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Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplimentaires; L'Institut a microfilm* le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a AtA possible de se procurer. Les d6tails de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-#tre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la m6thode normale de fiimage sont r pnrtic lilted and nuit The Uriii ^L^^, bet'veen A (Teneral nied in the Vo of the Foi The Uiirh iiirinpt the nei liiiry who I'on Mr. (afterwar Slate, anil Mo |iiitentinrjes, ii O? the A jeet OT this re Sir Strat. ion — wrote o Artieltw of tli if the terms i REPORTS, TREATIES, &c. HKI'OKT OX rilK LOCATION OF THK BUITJSII-AI.ASKAN BOfNDAHV TENDER TIIK ANOLO-RPSSIAN COXVKXTIOX OF ISi.-i. uV rOIX)NKI. 1). R. CMMKHDN, R.A., C'.M.U. No. 1. Tliu folliiwiiiK roninrkH cm tlic liH-ution of the liritish Aliiitknii Ixiiiiiiliiry, in rc^iMVt 1 tlicir order, follow tlie »p(|iieiK'e indicated in the Convention l>,v whieli tlie honndar.v » (letined ; and in resixet of tlieir mutter, are Mngfti-Hted li.v interpretations of the ciins of the tieat.v <.|.i«i?en of it« frainerr-. The order adopte 1, following tlie northerly eoiirse of tlii' line, is : — Tlie water hoiinilary : 1st, from the ROiithermnost iiuint of Prlnec of Wales Island to Portland Channi 1. 2nd, the eiinrso of the line thriniKh Portland ChiuiMel. The land honnri'tation of the Convent ion, snpp )rled hy the ar^nments now sii'miitted, will lie fontid to he an nnslraineil ami natural version of the terms of the treaty, I'on- sistent in evrTy resiK'ot with the inference., to !«■ drawn from lln' r rds nf ilic iietjn- inliims and not incoiisisleiil in any single point wilh the KeoKraphieal fealiiri>s refcr- ed to. On the other hand, it is shown that the alliTiialive interpretations ahonnd with mtenahle assumptions, imnrohahililies. inconsislencie.^ and c'liitradictions. Tht -^.e ■ iipport the view that the treaty ihscription of the houndary — in every iletail e.^ccept as 'ejrards the meridian line to the Arctic, — is inaccurate, incoiuphle, or impraclicahh". The interpretation maintained in this report to Ih' that inleiKh'd hy Itissia and ireat ISritaln, is precise and definite ; and nsistcntly with the attitude of the eon- rnc'tinir parties at the date .if their Convention. indicat<'S a lini' easii-r to be rccoR- lized and marked than any other whii'h couM, even now. l>e deserihed in Words. The Ilrilish .\laskan lionndary is detiiiiil hy Ihe Convention of iN-Kl Kehrnary, SL'.'i, lM>t>veen tireal Uritain and Kussia. A (Teneral sketch of the orifrin. and of the ciairse of the netTotiations which termin- ntcd in the Cnnventinn, is conlaineil in a Confidential .Mi'inorandum drawn up for the! of the Foreijrn Office in 1S;l.%, and reprinted in IHIIK. 'ihe Ui(tht Hon. .Mr. deoriri' Canning was Secretary of Slate for Foreitfii Affairs during the negotiations. His Fxcelleney Sir Charles Pap:ot was the British Plenipo- liary who eominen 1 the neKotiations at St. PetershurKh. They were concluded hy Mr. (aftcTwards .Sir) Stratford CanniiiK. Count de Xesselrode, Imperial .Secretary of State, and Monsieur de Pideliea, Imperial Conni'iUor of Stale, were the Kussian Pleni- potentiaries, and Count ile l.ieveii was the Kussian .\nd>assador throuBhout. Of the Articles of th(i Convention, Xos. !\ lo (1, inclusive, alnni' relate to the .iid)- jeet .)t this report. Sir Strafford Cannintt — who, as British Plenipotentiary, concluded Ihe Conv mi- 'ion — wrote of the terms in which the aureenii'nt was expresse<' as follows ; — "The \rticlcw of ihe Convention depciul for iheir force eulirely on ihe ifcueral acceptaliou f the terms in which they arc expri'ssed." .1 xjui tn .n 354590 At (III' iIhIo uf tlu> iii>KntialioiiM there via» a fuirly aucurate kiiuwlvdKo uf tlit- im'l-.iii Vip<>Krii|)li.v ri'fi'rrcd In in the Artii'li>8 jiiHt HiHH'ilieil. This knnwIeilKCi ei>iiiiiii>ii tn th>! aiiiii iiikI Mritish iiiithnrilifH niiiei'riuil in the iieK»tiuMi>iiH, wiw ehiitly ileriveil fnnii luvir'ii ex|il(iratiuiiv with II. Al. Hhips " Dinenvery " ami " Chiitliain " in the yenrM llr. (i. Ciiiinint;, when iiiittriietiuf; Sir ChiirleH Bugut 011 the Wt\\ Jiinvinry, 1824, him to Viiiieiiiiver'ii ehiirt iiikI tii 11 Uiisiiiati iniip publiHliiHl in 1H22.* Ill KiiiiilMildt'H l'i)Iiti('iil KHmiy 011 the KiuKdoni of New Spuin, Hvn. ol., 1811, Vol. H., pp. ;)NH-!», he refers to a beautiful offieial KiisHian ehart of 18()2, emIiraeinK from 40^ to 72" N. lat.. anil from l^.'i' to 224° lunK. (I'arie meriilian); the nameM in Kiih- Mian i-haraeterH. A KiisHian ehart exaelly answering the aliove deseription, with the exeeptioM that lonKituile is rirkonnl from Ferro (=1S° W. loiiR. from (in-enwii'li), in in iHHtMHiiiion of tlie llyilrographii; I)e|iartnieiit of the British Admiralty (Kefereno* No. fi4tl, A.C) ; and it aKrii'ven by Humboldt in mctreH and dwiniaU. Thi-He mapii einbriui- the reRion toiielie. The details of the map are largely taken from Vancouver'?* chnrts of 171IS. On 2(llli tianiiiiry, 1''24, Mr. ^'^> transniitti'il a sketch map from a Riissinn chart he hud ri-i'eiviil from Sir .lohn Barrow, >Secrelary to the Admiralty: and, with reference to the chart itself, I^ird Kraiieis ('nnyiiKliai.l tiotes (RtH'ord Oftico, Domestic Russia ,, . Vol., 14tl, I.') .lanuary, 1H24), "it is eopiinl from Vancouver's Survey." > arioiis , The chart refcrnil to by I»rd K. Conyntrham was probably the Russian chart of 1H(I2, previously iiicntioiicil. :>f part of tile islanilH otT the .Vlaskan coast, Ilumbiddt says (Vol. II., p. 'MH: " ft "apiH'iirs that the great island of the King (ieorge Arehi|H'lugo has in fact iMMrii "exaniincd with mon care and more minutely by Russian navigators than by Vaii- " eouv'T. Of this we nmy easily convince oiirselvcH by comparing attentively • * » " the charts published at St. Petersburg in the lni|N>riaI de|K>l in lt*02 and the charts "of Vancouver." King (ieorge's Arcbi|H'lago mentioned by llumlioldt is only a small part of the survey by Vancouver, which incliidiMl the Russian jxist " Sitka." The Russian I'lenipotentiariiv, in the course of the negotiations, r<>ferred to Kiig- lish iiuipM as furnishing the most recent and reliable information. Ill ri'plying to the Britirh Pleiiipoteiitiarie.'i' second Projet, the Russian Pleni|)o- tentiaries rcniarked: " D'apres Ics cartes les plus receiites et les mcillcures piibliees en " Angleterre, lis etablissemens ile la Compagnie ile la Bale de llnilson ne ae rappro- " cbrnt lies cotes que par le .Ml""' ct le 54""' degre, et I'dii w sauruit prouver ipie siir " aueuii point ils arrivent jusqu'aii gnind i»'ean." Again, on the 20-17 March. 1M24, in n-marking on ,Sir ('harli>s Bagot's rejoinder to the I'rojct just meiitioiied, the Russian Plenipotentiaries remark: " (ju'au restc d'apriV le t^moig:iage des cartes b-s plus reeentes piibliees en An,"'l'- " terre, il n'existe aueun f-tablissi'ment Anglais ni sur la cote mi'me ilu continent, ni au " nord du r>4""' degre de latitude scptentrionale." Then, on the filh April, 1h24, rmint de Neswlrmle, in writing to (!ount de Liev-n, reimirks : — " On ne peut effectivement asser. le r#p<''ter, d'apri'^s le f'moignage des cart<>9 les " plus ri'-ceiitcs, I'Angleterrc ne possMe aueun etablissemiiit ni A la hauteur du Port- " land Canal, ni i Isird meine de I'm-ean." • • • The maps of Arrowsmith, hydrographer to His Royal niglini>sH the Prinii' of Wab's, were noted for their ndiability at the time of the (^invention; he made maps for the Hudson's Bay Company, and the Company iilaiiil all their topographical infor- mation at his dispoknl. A map of North America first publisluil in 17I)R, but eorreeteil np to 1S14 (now in the library of the Royal Oeographieal Society), is dwlioated by Arro.vsmitb to the Hudson's Bay Company in reeognition of their liberal eoinmuniea- tions to him. Mr. Stanfonl of T>^ng Acre procured from the late Mr. Arrowsmith, and has now in his luissession, many original sketches and surveys of Hudson Bay Company's territory. But, for the details of tho Alaskan const, Arrowsmith was almost wholly indebted to Vaneoiiver. On the other hand, it was probably to Arrowsmith's maps the Russian *lt may ssfely be asatiineil tliat thts Riiitilan map nf 1H22, In ttB details, closely followed the Rasslsa map |>ublished In 1826. Sir ntlactioil map No. 6— D.R.C. 'Icnipotcntiar ics, for the til n the intcrio] oast-liiu' surv II. S. Tan lie Royal (iii corrected to 1 the former •toil to IH14 iciitiiin, is rei n various pai As will I emark did ni Jnited States ayiiig : — " Tl ffi'ct the subj( by himself) " in which Vi remarks hen Tanner tc be ipieslii'i' 1 iriginated the {ussia and tl It is thus bo Conveiitifi opographical The Russ he British an The watc lUowiiig ti'rn ' Contractaiiti tracce ainsi " A part it "trmive sous ' ct le LI.'!""' d' ail Nord le 01) elle atte The Pr atitudc am Tho isla \rcbipelago ( \tla8.) One of th Arcliipolago ' ilready allud The first n tho first lame " I'ilc 1 ho British Vancouv Prince of \ lis Bupposit slands does Hence ii sland. Vanconi •uke of Ola: not visibly ' forming as 'with the I The na Jritish Adii lova Bay, 849. D— 2 il 1 Mc'iiiiiotcntiuriea ri'tVrnil wlirii they H|Miki' of tlu^ |if>«itioii of tlio lliidson Riiy I'licto- ics, fi)r till! titlo of the iiiap of North AiiiCrica Buys it includes " all llio now ilinc.'ovcrica n tlio interior parts of North America," and Vancouver's charts are i'onfes«dly only oast-line aurveyn. II. S. Tanner, a leadinK I'nitiHl Stales KeoK'aiilier, who published an Alius (now in lu! Koyal (!eii(fra|ilii< 'd Soei"ly's lilirary) of North Anieriea. at \Vasliiii({i"" i" l>*-2 <'orreclc'il to 1^*2.1) speaks in his preface of " Arrowsniith and of Vaneouver;" he refer« o the former as " the eminent British K^iRrapher," and says of his nnip of ITllS, eor- i-etoil to 1HI4: " Thin chart, although the most complete at the [leriod of its first iMili- icatlon, is rcndenil nearly ol)solet«! hy the (freat (|uaiitity of charts and other works n various parts of the American coast wliiih have npjs'ared within a few years." As will be unilcra^ 'd from what inimwliatcly follows. Tanner's depreciatory emark did not apply ti llie .south-wist coast of Alaska, but to the interior of the Inited States, ic, for he (foes on to notice " The Atlas to Vincouvcr's \'oya«c8," aying ; — "These charts, with the exfvption of a few points" (none of the/>c pointa ffect the subject of this report) " to be noticed hereafter, wer«' used almost exclusively" by himself) " for the western coast Ik?1ow the latitude of 110° N. The high estimation ' in which Vancouver's charts are deservi'dly held by men of science renders any remarks here, in their cc imeiitlation, entirely sniierHuous." Tanner took special interest in the north-west coast of America, for he discusws hi' (|ue«liei' of the claim of Itussia rais<(l by the Imperial I'kase of 1'>l'1, whenci> riginated the Conventions of 1824-5 between Russia and Great Britain, and Ix'tween tuasia and the United States. It is thug apparent that both Russian and British authorities, when negotiating be Convention of 1826, had access to the most reivnt and trustworthy sources of opographical knowledge with respect to the north-west const of Ni>rth Anu'rien. The Russian authorities referre«■"■■ degre de latitude Nord." The Prince of Wales Island above referred to is recognized at once by the recorded atitudc and longitude of its southern coast. The island is the principal feature; of what Vancouver named the Prince of Wales' , ,. , , _, 8vo Edn., V^ol. IV., p. 273 , ^ ,„t t ir > Archipelago (»ce Vancouver „, -l^ , „ .,„ and Chart VII of V ancouvora 4to Edn., Vol. II., p. 419 /Vtlas.) One of the earliest map references to what Vancouver had called "Prince of Wales's Archipolaffo " as " Prince of Wales Island " is to be found in the Atlas of Tanner, ilready alluded to, published at Washington in 1822, and improved in 1826. The first record of official use of the name " Prince of Wales Island appears to be II the first Projet submitted in 1824 by the Russian Plenipotentiaries, in which the lame " I'ilc du Prince de Galles" occurs; and subsequently the name was adopted by lie British Plenipotentio-'y Vancouver correctly supposed that the lands to which he hod given the name Prince of Wales's Archipelago," did not form e single island ; but he had not verified lis supposition; and consequently, on his chart, their sub-division into separate stands does not appear. Hence it was natural for the Plenipotentiaries to refer to the Archipelago as an sland. 8vo Ed., Vol. IV., pp. 272-3 4toEd., Vol. n.,p. 419 uke of Clarence's Strait) " western shore is an extensive tract of land, which (though ' not visibly so to us), I have reason to believe is much broken and divided by water, ' forming as it were a distinct body in the great archipelago. This I have honoured ' with the name of ' Prince of Wales's Archipelago.' " The name Prince of Wales's "Island" appears to have been first adopted on iritish Admiralty charts in 1861, in the case of No. 2430, Vancouver Island to Cor- lova Bay, originally published in 1856; and so introduced from a Russian chart of 849. D— 2 Vancouver's Voyage of Discovery, , says:— "Its" (the Tho correct recognition of the ialand lias becu tlwelt upon at sotnc length, beeauie, as will hereafter ap|H.'ar, tlif United Stattw' authoritieH take the view llmt "Wales Island" to the north of the entrance to Observatory Inlet is "The Prince of Wales Island " of the Convention of 1»25. Tho eoniniencrnient of the line is ileseribed by the Urd Article of the Convention as beinK at the iioint " le pliH meridional de I'ile dite I'rincv of Walcx, Icipiel point so " tronve sons la pnrallele ilu M""" deirre, 4(» niiniites do laitiide Nonl, ct entrc le IIU"" "et le i:til"'" deirr/' 4''" Vancouver,' &cy and p. 600, " This latter cape is the S.E. point of tho Prince of Wales Archipelago, " and lK>ars S.W. i S. from the former " (=:Cai)o Northumberland^ " about 26 miles " distant in " Ijit. 64° 43', N. " Ix)ng. 131° 64' W." Ill the I'ditlon of l.'*.'il, Part I, of the same work, at p. xxzix, the latitude is given as N. 64° 43' and the longitude as W. 181° 66'. On tho authority of Vancouver, and at page 442, it is said:-- " This latter cape is the S. W.* jioint of the Prince of Wales Archipelago, and "bears W.S.W. from the former (=Cape Northumberland) 8 or leagues off." The I'licitii- Const Pilot IHSH (Cniteil Stati*), p. 64, sa.vs: — " Nearly S.W. by W. from Barren Ilock, according to Russian authorities about " 24 miles, i.s situated Cai)e Chacon or de Chacon, named by Caamano, and forming the " south-eastern point of Prinoe of Wales Island. • ♦ • "The outlines of the land "arc very differently given by different authorities, but most of them agree in placing " it in about latitude 64'" 42' N., and nearly or quite on tho same parallel with Point "Nunez and CaiK! iluzon." British Admiralty charts take' the latitude of Cape Chacon from Vancouver's chart as 64° 42^ N. A large manuscript map compiled by Mr. L. Ilebert, jr., in 1831, in the Colonial Office, assigns lat. 64° 40' N. to Cape Chacon; but there is nothing to indicate its authority, and it -s probable that it is based on the latitude recorded in the Convention of 1826. •S.B. (?)— D.R.C. M' 40' Cain' Ihaoou Iiih gciuTuily Ihi'Ii cijiiHiilcri'il tliu KiiUlluTMiiuiiit puint •<( I'riiirc of Wales UIuikI rcfernil tn in tlw Coiivi iilinn ; y I'rinco of WhIm'i Ari-hi|ii'lni;o, i'all< il I'riiioo of WiiIch Island in tho (Jonvcntion of IfiS. Thi- hitltndc of ('a|K! Muzon, llic si>ulh-»o«tcrn poinf of tlii^ Ari'liipoUiKo, i" »nh- jpot to siniilur douht. It has iM'cn mill that wliilo Vani'ouvrr'H roiMird of the poHiliiin of ("ajK' Chacon Max attrihutcd to hi» own olworvation hy Kindlay's Diri'i'tory of Ih.'il, Vanronvcr him- self rpfors to Cnaniaiio as hi« anthorily. I In Findlay's hook of IsM it will !«■ fontid (part 1., pane xxxviii.) that to Cn|K' Muion is assiKncd hit. .Vt° III' N. un tin authority of Qiiadni in 177.'-. According to the other »uthoritir« iilnaily niontionnl, llio rofcriMK^a to ("oih! Miizon art' to the following cffoct : — Findlay's North Pacific Ocean Directory of ISSfl does not assinn a latitude to (!ai>o Muzon. At page tiori, it is said " of the coast of Prince of Wacs ArchipolaRo we know "but very little," andat pane m^l, "CaiH" Muzon, the S. K. (S. W.J) point of the " ArehilielaRo, is 12 miles to the east," i.e., from Port Oar.an, hut the latitude of Port Bazan is not (riven. British Admiralty charts show the position of Cape }kluzon as (liven on Vancou- ver's charts; hut VancouviT indicates fin the cliartM thcmsj'Ives that ho noted Cape Muzon up4'^ 49' 30" N ' were determined in 1881 by Lieutenant-Commander Nichols, T.S.N., 132° BC 12" W., 54° 41' 4" N. giving i.i "^ Clape Muzon. The CoUinial Offii'c manuscript map 4°"' degrC', 40 minutes, (le latitude Nord. et entrc le 131"'<- et le 13;!""' ,lcgre de " longitude Ouest," are used merely parenthetically to facilitati' reference to tlii' geo- graphical feature alluded to. Taking the words as tliev occur, they are plainly the "qnivalent of " the Hue com- " mencing at thi^ southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island, which point we, the "negotiators. iK'lievo to be about latitude ■^4° 40' X. and lietween 13r ami 133° west " longitude." * Also In Arrowsmith's map of 1832 (Royal Ocograiihlcal Soi'let>'B Map Room, No. 39) kIvos M' 40' ; hut the map of 17(16, corrected lo 1814 gives 04* 42'.— D R.C. Till' tcrriliiry to Ik' a»HiKii>''l mi'l iiul u Intitiidi' (ir a iDiiKitinli' wiis tlw •.iilijicl mat- ter cif till' iii'Kiitiiitiiiiis. Till' Uuv^iaii (•ovrriiiiiiiit liiiil Imi n naily ti> r"ii-.i(lir Mirli n ilivisiiiii 1)1' tirrit.iry as iiiiKliI \f iiiarkiil mit liy tlir paralli'l of .'i.'i' X. Int.. liiit tiiuliiiK this lilii' wiiiilil Irnvit t\vi> i'i>iii|mrativi'ly miiiiII partH iif tlic hiipinimkI isliiiiil, I'riiiri- nf \Vali-i*",t ArrliiiH'laK". pnijictinK mi thr Hrili^li »iili', ami wmilil minii'sHarily ijfiiori' the ailvantaKi's »f natural K>'<>Krapliii'al t'laliiri's in I'nniii'xinn with iiitcriiatinnal liinit.-i, tlu'y pri'sBiJ I'lir the sniithiriinnwt |M>int of llii' islniiil as the I'omiiii'iu'i'nii'iit nf thi' li.ii'. In their ri'idy ti> Sir I'harlis Batrnt's tii-Bl I'mjii, thr Ku-.-'iaii l'lrnii>oliiitiiirii s n- /uarkod : — " I^'s priipiisitiiins faites par li's I'lrnipiitcntiiiins ilr Itussii' a Sir ('harlr« jiair.it it "que Son Kxi'i'llenn- ii I'le prii'e ilc prenilrc I'li iiiiiri nsiilrratioii, ti-ndaii'iit a faire " ailinittri' le .'i.'i'""' ilenri' ile liititmli' tcpti'iilriornli' roiiiine lidiie ile ili''niiiri'aliMii intre " le« iiodsitisiuna respeetives siir la role N'oril Duest ile rAiiieriipie. " C'ette nienie liinito a ili'ja I'te iissidin'e aiix possi'ssions liiisses par la elinrte ipie " l'Eni|Mr<.'iir I'nnl 1" aeeonln a la ('oinpa(.'nie Ainerieaiiie. "Coninie la paralli-le iln S'l"'" ileRre eoiipe Tile ilii I'rinee ile fialles ilniis son extre- "niite nieriilionale, laissant en ileliors ileiix poiiile-i ile terre, les I'lenijioii'iitiairiti .lo " Ruswio oMt ])ropose ipii ees ili'iix pointes fusseiit eoinprises dnni les liinites KusM-^ " voulant eviter jmr Ii, line divisinn de territoi'c ^ealenient ineoniniode niix ileiix par- " ties interessi'i's. " I'inir eoniiileter la lijrne de deinarea'ion et la rendre 'lussi distinrte ipie jiossible, "les Pleiiipoteiitiaires de UiisHie out exprinie !e ilfsir de I li faire suivrc le Portland "Canal jiisipi'mix nioiilaitnes qui lio.-.ieiit la eote." These remarks show with jierfeet elearness that the RovctninR idea in the minds nf the Russian Plenipntei'tiaries, when einliodyiiiR in the Convi ntion the reeoril of lati- tude niid lonKitude, was t.i iiidieate a honndary hy Reonraph enl features, and not to require one to Ih- deteriiiined hy (teodetie measurement. Having first proiHiseil a iiarallel of latitude Ixuindary, they inodifiiHl their projiosal in order iliat the line luixlit ueeord with (jreoirraphieal features. Attain, referring to the same siihjeet, in their reply to Sir ('harle« Bagot's ainenclod proposal, the Russian Ph'nipolentiaries reeorded et a suhseqiieiit eonferenee that, "II " etait aussi de h'ur eonvenaiii'e inutiielle de determiner ii's liniites d'apres hs sejiar'!- " tions naturelles ipii fornieiit toujours les frontieres les plus distinetes et les plus oer- " taints." » • * •• On ne parlera point iei des deux pointes de Tile du Prinee 'le " Galles (|iii sont situees au-dessoiis de la ligne de degre de latitude noril. Ces "deux jMiintes ne pourraient etre d'aneune utilite a la (iraude-Bretagne, et si neuf- " dixiemes de I'ile ilu Priiiif ile (iailes appartiennent a la Russio il est C'videniment d'nii " interet reeiproque qe I'ile lui appartienne tonte ontiJre." Tjititude ''>4° 40' was mentioned in the Jlrd Article of the Convention of 17th April, 1H24, betw)i>n Russia and the I'nited States, as the lino limiting the extension of their resiieetive nationalities on the N.W. enast and among its islands. The negotiations with regard to the British Convention were proeee tlir word iHid lOi |{ii<«ijiiii rluirt": it ii litiTiillv and pliuiMticall.v (dowd.v Hiniilar to tlii' KiiK'><«l> ami Fr<'n(di word cunal. Tilt' Fn'iudi word caiuil U Htill tlic nyiionynir of liolli the KnKli'*li wi>riU cniiiil and r/irtniM'/. Ill the first eontre Projet of the Unsnian Plenipotcntiariiw llicy speak of the fiatUH' as " le Portland Caiia!." In the rejoinder by the Urilinli Pleiilpotrntiary it i-i nfirrcd to at " le Canal di' I'orlland." Ill the Knssian reply, the iiaim- hm'iI is " le Portland Channi'l." While, in ans»erin)f. the liritisli iiedotintoc s|M'ak^ of the water iw " le !'• i i iid Canal." The entrance lo Portland Channel in referred to by Sir Charloa Batrot durinit iii' ncBotiation with tile Hnssian Plinipoteiitiaries as lieiiiK in latitude ,%4° 4.^' X. Ill rc'jdy to the i'HiiiIit pniji cI '^nbiiiitli'il by the KiK'-iaii int'oliators. "^'r ( liiirle, Batfot says : — " II est & renianiuir en ri'ponsi' a la |Mpi>silioii Inite par les I'leiui'olt'iitiair"" Uii^scs, ipruiie '■( • , ■ ileniareation triii'i'e de rcx:reiiiite iiieridiiniiile ile I'ile dii Prill'-'" lie (ialli'S jiis(pi ii I I iiiboiii'hnre c'li Caiiiil de Porlbiiid. de la ]>iir le milieu de ee I'Ri! il *»*»*»* yif.pdjt a >S.i .Majeste liritiiiiiiiipie la sonveraineto 4° 4.5J'. .\iid Vancouver, by whom the Canal was named, («'c Vaneouver's Voyages svo Edn.. V(d. IV., p. Iltl , . , , . , , . . ,-,.... „, ,, , ,, ,_.) mentions the latitude uf a point at it8 mouth within halt 4 4lo Kdii., Vol. II., p. ;)71 mile of the continental shore to the north aa 64° 45J' (aee Vaneouver's Voyages .Nvo Kdn., Vol. IV., p. 14(J , 4to Edn., Vol. II., p. :V.U Consequently there is no doubt as to the pnssaKo through which the boundary was iiilciided to run from the oe«'an. On the United Utate.s' chart. No. ".'2.'), .S.W. coast of Alaska, Alexander Archi- pelago, corrected by United States authorities up to 18S2, the mouth of Portland Canal* is shown as U'tween .14° 4.''>' X. latitude, and .14° 4rvalory Inlet in IStW has bwn embodied in the Uniti^l States chart. Since the first publieatiiui of these British and ruited States charts there is indicated a regular int<'rchanKe of liydrographical iiiforniatioii bi-twoen the '«o countries. Again, on the United States' ;'hart. No. 710, l{evilla Ciigedo Channel, S.E. Alaska, 188S, from surveys in 18S3, shows the entrance to Portland Channel as being in the latitude above noteaii entrance to Poi iiid Canal. The course of the canal incluib'd under the name Portland is minutely detailed by „ ,,, , „ Svo JMn., Vol. IV., pp. l.!2-14i) . \ aneouver (Vaneouver's Voyages ,. , n ',.,„om'- 4to Kdn., \ ol. II., i>p. ;!.1fi-.144 He sums up his notice of it thus: " In the forenooii we reaehinl that arm of the "sea whose examination had occupied our time from the 27th of the jireceding to the "2nd of this month (August, 1703). The distance from its entrance; to its source is "about 70 miles: which, in honour of the iiolde family of Bentinck, I named Port- land's Canal " (4to cd., Vol. II., p. 371). ). D-3 • C. B. Vancouver, Portliiad fnnnl. 10 The latitudes aad lougitudes given by Vancouver aa those of the entrance and source of the canal, — the length 70 miles, — the chart records already referred to, — luid Sir ('harles Bugot's reference to tlie latitude of the entrance to Portland ("anal, all concur in establishing the fact that Portland Channel as understood at tho date of the Omvcntion had communication with the ocean entirely distinct from the entrance to Observatory Inlet, called — only since about 1853 — Portland Inlet. It has already b(«n explained that thi' southenunost point of Prince of Wales Island and the Portland Canal as regulating the boundary line, were adopted on the sugges- tion of the Russian Plenipotentiaries, as well mnrked geographical features conducing to international convenience as compared with a parallel of latitude at first desired by them; and, an a matter of fact, it would api)ear from the most reliable authorities that the southern point of the Prince of Wales Island and the ocean entrance to Portland Canal are not on the same parallel. It further apiwars — from the mention in the Convention (Art. Ill) that tho southernmost point of the Prince of Wales Island was supposed to !><• in about latitude .14° 40' N'., while Sir Cliarli's Bagot had referred to the entrance to Portland Caual l)eing in 54° 45' N., — that the negotiators did not suppose these places were on the same parallel of latitude. Under these circumstances it follows that the boundary describe*! by the Conven- tion of 1825 as " & partir du point le plus meridional dp I'lle dite Prince of Wales • • * " la dite ligne remontera au Nord lo long de la passe dite Portland Chonnel," follows the course of a great circle between tho south of the Prince of Wales Island and the centre of the Portland Canal ocean entronee. Such a line is the most direcit that ran bo drawn on the earth's surface between any two named terminal points. All points on it viewtxl from either extremity appear to be what would be popularly deserilx.'d as i» line. It is consi^quently the simplest. There are numerous rocky islets iK'tween Portland Canal and the south of Prinei! of Wales Island, and in case of the great circle lino just referred to, intersecting any of these, it would hv plainly in llie sjiirit of the negotiations which rcsult*>en two shores of which it becomes the undisputed owner. But the " slintliiig up of Behring's Straits, or the i«iwcr to shut them np hercafler would be a " thing mil to be tolerated by Knglaiid." • •*«««» "But ill some way or other, if not in the form now prescribed, the free navigation "of Behring's Straits, and the seas be.yond them, must be secured to us." Siiliscqiienlly, on 8th Decembi'r, 1824, Mr. fl. Canning, in instructing Sir S. Can- ning with regard to Behring's Straits, gives his reasons for deciding to omit mention of Behrint,*! Straits in the Convention. 11 Feb. 17 Sir S. Canning, in Despatch No. 15 of ,, , . 1825, when reporting the conclu- Mar. 1 sicn of the Convention, remarks : — " With resjiect to Behring's Straits, I am happy to liavo it in my power to assure " you, on the joint authority of the Russian Plenipotentiaries, that the Emperor of " Russia has no intention whatever of maintaining any exclusive claim to the naviga- " tion of those straits or of the seas to the north of them." And there is no allusion to Behring's Straits in the Convention itself. On the other hand, Russia, by the 6th Article of the Convention, assented to the British claim to navigate the ocean to and from all rivers between Mount St. Elias and Portland Canal, flowing out of British territory. Yet as by the recent Treaty of Washington with the United States the British claim to navigate rivers, &c., within these limits is restricted by consent to navigation of the Stickeen, it is possible the Dnited States might contend that they Rtf> by the Treaty of 1867 with Russia invested with territorial rights over all water between the islands on the coast north of the southernmost post of Prince of Wales Island to Cape Spencer, approximately in lati- tude 58° lO* N., excepting only as regards approach to the Stickeen. Under these circumstances it may be desirable that a definite understanding should be arrived at ns to the meaning to he attached to the inter-territorial line from Prince of Wales Island to Portland Canal.* Portland Canal, as describes from the point he noted as its tenniuation, and it is known that two fresh water streams flow into it at its north- ern eiul, there is room for variety of opinion as to what exact point should be con- sidered the head of the Canal. 8vo. Edn., Vol. IV., p. 138 ^„ ,,,,,-„,...,, V Hiiciiuver . „ , „, _, siiys, at lOn.m., 2!)lh .Inly, linil, "it (tlic 4to. Edu., Vol. II., p. 340 Portland Cimel) " was found to terminate in low marshy land," and ho subsequently indicates that he did not stay to examine the locality, since he mentions that two hours «fterward.s, on his return journey, he had observed for latitude thre(> miles to the south- ward. When, at 10 a.m. on the 2iKh .Tuly, 170.1, Vancouver reached the head of the Canal it w^s about dead low water of spring tides, and four days previously ho tuid iioteil a rise f 20 feet in the Observatory Inlet. Siieh a rise in the neighbourhood of low marshy land might well account for vnric^ty of statement in recording the latitude of the termination of the Caiud. The outline of Portland Canal is sin li that no diffii'ully should arise in coming to iin agri'cment as to the exact position nt' the international line |inssing through it. .\ few jioints, however, re(|uire preliininary consideration with a view to clearing the sidiject. riie Unssiaii TIenipoteiitiaries when iiski'd li.v Sir Charles Bugot to put their origi- niil verliiil contre-l'.'ojel in writinj.'. lliiis rclerreil to I'lirllaml Canal : — " I'our complercr la ligne de deuiiirciition et In remlre aussi distinete que possible les I'leiiipotenliaires dc Russie out exprinu'' le desir de liii faire snivre Ic Portland Canal j\isqu'nux 'icntagues qui bordent In - 'te." Sir Charles Ivaimt, in replying, ooinnieiKvd by a recapitulation of what he under- stood the Russian suggestion to be, and ri'uinrked, " En ri'pouse a la proposition faite "par les Pleniiuil Miliaires Kusscs, (jn'one ligne de deuuireatioii traei'e de retxreuiito " nu'ridionale de I'ile n two others in the same plane which do not intersect ; but tlu'orcticall.v, and i.^ttuiniiig the measurements to be made from the externnl to the medial line, u line cannot be drawn so as to be cqui-distant from two lines varying in direction, which are not themselves theoretically parallel to one another, and symmetrical. Probably as strict a ))rncticul definition as can be given of a medial line suitable to the case under (li!^<•u^silln, is that it shall bi' a line so placed iM'lwecn the (ii)posite • 'anal boundaries that lines intersecting it at right angles auil limited by the ojiposito boundaries shall be bisected by it. The characteristic of s\ich a line is that were a vessel moving along it, the boundaries of the (!anal would be ecpil-distant on the vessel's beams. Vet the detinition fails to satisfy the problem under the circum- stances of sudden or angular change of direction or of breailtli in the Canal, and re- quires to be suppli'meuted by the following : — " Where the apjilication of tbi- fore- " going detinition fails to give a continuous line, a conventional medial line shall be '"agreed U|hiii, so as to connect the adjacent extremities of the intiTrupted lines des- " crilKil in accordance with the definition." For the purpose of simplifying tlie demarcation of the medial line, the outlines of the Canal should be convcutiomiUy modified into a succession of connected straight lines, and then the medial international line located with leference to these conven- ti'juul lines. With regard to the course of Portland Cluinuel in the nciglibourhood of Tongnss Island ai the channel's mouth, it is clearly indicated by tile red lino drawn on the ai'companying tracing from Vaiicouvi'r's chart. No. 7. The red line illustrates Vancouver's exploratory boat track, which, as stated by him, followed the course of the channel he called Portland Canal. On the I'nitL-d .States' chart. No. 710, of Rcvilla Oigedo Channel (1885), the topo- graphy is delineati'd on a somewhat large scale, and names are allotted to most of tlu' principal geographical features. These names will make clear the following verbal description of the Canal boundary entrance. Commencing between Tongass and Kjinnagliunut Islanilj the Canal throughout Its length follows tlu continental shore line, leaving on its southern and eastern side, in succession — Sitklan Island, Wales Island, Fillimore Island, and * Pearse Island. This course allots to United .States territory a distinct cntrouce (of a minimum depth of 17 fathoms) round the North and Kast of Tonguss Islanit. The next point attracting attention, and apparently of much importance, is the determination of the place — at the northern extremity of Portland Canal, where the line leaves it. 'i'lie head of the Canal is the nearest route to the ocean for a British region of con- siderable extent to the north and east. The Admiralty survey by Commander Pender, R.N., in 1808, is probably the most authentic available chart of this part of the Canal. The survey shows .Salmon Kiver (lowing in a south-easterly direction and Bear River in a south-westerly direction to conjunction at the head of the Canal. The valleys of these two rivers are delineated as acutely si'piit.ited by lofty moun- tains, whieh rising precipitously from the water of the Canal, attain elevations of 2,0(X), 4,5(XI, .'i,000 and O.OflO feet in tile course of a few miles. By the survey the northerly course of the medial line of the Canal would terminate close to where soundings of 24 fathoms are shown on the edge of a saiid-bauk at the junction of the two streams with the Canal, approximately in ri.l^ H-ifs' N. lat. Before passing on to the course of the line beyond the head of the Canal, it may be well to clear away ambiguity occurring in the wording of the llrd Article of the Con- vention. The words "la dite ligiie remontera an nord le long ile la passe dite Portland " Chauuel, jnsiiu'au point de la terre ferine oft elle alteint le M\""' degr**' di latitude " nord " have been translntcd into Kiiglish as follows: — " The said line sluiU ascend to "the norlli along the Channel called Portland Cluinnil ns far as the point of the "continent wliiTe it strikes the Titlth degree of north latitude." The original and the translation are both lialile to be understood as iiniilying that Portland Channel extends northward bi'yond nil" S. latitude; hut that the boundary line is not to follow the course of the Canal further tlmn the parallel of 5(1°. This interpretation is not, however, the only possible one, and, as will be seen, is incorrect. 13 In English and Uussian charts at the date uf the Coiiveutiou the latitude of the northern extremity of Portland ("iiniil is always shown as r>.'i° 45' N. as detorinincd hy Vancouver, cxcopting in the Uussian oliart of 1802, on which tlu^ latitude assigned is approximately 55° 42J' N. From the date of the Convention until as recently as the survey by Commander Pender, K.N., in ISliS, the occcpted latitude^ ha» been 55° 45' X. Commander Pender's survey assigns about 55° 54' to the position where it may be assumed Vancouver considered the Canal to terminate, but this pos.sible approximation to 56° N. lat. cannot be considend as ulTeeting the jioint under discussion in any way. Not only is there the evidence of official charts, which were probably consultiMl by the negotiators, showing that Portland Channel did not extend so far north as 50° N. latitude, but there is on record that one of these charts was furnished to the British negotiator for the express purpose of the negotiation, and that he consulted Vancou- ver's chart, for he mentions the latitude given on thesu charts for the mouth of Portland Channel, and he gives reasons connected with tile head of the Channel, for hio contention that both shores of it should bo British territory. There are also numerous other references made by both the British and Kussian Plenipotentiaries to topographical details of the region, a knowledge of which at the time was obtainable only from Vancouver's charts or others founded on them. Two references were made by the Kussian Plenijjotentiaries to the latitude of the head of Portland Canal as being 56° N., but under circumstances not requiring minute precision as regards latitude: — In supiwrting their eontre-Projet they submitted arguments to Sir Charles Bagot in Jiarch 1824, remarking, " C'est par ces raisons que les Plenipotcntiaires de KiLssie "out propose pour limites sur la cote du continent au Knd, le Fnrlland ('hannel dont " I'origine dans les terres est par le 56""' degri' de latitude nord, et u Test «»»,•' And again, " Le projet d'arrangement des Plenipotcntiaires de Uussie laisse ouvert "ft I'extension successive des Colonies Anglaises: — it ^o #««#««««« " 2° Tout le territoire situe entre les etablissements Anglais an 54"'" ot I'origine " du Portland Channel qui est au 50"'" parallt'le." In the first quotation the line of Portland Canal is roughly referred to as a southern boundar.v, whereas it is in fact almost due north and south, and therefore an eastern boundary; and like absence of precision is attributable to the referciiee to latitude. Similarly in indicating general limits to another region in the case of the second quotation, the stretch between British establishments in lat. 54° and Portland Channel Int. 56° is mentioned. Neither latitude is correct, but both are sufficiently so for the use made of the reference to them. The reference in this case is plainly to trading, where Fort M'Laughlin, in about 52i° N. is noted by Arrowsmith. But if these cireumstanees shouUl possibly leave room for doubt that the nego- tiators were under the impression at least that it was probable Portland Canal did not extend so far to the north as 56° N. lat., there is the direct and conclusive evidence of the Russian Plenipotentiary himself, — Count do Nesselrode, who subsequently on the 5th April, 1824, in writing instructions to the Kussian Ambassador, remarks: — " * • nons proposions de porter la frontiere meridionnle ile nos doniaines uii " 54° 40' de latitude et de la faire aboiitir sur le continent an Portland Canal dont " I'embouchurc dans roe<''un est u hi hauteur de rile du Prince de Cmllcs et I'origine "dans les terres entre le 55° et 50° de latitude;" and Sfr. Canning's description of the line, to Sir Charles Bagot, on 12th July 1S24. Consequently the Plenipotentiaries could not have intended the formal declaration of their agreement to bo interpreted as stating in effect that Portland Canal either passed or actually rcfiched so high a latitude as 50° N. The origin of the reference in the Convention to 60° N. latitude may be traced through another passage in the same Despatch from Count de Nesselrode to Count do Lieveur; and in Sir Charles Bagot's Despatch of 17-2!) March, li-24, to Mr. Canning. The Coiuit de Nesselrode remarks " » » • * ](,g d(>rnieres propositions de " Sir Charles Bagot furent • * * de stipuler que notre frontiere suivrait ile cette "tie" (Prince of Wales) " la passe dite Diiko iif Clarence Sound et qu'elle n'olioutirait " & la cote qu'au-dessus du 56° de latitua of the composition, the draftsinau negleols the develoiiing jioint, and sets the geographical feature in movement of di'velopinent until It reaches the 50° of latitude, then once more reverts to his nialii idea, and considers the geograiihicai features stationary, and a point to he moving over them developing a line. The redundancy in the sentence on the supposition that "elle atteint" refers to "la passe dite Portland Channel," is still more striking. In this ease there could bo no occasion whatever for the inlroduetion of th(> words "de la term ferine," Without these words the sentence stands " la dite ligne remontera au nord le long do la passe "dite Portland Channel jusqu'au point ofi elle atteint le 5(1""' degre dr latitude nord." On the other hand, as the inti'ution was that the line should reach 50° of latitude, and it was believed that the Cluuiuel did not extend so far to the north, the words "de "la terre fernie" are not only naturally introduced, but aid in avoiding ambiguity, since without them the inference might, and probably would, be that the line wa.s to reach the parallel of 5(1° on the waters of the Channel; but with tbiiu it is prescribed that the end of the section of the line is to be f(uiud on a point " di' la terre ferine." That the expression " la terre ferine " may have been here iisi d to indicate a point on the waters of Portland Channel is further negatived by the reply (already quoted) of Sir Charles Bagot to the Russian contre-Projet, in which he interprets their pro- posal to mean a line traced to the mouth of Portland Channel, thence along the middle jf the channel ''jiisqii'i'i ce qa'ello {la linne) loiicho la iorre ferine." u rensoJ " tnkJ " t.Trl "ostif 15 The forcgoiug roinurkg show that thp Coiiveiitiim of 1825, wlitii ili-fiuiii),' the lint' subsequent to its arrival at the head of Portland Chiinnel, r<'c|iiiri'» tlint the boundary should run to a point on the jiarailel of riO° N. lat. and from the same jioint (de ce dernier point) continue onwards. This point of the parallel of Bt!""' N. lat. is defined in effect to be that , at not more than 10 marine leagues from the ocean, where the crest of the mountains nearest the ocean may be found, or, failing such luuuntaius, a point on the parallel at 10 marine leagues from the ocean. Little or nothing wos known of the inland topography of Alaska, by the Negotia- tors of the Convention of 1826. Vancouver's charts showed by conventional signs an unsurvej'cd mountainous region bordering on the coast; but both the Russian and British negotiators, while doubtful as to the intention of the authors of the charts, conceived the probability of these inland details being unndiable, and so framed the .trd and 4tli sections of the Treaty as to provide for this contingency. The Russian Plenipotentiaries offered to secure to the British the unfcttired navigation of all the rivers qui ahoiiliasenl u Voci'dn ilann ccllc mhnc lisiire. That is to say, they did not know what rivers there were, but their offer extended to any there might be. The Russians re|)eated tlicir proposal to the same effect as follows: — " Les Plenipotentiaires de Sa ^lajestc Imperiulc pri'voynnt nicme le eas (ifi, snr la "lisiire de la cote cjni appartiendrait a hi Hussie, il se tronverait i\v< flcnvcs an nioyen " des quels les etablisseinents Anglais ponrraicnt eonnMiini<|iier avec I'ocean, se sont "empresses d'offrir par uue stipulation ('ventiicllc la librc navigation de ces flenvcs." Mr. Canning having referreil the boundary (juestion to the Hudson's Bay Company, their Governor in replying remarked: " Neither party have any very "accurate geographical information witli rcsinct to the country in the immediate "neighbourhood of tlie sea, and * » ♦ tlie most satisfactory manner of settling "this point probably would be by inserting in any article providing for the buumlary " on the mainland ' the nearest chain of mountains not exceeding u few leagues of the " ' coast.' " Mr. Canning, in writing to Count de Lievon, refers to " rivers which may be "found to empty themselves into the sea within the Russian frontier." Again, in writing to Sir Charles Bagot, he says: ''The seawani base of the "mountains is assumed as that" (eastern) " limit, liut we have e.xiwriemc that other " mountains on the other side of the American continent, which have been assumed "in former Treaties as lines of boundary, are incorrectly laid down in the maps; and "this inaccuracy has given rise to very troublisomc discussions. It is therefore "necessary that som<' otlier security should be taken that the line of demarcation to "be drawn jmrallel with the coast, as far as Mount St. Klias, is not carried loo far " inland. This is done by a proviso that the line shall in no eas<> (i.e., not in that of "the mountains which appear by tli(> map ahnost to border the coast turning out to " be far removed from it) be carried further to the east than a spccitied number of " leagues from the sea." Then Count do Lieven in writing to Mr. Canning says: — "* * * il ne serait iioint impossilije, vfi li' pell de I'erlitude des notions geogrnphi- " ones s parages, que les nidiitiignes rlesi^nee-i pour liinife endissent par line peiite insensilile jiis(|n'niix bords ineiiii' de la cote." Impressed by thi' importance of guarding against the possible unintendcil conse- quence of topographical ignorance, Mr. Canning again reverts to the subject in writing to Mr Stratford Canning, and remarks: — "The inconvenience against which we wished to guanl was that which yon know "and can thoroughly explain to the Russian PleiilpotiMitlaries to have existed on the "other side of thi' Anierican conlinenl. whi'ii nionnlains laid down in a map as in a "certain given position, and assumed in faith of the accuracy of that map iis n "boundary betwiH'ii the possessions of Kiigland and the ITnited States, turnivl out to "be quite differeiilly sitiiatiil, a discovery which has given rise to tlie most perplexing "discussion. Sbmild the inaiis Iw no more iid' '•■ite as to the western than as to the "eastern nionnlains, we might ho assigning lo LiLssia immense tracts of inland Icrri- " tory, wdiere we only intemled to give, and they only inteinled to ask, a strip of sea " coast I " Sir Charlie Bagot, in exidaining on the ITth .March, 1824, to Mr. CaiiiiiiiL' his reasons for siispcmliiig the negotiations, wrote: — " I ivrtainly coiilil not venture to "take upon myself the heavy responsibility of making any further concessions of a " territory, the value and iiossihle local advantages of which I had no means of "estimating, and whicli 1 believe are as yet imperfectly known," 16 From tile t'Mri');oiiiK (|uutaliiiiis it is plainly evident that the nefcutiatiii's of the Convention — one and all — were ignorant of inland Alaska topography, and were alive to their ignorance. In the Api)endix will be found eopies from two distinct charts of Vancouver"* Atla£. These are so placed as to facilitate comparison. The coast lines e-xaetly corresponded: — ^the conventional mountain markings on the mainland do not correspond. What has Ix-en misread as the representation of a mountain range at, roughly speaking, 10 marine leagues inland, appears in one of the charts, but not in the other. The eoast-Iine mountains api)ear in both. In neither is the inland mountain delineation such as to suggest that it was the result of detailed observation. The i)erspective views of the mountain scenery given in Vancouver'.'