This journal was filled with articles having such head-lines as "Confederation," "The British-American Provinces," "Proposed Annexation to the United States," etc., etc.

Or, again, "Annexation," "British Columbia Defying the Dominion," "Annexation our Manifest Destiny." All this was very disagreeable to the English-speaking people, and highly compromising to Riel.
But the real negociator was at hand, and he not only had the authority to speak for Canada, but had Scottish prudence and diplomacy, as well as real influence in the country, from holding the highest position in Canada of any of the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company.

This chief factor was Donald A.Smith, whom we have since learned to know so well as Lord Strathcona.

He, with his secretary, Hardisty, arrived on December 27th, and went immediately to Fort Garry.

Riel demanded of Mr.
Smith, the object of his visit, but received no satisfaction.