KATHARINE
310
B.
JUDSON
This assumption, destitute of foundation as can easily be shown to be, is one which the American government has aimed at setting up ever since the purchase of Louisiana, and the attention which they have always directed
their territories. it
opinion a strong corrobo ration of the story relative to the Ontario. "In the month of July, 1815, Mr. Baker, who was then Charge d'Affaires at Washington, applied to Sir Gordon
towards that object affords
Drummond, who
at that
in
my
time administered the Government of
Canada, for some information relative to the actual situation of the country in question, and Sir Gordon Drummond consequently applied to my brother, who, as the principal director of
West Company, was of course the person most competent to speak to the facts. I happened at the time to be in Canada, having recently arrived from England, where I usually reside, and where I had the honor of seeing and conthe North
versing with my Lord Bathurst upon this very subject, subsequent to the ratification of the Treat of Ghent. Having also been the person chiefly engaged in planning and fitting out the
North West Company's adventures to the Columbia River, from the first suggestion of that undertaking, I necessarily had an intimate knowledge of the particulars which appeared requisite to answer Mr. Baker's enquiries, and after due consideration and comparison of the information thus possessed 22 by different individuals a statement was drawn up and sent
to Sir
Gordon Drummond, who transmitted it to Mr. Baker, whom I had the honor of seeing at Wash-
and that gentleman,
ington afterwards, but before your Excellency's arrival, acknowledged having received the statement, but discouraged
any discussion relative to it which I attempted to introduce. "I heard no more upon the subject until now, on my way from Canada to England, that the information reached me which has caused this letter, and having among my papers a copy of the statement in question, I take the liberty to enclose to contain any thing worthy of your it, in case it may be found 22 See McGillivray statement above.
