt of this seal, and almost immediately following the convention of 1857, a fac-simile of the seal to be was procured (No. 4). It was enclosed in a shield outline, has 36 stars instead of 33, an extra sheaf and a rake thrown in, as well as a date, 1857. Soon after this a second (No. 5) was obtained. It shows 35 stars, together with the extras of its predecessor. About the same time two others, one (No. 6), and the other twice its size, were secured. These show 38 stars and retain the extras of former ones. After the state was admitted, some one discovered a mistake in the fac-similes in hand, and ordered two other fac-sim iles, with the date, 1859, on them. One of them (No. 7) has the faults of No. 5, the other is the same as No. 6, except the change in date. These did not supplant former ones, only an addition to the collection. Some years elapsed and one of our state printers was turning the pages of Webster's dictionary, and found therein half-tone engravings of the impressions of the seals of the various states, Oregon's being among them. It did not look familiar to him, and he went to the office of the secretary of state, got an impression of the supposed seal of state, found such different from his fac-similes in hand, and ordered a new one (No. 8) made. In this the eagle looks in the opposite direction; has "Seal of the" prefixed to the legend, "State of Oregon"; 32 stars instead of 33; a setting sun which almost crowds out the entering steamer and the date, 1859. Make the prefix read "The seal of the," and it is a fair copy of the seal in the office of the secretary. This fac-simile did not do away with the older ones, for today all of them are being used as the state seal on documents printed "by authority." ported by only 31 stars, 14 on one side and 17 on the other. The seal of the adjutant-general has 10 stars on one side and II on the other, 21 in all; the wagon and elk are left out, and the setting sun is extra conspicuous. The seals used by other officials have not been seen, but it is more than likely that their make-up will swell the list of carelessness in the execution of the seal of state as it should be. On the title page of what is commonly termed "Deady's Code" can be seen another fac-simile. It is the same in form as No. 6, except as to date, which is left off, and as to the territorial motto which appears over it. Compare this fac-simile with the description of the state seal, found on page 496 of such book, and note differences. On the east and west wings of the state capitol, equally faulty fac-similes are placed, and the stone which Oregon contributed toward the building of the monument erected at the national capitol, in memory of Washington, is not as it should be, in commemoration of a man "who never told a lie." On this slab is found an emblem purporting to be a facsimile of our seal of state. It has in the upper compartment the extra setting sun of No. 8, and in the lower the extra sheaf and rake of No. 6, and the escutcheon is supported by only 30 stars. The next time an Oregonian tells the story of the "hatchet" he ought to be struck with one. In Bancroft's history of Oregon can be found an imprint of what is said to be a fac-simile of our state seal. The author might well be ashamed of it, not only because of the work of execution, but for the mistakes. It has the extra to the legend; not enough stars, and the objects within the escutcheon are a mixture of all the faults found in the facsimiles heretofore described. It has been said that such history contains many inaccuracies. This is one. The charter plates, which the Grand Cabin issues to subordinate Cabins, have in the display heading the 38-star 1857 fac-simile of the larger size, and may be so used because it is a part of our pioneer history. Our great daily adopted in its infancy at part of the fac-simile of the 1857 seal, and on all the bronze-lock attachments on the doors in its grand building it can be found. These fixtures were made in the East, and it was a cold day at the time of casting, for summer's sheaf is wanting, and snow shovel takes the place of pick going to do about it? We would respectfully suggest that a state seal be secured which will meet all requirements of the law in relation thereto. It would not be amiss if a new act was passed providing that the state seal should have objects thereon indicative of the days of the "prairie schooner," coupled with the pioneer's vision of what Oregon is and can become; and that all past efforts, together with fac-similes shown, be turned over to keepers of historical relics and placed in the curio department. F. H. S. AN UNPUBLISHED LETTER OF MRS. WHITMAN. The following letter was addressed to Miss Maria Pambrun, who subsequently married Dr. Forbes Barkley: Waiilatpu, July 7, 1842.