* Atlas serve to interpret the conventional signs by which the general features are indi- cated. The text of his history throws further light on the subject. Markings such as are given on Vancouver's c'narts along the coast of Alaska may also be seen on charts Nos. ."!, 15, 16 and IT of the Atlas of La Perousc's voyage — which preceded Vancouver's; and, on the charts of other authorities on the Paeifio Coast of North America, prior to Vancouver, will be found the " caterpillar ' class of delineations attributed by Jlr. Bayard to the poor topographic skill of Vancouver. The weight given to Vancouver's inland mountain topogra' by, by the Russian authorities, nuiy be very accurately e.stimated by a comparison of their charts of 1826 and 1802 with any corresponding one of Vancouver's. But, to return to the course of the boundary line : — When the two extremities of the section of the boundary between Portland Channel and 56° N. hit. are found, they should be connected by the arc of a great circle. The marking of such a line will probably bo found to present less difficulties than would the marking of any other line defined without reference to previously verified topographical deta'Is. In a clear country an arc of a great circle is, of course, the simplest of all to mark out, since it lies wholly within a vertical plane. It is, in fact, what in popular language would bo described as a straight line were it marked out by poles. Commencing at the highest point of the parallel of 56° N. lat. in its course over the mountain nearest to the main coast line, the boundary is to run northward along the line of mountain tops nearest to the ocean, provided these be not more than 10' marine leagues from the ocean; where the non-existence of mountains ma,v render the line indeterminate, it is to conform to the windings of the general coast line, but is never to exceed 10 marinj leagues from the ocean. It will be convenient here to quote the exact words of the Convention, of which it is submitted that the foregoing is a correct interpretation; — "la dite ligne remontera " nu nord • * • * jusqu'au point de la terre ferme ou elle atteint le 50°" degre " de latitude N'ord ; de ce dernier point la ligne de demarcation snivra la crefe des mon- " tagnes situees parallclement A la cote jusqu'au point d'interseetion du 141"'" legre He " longitudi' nncst »**♦." " II est entendu, par rapport a la ligne de dC-marcation d<'termince dans I'Article precedent; * * • • 2° Que partout oil la crete des montagnes qui s'etendent ilans uno ilireetion parallele a la cote depuis le 56"'" degre de latitude nord au point d'inter- seetion dn HI""" degre de longitude ouest, sp trouverait a la distance dp plus de dix lipups marines de I'ocean, la limite entre les possessions Britanniques, et la lisiere de c6te mentionneo ci-dessus comnip devant ai)partenir A la Kussie sera formee par uno ligne parallele aux sinuositfe de In cote, et qui ne pourra jamais en etre ^loignee que de dix lieues marines." In these extracts from the Cimvention, the words " la crete des montagnes situfes "parallement il la cote" are understood to refer to the tops of the mountains next to the sea, between 56° N. lat. and the intersection of the boundary with the meridian of 141° W. long. The founropused a line marked by mountains along the wimlings of the coast (parallMemont aux sinuosites de la cote). Sir Charles Bagot replies by suggesting a broader strip of territory, but not extending further to the south than about 50° ."Jl' N. lat., limited by an eastern boundary following the windings of the coast, and always at 10 marine leagues front it. Both parties )mve now adopted in the same sense the words " parall^lement a la " cote." The Russians applied them to a line along mountains, and therefore neces- sarily irregular in direction. The British Pleni|)otentiary borrowing the words and their meaning applied them to a lino conmiencing at 10 marine leagues inland without regard to mountains, but added " et toujours & la distance do dix lieues marines du " rivage," thus pointedly indicating that he understood the borrowed words " parallc- •' lement h la cote," merely in the sense of " along or in the general direction of thtf " coast line," that is, in the sense in which they had been used by tlie Russian Plenipo- tentiaries. When answering the last proposals by the British, the Russians speak of the moun- tain boundary suggested by them as " la cliaine dc niontagnes ipii suit ii une tres jK'titi' " distiince les sinuosites da la cote." The British Plenipotentiary, while yielding in some measure in regard to insular territory, adhered to the continental line last proposed by him. The Russian Plenipotentiaries then reverted to their original Proji't, and thereupon the conferences ceased while reftrences were being made to the British Government by both Sir Charles Bagot and the Russian Grrernment. In Sir Charles Bagot's Despatch of 17-29 March, ]8!!4, to Mr. Canning, will be found a full account of the negotiations uj) to that date. The points in dispute were communicated by Count de Ncsselrode to the Russian Ambassador in London, with instructions for his guidance in aubmitting the case to the British Government. Count de Ncsselrode, in his Despatch dated 5th April ]8'24, writes of the extent of territory on the coast desired by Russia in the following terms : — " Nous bornona nos " demandea ft celle d'une simple lisiero du continent " * • » " pile (la Rusaie) se " reserve unitjuement un point d'appui." This Despatch was communicated to Mr. Canning, who consulted with the Hudson's Bay Company on the subject. The Governor of the Company in replying remarked on ihe 19th April, 1824 : — " They," the Company, " beg me, however, to " suggest the expediency of some more definite demarcation on tho coast than the " supposed chain of mountains contiguous to it, and they conceive tluTo can be no' "difficulty in arranging this point, from the expression in tho proposition of tho " Russian negotiators ' la chaine des niontagnes, qui sont il khc Irra pi'lifr ilitlniiee des " ' sinuositfs de la c6 ■' Neither party have any very accurate geographical informa- " tion with respect to tho country in the immediate neighbourhood of the sea. and if " the intentions of the Russians are fairly to be inferred from tho words used in their " proposal, the most satisfactory manner of settling this point probably woulil be by l>— n 18 " inaertiDK iu »>>>' Article providing for the boundary on the mainland, ° the ncarust " chain of mountains not exceeding a few leagues of the coast.' " On the :il)th May, 1H24, Mr. Canning, alluding to Count de Ni«tH-lrode'ii Despatch to the Kutisian AmbasDador, informed Count do Lieven that he intended to send to Sir Charh-ri Uiigut further iniitruetionH, which he hoped would meet thr views of the KuHsian Court, and rennirked " Sir Charles Bagot's discretion will be »o far enlarged " as to enable him to admit, with certain qualiticatioiu*, the terms last prdptweil by the "Russian (Jovjrnnient. " The qualifications will consist chietly in a more definite descriptio.i cif the limit " to which the strip of land required by Kussia on the continent is to be rcstricte of longitu of gIF " rivers which may be found to empty themselves into the sea within the Kussiun " frontier, and of all seaw, atraitjs, and waters which the limits assignol to Kussia may " comprehend." On the same day Mr. Canning informed Sir Charles Bugot of his correspondence with Count de Lieven, and transmitted copies to him. On the 20th June, 1824, Mr. Canning told Sir Charles Bagot of his intention to furnish him with a draft Convention. On the 12th July the draft was sent with instructions. Before despatch to Sir CharU-s Bagot the draft Convention was (iiibmittcd to tlie lEiissian Ambassador, who subsequently. Vlemlis>eiil par Miic " iH'iite insensible jiisipi'iiux bords meinea de la cote." It will thus Im' seen that not merely did the British negotiators stipulate for a boundary along the niouiitnins which are next the sea, but they were plainly and thoroughly iinderntood in this sense by the Uussian negotiator.!. In the instriietioii ai'eeakinK of a summit line instead of a hnse lino plainly refers to cmc and the same set of mountains, viz., the mountaiim next the SCO. He a8sente Hudson's Hiiy Company, of which the (Jovernor in replying, said, " i' does not api)eur to me that the " counter Projet of Riusia is so ess<>ntially different from the one which His Majesty's "Ministers have considered it advisable to propose to Russia, as far as the Hudson's "Bay (^ompany are concerned, to reject it except in the 2nd Art., which should more "accurately define the eastern boundary from the Portland Canal to (il° of north •' latitude to be the chain of mountains at a ' tres petite distance de la cote,' but that " if the summit of those mountains cx<'eed ten leagues that the distance be snhslitMted " instead of the mountains." The proposal to I'ontinue the negotiations in l^ondon instead of at St. l'eter.sburg nas not carried into effect. Sir Stratford ('anning was instructed to undertake the iluty of British Plenipotentiary instead of Sir Charles Bagot, who had left St. Peters- burg. Sir Stratford was fully informed of all previous proceedings, and was furnished with a copy of the last Kussian eontre-Projet. In his instructions to Sir Stratford. Mr. Canning remarks nn that ennlre Projet, and says: — "The Russian Plenipotentiaries ])ropose to withdraw entirely the limit of "the liniere on the eoast which they were themselves the first to propose, viz., the "summit of the mountains which run parallel to the coast, and which appear, aecord- " ing to the map, to follow all its sinuosities, and to substitute generally that which " we only suggested as a correction of their first proposition." " W<" cannot agree to this change. It is quite obvious that the boundary of "mountains where they exist is the most natural and elTcctual boundary. The incon- " veuietK^e against which we wished to guard was, that whieli you know and can " thoroughly explain to the Russian Pleniimtentiaries to have existed on tlii' other "side if the Aniericnn eontini'Ut, when mountains laid down in a map as in a certain " given position and assumed in faith of the accuracy of that nnip as a boundary "between the pos8<>s8ions of England and the United States turned out to be quite " diffen'ntly situated, a discovery which has given rise to the most |H>r|'lcxing discns- "sion. Shoulil the maps be no miire accurate as to the western than as to the eastern " mountains, we might Im> assigning to Russia innnens<' tracts of territory where we "only intendeil to give, and they intended to ask, a strip of sea coast ! "To avoid the chance of this inconvenience we proposed to qualify the general " proposition ' that the mountains shindd Ix- the boundary ' with the condition ' if these "'mountains should not lie found to extend beyond 10 leagues from the coast.' The "Russian Plenipotentiaries now proixisc to take the distance invariably as the rule. " But we cannot consent to this change. The mountains, as I have said, are a more "eligible boundary than any inniginary line of demarcation, aiul this Vx-ing their own " original proposition the Russian Plenipotentiaries cannot reasonably refuse to " adhere to it. " Where the mountains are the boundary, we are content to take the >nnnnit "instead of the 'seaward base' as the line of demarcation." "A Projet, such as will stand according to the observations of this Pespateh. is " enclosed, which yon will unilcrstand as a guide for the drawing up of the Convention, L'O "but iiDt usi prcacribinn tlie prwisi- form uf worcU, nor fettcriuK y')Ur dUorctioii a» " to any altoratioiis not vuryiiig from tho substance of thegc in«truction/<. " It n'Muiins or.'.y in recupitiilution to ri-niiiul you of the origin and prim-iplcs of •• this wlioli' iK'gotialion. It is nut un our part (wuentially « negotiation about liniitii. " It is th«- demand of the repeal of un otfonsive and unjuatiflable arroKation* of "exclusive juriadietion over an ooean of unmeasured extent; but a demand (luulificj "and mitigated in its manner, in order that its justice may be acknowledged and "satisfied without soreness or humiliation on the part of Ruasia. ■' We negotiate abo\it territory Id eover the remonstrance upon principle. " Hut any attempt to take undue advantage of this viduntary facility we mu^t " oppose. " If the present Projet is agri'eabU- to Kussia, vn< are reaily to conclude and sign " the Treaty. "If the territorial arrangements arc not sutiiifactory we are ready to postpone" •• them, and to conclude and sign the estmlial part, that which relates to navigation " alone, adding an Article stipulating to negotiate about territorial limits hereafter. " But wo are not prepared to defer any longiT the settlement of that essential jmrt "of the (luestion, and if Kussia will neither sign the whole <'onvention. nor that e.ssen- " tial part of it, she must not take i* ami.ss that we resort to sonu' moile of ri'cording " in the face of the world our pritest against the pretensions of the Ukase of ISil, '■ and effectually securing our inter -stfl against the possibility of its future opiralions." From the foregoing extracts it will Ik.' si^en that Sir Stratford Canning luid no option left to him with regard to the ternw upon which he was to agree to tUe con- tinental boundary line; and that the terms were, in so far as the mountain lini- is concerned, identical with those contained in the last instructions to Sir Charles Bagot, with the sole exception that Sir Stratford Canning v/an now directed to reinted out the mountains' base line might 1h' found to coincide with the coast lino itself; and foreseeing difficulty in determining a base line — but only on this account — suggested that the lops of the mountains instead of their seaward bottoms should be accepted as regulating the boundary. In the 4th Article ot the Convention — the Russian coast territory between Portland Channel and 141° W. long., is described as " la lisiere de cole," i.e., " the marginal strip of coast." •Containod In the Ukase of 1821.— D.R.C. d'apr •Tl Iiour, by lhi> mom Maps I) SI Mr. Canning in a< kiiowIodginK nn 2n-iiiii "In I'l'iti. " iKiiirriuu in llir :.'iiil iio'l :lril Articln of llie Ciinveiition, it I'lm I'aiily Ih' slmwn that tlu- geucrnl ciia*! linr of the continent, exclusive of inleta, cr»'ek», iind niniiiur nurmw wiitvrways, is the sense in wliieli the words arc used. In their reply to Sir Charles Bajrol's nccond propo«al, the Uussian Plonipott'n- tiaries, in suniniing up the ctfict of ihcir suggestion in rcsiioct to British intircgts, speak of the extent of coast line and of K'rritory left to Uritish oijcupation; ami say — 1° Toute hi partie cic la cote siluee eiitre renihoiieliiire tin I'nrlliinil ('liiiiiiivl et le 1" degre latitude nord, envisage I'onnnc liniites des Possessions Kusses dans KOnkni!" de 4-Hi Sept. 1821. •2 ' Tout Ic territoire situe entre liw C-tahliHsenieuts .Vnglais au 54"" et I'origine du Portland Channel ipii est au ."ili""' parallele. .T' Tout le territoire situe derriere la chaiue i\v moutagnes * • )» In these sentenecM it is apparent that the Uussian Plenipotentiaries used thi' word coll' as not cnihraeing the shore lines of Ohservatory Inlet and of Portland Canal, uor of the extensive inh'ts upon ttliieli is nuirkeil hy Arrowsniith the Knglish trading post Fort M'l.nughlin, appMxinnitely in latitude nij" X. Sir Charles Bagot when reporting to Mr. Canning the check which hnpp«'neii iir the negotiations, spoke of his proposal " being coupled with the concession of n linfl " of coast extending ten murine leagues into the interior of the continent."' This can hardly he understood to mean a breadth of ten marine leagues measured eastward from' head of the inlets. Mr. Canning, when enlarging the discretion of Sir Charles Bagot, wrote, " It " is therefore necessary that some other security should be taken, that the line of "demarcation to be drawn parallel with the coast as far as Mount St. Elias is not '■ cnrrieunt dc Xesselrode says: — " Nous proposions de porter hi " frontiere uu'ridionah' de nos domaines uu 54° 4(1' de latitude, et de la faire aboutir " sur le continent au Portl.md Canal, dont rcmbouchure dans Toi'can est a la haute\ir " de I'ih' du Prince de (ialles et I'origine dans les terres entn' le 55° et 50° de latitude." Thus the Count regarded and spoke of the mouth of Portland Canal as a point on the continental coast, but alluded to the Canal itself as being within the continent. Sir Charles Bagot had stated the belief that between 64° 45' and 56° N. lat. there was direct communication by inlets with British trading posts. The Russians replied by admitting the existence of British posts nt 53° and 54° N. latitude near the coast, but submitted Sir Charles could not point to any British establishment actually on the ocean coast line. The reference is understood to be to Millbank Sound, the position marked on Arrowsmith's map as Fort M'Laughlin, on an inlet. Sir Charles Bagot rejoined by declaring that there existed a British post " meme |.res de la cote a\i nord du 55"'" degre." This probably referral to either a trading post at Nasse harbour* within Observatory Inlet or at the mouth of the Stickecn. But to whatever particular station allusion was made the argument was of the following kind. The British asserted that the continental coast line should belong to the Power which had settlements on it. The Russians admitted the principle, but denied that British posts on inlets could be held to be on the coast. In maintaining their views the Russians subsequently asserted " Qu'an reste, " d'npres le temoignage des cartes les plus recentes, publiees en Anglctcrre il n'existe • The Hudaon'a Bay Company who, In 1831, erected huliaings for their trade at Nasse har- liour. siyled the post "Fort Simpson", unlll Its abandonment In 1S35. and Its replacement liy lhi> present Kort aimpaon.— Scr Appen llx 2S. p. 5S, In which n British trade establish- ment at latitude 57° N. Is mentioned by the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, and Maps 7, il, and 10.— D.R.C. n- b " aucmi I'tnhliosi'iui'nt Aiiiilui" "' "'"' '" cnte mrmr du dniliiicnl, iii nu Xnril ilu 54 " (legrr cir liititiiiU' si'iiti'iitriiiniilc." Similarly <'iiiiiil ilr .\i>s he cuiivejed by the wiirds " la eote." This i« perfectly in accord with the wording of the Treaty itsoif. In the 2nd clause of the 4th Artii'lp provision is made for the case of the moun- tains being found at inoro than 111 marine leagues inlanil, and it is there laid down that the mensureineiit shall be made, not from inlets, but from the ocean. The Conventicni stipulates, " (^ue partont on in erete des montngne^. ipii s'etendent "dans line direction parnllele a la cole * * si- trouverait & la distani'e ilc plus do " dix lienes mnriiiis de I'lieean * * * la liinite • • • sera formee par iino " ligne parnllele aiix sinuosites dr la eoto. et qui ne poiirrn jamais en etre eloigiiee quo " dc dix lieiies marines." The word ocean is wholly inapplicable to inlets. Consequently the line, whether marked by mountains or only b,v u survey line, has to U; drawn without reference to inlets. Ilnd it not been so clearly |)rovided against by express stipulation in the 2nd' clause of the 4th Article of the Convention, and by the accepted principles of interna^ national law, it might, in the case of the alisenee of mountains, be arguoil that tho breadth of the lisiere should be measured from the sea water's edge wherever — in inl< ' or elsewhere — it outlined the continent. And that this being the coast line where mountains exist within 10 leagues, is equall.y tho coast line whence to iletermine mountains nearest to the coast. But, as said above, inlets in either alternative — the occurrence or nou-oecurreneo of mountains within in leugues, — are not pnrt of the eoast line iletermiMing the boun- dary. None of the inlets between Portland Channel and the Meridian of J41'' \V. long, are six miles in width, excepting, i>erhaps, a short part of Lynn Canal. Consequently, with that possible exception, the width of territory— on the coast assigned \inder the Convention to Kussia, — may not he measured from any point within the moutlw of the inlets. All the waters within the mouths of the ink-tH are as much territorial waters, according to an universally admitted international law, as those of fresh-water lake or stream would be under analogous circumstances. The question of tiie water being salt or fresh is not one in any way affecting the argument. As far as non-mountainous country may extend-^but within ten marine leagues of the ocean — the inlets are in fact included by the Convention within la Iwiere de cote mentionee ci-deasm comme devant apparienir d la Rtuaie." On the other hand so ni'ieli of these inlets as happen to be in mountainous terri- tory, or beyond 10 marine leagues from the ocean, together with the dry land about them, is assigned to fireat Britain as much as are rivers and lakes in the same regions. Nothing short of an express stipulation U> the contrary effect would, it is con- ceived, serve to maintain the proposition that inland waters in the lisiere de cote assigned to liiissia were not part and parcel of that lisiere. But if they were reall.v part and parcel of the lisiere itself, their mere existenos cannot possibly be a reasonable foundation for arguing that they involve an increase of the breadth of the lisiere of which they are component parts. The limits of the lisiere are. by the Convention, expressly dejiendent on the rela- tive positions of ocean line and neighbouring mountain line. There is not the faintest 'suggestion throughout the negotiations of any intention to refer the breadth of the •lisiere to any other standards, and the only reference to inlets in the Convention (Art. VII.) is in a form almost directly declaratory of assent to the doctrine of territorial authority over them. If the sovereignty over inlets does not pass in accordance with the doctrine that they are part and parcel of the surrounding territory, there was no occasion for the reciprocal concession made in the VII. Article of a right to navigate these inlets. Regarded from this point of view rivers and inlets are identical. As reasonable then would it be to hold that under the Convention the breadth of the lisirrr assigned to Russia is determined by the head waters of its rivers, as that the head waters of its creeks and inlets regulate the breadth. From the point where the eastern limit of the lisiere attains 141° W. long., the boundary line follows the meridian to the Arctic Ocean. There is no room for dif- 'ferenee of opinion as to the intention of the Convention in respect of this section of the line. 93 PUOBABLE (IPNT lir .MMtKINi: Till; IIIIITNII M.\-K\S Ik>I MuK^. No iiiti'rimtii>iial iiKr<'<'iii<'iit liii!« .mi Ih'< m nrrivcd nt tvitli ri'»riirc'o« tio reliable eittiiiiati' of the voitt of etfectiiiK the (liiniir- cntioii I'Hii Ik' fi riiicil. Ill 1HT4-5, wlu'ii it wiiH iiiitiri|iiiti'il that tlir ilciiiarcatiuii wum al>oiit to lie rlTii'liHl, ilctailcii cKliiiiateH of tlio niM wiTr |ir('|>ari'il for Ilrr .Miijc'sl.v'x (iiivi'rnniriit ami for tlio (iovtriiiiioiit of tlie I'liilcil Statcn. 'I'liosc cHtiiiiattw, of whirh tlirrc were several, variiil wiiloly, for tlicy wcro l>a«'(l on tlio assiiiiiptioii of tlifro l)i'iii(f altrrnativi- ini'tliodH, oiii' or other of wliicli iiilKlit liiivc Ixcn si'lri'tccl an that to he a(!t('(l upon. Kxi'ludiiiK till' "•oiisidrratioii of a liiif to hi' ditirmiiicMl iiiidrr friMli coiulitioiis to !«■ BKrud upon iHtwcju the two coiintriis now cont'ornrd, the lowest estiniate subniilti'd WHS one providinK for the marking of n very few points on the boundary, »n(?Ke.sted by the United StateH (iovernnient. The Iii|{he8t eatiniatex provided for the loeation of the line on the 8up[>osition that a larff' part of it wonhl traverse an exceiitioiially nioiintainoiis region, l)etweeii the parallel of Hh" N. latitude and Mount St. Klias, parallel, in an ap|>roxiniately niathc- nuitieal senst', to the windiuKs of the eoaiit, iiieludini; in those windinKs the intrii'nte outlines of all inh'ts, &e. An cxaniinution of the reeords of the ne(totiatianie time it beeoints apparent that the arominent, under natural but erroneous views of the t<'rms n' the treaty, is not one which it in deairable to follow. The incomplete marking of a boundary is largely opiMi to the wel'-foiinded objeetionB to which total abst'iiee of nuirking is open. It has bifn asserted that the boundary runs at places tlirough valuable mineral rogioni. In such a country partial demarcation may Im' even more daiigerou!< internation- ally than no inarkinc at all, for from partial marking oppo-^ing intirest.* would in- evitably draw arguments to justify ociupation, and to sujiport pretensions at spots wheru marking Inpjieiiefl to 1k' absent. The objectio i to partial demarcation, Ixrause iiii'ffieient for the object aimed at, is enhanced by consideration of cost. Interrupted procedure involves reiK'ated outfit and organization, and these entail heavy additional i'.\pendilure. The cost of demarcation of the line, if located as indicated in this Report, would approximately amount to ;)00,000(.( =$1,500,000) on the British side ; and would entail five years' field work. In the absence of a definite decision as to the principle upon which the Convention is to be interpreted, it would be quite useless to enter here into a detailed examination of the proboble cost of completing tlic work. The sum now arrived at, it inoy be stated, is based upon the following data and considerations : Ist. That before the work is undertaken there shall be a thorough undcratanding between the two Governments — British and United States — as to the interpretation of the terms of the Convention. 2nd. That the (^'onnuissioners entrusted with the execution of the work should, before going into the field, — confer and arrive at agreement as to the details for giving effect to the decisions of th-.r Governments. .Srd. That on the British side the organization of the expedition shall be practically such as W08 detailed in the estimate submitted in 1875 for marking the line according to the United States suggestion for determining only a few points, but making allow- ance for the work taking more time, and for the sum apportioned to mules, forage, and civilians being available for steam water-transport, boats, and crews, to the extent that it may be found desirable to thus apply it. By the arguments presented in this Report it would appear that, consistently with the terms of the treaty with Russia, the lino does not run through the interior of the mountainous region between Portland Channel and Mount St. Elais, but skirts it on the seaward side ; and con8cquentl.y that for this portion of the boundary the location of the line moy be approached at all points to within a few miles by water. On the other hand, there may be entailed hitherto unforeseen hydrographic survey between Prince of Wales' Island and the north-eastward part of Pcarse Island, and jiossibly in the neighbourhood of Lynn Canal. 24 Eemapks on the Views of the United States Government as exprossod in the 'nstulctions of Mr. .Skihetarv Bavahu to Mr. I'iikli's, Uniti i States JIlNiSTEH, of iiDtli XovcnikT, J.S85, and the Lkttkh of ilr. J'llKi.i's to the Mahwlis of Sai.isdi hv of lOth Januahy^ 1886. Mr. Phelps' letter encloses a eopy of Mr. Bajard's instructions ; and, essentially, is limited to a rep'itition of some of Mr. Bayard's remarks. These commence hy stating that the British Alaskan water boundarj-, although not a sulijcct of doubt to the I'nited States Ciovernment, has been misunderstood in other quarters, and that the land supjiosed to follow a mountain range is impracticable of survey, if not geographically imi)ossiblc. Mr. Bayard then proceeds to note that it may fairly be assumed that the negotia- tors based a theoretical boundary on what they believed to be a substantially correct repres3ntation of geographical features on charts before them ; and he subsequently adds that it may bv jt^ionied with confidence that the charts employed in the negotiation were those of Vancouver. Passing over sucli points in ^fr. Baynard's instructions as do not appear to bo concerned in supporting the views lit expresses, it may be noted with regard to his remarks that " the inland boundary is supiiosed to follow a mountain range," the state- ment may not be left without comment. When mountains are nu'Utioned as a boundary, without any understanding or ex- planation, it is gmerally assumed that the gcni;ral watershed line of the mountains is that intended ; and this acceptation is based ujiou the circumstance that a water- shed is the only well defined line on a mountain, —and of the many that may exist in a range of mountains, the principal is the only one common to all the region em- braced. If Mr. Bayard refers to a mountain range as regulating the Alaskan boundary in the foregoing sense, he cannot have known of the terms in which the British negotiators ex- plained the nu-aning of the sentence to the Kussian authorities, and it was so under- stood by the Uussians. The Krench lext does not speak of the line as being marked out by une chainv de monlagnes situce imrnllctemeni a la cote (a mountain range along the count) ; but it individualises and specifies the niouutains describing the line as following /(( crffe den monlagnes situees parallrlement a la cote, that is following the line of the tops of the mountains next the coast. As previously ex|ilained there was a iliseussion Ix'tween the British and Russians whether the line should 1k' along the seaward base of the mountains or over their tops, and tlic Uussian ilinister pointed out the difficulty in locating a base line referring at the same time to the |)recef either of the ranges supjioscil to have bit'U inuiged in Vancouver's charts and noting ipuly the water line range, it nniy Ix' asked in what respect the (U'lineatiou of the water line range fails to illi ^trate the text of the Convention with as much verisimili- tude as the remoter ranged J[r. Canning dcsiu-ibes the mnj) topography as representing mountains almost bordering the coast, and the Russians wrote of the mountains a.s those qui harden t la cole, and also as likely to 1m' found slo|iing into the sea itself I Is the inland chain or is the coast line chain the more likely to have been the subject of these rcnnirks? It would be unnecessary to offer an explanation of the inland iletnils noted >>n Vancouver's published charts were it not that attention has been directed to their sup- posed inaccuracy in order to strengthen an erroneou' interpretation of the Conven- tion. Any one familiar with map making and map reading will at once recognize Van- couver's indicati(ms of nuiinbiuil monntaiu topography as mere conventional signs in use for nniiiy years a'ji! arranged for iiictorial effi'ct. to rcjiresent unsurveyeii suiiiiosed mountainous regions. Aiiy on.' possessed of Vancouver's .\tbis must have noteeilition pcnetraleil inland on ibe Alaskan coast beyond a distaiu'c of being within <'m1I of Iheir boats 4in the beach. In rep.irting the •onii'leliou of his coast survey Vancouver writes: — "I am at length able to 'uforni you of our having finally traced and determined '"the for our boats, "to Capo Douglas." And in allusion to the principal object of his exi)edition, thtf discovery of a navigabU' |iassage between the Pacific and Atlantii', he continues to say: — "lluring the iuvestlgalion we have never liei'U able to penitrate beyond the bar- " rier of the lofly monnlaius which, covered with eternal snow, extend nearl.v in a "coiniecled <'haln along ihe western bonier of the conlini'nl, I believe, to its utmost "limits." Many times loo in bis hislory Vancouver refers to lofty mountains sloping abrnjitly and precipitately into the sea itoelf on the Alaskan water line. The mountains enclosing Portland (^hannel arc now known to attain 2,000 3,000 and 1,000 I'eet in height, and their neighbours be.vo.id I'ven 11,000 feet. •S.'p ilip Rasslan miip of 1808, No. 4. snd of 1826, No. nnd 29 p, BB.— D.R.C. D-- i and Appendix Noa. 7 nnd 8, p. 34 354596 So preci])itou3 are those niul so close to the wnter tlint Vancouver's party was driven hy the rising tide from his camp to his boats; and Command; r Pendui's party had a like experience in recent years. Such is the character of the features conventionally recorded by Van -ouver's water edge marking and involved configuration inland. Such is the general character of the country wlii"li it is alleged proved Vancouver to be 1)1(1 (I poor lopoijrapher, Vancouver, whose chief dut.v was to nui;. the coast line, and upon whose work nuiny of the most reliable mai)s of the present day arc hirgi^ly based, and for many details are even wlioll.y dependent. A poor topographer, because he did not accurately delineale the inland features of a country through which, in supporting another point in hi-; contention, Jlr. Bayard alleges it would be imprac- ticable to nrvcy a single frontier line! Whati-ver errors nni.v have been committed in reading Vancouver's charts are cer- tainly not attributable to him; and, as has been rcnnirked, with regard to the inland frontier the negotiators, whatever nniy have been the oi)inion they forn'fd of Van- couver's intention, guarded against Ix-ing led into error by deiwnding upon his details. Jlr. Bayard nntkcs the qualified admission that Viineonvcr ma.v have at one time regarded the Pcarse Canal of Inter geographers as th<> lower part of I'ortland Canal. The fact that he diil so is however clearly on record in his history, lie dc'-crilR's Portland Canal in detail from its h<'ad to its junction with tlu' ocean, and distingnisli 's it from the entrance to Observatory lidct, and did not sidiseipiently modify his view. The southern and northern points of the entrance iiov called Portland Inlet, be named Point Maskelync and Point Wales, and gives the latitude of the southern point. He also gives the latitude of a point of land at the entrance to Portland Channel or Canal. Alluding to these two passages J[r. Bayard contends that a botindary line deflect- ing " to the northward from the broad waters of Dixon Entrance ami passing through "a narrow and intricate channel lying nnrth-westward from Portland Inlet, known as "the United States Coast Chart of 1885 (W Pearsc Channel until it suddcidy deflects "southward again at right (l° N. latitude, and again the termination of its westerly cou-''n at the meridian of 141° W. longitude. In each of these cases the in- tention is I with iierfeet clearness and decision ; the terms in which the i)ro- visions are cpressed in the Convention leaving not a shadow of n doubt that gi>odetio determination govi>rned the location of tlio line T'nder these circumstancis and in the absence of any direct statement in the Tn-aty to support the contention, the assumption that a parallel of latitude was in- t<'nde north along the Channel called '' Portland (.'hannel, as far as the jmint of the continent where it strikes the 5(ith degree •' of north latitude." The \ise of the word strikes, with relation to a continent, is so exceptional as to lead one to concluilc (bat by "it strilies .5(1° N. latitude," the translator cannot have meant that tlie continent strikes ,5(1°A'. hititude. But in the French text the e(piivalent wordi, are "elle iitleint le 50""' degrv de "latitude nord;'' and there is nothing in thi' word attcint wliieli nuiki's it exceptional to refer it to la tcrre ferme. It may be mentioned that on the French text being submitted to two Parisian literary gentlemen without conunent, each of thcni said that die referred to la ligne but, on its being pointed out that atteint appeared in the jiresent tense, each of them stated that according to strict grammatical rule, elle us used, referred to la terre ferme. Neither of these gentlemen was aware of tlie cireumstances of the case, anil had only the words before them to go by. If the English translation were worded " to the point of tho continent where it attains 56° N. lat.," there would be no room for the suggestion that the terms of the Convention were inconsistent with the features to which they referred, and with the details of the nuii)8 ujion which the terms were based. Attains is a truer trans- lation of atteint, than strikes is. And inasmuch as — even in the English translation — if, of two fairly legitimate but different renderings, one is consistent with facts and the other inconsistent, it is not too much to assume that the consistent rendering is that which should govern the inter))rctation. At the same time, it is not admitted that tint English translation of the Con- vention is authoritative. The ratification is in French. Mr. Bayard having remarked that " there are evident reasons for believing" that the authors of the Anglo-Kussian Treaty of 1S2.5 had for their purpose " the location "of the luitural boundary line in the hroiider channel called Portland Inlet on tho " Admiralty aiul ITnited States Coast Survey Charts " refers to " Portland Channel, "Portland Canal, or Portland Inlet as it is indifferently styled on tho several charts." As previously noteil, ante p. 7, in the 4to edition of Vancouver's History, Portland is the minm applied n. v.!':'' in the subseiiuent Svo edition is styleil Purthind Channel. On his charts the name is invariably "Portland Canal." During the negotiations both names were used. But on no chart up to and for many years after the Convention can there be found the name Portland Inlet ; and, when thereafter it is foimd to occur, it is believed to be iiwariably limited to the entrance of Obser- vatory Inlet, a totally different channel from that of Portland Canal as deBcril)ed by Vancotiver, and clearly so indicated on the Eussian chart of the southern half of Kolscliensk Archipelago, 185.1. In addition it will he remembered that Sir Charles Bagot, one of the British nego- tiators, clearly marked bis knowledge of the difference between Portland Canal ocean entrance and the more rwently styled Portland Inlet, by naming very approximately the latitude of the fonner. It may further bo remarked that until the results of the Convention gave special importaneo to Vaiicouvpr's Portland Channel, geographers regarded Observatory Inlet 28 as the more important of tlie two, for on some innpx botli cliniincls were named, but on others Portland Channel was delineated without name, while Observatory Inlet was distinguished by name. Then in subsequent years Portland Canal, as the more important channel, appears named, while Observatory Inlet is sometimes shown without name. At first there was no special importance attached to Portland Channel ; but Observatory Inlet was noted as the inlet in which a scries of astronomical observations wore taken by which the surveys of the neighbouring region were finally corrected. So soon, however, as Portland Channel was understood to be the continental southern limit of Eussian territory, the temporary interest attached to Observatory Inlet sank into insignificance when compared with the i)erniancnt interest now connected with Portland Canal ; nnd this clinuge is reflected in the details given by map makers. It is believed that no chart or map by any maker at all can be produced showing the supposed location of the boundary line as passing through the entrance of Obser- yatory Inlet until after that entrance was styled Portlaiul Inlet. .So far as can be traced it would appear that tliis name was first applied smne time about the year ■1853. i[r. Bayard appears to be under a misapprehension in supposing that British Admiralty Charts or Surveys show the boundary as passing through Portland Inlet, It is not 80 shown on Conuunnder Pender's Survey of IHOM, quoted by Jlr. Bayard, nor on Admiralty Chart Xo. 2,431, to which a reduction from that Survey has been added. Even were such a chart producible it could not have any bearing on the case, unless indeed it were of a character to demonstrate the international understanding •between Russia and (ireat Britain arrived at in 1825. On the other hand the sequence of events, the styling of Observatory Inlet entrance Portland Inlet, and the location of the boundary through it, arc strongly suggestive if cause and effect. Mr. Bayard refers to the direct ocean entrance to Observatory Inlet being morn navigable than the direct ocean entrance to Vancouver's Portland Chainicl, as a ground for assuming that the negotiators intended the line to pass through the former. But this is entirely an "e.\ post fac'.o ' argument, or involves the assumption th'il the negotiators had made themselves acquainted with the navigability of the two channels. It is unnecessary to refer here again to the declared motives determining the selec- tion by the negotiators of the line of Portland Cnnid. Navigation was not an element in it. But assuming for the numicnt that it was likely to have been so, whence did the negotiators arrive at the knowledge which guiiled them i On the eliarts, Vancouver does not noti' so\inilings. In the details recorded in his History could they alone have hoped iiriug channels, anil again they are found reading the text description of one channel l>elieving it to be the description of .m entirely different channel.* Moreover the records of the negotiations are not merely silent with regard to the navigability of Portland Canal, but they afTijrd no trace of an operating motive for determining the southern limit of Alaska by navigable water. The Russians recorded their opinion that the bouiuhiry siumld be drawn with n view to prevent collisions between the traders of Russian and British nationalitie-^. Sir Charles Bagot pressed uium their attention that British trade was Ix-ing carried on about latitude .W. that is the Xasse Riv<'r tnide through Observatory Inlet. There is every natural reasiui then to s\ippose that the line woulil, by nuitual consent of the parties, have been by preference located through Vancouver's Portland Caiud in which neither urged nn.v existing predominant claim, than through Observatory Inlet in which the British had an exceptional interest. It is also to be remembered that the first Russian proposal was to no mountains on the parallel within 10 niariic ■ leagues of the ocean, then at that point of the parall"' which is at 10 marinu leagues; if there be mountains on the parallel within K' nnirine leagues of the ocean, then at the ])oint where such mountains are next the sea. The two terminal points of this sei'tion of the line are thus detinit<'ly indicated. Air. Bayard's argument inv(dves disregard of the meaning of the words " oundar,v. Statesmen may not limit their view to the considerations of the physical difficul- ties in marking natioiud boundaries. D. R. CAMERON, Colonel R.A. 1886. 31 No. 2. Mkmoiiani>lm of the Cihcimstanlks wliicli h-d ti) the Concllsiux of the OonventioN between Ubeat Britain ami Kussia of 1825, relative to Trade in the Paeifie, and the Limits uf their Possessions on the North-west Coast of America. In September, 1821, the Emperor of Russia issued an Edict, contaiuinit regula- tions relative to trade on tlie eastern coast of Siberia, the North-west coast of Amer- ica, and the Aleutian, Kurile, and other island* of the Pacitic. These regulations granted to Russian subjects an exclusive right of commerce, whaling, and fishery in all the islands, ports, and gulfs, from Behring's Straits to the fifty-first degree of north latitude, and from the Aleutian Islands to the eastern coast of Siberia, as well as along the Kurile Islands, from Behring's Straits to the South Cape of the Island of Urup, to the 45° 50' of north latitude. All foreign vessels were jBrohibitcd, under the i)cnalty of confiscation, from ap- proaching this territory within 1(X) Italian miles, unless driven by stress of weather, Arc, and even then they were forbidden to carry on any trade whatever, either with the natives or with the Russian American Company. On the publication of the Ukase, the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs stated to Sir Charles Bagot that the object of it was to prevent the " commerce interlope " of the citizens of the United States, who were not only in the habit of resorting to the Russian coasts and islands of the Pacific, for the purpose of interfering in the Russian Hade with China in the lucrative sale of soa otter skins, but were also in the constant habit of introducing prohibited articles, and especially gunpowder, into the Russian dominions in that quarter. The Russian Minister also said that representations had been rejieatedly made upon this subject to the American Government, who had pro- fessed to be unable to control their citizens in those distant seas ; but had intimated that they should not take in ill part any measures which the Russian (iovernment might deem it expedient to adopt for the protection of its own rights. Baron Nicolay coimnunicated the Ukase officially to I^rd Londonderry, and the (piestion was then subimlted to the King's Advocate. Sir Christopher Robinson reported, that the object of Russia appeared to be to obtain indirectly the acknowledgment of territorial rights assumed over n portion of sea that might become of great important with reference to trade, and in consequence of the discoveries which were making in that (juarter ; that a right of soveriignty over a sea of such extent, merely because its opposite limits tonelied the posM'Ssions of the same Power, was much greater than was ordinarily recognized by the principlis of the Ijaw of Nations ; and that it may be expedient to declare the intention of His Majesty's (iovernment to adhere to those established principles, and to deprecate any infringement of the usual rights of commerce. 