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 KATHARINE

308

B.

JUDSON

foreigner from their army." Large orders had recently been given to the cannon factory, and everything "portends a rest-

and same

towards

Meanwhile, in U. S. James Horn comof around the with three was war, sailing sloop missioners and two secretaries "to obtain possession of some less

the

hostile spirit letter, Sir

this country."

also noted that the Ontaria, a

island or territory in that quarter, preparatory to their establishing a very extensive commerce in those seas."

To omit

the Ontario for a

moment, a better view

is

gained

of the United States as a whole, by continuing the British comments on the general trend of things. On April 16th, 1818, James Buchanan (a relative of the President of the

same name), then British Consul Lord Castlereagh 18

at

New

York, wrote to



The

acquisition of Louisiana, the claims founded thereon, the seizure of and means used to obtain the Floridas, the

energetic increase of the navy, the determination to rival the naval and maritime power of Great Britain, the commercial

now carrying on towards Engavowed aim to possess Cuba and His Majesty's possession in North America, which pervades all classes, sancwarfare the United States are land, the

tioned by the measures of the executive well, it made America a rather difficult country for Great Britain to deal with. And it explains John Quincy Adams and the send.

.

.

ing of the Ontario.

On November

Bagot wrote to Lord Cas19 Washington: "A report has been in circulation here that the United States sloop of war Ontario who has lately sailed from New York, and which is believed to be destined to the South Pacific, has

tlereagh,

from

7th, 1817, Charles

his post at

received instructions to proceed also to the mouth of the Columbia river, I cannot hope to ascertain positively whether

founded or not, but I thought it right to comprivately to Sir John Sherbrooke, in order that he thinks proper, put the North West Company

this report is well

municate he may,

it

if

i8~F. O. 5, Vol. 135. 19 F. O. 5, Vol. 123.