Page:Memoir upon the negotiations between Spain and the United States of America which led to the treaty of 1819.djvu/135

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��room for doubt, that the United States are firmly re- solved to get possession of the provinces of Canada^ New England^ and the rest of the islands that Great Britain possesses on the continent of Ameri- ca.f As this cannot be done at once, and it would be an absurdity to enter into conflict at present with that power, the United States, with the view of gra- dually preparing for this conquest, are going on to extend themselves by means of pure liases, exchang- es and negotiations, in the territories of the Indians that border upon these provinces; they are garri-on- ing all the points that can conduce to their defence, or furnish support to their attacks; they are daily augmenting their navy; organizing their army;} fortifying all the points by which their territory might be invaded; and, as they know they have no engineers sufficiently scientifick for this object, they

��* New Scotland, or Nova Scotia, the author probably means. T.

t This is a literal translation from the original, which is, y demas islas que posee h Gran Bretana en el contiiiente de America. What the author means, by calling Canada, and ])^ew England, islands, and by islands on a continent, the rea- der must endeavour to find out. T.

i When speaking of the military force of the United States, the author said, that the army was badlij organized, that they had no idea of modern tactics, that they had learn- ed nothing since the war of independence, and that it never could be otherwise. It suits his purpose, at present, to take ^di^'erew^ view of the subject. T. *

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