1/ord Londonderry accordingly acquainted Count Lieven thai he was directed to make such a provisional protest against the enactments of the Ukase as was necessary in order to save the rights of His .Majesty's thrown, and of the persons and pro|ierty of His Majesty's subjects ; that the British (iovernment were willing to enter into ami- cable explanations on the qiestion; but that, in the meantime, it <«uld not admit' that the intercourse which l.ad previously existed in tli(xse seas euild be deemed to be illicit, even supposin)< that the vast and imivrfectly occupied territories, which were' lonsidert'd as erroneously claimed by Russia, really belonged to His Imperial Maji^ty. Verbal communications afterwards pa.sEed Iwtween (\nint Lieven and the Duke of Wellington, in London and at Veroini, in con.iequenee of which it was i)roposed by the former that a negotiation upon the subject should bo entered into at St. Pelersbnrgh. .Sir Charles Bagot was immediately instructed to oiH?n the discussion, and full powers to conclude a treaty were forwarded to i>im. During the iliseussions an overture was made by the T'nited States to join in the iic'tjotiation, which was accepted by the two Powers; and as it was understood that Uussia had waived her extravagant i)retensiiui of maritime jurisdiction, there was every prosiH'ct of the conclusion of a tripartiti' convention upon that ])oint. With n>spect to the territorial question, it was intinuited to Sir Charles Bagot that the British (iovernment would prefer a fixed line of demtireation to a joint oeeu- pancy, and that a line drawn at the fifty-seventh degn'e between the Russian and Itritish settlers would be an arrangi'ment satisfactory to His Majest.v, and would assign to Russia as much as she could justly claim. Sir Charles Bagot, in conversation with (^lunt Nesselrode, observed that, as the United States could make no pretension to territory so far north as the fifty-first degree, the stion of boundary would rest between R\issia and (ireat Britain alone; that the pretension of (ireat Britain had always extended to the fifty-ninth degrw of north latitude, but that His Majesty was disposed to consent to take as the lil.t' of de- marcation the fifty-seventh ilegre> , to the southward of which it was suppns<'d that Russia had no settlement. 32 The American Aliniater (Mr. lliildleton) at St. Petersburgh, however, soon oftcr- warils reoeivcil his iiii»lrii<'tioiia, frmii which it iippeiired that thi' I'nitPil States asserted an equal pretension, at least, to that of either (Jreat Britain or Ruefia, to the whole of the coast as high as the sixty-tirat degree, and an absolute right to be parties to any subdivision of it whieli might be made. This preteuaion and right were stated to be •ir extended term, with respect to the port of New Archangel, should be granted to the s\d)jeets of ouy other Power, the .same extension should be granted also to British subjects, the line of demarcation in this jirojc'ct was very nearly the same as that proposed by Sir Charles Bagot. The Russian fiovernment having acquiesced in tlii> project, without any material alteration, a treaty was concluded between the plenipotentiarii's, the princiiial stipula- tions of which were, that the subjects of the two Powers might resort, without re- straint, to the Pacific Ocean and to such parts of the coast thereof as had not been already occupied: that the line of ilemarcation between the possessions of the two Powers should be drawn, beginning from the southernmost iioint of Prince of Wales Island, in !H° 40' north latitude, ami between the lUlst nnd l^i.lrd degrees of west longitude; thence, northerly, along Portland Channel to the i)oint where it strikes the "iiast in the .'ilith digree; thence by the summit of the mountains along the coast, and within the distaiu'c of 10 leagues from that coast to the point where siu'h line inter- sects till' 141sl degree of west bingiliule, and fnun theiu'c due north to the Frozen Ocean; that Prince of Wales Island should belong wholly to R\issia : that neithor parly should form any establishment within the limits assigned t° (or which is the same thint; i:i.'>° west) were assi|;ned as the Russian limits, Chatham Strait, Lynn Canal, and a line running; from the head of tho latter in the diri'Ction of north-west woidd form an unolijeclionablc boundary. Perhaps h sketch of this part of the chart nuKlit accompany Sir C. Bagot's instruo- tiong. DocKKT. January 1.'!, 1824. Re.';i)6cting the Russian aiul English boundaries on X.\V. coast of America. Ko. 8. ADMIRALTY to FOREICN OFFICE. Dear Sir, Aihniralty, ,Tanuary 14, 1S24. I THINK tho enclosi'd sketch (which uuiy bo considoree, but when it is con- sidered that Franklin met with no obstruction to luivigation for .lOO miles along the same coast, which rims in one and the same parallel, and that there is an immense bed of coal on the shore of Slave Lake close to that river, we must admit that far more wonderful events have happened than this within the last HO or (iO years. The Right Hon. Geo. Canning. I have, &c. (Signed) JOHN BARROW. Docket. Admiralty, January 14, 1824. llr. Barrow. Enclosing a sketch relating to the N.W. const of America. Tho sketch was forwarded to Sir Charles Bagot. (Initialled) F. 0. (Lord Francis Conyngham.) * This memorandum ts unsigned, Conyngham. D.R.C. but !■ apparently tn the bandwritlng of Lord Francis 96 No. 9. KkiHT IIoX. (i. t'ANXIMl TO Sill ( '. li.VdoT. (No. 2.) FoHEUix Okfu K, January rfO, 1824. SiRj — A LONU tiuu! hns ulapsod siiuv I itavo your Kxcclk'iicy rcnsmi to rxpoct addi- tional iuatructiuii!* I'or your comliut in the ncKiitiations rcxpirtinK tlic Hussian I'kaso of 1821. That expectation was liolil nut in tile belief that I iliould have to instruct .vou to combine your proct-edingH with tlume of tlie American Miiii.ster, and tlic franiiiig dueh instructions was of neeessity delayed until ilr. i{uah should be in poascssion of the intentions of his (ioveriiment upon the subject. UlMju receipt of your Kxeidlency's Desjiateh Xo. 4s, ri'i>ortinit. the arrival if Mr. HuKhes nt St. PetcrsburBh with the instructinns of the (iuverunient of the I'nitiil States to Mr. Middletoi], I applieil to .Mr. Ku.sh for iiil'ormation as to the tenor t{ those instructions. I then found wluit 1 had not before Im'cu led to siisiieet, that Mr. Rush had hiin^'lf authority to enter into netrotiations with us as to the respectivo claims of (irent Britain and the I'liited .Slates on the .\orth-west Coast of America, nlthoufch he does not ap|)ear to have been instrueleil to invite su<>h negotiation here if we shoidd prefer leaviiitr it to 1h' <'oieluctiil at St. I'eter'ibiirM'b. It seemed, however, that it would (.'really facilitate your I'.xcejlency's task at St. PetorsburRh if we could come to snmc satisfactory understaiidinjf with .Mr. Hush in the principles and h'adinK points of the neifotiatioi.. and that at all events it was ailvis- able to ascertain so much from .Mr. Rush as miijht enable us to judffc whether it would or woidd not be expedient to a(mx> to the propowal of the t'nited States for eombiniuR our ncRotintions witli Russia into (ine. Such n combination liad indeed lu'cn already propos<>il by us with rcs|)eet to so much of our respectiv) discussions with Russia as turned uixm tin maritime prcten- eions of the Russian I'knse. Hut that proposal had not biiMi made in contemplation of the territorial question, to which the pretensions of the T'nited States have (jiven a new and complicated cliaracter. The object in nppl.vinjr jointly to Russia for a disavowal or qualificntion of her maritime pretension was at once to simplify and to soften to Rimsia that act of (piali- fication or disavowal, by enablinfi: Russia to satisfy both Powers at imee, with siwcinl and scjiarate concession. But as in the (piu , es|H'cially as we have already n Convention subsisting with the T'nited St.ntetwcen (ircnt Britain and the Ignited States as to their relativ;' as well as their joint concern in such negotiation. Now we have good reason to lielieve that in respect to the question of territorial dominion between us and Russia, an arrangement may be agreed upon which will satisfy the wishes and secure the convenience of both parties by a line of deiuarcatioii to be drawn between the southernmost settlement of Russia and the northernmost part of the North-west Compnay. The most southern establishment of Russia on the North-west Coast of America is Sitka, which is not laid down in our latest maps with sufficient exactness, but which appears by the Russian map published in 1822 to bo situated, as the enclosed copy of a letterf from Mr. Pelly. Chairman of the TTudson's Bay Company, also represents it, in latitude 57° and not (as the map, of which a copy was inclosed by your Kxcellency indicates) on the continent, but on a small island of the same name nt the mouth of Norfolk Sound, the larger islands contiguous thereto forming (what is called by Van- • Did not neom (?)— D.R.C. t Not printed. ■^^ touver) King lit'orKt''H urulii|icl«Bii, lire separated I'rom cucli utlur by u strait lallcil Clintliiim :4triiit, iiml truiii tin; iiiaiiilaiiil hy uiiotlior striiit I'lilluil Stcvuii'it* Strait or IPiissiigi'. Mr. I'llly positively nvvrn that tliey Imvc no Mcttlcmriit on tlio iniiiijliiiul nor liny cniniiifrcf to thu canlwiird of tliu ooarit. ilu sugKUHtd, tlit'ruforu, tlie rliutin<'t U'twin tilt' islands and the niuiiiliiiid as tlw most dcsiraMi; linn of dtMiiari'alioii, wliicli liiing iigrt'i'd to, till' line to tlio southward iniglit bo drawn so as to coinpi'i'liiiid Sitka .ind f the President of the U^nited States at the oiMMiing of the Congress supplied another reason at once decisive in itself, and susceptible of being stated to Mr. Rush with more explieitness than those which I have just now detailed to your Excellency; T refer lo the principle declared in that sjieech which prohibits any further attempt by European Powers at colonization in America. Upon applying to Mr. Rush for an exidanntion of this extraordinary di>etrine, 1 found him unprovided with aii.v instructions upon it. ITe aaiil, indeed, that he had not heard from his Oovernnient since the oiiening of the Congress, and had not even rcoeivefl officially a copy of the President's siieech. D—IO • Stephen's ? D.R.C. 38 Ilis conviction, however, wns that against whatever Power the President's doctrijie was directed, it could not be directed against us. He appealed in support of that con- viction to the cxist.nce of the Convention of 1818, by which we and the United States, hold for a time joint occupancy and common enjoyment of all the territory on (lie XoTth-w<'St Const of America above latitude 42°. It wns obviously the Impression on Mr. Hush's mind that this pretension on I'le part of his (iovcrnment was intended as a set-off against maritime pretension of the Russian Ukase. I do not mean to authorize your Excellency to report this construction at St. Petersburph ns that of the Amcricnn Minister, but .you will have no difficulty in stating it as one to which we think the President's speech liable; as that, indee", which ap- pears to us to be by far the most probable construction; as such it furnishes a conclu- sive reason for our not mixing ourselves in a negotiation bi'twcun two parties wIiihc oi)posite pretensions are so extravagant in their several ways ns to be subject not "o much of practical udjustment as of reciprocal disavowal. Mr. Rush is himself so sensible of the new consideration which is introduced into the negotiation by this new principle of the President's that, although he had hitherto urged, with becoming pertinacity, the adoption of the suggestion of bis Ciovernnient, he has, since the arrival of the President's speech, censed to combat my disire to pursue the co\irse — already begun, of a separate negotiation at St. Petersburgh, nnd hns pro- mised t:;d to endeavour to bring it as speedily ns possible to an amicable and honourable conclusicm. The . Nothing remains for negotiation on thai bead but to clothe that disavowal in precise and satisfactory terms. Wi' would much ratlwr that those terms should oc suggeslcci by Russia herself than have the air of pretending to dictat<' them; .you will therefori' request (\)unt Xcsselrodi' to furnish you with liis notion of such a declaration on this point ns mny be satisfnetory to your (iovrrnnicnt. That ilcclaralion may be luadc the preamble of the Convention of limits. As to the territorial whatever latitude nuiy be ut'ccssnr.v for takioir in the islands, on onii of which Sitka stands. It does not nppcnr from your Kxcellency 's Despatch how tiir the line proposed by M. Polctica. to be ilrnwn at latitiub' 5."', was intcmbd to run to the caHlward. If to the Rock.v .Mountains, it obviously wouli'. be wholly inadmissible b.v us, iiuisnuu'h as the counnunication of the Xorth-wcst Company from Canailn. through those monntnins with the whole of the north-west coiintry, is in n higher latitude than 55°. Neither has Russia any claim whatever to any inland territory approaching that latitude. She has no occnjiancy inlnnd. Mr. Polly's report denies that she has any, even on the coast, and it is to the coast alone thai discovery could, in the nat.ire of things, give any title. It is absftlutely essential, therefore, to guard against an.v unfounded pretcnsiini. or any vague expectation of Kiissin. to the eastward; and for this purpose it is neccssar." that, whatever dcgr<'e of latitude be assuineil, a dcliuite cb'pree of longitude shiaild nlso lie assigned as a limit l.ctwi'cn the territorial rights of the two Powers. If your Kxccllenc'y can obtain the strait which seiianites the ishnuls from the mninlnnd as the bi>undary, the prolongation of the line ilrawn through that sir lit would strike the miiinlanil near .Mount Klias, the lowest jsiint of iiiiquesiiiMi'il Rus- sian disc "cry. Hut if that were too much to insist upon, the lILMb degree of longi- Indc, as suggestcil by .v° iiloiiB the ooiirHO of tho Mafkciizii' rivci. As your Excelloncy had already made so much way in previous ilisi'iission, it is to 1)0 hoped that, on rosuminK the negotiation, very little time need be required to lirinfr it to a eoncliision. It is extnunely important tur discussion with Rtissia respecting the rorth-west coast of .\nierica. which I have received since my Dspati'h No. on thai subject was iircpared. .\ny adiliti.inal information is valuable i.,>on a (|uestion of -o unu'h doubt cml obscurity, anil thi' suggestions are well W(U-lh aiteution. considering the ipuirtcr from which tbey come. But 1 would not iucuinl.er my other Jlespatch, already -.. volumin- ous, with tbi' mailer herewith transmitted, nor make it part tif the posjiivc iu'true- lieos to ,V(Uir Kxci'Ui'ncy. T rely confidently on your Exocitency's ability and ,-,::.\ to makfi ihe lest arraiiw- nicn' that can be nuule for tbi' iideri'sts of your c(mi,try to the extcnl nf the most sanguine of the views npi^ned in these enclosures, but T :!m not willing to instruct you to breal: off the negotiations on a denutud of greater ulvantagcs, if yo;i find that you can obtain the li-rnis laid down in my othiT nespateh, ai d that you camiot obtain any improvement of them. I have, &c.. Sir Charles BaBot. (Signed) (iEORtiE (WNNINC.. &('., ie., &c. •■Vof •*l8la«tvful (?)— D.R.r. tNtf Apiienrtlx No, N, p. M. Sir .Inlui Diinows toiler fit Hih .l.ouinry. 1S2I,— D.R.C. 40 Ko. 11. 8m 0. Baoot to BiQiiT Hon. G. Oannino. (No. 23.) St. PETEnsBUROH, March 17-20, 1824. Sir, — It ii with a foeliiig of coiiaiderablo diaappointincut that, after constant ne- Hotialion for ir.)re than six weeks, after having gone to the utmost limit of your in- structions, am after haviiiK taken upon myself to go even far bi^yond tlieni, J should nevertheless 1 nve to accpiaint you that I have entirely feiletl in inducing the Kussian (iovernnient lO accede to what I consider to be a fair and reasonable adjustment of our rt.'spective p etensions fjn the north-west coast of America, or to the adoption of any line of territorial denidnation which appears to me to bi- rcconcilcalile ender the spirit of your instructions with our legitimate interests in that quarter of the world. Ii\ order that I may put you in complete possession of the whole cenrse of my negotiation upon this subject, and may explain the precise grounds upon which I have felt myjielf compelled to suspend for the present all further proceedings in this busi- ness, it will I fear be necessary that I shoulil enter into detail, anil that 1 should loail this Desi)atch with several papers which arc now become of importance. It was on the 16th of lost month that I had my fir.st conference upon this jiuestion with the Riussian Pleniiiotcutiaries, Count Nesselrode and M. Voletica. 1 opened this conferi'iice by explaining to the Plenipot<'ntiaries the reasons for which His Majesty had judged it advisable to treat separately upon this matter rather than as it had been originally intended in concert with the (iovernment of the Unitcil States. 1 thi'n laid before them Count Lieven's note to you of the iilst .lanuary, 18:.';), jiroposing that the (pn'stiou of strict right should be provisionally waived on both sides, and that the adjustment of our nnitual pretensions should l)e made upon the sole principle of the resiwctive loiivenience of both countries. This basis of negotiation being willinjrly accepted by all parlies. I stati'd that so far as I understood the wishes ami interests of Russia, her prin'dpal object must be to secure to herself her fisheries upon the islands and shores of the north-west coasts of North .Vnu'rica, and the posts which she might have already established upon them ; that on the .>ther hand our chief objects were to secure the posts upon the continent belonging lo the Hudson's Bay Company, the embouchures of such rivers as nught afford an outlet for our fur trade into the Pacific and the two banks of the Mackenzie River ; that in the belief that such were our resiK'clive objects, I would propose as our boundary a line drawn through Chatham Straits to the head of I.ynn Canal, thence north-west tci the 140° of longitude west of (Ireenwicb and ihcnce along that degre*' of longitude to thi' Polar Seas. 'J'liis proposal was nnide by um' verbally, and was taken for cnnsidenition by thi' Russian I'lenipotentiaries, who at our next meeting offi'ri'd a Contre-Projet. which 1 ;iflerward^ reipiest<'d might li<> reduced to v/riting, and of which I now enclose a copy nnirked .\.* In otfering this ( 'ontre-Projil Coiuit Nesselrode s<'emed to intiuuite that laiwcver dispo.sed the Kmpcror might l)e to retract pret<.'nsions advanced by himself which might Iv thought to contlict with the inti'rests of other powers, it would be asking too mu<'h of the ini|ierial dignity to recpiiro that pretensions advanced 2."> years ago by the Km- IH'ror I'nul. ami which had hitherto U'cn undisputed, sboidd Ih' now renounced. I thought it my duty upon an intimation of this kinil being made to declare at once that all considerations of such a inituri' were ini'ouipatibl(> with the stipulated basis of our negotiation, and that if the (pu'stion of national dignity ahs to be touched, I, too, should have much to say upon that head, anil shou.d probably fiml it quit<> impossible to make llios<'t the oidy reasonable objection made to it (nu objection nuide in conversa- tion by the Russian Plenipotouliuries), viz., the inconvenience which Russia might experience by vessels of the ITnitoil Slates claiuiiug a right, under their (Jonvention wilb (In-at Hritain. to visit the wat<'rs lying between King (leorge's Anliipelago ii.iri the bslauils and Coiilinent to eastward of it, and which might ir this m.iiii.er -i rio_«)' annoy the subjects of His Imperial Majesty in their pursuits ,ind o ■ i^i.'.i uis upon thiwc shores. i j^' %< ■p. 42. 41 1 * = * This modification of my first proposal will be found in the enclosed paper marked B.,* which I delivered to the Russian Plenipotentiaries at our next conference. You will observe that in making the proposal so modified, I, in fact, exceceded in some degree the strict letter of your instructions, by assigninK to Russia the islands lying between Admiralty Island to the north, and Duke of York and Prince of Wales islands to the south, but I entertained sanguine expectations that suili a ])roposal, coupleil with the concession of a line of coast expending ten marine leagues into the interior of the continent, would have been considered as amply sufficient for all the legitimate objects which Russia could have in view, and quite as much as she coulcJ pretend to with any shadow of real claim or justice. So far, however, from this being the case, ray amended proposal was met at our next conference by observations which I again requested might be reduced to waing, and which will be found in the enclosed paper marked C.f As in this paper parts of the main continent to which Russia cannot by possibility have acquired any claim, and of which Great Britaitv is at this moment in partial occupation, are offered to His Majesty in the light of concessions, it became neces.sary for me to reject any such oilers as a boon in the most explicit terms, and you will find tliat I have not failed to do so in the enclosed paper marked D.,^ with which I replied to the paper in question. As, liowever, I felt strongly the importance of adjusting this business, if possible, at the present monv it, and as I felt also that, although the Russian Plenipotentiaries had, in consequence of my fm-nvr remarks, agreed to waive altogether all question of national dignity in dis':assing it, I'is Imperial Majesty might yet possibly feel an mvincible repugnance to retract from il.v, ,ji^t?usions advanced by the Emperor Paul in the Charter given to the Russian American Ccnpany in 1790 (however unacknow- ledged by other powers such pretensions might have been), I thought that I should not act in opposition to the spirit, at least, of ray instr'jctions if in deference to such a sentiment on the part of tlie Emperor, and with a view to finish tb.j business quickly, I ventured to make yet one other proposition which, while It eavcd this point of dignity to Russia by giving to her the 55th degree of latitude as her boundary upon the islands, might preserve also uninterrupted our access to the Pacific Ocean, and secure to His Majesty the 5flth degree of north latitude as the British boundary upon the coast. The proposition by which I had hoped to effect these objects will also be found in the paper marked D.,}: in delivering which I gave it clearly to be understood that it contained my ultinuite proposition. It was not till the day before yesterday, that is nearly ten days after I liad given in ti;,.s paper, that I was invited to another conference, when I was informed that the ^'vperial (iovcrnment had, after anxioui consideration, taken their final decision, and' r '. Iifj' must continue to insist upon the demarcation as described by them in the i^r.-t '-hPT marked A. ' rificng this to ho the case, 1 repeated that I had already gone far beyond the ;i i-o' ''mit of my instructions, and that I was sorry to say that I must now consider ■M. ! .titiations as necessarily suspended so far at least as the question of territorial I ' reafio'i was concerned. "'oil!'' Nessclrode then inquired whether I should object to transmit to ray Court the n . uocision of himself and M. de I'oletica as it is declared in the enclosed paper iiiarkiil \i.,\i and whither I did not think that His Mnjest.v's ( lovcnmiont. Meeing how slight our vho is to bo despatched to-night to London with the course which the negotiation had taken, and to instruct him to hold some conversation with you upon the subject. 1 told Count Nesselrogotiation to you without loss of time, but that 1 cindd not by any means take njion m.vself to say what might be tli. ..pinion of Ilis Majesty's (lovernmeTit as to the iiretensions so tciiaeiously adhered to by the Imperial (iovernment further than by saying that certainly they were s\ieh as had nevi r li.cn eontenqiliiled by my Court in the instrnctions with which I had as yet been 'urniahcd, and that if a territorial arrangenienl pcrfcell.v .satisfaetor,v to both parties ' .ii:l(' '! it iifiw be made, it might possibly he thought by my (Iovernment that our respective prelensi adjustnuuit of the more urgent point of the maritime protenainn, a point which would not admit of ccinal postponcmenl. D-ll • 1). 42. t |). IS. t p. 44. II p. 45. 42 111 reply to this observation, Count Neaselrode statctl, to my extreme surprise, that if the territorial iirrangeinont was not completed, he did not see the necessity of mak- ing any agreemont re. pecting the maritime question; and I found myself most unex- pectedly under the necessity of again explaining very distinctly, both to him and to M. Poletica, that the maritime jirctension of Kussia was one which, violating as it did the first and most establislied ])rinciples of all i)ublie maritime law, admitted neither of explanation or modification, and that my (government considered themselves possessed of a clear engagement on the part of Kussia to retract in some way or other a preten- sion which could neither be justified nor enforced. Here the matter rested, but 1 ought to state that, notwithstanding this unexjiwted observation of Coun' Xcsselrode, I do not at all bt^lieve that, had we been able to agree upon our southern '.:' .f demarcation, we should have founil any real difficulty either as regards the rclrai • maritime i)retcn8ion, or as regards our western boun- dary, or any other of tli 'ctails which we should have Ix-.'n called upon to adjust ; but the observation was u 'd considering what has already passed upon this sub- ject, both here, in Loudon i in America, considering also the delicacy witlf which His Majesty hud left it to the Kussian (iovernment themselves to frame the terms in whieli their retraction of this jireposterous iiretension should be made, Ifis ilajesty's Government may jierhaps think it advisable that Coiuit I.ievcn sliould be again given clearly to understand that it is a point to whi<;h no slight importance is attached by His llajesty, and that the pretension, as it now stands, will admit of no remedy but that of public, f(jrmal, and i)recise retraction in some shape or another. Such has been the course of my late negotiation upon this question, and such the grounds upon which 1 have thought it my duty to suspend it for the present. I know full well the inconvenience of breaking off such a negotiation in such a stage, and upon a point which, judging only by the map, might perhaps aiipear of so little real importance to His ilajesty's present inten'sts, but when 1 consider by how much I have alrctudy exceeded my instruitions, how more than doubtful is the real right of this (iovernment to any part of tlie territory in most immediate dispute, and how much more exorbitant arc their pretensions upon the North-west Continent of America than 1 had before liad reason to snspeet, I ei^rtainly coidd not venture to take upon myself tlie heav.v responsibility of making any further concessions of a territory, the value and possible local advantage of which I had no means of estimating, and which I believe are as yet imperl'eetly known. It is somewhat rcnuirkable that, whilst the Uussian pretension of maritime juris- diction stands uniccalUd amongst the Oukazcs of the Imperial (iovernment, a note, such as that of which 1 herewitli enclose a copy,* sliould have been adilressed to me in the midst of our negotiations, asking protection for a Uussian ship to luivigate in safety those very seas and visit those very shores which the Court of Russia has by sneli higli-handed decrees dcclarcil to be a part of lier exclusive ilomiuions, and a part too, which the other powers of tlie worhl arc" forbidden to approach. I have not yet answered this note, but if I am pressed to do so before I receive the instructions of His Majesty's (iovernment in respect to it, I shidl certainly grant the certificate required, as was done in a former and similar instance b.y Lord Catheart. I liave, &c., The Right Hon. George Canning. (Signed) CHARLES BAOOT. rcnce inconvi ctr(> le 1818 ( forme, rialc Ko. IS. A. CONTRK-PHOJET SIBMITTEU BY RUSSIAN PLENIPOTKNTIARIKS. les pvopositioiH faitcs par les Tlcnipoti'ntiaires de Russie il Sir Charles Hagot et que Son Excellence a etc price de lu'cnd en mure consideration, tendoient ii fairc admcttre le nfi""' degre de latitude septentrionale comine ligne de demarcation entre lea possessions rcspectivcs sur la cote N.O. ile I'AmeriqiH'. Cetto nu'mc liniit<' a deja etc assignee aux possessions Russes par hi charte que I'Empereur I'uid l" accnrda ii la Conipagnie Americaine. Comme la i)arallele du .'in""' degre coupe I'ile (bi Trinco de Oalleg dans son extrfi- mite meridionale. laissunt cu dehors deux |)ointes de terre les P16nipoteiitiaires de Rus- sie out propose qiu' eis dctix pointes fussent comprises dans les limites Rnssea voulant fviter par l!l, une division de territoire ^galcinent incommode nnx deux iiarties inti'-res- 8^es. • Not printed. L le pre 43 Pour completer In liffue do demarcation et la rendre aussi distincte que possible, Ics PleuiiJOtcntiaircs do Hussie out expriine Ic desir de hii faire suivro le Portland Cniial jusqu'aux iiiontntnios qui bordeiit la e6t«^ De ce point la limite remontcroit le long de ces raontagnes parnllelcment aux sinuo- sitos do la eote, jusqu'a la longitude du l;!!)'"" degre (nicridien de Londros) dcgre dont la ligno de prolongation vers le Nord, formeroit la limite ulterieure <'ntre les Posses- sions Russes et Anglnises an Xord, comnie a I'Kst. Le motif principal qui force la Kussie ii insister sur la Souverainctc de la lisiere indiquee pins Iiaut sur la terre ferme depnis le Portland f'nnal jusqu'au jioint d'inter- scetion du 00° avcc le 1!!!)° de longitude, cVst ([ue, i)rivee de ee territoire, la Comjiagnie Russc Americaine n'auroit aucun moyen do soiitenir si* itnblissements qui seroient des lors sans point d'ni)pui ; et qui no pourroient avoir aucuiie solidi'e. En revanche la Kussie se feroit uu devoir d'ouvrir aux sujets do Sa Majeste Bri- tannique la libre navigation de tons les Heuves (pii aboutissent ii I'oceau dans cette menie lisiere. Pour donner une dcrniere jireuve de son empressement a aller an devant des vo'ux du fiouvernement Anglais, elle ouvriroit aussi au eommerce des sujets de Sa Jfajeste Britannique et a Icurs vaisseaux, le port de Xovo Archangelsk dans le cas ou les propo- sitions ci-dcssus seroi( lit aecepteos. No, 13. B. MoniFKATION OK TIIK FHIST IMKII'OS.M, OHIC.IN.MXV MAOi; BV Sm C. BaUDT. Comme il a etc eonvenn de prendre pour base de negoeiations les convennnees inu- ti'olles des deux pays, 11 est a reinanpier, en reponse a la proposition faite jiar les Ple- ni) itentiaires Kusses, qu'une ligne de demarcation traeee de I'extreniite nieridinnale de I'ile ili; Prince de dalles jusqu'ii rombouebure ilii Canal de Portland, de la par le milieu de ce canal jusqu'ii ec qn'elle (ouelie la terre fernie, de la jnsqu'aux montagnes qui bor- dent la cote, et de la le long di' I'l's montagnes jusqu'a la longitude du 13il""' digre, etc., oteroient a Sa Majeste Britannii|ue la souverninete de toutes cos anses et de ces petites bnies qui se trouvent entre les latitudes !iH° et .'54° ■l.V dont |dusie\irs (ii ee qu'il y a tont lieu a croire) connnnniquent direi'tement aux etablissenients do la Compagnio de Hud- son's Ba.y, et sj'roient i)ar consequent d'une importance ossontioUe pour son eonunerce; tnndis que do I'autre cote la Oompagnie Russo Amfricaine ne i)0sscde aucun etablisse- nient sur la terre ferme entre les deux parnlleloR sus mentionnees, ni mcme sur I'ile du Prince do Oalles, ni sur les iles qui sent situees entre celle-ci et la terre ferme. En aceeptant la proposition faite par Sir Charles Bagot dans sa premiere confe- rence avcc les PKinipoteiitinires Rnssos il n'.v auroit (ii ce qu'il pnroit) qu'un soul inconvenient po\>r la Russio cehii qui ponrroit rosidter du droit que reclameroit peut- etre les Etnts-Unis, en vortn de leur Convention nvee la Ornnde-Bretagne de I'anneo 1818 de naviguor libroment dans tons les parages entre I'ile du Roi (ieorge, et la terre ferme, et de goner ainsi de quelqu(> sorte le commerce des sujets do Sa ilajesto Impc- riale dans ces eaux. Pour obvicr ii ect inconvenient et pour assurer il la Russio I'ontiere souveraineto de ees parages, ainsi que toutes les Jlos et les cotes on il ,v a elfeetivement des 6tablis- somcnts Russes, la flrande-Bretngne proposoroit de prendre pour ligno de domarcntion entre les territoires ilea deux puissances une llgne traeee de I'Onest vers I'Est, par le milieu du canal qui sejiare les iles t du Due d'York do toutes les lies situees au Nord des ditos lies jnscpi'ii ce (pi'elle touehe la t<>rro ferme. De li so prolongeant dans la memo direction sur la terre forme jusqu'h un point distant de la cote de dix liouos marines, la ligne reniontoroit de ce point vers le Nord et le Nord Oucst, parallelenient aux sinuosites de la cote et toujonrs i\ la distance de dix lieucs marines du rivage, jusqu'au 140"'° degre do longitude (de Greenwich) dont elle Buivroit alors le prolongement jusqu'ft la mor polairo. No, 14, 0. OBSERVATIONS MADK HV THE lUIKSlAN Pl.KNll'OTKNTIARIES OX THE AMENDED PROPOSAL OF SIR O. BAOOT, Le motif qui a fait proposer I'adoption du principe des convennnees mutuelles, ct le premier avnntagc de ce principe, o'est d'ompJcher que les ftablisBements respectifs 44 sur la cote Nord Quest nc puissent se nuire les una aux nutreg et oiitrer en collision. Les etablisseniens Anplais de la C'onipagnic de la Baie dp Hudaou et du Nord- Ouest tendent a se porter vers I'Ouest par les 5;J° et 54° de latitude septentrionale. Les etablisseinens Busses de la Compagnie Amcricaiue tendent a descendre au sud vers le 55"'^' parallele et au dela car il est ii remarquer que si la ConipaKnie Ameri- caine n'a point encore fomie d'etablis«oment fixe sur la ligne niatheniatique du SS™", il n'en est pas moins vrai qu'en vertu de son privileffe de 1790 — privilege eontre lequol aucune Puissance n'a jamais reclame — elle exploite la chasse et la peclie dans ces para- ges, et que regulierement elle occupe les lies et leg cotes avoisinantes dans la saison qui lui permet d'y envoyer aes chasseurs et ses pecheurs. II etoit done de la convenancc mutuelle dcs deux empires d'assigner de justes limites a des progres reciproques que ne pouvoient qu'occasioniier avec le temps les plus faeheuses complications. II etoit aussi de leur convenance mutuelle de determiner ces limites d'apres Jes separations naturelles q\ii formeiit toujours les frontieres les i)liis distinctes et les plus certaines. C'est par ces raisons que les Plcnipotentiaires de Kussie ont propose pour limites sur la cote du Continent au sud de Portland Channel dont I'origiiie dans les terres et par le 56""' degre de latitude N. et a I'Est la chaine de montagiiea qui suit a uiie tres petite distance les sinuosites de la cote. D'apres les cartes les plus' recentes et les meilleures publiees en Angleterre, leg etablisseniens de la Compagnie de la Uuie de Hudson, ne se rapprochent des cotes que par le 53° et le 54°" dogre, ot I'on ne sauroit prouver que sur aueun point iU arrivent jusqu'au grand ocean. Cf-pendant d'apres lo prineipe des convenances mutiielles le proj(!t d'arrangement des Plenipotentiaires de Kussie, laisse ouverts a I'extension successive des Colonies Anglaises : 1° Toute la partie de la eote entre I'embouchure du Portland Channel et le 51"" deprf de latitiulc Nord envisagfi eomme limite des possessions Russes dans I'Oukazc du 4-lfl Septembrc, 1821. 2° Tout le territoire sitne entre les etablisseniens Anglais au 54"'" et l' denuircatlon en autant qu'il rogarde les iles, elle ne pourroit d'aprcs le prineipe enonee plus liaut I'avoir reconnu comme limite sur le continent voisin, sur lequel la Compagnie de la Baic de Hudson avoit deja etabli plusieurs de ses postea les plus impurtants. Cette Compagnie a en effet, des etablisscmena memo pros de la cote au Nord du 55nic Jpgrf ; Sn Majeste Britannique ne jiourroit done sans sacrifier les interets de la compagnie renoncer & ses droits a la souverainete de la cote ct des ilea qui la dependent immediatement jusqu'il la hauteur de 50° 30' de latitude Nord (piel que soit le degre de latitude que Ton pourra definitivenient convenir de prendre pour limite entre li'S deux puissances en antant qu'il coucerne le.s iles situees plus ii I'ouest. L'origine du Portland Canal pent etre comme il y a lieu a croire, I'embouchure de (pulque flcuve qui coule jiar le milieu du pa.vs occupc par la Compagnie de la Bale de Tlndson, ct il est par consequent d'une importance majeure ii la Orande-Bretagne d'en posseder la souverainete des deux rives. Ce fut dans I'esjioir de i)ouvoir concilier ces objets indispensables avec eeux du Ciouvcrnemcnt Imiierial, et de determiner sans plus de delai, une question qu'il parais- soit etre ^galement de riuferet des deux parties d'arranger definitivement au moment aetuel que le Plenijiotentiaire de Sa Majeste Britannique eut I'honneur de proposer dans aa derniere conference avee les Plenipotentiaires de Russie, une ligne do demar- cation qui tout en eouservaut a la Russie pour limite m^ridionale sur lea Ilea le degrf de latitude d6signc par I'Oukaao de 1790, assigneroit en memo temps i hi Orande- Bretagne pour limite sur la cote de la terre ferme la latitude de 50° 30* Nord. II seuible qu'une ligne tracee de I'extremitf meridionale du Detroit nomme "Duke of Clarence's Sound "* nar le milieu do ce detroit jusqu'au milieu du dctroit qui separe les iles du Prince de Oalles ct du Due d'York de toutes les Iles situf'os au nord des dites iles, de lil vers I'est par le milieu du meme detroit jusqu'il la terre ferme, et so jiroloii- geant ensuite dans la direction et de la manierc dejft proposee par le Plenipotontiaire de Sa Majeste Britannique jusqu'a Mont Elias, ou ii i'interscetion du 140'"° degr6 de longitude, fornieroit une ligne do demarcation qui concilieroit peut-etre d'une mnniere satisfaisante les intfrets W^ciproques tant actuels que futurs dea deux emjiircs dans cette partie du globe- D— 12 46 No, 16. E. DECISION OP RUSSIAN (lOVEBNMENT IN WHICH THEY INSIST UPON THE DEMAHUATION AS DESCKIBEI) IN THEIR CONTKE-PHOJET (PAPER MARKED A.)- St. Petersburgh, le 17-29 Mars, 1824. Les PIfnipotcntiaires de Russie out portc & la connoissance de TEmpereur leur maitre les deriiieres propoaiiions qui Icur ont 616 faites par Sir Charles Bagot relative- ment a la ligne dc demarcation qui scparoroit les Possessions Busses des Possessions Anglaiscs sur la coto Nord Ouest du continent de I'Amerique. Attcutiveraeut examinee par Sa ilnjesto Imperialc ces propositions ne lui ont point paru dc nature a pouvoir etre aceeptfies. L'Empereur charge ses Plonipotentiaires do declarer iterativement & Mong. I'Ain- bassadeur d'Angleterrc : Que la i)0S8ession de I'ile du Prince de (inlles sans une portion de territoire sur la cote situfic vis-&-vis de cette ile ne pourroit etre d'aucune utility k la Kussie. Que tout I'otablii'scment forme sur la dite ile, ou sur cellcs qui I'environnent Be trouveroit en quelquo sorte tournes par les ctablissemens Anglais de la terre ferme et complStemcnt it la merci de ccs dcrnierg. Qu'en consequence un arrangement seniblablc ne seroit nullement conforme au principe des convenances mutuelles. Qu'au reste d'apres le tenioignnKc des cartes les plus recentcs publices en Angle- terre il n'existe aucun ('tablisscnicnf Anglais ni sur la cote menie du continent, ni au nord du 54""' degre de latitude sojitentrionale. Qu'ainsi quand les limites fixecs aux possessions Russes par la charte de 1799, n'auroient point en leur favour depuis 25 ans le conscntemcnt tacite de toutos les Puis- sances encore la Russie cxerceroit-ell sur cette partie de la cote precisement les niemes droits que la Grande-Bretagne, d'oii il rcsulte que la question devroit toujours etre r^solue, non d'apres les interets exchisifs d'un des deux Empires mais de maniere a concilier Icurs interets reciprnques. Qu'enfin quant & la la navigation des fleuves, la Russie croyoit avoir offert & la Grande-Bretagne tons les avantages et toutps concessions que t'cUe-ci peut desirer: et que dans cet ctat de clioses les Plenipotentiaires de Sa Mnjestc Iniporiale avoient ordre d'insister sur leurs propositions anterieures, propositions dont ils ont amplement deve- loppe les motifs il Son Excellence Monsieur le (jhevalier Bagot. L'Empereur espere que ces motifs seront appr^eies par le Gouvcrnement de Sa Majeste Britannique ct que Mims. I'Ambassadeur d'Angleterrc les fera valoir avee ce desir de rappro^ le plan de rAmbassadeur de I'Angleterre, <>lle ne seroit pour nous qu'une charge et presqu'un iueonvcnicnt. Cette ile, en effet, et les etablissemens (pie nous y formerions, se trouveroient cntierement isoles, prives de tout soutien, enve- lopjjfe par les donuiinea de la Orande-Bretagne et a la mcrci des etablissemens Anglais (le \a cote. Nous nous cpuiserions en frais de garde et de surveillance (bmt aucune eomiiensation n'nll6geroit le fardeau. T'n arrangement pared rcposcroit-il sur le l)riu- cipe dps convenances mutuelles? _ ,. . , Nous invoquons toutefois co principe avec d'^nitunt plus de justice que ". Aiifrlpterre ellp-meme a prouve par un acte authentique, qlfelle regardoit coinmc douteux scs droits s„r 1p tprritoirp dont elle demandc I'abandon. La Convention passc'e le 20 octo- Im 1S18 entre In Cur do Londres el les Etats-Unis (h'elare projiriete commune des deux Puis,saiices pour dix ans. toute I'etendue de im.vs pomprise entre les Roek.v Moun- tains rOc('an Paciti()UP et Ips p(».HPS«ions Kussps. I-es titrps dps Etats-TIiiis a la sou- verniliPtt' de ce pnvs s.mt done aussi valablos (piP ceux de rAngleterre. Cependnnt lo Onbinet de Washington a reeonnu que nos limitps devoipiit dc-seendr' liis(pi'au .'>4° 40'. 11 I'n reeoiinii par iiiie trniisnpti(m I'ormplle (|11p nous venous do para- pher avec son PR'nipcteiitinire. pI eptt.- reP(mnai8sance ii'a point pour c(ms,:Mpien(-e um- 48 que de fortifier noa argumcns, cllo nous procure d'autrcs r^sultats auzquels nous atta- chions avec raison, le plug haut intcret, Tranquilleg de ce coti's nmis n'avons maintenont aucune crainto ft nourir, et le Cabinet de Londres conviendrn aans dmite, qu'iin tel ctat do choses augmente le prix des sacrifices (jue nous lui offrona. Di'ja il existc une difference de pros de quatrc degres entre la dfninrcation de I'Ouknse du 4-10 Septenibre 1821, et cclle que iiou* iiidiquous aujonrd'hiii. Lea ftabliaseniena dea ConipnKnies Annlniaes peuvent oou- per cet intcrvnlle. A I'Kst ili* peuveiit unir les deux cotes de rAnieriqne, iiu niidi rien n'enipcelie qu'ila n'ncqnierent une extension considerable. I'our nous, nous bornons noa demandcs ft eelle d'une simple lisifre du continent, et nfin de lever toute objection, nous gnrantisaons la libre navigation des fleiivcs, nous annoncjons I'overturo du port (!<■ Xovo Archangelsk. La Russie ne sauroit pousser loin ses concessions. Kile n'cii fera pas d'nutrrs, et olle est autoriac(> a en attendre de la part de rAngleterre, inais encore une t'oia elle ne reclame qii;' ilea ccneessions negatives. On lu- pent effectivement naaez le repeter, d'aprea le tenioignnge dea cnrtea U« plus recentes, rAiigleterre ne possfde aucnn eta- l)lissement, ni a la hauteur du Portland Canal, ni a bord-meme de I'Oeean, et laBiiasic quand elle insiate sur la eonaervation d'nii mediocre espftc<> de terre ferme. n'insiatc au fond que sur le moyen de faire valoir, noua dirons plus, de na pas perdro lea fles euvironnantes. C'eat la position dont noua parliona tout i I'heure; noua no rechcr- chons aucun uvantage, noua voidons 6viter de graves ineonvcniena. En reaunie Mona. le Comte, si I'on consulte le droit dnna cette nfgociiition. In Rusaie a celui (pi'assurent, d'une part, on consentement tacite, mnis incontestable, de I'autre, une exploitation paisible depuis vingt cinq ana et qui peut etre coiisiden'c eonime cquivalente ft une occupation continue. Si I'on invoque le prineipe des convenances niutuellea. In Rusaie laiaae au develop- |)ement progri'ssif des etablissemens Anglaia, une vaste etendue de cote et territoiri' ; elle leur assure de libres debouehea, elle pourvoit aux int6rcta de leur commerce, el pour compenser taut d'offrea dictccs par le plus sincere eaprit de conciliation, elle ae reaerve uniquement un point d'ajipui, sana lequel il lui aeroit impossible de garder une moitie de ses domainea. De tellea vues n'ont beaoin que d'etre present<"es dans leur vrai jour, pour qu'un Ciouvernemcnt conune celui de la Orande-Bretagne sache les nppr^cier. Douter de son adhesion dans cette circonatance, ee aeroit douter de an justice, et il vous ^lera facile, I'Empereur se plait ft le croire, d'obtenir le consentement definitif de I'Angle- terro ft une trnnsnction qui rempliroit noa vcdux et nos eaperances en prfivenant toute discussion ulterieure Recevez, M. le Comte, L'assurance, etc.. (Signg) NKSSELRODE. No. 18. HUDSON S BAY COMPANY TO FOBEION OFFICE. Hudson's Bay House, li/jxnoN, April 19, 1824. Sm, — I have this morning laid before the Committee of the Hudson's Bay Com- pany Sir Charles Bngot'a Deapateh,* and papers connected with it, which you did mo the honour to entrust to me on Saturday morning, and I am to state that if His Ma- jesty's Government consider it advisable in other respects to accede to tlie last pro- position made by the Rusaian fiovernment for the arrangement of a line of demarca- tion iHjtween the posaesaions of Rusain and (Jreat Britain on the eonat of North America, they see no reason to object to it, aa it will affect their particular interests, and more especially as it apiiears to secure to them fn>e access to the sea for the i)ur- l)()aes of their trade on the whole const to the eastward of the 13!) dcigree of longitude. They beg me, however, to suggest the expedieni'y of aome more definite demarca- tion on the const thnn the supposed chnin of mountains eontiguoua to it, and they conceive there cnn be no difficulty in nrrnnging this point, from the wxpresaion in the proposition of the Russian negotiators, " La ehaine des montagnes. qui sont ft lri)s petUe dinlance dea sinuositea da la cote." Neither party have any very nccnrnte geogrnphical information with respect to the country in the immediate neighbourhood of the sea, and if the intentions of the Russians are fairly to be inferred from the worda used in their propr ,al, the most SiH.