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.