122 THE ROARING FORTIES 



ardent abolitionist, who began unofficial ef 

 forts to bring about the emancipation of the 

 slaves in Texas through money loaned by Great 

 Britain. Thus there entered into the situation 

 an influence that was destined to have most 

 important consequences. In the course of 1843 

 Lord Aberdeen committed his government def 

 initely to the policy of promoting abolition 

 in Texas. Reports of this proceeding, however 

 inaccurate and distorted, produced an imme 

 diate commotion in the United States. That 

 Great Britain should be taking any active in 

 terest whatever in Texan affairs, was regarded 

 all over the land as disquieting; that she should 

 be seeking to abolitionize Texas, was regarded by 

 the slave States as a malicious attack on their 

 welfare. The long-dormant project of annexa 

 tion was taken up and pressed with energy as 

 the only sure way of counteracting the insidious 

 activity of the British. Not that Aberdeen s 

 policy was the sole basis of the new agitation; 

 but it played an important part in the affair 

 and revealed again the peculiar sensitiveness of 

 the Americans in relation to Great Britain. 



Advances to Texas in respect to annexation 

 were made by the United States in the autumn 

 of 1843, and a treaty was concluded in April of 