— If 'nistances. |l"inls whic ["■itii the cj I 'lie ^iniiosit, ■■liiirts lis el ■ •li> and inhospitable countries. I have. Sic, To the Kight Hon. (Jeorge Canning, (Signed) J. II. I'KIJ.Y. &c., &c., &c. No. 19. BIQUT HON. G. CANNlNd TO SIR C. RAOOT. (Xo. IS.) FoREiQS Ofkick, April 2-t, 1S24. (Kxtract.) • • • • • • • 1 will not, however, defer till that opportunity the informing .your Exci-lloncy llmt your conduct in suspending the negotiations Tfith respect to the North-west Coast cif .Vnicrica, when you found that the modifications which you judiciously took upon I yourself t(j make in your instructions were not met by corresponding concessions on the part of the Russian Government, has received His Majesty's gracious approbation. 1 have referred the whole question of this negotiation anew to the (lovemor^ of the Hudson's Bay Comimny, whoso report I expe<'t shortly to receive. I have some reason to think that that report will reconunend the policy of closing I with the Russian proposals rather than leaving the points in dispute unsettle(l for an iTulriinite time. It will then rt^main to consider, after I shall have learnt the tenor of the instructions sent to Count Lievcn, whether it may Ik> most expedient for the King's service to carry on the ulterior diseussiims with the Russian Anibassailor here lor to authorize your Excellency to resume and conchide the negotiations. Ho. 20. Mr. Pelly (Hudson's Bav Company) to Foukion Okfipk. (Private.) 'i, Portman Square. May 2ti, 1824. Sm. — If it is intended to conclude any treaty with Russia under the present cir- I I'mstani'cs. the copy of the communication which T saw yesterday embraced nil 'Ip^ l|'i)ints which ai>pear necessary to si'curc the (bjicts of the Hudson's Bay Coinpauy, with the exception of a more ))articular description of how the nmuntains range with lilie c at a very considerable distance from the coast ; and to pro- jvide fi 1- which ease the distance ought to be limited, as Sir Charles Bagot proposed. Ill] a few leagues, say, not exceeding 10 from the shores. But the copy of the conven- Jiion between Russia and America seems to have rendered the concessions proposed to llie nuide by (Jreat Britain (founded on the basis of mutual eonvenieiiee) ipiite un- |nee(ss:i'v, for by it Russia has bound herself in tlie !ird Article not to form :iiiy ■tiililishiiient to the southward of .')4° W, or Prince of Wales Island, and by the 4th Arlicle it is covenanted that for ten years all vessels belonging to th" two powers nuiy liirocally freiiuent all the harbours for the iiurposes of trade with the natives. 1 iini at a les-s to understand how the great object of the arrangement (th' pre- iiilioii of tile eollisicm of the traders of the different jiowcrs) is to be attainel° bit. elainied in the famous Ckase. Tills would have faeilitated the proposed arraUKemi'Ut lielween (ireal llritain and the I'liited States of making the Columbia the boundar.v between tliem, but it apjiears In me lliat tins eoiivention bel ^'een Jiussin and the I'nited Slati's renders it inexpedi nt f'lr (ireal Britain to siirremU-r any part of her claims to that eoiist unless \ipon a satis- fiietorv arrantceineiit with the I'nited States as well as with Kussia. 1 should have to otler my aiiolojiies for the frii'dom with wliieh I have (tiven my sintiniinis had not Lord Franeis ConyuKham informed me it was your wish that 1 i^hould do so. Believe me, ie., ItiKht Hon. Oeo. Canninif. (SiKiied) .1. II. I'KJ.IT. No. 81 BmilT HON. li. I ANXIMl TO SIH C. HMinT. (Xo. 22.) Foreipn t)fti<'e, Jlay 2!l, 1S24. 1 transmit to your Kxeidleney u copy of i\ letter whieli I have nddressod to (Vimt l.ieven* upon the sidijeet-niattcr of two Despatehesf from Connt Nesselrode to Coii'it I.ieven whieli that .\inbas.sador eoinniiinieated to me, and eopies of wliieh I also have. Your Kxeelleney will learn from my letter to ('ount Lieven that you may expeet t'l have instruetions very shortly both for the concliisioii of the ne)fotiatioii relating to the north-west Coast of Amerien ; * • » » I hope to despateh a inesseii(t<'r to your Kxeelleney with these instrueliuiis in the eourse of next week. Meantime the enelosed paper will put your Kxeelleney jrinerally in possi ssion of the .senlimeiits of Her Majesty's (Jovernnieiit upon these several siibjeets. But your J'lxeelleiiey will not take any step upon tlieni until you shall have reeeiveil niy jiiv- niiseil instruetions. 1 have, &e.. Sir Chas, Bngot. (Signed) OEOROE CANNING. Ko. 22. THK HlliHT HON. i:. lANMNti TO Olf.T I.IKVKV. (Kxtraet.) FoHKiiiS Oi-KKK. May -I'.). 1824. MoNs. i.K CoMTK. — After mature eonsideration of the two Hespati'hes from Coi iit Nessclrode to your KxeeUeney on the .Ith ultimo, eopies of whieh .your Kxeelleney hi il the goodness to put into my hands, 1 have the satisfaction to iic'iuaint your Kxer'.- lency that I shall be enabled shortly to send to Her ^la.il■st,^ Ambassador at !■ t. PetersburMT such instruetions on the subject-matter of both as shall meet in » Kri.it degree the wishes of your court. 1st. As to the line of dcinareatioii to be drawn between Kussia and British ik 'U- pntiou on the north-west Coast of America : Sir Charles liagol's discretion will be so far enlarged ns to enable him to aihnit, with certain qualifications, the terras Inst proposed by the Kussian (iovernment. The (pialilieations will eonsi ; chiefly in a more definite description of the limit to which the strip of land required by Kussia on the continent is to he ri'stricted, in the selection of a somewhat more western ik'grce of longitude as the boundary to the northward of .Mount Klias, in iireei.se and positive stipulations for the fri'e use of all rivers which may be found to empty them.selves into the sen within the Kussinn fron- tier, and of all sens, straits, nnd waters whieh the limits assigne.iii li.v an.v othor Million ; and vvr tako for ^'ranliMl that tlic oxclnsivc claims of nnvitration and jnri^dii'lioM over ili, Norlli I'licitii- Ocean, which were put forward in tin- I'kax' of Sc ptindicr, I'^l'I, arc lo he altoKcthcr withdrawn. No. 23. (Xn. 24.) Kxtriift. TIIK HlollT lloS. (1. ( \\\INo To sni ( . ll\i;oT. KollKl(.\ OHKK, .ll ■J'.K 1-u'l. On this hitler poinl* it is ni.v intiiition lo furnish .your Kxi'clh'ucv with a (h- Convention whicli ,vou nniy sijtn liefore .Vcnir ilepartiire from Si. I'clcrslinrjr. No. 24. THK HKIIIT lliPN. (;. CANMXi; Til s|li (No. 2(1.) FoHKlcx OmcK. Jnlv 12, 1S24. SiH. — After full edusiderution of the motives whicli arc alli'tied hv llie [{iissiaii (loverniiient for udherinn to their hisi propositions rcspe<'liii(r llie line of ileiiiiircalion to 1m' drawn hcUveen liritish and Uussiun ocenpiiiii'.v on the .Vorth-wi st Coast of Amcricn, and of the comparative iucoiiveniencu of admitting some reliixalion in the terms of your Kxcellenc.v's last instructions, oi of Icavinjf the i|uestioii lietwecn the Ivvo (iovi-rnmcnts unsiltled for iiii indctlnite time, His Majesty's (oivemmi'iit liav" resolved to authorize your l*)xcellcncy to consent to include the south points of Prince of Wales' Island within the KuHsian frontiers, and to take, as the line of demnrcation, a line drawn from the southernmost point of Prince of Wales' Ishiml, from south to north, throiifrh I'ortland Cliannel. till it strike.i the niainlaml in latitude M° ; thence followin^f the sinuosities of the coast alon^ the liiisc of the monntiiins nearest the -"n to Mount Klias : and thence alonn the lo'.Uli decree of longitude to the I'olur Sea. 1 enclose the draft^ of a Project of Convenlion. founded upon these principl'^, which yonr Exc<'lleney is authorized to .sifrn previonsly to your quittinfr St. PetcrsburK. The ndvnntajres coinrded to Russia liy the lini! of denniroation traced out in this Convention are so obvious us to rcmler it (piite impo.ssible that any objection can reasonably Iw ofTered, on the jiart of the Russian (iovernment, to any of the stipula- tions in our favour. There arc two points which are left to be nettled by your Excellency. First, in fixing; the cinirse of the eastern boundary of the strip of land to be occupied by Russia on the coast. The .seaward liiiso of the innuntains is lussumcd as that limit. But we hiiv" experience that other mountains on the other side of the A' lerican continent, which have hiH'u as,siinied in former treaties as lines of boundary, are incorrectly laid down in the ma|).s ; and this inaccuracy has Riven rise to very troublesome discussions. It i.s tlier(?fore necessary that some other security should \k' taken that the line of demarcation to be drawn parallel with the coast, as far as Mount St. Elia.s, is not carried ton far inland. This is done by n proviso that the line shall in no case (i.e., not in that of the nionntnins which appear by th map almost to border the const, turniu); out. to be far removed from it) be carried further to the east than a specified number of leaftues from the sea. The utmo.st extent which His Majesty's Government would be dispo.sed lo conwde would he a distance of 10 leagues. But it would !«• desirable if your Kxccl- lency were ennbled to obtain a still more nurrow limitatiini. Secondly. Article 5 of the Projet is copied from Article 4 of the Convention lietwecn Russian and the United Stales of America. By the American nrticU' the rifrht of visitintt resiR'ctively, and resortinu; to each others possessions, is limited to 10 years. This limitation is left blank in the Projet. We should have no objection to aRrce to the article without any limitation of time; we should pn>fer a longer period (say, 20 years) to that stipulated by the Ameri- * North-weal conHt of Anii'rfca. t No copy of ttlin (Iriift tins been (raced. — D.R.C. 53 cans. Your Kxeellcncy will obtiiii eillior of these extensions if you cnii, bui you must not iinKM to a shorter term than H> years. Your Kxoelleney will be careful to make it understood that this liinitntiou ot tinio cannot in luiy case extend to the use by Great Britain of the Harbour of Now Areh- antrid, still less ')f the rivers, creeks, &c., on the continent, the use of all whicli is in the nature of a comiXT.satiou for the (lerpetnal risht of territory granted to llnssia. anil therefore must U alike perpetual. If your Excellency shall, as I cannot doubt, coucliiile and siRn this Convention before your departure, you will make it a point |o bring with voii the ratification of the Uussiaa (Jovernn-eut to be exchanged by Count Lieven againit that of Ili? Majesty. Sir Charleii Bagot. I am, &c., (Signed) GEORGE CANNIN(i. No. 25. RlUUr HON. (J. CANNINU TO SIB C. B.VOOT. (No. id.) FoBEiON Office, July 24, 1824. Thf! projet of a Convontion which is enclosed in my No. 26 having be<'n connn\ini- eated by nie lo Count Lieven, with a request that his Excellency would note any jjoint in it upon which !ie conceived any ditficulty likely to arise or any explanation to be necessary, I Imve received from hi^ Excellency the Memorandum (a (Hipy of which is hcrewifh enclosed). Your Ex(!cllency will observe that there are but two points which have struck Count Lieven as susceptible of any question; the first, the assumption of th:- 'lase of the mountains, instead of the xiimjiiit, as the line of boundar.v; the sei'ond, the e.xten- .sion of the right of the navigation of the Pacific to the sea beyoml BehrinfrV Straits. As to tile first, no great inconvenience can arise from your Exci'llency (if pressed for that alteration) eonsontiiig lo substitute the summit of the mountains insteail of the seaward base, provided always that the stipulation as to the extreme distance from' the coast to which the lixii''.re is in any I'ase to run Ik; adopted (which distance I liavc to repeal to your Kxwdlency should lie made as short as possible;, and provided a stipulation be added that no forts shall Ix' established or fortifications erected by either party on the summit or in the pasjcs of the mountains. A.s to the second point, it is perhaps, as Count Lieven remarks, new. But it is to be remarked in return that the circumstancps under which this additional security is required will be new also. By the ti'rritorial demarcation agreed to in this Projet llnssia will l«'com<' possessed in acknowledged sovereignty of both sides of Bchring's Straits. The power which could think of making the i'acifi<' a mart' cliuisiiin may not unnaturally \n' supposed capable of a disposition to apply the same character to a strait eomprehendeil iK'tween two shores, of which it becomes the iiu iieing the only quiwtions suggested by (~'onnt Lieven, I trust I nny antici- pate with eonfidenee the I'onelusion and signature of the Convenficui nearly in conformity to the Projet and with little trmibli' to your E.xcellency. The long delay oi the ship makes it peculiarly satisfactory to me to iniv,- ndneed ymir ExeelUnicy's ta.sk in this luHtcr within ho small a compass. Sir Chas. Hagot, &c., &c. I am, &c., (Signed) G. OANNINQ. S3 No. 26. MEUuUANDUu BV oouMi LiBVEM.- (24 July, 1824.) Lo projet de Convention redige par le Cabinet Angluia fuit ciiurir la limitt des Possessions Rus&ps et AngiaiseB sur la Cote Nord Quest d'Anieriijue au .Siid du Mont Elie, le long de la base des montagmsa qui suivnid lea siiiuoaiUa de cstie cote. II est a observer qir'on these generale lorsqu'une chuinis de montngnes aert a fixer unc limite quelconque, c'est toujours la cime de ces montagnes qui forme la ligue de di'niareation. Dans le ca« dont, il s'agit ici, le mot de base par le sens indi'tini qn'il preseute, ot le plus ou moins d'extension qu'on peut lui donner, ne parait guere propre a mettre lii delinii- tiition a I'abri de toutes contestations ulterieurej car il ne s the more unexi»eted. as the chief alteralions made In the original projet were introduced here (as .your Kxcelleney can bear witness) at the suggestion of the Russian Plenipotentiaries themselves, I have not yet bad time to give sufficient consideration to the Oontre-Projet now prcseuted on the part ot those Plenqiotentiaries to be enabled to sa.v positively whether it can be acecpteii in all its jinrts. Hut 1 windd fain hope that the differences between us may not be Insurmountable; and I do most esniestl.v entreat your Execlleney to submit to your Co\irt. ' . -our first messenger, the expediency of sending to your Excel- lency Instructions niid full powers to I'onelude and sign the Treaty here. No. 28. Hudson's b.w ro.\ii'ANV to foreu!n okfuk. Hudson's Bay House, Octoln- 20. 1824. Sir, — 1 duly remnwed Lord Francis Conyngham's letter of the 19t!' instant, with Its enclosures, and It dims not appear to me that the counter project of Knssla is so essen- tially different from niie one which His Majesty's .Ministers have considered it advisable to propose to liussia. as fur as the Hudson's Hay Cninpany are eoncerned.* to reject it. c.vcept ill the 2nd .Vrticle. wbii'h should more accunilely detine thi' laslerii boundary from till' I'orthind ( iiual to the (U c.f north latitmle to be the cbaiii of inountains al a "IK'S iM'lile distaiu-*- de la I'ote," but that If the summit of those niouiitalusexcied ten leagues, that the siiwi dlslauce he Hubstilulcd instead nf thi' iiiouiitains. It eerlainl.v would have biH'ii ji mure inlvisable arrangement had il been practicable lo have made the sireight l)etweeii ihe niiiinliind and the islands, Instead of the inouii- taius, the dmBloii iiol only ns a mori' naliiral oiii'. but would have preventiil ibe possi- bility iif eollixbui of the tradnrs of Ihe two eountrirs. and if ibis could be now obtained, relinquishing tbi' iiropoHenii iieense of visiting nod Irading with the natives for a term "f years, in that part of cue lerritory to which liussia is acUnciwledged as entitled In I be sovereignly. I think it "-iMild be ailvisr.ble ; but if nut iiraclicnble. we should have • .\» lo innke It D- II 'xpelllnio '1— n.H.r 64 tlie same pr' /ileges as were granted to the Americnns. On a former occasio:i J pro- posed the streighi as the line of demarcation upon the principle of preventing collision, v.hieh wwas not only my idea, but you will recollect was one of the principal reasons stated by Russia for proposing a division of territory; and when it is considered the large tract that is conceded to the westward of the 139° of longitude to which Russia tcan have no better right than Great Britain, and which it is hoped Captain Franklin may be the first European who will explore, and that the only pretension she has to the coast between the 59° and 54° of latitude is the having made a grant of i' to the Russian Fur Company, which has not been objected to by any European State ;fi>r Russia neither discovered nor has any settlem'iii on it oi' on any part of the continent) within those latitudes, and our own* extend to the 57° and trade with tiie natives wlio t This oppurenily refer- to the Stlklne.— D.R.C. come beyond the 60°), I do not think it too much to require, at the srmo time the Com- mittee of the Hudson's Bay Company do not attach so much impoi tanee to the object 1 have pointed out, as to stand in the way of (Concluding the arrangement if in other jioints His Majesty's Government consider it desirable. I have, &c., The Right Hon. George Canning, (Signed) J. H. PELLY. &e,, &c., &c. No. 29. HHillT l|i)\. (i. lANNIXCi TO Mil. S. PANNINO. (No. 1.) Foreign Ofpiok, December 8, 1824. Hif ilajesty having been gr.iciously pleased to name you his Plenipotentiary for concluding and signing with the Russian Government a (\)nvcntion for terniinnting the discussions which have arisen out of tin promulgation of the Russian I'kase nf 1821, and for settling the respective tcrritori.il claims of Great Britain and Russia on tlic N'orth-west Coast of America, have received His ilajesty's eonuuands to ilirect you to repair to St. Petersburgh for thai puriMisi'. and to furnish you with the necessary instructions for terminating tliis long protracted negotiation. The correspondence wliich has already jiassed upon tliis subject has been submitted to your iierusai, anrehensive arrangement, to withdraw, witli less appearance of coneeMsi .n, tlw offensive pretensions of that edict. Ft is coMiparntivrlv inditfercut to tis whither we hasten or postpone nil questiuiis resiK'cting the limits of territorial possession nn the continent of America, but the pretensions of the Russian Ukoso of 1821, to exolusivo domii.ion over the Paeifle, could • This appBrelitly t No. 16, p. 45, t No. 17, |i. 48. ri'f.Ms to tllP Stlkini'.- 66 iKjt coutiuuc longer unrepcaliKl without coinpelliug us to take sotne measures of publiu jind effectual remonstrance against it. You will, therefore, take earo in the first instance to repress any attempt to give tliis change to the character of the negotiation, and will declarfj without reserve that the point to which alone the solicitude of the British Government and the jealousy of flic British nation attach any great importance is the doing away (in a manner as little disagreeable to Bussia as pos8ible)of the effect of the T^kase of 1821. That this Dkasc is not acteontinued maintenance of the principle itself, and when we have seen in the enur^e of tiiia negotiation that the Buasian claim to the poa- se.-<3ion of the coast of America down to latitude 511 rests, in fact, on no other ground lliau the presumed acquiescence of the nations of Kurope in lln- provisions of an Ukase published by the Emperor I'aul in the year 1800, against which it is affirmed that no public remonstrance was nuule, it bermnes us to be exceedingly careful that we do not by a similar neglect on the present occasion allow a similar presumption to be raised as to un acjquiescence in the T'^ase of 1821. The right of the subjects of His JIaj<.'-c tu give fouiitenaiu' ''i tho^e claims of 1 xclusive jurisdictinn against wliii'h we, on our own behalf and lint .if the whole livilized world, protest. Mo s|ieeiticatioii ol' this sort is lound ill' thi' ('(Piivcnticui with il.' 1 nited -tates of America, and yet it cannot be doubled that the Americans consider iheniM'lves ,.- secured in the right of navigating Bcliiing's Straits and the sea beyond thcni. It cannot liecxpeeti'd that Knglaiid slionlrl receive as a boon tliat which the United States hold as a right so unquestionable a.'' not tn be worth recording. Pcrliaiis the simplest eoursi^ after all will be to substitute for all that part of the proJH't an I'nited Stales of America, in the unliT In whii'li lliey sland in that Convcnlion. Russia cannot mean to give ti> the I'nileil Stales of America what she witliliobU I'roiii us, nor t" withhold from ih an.vtlilng ihni she has consented to give lo the United States. The Liniforniity of stipulations, in imrli iiutlvrli'i. gives clearnc-s and forci' to both .ir-angements, and will establish that I'noling nf e(|uality between the several contraet- ini-' parties which il is iimst desirable shoulil <'xist betwci'ii thrrt' iiowers whose interests come so nearly in contact wilh eaidi other in a jiart of the globe in which no other jiower is concerned. This, therefore, is what I am lo inslruel you lo propose at once to the Russian Minister, as cutting short an otherwise iiu'onvi'nicnt discussion. This ( xpeillcut will dispose of Article 1 nf the project, and of .\rlieles .T aiiil li of the cimtn'-projet. The next articles relat(> In the Icrritorlnl dcmarcalinn, and iipnu Iheiii 1 have oii'y lo make the follnwing observations : 'I'ho Russian PIcnipcptentiarles prnpuse to with- draw entirely the limit cif tlie liiierr •in the enast which they wiTc tlieniselvi'S the first to iiropose, viz., the soiuniil of the niounlaiiis which run parallel lo the coast, and which appear aci'onliug to the inaji la follow all siiiiiosilies. and In substilule gcinTally that which wc only suggested as a corrective of their first iiroposjtinu. We I'anuol agree In ibis change, it is quite obvious that llie boundary of inoun- tains where they exist is the most nalural and elTectoal boundary. The Inconvenience ngciust which we wisheil Iri gu.nrd was. that which you know and can thoroughly ex- plain to llie Russian Plenipotentiaries to have existed (Ui the other side of the.\ini'riea!i contin"nt, when innunlains lalil clown in a map as in a certain given position, and nssniued in faith nf ll'c Mi'i'uvai'v of ibal noqi as a biaindary liclwren the possos.sin'w y 66 of England and tho United States, turned out to bo quite differently aituated, a dis- covery which has given riae to the most perpl;xing discu.saiou. Should the niaiw be no more accurate as to the weatern than as to the eastern mountains, wo might !)c assigning to Russia immense tracts of inland territory, where we only intcnued to give and they only intended to ask a strip of sea coast ! To avoid the chance of this inconvenience wo proposed to qualify the 'general pro- position, " that the mountains should be the boundary," with the condition " if those mountains should not be found to extend beyond 10 leagues from the coast." The Bussian Plenipotentiaries now propose to take the distance invariably as the rule. But we cannot consent to this change. The mountains, as I have said, are a more eligible boundary than any imaginary line of demarcation, and this being their own original proposition the Russian Plcniijotentiarics cannot reasonably refuse to ailhere to it. Wlicre the mountains are the boundary we are content to take the summit instead of th(> ■' seaward base " as the line of demarcation. I omitted in my last instructions to Sir Charles Bagot, though I had signified to Count Lieven, that I intended to require a small extension of the line of demarca- tion from the point where the lisiere on the coast terminates in latitude 59° to tho northward. The extension required is from 139° to 141° W. longitude, the latter being parallel which falls more directly on Mount Elias. With regard to the port of Sitka or New Archangel the offer came originally from Russia, but we are not disposed to object to the restriction which she now ap|)lie3 to it We arc content that the port shall be open to us for 10 years, jirovided only that if any other nation obtains a more extended term tho like term shall be extended to us also. We are content also to assign the period of 10 years for the reciprocal liberty of access and commerce with each other's territories, which stipulation may be best stated precisely in the terms of Article 4 of the American Convention. These, I think, are the only points in which alterations are required by Russia, and wo have no other to propose. A Projet stich as it will staml according to the observations of this Despatch is enclosed, which you will understand as furnished to you as a gtiide for the drawing up of the Convention, but not as prescribing the precise form of words, nor fettering your ( The presrnte*! the spiri jects the anil the N.: agreeulil well lis Til, lalitii lirompi I gave lintiarie Tbi Mlgge- uow dnii Tlie iirlicle I I'ollllecl Wi on till' no inti' ■•tniits, I It I licular it'tiliarii liitlei iil)cnili As -igue .Vn'liiVf Tlio Ui, &c. 67 part of it, she must not take it ainiss tLnt w« resort to some mode of reeordiuK in tlie face of the world our prott^st uguinst the pretensions of the I'kaze of 1.S21, and of itleetually seciiriiiK our interests against tlie possibility of its future o|)erntions. I have, &e., Air. Stratford Canning, (Signed) O. CANNING. &e., &c. No. 30. MB. S. CANVINU TO RKJllT HON. 0. CANNlN(i. (Extract.) St. Petehsuiiboii, February l-l:i, lHi.5. Oni reading the I'rojot, some diflieulties were started, and some dinciission took plaiH", but I hold it inineei'ssary to trouble you with a more particular aceount of this icinfcrenec, lUs the Russian Plenipotentiaries were not then prepared to express any decided opinion as to those parts of the Projet which do not entirely eoine up to their proposals, and 1 have expressly reserved to luyself the liberty of rceordiiijjr my ex- jdanatioiis in an official shape, in the event of tlieir persisting to object to any essential part of its eontouta. No. 31. (No. ir,.) MR. .STRATFORD CANXlNCi To Hi(ii:T HON. (l. CANNIN'n. St. Pi-rnRsniHoir, Fcbnuiry 17-Jlarch 1, 182,';. .Sill, — My the messenger Latehford I have the honour to send you the accompanying ('i)nveutioii between His Majesty and the Emperor of Russia respecting the Paeitie Ocean and the N'ortli-wi'st Coast of America, which according to your instructions 1 ccineludcd ai.d signed last night with the Rassian Pli'uiiKitentiaries. The alti'rations which, at their instance, I have aihuitted into the projet such as I presented it to them at first, will be found, 1 conceive, to be in strict conformity with the spirit and substance of His .Majesty's commands. The order of the two main s:ib- jcels of our negi>tiations, as staled in the preamble of the Convention, is jjrescrved i;i the articles of that instrument. The line of di'marcatiou along the strip of land on the North-west Coast of America assigned to Russia is laid down in the Convention agreeably to your directions, notwithstanding some ditliculties raised on this point, as well as on that which regards the order of the articles, by the riusniaii Pli'iiipotcntiarics. The instance in which you will ])crei'ive that I have most availed myself of the latitude afforded by your instructions to bring the negotiations to a satisfactory and piniiipt coiKduHion, is the ilivision of the Ilrd article of the new projet, a» it stood wli.ii I gave it in, into the ^ird, 4th and 5th articles of the Ci>nventiiin signed by the Plenipo- tentiaries. This change was suggested by the Russian Plenipotentiarii's, and at Hrst it was suggested in a shape which appeari'd to me objectionable but the articles as they are now drawn up 1 Immbl.v conceive to be such as will not meet with your disa|)probation. The scecuid paragraph of th(> 4th article had already appeared parentholically in the lird article of the projet, and the whole of tln' 4th articli' is limited in its signitieation and connccieil willi the article immediately priM'i'ding it by the first paragraph. With respect to Hehring's Straits I am happy to have it in my jiower to assure ,vou, on the joint authority of the Russian Plenipotentiaries, that the Kin]M>ror of Russia has no intention whatever of inaiiitaining any exclusive claim to the navigation of those straits, or of tbi' seas lo the north of thi'iu. It cannot be necessary under these circumstances lo trouble you with a more pnr- tienlar acconnt of the several cimferenees which 1 have held with the Russian Plenipo- lentiaries, and it is but justici' to state that I have found them disposed tbroughiuit this latter slagi' of the negotiation to treat the matter,- under discussion with fairness and lii)crality. As two originals of the (\>nven\:on prepariHl ior Itis Majesty's (iovernment are signed by the PIdilpotenI iarics, I propose to leave one of them with Jlr. Ward for the .\rchives of the Kmbashy. I have, iVe., The Right lion. (Jmrge Canning, (Signed) KTRATKORI) CANNINd. &c. ^'c. &e, U -1.') 68 Vo. 32. RIGHT HON. O. CAKNINO TO MR. S. CAMNINO. (No. 0.) Foreign OfFiOE, March 1.5, 1825. Sir, — Your Despatches to No. 1.3 inclusive have been received and laid before t.ie King. I enclose to yon n copy of n Despatch received from Mr. Addington by which you will sec that the Government and Senate of the United States have rntiticd the Treaty of North-west American Boundaries and Navigration which was neffotiatc<1 at St. Petcraburgh last year. It is hardly necessary to point out to you the additional force which the conclusion of this transaction gives to that part of your instructions on the same subject which prescribes the demand of this country for terms as favourable as those which have been obtained by the United States. I have, &n.., Mr. S. Canning. (Signed) OEOfiGE CANNING. No. 33. right HON. GEORGE CANNING TO MR. S. CANNING. (No. 8.) (Extract.) Foreign Office, April 2, 1825. Sir, — Your Despatches by the messenger Latchford were received here on the 2l3t of ifarcli and that of the 12th 'March by the post on the 28th. Having laid them before the King I have received His Majesty's Commands to express His Majesty's pnrticulur satisfaction at the conclusion of the Treaty respect- ing the Pacific Ocean and North-west Coast of America in a manner so exactly con- formable to your instructions, and to direct you to express to the BusHian Government the pleasure which His Majesty derives from the amicable and conciliatory spirit man- ifested by that Government in the completion of this transaction. No. 34. MR. S. CANNING TO RKiHT HON. O. CANNING. (No. ;!0.) St. PETERSBt'Roii, April 3-15, 1825. Sir, — I beg leave to trouble you witli a few words in acknowledgment of your two Despatclies, the one containing a co|(y of a letter addressed by you to his Excellency Prince de Polignac on the subject of certain oyster fisheries lying between the Island of Jersey and the adjacent coast of France, and t'le other eneloaiiig a Despatch from Mr. Addingtoii to .you announcing the ratification of the Convention cres3 tlie point in question, I took the assurance thus given by Count Nesselrode as sufficient, in all probability to answer every national purjiose. lleferring to the Aiiieriean Treaty, I am assured as well by Count Nesselrode as by ^Ir. Middlcton that the ratification of that instrument was not accompanied with any explanations calculated to modify or affect in any way the force and meaning of any articles. But 1 understand that at the close of the negotiation of that Treaty a protocol intended by the Russians to fix more siiecifieally the limitation of the right of trading with their possessions, and understood by the American Envoy as having no such effect was drawn up and signed by both parties. Is'o reference whatever was made to this paper by the Kus.sian Plenipotentiaries in the course of my negotiation with them, and you are aware. Sir, that the articles of the Convention which 1 c(uicluileil, depend for their force entirely on thv general acceptation of tlu> terms in which they are c.\- jiressed. I have, &c.. The Right Hon. Geo. Canning, &c., &c,, &c. (Signed) STHATFORD CANXING. No. 35. VA.NCOUVEK's VOVAdKS. SVO. F.DITIOX, 1801.* Extinct from Vul. IV., Chap. IV., p. 117. By sunset we entereil the arm, up which we expected to find this extensive inhuid navigation. To its south-ea . point of entrance 1 gave the mime of Point Alaskelync. ttfti'r the Astronomer Hoyal ; it is situated in latitude M° iiV and longitude 2'2!)° 4.5', and off it lie two rocky islets, and to the south of it a small island close to the shore. The apparent extent of this inlet of time which, as Mr. Brown understood, occu|iied thev people in mak- ing so distant a journey may lie ar'countcd for by their tardy mode of travelling through each others dominions, or in passing through the various windings and crooked shallow channels, many of which, though sufficient for their canoes, were very probably unfit for the navigation of shipping I have ever found it extremely hard, alinast im- possible, indeeil, to make the inhabitants of these remote parts, and even the Sandwich islanders, with whose language we an' much lietter acquainted, comprehend the kind of passage that is required for ships to pas« ihrough. or the kinil of [Kirt or opening in the land that is eaimble of affording tlu'iii safe and convenient shelter, in additiioii to which difficulty, .selfish or sinister views too frequently regulate them in the informa- tion they commiiiiicate. He this as it may, it was our business now to determine the question, and embracing the I'avoiiruble opiiortuiiity of a fair wind, we steered up the inlet, and were joined by Mr. Whidliey in the I'Utter. who had trneed the continental shore to Point Maskelyiie, where, on its becoming broken, he had desisted from any further examination until a future opportunity. From Point Maskelyiie, the two clusters of low rocks and breakers iM'fore noticed lie, the northernmoRt S. 2S° W. eight miles nnd the southernmost S. 3.1° W. distant • Sir iilmi 4li) crnilun. 17IIS. p. ;12T (iO toll mill's mill a liiilt ; tliuso in thu iluy time uud in clour weutliur ure eiisily uvuidc-d, an tliuro an; aiwajn sunic of (ln'in iibovu tile surfute of tlie water, but in dark iiigbts or foggy wi'iitber they iiiiiat render the uavigation of the duiind very dungeroiis. Aftir liasxing Ih'Iwii'Ii tlie northern cluster of tbeae' rocks and the eontineutal s!,ore, with ivbieli tlii'y I'oiiii a channel about a mile in width, we hud alioiit that distance from the mainland soundings at (he depth of 45, iiH, ISO, IS), 12 and x fathoms, soft bottonv ; the latter about iialf a mile from Point XIaskelyne. Xo bottom was, howi'ver, gained after passing that point with liO and TO fathoms of line until 10 at night, when the Prince lee Boo, having reached the ( ontrncted part of the inlet, made the signal for liaving soundings and unehorage. We arrived at this station about 11, and anclional in 'to futhoins water, soft bottom, after passing two oiteiiings on the eastern shore, bi'- sideB that immediately round Point Maskelyne, where Mr. Brown had had his ilis]inte with tile natives. V\'e found our station next morning, Monday the 2i'iid, to l)e f.tf the north-we-it part of an island lying near the eastern shoie, and further up the inlet than those in the slopi' hail .vet be vessels might remain ; and, whilst this ser- vice was cxecnting. to embrace the opiHirlunity for making such astronomical obsi'rva- tions as might be procureil, ami which were beciaiie nec<>ssary for c(U'ri'cting our survey, and ascertaining with precision the situiition of tin- several parts of the broken regi )n through which we had passed in the vessels and in the boats from Kestoration Cove lo this inlet. Pursuant to this detenoination we weighed about 7 in the morning, and the I'rince lee lioo returiK'd to tli^ liutterwmth. At our anchcn-age, lying from point .Maskelyne .\. 2i K. dislani si.x miles, the width of the inlet was sc.ircely half a league. On the western .shore a small opening appeared to branch off in dillerent directions. Xorth of the island the breadth of the inh't increased again to about two or three miles, trending N. ;!!• K. In pursuing this line about four miles we passed the south point of an opening on the eastern slinri' two miles wide, ajipearing to divide itself into several arms, but the western shore MTiiied to be compact from thi' opening opposite the anchorage until we arrived abrea -t of an opening, about two miles wide at its entrance, on the western shore, seemingly divided into two or three braiu'lies, taking a direction about .V. IH \V. The obscrveil latitude at thi.s time was .54° 58,' longitude 2!!0° ;!'. The branch of the inlet we were now navigating was not of greater width, nor did it appear liki'ly to become more ex- tensive, than that to the westward of us just discovered. This made it uncertain whidl to eon.siilcr as the main branch. Four other oiK'iiings had Ik'i'Ii passed on the eas|-rn shore whose exieiil had not yet been ascertained, and although T was imioh inclineil to follow the north-westerly branch, .yet I was aiiprelieusive that b.y so doing we might be led too far from the contineiit, and by that means cause aiMitional labour and b.ss of lim(>. Our route was for this season continueil to the N'.X.Iv, and another division of the inlet stretching lo the eastward was soon discovered. In the event of a convenient situation Ix'ing fi>und in this brunch I intended 'o stop the vessels there, and made the Chatham's signal, who had pri'ceih'd us during the forenoon, to steer for the eastern aranoe and direction of this opening, however, b.v no means favmired the oliinion that it was an extensive channel communicating with the ocean to the north. The water that flowed from it n>maiiiersod with thick muddy sheets, indicating it to have flowed from a small river whose source was not vcr.v remote. 61 At 3 o'clock the cutter returueil with a very unfavourable account of the place sn fur us their exuininutiou had gone, especially on the uortheru side of the opeuint; from whence a shallow Hat extended some distance, on wl'ii'h il'.ere was not more liuiu from one to thr^e fathoms water. The latter depth suddenly increased to lit), and, at the distance of a cable's length from the edge of the bank, to 50 and UO fathoms. This shallow flat made the communication with the shore very unpleasant, and apiieared to be continued all round. To those in tlio cutter the opening seemed to be nothing more than a deep bay with very shallow water, excepting in its north-east part, where a branch from which the muddy water flowed se<'med to extend into the country. Ac'rius this branch they had al-n sounded, and found shallow water. As it diil not, from this re- port seem likely to answer our purpose, wc i>rocecded round its north point of entrance and again made sail up the inlet, which, beyond this bay, was in general about half a lea. gue wide. The shores on both sides were nearly straight and compael, in this pursuit uu!' progress was greatly retarded by a counter tide or undertow, and, notwithstanding that we had a fresh gale from the south-east, the strength of this repelling current was sui-li that the wind had no influence what(^ver, though in othi^r sitiuitioiis the vessel., with such a gale would have gone Ave or six knots per hour. On this occasion the ship bi- canie totally inunanageable ; the wind was sometimes a-head, at others a-sterii, a-broad- side, and in every other direction ; and we were drifting from side to side in tlie most unplea.sant situation imaginable for two hours and a half, when the force of the wim! prevailing, we advanced slowly uj) the inlet until d)out 11 at night. The distance of its shores had now again increased and the country became less elevated. A small cove was discovered on the eastern shore, where we anchored in HO fathoms water. This place, however, not appearing likely to suit our purpose, Mr. Whidboy was despatched early the next morning in quest of a more convenient situation, which the adjacent shores promised to afford, particularly in the northern quarter, where the land was moderately elevated, and seemed to be much broken. The interior oouutry was, however, still composed of lofty, barren and snowy mountains. In the forenoon Mr. Whidbey returned, having examined two or three coves, of which the most eligible appeared to be one that we had passed in the dark the preceding evening on the western shore, not more than a mile from our actual station. This afforded good anchorage, with every other convenience that we required. Having a moderate breeze from the southward we lo.st no time in proceeding thither, where we anchored in 31 and 35 fathoms water, muddy and small stony bottom. The points of the cove bore by compass N.N.E. and S. by E., the nearest shore W. by S. about a cable and a half distant, and the opposite shore of the inlet E.N.E. one mile distant. On going on shore we found a small canoe with three of the natives, who were employed in taking salmon, which were in great abundance up a very fine run of fresh water that flowed into the cove. Some of these fish were purchased with looking glasses and other trinkets. They were small, insipid, of a very inferior kind, and partaking in no degree of the flavour of European salmon. In the afternoon the tents, observatory, chronometers, and instruments were sent on shore under the directions of Mr. Whidbey; and Mr. Johnstone in the Chatham's boat, accompanied by Mr. Barrie in the "Discovery's" small cutter, and supplied with 3 days' provisions, departed for the purpose of recommencing the survey of the con- tinental shore northward from Point Maskelyne. The account I had received of this famous inlet from Mr. Brown inducing me to undertake the principal examination of it myself, the "Discovery's" yawl and launch wore equipped with su])plie3 for a fortnight, being as much as they could possibly stow ; Lieutenant Swaine was directi'd to attend me in the latter, and Jlr. Pugct, with Jlr. Menzies, accompanied me in the yawl. The appearance of the country on the western side of this inlet left me little doubt of its being the continent, and wc departed in full expectation that during this excursion we should finally determine the reality of the discoveries attributed to the labours of Admiral de Fonte. With Ifr. Whidbey I left the charge of the observatory, with orders to make all necessary observations for correcting the errors and ascertaining the rate of the chro- nometers; and the more completely to effect the former, I desired that Mr. Baker, aiul some others of the gentlemen, would assist in making as many observations a- the cir- cumstances would admit of for determining the true position of the station wc had taken. CHAPTER V. Matters being all adjusted and arranged, we departed at five o'clock on Wednesday morning, the 24th, in thick, rainy, unfavourable weather, which continued until the forenoon, when it Ixicarae fair and pleasant. Our course was first directed along the eastern shore, which, from our anchorage on the night of the 22nd, took a direction N. D— ir, 68 1.4 E. for six mill's. Wc pnsscil nii islniid t<> the west of ,18, two miles lon^ and half n mile broiid, lying nenrly in the same direction about three fourths of n mile fr.im the castei!' shore, and having reached this extent we entered a narrow arm, leaving to the west the com* apparently much broken and divided by water. We rapidly advanced up this arm, with n southerly wind and a flooil tide in our favour, its width increased to abciut a mile, and taking a winding course to the E.N.E., and terniinnted by a low border of land in latitude 55° 20', longitude 2:10° .W. We stopped tj dine about a mile short of the low border of land which composed the mouth of me arm. Here we were visited by seven of the natives, who approached lis in a manner with much caution, and landed some of their party at a litlle distance, whilst the others advanced, seemingly with no small suspicion of our friendly inten- tions; this, however, was soon removed by the distribution of some trivial presents amongst them, and their reception being innde known to their companions who had landed, these without the least hesitation joined our party also. They were well pre- pared with arms, consisting of long siiears, bows and arrows, together with an iron dagger that each nnm wore idtout his neck or \vri^t. Tlic chief .n* this party was sii'-ii pointed out, who, by means of signs easily understood, desired to partake of our repast. lie was f,'iv( II some bread and dried tisli, and afterwards a glass cd' brandy, all nf which were much relished by himself and two or three of his friends. These jieople differed very little from the generality of the circumjacent natives, and rather seemed to be an exception to the trivial differences pointed out in those few inhabitants who visited us in Eishmonger's Cove. Their language appeared to be similar in some respects to that spoken at Qu<'en Charlotte's Jslands, at least a few conuuiini>laei> expre.