-My Dear Maria: Your kind letter was duly received, and merited a most ready reply; but my engagements for more than two months past have rendered it impossible to do so, it being the time of our general meeting. We had a more general attendance this year than formerly; Messrs. Walker, Eells and their families were present; also Mr. Spalding; Mrs. S. and children did not come. They were here about a month. And, besides, I had the pleasure of entertaining our mutual friend, Mrs. McKinlay, for five weeks, during which time she gave birth to a lovely little daughter, the almost perfect image of its father. She is a very quiet child. They left here a short time since, and now I am once more alone, busy with the cares and instructions of my little family, which, by the way, increases as my neighbors do, yet in a different way. We have taken a little boy whom we call David Malin. He is the son of a Spaniard by a Walla Walla woman. When I give you some items of his short history, you will not wonder why I could not shut my heart and doors against the poor and friendless stranger. He is probably 2 years old, and last winter was put down into a hole at Walla Walla by his inhuman mother and left to starve to death; but he was found by the Indians. At another time he was found by the interpreter at W. W. in the same place, surrounded by children, who were gratifying an evil heart by burning his naked body with sticks of fire; when he was brought to me he had several deep sores upon him. He is a bright, active child, and learns to talk English faster than either of the other two. Should we succeed in keeping him without too much perplexity from his relatives, we hope he will prove to be of some use in the world. It would afford me much satisfaction to see your dear mother again. I hope she enjoys health this summer. Do write me all about her. She has much to do in the care of so many children, now her earthly support is taken away from her; and she feels to lean with more firmness upon you, dear Maria, as her eldest daughter, the sharer in her toils and sufferings. I regret that it is not in my power to comply with your mother's request at this time. Our broomcorn did not do well last year, and for that reason we have none to send. We shall endeavor to keep in mind the request and send at some future period when the corn is grown. Husband unites with me in love to your dear mother, yourself, and all the beloved ones of the family, not forgetting the little favorite, Sarah. Hoping soon to hear from you, I subscribe myself, your sincere friend, NARCISSA WHITMAN. TROUT FISHING. AN ALLEGORY AND ITS LESSON. Two of our citizens went out to catch fish. One of them was a practical, farseeing business man, who, though cautious, was on the alert and prompt to act when success seemed within reach. The other, no less progressive, was, however, inclined to neglect careful consideration of important questions, and was too apt to trust in quantity rather than quality. The equipment each believed necessary was obtained by the anglers, and one morning they started for the fishing grounds. On arrival, they found their opinions differed as to the methods of catching the sought-for fish, and it was agreed that each go his own way, and afterward compare results. One started up stream and the other down. The one going down believed in doing things on a grand scale, and he carried with him what he thought, judg ing by its high price and size, would be just the thing to tempt the trout to run after and swallow his hook. The bait in question was the side of a fat steer. Reaching an opening on the creek's bank where its waters looked as though there might be plenty of the finny prizes, he hastened to throw in the whole side of beef. The trout, of whom there were many, being unused to such quantities, hastily withdrew from the scene, and the disgusted fisherman went home with the "proverbial luck" of the unfortunate. The upstream angler had provided himself with flies and grasshoppers for bait, which he attached to his hook and gently cast it into the stream, and immediately there was a rush to catch the tempting morsels. This procedure he repeated till all his bait was exhausted. On his return home he was burdened with trout, and his friends doubted his word as to their number, and were not slow to make him so understand. We all know the trout is the most wary, the most gamey, the most prized and the most difficult to catch of all the finny tribe; just like an enterprising, practical man of means and thrift, with no time for generalities; the class of men Oregon needs to swell its population, encourage present industries and build up others; dig from its mines its vast mineral wealth; utilize its limitless timber; plant its broad acres in grain, flax, hops and fruits. Such men have no idle hours to pass. Try to catch them with the downstream fisherman's bulky mass of words and heavy immigration books, such as is generally sent abroad concerning our state, and the attempt will usually fail. If, however, the upstream method were pursued, they would nibble at the small bait, and, liking the taste, would not rest content till they had found the place where such truths could be practically tested, and that would mean their ultimate immigration |