There was another incident, however, also growing out of this affair, even more irritating and threatening than the invasion itself.

In November, 1840, one Alexander McLeod came from Canada to New York, where he boasted that he was the slayer of Durfree, and thereupon was at once arrested on a charge of murder and thrown into prison.

This aroused great anger in England, and the conviction of McLeod was all that was needed to cause immediate war.

In addition to these complications was the question of the right of search for the impressment of British seamen and for the suppression of the slave-trade.

Our government was, of course, greatly hampered in action by the rights of Maine and Massachusetts on the northeastern boundary, and by the fact that McLeod was within the jurisdiction and in the power of the New York courts, and wholly out of reach of those of the United States.