-sions of that In guage were understood by those people. They made use of these, with many signs, to solicit us to visit tlie> hu'iitations, pointing out their situation to he on the low land at the head of the arm; i ut is it was out of our route we declir d their invita- tions, and with a favourable ebb t.d , returned towards the entrance x the arm, being aecompaniod by these our new aciiuaintances, who were soon joined by another parly from the village in a smaller canoe. On finding, however, that we did not return for the inirpose of trading, they all retired to the village. About 8 in the evening we reached the entrance of this arm, where we took up our abode for the night; the land of the shores which we had tlias traced was, comjiara- tively speaking, low, yet the interior country rose suddenly, and terminated our view by a range of high barren mountains, mostly covered with snow. The soil of the lower parts near the shores is chieHy composed of a light mossy sub.stance, formed by the decay of trees and other vegetable productions, lying on an uneven rocky substance, which is the general foundation nf thi-^ c(^nnlry ;ind nC all llie I'nasi^ wc had yet sci n this season. At 4 o'clock the next morning, Thursday, the S.lth. we proceeded again, with thick clouily weather, attended by souii- Hying .shuwers of rain. Our c.iursr was dir.'eted up the branch that appeared to be the main arm of the inlet through a narrow passage occasioned by an island lying in mid-channel, about a league long and (hree-qnarters of a mile broad, and having near it some rocks and breakers, like that we jiasseil the preceding day. From the we.st point of thi' arm wo had quitted, that which we wvrd now pursuing exiended N. 20 W. nearly straight, about 10 miles, wluTc, as usual, it was terminated by low swampy ground, and in latitude .')5° 1)2', longitude 2.'!0° Hi'. Our expectations of discovi'ring the extensive inlan>ii tho larboard shore, where we found this :iriii to LMjninuiiiioate with another,* leadinj; in a S.W. and N.N.E, direction, juul beiuK in geniTal about half a league in width. After breakfast we pursued the hitter direction, and steered for the eawtern or continental shore. This extends tirst from ['oiiit Uamsdeu N. 21 \V. six miles, and taU( 3 a X.X.K. course. As we advaneeil we were joiinil by a parly of fifteen natives in two canoes. A smoke had before been observed amongst the trees on the eastern shore, but we thi'ii saw no ai)pearancc of any habitations. These jieople apjiroardied n~ without mtii'b hesitatiiui, and in their couiiteminces was expressed a defxrec n{ savage I'croeit.v intiiii- tely surpassing anything of the sort I had before oliMTved in the vaii'ius triliis that had fallen under my notice. .Many of those we hail before seen had their faces jiaiutid in various modes ; lint these had contrived so to dispuse of the red. white, ami black as to render the natural ugliness of their eountenanees more horribly hideous. This frightful ajipearanee (lid not seem to be a new fashion among tla m, but to have been long adopted by their miturally t'erocicms disposition. an able to obtain their friendship. But neither doth, iron, copper, nor any- thing we had was in their opinions sufticient in quantity or eiiual in qualify to the value of their skins, which were, without exception, the worst T had yet seen on the corst. On the launch coming up wo pull' 1 towards the shore ; the.v now seemed bet- ter jdcaseil, and 0:1 Ir.nding they offered their skins again for sale, liut it was not within our reach to purchas<' them. Whilst we remained together on shore their behaviour was more civil, and we seemed to part on nuieh better tcruLs than we had met. They remained at llii' point and wc proceeded up the arm. Their alwuce, however, was not of long duration, as they shortly followed us, waving th<'ir skins, ami exposing them for sale ; and it was not a little extraordinary that they should icev es-cliaugt! their skins and other articdcs of traflie for the very iih^ntical emnmodities which they had before reji'cled niih so much contempt. It was not (asy Ic, account for the singular appearance and rude behaviour of this trilN', so very different from what we had hitherto experienced. Some amongst iis suggested that these people might probably belong to that jiart.y on whom Sir. Brown hud recently been obliged to fire in this neighbourhood, and at no great distance from our actual station, but it appeared to mc far more likely that their resentment had been excited by our jierfeet indifference to their conmiodities brought for sale, and our having declined their invitations to the place of their abode. This opinion was soon confirmed by their sobsiHpient conduct ; on being now offered blue cloth for their skins they began a song that continued until they cnnie close to us, when T observed that their arms and war garments were all laid aside, and, having disposed of such things as the.y had for sale, they began to betray a somewhat thievish disposition. T rndenvoured to make them sensible of my disapprobation of this conduct, and made signs that they should depart, with which they reluctantly complied. •The description of Portland Channel commpnces here srpr Map No. 1.— D.R.C. 61 1 did uot observf tliiit tliisc iieoiilc differed from the gi-ni'rality of the Nurth-w^.'st Americans, othenvise tliuu in the fiTDcity of their couiiteiuiiii'is. Tlieir weapoiis seemed well adapted to their ciiiiditioii ; tlieir aiK-urs, about Hixticii feet loiij?, wore pointed with iron, wrouKht in several siiiijile forms, amoUBst wliieh some were Imrbed. Their bows were well eonstrueled, and their arrows, with whieh tbe.v were i)leiitifid].v .^applied, appeared hut rude, niid were pointed with bone or iron. Kncli man waj provided with nn iron daKKer, sus|)euded from his neek in n leather sheath, sivminffly intended to be used when in close action. Their war garnunts were fornud of two, three, or more folds of the strongest hides of the laiul animals they are able to procure. In the centre was a hole suffieient to admit the head and left arm to pass tlirougn, the mode of wi^aring tliem being over the right ghoidder and under the left arm. Tha left side of the garment is sewed up, but the right side remains open ; tlii' body if, liowever, tolerably well jiroteeted, and both arms are left at liberty for action. As a further security, on llio i>a.-l whieh eovers the breast, they sometimes fix on the inside thin laths of wood. Tlie whole is seemingly well contrived, and 1 doubt not answers the essential jiurpose of protection against their native \ iai)ons. The weather, though |)leasant, was unfortunately eh'udy about noon, and pre- vented any observation being made for the latitude. Tlie sanu' unfavourable circum- stances attended us during our excursion to the northward of the vessels. We eon tinued to the N.N.E. without meeting any interruption or break in the shores until about 8 in the evening, when we arrived at a point on the western shore, situated in latitude .55° 10', longitude 230° 8'. Near this point we rested for the night. From hence the arm took a direction N. l.") W. continuing in general about the same width. Between us and the opposite shore was a snudl islanil nearl.v in nn5° 42', from whence to .jur iiaching the western shore, near where we had entered this branch, occupied our time till late in the evening of Tuesday the !iOth, when we brought to in a small cove be- hind an island about half n league from us, and not far from the place where we had met the ungracious unlives on the iireeeding Saturday. The night was mild and pleasant, but a thick fog in tiie morning of Wednesday the ."ilst not only obscured the surrounding shores, but prevented otir departure until 8 o'clock, when on its dispersing we directed our examination along the western or continental shore to the S.S.W. in a continuation of the branch we liad seen on the morning of the 27th. The shores of both sides were straight, compact, of moderate height, and in general little more than a mile asunder. At noon the observed latiture entirely covered with pine trees, and ■'.< such appearances had, in most instances, been found to attend the broken parts of tlie country ininiediately along the sea coast I was encouraged to persevere in thU ]iursuit. We had not been long landed before the natives who had visiteil us nt dinner time made their appearance again, aceompanied by a largi' canoe, in which was ibe chief of their party. I directed them to land at a small distance from our boals, wilii which ihcy readily complied. The chief received some presents, and in retiirn gave me two or three sea otters' tails. This intercourse seemed, by our signs and such words as wo had picked ii)), to be an assurance of a good understaniling betweiMi us, and on a pripinise of entering further into trade the next morning they retired to a small cove about half a mile from us, with every apiiearanee of being perfectly satisfied, but alxpiit an hour aft.'rwards oni' of thi'ir canoes was mtm paddling towards us. On this a pistol was tired in the air, which had the good etfcet of showing that we were upon i.iir guard, and prevented their giving us any further disturbance. As soon as it was daylight in the morning of Thursday, the 1st of August, these Tieople, accotnpanied by another canoe, were with lis according tii our turning sharp round a point I discovered her endeavouring, as I supposed. u> pass a most tremendous fall of water ; the evening at this time was nearly idosing in. and being now about liigh tide the fall appeared to be adverse to their i)roceeding, but tinding they continued to advance I hailed and waived them to desist. On our met^ing I found they hail possessetl but sufficient strength and time tn extricate themselves from a ver>' alarming situatifm. The direction of the fall was in a contrary line m what they had expected, as the water was rushing with great impetuosity througii :i narrow rock^' channel, and falling into a basin whose surface app«'ared to be greatly beneatli the level of the channel we were navigating ; on their jierceiving this their utmost exertions were requireil for 11 short time to prevent the boat from being drawn within its vortical influence. About a mile from the above point nearly in a south dirpetion we brought to for the night. In the morning of Friday the :ind we set mn early, and passed nrough a laby- rinth of small islets and rocks along the continental shore ; this, takimrnow a winding course to the south-west and west, showed the soiith-eastom side of the channel to be much broken, through which was n passage leading S.S.E. towards rtie ocean. We passed this in the hope of finding a more northern and westerly connnimieation. in which we were not disappointevwn N. WS W. and S. SI W. Off the lioint, at a little distance from the mainland, was an island about half a mile from us ; the opj)osite or continental shore lying north-enst, not quite halt a mile distant. Between this and the westernmost land in sight the shores apixeiimd to be much divided, with snuiU rocky islets and breakers in most directions *'rhc outermost lies nearly south-east abotit two miles and :i Italf from the point seen the former morning, and stated to 1h' the north point of the passage leading toward the ocean. Ho. SB. VANCOUVEIIN VOV-JkUES. Extract from Sun Kdi^n, lti01.\ Vol. IV., Ohuv. v.. p. 191. In the forenoon we reached that arm of the- sea. whose cxaminai^ion had oemipicd our time from the 27th of the preceding to the tiud of this month. The distance from its entrnui'c to its snuree is about 70 miles ; which, in honour of the nohh? family of lientinek. 1 named I'orlland's Channel.^ No, 37. VANLUUVKll's UIVAIIKH. Extract «»» Edilxon, 1801.** Vol. IV., Chap, v., page 198. Xothing of liny note hnving oceurreil during my absence I shall eoiielude this ehap- lir by the iiiserlinii of the iistronomieni iiml nuutii'iil observations made ill this place ; and in consequenie of our iiaving bi'eii -i tortunnle as to \tf able Ki obliiin those lliat were essential for ciuTectiii;: our former survey, and for our future reguliitinn in lliat respect, this bniiu'li oblaiiieil the name of ( Mmervator.y inlet ; iiid llie cove, wlvre the vessels wiri' stationed, lliat of Salmon Oove. from ihe abundniice of that kind of fish that were there taken. • P. 14B of 8vf the Annuneiiitiou of Sardinia, of (^'harle.s 111. of Spain, of St. Ferdinand and of Merit of Naples, of the Elephant of Denmark, of llie Polar Star of Sweden, of the Crown of Wiriemburg, of the Guelphs of Hanover, of the Belgic Lion, of Fidelity of Baden, and of St. C!onstantine of Parma: anil I'ierre de Politiea, Actual Counsellor of State, Knight of the Order of St. Anne of the Kirst Class, and Grand Cro>> of the Order of St. Wladiinir of the Second: who, after having exchanged their full ]ierraitted by the preceding artich'; and the two poweiss engage reei|iroi'ally neither t . sell, or suffer theiu to bo sold to the natives by their resi>ective cnizeiiH and subjeets, nor b.y an.v jierson who may be under their authority. It is likewise -lipulated, ihnv this restriction ahall never afford a iiretext, nor be advanced, in an> ease, to authorize either search or detention of the vessels, seizure of the merehai;dise, or, in fine, any niejisiires of constraint what- ever towards the merchants oj iho crews who may <-arrv nn this commerce; the high' contracting powers reciprocally reserving to ihem*elves t.> determine upon the iK^iial- ties to be incurred, and to inflict the punisliments in case of the contraxcntion of this article by their respective citizens or sulije(!ts. ^ I. When this Convention shall have been duly ratiiied by th.^ President of tho Unitod Slates, with the advice and consent of the Senate on the one part, and on the other by His Majesty the Emiteror of all the ilussiai , th-. ratifications shall be ex- clmnged at Washington in the space ol i.mi months from the date l)elow, or sooner, if posMible. In faith whereof the respective Plenipoleiuiaries have signed this Ccmven- tioii.and thereto affixed the seals of their .trms. Done at St, IVtersburg, the IT-.' A|ir!l of the year of (iraee. 1824. iiE.vRV Mmnid:T().\. La (oMTi: rilARLES DE NESSEIJIODE, HEERRE HE I'OLETK.'A, Hb. 4L rOXTENTTOX BETWEEN r.RE,VT WRTT UN AND RUSSIA, SIGNED AT ST. PETERsnuUfiU "■■:.:r,vRY 2H-n!, ih-26. {Prem'nivil t<. i ,/ ... In rile .lanie of the MoHt Holy iitid Uiuii- vUled Trhilty (Tniiuliillun.) niH MirieKty tlie King of the t'nlteil Klinr iloiu ol i^ifat llritain anil Ivehiiiil, anil ISIk Ma.teHty lie Kinperor ot all tlie ItiiHaiiH lieliiu lienirniiK ol ilrawlni: still elow'r iii" ties t' an iignw' iiieiit whii'li iiiiiy settle, upon tlie IhibIb ■o reelpnical eoiivi'iiiimee. illffen-nt poliils iiiii. tieeteil wtltli I lie eiramerci'. imvlgatlon. mill il^lii-rles ot ttieir snli.leets on lli" I'licllle ileeilll, UN well an the limits of tlieir n' Kpeerlve poHseNHloHK on I lie N'orlh-seesl ro;i-'l of .Mll'rleil. Inivi- hihiiihI rli'ioiiiiii'ii tliiries to I'oneliiile a t'onveiHInn lor ilits inirpose, Hint la m wiy : llln MnjeKtv ilii> KliiL' of the liilteil Klimiliiin of uiMinl ttrltalii and Ireliiiiil. Ilie Itlulil MonoiiriHile .•St rn I lord CaimliT. a nii'iiilier of His "iilil Malesty's Most llonounihle I'rivy i oiini'll .... Mail m. lS2r,.) .Ui nom lie la Tr(»H Salute et Inillvlslhle 'l-rliiHi^. Sii .Ma.leste le Uol ilii Uoyautue liil de la (ininile liretngne el ile rirlande. et Sn .NfalestC' rKniperenr lie toiitis les llnssli'S, ili'Siianl: le»s.M.n'f les liens ile lioiitie illlelll- neiH'i' et iraiiiltli^ (|iij h's iiiiissnit. an iimv»n d'lin iieennl (jiil reglerolt, d'apW'.s le orli.'-i|ie ties i..aiv.'iiaii(i's n'.flpro.iiie... liiM-rw p<«liitH relatlfs an eomiiiei i"! la innlgiitloii, et iiux pf'dierleM ile leiirs sujels sur lOeeiin l'iiellli|iie, iiliisi ipie les llinlIeK ile leiirs |i, swKslolls respei'th'eN sill' III Cote \ord- IMU.KI de r.Vtiiia.i.ine, oiii iioiniiK^ iles I'leiil- potontlalres pfiiir eoneliire niie I'onventlon II III I'irel. siivi.lr : Sn Mii.lest.-. le Uol iln Uoviiiiine I'nl tie la ilriinile Ilreiagne et ile I'lrlniiili'. le Tres lloiioralile Slralfonl I'an- eiim. roiiselller di- Sii illle .Miileste en Son • .lll»ell l>rlvi\ iVe. V.I Sll .Mll.l.'Hle I'Kin- 69 \.-. And Ills MiiJ'wty the ICiiipcror (if nil 111.' ItnsHlnH. till" Slinir riiarlcs Uolicrt rmint (It* NcHHOlrodo, HIh InipiM'iiU Mtiji'sty's I'livv CouiK'Uldr. n iIicnilH'r of the Council i.r liic Kniplrc. Secrotiiry of Sttiti' for the liipiirlnKMit of KorplKn AfTiilrs, &(■., nnd Ihi- Sl.'ur rirrrc dc ridi'tlcii, Ills Ini|»'rliil Miiliwty'H Councillor of Stnti', iVc Who. idler liavint; coinniunlciitcd to I'acli otIi<'r ilii'ir ri'spiM'th'c full powers, found In j;ood :iiiil line form, liiivc ngrccd upon and xlKni'd till lollowluK artii'U'S :— I. It is agreed that the respective suh- Jeiis of the liiuh contracting parlies shall [ not lie troMliled or molested. In an.\ part of the ocean, I'oniinonly called thi- I'acillc Oieaii. cifhi'r in navlKallii),' (he same. In I lisliiiitr tlicrt'in, or In landing at such parts tlie coast as shall not hav" Immmi already cnpieil. In order to trade with tlie natives, [ iiiiilcr the restrlrrtions and conditions specl- I llcil in the following Articles. II. In order to prevent the right of Iniivigntlng and fishing exercised upon the mean liy the subjects of the high conlnict- Inu parties, from becoming tiie pretext for an illicit cominercp. It is agreed that tlie siili.jccls of Ills Urilannlclc .Majesty shall I Mill land at any iilace where llicre may be 11 Kusslan establishment witliout the jii'r- [ mission of the (iovernor or Couunanilant : mill on the oilier hand, tliat Itussiaii snli- [.ji'i'ls shall not land without pernilssion at ,iii,v llritisli establlshmi'iit on the North west r.msl. III. The Ihie of deniareation between lllic possessions of tlie high conlractlug ||i:ti'lies upon the ciiast of the continent and lilic islands of America to the norlli-west, .shall he drawn In the nianner following : - 1 '•aiimencing from tlie southernmost point I'l Hie Island called I'rince of Wales Island, livliirh point lies in tlie parallel of ,14 degrees I lo aiinntes north latitude, and between liie h'llst anil the l.'t.'h-d dcgrei' of west longl- I Hull' uiierldlan of (ireenwichl. the said line (sIimII ascend to the north along the channel iilii'ii Portland Chiuinel, as far as the ||iiiiiii of llie coiiliiicnt where it sirilies llie J.Mltli degree of north latitude ; from this liiisi'nientioned point, the line of deinarca- llinii shall follow the summit of the nionn |laiiis silnaleil piiriillcl t i the coisl. as far the point of intersection of the 1 1 1st lii'Cree of west longllmle lof llie same |iti<'i'iilitini ; and, tinally, from the said point jiir intersection, tlie said meridian line of the iMist degree. In Its prolongation as far as lliie I'ro/.en ocean, shall form the liinil be |tween the Uusslan and hritlsh p issesslons "II till' Continent of America to the norlii- wesi. IV. With reference lo the line of ilcinar- ■ ciitiiin laid down in the preceding Article, |it is understood : 1st. That the island I'allcil I'rince of |^^':1il's Island shall belong wholly to Itiissla. -lid. Tlial wherever liie summit of tlie liiio iiilalns which e.Mend in a direcllon llBiiailel to the I'oasl. from the .".illh dcgri'c liif north lalllnde to the point of liiterseclhm lof the 141st degree of west longilndc. shall llirove lo be at the distance of more tlian Iti'ii nairine leagues from the o in, llie limit jl'ciwecn the Itrltisli possessions and the line jof <''>iist which is to belong to Itussla, as |iiliii\i' iiientloiied, shall be formed by a line lliiii'iillel III the windings of the coasl. and |>vliii|i shall novel' excceil llie distance of '•II marine leagues tlicrefroin. \'. It Is moreover agreed that no estnlt- |Iisliiiienl shall be formed by eltlii'r of the I p.irlics within Ihe limits assigned b.v 1I~1H ppreiir de toutcs k'S Uussles, le Sieur Charles It'iliert Cointe de Nesselrode, Son CimseiUer Trivf' actuel, menibre du Consei! de TKiu- plre, Secretaire d'Ktat dirlgeant le Mlnistere di's AITalres Ktrangt'res, Ac. ; et le Sleur Pierre de I'oletica. Son Conseiller il'Ktat nctliel, &e. Lesiiiiels Plf'nlpotentlnlres, aprCs s'etre coininnnii|uA leiirs Pleiii pon volrs respeetlfs, troHves en bonne et due forme, out nri<^te et signe les Articles suh-ans :— I. II eat eonvemi (lue dans aucune partie du (iraiid Ocean, appelf cunmiuni^uient (li'cau I'ai'itiiini', les sujets respeetlfs des Halites Puissances eontractantes ne seront 111 troublf's III gf'iif's soil dans la iinvlgntion, soil dans re.\ploitatlon de l.i pcdu', solt dans la facnltf' d'aborder aux cOtes sur des lioiiits iiui lie seraient lias dejft ocoupcs. atln d'y faire le commerce avec; les Imligi^nes, sauf toutefois les restrictions et coiulitlons dcterininees par les Articles ipii sulveiit. II. Hans la viie d'empecher (|ue les droits de navigation et de peohe exerces sur le grand ocean par les sujets des Ilautes Par- ties cont' i-tantes, ne deviennenl le pretexte d'un lominerci' illlcite, 11 est coiivenu que les sujels de Sa .Majcste Ilritannliiue n'abor- deront ft aucun point oil 11 se troiive un r'tabllssemeiit Uiisse. sans la permission du (iouvernenr ou Cominandaiit ; et yue rOcl- proi|uement. les sii.|els Kus.ses ne pourrout abonler sans permission, i) auciin cstalilisso- iiieiit Hrltaniiii|Ue sur la cote Nord-ouest, Til. I.a llgiie de df'niarcallon eutre les possessions des Ilautes Parties eontrac- tantes, sur la cote dn Cont incut et les lies lie I'.Vineriiiue Xord-oucst, sera traciV' alnsl ipi'll suit :- .V partir du iiotiit le plus meridional Tile dile I'liiiir iif Willis, h'liuel point se trouve sous la parallele du ."lime degre, 4M min- utes de latitude .Void, et entre le inline et le h'Clme degre de longitude Onest tmerldien de I Ireenwichl la dite llgiie reinonlera an nord le long de la passe dite I'lirtliinil chiiiiiiit .Insiiu'aii point de la tcrre ferine oil elle atteint le ,"iilme degre de latitude Nurd : de ce ilernier point la llgne do deiniir- lation sulvra la creli' des inoutaignes silnees parallelement ft la cote, .|us(|n'au point d'ln- terseclloii du Millie degre de longllude Dui'sl (meine meridicni el tlnalcment, du (lit point d'intcrseclion, la im'nie ligne nn''rl- illenne du 141 me degre'' formera dans son prolongement Jiisiiirft la iner tilaciale, la llmile ('litre les possessions Husses i^t Brl- lanul<|ues sur le Continent tie rAinCrhiue .\ord-iluesl. IV. 11 est entendu, par rapport ft la ligne de denian atlon diHermlmV dans rArthle pri'c(''deiit ; 1. ijue I'isle (Hie I'limr nf Willi « appar- liendra tonic eiiliere ii la Itiissle, i;. ijiie iiarliait ofi la creie des inoiitagneH ipil seleudeiil dans line direcllon paralli'^le ft 111 cote depiils le .'idnie dcgri'' de latilnde nord an point (rintersection du Mime degri' de longllude ouest, se troiiverolt ft la distance de plus de dix lieues inariiies de roc(''iin, la llmile entre les possessions Hri- taiinli|ues et la llsii^re de cille menliotim^e ci-dessus, coninie (h'Mint appiirtenlr ft la Itussie, sent fornice par niie ligne piiraiU'^le aux siniiositi's de la cote el i|ni ne ponrra .liiinals en (>tre eloigut^e i|ne de dIx lieues marines. v. II est coiivenu en oiilre. (|ue iiiil clalillsscnieul lie sera forme par I'line des ileiix parties dans les llmlles (|ue les deux 70 the two preoiMlIng Aitlrlos to the possossliiiis of the other ; eoimequently ItiltlHh HUhJeets Bbnll not form any establishment either upon the eoast or upon the border of the eontinent coniprlHeU within the Uii. ItH of the Hiislsiui possessions, as deslKnatei' In the two pre- ceding Articles ; and, In tike manner, no establishment shall be foriied by Ilussian subjects beyond the siihl llu. Its. VI. It is nnderHtood that !he sub.ie<-ts of His Brltannick Majesty, from whatever quarter they may arrivi>, wlii'ther from the ocean or from the Interior of tlie continent, shall forever enjoy the right of navigating freely, and wltliout any hlidrance wliat- ever, all the rivers and streai.'s wliidi. in their course towards the I'acllic t>eean, may cross tlie line of dennircation npo;\ the line of coast descrilied In Article 3 of tin.' pre- sent Convention. VII. It Is also understood that, for Mie space of ten years from tlie signature of the present Convention, the vessels of tin' two l)()wers. or those licloiiging to tin-ir rcsl)ect- ive snl>jecls. shall mutnally lie at lllierty to frequent, without any lilnilrnnce whatever, all the Inland seas, tlie gulf's. Iiiivens. anil creeks on the coast mentioneil ii^ Article 3, for the piniioses of Oshing uud of trailing witli tile initivcs. VIII. The port of Sitka, or Novo Areh- angi'lsli. simll In- open to tlie commerce and vessels of llritlsli sul)jecls for the space of ten years from tlu' li.nte of tin' exclningi' of the ratitications of llie present Convention. In the event of an extrasion of tliis term of ten years lieiiig granted to any otlier po'ver. the like exienslon sliali be granted also to Great Itrltain. I.\. Till' aliove-nienlloneii lilierly of eoni- nierce slniil not apjily to tiie trade in spiri- tuous liiinors, In llrearms or other arms, gunpiwiier or other warlike stores ; tlie lilgh contracting piirties reciprocally engag- ing to permit tlie iiliove-inentioneii artii'I<'s to lie sold or lieilvereii. In any inanner wlml- ever. 111 the niillves of tlie rountry. X. ICvery Hritisli or Itussliin vessel lie il- giitiiig the rncltlc ricenn. which may be ciinipcllecl by Kloniis or liy accident to take slii'llfr ill llie ports of tile respective parties. sliiiii I I lllierty to relit thi'i-clii, lo provlilc ilsi'ir Willi all necessary slores, and lo put lo sen iigiiiii. wlUioiil paying iiiiy otlier tiiiin port, unit ilglitiion^i' iliirs, wtiicli siiiiil lie the sami> MS tliiisc paid liy iiatinniil vessid.^^ In case, lioweier. the niiister of siicli vcsel should be miller the necesslly of dlspiisiiig of a iiart of his nierrbnnilise In order to pay his cxjiciisrv. lie sliall c(iiifiiriii liiinseil' to the regnlatliiiis and tariffs of tiie port wliere he miiy have landed. .\l. Ill every case of I'ompliiint on iicr of the infraction of llie Articles of tlie sent CoiiM'iitioii the civil anil military liiorilies of l!ii' iilgli I'liolriictlng |iar wltliont pi-cvlniisly acting or taking forcible iiietisiire. siiall make an exact clrcuinstMiilliil reimrt of the niiitler to I respective Courts, who oiigugc to settle same !n ii f'-ieniiiy niiinner anil a 'corilln the principles of Justice. unit lire- ties. illl.V and lien- til" g to .\il. The pieseiit Convention shall lie nitl- tied and the ratifications slinll be oxciniMued at London wltliln the space of six weeks, or H-ioncr if poslblc. In witncsM wiiereor llie .•espi'iMlve lilelll- pofeinlarl-'s have slgin-d fiie siiini' iiinl have alllxed Ihcreto llie seals of their arms. Articles prOciVlens assigiient aux iiossesslons de I'autre. lOii conseiiueiice les siijets Ilrl- taiiniiines ne fornieront aucuii efabilssement solt sur la cote, soit sur la llslf'i'e de terro ferine comprise dans les limltes des jiosses- sioiis Uussi'S, telles qu'elles soiit dCsignf'es ihins li's deux Articles precf'dens ; et de meme mil etabllssenu>iit ne sera forniO par des Miijefs Itusses an delil des dltes limltes. VI. II est entendu que les siijets de sa XIaJeste Ilrltannl(|ue. de quelque cote qu'lls arriveiit. solt de ruccnn soit de I'lntC'iileur du Continent, Jouiront ft perpctuite du droit lie niiviguer llbrenient et sans entrave qiiel- coiniue sur tons les lieuves et rlviires qui dans leurs cours vers la nier racillque, trn- verseront la llgiie de (K-marciitloti sur la UsICre de In cote Indiquee dans I'ArtlcIe 3 de hi presente Convention. VII. II est aussi entendu qi" pendant ''espace de dlx nn« & ihi*-: ue la signature lie •ette Convi'iitioe, ies viiissciuix des di'iix ritlssiiii, , .. "" ceux aiiparteii.-iiis ft leurs sulets respcctlfs, poiirroiit r^clproquoment rrequenfer. sans entrave qnelionque, tonics les iners IntCrieiires, les golfes. hnvres, et cliques sur la cote nientloiinee dans I'Ar- lliie;i. iilln d'y faire la peclie I't le comnierce avec h's indigenes. VIII. I.e port de Sitka, on .Novo .\riii- angiisk, sera ouvert mi commerce et mix vtiisscaux lies sujets Hrltanniqnes iluraiit respaie dc dlx iins, ft dater ilc rechaiigc des ratitications de cetle Convention. \\\ ens qn'mie proioiigatloii lie cettc terme de dlx nils solt accoidl'ie ft quelque autre Puis- smice. la meme priiliingatioii sera cgiiii'ineut accorilee A la ti ramie nretiigne. I.\. I,a siisditc illiertf' de commerce ne s'a|i|illqiicrn point mi trallc des liqueurs spirit nciises. des iirnii'S iT feu, lies arnies bimiclies, lie la potidre ft canon, on d'aiitrcs mnnitlons de guerre: les Ilmites Parties eontractanteH s'eiigageaiit reciproqiienient ft lie hilssei ill veiidre, iii llvrer, lie quelqiii niaiili''re que se pnisse fire, aux indigenes ilii pays, les miicies ci-dessus nientlonnes. X. Tout valssean Hrltamiiqiie on Unsse niivlniimit sur i'licftin racltiqne, qui serii force piir lies tcnipWes. on par quelqin' jii'i'iiieiit. lie se refiigler :lmis les ports des parties respiM'tlvcs, aura hi libertf' ile s'y radouber, de s'y ponrvoir de tons les objels qui liil sennit ni'vessaires, et de se rem. 'lire en iiicr. sans payer d'aiitres droits que ceux lie port et lie fanmix, lesiinels seront lioiir lul les lUfinies que pour les bfttlmens na- tloniiiix. SI. lepeiidaiit, li- piitroii d'lin tel iiavire se triiiivolt dans le nceessitf' de se di'-falrc (i'liiie partie li" ses miirchnndlses pour snbvenlr ft ses dcpeiiws, ii sera tenu lie si' conrormcr mix ordoiinances et nux tmil's lie rendrolt oil II aura iiliorile. XI. I mils Ions les ins de |iialntes reln- tlves a I'hifriictlon des Articles de la prf- sciili' I'onvenlliiii. les autorltes livlles et iiilllliilres ill's deux iiantes parlies eontrne- laiites. sans se pernietire an prf-aiiilnie ill vole lie fait. Ill inesnre de force, seront ten- ties lie fiiire uii rapiiort exact do Tiiffalre et de SI'S i'irciinstmn'1'S ft leurs Cours resiiec- llves, lesqiieiles s'engiigent ft la rC'gler ft rnmliible, et d'aprfs les prlmipes d'liiie par- fiilte jnsiice. XII. l-i" inC'seiite Convention sera ■•iitlllfe et l"s r.illtli'iillons en seront f'changecs ft l.ondres ilmis I'espace de six semalncs, on lilnlot si faIre »e pe;it. Kti fill de quill les pb^iiipoli'iitlaires respee- tlfs 1*11111 sluiif'i'. et y out iipiiiise le ciieliet lie leurs armus. 71 Done lit St. rctcrHliiirijli. the liStli-lHtli Fnlt fl St. I'eterslpourg, lo iS-l.'i ff'vrlpr (lay of Kcliniary. In llic yciii' (if (i\ir l.nnl ili> I'iiii ilc lin'ir,- mil liiilt cciil vint;l-cliii|. iirif tliniistiiul ulKlit huiulreil and twiMitv- II Vt'. (L.H.l STIl.VTl'OUn CAXNINO. (l.s.l STIt.VTl'nltl ) C.V.NNI .\(J. (L.s.) TllK COfNT \>K NKS- (i,.«,i 1,1-; CO.MTK \>K .NKSSKI,- SKI.KOKK. HOI IK. ii,..s.i riKUKK i>K roLKTic.^. ii..s.i riicuuK i»K roM-rncA. Note. — The ratificatidiis weic cxciiaiife'cd by tlic RiKlit lion. George Canning and Count (le Lieven in London on Otli Ajiril. 1825. Ko. 42, MR. I'llEl.l's TO THE .MAmjiis OF .SALISBIRY. (Received .lannary 20. . LEa,vno.\ ok tiik Umti:!) Statks, Loxikin, January 19, 1886. My Lorb, — Referring to llie conversation lield witli your Ixirdsliip on the 12th instant, relative lo the bonndary betweeii the Brilisli iiosaefsions in North America and the territory of Alaska, 1 have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of the utate- meiit of the faels contained in the instructions sent me by my Gcvemraent, together with copies of the nuips therein referred to. I think your Lordship will tiiul in these doeument,s the confirmation of the state- ments I made in the conversation above mentioned. In the treaty between tlie rniled .States and tile Kinperor of Russia, of the HOth -March, 1K07, whereby the territory of Alaska was ceded to the Uiilt«;d States, the sessions of Her Majesty, is designated by embodying ill the treaty, in terms, the lan- guage of Articles III. and lY. of the Convention betwcni Great Britain and Russia, of the 28th February, 1^2.1, w'lcrcby the boundary is established. Those Articles are as follows : — " Commencing from the southernmost point of the islniul called Prince of Wales Island, which point lies in the parallel of 54° 40'' north latitude, and between the ISlst degree and the i;i3rd degree of west longitude (meridian of (ireeiiwieh), the said line ■shall ascend to the north along the cbaiiiiel called I'ortlaud Channel, as far as the point of the continent where it striki's the ."iiith degri'i' of north latitude; from this last men- tioned point, the line of demarcaticjii shall follow the summit of the mountains situated Binrnllel to tlio const iib far as the j.onit suininit of which a tangible and rea.sonably direct line can !«■ run. (be whole region proves lo be broki'U in(o a sea of mountains, with spurs running In various direcdons, covering lalerally a very wido surface. 72 By iiu criterion, eitlier of height, diruetioii, or continuity, can u line be hiid down that could be regarded aa " following the nuniinit of the niountnin«," and any approxi- mation that should be attempted, to the line prescribed in the treaties, would be no nearer than various other approximations that might be made, and which would bo widely ditferont from each other. The only other indication of this part of the bo\indary contained in the treaties, till limit of U< marine leagues from the ocean, e(|iu\lly fails of practicable h)catioii. The coast proves upon survey to b<' so extremely irre^■ular and indented, with sui'h and 80 many projections and inlets, that it is not possib c, excejjt at immense expense of time and money, to run a line that shall U' jiarallcl with it, and if such a line should be surveyed it would be so confused, irregular, and inconsistent that it wouhl be im- possible of practical recognition, and would differ most materially from the clear and substantially straight line conteuiplalcd in the treafies. 'I'he result of the whole' matter is, that these treaties, which were intended and understood to establish a proper boundary, easy to observe and be nuiintained, really give no boundary at all^o far as this portion of the territory is concerned. A further dilKcidty is disclosed by the recent surveys in respect to this line. It is found that Portland Channel docs not extend so far north as the Titith degree of north latitude. This, however, can probably Ik; easily rectified upon proper survey by extend- ing the general line of Portland Channel some four or five miles further to the north. Under these circumstances I am instructed by my government to jjropose, through your Lordship, to Her Maji'sty's (lovernment, that a eonnnission be agreed on by the Governments of the I'nited States and of Her Majesty, to be composed of commission- ers to be appointed by each, who shall, under such instructions and conditions as may be mutually concurred in and upon such surveys and examinations as may be fotmd necessary and practicable, either designate anil establish the boundary line in question or report to the respective Governments such facts, data, and reconnnendations as may nfforil a basis for its establisbment by Convention In^tween them. In addition to the statement of facts above mentioned, I have the honour to send herewith eo)iics of the maps therein referred to. Tli^' book called " Fniteil Stales' Paci- fic Coast Pilot " I nuist ask .vour Lordship to have the kindness to return at your con- venience, as I have no other co|iy. But should you desire it, 1 shall be happy to send to the United Sliires for a copy for the use of ITer Majesty's Government. And I shall be nuK'h obliged if .vour Lordship will cause cojjiea to be sent me of the British and Oamdian official nnips mentioned in the statement. In the conversation with ,vo\ir Lordship before alluded to, reference was made '■, the time within which m,v Government must appl.v to Congress for the appropriation necessary for the expenses of the Commission on its part if sent out this year. I have sinc" informed m.vself on that point b.v telegraphic communication with the Depart- inant of State, aiul learn that if an agreement should be reached between the Govern- ments by the 1st April, the approjiriation can probably be obtained. T venture to suggest, however, in view of the reasons which will readily occur *o your Lordship, for as early an adjustment of this boundary as may be found practic- able ; that as f eh an expedition can only nnike progress in the summer, and as som? time must necessarily he occupied in its ajipointment, outfit, and arrangements, it will doubtless be for the mutual interests of the Governments that a decision in regard to it should be made as soon as may lie consistent. I have, &c., (Signed) E. .T. PHELPS. Enchmiiir/i. 1. Statement from Instruction No. 114 of (he 20th Xovemher, L'^Rfi, from Mr. Bayard to Mr. Pheljis. 2. Vancouver's Chart No. 7 (photograjihed). 3. United States' Coast Survey Chart of Alaska No. !)«(), 1884. 4. United States' Coast Survey Chart No. 710. Revilla Gigedo Channel, 138S. r>. " Unit(-d States' Pacific Coast Pilot," Alaska, Part I., 188,1. fi. Treaty In'tween the United States and Uussia for the cession of Alaska, 30th March, 1807. Eiirhsiirr 1 iu Kn. .1. MR. DAYArin TO MO I'UBI.I'S. DePARTJIENT of StATK, WasHIXOTON, Novetuher i-'O, 1885. SrR. —Sliorlly after assuming the duties of this Office, my attention was drawn lo till' eirenni«(aiiee that the existing boundary line between the lerrilory of Alaska and Iler Miijsly's possession of British Columbiii, is not only open lo doubt in eerlain ipiar- ttT9, although not in doubt so fur as this Oovernment is concerned, in respect of the water-boundary from I'rince of Wales' Island and throiiKh the Portland Channel, but lliat it is, also, with regard to the inland frontier, which is supposed to follow a moun- tniu rai.gt. an impracticable one to surveiy, if not n Keogra|)hical impossibility. 'i'le territory of Alaska was aecpiired by the United States from Kiissia, subject to the existing demarcation of the eastern frontier-line between Kussia, America and British America, under the Convention lietween (ireat Britain ami Kur'sia of the Kith (28th) February, iNiiS, and the deserii>tion of the line contained in Articles III. and IV. of that Convention was incorporated literall.v — as to the English text thereof — in the 1st Article of the Treaty between the United States and Russia concluded on the oOth March, 1867. Copies of the latter Treaty are hereby annexed for your informa- tion. I am not aware that any question concerning the true location of the line so stipu- lateil ever rose at an.y time between (inat Britain and Kussia i>rinr to the cession of .\laska to the United States. If any such (luestion had aiisen, and was i)ending at the lime of the cession, the United States would naturally have succeeded to the KussiiUi interests therein just as to any other right of Kussia affecting the ceded territory. This Oovernment, however, had no intimation then, and has had none since, from Her Ma- jesty's Government, that an.y such (piestion existed. It is not thought likely, liowever, that question in this regard could have exi.sted, as tho inlet, and the countr.v tlirough which the boundary lino of 1^2') ran. were in ISii" still practically unexplored. Tho boundary was then, as it is still, a theoretienl one, based, as it is fair to be presumed, on the charts which tlie negotiiitors had before them in 1825, and which they doubtless assumed to be a substantially correct expression of geographical facts. It is certain that no (piivtion has arisen since ISliT between the Governments of tlic T'nited States ami (Ireat Britain in regard to this boundary. The ascertainment of the true line of demarcation under the Anglo-Russian Tnaly would, however, appi-ar to have been tla^ subject of informal consultation soon after Russian-Alaska passed to the United Slates, but no record of any official corres|M)nd- cnce between the two Governments is found. In his annual message to Congress, December 2. 1872. President Grant, after »'e- fcrring to the then recent settlement of the San .luan Island dispute, said: — " Kxperience of the difficulties attending the deferniiiuition of oui admitted line of houndar.v, after the occupation of the territory and its settlement by those owiicj Mllegiance to the respective Governments, points to the importance of establishing, by iiiitural objects or other monuments, the n<'tual line between the territory aciiuircd by p\irelinse from Russia, and the adjoining po.sscBsion.s of Her Britannic Majesty. The region is now so sparsely occupied that no conflicting interests of individuals or of jurisdiction are likely to interfere to the delay or embarrassment ot the nct\i il locii. lion of the line. If deferred until population shall enter and occup.y the territory, some trivial contest of neighbours may again array tho two Governments in antrgonism. I therefore recommend the appointment of a Commission, to act jointly with one tb.nt may be appointed on the part of Great Britain to determine the line between our ter- ritory of Alaska and the eotermiiuius prkssessions of Great Britain." An estimate of the probable cost and time of a survey of tho Alaskan boundary line on the part of this Government, then made, fixed the cost at about 1,.500,000 dollars, and the time reqnirml as nine years in the field, and at least one year more for mapping the results ; which illustrates the magnitude of the labour. The snggestion of President Grant was not then acted upon by the Congress, and does not appear to have been since revived before that body. Since thar time the iniidition of increasing settlement apprehended by Presiilent Grant has assumed marked proportions. A territorial government has been organized for Alaska, ami enterprise and cajiital are slowl.v but steadily making their way toward tho.so distant shores. In the judgment of the President, the time has now come for an understanding between the Government of the Ignited States and that of Her Britannic luajesty. looking to the speedy and certain establishment of the boumlary line between Alaska and British Columbia. And this m>eessit,v is believed to be the more urgent, inas- much as the treaty line is found to be of uncertain, if not impossible, loi'atioii for a great jiart of its length. In the first place, the water boundary line, from the southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island to the fidth degree of north latitude, is not found uniformly located en the charts of different inod<'rn geographers. On a nnijority of such charts, as, for 'Nample, those of Staff-Commander D. Pendis'* .Survey for the Admiralty in 18(18, and those of the Geological Survey of Canada, recently published, the boundary follows the central line of the main channel, known as Portland Inlet, while in other charts pre- pared by British geographers, the line deflpots to the northward from the broad waters renders (7).— D.R.C. D— 19 7t of Dixon F.iilrnncc, nml passes through a narrow and intricate ehainiel lying iiorth- westwaril from Vortlaml Inlet, known on the I'nited States Coast Survey Cliart of 1HS5 as I'earse Cliiiiir.el. until it suddenly diHe<'ts southward attain at ritrht angles, to re- enter Portland Inlet, therehy appearing to make British territory of Pearse and Wales Islands, and throwing ilonht on tlie nationality of several snnill islands at the south- western extremity of Wales Island. 'I'his latter eonstrnetion is at the (aitset in mani- fest eontradieticju with the treaties, wliieh jirovided " that tlie island called Prince of Wales Island shall belong wholly to Kussia " (now, hy cession, in 1807, to the I'nited States). There would seem to he ground, in the te.\t (d' Vancouver, llu' original ex|dorer and geographer location (jf the natural boundary line in the broader ehanuel called Portland Inlet on the Admiralty ami the United States Coast .Survey Charts. For a clear understanding of the subject, Chart Xo. 7 of Vancouver's Atlas; the British Admiralty Charl, Xo. 2,4:!1, corrected to June, l.s^L', or any later edition; the T'nited States Coast Stirvey Chart, Xo. 7111, of 188.">; and the charts of ihe Coast Pilot of Alaska, recently issued by ihe rnileil Slates Coast .Survey, should be consulted. Of these, iihotograpbic copies of Vancouver's Atlas Chart, Xo. 7, and cojiics of the Coast S\irvey publi<>ations, iire herewilh .sent you. You can doubtless obtain co])ies of the British Admiralty Chart by application in the proper quarter. The language of llie treaties is: — '■ Coinmcncing from the southcrnniost point of the island called Prince of Wales Island, which point lies in the ]iarallcl n! ')l° 10' north lalilude. and bclween the llllst and the Killrd degree of west longitude (meridian of (Irecuwich). the said line shall ascend to the north along the channel called Portland Channel, as far as tbi' iiiiinl of the continent where it strikes the .lOth ilegree of north latitude." So far the treaties relate to the water-boundary, and it is lo be remendjered, as already ifinarked, that the line so described was intcudccl to leave Prin f Wales Island Itussian territory in I^L'.