Show 104 during the period of our joint occupation of Oregon with Great Britain and our government was interested in obtaining any information it could concerning the Oregon and adRoberts insists that Bonneville was jacent country B H "doubtless in the secret service for the federal government on the Oregon question which was doubtless of great importance in the unfolding of what used to be included in the Regardless of what he phrase ’Manifest Destiny’ told the army officials and what his instructions were Bonneville's chief interest in his expedition was to make a profit from the beaver he hoped to catch He received finan- cial backing Alfred Seton from certain New York financiers among whom was a former Astorian Securing the services of Joseph Walker as his right hand man and guide who selected 110 men (trappers guides camp aides) and bought enough equipment and supplies to last years the expedition set out for the West about the middle of April 1832 Walker assured Bonneville that wagons Hence contrary could be taken across the Rocky Mountains two to the regular custom of trapping expeditions wagons were Bonnevilles vagons are said to be used to haul supplies t the first to cross the continental divide at South Pass Upon his return from the West in 1835 Bonneville made i Roberts Comprehensive History of the Church Saints Ill 260 of Jesus Christ of Latter-Da- y 1 B H |