As a precautionary measure, therefore, he required that the voyageurs, as they were about to enter into the service of an American association, and to reside within the limits of the United States, should take the oaths of naturalization as American citizens.
To this they readily agreed, and shortly afterward assured him that they had actually done so.

It was not until after they had sailed that he discovered that they had entirely deceived him in the matter.
The confidence of Mr.Astor was abused in another quarter.

Two of the partners, both of them Scotchmen, and recently in the service of the Northwest Company, had misgivings as to an enterprise which might clash with the interests and establishments protected by the British flag.
They privately waited upon the British minister, Mr.Jackson, then in New York, laid open to him the whole scheme of Mr.Astor, though intrusted to them in confidence, and dependent, in a great measure, upon secrecy at the outset for its success, and inquired whether they, as British subjects, could lawfully engage in it.

The reply satisfied their scruples, while the information they imparted excited the surprise and admiration of Mr.Jackson, that a private individual should have conceived and set on foot at his own risk and expense so great an enterprise.
This step on the part of those gentlemen was not known to Mr.Astor until some time afterwards, or it might have modified the trust and confidence reposed in them.
To guard against any interruption to the voyage by the armed brig, said to be off the harbor, Mr.Astor applied to Commodore Rodgers, at that time commanding at New York, to give the Tonquin safe convoy off the coast.

The commodore having received from a high official source assurance of the deep interest which the government took in the enterprise, sent directions to Captain Hull, at that time cruising off the harbor, in the frigate Constitution, to afford the Tonquin the required protection when she should put to sea.
Before the day of embarkation, Mr.Astor addressed a letter of instruction to the four partners who were to sail in the ship.