although he was preposterously wrong, that the incorporation of
Canada in our Union would be welcomed by the best sentiment of
England and of Canada.

To willing ears, therefore, came in 1867 the offer of the Russian
Minister, Baron Stoeckl, to sell Alaska. The proposal did not
raise a question which had been entirely unthought of. Even
before the Civil War, numbers of people on the Pacific coast, far
from being overawed by the responsibility of developing the
immense territories which they already possessed, had petitioned
the Government to obtain Alaska, and even the proper purchase
price had been discussed. The reasons for Russia's decision to
sell, however, have not been sufficiently investigated. It is
apparent from the conduct of the negotiation that it was not a
casual proposal but one in which Baron Stoeckl, at least, was
deeply interested. It is to be remembered that at this time
Russia's ambitions were in Asia, and that her chief rival was
Great Britain. Russia's power was on land; the seas she could not
hope to control. The first moment of war would put Russian rule
in, Alaska at the mercy of the British fleet. In those days when
a Siberian railroad was an idle dream, this icebound region in
America was so remote from the center of Russian power that it
could be neither enjoyed nor protected. As Napoleon in 1803
preferred to see Louisiana in the hands of the United States
rather than in those of his rival England, so Russia preferred
Alaska to fall to the United States rather than to Canada,
especially as she could by peaceful cession obtain money into the
bargain.

Seward was delighted with the opportunity, but diplomatically