ABSTRACT
The ultimate defence of Britain’s maritime empire was indeed entrusted to the navy. But if there was any doubt of the Royal Navy’s supremacy then the majority of British imperial possessions which do not possess natural and internal means of defence would be instantly vulnerable to enemy combined expeditions. The French had made better ships during the great Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars; the American merchant marine surged ahead with their clipper ships. It was also crucial that Britain should not be dealt with by Americans as they would deal with the Spanish States of Central America over the San Islands border in the Pacific Northwest. Palmerston was naturally disposed to say that if the Americans refused to go they should be removed. In his view, it was only because the US seemed at present to be in superior naval Force in the region, with the local Canadian governor also short of men, that tempts Americans to aggression.