^, and a possession of the I'nited States in 1807. Xo record has been found in jirint, or otherwise so far as sought, of the circnm- stanees attending the drawing np of the .Vnglo-Uussian Convention of IS'J,'), which would throw light on the \iuilcrslanding of the negotiators on this point; but it ma.y be assumed with contidencc that Ibe charts employed in the negolialion were those of Vancouver. They were iinide by a lirilisb othcer under the ilirection of llie British (ioverument, and would therefore be acceplable as a standanl by llial parly to ibi'Con- venlion. They were ihe most rer'ent charts then extant, and for half a century they remained tbi> only .ailbcniic charts of ibal rcgiiai, ibe Uussians having at that lime made no original surveys of imporlani'e in this distriiM. Moreover, the wonliiig of the Convention of Is;.';") is f(anul to be in complete ai'cord willi the features prcsi'ntcd by Vanciaiver's chart, and especially willi Chart Xo. 7 in the atlas ai mpanying Ihe narralivi' of bis voyage. The description in the convcniion seems to be a faithful rcproduclion of the )iielurc inMually iircscut lo the eyes of the negolialors in that chart. The iirst tliscrcpaucy I lull meets us is, that neither on Vancouver's nor on any olhir chart known, docs the water-way of Porlhind Channel strike " the ."lOth dcgri'c of north lalilude." On Vani'ouver's Charl No. 7 it ends in a nil-ilc-unc about 1."> miles before till' ."illlli degree is reached. This, however, is of littli- importance, for, with the bctlcr to|)ognipliical knowledge we now pos.--('SS, we know thai a conveniional line, in eonliuualioii of llie general trend of the mid-channel line, would strike llie "lOlli ilcgree of north latitude al a distance of some 4 or .'i niih's inland. While Portbind Channel, Portlainl Canal, or I'ortland Inlel, as it is indifferently styled on the several charts, is, and lias long I ii, readily identified as llie main jiass- age inland from llie soulbernmost point of Prin i Wales Island, the intricate and narrow jiassage se]iai'aliiig Pearse Island from ihe mainlanil is practically unsurveycd. It does not appear al all on ihe Pender Adniirally Charts of I.SOM. Jn the ruited Stales CoasI Survey Charts it is ccMijeclurally marked by dotted lines. The fact that llie parallel of M" 111', by the most recent survey?, enters the inoulh of Porlhind lulcl, llial llie most navigable clianiud trends ihence directly inland in an nlinost .'raiglil line, that PriiK'c of Wales Island is in tcrnis c.xiduded from British territory, ami that llie name used in the .\iiglo-Kiissian Conveniion of Is-J") is found on all exisliiig miips, iiossessing authority, applied lo I'orlland Inlel or Channel, and not to Pearse Cbauuel, lend reason and force lo lb nviction that it was llic inti'iilion of the negotiators that the boundary line should directly follow the broad and naturnl channel midway between the shores, and extend, if need were, inhind in the same gene- t Penrse ("annl takos Its nnnie from Pearse Island, so railed by Caplaln Pender, R.N., In 18(i8. after an order In Ihe L'nltcd states service— D.R.C. 76 nil ilirictiim until lliu niiinu i>{ liills, lurciil'lcr lo In M-iiliTnl. ~liniili| In- nin'licil (iis apiJfurs in Vancouver's Clinrt) iil nr nciir llir "ililli luiriillil. It is nut, tlicri I'lirc, I'linci-ivcil llmt lliis wiiiiT piirt nf tlic lumuiliir.v liui' run ever be calicil in qucsticin lictwccn llu' twii < idvirnnicnis. Tlu'iv is, lidwcvrr, iimpli' nTuuml for lu'licviuf,' tliiit tlir irroucMis priiuiM'.- upon wliii'li tlir iicRotiators aiiparontly liaswl tlicir fixation of the inland boundary line along tli(! roast rendtT its triuj dotcrinination anci dfumrcatioii Ity nionimionls a matter of duubt and ditfioulty in earryiuK it into praetieal plTeet, and that, in prevision of tlio ciatiarrassinents wliieli may follow delay in the establishment of a positive frontier line, it is the interest and the duty of the two (iovermnents to reach a good iiiider- standing which shall forthwith remove all <'hauee for future disapreement. The Conveulioii of Isi") continues, from the |)oint where the oor topo- grapher, and representeil an impossible regular land fonnati(m, such as could not well ixist. and has not been discovered lo exist anywhere on the world's surface. His charts exhibit, at a moderate distance from the slajre, a uniformly serrated and narrow niiige of mountains, like an enormous caterpillar, extending, with a general parallel- i-m to the shore, from one cml of (he region in question to the other, excei>t at scat- tered points, where valleys intervene, which we now know to be the valleys of the Taku, Stikine, and other rivers. The line i)rojected from the miil-channid line of I'ortland Channel intersects, at about the .Ifith degree of north latitude, the back- bono range in question, aiul were tla^ features of Vancotiver's Chart a correct reprr- siiitation of the topography, no more excellent and convi'iiient boundary could be imagined than that following the depicted serrated ridge. It is not singular that, assuininj the chart to be correct, both parties should have agreed to accept this re- nuirkably tinifonii feature as marking the bounilar.v. The better knowledge of that rrgiiui now ])ossessed shows that Vani'ouver's topography is not correct. Tin re i- no su(*h raug(» of hills as indii-atcil niton \'aiico\iver's charts, and as assumed by rl.e negotiators of tlie Convcnticui of l'':i.">. The topography of the region in qucsticin has not as yet been acctirately charted, but enough is known of its natural features to wholly disprove the conjectural topograjihy of Vauccaiver. Professor William II. Dall, whose researches in Alaska arc well known, and wlio=e explorations have so largely contributed to our lirescnt knowledge of the geograiihical and geological character of that country, uiion being invited by me to report as to the accuracy of Vancouver's charts, writes as follows ; — " We have no gocjd topographical nuqis of this part of Alaska ; but, having been engaged nearly nine .yiars exploring and surveying the territory, I assert, without fear of contradiction, that nothing of the sort" (depicted by Vancouver) "exists. We have, instenil, what has been ajitly called a 'sea of mountains." eomiiesed of short ranges with endless ramifications, their gi tieral trend being parallel with the general curve of \orth-western ■■\meriea, but, so far as their local parts are I'oiu'erned. irregu- lar, broken, ami tumultuous to thi' last degree. In I'crtain places, as from CaiKj Sivnecr to Vakutat Bay, we have the nearest approach to such a range; but even here there are broad valleys, penetrating an unknown distance, and lateral spurs given off in inaii.v directions. These Alps rise conspicuously above their fellows; but to the eastward another peculiarity of the toi)Ography i.s that the hills or summits are nearly tiniform in height, without dominating crests and few higher jieaks. "The single continuous range being non-existent, if we attempt to decide on the 'summit' of the mountains we are at once iihmged into a sea of uncertainty. Shall 7G we take the ridge i<( llu' hill uciircst tlic Ixiiclica ( 'I'liia woiilil give lis in mnny i)ln.v-, a mere atrip of territory not more tliaii tliree milea wide, nuiiiidering in every diree- tion. Shall we take the liitfhent siinmiits of tlie Keneral mass of the coast ranges ( Then we must determine the hiight of many thousands of si'attereil ]ieaks, afier whieh the question will arise hetween every pair of ecpnil height and those nearest to them. Shall we skip this way or that, with onr zigzag, impossihle to survey exeept at fabulous expense and hali' a eentury of labour. These peaks are densely elotlied with trees and deep soft moss and tlaprny underbrush, as imi)enetrable and luxuriant aa the savannahs of I'ananni. "In short, the 'sunnnit of the mountains' is wlicdly imi)raetie«ble. We may then fall back on the ' line parallel with the windings of the coast.' l,et any one, witli a pair of drawing compasses, having one leg a pencil point, draw this line on ihe Unitiil States' Coast Survey -Map of Alaska (No. !ili(l of IMM). The result is sutKi'ient to condemn it. Such a lino could not be surveyed; it crosses itself in many places, and indulges in myriads of knots and tangles. The line actually ilniwn as the boundary on that map omits the intricacies, and is intcndeil merely as an approximation. It would bo subject to almost insuperable ditticulties for the surveyor, simiilitii'd as It is, and the survey wouM cost more than the whole territory cost origiiuilly. 1'hese .ire the false geographical assumptions on which the language of the treaty was baaed, and the ditiieulties they otler when it is i)roposed to realise, by survey, the verbal boundary." The words of Mr. Dall are those of a practical man, conversant with the regiiui, nnd experienced in the class of difficulties in the way of an actual demarcation of the ■'onventional frontier. The line traced upon Ihe Coast Survey ilap of Alaska, Xo. OflO, (jf which cojjics are sent to you lien'wilh is as evidently conjectural and theoretical as was the moun- tain "summit" line traced by Vanccjuver. It disre>;,irils the mountain topography of (he country, and traces a line, on pai>er about .'!(> miles distant from ihc giicral contour of the coast. The line is a winding one, with no salient landmarks or jioints of latitude and longitude to deti'miiia' its jMisition at any point. ]t is, in fact, such a line as is next to impossible to survey through a mountainiuis region : ami its actual location there, by a surveying connnission, would be nearly as nuii'h a matter of con- jecture as tracing it an paper with a pair of dividers. If the coast and interior I'onntry from Dixon Entrance to Mount St. Elias were already accurately surveyed, its topograjiby charteh a line on paper, when every material fai't of contour and altitiule is iirei'iscly known, were found to otfer ditlicidty, the obstacles to the delimitation of an actual frontier, with lanihnarks and momiments, through a wholly nnexploreil country, much more broken than Scotland is, ami with a sea-coast scareel.y less intricate, could not fail to Lo many fold greater. As a rule, a theoretical frontier, baaed on the assumed contour of mountain chains, is more difficult to determine with accuracy than one following known watereonr-es or bounded by right liiu's having geodeti<' termini. Kude and inaccessible as is the "sea of mountains" of South-eastern Alaska, nnd forbidding as it may aj)peor for ordinary purjroaes of inland settlement, it should be remembered that it is a mineral-bearing region, the geological continuation of the gold and silver belt of California and Nevada, ami may at any time spring into au importaiK'c not now calculable. It is of evident advantage to both countries to agree upon some boundary line capable of surve.y at a reasonable cost, or so precisely nnd practically described that in ease of need an.v given point thereon nniy l)e readily rle- termined in advance of n general survey, and to do this while the whole question of local values is in abeyance. • • * * • « * I am, &e., (Signed) T. F. B.WAHn. Accompaniments,* 1. Vancouver's Chart, No. 7. (Photographed.) 2. United States' Coast Survey ('hart of Alaska, No. 960, 1884. 8. United States' Coast Survey Chart, No. 710, Revilla Gigedo Channel, 1885. 77 4. "Unitfil .Stat<>»' 1 ific Coast I'iU.t " Alaska, I'lirt 1., 18K3. 5. Treiity l"twocii tl I'nited States and llussia tor the oiwsiDii of Ala>tku, March ;)(), 1»U7. Eiicloauro 2 in No. H.* TiiEATY coiiceriiiim the Cksswn of the Russian Possessions in Xohtii America hy Hh Majesty the Empebor of All the Russias to the United States op America. Conohiclml, March ."iO, 1807. Ratified by thr !'-uted Slates May L's, ISiiT. Exchanged, June "j'. 18ti7. Proclaimed hy the Inited States, .Tuiir 20, ISiiT. By the President of the United States of .Vmcrica. AccDinpantm^nts and enclosures not reprint^nl. — D.R.C. No. 43. ( Extract.) fEYDRixiRAPUio Dei'aut.ment. Akmtrai.tv, March 20, 1880. Ueplies Io Questions contained in Colonial Office Letter ■>( 20th March 1880 relat- ing to the Boundary of Alaska. The Intitiule nod lonnitudc — at pri'scnt adopted on the Britisli chi.rts, of the south- ern |)oint of Princi- of Wales Island (i.r Archipelago) CaiH! dc Chacon, is latitude '14' 42J N. lontfitiide Kil" Tit' W. the latitmle hcinn taken from Vancouver's cliiirt jndi- lished ii' T/ondon, Ma.v 1st, 17!)8 ; the loiiKilndi^ hcin^f that of Vancouver (i:!l' 4.">' W. ) adapted to the Admiralty charts. The most recent determination of the latitude and longitude of this point is by the American Coast Survey. A chart* published by the United Slates Ooverninent " Reoonnaifwanee of the .Shores of Tlevak and oonnectinp Straits from Cape Muzon to i'levak inirrow.s, — Alaska," — issued January, 1883, shows lliat the latitude and longi- tude were determined, of a position in Long Island — llowkon Village, — which, by Van- couver's chart (based on Spanish authorities, but which still r»>main3 as the only source of information we possess) is 48 niinnles of longitnile west of Ca|ic do Chacon, and 7J minutes of latitude north. This will give the position of Cape do Chacon as latitude 54° 42' Oil" N., and longitude 1,32° 2' 12" W. The name, Prinet; of Wales hhind, api)earod first on the Admiralty chart entitled' Vancouver's Island to Cordova Bay, No. 2430 (published in June, 18.50,) in about the year 1801. The name appears to have been appliei]. Note. — The above details were revise. 1 after the nuinuscript from which the Sessional Paper was printed had been submitted.— I).R.C. 2 olHcers. 1 computer. 1 serRcant In charge of work. 2 cltalnmeii. 1 instrument man. 2 front picket men. 2 rear iilcket men. 1 topographer. 1 ollicer. 1 serj-'cant in charge of work. 1 compass man. 1 Instrument man. 2 cha lumen. 2 picket men. 2 topographers. One. Astronomica Party. 4 1 i;i 7 ] servants. cooks. a.xemeii. paeknuister. packers. laaltuieu. heroatmen. herder. 1 conunlssary. 1 (piarter-mastersergeaut. 8 depnt men. 3 butchers. 1 sergeant In charge. 10 axemen. 1 cook. 1 blacksmith. 1 carpenter. 1 saddler. Commissariat Department. :i pack masters. 20 packers. 2 herders. Four. (4.) Trail-making Parties. 1 i)ackmnster. 2 packers. Artific<'r8. 1 tailor. 1 shoemaker. 1 cook. Partv I lead82 1 astronomer 2,922 1 assistant astronomer 1.H48 1 surgeon 2,000 1 geologist and botanist 2,000 1 veterinary surgeon 1,8(K) 1 commissary 2,000 2 Burvoyors, 1,461 dollars each 2,f»22 Per annum 22,044 Royal Kngineers. Dollars. 1 gergeant-major 2 00 1 nuarter-master-sergeaiit 2 00 3 sertfcants, $l.sm each r) .10 4 corporals, .$l.()t!ii crtcli 6 6fiS 4 2nd coriwrnls, $l.no each 6 00 8 lance-corporals, *1.33J caeli 10 e6§ 39 sappers, »1.16ii each 45 50 Per day T8 33* Dktaii.s (IK Pay ok Civilians kok Onk JIoni i. Party. 2 1 4 1 < I- Rate jier month. Amount. Rat.- per month. S s K. .1 1" < 3 GO 60 60 180 2 40 80 Cftnualties . . . 1 1 s! «0 300 Totals..,. 680 ....;,..., onoj.... 2,580 1,;W(1 4,440 Details of Pay uf t'lviLiANn for OmiMta -4immUikd. Party. 1 || » 30 GO 60 .... 7 14 4 1 i 1 a. 4 1 I*-' < Aatrununiiuui. . 2 HurveyinK - 4 trail |iartiefi . . 1 "i. 30 4(1 40 2M|. . . fiwl * ,.. 1,5B6 •-',1140 4 depotH ... 2 ». 1 ifiC H 60 4«0 :) 1 VA* 2,a!5 12 4P «| 1,S2U J~:i Trail iianifr' ...... 1«) SOU . ToaMt., . 150 uiaol . 4W> 1>| >l,»5i) SOF J.M-lilArR OF E.'SPF.NulTnBE IN "Ht i IKI.U Tlll'Off ^SiHptfiittKn, civil nnd iiiilitnry > .>_. , aent. Royal Eagiueerfc——.. —..„.., . .__._ _ <.C*'H»«» -X-.c'dtti OMVVi purchagu of iniirnmeats .i4.u4<- Olfe6>,!f 142.fi(tO , Engineer dntaefameni sjid InntTumcnia 111 tiid Victorin ti) Fort SnmpBon liJjB o: TOTTiBions. toola. eaiup ?ujuiries. &c., frnir San Franmm to Fort Himpaon. - 10^860 •'nuuiclMt Oiik. omtinironciea 3II^(W< Toml. .. .1.063.if ftwla^tirk. . , . ! Annii.il ooHt tif proviHioiM I fnratifu I ■ tranxiiort Aiitiiiiil ^nnilrieM anil continftenoiea. (')<» iH'ii^nnt t«i bo at**!*-*! for any iHTlcnl oviT I W(ltt«>r (jimrtern . Mir't' HHaHont*. . . t 'Jitttit .. I M.lr,,.mdent ..f .l..r«t,„n „f work \ "^^'Z!^ '^ ^^^\ Kii(rin«.ni from Kngland .-V mount. 143,11111 47,B2((c Traufi).<)rt i>( Royal Kutnneeni 'tram England. HU)r**i4 anfi iiroviBUiim Sundries and ecmtinfrencicH To tr)niiily Htrictlv with Treaty, 7 yeai-B. 15-I,2K7 ,0U3,S00 SO.IIOJ 51,8S2 24l,<)41 332,640 n,i.w 2o,im «0,5U 2,229,7li« Unit!'.! .State» Scheme, 3 yearn . i l«,12<.l i5.77« 130,201) 80,000 110,000 31,S4H 103,tiH9 142,1)1)0 14,16.-1 1II,(KX) 36,240 l,il States uf the Alaska Boundary. ■J'hc Minister of the interior to whom the subject was referred states that with the cxeeptiou of Mentlinjr ii eonlideiitial Agent to in(i;iire wliat survev.s were I)ein'; enrried on l)y tlw. United States on the coast of 'Vlaska no steps have been taken in tjie direction indinnteii. The ilinister. in tliis relation, draws the attention of Council to a Draft Minute of Council jirepurHd upon his report of the i.'ith February, 1SS9, a printed copy of which is liBrrio nttiio»«»d, and 1; ■ sn'miits that the Minute in question applies as well :o till* case i.'-thi.v as \vi'"n (".in^oally prepiircd, ami he rceonunciuls that the same In .idc)pi«l by I ouucil as an cxprestiion of the views of the Oovernmcni of Canada in relation to thia queatiop Tho ('oinmittr coiieurring in the above, advise that a copy hereof be forwarded ••ontidentially in the i4igiit Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonics. All which is rcsiii'ctfully submitted for Your Excellency's approval. (Signed) JOHN J. McCEE, Clerk, I'livy Co.incil. Ti) the Honourable The Minister of the Interior. With P. C. Xo. 158 //.— 1890 ; Ref. 240,032 on 1,301 (Vo. 3.) Till' ( !oniniiit<'e of the Privy Council have had under consideration a despatch umnd 17th J)i'ccinb<'r, 1H*8, from I he Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the (Suloniei*. transiniTting u prnpowal miido by the Governtnent of tlio United States in iBBr)eet til tho boundar.v of Ahuska, that Ilcr .Majesty's (iovernment should send a party iTi join imd pnrticipBte with n party iibout to be sent to the territory in - to its delineation in accordance with ihc sjiirit of thi' existing treaties in rcgar to ii between Great Hrilaiii and Russia ami ticlwccn the United States and Russia." The Minister of the Interior to whom llie matler was referred, ob^rvcs (hat (hroiiirhout llie correspondence which acmmpiiiiies the dcspalch of the Colonial Sccri- lar>, as well as in a !ett<'r upon the subji'et, dated the Ulh December, IH'^S. addres-cil diivctly to the Muii.^tcr of the Interior iiy llie SuperiiilcndeMt of the Uniteil Slates Coast and tw'odi'lic Survey, it is assumed that the boundary line pre.scniml by the 1) :.'l Hi Aiiglo-Rus?ian CoiiVfiitioii nf IS;'.", is iiiipraotifiibl'', ami tin object of the oxiii'diticiu and survey projiosed by tlie I'liiteil State.s if, tlieret'ori' elenrly uot thr asoerluimiU'Ut of tile i'aols ami ilata r.eeessary to iIim ileliiiiitutiim oi thi' boundary already provided for by international agrcenu-nl, but in " atford the geograpbical iiiforniation requisite to tile proper lu-trotiation " of a new Treaty betv.een llie I'uited Stateij and Great Jiritain, to be snli^tituted for the Treniy of JS:,'.". iM'tween (ireat iiritain and Hus^iia. To tins assumption, and the proposition banetl ui.on it, tbe -MiniKter diroct,s speeial attention, ami he submits (1 ) lliat tlicre is no evidenci' to ^liow tbal the line presi'ribrd by llie Treaty of l&2^> is impraetieable ; (U) tliHt Cuuada oaiinot therefore assent to the assumption that it is, ami ':ii that ivbile tl.>- ( unadiiiii (oivei-iunent is and always bns bien ready to e.i-nperate wiih il.e tinvoniuienr of the I'uiti'd .Stales in a delimita- tion "f the botindurv preseribed liy the ('■aiventioii of Irtio, i,reshiiilowe>'J'i. n I'cr In the mountains nearest the ocean, and not to any other mountains further inland, and he rccommciids that stejts he taken to ascertain at the earliest possible moment whether the United States accept this inter- pretation, and if not, that they be invited in ictimate with pi ision what lluir inter- pretation of the third Article of the Treaty is, and that in the alwi'ucc of agreement iilioii this pidnt, co-o|x'ratiipii betwivn survey parli opposed to tlioM^ niaintalncd by (treat Britain on be- half of Canada, and it is most dcsirabh' thai an agreement should be arrived at its to uhclher the Conventinn "f IhL',') requires that tbe dilvctieii of the delimiting line shall he the most direct between the HO'.itbernniost point of Prince of Wales Islam! and the ocean entrance to Portland Canal, or is it r.'cpiired that this line shall anywhere fol- low a parallel cd' latitude ; The I'nited States are understood to eoniend that Port- land Inlet is a |)arl of the I'ortlaml Channel through which the Convenlion of IHi'i dlr>ct.> the line to he run, wbieh eontentiou Canada denies, and assorts that the pas- sage along the ccHist through Pearse Ohanind to the ocean is part of Portland Canal. The curreet int<'rprctation ef the ex|iression " Portland ( haiinel." ummI in th<- Treaty of IHi.'i. should be deeidi-d upon as spceilily as possible. Whichever vii'w prevails, however, the authoritative determination of the aoiitb- <'rnniosi point of Princi! of Wales Island, and the aeenrate location of any islaniU between Prince of Wall's Island and the continent on the line to the ocean entrance to Portland Canal wiil be necessary, and co-iiperalion in arriving at thi.- determina- li-in sli mill be readily assented to if the hydrograiihie survey between Prince of Wales Island and the bead of Portland Canal could be undertaken by one of the vessels of the Pacific squadron of Her .Majesty's navy, it being understood that the British parly's attention would be specially dircct<'il to the survey of the passjige from the sinth of Tongas [sland along the main coast through Penr.se Channel, into waters which ari' admittx'd on both sides to form a imrt of Portland Canal. TIk- Minister stales that the Canadian fioveriiineni might further co-nperale with the I'nited .States in determining by astronomical observations or triaiigulation, as might be agreed upon by the ofRcer» in ehiirge of the respective parties to be best 83 jiuitcil to till' r«]dirc/iiii--iits ul' tin- cii-i'. ilic Ki'iiKnipliiciil |p"siti'iM nl ii iiuiiilwn' cjf puiiits 'III tliu ali(iri-5i of till' ciiast Btrip, mi wliifli lu I'.iiiiiil fiitiii'i' iiilaml survi.vs. Tlii' (iiiv- crmiictit 1)1' Cunadii mi»flii aUo .-cucl, dviriii); il"' pivsi'iit nfii-ioii, llirei' iir loiir »iirvi',v piirtion '<> '■umnifiu'p the iiiiaii uoiKiiict tbeir upi;r«tiuiia iudi-puiideiitly uf the Uiiitt'd Slates' parties, it wuulil be ii'"jessary t'l obtain tlie eousuiit ol' the United Stales to the prosecution of 80 much of tli&ie surveys as would have to be performed nitliin United States' territory, the same privilege beinif of eourso extended to the Kuited Stutei", in so far as their survey parliis iiiiijlil KnJ it necessary to carry on iheir work within JJritish territory. It would ubvii iisly tend to fiicilitate the completion of the necessary arnin^c- ;ii"iits if Her ilajei ty'.s Uoveiinin'iit were to consent that all details, ii.cludinir future eoininunieatiou vvilh \Vashin(,'ion, lie carried out under the direction oC 'lu regari-i the 141st degree of west longitude, and he recommends that the nece.-sary steps be taken to aeijuaint the (iovernment of the I'nited States that the tiovernmont of Can- ada is as ready as formerly to join in a deliniitati'in of the line, under the supervision of u joint commission to any extent required and agreed upon in thai behalf. Jleiiii- time, it should 1)p 9tat('il that the (iovernment of Canada, upon its own uceonnt and at its own sole exjiense, sent a parly into th<: Viikon eouiilry in the spring of 18S7, in charge of Jlr. William Ogilvie, a qualitieil aslroiiomer and surveyor, who made a scries of observations for the jiurpose of aseerliiining and he has nseertained, approximately, the iioint of intersection of the Yulcin River by the 141st degree of west loiipilude. besides which lie made an examination anil surveys of the territory In the north, and as any party sent jointly by the two countries cimid accomplisli very little more than has already been done by },Ir. Ogilvie, the .\Iinister is of the opinion that the results of a joint survey at that point would, as far as Canada is concerned, servi' no purpose which would justify llic exiM'iiditure. The Comtiiittee. concurring in the foregoinR report, advifie that Your Excellence lie moved In forwaril a copy of this minute to the Kight Honourable tlie Secretary of State for the Colonies. .\11 which is resiiwtfully submitted for your Excellency's aiiproval. ALASKA. -WEPOUT OF OTTO .1. Kl.OTZ. Presto.n, Dec. 11, 18t<9. ^'m.— On Angii'it 22nd la";-(3ovcrnor of Alaska, George BuUene, IT. S. Boiler Inspector, and \V. Bryant, U. S. Insj)ector of hulls, all men who wore officially familiar with Alaska. From ilr. Francis, who has been for 22 years pilot in south-eastern Alaska, the following and important iuforniation was obtained: — The "Carlile Patterson" is a three masted steamer, l;!5 ft. long, 32 ft. beam, of 800 tons displacement, barque-rigged and capable of steaming knots on a consump- tion of 8 tons of coal a cfiy, and 7 knots on a consumption of ik tons of coal a day in smooth water, and generally carries from 15 to 20 M ft. Imnbor for signals and scaf- folding. She has ten officers and a crew of fifty-two men, making sixty-two all told. Accompanying the " Patterson " are three .-team launches, one has two or three bunks for oificers, and others forward for crew. Thi.- launch, " Cosmos," is of IH tons, and Ut man it it requires a iirenuin, pilot and cook. The two other launches are op.'n, i.e., not covered, and of ;i to 4 tons. During the pa>t .vear the " Patterson " has been engaged in (be -orvey of Stephen's Passage and Seymour ("'bannel delineating the shore-line and taking soundings for the purposes of navigation. Stephen's Passage lies between Admirally fsland and the mainland, and Seymour Cliannel is a deep ba.y in the above cited island. \o inland toiiographieal work was done, although iirominent peaks are located by triangubition, and if an easily aci'e.ssible elevation near the shore presents itself it is oii'upied for the better determi nation of the location of promineni pliysit^il feature-- of the country. Otherwise the work is nearly all done from boals. After the " Patterson '" tirrives on the sur\T'y ground slie seldom nun'es about, save siiort distances (o another au'^borage, Ihi' wmk being doni! with the steam launches and boats. For the jirincijinl triangulation along the coast, base lines meterB ten are carvicd on board, niadi', first at Port Simpson and (hen at Port Townsend, thereby obtaining ■! detei- proeeediiig to wiu'k in Alinkn. Ater the hcihom's work similiir ob-erMitions are again made, first at Fort Simpson and tlion at Port Tcnviisend, thereby obtaining a deter- 85 iiiiiuiliim of ratf, wliicli iiuaiitily ciiliTs dii'uotly iiild tli" obsprvutious for longitude "11 the Miirvc.v. Capi' FiiMslmw on tlii' iiuiialand and in I'rinw FrodcricU Koiiiid has now bpcn accurately I'onncctcd will. Port Simpson and is to tie used hereafter as a point of refercnie for longitiali'. Congress appropriated $I(ill,(H>re. Observations were lakc'ii before leaviiif? and atfiiiu on their return liere, as has always been their custom. The lielil of operation ba^ been in surveyiiifi the channels south ef ,luncau. I'roin 1). i.. Shoeinalier, trailer anil slorckecper at i'lU't Wrangcll, it was learned that no siirve.v vessel has passed lh"ii diring the past year save the " Paiterson ". 'I'lie survey around Wrantrell is computed. Inipiiries aloiijj tile coast at tile various plai'cs at which we stopped elicited ibe same information, i.e.. that the "Patterson" was the only ve.s.sel engaged in survcyiii(j; in south-eastern .Vlaska. and in coutiuatioii III her lU'cvicuis year's work of shore-line and hydrography. rn.VKUAKV, The route covered by my trip in Alaska, was as follows After passii UK across l)i.\on Kntr stopped in succession at Tonpiss .\':i iidiistr l-'iiilerick S( i-lllc Nalia Hay, lioth places having salmon canneries but ith. •roin 111 re w The ne.st landintf place was at the deserted villape of I''ort 'iilinucd lliroii^h the tortuous Wranp'll S'raits, Prii onno aiH Steiila P; to .h the largest settleinent in .Masl bavin;; probably a thousanil inhahitints, all ile|»>ndent upon mining. Th, ic ^reat Treadwell ^'old mine of l'4ii stamps, on Doutrlass Ishi ip)iosite .Tiilieau was also visited. The ipiartz vein of this mini' is ."lOO feel wide, interseeted by wluil tl le miners ca II e snlinon canneries. the hitter to the defiiiict Ilaine^' Mi-sion. Ketracinn mir .stcpv until Icy Strait was ehed we stcami'd norlli-ward into (ilacier lia vbeii' the tainons Mnir (ilaeicr was ilcd. alk 111^ onl on Its eastern llaii k a I loni two miles. It till iinnery Ml liarllell Bay befii ire leaving uu tila Ha ^llrllin^ south w From there, after ailed passiiijr throiKh Chatham and Peril .Straits, wc put in at pic|ures.|iie but dilapidated Sitka, thi eapiliil, whose (ili'i'y is buried in past );enerations At esi'iit there arc stationed III Sitka twenty-six marines under l.ieuli>niiiit, Tiinwr. id bel Pinta." F'>r defence two bowitzcrs Mi'c aval laU. oiiKHiK to the War-sli ip I'l 1 await ihi' out ifoiiiK mail the steamer must always remain 'Jl hours at Silli The revenue cutter " Kusb " was lyinjf in the harbour, baviiiK ipiite lately returned Irom her ltd irinjf Si'ii, where she ma idc luinlii ,.f i-h. Miners cniiaKed in ^'hIIiik "H the hiu:li -cas. 'I'l leiii forly-five m H'li. ami sIk cirrie- Iwo cmiiiikii and two );alliiiui le eompleinei llii III of th, Leaving Silka the return joMriiey illy Is id. Il<' icKiiii. calliiii>: tirsi iii l\illisii< if Canadian ■' Uiisb " i- Aihi works. 111 idiai .Several liuiidr 'd barrels of oil ublaiiied iMiii the berriiiK were taken mi board. The nd'iise frmii tin liydranlic pn-sscs, by ini'ans of which ihe oil is extracted, i^ roasled and urouud an. I ■ed lis ferlilizi'r to the Spreekels sr^ar phinlalioii on the Sandwiib Ulands. Tile sicaiiier tiiucliwl aKoiii .n ■Iwn'aii ui the ri turn jourmy niid at Ihe otb ^r plaee- •.mlhward alrM»J> meiiiioiied. At tTiiieau, the TTnitid Stales survey vi'ssel Paliersiili " was seiu mid |ibotoM^rii|>)>ed. .\s the special iii+oriiiuiion that was ile-ircd b.id by tlii- iiiue been obiaiiied it w.i. iiniiici'fisary to -i-.p m P<«rl Simpson, .barti'r a steam schooner and eiiasi almitr soiiili- lantern Alaska This almie wotdd linve <'ost more II vtus c.>».^ii|ered to be '•(Bee ill Siin Fraiicineo he vi-ile l> Jl' than my wliolc trip co-i. till inleresi of |bi Hiparlinent tlinl the C st Su iligt.v. after a fi'W days' detention at Yi 86 toriu, ultt'i- ruliiniiiig from Alaska, J prowejeil to San Fraiu-isco cia Portland and tlio .Mount Wliasta route, riii'-e 1 nii;t Liuut. 11. E. >;i(;luils, L'nit(;d States Susy, and Mr. Lawson, who, in the ah=uiii._- of I'rof. ti. Davidson, is in eiiargc of the Coast .Survey Uthee. Both gentlemen reeeived me most kindly and eheerfully answered the qiieations asked. Lieut. H. E. Miehols, I'nited States Aavy, is in eliarge of the J'aeitic Coast I'ilot and is at present engageil revising the edition of ISSli and expeets to have another out within a year. He is the oftieer who Ugan the eoast survey of south-eastern Alaska, and it was also lie who had the ways hiiilt at I'ort Sim|Json for housing the steam launehes aeeompanying iht^ survey vessel. The survey of south-eastern .Vlaska, i. e., that portion lying east and south of Cross Sound will soon hi- completed. Xext year there will prohahly he two parties out working in Chatham Straits and vicinity. The information accpiircd from other sources that I'ort .Simjison has hi'cn the huse for iongituili' work in Alaska was repeated to mc hy Eicul. .Nichols, and also that time ohservations are taken at I'ort .Simjison in the spring and fall, as well as at Port Townsend, where a eireuit with the Davidson Olwrvatory at .San Francisco or Wash- ington is had. lie informed me that two CoasI .Survey parlies had iK'cn sent to the Yukon this year for taking observations to determine the intersection of tin; meridian of in degrees west longitude with the Yukon and Porcupine Kivers. The parties ascended the Yukon from St. Alichiiels hy means of the steamer of the .Vlaska Com- niereial Company, one party to ascend the Porcupine, the other to station itself near Fifty .Mile CriH'k. where our .Mr, Ogilvie observed. They will winter in the country Mini are well .stipiilied with instruments. East year thi'i'e was a triangulation made .)f Portland Canal or Channel, the jilan of which was shown to me. On it was noti<'cil an astronomic station on the west sid(. of the mouth of Hear Uiver, and in latitude .">.') degrees 5tj minutes (to the nearest minute). In the Coast .Survey mountain peaks nn; put in hy Iriaugulation from shore, and if a peak is close hy and accessible it is oeen- pied, otherwise no inlr.nd or (pu-land survc.vs are made. The .\Iaska Coast .Survey is carried on on the same lines as Pender's h.vdrographi'' survey of British Columbia. This is the substiim f the infnrimition obtained from l.ieut. Nichols. I was in ho|ies of meeling Prof. (i. Davidson at San Francisco In charge of the Pacific ]>ivision of the I'liiled States Coast and (ieodelic Survey, liiil nnforlunntely found him absent, being at Paris alti'iiding the riitermitiiuial (li>o(letic Congress. The oftieer next in c.harge, .Mr. .1. S. I.awson was, however, seen and topics of professional interest in general discussed, hesides asci'rtaining on my part the w.irk Iwiiig ilone in Alaska. On this latter topic nothing essentially new to me was learned, the gist being that two jiartii's are iiigaged in dctermiiiiiig the 141st meridian on the Yukon and Porcupine, for the purpose of establishing the boundary line, and a third party is sinipl.v contiiriing the coast and hydrogriipbic survey of former years, in south-eastern: Alaska . \ ^liorl iletoiir was made to the N'av.v Yard at ^fare Island where 1 boarded ibe "Ranger," a two-iuii'ted .schooner used for coa.-l survey, h.vdroaiaiihy and deep-sea sounding*, ."^lie carries two small guns, has I.IO nien and 2!i naval oltiicrs. The I'liiterl SintK. i"o«st Survey vessel " McArlhur" was also lying at aiuhor here. Both of the;c vi.»scls wet>' ciiyngi'd on the California coast during the past season, as also the " Ilassler." The opporluiiity was embraceil, loo, of vi..iliug the T.ick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton, where T remained two days enjoying ihc h..-pilalilics of the Director, Pr.if. Eilward S. TTolden. and had the pleasure of exaniiuing the gnat ^li in. refractor liesid •» the nnnii.rou< other instriiniinls. gainiiiir thereby iuforiuation which will he of service in my 'piTicial .'aiiacity with the Departmi'iil of the Tiilerior. I'lIYSllAI. lEATl Hi:s. The following notes on the physical features of -nnlh-easterii Alaska are based partly on personal olwervalions and i.arllv on iuforiuation gathered from reliable sources. Till' description will begin al Dixon Kiitraiiec and I'oiitinue along the shore of tli. mainland northw.ird. The whole co'intry is intensely nioMiilaiiious, NinK.— .Vs there will be fiecpunlly oi easion to refer to the Pacific Coasi Pilot, Part r., .\laska, edition ISS:!. P, C, P, will he used as a designation therefor. To .|iiole from the P, C, P,, p. T'O. "'he same type of topograidiy iirevails iij the coiitiiieiiliil border as that exhibited in the half-siihinerged coiidilmn of the Colnm- liian and .Mcxauder arehip<'lagoes. ff (he latter wei nlirely elevated above the .-e.i level, they would ii. essential features resembh the present I'ontineiital border, and, wer. the valleys of the last depressed below ihe s.a level, a similar extensirui of lb' .\rcbipelngo. willioul change of eliaracler. would be the result. Sumner Strait appear- 87 to be merely tlio pniloiiguticjii sfiiwui'il nf tlie viilify dI' llu' luwci' StiUiiif." In piis.-iiiL! Iroiu Clmtlium Suiiiid afi-o.-is Dixon Entrance, tin- entrancu (cir I'ortlaml Iiilut aj ilcsiliuatctl UN scnii' cliartn now) to Observatory Inlet is ilistinetly seen, \vliori/as th« entrance to tlie Portlanil Canal or (,'lninni 1 of Vaneonver or IVarse Canal of the l'. S. ulmrta now, is not (liatiiiKni-lialile, ehlelly on a nnt of the number of small islamls wliieh lie l)etw<'en it and the oiien sea. Snow-i'apped peaks were seen in tlic iinlain heights. .Vorih of I'earse Island along rorihiiirl Chunnel the bind rises abruptly from the watirV nlge, sonietime.s to the bi'ight of il.uOd fi'i't, and the nionntains are snow-elad the year riamd. The heail of I'orlland Channel lermimiles in low, wooily, swampy land, tin -hallows being formed by detritu- earri'd down by the Salmon and Hear Ulvers tlowing from the north and discharging at the liead id the canal or channel. Kollowing the naiinhind shor.'dine northward wi' find it bonndcd on om' -idc liy linmiillately cmitig- iions mountains except where intersei'ted by rivers. The mountain.s which rise immediately from the water's edge an- not always the blgliist ones visible, as for instance at .Inniiin the adjacent motintain riflge is fnlly .'i.lino feet high, being above the tindn'r line some hundreds of feet, yet bi'yoml tlii-' nionutain ridge and across the intervening valley are mountains eonsidernbly higher, :iiid natnrally carrying more eterinil snow. .Vseendiiig She<'p Oi'ck, three miles below .rnnean, to its head, being about four miles it a straight line, and there climbing the adjacent ntonntains, which I'ontain eauKnais lilaciers and ai'e at least 2,000 feet higher than the monnt.'iin ridgi' imm:- diately behind dmu'au ami alreaily referred to, one can see the Ank (ilacier, Lynn Canal, and sonthward to Port Snottishnni and Holkham Bay, locally known a.s Sinn- dum Bay. ITa ri' si>eins to Im' x continuation of glaciers to Ank (ilaeier, and as far a*' the eye can n-acdi all i- oif, w-c-tieM. with bare pi'aks sticking out here and there. The highest jieaks in this ■■ entity appeared to be l."> to 20 miles from the coast. Vrori till same point ■<( ..bservation a di.-staul view to the sonth-eastwani is oh- -irneied liy the high range of nionntaiits runniuu along the east side of Taku Inlet. Tlfllkhani Bay is bounded by lof'> mountains. The first glacier-ice. :<.- tioe-. or miniaturi' bergs, is enecpuntered after (.uier;iiiig from Wrnngidl Narrows. It is sent forth by the Patterson Olaeicr. Beyond or north- ward along Prime Fred< -id; Sound, St(>phen's Pissago, Taku Inlet. Lynn Canal and Olaeicr Bay au nerous gliciers are seen, and into the last mentioned bay the great Afuir Olaoier, urcsentiiig an ice-wall u, the sta one mile wide and three hunr'.cd feet high, disciiargeg or rather tumbles. Its ncvi- and iecfiolds extend eastward end join those of the Davidson Ohx ier which empties into Lynn Oanul. .\n aiiproxinmte ef.tiinale of the extent of the Mnir Olaeier with its laterals gives in area equal to about tlu on. -eighth of the wlioli' of Switzerland. The proximity of the-i- ico-river« becomes apparent at sea by the diseob.nratiou of the sen-nater to a dirty milky colour. The Stikine sends its glacial waters far out to sea, at tla> sami> tim ■ ilepositing larg.> ninnunt;' reeipitoti- snow-.lail monnt.ii'us of 5,000 feet, and \ip- I'ards. Thrw sirennii- I't-.ter this bay. the KnM Twin, Middk Twin, and West Twin. hot shown on the charts as yet. Thv pciiinxtila sepnratiiig Chilkat an ' 4"%ilkoot Inlets in l(j-nM Canal is compara- tively low anil CO v I red with Kriile. wliereifc. itmnediately Uhind the west shore-line of I.ymi Cainil ri.se lofty snow-' iiail iiiounliiin^ jnbvacing iiraetically the pi tiinsida lying betwei u Lynn Canal and Olneier B*.v. linniediatply 'o the we-'t of Rlseior Bay and north of Cape Spencer we encounter the St. Klias Alps extinding wi>stwHril iH'yoml the 141-t ^teridian (boundary line). These moiiinaini 'iw immediately Iwhind the shore-liiu' and include the highest up- lifts of the North Aim-rtcan Contiinuit. At the south-enstern extremity of this range the snminit is abi.«u' 'en miles from the shore ; this distance increases slightly towarils Yakiitat Bay. 'I'he summit of Ml. St. Klias is aluuit 20 miles from the .sea as dotcrmiiied by tri- ii.gulation. F'"roiu the very mounliiinous cliaraider of the whole conntry access to the interior of sotith-enstcrn Alaska is only lu'iicticnble idong rivers, and of these tliere ar ■ but n few, besides some creeks M'Tcrn! miles in length. 88 The principnl rivers, tlic Stikinc, Taku and Chilkat, rise in Oaiindiaii territory. The rainfall thrDUglidiit soulli-easlirn Alaska is large, yet varyiii;; eniisiderahly between different places and fur different years. The annual iireeipitatiim at Juneau is about it feet. As a result of the humid alnmsphere the vegetation is rank and the whole surface of the mountains below the timber line is densely wooded. The most common timber i» the Sitkun spruce, it is softer than the Puget Sound fir, and is apt to eraek or cheek, but is not very pitchy. The pitch is fo\ind mostly in the sap-wood and not in the heart. Thrre feet acro3.s the stump is an average size, and sometimes trees of six feet in diameter are found. Besides this wood hcmlo "k is found, whose dimensions often exceed those of the spruce, but it i.s not utilized. Yel- low cedar, balsam fir, scrub pine, poplar and birch occur in limited quantities. THE BOUXDAllV LIN'B. For the purpose of reference Articles III. IV. of the Convention between Great Britain and Kus,sia, signed iif St. I'etcrsburg. t'cbruary :is (K! O.S.). IS.'.'; here inserted : — III. The li of d lemareation betv the pos.sessions of llii' high coiilniciing parties u pon th( St of the continent and thi' islands of America to lb ■ nortb-west shall Ik' drawn in the nninner followi ^ommencii ng from the southernmost point of the island called Pri of Wall' Island, whiel 1 point lies m thi^ pa ralle of ,")4 degrees H) minute., north lutitudi- and between the l:ilst and l:i:iril degree of west longitude (meridian of (ireenwich), tb( said line shall aseiiid lo the iiorlli along the I'hannel calli'il I'orthuul Channel, as far as the point of the continent wheri> it strikes the utith degree of north lalitude, from ibis last menlioned point, the line of dennirealion shall follow the summit of the mountains sitonlcd |iiirallcl to the coast, as fur as tlii' point of intersection of the 141st degree of west longitude (of the .same meridian), an J fiindly, from the said point of intersci'tion, the said miTiliaii line of the Hist degree, in its prolongation as far as the Frozen Ocean, shall form the limit between the Kussinn and BrilLsb possessions on the continent of .Vmerica to the north-west. IV. With reference to tbi' line of dennircation laid down in the pri ceding Ar- ticle, it is nmlcrstood : Isl. That the islaml called Prince of Wales Island shall belong wholly to Russia. 2nd. That wherever the -nnnnit of the mountains which ixtend in a direction parallel to the coast, fiMJin the olith degree of north lalitude lo the point of intersection of the 1+lst degree of west longitude, shall prove to be at the distance of more than ten nnirine leagues from the otran, the limit between the British po.ssessions and the line of coast which is to belong to Rus-iia, us above mentioned, shall Ik? formed by a line parallid to the windings of the coast, ami which shall never exceed the distance of ten marim> leagues therefrom. L<'t US analj'ze the above. " The southernmost jioint of the island called Prince of Wales Island." Aclniitting in the mean-lime what island Prince of Wales Island it, there can be no (lucstion what the " soutbernmosi |ioint" is, for there can only be one southern- mo; t point, hence ibis is an indisputable point, although it might require extended surveys to determine its location. " Which point lies in ibe |iiirallel uf "il degree, 40 minutes north latitndi'. and be- tween the l:)lst and l.'VInl degrei' of west longitude." There are ap|iarciitly Iwo designations t'cpr mw anil ibi- sana' point. The first dcsigmition or location of ihe point is a physical feature, irrespective of its exact geo- graphical position, the second one rclcgales the point to geographical <'o-ordinates, without however detining ihe absolnic position of lb,. piMnt of i^oinnaMicemenl i>( the line of ilennircation. In order to di'line lla point by gcographicil co-ordinates il most be referred to tbe intersection of two iinis, not neiel.v slate that the point "lies in tbe parallel of 64 degrees 40 minutes niTlh latitude, and belW4-en the I^Ust degree ami l:i:!rd ilegree of west longitude", leaving an umcrlainty of two degrees of longitude, ((inivalent to about T.'i miles, of its position. Hence, undoubtedly, the seeond designation is and could oidy be intended as explanatory of the first, lo assist in idenlifying ibe vicinity In wbli'h the scinlheriini(st point of Prim'e of Walls Island is sitinilcd, ami ibcrcbv exclniling any donlil. too, what island the high contracting parties considered ns I'rinee of Wales Island. Thi' position in huigitude of Ihe point of eommenceinenl as being "between Ihe Kllst and llliird digrci!" eonelusivel.v shows that file island In (piestion is what is now known as Prince of Wales Island, and to assume for a moment iIkiI Wales Islaml, as km>wu oil the charts now. was meant, is nnleiiahle. as it is distant iiboiil till mi|c> east- ward from I'rinee of Wales Ishinil. and falls oulsjd,. of the limits "between Ihe l.'llst ncal |ii 89 111 lulls V<1\V • 1111(1 l:!:;nl ami Kl^ird (li'(.'rcc." win ri'iis tlic suiitlicni extri'iiiity of I'l'iiicr nf Willi's I^lii nearly in lunKitiidc ViU ilcttri'i's, tlic iiiran uf llie limits " bftwui'ii llic l'->\ ik-^Tn.' " of till' Cuiiviiitiiin. It may \n< remarked tlial latitude determiiiatiniis eiiuld always be ni"r. jcenrately ubtaiiiL'd tlian tlinse fur luiiKitiide, even at tile present time, altlmuKh tile disparity iu aecnraey, between latitude and liini?itiide ebservatiuns, in VaiU'iiiiver's time was (treater than now. However, tile eharts that existed at the time of the Convention, lieariiijt upon the i;eoi^raphy in (piestion, WLTe certainly sniKeiently aeeurale to dislin^nisli l)et\veen two liuints IJ degrees njart in UiiiKitiide, as the soiithern extremities of I'rinee of Wales Island and Wales Island are. That Priuee of Wales Island, as now reeofrnized, is the one of the Convention and not Wall's Island is obvious from the nejjotiations. Speaking of I'rinee of Walts Island, I'etrotf, in his ottieial report on Alaska to till' I'nited States Census Otfiee, says pajfe S4: " Stranf-'e to say, this larjie island, wliieh has been known to the maritime nations of the (flobe for over a hundred yi'iirs, still remains unsurveyed and has bei n variouijly named an island and an arehipehigo, and nccounts of natives report numer- ous navigable passages I'litting through it here and there. " While the Alaskan matter was under discussion betwei'n (Jreat liritain and I{iis>ia. the I{u3sian Plenipotentiaries submitted in lb24 a coutre-projet (to the one of Sir Charles Ungot) with reference to the southern limit of Russian possessions, in which the following passage occurs : " Comnio la parallele ilii .lome degro coupe I'ile dii I'rinee de Calles dans son extremite meridionale ■»***" f'r,,Mi the then known gcogrnphical position, especially in lalitiide, of I'riii f Wall ~ l-land and the island now known as Wales Island, it wa.s evident that the ."i.