These he shipped from Canada to London, no direct trade being allowed from that colony to any but the mother country.
In 1794 or '95, a treaty with Great Britain removed the restrictions imposed upon the trade with the colonies, and opened a direct commercial intercourse between Canada and the United States.

Mr.Astor was in London at the time, and immediately made a contract with the agents of the Northwest Company for furs.

He was now enabled to import them from Montreal into the United States for the home supply, and to be shipped thence to different parts of Europe, as well as to China, which has ever been the best market for the richest and finest kinds of peltry.
The treaty in question provided, likewise, that the military posts occupied by the British within the territorial limits of the United States, should be surrendered.

Accordingly, Oswego, Niagara, Detroit, Michilimackinac, and other posts on the American side of the lakes, were given up.

An opening was thus made for the American merchant to trade on the confines of Canada, and within the territories of the United States.
After an interval of some years, about 1807, Mr.Astor embarked in this trade on his own account.