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.