-ith iiavallel of latitude could not out Wales I-sland, lying nuiny miles to the south of that parallel, while Prince of Wales Island, as now known, is cut by that parallel. Other references in the negotiations to "I'ile du Prince de (Jalles"' make it obvious that I'rinee of Wales Island, whose southernmost point ajiproxiinately " lic> in the jiarallel of .')4 degrees 4il minutes north l.'Uitude," was rel'erred to and never Wales Island, the creation of which latter name is of a date subseipient to the Convrnlion. Attention is drawn to the map in P. C. P. oiiposite to page 4'J, on which is shown " IJoundary liie.' between Alaska and British Columbia," as following the jiarallel of .^4 degrees 40 minutes north latitude from the meridian of V\'2 ili grees :ill minutes to that of i;!tt degrees ;iO niiniites west loiigitndi', and from the latter meridian deflects into what is termed on that map, Portland Inlet, being the entrance to Observatory Inlet as designated by Vancouver. It is not plain on what authority the boundary line is laid down as beginnii.g on the parallel of r>4 degrees 411 minutes north latitude at its intersection with the meri- dian of l''i2 degrees .30 minutes west longitude, and thence east on that parallel to the ineridian of i:in degrees :iil minutes. The perpetuation of inaceuracies may in time create a belief in the accuracy of the inaccuracy, and a nonrefutation of the inaccuracy help to establish siieh belief. "The said line shall ascend to the north along the channel called Portland Chan- nel, as far as the jioint of the continent where it strikes the .li'ith degree of north latitude." We have herein given two physical features anil one geographical lino as ileter- niiniiig and limiting references for a part of the boundary line. The physical features are " the seutliernmost point of the island called Prince of Wales Island," and " Portland Channel," the geographical line being "the '"itith degree 'if north latitude." That these physical features were snflioiently Well known to the two high eontraet- iiig parties is evident from liie fact that eharts then existed, and were referred to by the plenipotentiaries, showi-ig these features. In fact, the latest charts of the most recent survey.s, show no essential difference between those referred to, as delineated three quarters of a ei ntnry ago, and now. Hence, as far as the point of conunence- iiienl " the southernmost point of the island called Prince of Wales Island " and " Port- land Channel" are concerned, there was praeticall.v as much known in isi4 as now with iiddilional surveys, and heiiee the terms of the < 'nnventiou regarding this part could not be lacking in dcHniteness from ignorance of the physical features or the gcogra- I'lucal iiosilieii of the same. " The said line shall ascend to the north along the channel called P'lrthind Chan- nel." Some commentators have adversely criticised "shall ascend to the nortli," b.nsing their conclusions on the geographical position of the point of conuneiu'ement and that of Portland Cbaiiiiel, which has its entrance in nearly the same latitude as the point of commencement, but over a degree to the east thereof. The first |)art of the whole boundary line may be said to extend from the southern- most ))oint of Prince of Wales Island to a certain point on the ."ifith degree of north latitude. Wi' see tllurefiire tliat the nhjii'tivo piiiiit in lliis |ii\it of llu' line is ill llir r)titli ilcgrce of iiiirtli latitmk', and iis tlio point of c'DinniiMicciiiunt is iipproxiniiitely in Ititi- tnclf "14 (lo(?ri'cs 40 minutes, it nc<"'ssiirily follows thiit no iniittrr liow niiiny ronrscs (ind directions the first line nuiy hiivc, it nirst " asi'ond lu the north." Now, as thori' arc various courses or directions hy wliiidi it may nsccml to the nortli, the Conveiilioii -pccilies aiiii Miaki'.s definite that "the said line shiill ».-eend to the north alonir tlu' channel called I'ortland Channel." It may be nieiitioned that another channel — lliike of Chirence ('haiiiiel — was nniler discus^■ion liy the negotiators, and throiitih which the lioiindary line was to "ascend to the north" from the same point of ciimnieiicenient, the soiilhernmo-t point of rriiice of Wales Island. It would lie alisnnl to assume that the nepiliators ima^'inod. with tiie p ojirapliieal information liefore them, the line to run iKprth from thi> soiithernniost point of Prince of Wales Isliind to the entrance of Pi>illiind Channel. As a matter of fact, the entrance to Portland Channel is north of the ("liiit of commenceinciit, althoii);Ii the jreneral direction be- tween the two is east and west. " Along the channel called Portland Channel." In the ncgolintion.s Ix'tween the pleniiioti'ntinries we find in the corrcpiindeiire " d<'' 111 par li> niillieu de ee cnnal ' (Portlmiil). This furnishes an interpretation of the word "along," bciiiK eqnivnicnt to " tliront?h the middle of." By international interpritation "middle channel" means "deepest channel," i.e., ''middle" is dejiondent upon depth of water and not upon the conlignration of (he sides or shores bounding the waters. This is the natural intirpretntioii too, as in water boundaries navigation is the principal consideration. As to the name Portland Channel or Portland ranal. both names appear in edi- tions of •' Vanco'.'vor's Voyages" for one aiuJ the same arm of the soa. Negotiations regarding the boundary lino between the nritish and Uussian pos- sessions on the north-west coast of America, eulminatet.' in the Convention of Febru- ary is (1(1 O.S.), 182.5, hence any geographical name occurring in such convention must have originated prior to that date. It is an nmlisiJUteil matter of history that Vancouver in his voyages of discovery gave the name Portland Chanind (Portland Canal) to a certain inlet, the entrance to which was eastward of the southern extremity of Prince of Wales Island. As there are two arms or inlets with entrances eastward of the southern extrem- ity of Prince of Wales Island, it may be necessary to show clearly what was and could only have l)een understood to be Portland Clmnnid by tlie negotiators of ls2.'i, iu view of the fact that the Fuited Stales Government maintains an interpretation incon- sistent with the data. The names Portland Channel and Observatory Inlet as given by Vancouver were never ipiestioned by any navigator or geographer up to 182.5, the time of thi' conven- tion, a.s designating those features to which Vancouver applied the above names. Xor did any I'artograiiher, British or Russian, prior to the Convention, apply those names in any other sense than the one as originally given by Vancouver. Whatever signifieation may have been given or has been given to the t<:rms Portland Channel and OKservatory Inlet .-nbseqnent to the Convention can have no bearing on tlio (lues- tioii, as establishing the mi>aning of these two t.erms at the time of the Convention. The record of Vancouver's voyages makes it most clear wbnt arm he called Portland Channel and what arm Observatory Inlet. To tpiole from Vol. IV., Svo. edition, 1801 : "Sunday, .fuly Slst, I70:i. By sunset we entered the arm up which we expected to find this extensive inland navigation. To the south-east point of entrance I gave the name of Point .\Iaskelyni', after ihc Astronomer Royal. It is situated in latitude 54 degrees 42J minutes and longitude 229 degrees 4.5 .ninutes * * * *." Vancou- ver then proceeded north-easterly up this arm " until we arrived abreast of an opening about two miles wide at its entrance on the we^steru sliore, seemingly divided into two or three branches, taking a direction about N. 18 degrees W. The observed latitude at this time was 54 degrees 58 minutes, longitude 230 degrees ;t minutes." This was on .luly 22nd, 179:i. He -ontinned iu a north-easterly course, reaching, on .Inly 25th, the head of the inlet ''where .is usual it was terminated by low swampy ground, and in latitude 55 degrees .'12 minutes, longitude 2.10 degrees IC minutes." Returning " .Saturday, the 27tli, wc set out with fair weather, and having a rapid tide iu our favour si;jn re.-.ched the east iroint of entrance into the N. N. W. branch, which, after .\Ir. Uamsdeu, the optician, I called Point Ramsdcn, lying in latitude SI degrees .50 minutes, longitude 2;?0 degrees 'li minnteg. * * * » _ From hence we directed our course N. W. three miles to a lo'V point on the larboard shore, where we found this arm to communicate with auotlwr leading in a S. W. and N. N. E. direction, ami being iu .'.jcncral about half a league in width. AftxT breakfast we pur- sued the latter direction and steered for the east-rii or eontiuontal shore." It ig im- portant to observe iu the above, Vancou.'er's words, "where we found this arm to lies a diroetionl Cliannel.f the lowei land Chil On doubt as exploratj to that ll 91 comnuiiupiito witli niintlirr li'mliii^ in ii S. W. ami N. N. K. diroi'tioii," rl<'arl,v ^liow- ing that iia auoii an lio saw llu' waters wliicli I'Xtcinlcil N. N'. K. ami S. W. (from lu« point of ohservatioii), did lie ccuisiilcr lliciii to 1k' uiii' and tln' .-"ami' arjii, in wliii.'li hi; afterwards, as wu sliall sw, wivi: the iinine F'i>rtlancl Cliaiinel (I'ortlaiid Canal). Vane'ouvcr |)iirsuc'd imrtliward until, on .\Ion deKrucs 45 niinuli'?<, lon^fitmlc :i:iO (k'^rtt-'a *J minutes. ()]i tile next day lie wan on his way hnek, followinij the wetleru or lontinental shore-lino until, on AuRust 2nd " we .set out early and passed through ii laliyrintli of small islets and r'.'eks alonjj; the eontiiieutal shore, this, takint; now n winding course to the south-west and west, showed the south-eastern siilo of the I'hannel to br mueli brokiMi, throiiKh whieh was a i)a.ssa(!e leadinu S.S.E. towards tin.' oeean. Wi' pa.^scd this in the hoi* "' timlinK a more northern and westerly eoniuumieation, in wlii<'li we were not disappointed, as the channel we were then iiursuinu was soon found to comninuieate also with the sea, making the land tfi tin.' mjuiIi of us one or mon^ is- lands. From the north-west point of thi.s land, situaleil in latiliidi' .H det-'rees 4.'>J minutes, longitude 22!) di'Hree.s is minntes, the I'aeitie was evidently seen between N. 88 W. and S. hi W. (JtT the point at a little distance from the mainland, was an island about half-a-mile from us, the opposite or e(Jtitinental shore lyiiiK north-east, not ipiite half-a-mih^ distant. Between thi.s and the westernmost lainl in nittli! the shores appeared to he miii'h divided, with small roeky islet.s and breakwaters in most directions * « » . 'rh<' outermost lii-s nearly south-east about two miles and a half from the point seen the former niornin)^, and stated to be the north point of the pas- .■^age leadiiiK towards thi; o<'eau." The above is a detitiite diseription of that arm of the si^a exploreil by Vaiiroiivi-r from ,]uly 27th to August 2nd, 1"»3. After further explorations he says "'in the forenoon" (Aug. 15th) "'we reached that arm of the sen, whose examination had oceuplcil our time from the 27tli of the prceeiling to the 2nd id' this month. The distance from its entranci' to its source is about 70 mile», which, in honour of the noble family of Beutinck, I named Portland Channel." Here we have in unmistakeable terms what Portland Channel is. The \vi stern shore of Portlaiul Cbann(d is tie- ocmtineutnl shore-line throughout. The P. C. P. says " Point Wales forms the western headland of Portland (,'anal or C'haniud, whose opposite headland is formed by Point ilaskelyne.'' It was named by Vancouver, who says, "the distance from it.s entrance to its source is about 71 miles, which in honour of ihe noble famil.y of Hentinck I mimed Portland Canal." This last quotation is undoubtedly misapplied in the Pacifii^ Coast Pilot. For. when wo talir the whole quotation as already given, wo find that '' its " entrance refers to " that arm of the sea ndio.se examination had occupied our time from the 27th of the preceding to (he 2nd of this month," (August). Vancouver was neither at Point Wales nor at Point MsLskclyne, nor in the wafers botivcen them during this time, so that it is obviously incorrect to apply 'lie quotation from Vancouver, regardinn Portland Chi-nnel, for makiiiK the entrance of Portland riianuel between Point of Wales and Point JIaskelyne. It has l)e(ai sh iwn that ihi^ entrance of Portlaiiil Channid is not between Point Wales and Point Maskelyne, and now to remove the slightest trace of indefiniteness as to the entrance to Observatory Inlet we again ipiote Vancouver. "The west point of Observatory Inlet I ilistiiigni.-h by lalling it Point Wales, after my nmeh esteemed friend Air. Wales, of Christ's Hospital, to whose kind instnntion in the early part of my life I am indebted for that information whieh has enabled me to traverse and delineate these lonely regions.'' Attention is drawn to the dates when Vancouver bestowed the names " Portland Channel" and "Observatory Inlet " npipii lertain arms or iidets. His jmiriH'y thriiugh these waters began on .Inly 21st and ended on August 2nd following. On August l."i;!i he gives and records the name Portland Channel and on .\ugust lUth Ihe name " Observator.v Inlet." From this it is seen that he had the topograpli.y of the two arms before him from his own surveys, before he assigned the names, and a.-' I'aeh arm h.id a distinct entrance to the sea Vancouver named the two arms as already stated. In the P.C.P., p. ns, will be f.iiind the following : '' Northward from Wales Isbm,! lies a long islaiul separated from the main slnu-e by a hraui'h ti-euding in a nearly nor^h dir>,'ction, and continuous with the uiiper main branch of the inlet, or I'ortland Clinnuel." This statement of continuity of the upper part of the arm of the sea with Ihe lower part is a confirmation of Vaneouvi-r's judgment in assigning the name Port- land Channel as be did. On p. fiO, P.C.P.. we find " when apprnnehinp Point Rnmsdon, Vancouver was in douht as to whieh of the two arms was the main branch of the inlet, but after his exploratious it l)ecninn evident that the western prolongation of the inlet is entitled to that prccodenoc, both <>rth>ii only is imw ){>'i>i >'»ll.v ii|>|>li<''l llx' iiiiiiic i>f I'lirlliiml Ciiiiiil.'' Wliiit is iiciw gi'iuTiilly tiiiili'r'-tiiiiil liy I'nrlltiiiil Ciiiiul ii nf im iiiiillfr an t'lir as the iiitorpretutiiiii uf tln' Cuiivi'iiliiui u( iM'.'i Is ciiiicirnril. lie it I'lirllKriiinri' imiiilcil out tliut, wlu'ii Viiiieiiuvcr wiis in tiniilit iis In ilic iiniiii liriiiiili uf the inlet, hi' wiis nut awnru thiit thiTo wiru tun iirniH nf tlir si'ii ixti'inlinK inliuul. In- nnly knew nf tlie uiic who8« enlriiiiff whs lit'twein I'nint \Viili« iiml I'nint Miiskilyiir. His fiirlher exploM- tions ilixiiulleil tlie iileii i ' hriinehes, when he rniinil thiil the wi'steriiiiinsl linmeli eon- tinucil siiuth-westwiiril, tn the sea itself, iilnl hinl il^i nwn enlriinee. 'in iissunie, ns is contelijeil l)y the I'nilisl Stales, that Vanemiver ileslKnatiil as I'nrtlaiiil Channel whi't is now shnwn nn the 1°. S. Coast anil (i.'nili'iie Snrviy nnips as I'nrthiml Inlet ninl Portlanil Canal wiailil liavi' that part nf I'nrllaml Canal sniith nf the waters I'ninieetinu Pnrtlnml Canal ami Ohservatory Inlet, whieli he hail explnrisl, willmnl a name, in itself n most iniprnlmhie eirennistanee. That Vanei.nver shnuhl navigate sneli an arm sra- wanls, ami, after IniviiiK Ineateil \\< enlrame tn the sea, hesiiles nihi r lnpn|;raphii'al ami freniiraphieal pnsilinns, leave it williniit a name Is mn«l unlikely. Ilnwever, we ha'." pusitivo prnnf, ilnil he iliil mime it, as alnaily n'lyiu in his nwn wnnls. As the KenKraphieal pnsilinn nf the eiitranee tn I'nrllaml Channel has nnt Uwi rlenrl.v iletineil, ami as the line nf ilennireatinii is In emnmen il the snnlhernninst point nf the islami ealleil I'rinee nf Wales I.lamI, iheiiee -hall aseenil In the nnrlh nioii); the ehanni 1 ealleil I'nrllaml Channel, the emirse Ik'Iwis'Ii the saiil sniilherninnst point ami the entranee In I'nrllaml Chania'l is neeessarilly an are of a ureal eirele, or what is enmmniily ealleil a siraik'ht nr ilireel line. In ihseriplinns nf lerritnrlal liinils, the line jnininK any Iwn ennseenllve ti.\eil pnints is always, unh'ss ntherwise expn-ssly etnteil, the ilireet line, i.i.. an are nf a ^rreat eirele. It may he mentinneil that in ill Burveyinjf Mperatii>ii» mily ares nf (jreal eireles ean Ix' ilinelly lalil ilnwn, as a (trea' cirrle lies in a vertieal plane, the iilane in whieh the telesen|x. nf nn ailjiisieil transit nr thooilnlite mnves. .\ |ian:llel nf lalihule eannnt ennneet the Miiitliernimist |M>int nf I'rinee nf Wales Islami anil ihe eiitranee In I'nrllaml Canal, as they nn; not nn the Haine parallel. T nlliiue with the Imiimlary line "as far as thr point of the pontiiient where it strikes the .Mlth lli■^'rlH• nf nnrlh lalilmle." Tile pnsitlnii nf the linniiilary line has imw heen iliseiisseil ami hrniifrht up In the lu-nil n.' I'nrtlaml Channel. The ilata (iiveii fnr ilelerniinin^r ihe pn.iiiinn nf the Imnmlary line heynml the heail of I'nrllaml Channel are, llie leriniinis nf the line at tin- lieail nf I'nrllaml Chaiim 1, tin- parallel nf ."a) ilettriss nnrlh lalilmle. anil that the nnrlherly lerminns nf that part of the hnMiiilary line imw iinih'r ilisenssinn, is nn ihi nlimnl (nmre nneipiiviieall,v rxprcs-eil hy the wnrils nf the Cnnvenlinii " la lerre ferine.") 'i'hat the mnotialnrs eniilil mil have helieveil I'nrtlaml Channel In exiemi In the parallel nf 5li ilinnes is eviileiil from Vaneniiver's nhservatinns whieh plaeeil the lioail of the ehaniiel nr eanal in latitmle :<;> ile^rii's 4ri minutes, anil shown thus on his eharts, anil as Mr. Ilayanl, Seerelar.v nf .Stale fnr thi' I'nileil Slates, in Ins,'., states in a lett'r umlerilale .Novenilu'r .'nth, i>'^^', tn .\lr. I'lnlps, the I'niteil Stales Minister tn KiiKlaml, il "may Ik' assunieil with emitiilenee thai the eharts t'tiiphi,veil in the m-Kotiulions were those nf Vanennver." Kurlhennnre, hail siieh ii heliet nhtaineil, then the words " de In tern" feriiio '* wnnlil lint niily have his'ii siiperlliiniis, hut woulil have intrniliieeil an iinpossihility, for the terniiniis nf that pari nf the houmlary line cannot he in Portluml Channel and at tile same liiiie nn " la lerre ferine." There is, hnwever, snnie vagueness in the wordinK of this part of the Convention, that is in what direelioii the line shall iiseend friini the head nf I'ortland Channel M the paralU'l nf .Ml ileitni's iinrtli hitilmle. The wlinle line of tletnarealion r.s laid down in the Coiiveiilinn is divideil into three divisions :— First, l-'mni the soiitheniinnsl pnint of I'rlnt'e nf Wales Ishind to tile fillth degree of north latitude. Seeniid. Frniii this last nieiitioned |inint, nloiiK the snniinit of the nionntaiiis ■itunted parallel to the euast, tn llii' Mist meridian. Third. AlniiK Ihe tllst iiieridia" tn the Krnzen Oivan. In the oriKimil text the deseripimns nf these parts an- rospentivcl.v seporotwl iiy n seini-eoliin, showing that eaeh part is in so far <'nni|!i''lo 'u itself, tl.nt it is independ- ent nf that whieh siieeeeds the semi-enlnn. " .liisipi'an point de la terri' fernii' m'l ello ntteint le 5llme de(frf do Intifnde nord." "Jiisipi'aii luiint," "us far as the pnint," not a point, hut the p lint, a definite point, on the eontinent, where thi ntinent attains the rilllh decree of north latitude. Till- eontinent nttains the Mlth deirree of north Intitiido on n line, an infinite number of points, htii whieh of ihiiie latter points is to lie 'hp point is not stated nor deflned in the descri|itiiin of the line of denioreation of this pnrt marked— First— above. riel an hel^hi () Canal " eorisi -llnW-l frnin t ,,, east, I shnre I siila ar The h In Shii Fr niniiila I) 93 liy iiiiliii'titiii, liiiwi'ViT, till' [Hiiiit «ii tliu 5(>th iIuKrw of iiurth liititiuU' t'Uii Ih' i.liliiiiii'fl. Ill the ili'wri|ptiiiii ipf tin- mimihI piii'l iiiarkiil — Sri'i'iul— hIimvc. of iln' Imk 111 ik'iiiarcatioii, tlu' buiiiidary lini' toMoWb tin: ^iiiiiiiiit nf tlir iiiuMitaiiH, i-iliiali'i| parulli'l ti) tlio fiiast, us far as llu' Hint uirriilian. (iriiiiliiii; fur llm pn-ciil, llir cxi (• I'liui' of tlio llloUlltaiIl^, the lilir following llio siiiiiiiilt llicriof iiiiikI crocs tlir .'illlli (Irnrif i>f north latitude soiiH'wliiri'. If iliis crossing or inters rl ion in ilistant iiion' than tin iniirini' ha^tiii's from thu an, tlio suininit at tho point of iniir-ii'tion wiU I'l' inorr tlian tiMi inarilK- h'liKMis from the shore, in whii'h event, the seeoiid panifrraol. of Arlleh' IV provides that llie iiilernatioiial limit shall then Ih' at a distnnei' of not moiu than ten marine leiiiciuw from ihi ast, so that the point of interseetloii will Ik not more than ten inariiK' li'aKiies from the eoast ami on the ■Mlth ih'Kree of nor'h lalilude. Now, as the lermiiins of the lioiindar.v line Uyoiid lh;> head of I'orlhiiid (liannel must 1k' in the ."iiilli ilenree of north lalilude, and the heKiniiiiDi of the next part of the homidar.v line inusi m -sarily he^in from that point whi're the pniediiii; part of the lionmlary line lerminales, and furlhermore. U' al the inter^eeiiou of i|h' line of the siimmil of the nioiinliiins silualeil parullil to ih< as| ivlth the oiiih de);ri'e of nortli hitituile, or al that point on the .Mlth di'i;ris' wliieh is distanl ten iiiarlue leairueH from tin ad, il is setn thai only one |>oinl fuilils the I'ondiiions iinpo~ed l>v parts First ami Second (U'iiiif the tirininu- ami l>e|;innint,' re-|ieiiively of ihe-e parlsl of the hoiindary lin>', and wilhoui Ikmuk at variani'e with any >lia'r part of the des- cription. Ilcm-c, the dirielion of the lini' from the Ik ad of I'orllanil Chaiiml to |li> parallel of .MS deirnis north lalilude i> ih'pi ndeiil upon the position of ihe line of the -uiuinit of the mounlaiiis silualisl parallel In tin a.st primarily, seeondarilv, upon r,lie lini- parallel to the uindlnK" of the i'iiiihI, in ease the snminlt of the niouiitaiiis tiituatiHl parallel to the mast shall prove to Ih- at u jrreater ilislanee than ten niiirine leaifui's from the coast, I'lir ihe second part <•( the liouiidary line, ihe Couveiilion stales " fioin this list iiH nlioiieil point, the line of ilcimiri'iilion shall fidlow the siimmil of ihe niounlaii > situated pnrHilel to the oonBt as far as the |Hiiiit of intersection of the 41st dcKnc of wcsl lollBituile." Thn'«^ ipiesiions arise in this descriiitioii. Kirst. What eiMi^titnles " moMiitaiiis situated parallel lo the toast f " Sceoml. What is the "coast;" I'liird. l>o monntains exist which are "siiualed pMiallel to il a-l ; " Moiintiiili is detiiieil h.v Wehster as " A lurttr m.i^s of earlh and i k ri^in^f ahove the eominon level of the earth or adjacent lami, an elevatuui or proiuiieranee of li.e earth's surface, a liiiih hill, a (zreat emineiiei', a mount." The same authority izWi' — coast as " The edjfi' or miir^iu of the land next to tlii- sea, the sea-shore." To what ele- valiiu, the lami must rise ahove ihi iiiinou h'vel of tlii' earth to I'onstitiite a inountaiii I'liiinoi Im' aiiswircd hy any detinite iiiimher of fei't, as it depends upon the (jini r.d tMpo);raphy of the connlry in ipiestion. In the region under cliscussion south-eastern Alaska — win n the elevation of laiul iHlaius an alli'ude ahovi- the timhirdine. -ueli elevation of laud may then undouht- islly Ih' termed a mountain. With these premises of niounlain and coast, it will hi' simpler to umler-lanil the loi'iilioii of the line of demarcation iiloii); ihe snmniit of ihi' mountains. To the ipii'slion- do moiinlains exist, which are situated parallel to the ci'ii"!, n fcreiii'i'K will 1m' imide to piihlished ollicial nporls and to the personal oh~ervalions of the writer. lleKinniiiK al Portland Chanuel, the moiinlains aloii); anil near the coasl-line up lo I list ineridiiin will he considered. We tind on the .\dmirally chart " Port Simpson to Cross .Sound, iueliidinK "he Kolosehensk ,\rcliipela>io." with corrections lo In.mI, that the head of Porllaml Chaii- ncl and its west shore are ahulled hy iiionnlains, raiiKiiiK from l'.ihhi to li.iHHI ft. in heiithl, and which are within ten miles from ihe shore. On the west side of the |>eiiiiisiihi lyiliif helwiin Porllaml (hanuel ami llehin t'anal, the P. ('.P., p. 72, says "the surroiimliinr eoiinlry" (around Sineaton Hay) " i'onHi»it!< of sleep, liarreii rocky inouiitains, wlioHe summits appear to Ih' ahove the snowline. Kxeept at its head ivheri' the land is low, these inoiii, tains rise ahriiplly from the water's eil(fe, sparsely woodeil with small lree». The same authority, p. "11, nlales that Uiid.verd Hay '' ix-notriites to the north niiil cast, iH'tw'i'cii IukIi. Imrren, snowy mountains." The moiintniiiH on the eontineiit,il shore at the northern eiilranee to llelini Cainil, and Hiirroiiiidini; the Ch'veland Penin- sula are in Ki'Hi'fal imt "i> hiitli ii" thos<> on the eAntineiilal Hhore already desi'rilMil. The liiKheHl driven iin the Admiralty ohnri laiiiK 11.114,'i feet, pilnnled ahoiit oppimile Pi Ship Island. From here, norlhward, little has la-en reeordeil of llu- inoiinlnins i,djoinintr the inainhind <-onst, until tin- innnlh of the Stikiiie in ruuelu'd, fur whivh the elinrt oppi)- I) 24 94 nito III p. KMt, P.C.I"., rtH-oriU tin- ininiiiliiiiiH iiriir llir inoutli nf llir Stikinc im rHiiitt from iMifXi III ;i.T(H> ht-t. lliiucviT. it is kiiiiwii lliot niniintains Imnlir llir sen riuist (inninliuiil) nliuiK Ki-iir!-l SiiuMil iiiiil III I'liiiif Uiillisiiy. (iiiiilin« I'nini I'.C.I'., p. lull, " I'linsiiiu I'rniii WruiiKfll Aiu'lioriim- in ii S.W. ilirirliiiM llir liitiKi'iil iif Kiiiliii Islniiil, X. nml liiilf K. I'lit!! tln' ccntrr nf tlio canon of tlu nut inoiiiiliiiiiN on ilii' niainliinil lliroiifrji wliirh ilir Slikinc rivrr niirlicrs tlir «i'M." I'nilrr liciiilinK of .Siikiiii' rivrr llir Inst aiilliorit.v stales. |i. IP ; " Alioul •> niili'S aliovr llic Dilla Islanils tlir vallr.v narrows anil llir rivrr appears iml.v two or llircc linnilii il ffi'l in width » • * . 'I'lic appciiraiur of tlui IukIi limil nn ritliiT siilc is n« if raiiKi's Irriiilinir N.W. ami S.K. wcri' nlnittinK obliqiiclj' n|Kiii the riviT," that is pnrnllrl to till' I'oHst. I'Voiii the Slikinr norlhwanl llir ciiast-liiii' niljoins Soiirhoi Strait. "The I'liiitini'li- lal slmrr of this strait is vit.v inii«rfi'rll,v known." I'.C.l*., |i. Hi. To the north nf the cntranrr of this strait " lirs a low wooilnl point, wliirli wua nanii'il I'oiiit .Viias'.iit on arroiinl of ils assoniiilioii uilli llio nniiirkalili ami siililinic lilaiirrs ill its innniiliali' viiiirilv. 'riiosr rriip from llio siiow.v snniinilB of nivini's mi till' roii-l rantji' lowarils the watir's iiljre, wliiili at I'l'rliiin sihmih^ tiny ovirlian;; * * • . .\ short ilisianrr norlhwanl fnun I'oiiil .Xunssiz 1% a niatciiitiriiil (rlaricr, wi'h ihrii' fi'iilirs ill ihr roiisl moiinlaiiis. wliirh ilisrliar^'cs ils liiinlin of iic iliriell.v into till' Hiilrr * * * . In this vii'inil.v (lliirn ClilT-t in nrtaiii |ili -. at lra~l. ari'iiriliiiK to Viim'onvcr, ihiTe is a sniall r.Ntrni of low llal liiml, will w Iiil, Ivintt Inforo tlic const inountains, whi'h rise ahriiptl.v to an extraonliiiar.v hoitrhl." P.C.I*., p. li". Kollowiii); till' I'onllnrnlal sliorr linr iiortliwaril from Capi Knnshaw. of llio !ir i lariii' liH.v iiiroiiiiliri'il Vanionvrr oli-irvrs, ■• it i> InuiMiliil li.v Inft.v iiionntains, mil frniii llii-ir haso rxtomK ii ^iiialt Imrili-r of low laiii! forming llir slmri-s nf llic liarhniir. whi.h I lalliil Port lloii^'hinn." I'.C.I'.. p. ll's. Colli inniiiu norlhwanl from Port IIoiikIiIoii, mnnnlaiiis ailjnin llir son slinir, aii'l at llnlkham Ha.v. Vanroiivir " ilisirihis ilio ha.v as liniimli'il li.v Infl.v innnntaiiis." P.C.P., p. ItlM. Point Ciiki' hi at llir iiorlhrrn inlraiiri to llolkliam Ha.v. ami "the lami liilwi'iii Point Cokr iiiiil the prrsini pnniionlory (Point .Xnnii'r) is liai'kiil liy lofty ami ratlirr liari' niiiiMitains, ihrir ~iilis M'arrril liy aviilaiii'lii s jniil ilisplnyinu alioiii llirro iiiilrs K.S.K. from Point Aiimir, a nimirknlili' riisiailr. wliiili falls fmm a ravine inio 'h' sen." P.C.P., p. liiM. .Monnltiiiis follow 111 nliiii'iiliil -hnn-liiu' nnrlliwiinl from Ilolkhani Ita.v nronii'l Port Snellisham. Of Sloeknile Point ami (Irave Point, the i iitranie to Taku Ilarli.nii'. llie P.C.P,, p. 1110, says, "lioih are wooileil, I'oinparalivi ly low points from wliieli hi)rli laml rises rapiilly In peakeil, often siiow-eappeil nionnlaiii»." Vaiieouver thus ileserilH- 'lakii Inlet: " Kroni ils eiitranee il exleinleil N. II lii- ^rrees I-', (true) ahoiit III miles, where the sliures spreml In the east ami west and fiirnieil a hasin nliniit a leattiie hmail, anil Iwn leiiitnes aerns.-, in a N.W. ami S.K, (true) ilinelion, willi a small islaml lyinn nearly at ils northeast exinniily. I'mm the shnreH of this hasin (.Vntfiist. ITI'I) a eoiiip.iel lioil.v if iee extemh'il some ilislanee nearly nil aMiiml, ami the ail.iiieeMl renioii was .'oniim^eil of a elose eonneeteil eoiilimialion nf the lofly lamte of frozen mountains, win --e sides, almost lM'r|Kndienhir, were formed elllirely nf roek, exeeplilld ein-e to llle water side, when' n few seattereil dwarf jiinp trees fniiml siitlieieiil '•oil to \'e^i'late in; iihove these the tniinnliiiiis were wrapped in rmlissnlviiiK frost and -now. From the riiKfred (Hidlies in their sides were projeel d immense Imdies nf iee (^'laeiers) that reiiehiil per|iendii'iilarly In the snrl'iiee of llie water in the Imsin, whieh admitied of mi landing pline for Ihe Imals, Iml exhihited IIS dnary and inlmspitnlile an aspeel as the iimiftimilion eaii possihiy snsrtrest. P.C.P., p. ITi). The monnlains alontr ihe east shun' am deserihed as "a eontinnatinn nf the same raiiKe of lofly monnlains rising ahrnptly from the water's edtte." P f.I'., !>. IT'V Tinniediately liihiml Jiineaii on (laslinean Channel inonntnins risi> nhnve the tiniher line. " Weslwanl fmip the town is a deeji ravine in Ihe niniintains, ihronnh whieh mils Cold (Veik." P.C.P. p., 17i'. Of I.ynii Canal Ihe P.C.P., p. 104, sIntoH : " Hy rfOMin of tlir fnrt tlint tho Klneierii terminate some dislnnee inland from the Khoro, resnltiiifr from tho nioro irriidlinl (dope of the .Mps on Ihe seiilh-wpsi nml the eoiist ranges on ihe norlh-easi shuns, this ennal is fne from llonliiif; ininiatnre herjts whieh, nl limes, ohslniel Cross Soiiml and 'lasti- neaii Chnnnel, nllhonuh the latter are n di'irree sonlhwiird of the liend of I.yiin Cnnnl." T.ynn (^lnnl is nndoiihledly siirronmled hy nionnlaiiiH eoiitiinions to the shore. In deseriliintr Herner's Hay. Ihe P.C.P., p. lll.l. ohserves that "n strenm eomen in nt tho hrnd nf the liny, the N'.W. point of entrnnee, nnniei! hy Vnnoonver. Point St. Mnry's. Hpr N.W. thnT-qnnrters \., four anil n half inilis from Point Brid(rel. like the ram; riiKtred lie shore hiiiiml eiers." In "F in elear erly din This fo many '•enl pii In The " n sea adjoinin of mnnii sonip low Fro para I 'he moil fnrthern 09 whirh it is low iiiitl utindi'il, viiilr its nxi.-. risr^ iiilniHl to iiii'imtiiiii'* roxcro) witli >imiU', iittniiiiiig II rdlisiiliriilili' liiiiilil. iiini <'i>iistiliitiii)c ii |>iirl of tlic cinist riiiiK<'> wliiili liiivi; lictii rciMiitrdl.v iilliiili'il III. I'Viiiii ilii., |«iiiit aliniil tivo iiiil<> N.W. li.v \V. li.- I'niiit Slirriniiii, nnini'il liv Mriiili', ii|>|iiirriill,v low iiml wihuIiiI, Irmii uliii'li llii' iiurlli-iiisliTii -Imrc iif Lynn ('iiiml i xli'iiil< liiitli. stcip, iiinl rnrk.v, at tlir Im-i' nf llir iiii|iiii-iiiK iinnint- nins iibiivr incntinni'il • • » ." On tli(> |in^i> liinl iinnii'il i- Kiviii ii ili'ii>ri|itiiiii nf tlic wolirn slmri' i>( Lynn ('iin:il IIS fiilliiws ; •' IScliiiiil the i-lmrr tlir liiml ii>i - in lulty siiiiw-i'iippril iniMintiiin.'< rliiiri', I'XtinilinK frnin tlir liiiid nf tlic iniiiil "iiiilliwiiril tn I'ninl St. Mmy's, i.< ;i liifili iii^pil I'liain nf pri'i-ipiliiiis iiiinintiiiiis, ininiril tlir Cliilkiit .Mnnntiiiii' liy tlic I'.S. ('lUKt Survey in IHTJt. Tliii>c nf ic npp i-itc «linn liiivc Imii culled liy tlic I'.S. .N'livy ;lic White MnniitniiiM." In discriliiiiK Cliilknnl Inlet llic I'.f'.I'., p. ll)l>, slates : " Tlie nppnsito" (conti- iiciilal) " »linre is eniiipnsid nf liifty stre|) niniintains, fnniiiiijr tlie Cliilkat Ilanirc, with several trlaciei's in their pirKcs and niic at tlic lieail nf a iiindcratcly Imin iiarmw valli'V." "The niiiiintaiii I ciiliiiiiiale at the nnrtliwcst in Xlmiiit Villanl. .'S.TtHi feet \nnh hy liarniiietrie nieasiircii cut." IJi'tween tile heiiil nf Lyiiii Canal iiml tlii' hmad waters nf tin I'acitie Oeeaii iiiid liiiiiiediately nnrlli nl' (ilMciir Hay lie iiiinieiisc ice-lie|ds envcriiitr an area nf upwards nf I'.IKIO sipiare iiiihs. These iei' tiidils an drained liy iiiiiiierniis trlaeicrs iiitn the den. Frniii Lynn Canal the npcn sea is reai'heil liy Crnss Smind. lis " iinrtli-ttc*terii shnns are mostly liiirli, formed hy tho sloiies of the (rreal snowy rniitre of the Si. Kliiis .Mps." I'. C.I'., p. iMi. The western eiitranee of this sound lies lictween j'nint IliiiHiaiii, nii Vakniil Islanil, and Cape Spencer on the main- land. Northward from Cape Spciii'i r In Ii'y I'ninl. the continental slmre-liiie trends north-westerly. " Iliimedialely hchilid the einist-line up to this point is the smithcrn pnrlinii nf the raniio of the St. Klias Alps, which extemls weslwiird marly tn the Cnppcr or Atiia river, and ilieliid(> the lii);liesl uplifts yet known on the .Vortli .Xnieriean conliiii'iil. The sides nf tliesi' .Vlps hear niimiroiis ulai'ters, some nf (front pxteiit, nnd u few rcaohiiiK to the sen-lieaeh, itself," I',C.r„ p, -.'III. From outside tin' eiitran i l.ituya Hay. lonkinc iinrlli, nne sees the " maKiiitieeiil sierra-wall of Alps which eulminates elesvhere in the pi'aks of Crillon and l.ituya. Down its preeipitnns sIo|h' five or six ifliieiers fall in true ioe eu-eiides to the water's edfte." I',«'.r., |i, L'(t:), In 1S74 I'rof. \V, II, Dull, of the r,S, Cmisf and (icodetie Survey, triaii(tulnled .\lls, .St, Klias, Cnok. Vaiieonver, Kairwenther, Crillon, nil nf the St. Klins .\lps, and delermineil Ihiir heiitht. In the I'.S. Coast Surve.v repnil for IKTri the result of his laliours is triveii, aceempanieil hy a iiinp, from which it will Ik' seen that the summits of tliow niiiuntailiH arc all less limn ;l(t miles frnni the sen coast, the hist two loss than l.'i iiiilox, " Nnrlliwnrd fmm Fnirwealher to Vakutat Hay there are no remarkahh' iK-aks, the raiKTc avoraitiiil? five lo eiulit Ihoiisaiid feet, with nearly uniform summits and riitttn-d siirfaoci," I'.C.P.. )i. L>l).'i. Hotwei'ii tliesi' two |Miiiits alonjr the shnre lies tho Tiniiiin Unads. "This strip of shore is thickly wonch'd iienr the son, with moro n|ioii upaii^s inland. Tho Alps whioli hound it to the north at a distanoo of 7 to 10 miles from tho sen onrry numorniis p;ln- eicrs," l',C,P,. p, iiMl, In Yakiital Hay. steep iiiountains I'ovored with snow rise directly from the water, " From I'nrt Miiltrravo ami tlienee to the westward, the most I'onspicuoiis spectacle in clenr weather is that part nf the uplift nf the .St, Klias .Mps which extends in a west- erl,v direction from n point inlniid some |s miles X.N.W. from Miseiichnntinent Tiny. This forms n hrokeii rnntre ten or twelve thniisand feet in hoifrht, with its sides and many of its peaks ci vi roil with eternal snow. It terminntes westward in the niatrnili- ivnt peak nf St. Klins." I'.CI'., p, L'll In fnir woiithcr this iirand peak is visible at n ilistniiee nf more thnn l.'iO niili'S, Tho interior of .Mnskn, as little as it is known, is very prnhnlily ajitly dcscrilnil as "n son of nioiintniiis." The iiiniueiit the iiiniintains sitiinted pnrallcl to the coast nml ailjoiiiiiiK the same are crosseil, tliero is no well-detined continuous rnnRo, it is n son of inountnins, lint, rising from the coast everywhere, we have a wall of inoiintniiis, snvc snine low lands at tho foot of tho Mt. St. Klins Aliw. From the forepiiiiK cvideiii'e it is nbvinus tlinl innnntnins do oxist, " situntoil imrallel In the coast," nnd htiioe, tho lino nf dcinari'atiou i-nii "follow the siimtnit of the mountains situnted pnrallcl tn tho ooast," a« stipnlaloil hy the r.invention, ami fnrlliermoro, it is improlmhlo from the fnots niroady known, llinl thoro will lie any oi'cn- sion nt iiiiy part of Ihr line i>( ili'iiiarciitinii tci liavf ri<'i>iirsr tn the siomd paraKnipli of Article IV of the ('uiiveiitidii, which proviiles fi)r the <•«»<• whiTc the •iiiiniiiit of the mountains is at a (listanee nt ninre than ten marine leaKiav from the ocean. In .short, the sinnmit of the mountains sitinited paralU'l to the coa.*t is not more than ten innriiie leagnes from the shore. The last part nf the lionnrlary lini', the 141st meridian, is u matter of astronomic observation, ami neeils here no ftirther ehlcidatioii. DIHCDSSION OP MOUNTAIN BOUNUABY. UcgardiiiK the mountain boundary the nenrotiators of the (Convention were fully aware of the lack of iletinite information regarding the toponrapliy of that part of the continent under discussion. This is patent from the correspondence between them, and finally by the insertion of the second paragraph in Artiide IV of the Convention. On December 8th, 1»H, the Ut. lion. O. Canning, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, wrjte to Sir Stratford Canning, British Plenipotentiary at St. Petersburg, "should the maps be no more accurate as to the western than us to the eastern" (east- ern side of continent) " mountains, we might be assigning to Uussia immense tracts of inlaiul territory, where wo only intended to give and they only intended to ask a strip of fca coast." And well was this strip defined, as is now evident, by having made the line of demarcation follow " the summit of the inountoins situated parallel to the coast." It is questionable if at the present time, with the accumulation of knowledge of 75 .years, the description of the mountain boundary line could be couched in l)etter words, and at the same tinu! retain and give the idea which v/as to be conveyed, a strip along the sea coast. Th ■ summit of the mountains is a natural boundary, a visible one, where nature has set th> principal monuments. That the charts of Vancouver were the principal guide for the negotiators for ascertaining the geographical, but not topographical, characteristics is undoubted. _ VanconverV prime object in surveying was the delineation of the shore line, the mountaiui shown on his charts wore merely graphical rciresentations of the moun- tainous nature cf the country, without attempting to locai'ze them individually. This method i^ familiar to everyone who has been engagi'd in exploratory surveys. In the Tnited Slates Coast Survey Keport, 1880, p. 155, Prof. 0. Davidson, in ppeaking of the early voyages of discovery and exploration on the X.W. coast of America, from lii'M) to ItiOIl, says, " The niinutonesd of record in Cook and Vancouver, of comparatively recent date, bus enabled me to follow their tracks day by day, to correct their positions by personal knowledge of the localities describegni/ee a straight line, practically impog- <;ible to define on the ground on account " of the sea of mountains." As a straight line cannot be run up and down mountains, through canons and over peaks, it would lie necessary to determine most accurately certain numerous points in longitude and latitude along the coast, for the purpose of carrying surveys inland from them along some valley, and thereby det^irinine a point or points o;i the boundary line. 'I'lie co'.iditions which obtain in the one case are almost the inverse of the other. With u geodetic boundary nothing is given in the field, except pi^sibly the termini, if idiysical features, with the mountain boundary the ))rincipal data are given in the field requiring only to be recognia'd as such by the respective Oovernnicnts. In the first caw the boundary line is wholly dependent upon the aecura<'y of astro- nomical observations ami surveys, in the latter case such observations are of second- ary importance, being ustnl principally for mapping purposes, and their accuracy does not affect the position of the boundary line. Even from this short description and comparison of the two boundary lines — a geodi'tii' and a mountain line — it nuist be apparent that the cost for surveying the former or geodetic line would be much greater than that of the latt<'r, whieh itself will nssunie no small proportions. The insertion of the first paragraph of Article IV. was necessary in order that Prince of Wales Island iK'long wholly to Russia, which would not necessarily have followed by the boundary line running from tie southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island north along Portland Channel. This precaution for inserting that paragraph appears natural, n.s the latitude of the two governing points, as known to the negotiators, showed that the boundary line might cut a part of Prince of Wales Island, whose coast line was then not accurately -urveyed. This paragraph negatives most conclusively also the supposition that the boundary line was to follow a parallel of latitude after leaving the southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island. For, if the line of demarcation commences at the south- irnmost point of Prince of Wales Island, and then continues on a parallel of lalituile, it is utterly impossible to cut Prince of Wales Island, (for this would bu equivalent to saying, that there was some other point on Prince of Wales Island farther south ihan the southernmost point — which of course is absurd — ), and there can be no occa- siim for making a proviso " that the island called Prinw of Wales Island shall lielong V holly to Buasia." As the latitude of llie entrance I" Portland Channel was supjHm'd to tie (as it i-), Ion) greater than that of the southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island it was proper, if Prince of Wales Island was to belong wholly to Uussia, to introduce the I'Mragraph in ((uestion. On "the map of Alaska and adjoining territory, 1S87," issued by the U.S. Coast nnd lieodetic Survey, ami aei'oinpanyiiig this niiort. will be fonml a fair npresi'ntn- lioii of the mountains in south-cMistcrn Alaska, "situated parnllil to the coast." the -iiuimil of whieh constitutes ihi' Imundary line between the rililli (U'grci- (d' north lati- tude nud the 141st degree of west longitudi'. There are as yet no industries in the interior of soulli-enstern .\laska. save Ik^- liiud Juneau, in the Silver Bow Basin; there some phn'er mining is being done, jiml wluTc are also two snniU stamp mills working nn a gidd ledge nf free-milling ore. At Sheep (Veek, three miles below .Tuneaii, silver ledges, eiintaining galena ami n -ulpheret of silver, are iH'iug worked. Thi> ore is shippeil to San Francisco for tri>at- nient. D 25 98 Tlir iiiiiiiiiff l)t*inf; iluni' licri' on tlu- iiuiiiih ml i> rarriiil i>ii tf.v iiit'ii of ^iiiiill i'upi- tiil. witli a ^^illKll' <'X<'<'|>tii>ii, iiiiil lii'iic'i' la<'k> il> vilni iiii-iii. aii>l tlii' r<-Milt» i>litaiiii-il nrv iiiiliffiTciit. A loiiK liiiilii'l til <'(mt l(iri(MM^I. i" Ix'iiin mil in tlii' Bunin fur ilniuK '■imii' li,v tlir !-alniiiii I'aiiiii'riiH at llir Iliad of Lynn Canal, alHiut ii|i|Misit(> I'.vniiiiiil I^lanil, t\r>> Ikmiii; on thi' cnsli'm kIioH'. anil imr on tlii' wi'strrn '»«■. Sii iliat lliirr is jis yd no inilnstry rarrinl on bft«<-cn llii- liiii' of l\\v "snniinit of the niiinntains. sitnjitiil iiarallil to tin a^t," ami ihf liin- ilistnnt " ten marine Ica^m's from tho roast." ami licnrr, at priscnt, no tronlilc .v wn.v of Chilkuot, tlie usual riaili' taken hy pmspretors. From information ohlained from a prosiKetor lately from the Yukon, there would appear to he not more than iUlP miners on the up)Kr [lart of that river, from whieh nuiuher an approximale idea of the lonsumption of dutinhle (;ihhIs enii he made. I his, of eonrse, does not take into eoiisidcration the goods introdueed for barter with the interior Indians. The loss of the duty, at present, is perhaps, the less objectioiiablp feature of the condition of affairs, the (greater and uinivoidable one is, thi.t the gold is carried out of Camilla by Amerieans and s]H'nt in the Cnitiil .States, without Canada deriving any iK'nelit from its mineral resonrees on the Yukon. Canadians are jiraetieally debarnd from aee<"ss to the Yukon throiiKh their own country, save by a loii^ and < ireiiitous route from the east. In the November numlM'r of the Funim aii|ieariil an artiide on " .\iuerienii RiKhts in Hehrinir .Sea" by President .1. H. .\nK<'ll. I'.S. Miiii-ter to China in IHMl. and one of the late Ititeriiational Fisher}' Commission during President Cleveland's ad- ministration. The above article eomiii); from !ineli sourre warrants consideration and criticism. After disposing of the ])<'lirin)< Si>a ipii'stion the writer briefly diseusses the (pies- tion of determiniiifr the liouiidary iHtwiiii Alaska and British America. Qiiiitiiift from the article: " 'I'lie principal difficulties whieh have lieen siigtresliid in determininK and marking the boundary are the following: Some of the Canadians have inaintiiined (I am not aware that the ISritish •iovernment has taken such a piwi- tion) that our maps do not correctly indicate the initial i>oint of the line at Portlntid Channel. Their contention is probably without giKMl ground." The wording " that niir maps do not correctly indicate the initial iMiini of the line at Portland Channel" Ip- I>ears soincwhat obtuse. From one interpretatiiui of this senteiu*e may lie inferred that the initial point of the line of demarcation is at Portland Channel. This inter- pretation is evidently inadmissible from the wonling of the treaty. The other coiislriiction and the one probably meant is. that the initial point of that part of the line of demarcation which ascinds alo..g Portland Channel is not cor- rectly indicated on the I'.S. maps. Hy this it would ap|H'ar as if Canadians accepted Portland Channel as shown on the I'.S. ma|is but niaintaine*4, falls to show that lie e'er dill any work on or aloiifi the niiiiiilanil In smiihcasterii .Miiska. Ilii< farthest ex- plorations and Work- smiili mi the niaiiiland, were north of Cross Sound. IIIk havinir liceii eii|;aifeil for nearly nine year- cxplnriii^' and surveying; the terri- lor.v b,v no nii'iins estahlishcs ,i knowledffc of some parlicnlar iind liiiilted area under disc'U&sion. When it is reincinbored that Alaska covers soinetliiii); like .^(K),(HMl .sipiare miles of wildcriics-. the prohahilily of llie foi'c)(iiiii|; assertion liccmiies apparent. I'rof. Onll is an ciiiiiaiit scinitist, but hl.s aiitlmrity on .soulh-eastcru Ala-ka cun- iiot b" ailinittcd as eoiKliisive. Prof. Dall says : " We have no nmul tnpoKraplilcul maps of ih's part of Alaska, but, huviiiK liei'ii ciiKiined nearly nine years exploring and siirviyinn •!"' territory, I assert, without fear of contradletioii, tliat notliiii); of the sort " (depicted by Vaiicou- vpr) " exists. We have, instead, what has been aptly called ' a sea of mountains,' com- posed of sliorl ranttes. with endless ramllicatlons, their K'ncral trend beliiK parallel with the ;tciicnil curve nf .Norlli -Western Amcrli'ii, bill so far as ihcir local parts are eouceriu d, Iri't-iruliir. broketi. ami liiiiinlluiiiis to the la-t decree. In certain places, as from Cape Spcnci'r lo Vakiitat Hay, we have the nearest approach In such a rainrc, but even here arc broad valley-, peiKtratliiif an unknown di-tanee, and lateral spurs (riven iitl in many directions. Tliew .\lps rise conHpicuonnly above tjadr fellows, but to the eastward another ]>cculiarily of the topii);ra|ihy is that the hills or siiiiiniils are marly iiiiil'orm in hei^dit. wlllimit dmiiinatiiii; crcstii and few higher iicaks." "The single continuoii- raii^rc lieinit nmi-i xisteiit, if wc attempt to decide mi the 'summit' of the niouiilains wc arc at oiii'e plun^rcd Into n sea of uncertainty. Shall we take the ridtfe of the hill nearc-t the beaches '. This would nlvc us, in many plin'cs, a mere strip of territory not uiorc than three" inib'S wldi\ iiieaiiderlntr In every direction. Shall we take the liitcln st summltn of the general mass of llie coast rant'es ; Then we must dctcrniiiii' tli^ hclirlit of many llionsands of scattered peaks, after which the i|iiestioii will arise iM'tWMii I'vcry pair of cipial lieiulit and those nearest to tlieiii. Shall we skip this way or that, with our 7.\ii7.h\!, inipossible to survey except at fabulnus ex- [lense and half a ci ntury of labour '. Thi'se peaks arc dcnsily clothed with trees and ilee|> soft moss and lliorny iindeibrnsb, as impenetrable and luxiirlaiit as tlic savaiiiiahs of Fnnnnia. In shiirl. the '-uininlt of the mmiiitains ' Is wholly impracticable." It is rather striking' that the professor avoids iisiii); the words of the Convent ion, "the sninnilt of the nionnlaliis situated parallel to the cniisl." It Would have Im'cii inslrucllvc to learn from liliii whether or not inmintains exist which are " situated pariillel to the coast." lie says -the sinulc continuous raiitfc beiiip nmi-existcnt — this introduces a discus-iou as to what a " ranm' ' is and what a " sintrle coiitinuous " raiiife is. words which do not occur in the Cinivcntioii at all. and lienee are not warranted when the definitive words " nionnlnins situated parnllol to the coast " are (riven. " Shall we take the ridjire of the hill iienresi the beaches ? This wmild (rive ii- In many places a mere sirl|i of territory mil more than three miles wide, ineamb'riin.' in every direetlon." The extensive ipiotatlmis frmii the P.C.l'. and frmu |ii r-"nal observations fail to elicit many " rldtres of hills nearest the beaches." but iii-tead the mountiiliis rise ab- ruptly from the water's edpe. The nianucr in wliicli I'rof. Dull -tales, '• this would 100 (five ns, ill mniiy plno'ii, ii mrrc drip nf territory not more than time niilo wiilr " i-nii- iii't lull impress niic llmt siiili a strip is iiH'oiisinlont witli the ti mis of tin- ('.inviMitimi. Ni.l at all. 'I'lir iti»l iif Itii-siii's cjaiiii was. rmilrol uf ait iiiticli sea-slmrc as imssibli', f.r tlir piirpi.v Mt' ■railiiiK, anil iKit land, ami in ac'i-i>r>lanci- with tlii' iluiuinnnt itlt'u tlic Ciin- vi'iition was fraiiud. lliiK'i' il is ipiit nsisii'iit nitli tin -pirit iiiiil w>>riliii)r uf tlir (iiiivriiiiiin tliai \lir strip iiiii.v Ik' in plaifs " imt nmrc than tliri't' luilcs with-." As fur " nii'aiiilrriin; in ivrry ilirri'tiiui.'' this is a sunu'what liMad >iatrin<'iil Imt iiiiiliiiiliti'ill.v till' pliv^iral tVatiirrs arr siH'li that, llii' "•trip" win iniaiiili'r in many ilircc'tiuns. "Shall wr taki' thr liiKhist siiniinitH nf ihr Ki'mral mass uf luast rani^s ;" .\ priipir answrr lu this is iiilniit tirsi that tliiTi' arr " iiiuiintaiiis sitiniti'il parallel to the ouasi," ami then, after we have tliu-e phrsieiil features iM'furi' iis to deal with, iiu serious diHieiilties will Ik- i iieuiiiitered in deterniininir what siiinniil tu aeeepi as iM-iiii.' uii tin- bonndar.v. " Shall we skip this way ur that, with uiir zip-zatf, iiii|His>ihle tu survey exif'pt at fnhiilniis ixpi'iise and half a eeiitnry uf laliuiir '." It is siipposeil that the ('umnii>- sioiiers in the lielil. tu whuni any matter uf detail wiuilil lie refern-d, will lie inilnieil with the ilesire tu have praetii-al. amieahle. just and sjM^edy deeisiuns. The " fahnliiiis <, is consiilereil imprncticabh' and impossible to aiirvcy. This dm>3 not seem reasunahli'. It may he mentioned that the political iHiundaries of Switzerland do not coincide throuizhont with those of natiin'. This fact makes the boundary more difticult to foll.iw. There are several of the States of the TTnited States which have their political boundaries formed by mountains. For instance the south-eastern boundary of Ken- tucky, the eastern boundary of Tennessee, and the western boundary of Montana. tn Bulletin No. 1:1, ji. 122, U.S. Oeolo(fical Survey, is fonnd that "The Territory of Montana w-aa organized May 2flth, 1864, from a portion of Idaho. Its limits, whicti have lieen changed but slightly, are given in the following extract from the organizing Act ;— That nil that part of the territory of the United States included within the limitg to wit : Commencing at a point formed by the inti-rsection of the twenty-seventh degree of longitude west from Washington with the forty-fifth degr.-c of north lati- tude, thence due west on said forty-fifth due west along said forty-fourth degn-e and thirty minutes of north latitude to a point formed by its in- tersection with the crest of the Rocky Mountains, thence following the crest of the Rocky Mountains nort.hward till its intersei-tioii with the Bitter Root Mountains, tlienii- nurtliward alung the crest of said Hitter Root Mountnins to its intersccti in with the thirty-ninth degree of longitude west from Washington, thence along said thirty-ninth degree of longitude northward to the boundary line of the British pos- sessions, thence eastward along said boiindary line to iIh- twenty-seventh degree of longitude west from Washington, thence southward along said twent.v-8cventh degree let in Iwenty- iif nor II lions w cal po with 1 1 Xeverl rllell pi termin,' W dcjH-nd rial po Tl tions rati tie versiui certain point.s It or pliy 101 nf longitiido to tlic place i)f iM-KiiiiiiiiK. Ix', miil tlio sunie is lieri'liy cronlO'l into n toni- [loriiry iroviTiiiiuMit hy ihf luiin' nf the Territory of Moiitiiiiii. (Tliirly-ritflitii t'oii- greu, first Se-»i"D)." Why it should Ix' practii-able to have a Iwiiiidary line "following the err.-l of the Koeky Moiiniaiiis iiortlinraril till it-> iiiterMotiun with the Hitter Koi>t .Miriiiitaiii!>, llieiiee iiorthnard aloIiK the eri-f saiil Hitter Kool Moiiiilaiii- to it'* interscetion with the :i!Mli ileuni' of loiiK>lu*:ii) Im' wholly imprac- lieahle an (n Utwetn aniieably dispased .'Slates. There are prohalily very few treaty licMindarii^ ixtani whieh. if ]>iil nnder the disseelini; knife of uue ilM> the npirit and intent thereof, whereby poosibl.v aiiduKUous or ohseure pnssn^rt'S may the more reatlily he under8tood. .Many easi-.. luiK'it t>e eited from treatiis. eonvfiilioin and agreoinents. wherein physical fealuri.- or inoniunenls nn- referred to ^^'of^raphieal eo-ordinaleN, as has been iloin- with the " southeriimiu.t point of i\w island called I'rinci- of Wales 1-land." In the treaty of WashiiiKlon id' August !lth. 1H42, is found, I'.S.d.S. Hiilh tin Xo. I'l, p. 17 : " * * * . thence along said line to the said ino.st north-western point'" (of till' Ijike of the WiHids). ■• Uinjf in latitude Hi ih'uriHs 2."> minutes ,")5 seeoiidti norlh, ami in KuiKitude !•.') degrees 14 luinutt'S o8 seeoinis wci-t from the oliservator.v at (ireeiiwich * « * ." Tin- iirineiple involved in this deseription is identical with that of the .\n>rlo- Knssian Convention of l' concerning the point of eommeneemeni id ihe houndary lim'. In both there i« a physical feature, nnil in both the geographical position of llios<' physical features in given. The ph.vsieal fc'aturc is always absolute, the geographical position of the physical fialnre is always approximate, no matter how refineograpliical or geodetic expression for such posi- tion are incompatiblcs. What iji really meant by tlie.se geographical or geodctii- expressions is '' to the Ik'.-i of our knowledge ami lH>lii'f said is situated in latitude longitude ". This is simply done to insure the identification of the physical feature. Undoubtedly a geographical position can be made absolute, but only by disasso- ciating it from any physical feature. As an example may Ik> given the north-euxt corner of Montana — U.S. U. S. Bul- letin No. l:i, p. V2[i : "Commencing at a point formed hy the intersection of the twi'iity-seventh degree of longitude west from Washington with the forty-fiflh degree of north latitudi', them-e • • » ." This point can only be determineit by observation, and different sots of observa- tions will very probably not give the same point upon the earth. The dependent physi- cal point will .shift with every sc>t of observations for determining the same, whereas with the given physical feature its gcoiletic position shifts with every observation. Xevertheless, the retinement.s in astronoinii- observations are at the present time of hUch precision that, for practical purposes, the differences resulting from various d '- terminations are ~o small that they may generally be disregarded. When the description of a boundary line has been referre -Jrt 1(M AUIioukIi llici following may be irrelevant to the subject mutter uiiiler iliteusaioD, iirvcilhiliM* tile tiiiiir tliiri'of in worlli.v iif tlio alli'nliiiii >>f ('iiiunliim-', wlieii iieiii)- tiiiiicin« witli tlu' Uiiii. I'l. |i. \!l>. is fiiiiinl ; ■• Thf ireiily of cfssiipii " (Friiiiii' to the United Stiitoi) " wliifli beiir.i iliite April .'10, lMi:i, (li'soribi's the territnry mily as being the ouine as ceiled by Spain to France liy ihr iriiity of Sim Ililrfonso." l''riiin this it appear>< that tile territory nold tu the United StatiM comprised that purl of till' draina|i-e hntiii of the AliMiiiisippi uhieh lieH nest of tlii' I'ourse of the river, with the exi-cptioti of sncli parts as were then held by Spain. 'I'hi- want of pi«i-is« deliiiition of limits in the treaty was not objected to by lli.; American eoinniisKioners, as ihiy probably foresaw that this very indetiniteness iniKbt provi- of service -to the I'nitid States in future negotiations with other powers. In faci, t.io claim of the United States to the area now '.•oipuriseil in OrcKon, W'ashinnton and Idaho in the ncKritiations with (ireat Urilaiii rcfrnrding the north-wcBtern boundary, was ostensibly based, not only upon prior occupation and upon purchase from .Spain, but al~'> upon the alleged fact that this area formed part of the Louisiana purchase. That this claim was bascliv.s is shown not only by what has been already detailed regarding the limits of the I iirchuao, but also by the direct testimony of the French plenipotentiary, y\. Haibe y.arbois." With .he foregoing iH'fi re lis, it is not unfair to assiiiiie that, if the United States think (Mliieh apparintly th'y do) that there is any " iiidiliiiilcncss " in the Anglo- |{ii-sian Convention of l."»L'."). thiy wonlil also Ih' iiii. lined to forisee "that this very indi'tiniteness might prove of ;erviee to the United States." ('aiiiida niii~l /j'alously gi.aril her intcrestH. Tilt. iml'MURY SlllVKV. A.. Iiifore stated the boundary liiii' resolves itself into three parts: — 1. I lie water lN>undary, and the jiart from the head of Portland Channel to thi' Ciith parallel. l'. The moniitain Ixnindary from the .'itith panillel to the Mist meridian. :!. The line of the 141st meridian. rile second part is h.y far the most iinportnnt for consideration. It is futile to \:>y plans for the survey if tlien> is no dctiiiile uinlerstaiidlng what is to l)e survpy"oint,M referreil to. .\fter a full discussion, the Commissioners to make a joint report to their res|H .■- live, (iovernnieiits on siii'h points as have been nnitinilly agreed upon, iM-sides nniking individual reports to their res|iective Governments on those etition of olKiervations and iinneeessar.v cost. The survey of the '■summit of the mountains situated parallel to the coast" is not only feasibb. and practical, but easier than the survey of a geodetic line, which would, frcan the nature of tin iintry, be farther removed inland amongst the moun- tains, and not so accessible from th ast as the former one. The estimate of one and a half million dollars which has been maib' for the ci>st of the boniidary line survey is eonsidered far greater than is neeessar.v for Cnnadn or (ireat ISritain to exiiend therefor. As The, ihede *k.v, a goi llo» to a coas Aeco I'acil •Jhe Adni .Uihipel U.S. Spea the part '>wn cone ■^ir Char physical position I 103 Oiitiiiilr iif llir 1 11-1 iiiiriiliiiii mill llir riiitli piiriillil, iIkti will br vtry lltlli' sur- voy lo tiiiil till' liiiiiiiiliir.v, llic niirviyiiiK will In- Niiii|il,v In hIiiiu mi painr, i i.. mi iiiu|it<, wluTr till' iHiiitiitnry ii^ t'iMiiiil nii thf ^niiiiiil in, iiiiil to hIidvv wIiitc iiimiiiiiii'iits li;i\i' l»fii iilariil, sii tliiit ill fiitiiri' ri IVrriii'i' riiii In' iiuiiji' tliiriln if mi'i— .iirv. Any «|Mi'i;'l ri'tini'iiiviitit ill Hiirvi-y iiluiitt tlii' inmiiitiiiii iHniiiiliiry — tlir iiiiimrtiiiil piirt — iiii tin- piirt "t' ('aiiiiilii wmilil Im' iiiiiiiry iiMuincly ii|i|ilii'il, ii- tin n- iirr otlirr piirlH ut' (iiniiilii in Krt'Uti'r iicc'iJ lit iiri'iiriilr Hiirvcy^ tliiiii tin- iiinniituiiis nf tlu' Aliwkiiii lumiiilHry liiir, Were CaiiHilii in a poi-itimi in nliliAe nlliirwi!')' iinv nliinil '■urvry- llial "lir iiiiulit inakr tlii'ri', tis th<* riiili-il Sinter ran tin. llii-ii tlirrt- wmilil Im' m>iiii> plea tur Mirli rliis*i of work. The riiited Sliilis liaviiin llie siii iiia»l .an apply, ami ire ii eil nf iiii).'lil I.e aijileil, the Ix'sl wnrk fnr llie pnrp. , in Hilvniateil. nn the inntrary; lint tn Ih' trile by ri'iM'tilinii, surveyin^r iIim's iint en-je llie bniinilary, niitiire has ilnie ihal, MirveyiiiK iiilerpn In in trenKrapliieal leriiii iiiiuro's wnrk, ami briniTH the bmin- 'lar.v iniitler In an iiiternalimial iniii'lii-ion. .Xk Ibe exiM'iiKi' fnr tile survey will • i lo mnnll iini, nml tlu wnrk extonil nvir -evi nil years, all iliwiissimi pns-'ilile >lii , lie ininle Infer' Mkiiin the tielil, ami a'l iHiestien» iiiliiiilliiiK nf «nliilinn iK'tnie'ininl sboiilil Ik )is|i"fceil nf, in nriler In eenninnii'e liiiii mill mmiey in the Kelil. I'iiiully KUinniari. iii)r. I'aiiaila lllll^ te ibe " ninniil nf the ninnntai.H ■■ituMi i|(i, iiiiil as line tt( ileMia real ton niie snbstiltiteil emnpn-eil nf " riiflit lines liaviiif; ({eniletie lertnini " as styleil ny Kx-Sj'cretiiry nf State, .Mr. 'I'. 1'. iiayani, Caniiilii w'niilil Ih' pluiiffeil iiiln II sea nf triinble, wiili iiiereaseil expeiiilitiire ami In-s ■ if territnry. Wliat li.e iieenninry Inss nf siioji territi)r,V wmilil be eaiiiml imw In' e- 1 liia'eil, .i» the interior is prnetically n term incminila. In Ibe ineanliine tbere is ibe Knnnl prineipb' ni ri^lil nml jii-liee in iipbnM sn ■ ieiir In I very Brilisli siiliji'it. i liavi' tlie bniinnr In Ix', Sir, Ymir niKMlioiii servant, (SiKneil) OTTO J. KI.OTZ. .\. il BlKUESS, Ksq,, iJepnty MiiiiHter of the Interior. APPENDIX. As an Appendix, are Kireu u iiuinber of views t^ken in A nskn by nie. Tliey ari' not shown as works of pliotiiKrapliie skill, lioeanse, iH'iniJ all taken froii ibe ileek of a moving stealing snine niibs from shore ami with Kenernlly a linden misty -ky, a i^ood photofcrapli was out of the i|Ue.4lioii. However they will (five some idea of the existenee of " ninuntains sftnaleil panillil to a enlist." Aecoiiipanyiiig the reimrt too are: I'aoitie Const I'ihit, Alaska, Part 1, Kilition 1>**1. The Fnrinn. — NoveinlMr, I»tz rc-tra verses the groiinil alrcail.v covered by Oeneral Cameron, but dcH'S '"ot on all points agree with his concdusions. I would respectfully suggest that Hr. Klotz migljt state in succinct form, on what spicial pointji he finds reason to disagree with General Cameron's eontonticm, in orib'r that such pitints may be jirivatcly discussed end that if possible a concurrence of opin- ion should 1m' arrived at I'oncerning them. The inclusion in this iliscussiou by Mr. Klotz of references to certain papers, ob- tained by (ieneral Camcriui from the Foreign Office and cndiraced by him in the report previously referred to, naturally renders Air. Klotz' report of an equally confidential character. It has be<'n eonsiderecting the parallelism of the mountain boundary to the ocean coast lino ; a view which it is most important to maintain if at all possible to do so. Page 24, paragraph 2. Petrotfs siiggested boundary has never been backed up by any authority, nor seriously advanccil by anyone but himself. Page 24, paragraphs 4 to 10. The opinion^ of Air. Klot/,, on this subject, merit respectful consideration. It may be said, however, (1) that a limited nundier of points only, on a geodotie line, would riK]nire to bo fixed ; (2) that great ditficnlty may biS anticipated in determining mutually which natural points are to be taken as fi.xing llie boundar.v While it is to bo hoi>cd that amicable and eciuitablo views will govern such deci.sion.<, the cx|)ericnco gained in former cases shows that this cannot be oonnto of the Woods. Pagi' 24, paragraph 11 to i)age 25, paragraph 2. This contention iipiwars to be well baaed. I would remark, however, that the British Cohunbian Clovernmcmt ex- plains the provision that Prince of Wales Island shall belong wholly to Unasia, as im- plying that the line should go northward up Clarence .Strait, parallel to the island. Page 25, paragrajdi 4. " S. K. Alaska '' has practically no " interior." We main- tain that it is a narrow selvage along the coast. Pag(^ 25, paragrai)h H. We are not i)repared to allow, as is here done, that tho United States has any title to the shores of Lynn Canal. Page 20, paragraph 4, to i>age 27, paragraph 1. Angell's treatment of the ques- tion of the boundary lino in tho Forum appears to me too sketchy and inoomiilete to require serious discussion. Page 27, paragraph 2 to end of page .SO. Most of this appears to nie jiortinent and likely to prove useful. Mr. Dall's statements resiKjcting the boundary noted on pages 27-28, etc., are very loose and misleading. I think, however, that issue should not be taken with Mr. Dall on the ground of want of experience of S. E. Alaska, as this leaves Mr. Klotz open to an effective retort. In addition to such local experience as llr. Dflll niny poBstss, lie actually compiled the volume entitled the Pacific (,'oast Pilot. .Maskii, Part I., from wiiich Mr. Klotz, in previous pagis. has quoted laru'ely. Also page 28, paragraph .'). If the coast strip runs parallel to the general direc- tion of the ocean coast, as has been cont<'nded, it cannot be described as " meandering in many directions." Page 28, paragraph 7. As before stated, I believe we cannot safely in advance count on any spirit of eompromi.se or conciliation in nspeet to points left to Ix' de- eideil by commissiouers on the ground, neither of whom would probably feel it to be within liis provini'e to yield anything which lii> can possibly maintain. Page .11 to end of report. In the general principles here formulated by Jlr. Klotz as to the necessary preliminaries and general mode of conducting tho Boundary Sur- vey, I fully concur. The language of the Convention of 1825 must, in the first place, bo intorpreto! a marly nnilorin platoau. Tliis ranttc ap|«'ar« furtlicr to oiiit to the existence of at least one such river reaching the lastdcscrihed jiart of the coast, h.v which the journey is accomplished liclwcf n the head of the Chilkat and tho coast. It may also he noted that -Mr. Sclon-Karr. who visited the slopes of Ml. St. Elins in ISSti, helicves the sninmit of this mountain to be considerably ftirlhei- inland than liii leagues (IM{.(i.,S., May, 1Sn7) though his opinion resjiccting the imsilion of this point is considered as ha.sed on insullicieni cviih'ncc. by Air. \V. II. Ihill, (I'.H.Ci.S., .lul.v, |HS7.) I have no iier.sonal knowledge of the coast above referred to. Southward from the vicinity of Cross Sound the .Maska coast resembles in gen- eral character that of the contiguous northern part of the coast of Kritish Colnmbia, though showing at the same time some peculiar features in respect lo width of water- ways, cti'., wbicli have no s|M'cial bearing on the ipiestiou of biaindary. This co:i-t and its adjacent i-lands, nnist be rcganled as portions of ihr wide mountain belt of the Pacific coa-t in a partially sidimerged I'oniiition, in wb'.h the lower valleys are represeneted by straits, siainds, etc. The shores arc everywhere bold and gi iierall,v formed by steep wooded or rocky inotintain slopes rising abruptly from the sea. There is in fact si'arcely any Hat land bordering on the coast, with the exception of that contained in low valle.vs forming the uusubmcrgcd iidand continuations of inlets, sounds, etc. The main direction of tlie const belt of nioiiiitniiiB is rennirkably nniferni, and- its general geidogicnl and ph.vsical features similar all the way from the Fraser River to Chilkat I'ass, hut none of the existing nnips show even approxinnitely the iiosition of the innunu'rabl instituenl ranges and ridges of this wide monnlain region. Though these constitiu'iit ridges jirescrve in the majorit.v of cases an approxinmtp parallelism lo the dircclion of the mountainous belt, they diverge widely from it in other instances, and ilislrii'ts occur of so broken and tunudtuons a character that it ig scarii'ly iiossiblc to observe any rnl'ng dircclion. A gi'licral idea of the amount of regularity in direction of the mountain ranges, imi.v be gathered from an iuspeilion of the outlines of the channels or straits bordering the coast. .\s previously renuirked, these occtiiiy main structural valleys in the iiarlially std)inergi'd portions of the moun- laiii region, and Ihcy arc usually bordered by more or less continuous ranges in ibo direction of their length. l'',xeeptions lo this, however, occur in the case of Taku lidet, and other transverse valleys, which break across the eomponeiit mountain ridges. Whclhcr the coast line of the Convention, therefore, he taken to refer to the coa-t exclusive of the slmres of the penetrating inlet.s, or wliothor tho shorts of these long ildcts be iiu'lndeil under the term, there ni ed never be any ilitticulty in tinding ranges or ridges of mountains iinmediately borih'ring on it, ami the crests of tlasc luountaiiis woidd nsuall.v be al a distance of three or five miles only from the shore. These ranges or riilgcK bonlering the shore are, however, not continuous, and though an iude|H'ndetit and impartial study of the topography on the groumi would probably result in deter- mining without dillicnlty the proper course of tlu' line in leaving one range nnd ••■^i..- • Kxr ■if llip lower pn t No- main dli 107 iiiK to the next, tlie«c interruptions iniglit Iciivc mucli room for nrttuini lit and iliffireiico of opinion if rcKardctl from opiiosite points of view. In deterniiiiiiiK buoIi a line it would tlioreforo be necessary to formulate in advaiii-e some general rule for gnidaiice in such cases of intcrrujition. 'J'o illustrate this point the following notes from personal observation imiy bo niveii : — Both west and east sides of Lynn ("anal* arc boiindi-d by remarkably ilircet iiid dcKiiite ranges, but to the north, the eaiial terminates in two diverging valleys, lur i-rossing wliieh some s|H'cial rule might have to be applied. On the east side of l.ymi • 'anal, a short distance from its head, tli' Skauge Kiver. and a few miles fiirtlur south a seeond stream, break through the eastern borderiiig range, but can seari'ily be regarded as affecting its general continuity. Still further south on the east side, is Hi^rner's Bay, four miles and a lialf wide. The eastern bordering range of the eaiii.l sloites down to the north eiitranc*' jmint of the bay, and, so far as I was able to olwcrve, the ends of luie or two distinct ranges abut on the north shori' of the ba.v, and a com- paratively low tract runs inland from its head. In tracing a line from point to point across the ends of the ridges and betwcni m"rc or less isolated elevations round thhind whii^h, and ruiiiiiiig parallel with the general line of the coast, is a high and seemingly continuous range, carry- ing much iwrmanent snow. The crest of this range is at a di>taneeii able to define and indicate thus generally the position of the axis of the continuati(ni c' ;lie sanu' mountain belt when T have examined it near the 51st, ."i^rd and .IStli parallels of North Latitude. Such a dominant range can be made out where the Stikinc traverses the mountains. Tt was again seen (from a distance) • ISxceptInn must nnw lie tnlipn to the atatement aa here made. Iq aubaequent dlacaaalons nf the t)oun(lnry, rniiBon wn« fminil to hold Ihnt the itno should cross Lynn CanBl near lln lower par' Instead of running round the head. tNoTR.-ThlB remark does not. of course, apply to a line 1» leai(ue» Inland parallel to the main direction of tho Ocean Coast. 108 crossinn tl>t> li if tlir Takii Viilli r.v, apiuirciHl.v m tl.v lit far U\viiii(l tli'^ l«'ail nf llii' Taku Iiili't. It wiiulil lie riprisi'iitcil l).v tlu! waternlii'd mi the Cliilkoot Pans, but fniiii that piiiiit thi' lidiindarv liiir turning; tn the soutli-wuatward riiii.s ahiiuHt dircrtly athwart thu tn'iul of the iiKiiintain raiiKis. It is, hnwrver, (iiiito iinpmlmbh' that a (■(Uitiiiuous ;<'M axial raiiRi' exists friiiii tlie vicinity nf lUxoii Kiitraiici' all the way ti) the iihri)ki ChilkiKit I'ass -a ili-taiu if over three hiiiidri iles — and iiiori' likcdy lliat an axial iir eiilniiiiatin); eliaraetir is taken np in tnrn hy different more or less diseontiiinoiis rtl. jiartly nverlapi win or I'rheliiii-lih' ranges, in wnieli e ase arbitrary lines have tn he sili'i'leil joinini; these, a mode of proeednre likely to ({ive rise to nineh ililfi'renee of ii|iinion. in iletail It further, for oln reasons, often he ditlieiilt to define sueh a line 111 witi I iiiinnti' ai'eiiriiey. whereas the boundary-line requires to be thus de- lined in view of the possibli' discovery of iiietalliferoiis lU'posits in its vicinity. further ditKeully in eoiinectioM with sue would probably be m I'essary to revert to tlie ten- the whole distal coast liiii fully six' cli a line, arises from the circuinstance that it euKUe limit for a considerable part of if the remotenes- of tlai axial ran)ie frmu the main On the suutlieri) parallels before referred to. it is at an averajre distance of ilc lee. Ill eonseqiience iihiuil froi II the mam coa It li uiparativcly -implr inetliod, however, of deciding; on such a line as that now ill ipii'stiiiii. would Ih' to define it as a watersheil line In'tween the drainage areas o iif the small streams OWIIIH ti th. list and those flowing in the op]iosile direction, or join- inn the upper part- nf the larjrer rivers which cut through the whide Im'U of const mountains, or iIimukIi the greater part of it. The .^tikiiie and Tiikii are known eases of such larsre rivers, but there may hi' others which we are not ,vet in a position to name. One such, reported to be nearly equal to the 'lakn in size, is said to flow into I'tirt! Snettisliam. By I'tcrminiii); the ssintr of the axinl ranxe with such rivers in the first iii-tanei'. and subsi iiueiitly the line of watershed iMtweeu the streams joininit thein on the cated. iif tile axial rauge, a : ulU but suftiuiently defiiiile line nii^ht be lo With the exceplioii of the lirsl nieiiti ■.ed, liz.: that of definiu); the boundary line it mountiiius eouii^iioii tlll'SI ii'si' nil >dc hy till etratiii); inli ts surveys, in counection wi days in the >uiniiiir th of .\u|zust, and landed at .Mcllakahlla on the .'trd of Septemlxr. Here I procured the small steamboat " Vitrilaiit," heloii)tin); to the Indian Department, in which, after makin^r the neces- sary pri'parntions for the trip, I started for the Alaska Coast on the "th of .September, In order to make the reiiuired " exaniinalion of the con.sl of Alaska iH'tweeii }'ort- laiid Channel and Chilkal Inlel for the purpii<<> of ascertainiiifc the number and extent tif the scttleiiiciits nu the eoa«t and their position " (with referi'iice to the hoiinilnry line lietwceu Hritish and I'niti-d Stales territory). 1 followed the coiitineiital shore as elose- l.v ns the uavi)(iibli' channels would permit bctwu'ii the junction of the Pearse Canal of the charts with Portland Channel to Pyramid Ilnrhinir in Chilkaht Inlet. I also entered many of the principal inlets, ami approached close enouKh t" the entrances of the others to form a itititd idea of the main topoKraphienl fenturea of the country. On the ciinipletion of my work, I handed the stenmhoat over to Nfr. Tnild, the Iiidinn AtP'iit at Mctlaknlitla, and returned to Vietorin by the steamer " Islander" nf the Onnadinn Pacilic Navigation Company's line. I renehed Victoria oil the 14th of Oetohcr. Before speaking of the settlements on or near the const, I shall eiKh'avonr to trnce out the boundary line as laid down hy the treaty of St. PeterHburR, whieh ileseribca it thus : — " Commencintt at the southernmost point of the island called Prince of Wnles Island, which point lies in the pnrallel of 04 decrees, 40 minutes, north latitude, anil hetween the llilst ami lilltrd eletrree of west loniritude (meridian of Oreenwieh), the said line shall a.secud in the north aloiijr the rdianuel called Portland riiannel as far as 109 the point of the eontiiiciit where it strikes the 50th (h'tiree of north hititiuh; ; from tliis hist mentioned point the line of dennireation shall follow the Minnnit "f the inountains situateil parallel to the eoast, as fur as the jioint of interseetion of the 141st detrrec uf wt'st longitude." On the ehart herewith, United States Coast and Oeodetie Survey eliart. No. Slt'.i. vvliieh is the latest and most aeeurate ehart yet puhllshcd showing Ihr whole eoast, 1 have sketehed the priiieipnl moiuituin ranges, and have marked the houmlary hy a reel line. This lino is laid down in aeeordance with the above quoted elause of the treaty, under the following interpretations : — The line is run from the head of Portland Cnnal in n direct line to the point where the .M'lth parallel ero-si's the summit of the mountains parallel to the eoast. As the tlfltli parallel crosses these mountains more than once, that interseetion which lies nearest to the head of I'orlland Canal nnist he taken. Till' defiiiiti'ui of a luoiintain is a summit rising nhovc the timber line. The \vord.s "la erete des montagiies," translated, the " ^-umiiiit of the inountains." ilo not wquire a continuous ridge or watershed. The summit ridge of each mountain is to be taken, and the valle.vs between the individual nuuintaius must be crossed by straight lines from "crest" to "crest," whether they contain streams, rivers, or such arms of the sen as do not form part of the ocean. The " eoast " is unilerstodil to be the general const line of the continent not in- cluding the shares of inlets which are less than six miles wide. The inountains nearest the const must he taken and not the high interior range'. The weird " parallel " in " mouutnina parallel tei the e'eiast " is not to \>o taken in its strict geometrical sense as implying eeiuiilistaiicc. It is uiineces,inry to seareli for meiiMitains whie'h are all at pre'e'isely the' same' elistance' from the e'e.ast. feir .\rtie'le' TV of the treaty admits tlu' possibility of these meiuntains " situated parallel tei the cemst " lieing sometimes more, and sometimes h'ss than te^ii mnrine leagues from it. Tormm.\i'iiiL-AL pksciiiption. Throughout its entire lenpfth the const is bordered by n range of inountains 3,(100 to 5,000 feet high. Their iK'nks are steep aiiel rocky. Snow, nt the time of my visit (September) Iny in ninn.v of their sheltered ravines, but the cxposcel summits were generally bare, hy which mark these mountains ma.v be elistinguiahe.i by an ob-eerver on the water from the higher menintains behind. The summits of tlie.se meiuntains are not more than five eir six inih?s in elist'iuee from the sea, and in many places thi'y approach much nearer. This rangi' is in gen- eral regular and continuous, except where it is cut through by the inlets anel rivers. It is fronted on the scnwnrd side hy woodeel hills, rising from the sea shore to heights varying from a few hundred feet to three thousand or more. These feiothills sleipe eitl into points (such ns Point Fitzgibbem, nt the mouth of Burroughs Bay, Onpe Fau- shnw, nnd many others) anel are cut by innumerable ba.vs anel harbmir.s, whicli give the coast line the irregular outline sheiwn ein the charts. The nienintain.', howe^ver, keep a much more regnlnr course. They are scpnrntcd from the feiothills by but a, slight deprcssieiu. Near Junenu nnd nt the head of Lynn Canal the foothills vanish almost entirely and the rocky summits rise from the sen. Tliis<' mountains are separ- attu from the higher interieir ranges by a geni?rally well defini>d elepression. The in- terior mountains are much higher anel are suow-eeivereel. They abeiuml in glaciers, some of them of Inrge size. The rnnge is also much wieler than the ceiast range, being in fact, as far as my eihservntiein extended, a succession of ranges parallel lo the const and rising to the eastward. Neuie of the inlets, so far as I know, cut through these meiunlains. but many eif them nfte'r pem'l,raliiig the' e'eiast range' spre'ael eeiit along the depression iKdiind it, forming T-shaped inlets, sei common on this coast. Having niailc these preliminary gcnernl reuinrk.s, I shall now procwel tei state in detail the results of my observation of the const. Both sides of the upper pnrt of Peirtlnnd Oanal are borelorod b.y high mountains rising immediately freiin the water's eelge. The range on the west siile continues south- ward without break along the shore to Gap Mountnin, iiehind Pcarse Islanel, where it begins to recede, a . wooded hills ceinie between it and the above. These hills rise to a sufficient height to hiele the mountnins freini nn obsi'rvcr on the water, hut wherever a valley occurs in the foothills, the reicky rnnge is se'cn close behinel. When passing the mouth of tin' small channel enat of Fillmore Island, the moun- tnins nre seen nt the bend of this ehnnncl coming down to the water's celgc on the' con- tinental shore. The small inlet running north-enat from the northern end of Fillmoro Island apjiears to cut into them. I'he range e'ontinues along the .shon^ north of Fillmoro Island, which is a low, wooded island, with irrcgulnr and discontinuous hills, 400 to BOO feet in height, covered with small trees ; the range can be seen over it. D— •-'« no Tlic mountains now turn to the north along the east side of Nakat Inlet. The peaks called, ou the Admiralty C'linrt (No. 2431), Nnkat Mountain and Shed Moun- tain are in this range. The hitter 8ummit is about 2 miles cust of Nakat Inlet. From it tlic range extends in a direction about N. 15° W. past the head of Nakat Inlet to the Boea de Quadra. The other side of Nakut Inlet is bordered by wooded hills and at the head of tho inlet a ileprcssion extends bet.ween these hills and the inimntAins to Boca de Quadra, a distance of about 5 miles. The west side of Nakat Inlet is formed by the Cape Fox peninsula. A high ridge, called Peninsula iiidgt;, forms the backbone of this peninsula. The aouthernraost summit Is called (he Ilarr.v Saddle, 2,llllti feet high, bare, or nearly so, of vegetation nt its siinnnit. This ridge iimtinues north to Boea de Quadra, running parallel with tlie rocky mountains spoken of above. Between South Quadra and North Quadra ^fountains the ridge is broken by Boca de Quadra Inlet, but it continues on the other side in tho same direction as before by North Quadra, liackbunc and Bebm Mountains until it is again interrupted by Behm's Canal. The same ridfi?,' a|)i)ears to continue by .Vlava Uidge and conncLting ridge> along the .■^cinlli-west slKJri' of Kevillagigedo Island, anil it, |K'rbaps. appiara again on the mainland in the heiglii.' in the southern part ot' Cleveland I'enin^nla. But to return to the mountain range wbirli 1 havi' traced nortliwaril from .Nakiit inlet til the shore of Boea de Quadra. Our course led us along Bevilhigigedii Channel wist of Cap^' I'oX I'eninsnla at n distance from shore of two to three miles. The mountains were S4'en as a conlintunis range of rocky sunnnits rising abjve the lower heights of I'eninsnlu Kidgc. When opposite the mouth of Huca de Quadra and looking up the narrow gap bet't'cen South Quadra (1,".'i feet) we see the rocky range three or four miles Ix'hind. These mountains evidently come ilown to lh<' gnat hend in the iidet. whieh is sd situated with refert'uee to ctur p<»int of observation th.it the gap in the range through whieh the inlet jiasses is not visible. Boea de Quadra widens out Ixtwecn the monnlain$> and the Peninsula IJiilge, ami its long norlli-easti'rn arm I'vidently lies in a valley behind the roeky range, and separates that range from those iMbinil. Passing Point .Sykes we enter Behm's Canal. The foothills slope down from Bebm Mtiuntnln to this point. For about li' miles from here to the intraucc to Smeaton Bay, the hiU-i seen from the water do not rise above the timber line, and probably do not exceed 1,5(10 feet in height. At Smeatcm Bay, the range we have been considering comes much nearer the shore. The summits appear to be not more than three or four nuK's back from the entrance to the iidet whieh cuts through them. The Pacific Coast Pilot of lSs;i, publish.'d by the rnltearren, rocky mountains, whose sum- mits appear to bi' above the snow line. K.xi'ept at its head, where the land is low, tlase mountains rise abruptly from the water's edge, sparsely wooded with snmll trees." The fact that land Is low at the head of the inlet Indicates that the mountains spoken of, the coast range, arc a distiiu't range and are sejiarateil from the interior mountains by a depression in which lies the upper part of the inh't. Looking northward from off the entrance' to .Smeaton Bay, these rocky monntnius arc seen to follow the coast very closely, fronted only by a mirri>w range of wooded foothills, until the view is hounded on the nortli by the massive nmuntains at the head of Behm's Canal. Following Behm's Canal we pass the remarkable Edd.vstonc Uoek 250 feet high, and only 50 yards in elrcnmfi'rence at its base, anil come to Budyerd Inlet, a T- ahaped Inh't, whose entrance cuts canon-like through the coast range, and whoi-e arms lie in a depression behind this range and are hacknl by the higher mountains of the interior. Walker Cove is a narrow iidet cutting througli the coast ra;igc. The next inlet is the estuary of Chiekamin (locally known as Stewart) Uiver. The estuary is about IJ miles wide at its mouth, Ix'tween high and steep, wooded hills, onil extends (i or 7 miles hack to the mouth of the river proiier. It is filled with mil liars, covered by only a few feet of wiMit at low tide, and lietweeu which the current of the river cuts a tortuous passage. About thriH' miles from its mouth the estuary is somewhat narrowed by a large roeky mountain on the north shore, part of the range under discussion. Chiekamin River is laige enough to colour with its mud, the waters of the whole bay, and even Beluii Canal, outside the entrance. Half way betwifn Chiekamin Uiver and Burroughs Bay the mountains come nearer to the shore and the foothills decrease in height, until thoy run down to the eross-shoped Point Fitzgibboii, at the entronce to Burroughs Bay. The end of tho Va Vancouv of Unuk At The dii for sever Ne the t hcmsel At This Loo head, edge. Tlie we pass end appareui fioiiit a tains col by a «te wooded To Behm's Thr McDoin: between On Two or Ill iiiimiitaiii niUKi! is oppositu to a pdiiit iif tlii' »h(iri' ipf BiirrmiBli'* Buy, .•.miic- ;\\(i miles east of Point Fitzsilibon. The iiii)\iiitaiii9 Ikto, as is usual with this range iu crossing an inlet, do not eonie abruptly to llie shore, hut slo^ie down by a steep, w lid ridge. About two miles further up tlii' Bay, we ei nie to the mouth of Klahcvna Kivv, where a eannery is situated. 'I'his is at the foot of u small wooded hill, forminu l.'ie westerly point between the river and tlii' bay. To the s(jutli, the hills s1o|m- trnulii- idly np towanls a high roeky summit <•( the enast range, some three or fnur miles iiway. Across Klaheemi Jiiver is another w.Mided bill, I'oriniiig the poijit lielweeii Klnheena uiul I'nuk Kivers. This hill rises behind to very high mountains, with ~nnnnits |iurtiall.v snow-cd'id ; ihi' nearest of them being, perhaps, live or si.\ inibs awa.v. Far up rnnk Kiver are seen ghuder mountains. Across the bay and on the north side of L'nuk Kiver are wooded hills with ban' and rocky smnmits, ;i,(K»(i fret cir more in height. There is, along the north shore of Burroughs Bay auil its c )ntinuatiou, P 'hirs Caiuil, a range of riH'ky, stec|i and wood<'d hills, wbiu^e summits are generally, but not always, bare rock. Immediati'ly bihind these are high, bare inouulaiiw, with patches I f snow in their upper ravines. It is difficult to decide' when,' the continuation (Ui the north side of Burroughs Bay of the eoast range, whiidi comes down to the simth shore b'tween Khiheina River and Point Fitzgibbon, begins, but probably the long narrow iidet .shown "n the eliart as running north from Burroughs Bay niay Im' eonsiderc is somi nfusion in the mountain ranges here. Bo this as it may, llnre certainly exists a eontinunus succession of mountains along the north shore of Behm's Canal, and we are not concerned, as far as regards the boundary line, with the question w lether these m luntuins nr<^ the ss n,> range as those south of Burroughs Bay, for the mountain b >undary begiu-s her.', the Siith parallel passing close to the mouth of Klahccna Kiver and crossing the mountains on the north side of Burroughs Bay. The only jioint to be noted is that the moun- luins up Klidic<'iui River are mil the C(jast range. According to t)ie chart, the Stith parallel crosses the mountains between Bur- roughs Buy and the Bell Arm of Behm's Canal. The mouth of Klaheena River is shewn as lying exactly on the parallel. The red line, denoting the treaty boundary, I have drawn on the chart from the head of Portlniul Canal to a point of the mountains near the Bell Arm. This places the cannery iu Canadian terrritory, if the latitude on the chart is correct. These channels to the eajt and north of Uovillagigedo Island appear not to have been fully Mirve.ved by the Coast Survey until this year. Vancouver gave 3(1° l)l..% as the latitude of the head of Burroughs Bay. From Vancouvi^'s chart this point appears to lie at the edge of the .nud tlats at the mouth of Unuk River, and the latitude then agrees with that on the (^oast Survey chart. At the time of my visit (he rivers were high and these mud flats were covi red. The discoloration of the water was distinguishable throughout Burroughs Bay and for s<>veral miles along Behm's Canal. Nearly oppoiite Point Fitzgibbon the mountains north of the bay recede from the shore and are hidden by high woodid hills (2,0(K) to 2,,")00 Uvt). These hills themselves afterwards wcede anil a sloping continuation of them forms Point Li'ea. At Point L*>es is the entrance of the channel which runs around Bell Island. This channel is called the Bell Arm of Behm's Camtl. Looking up it as we pass the entrance, the mountain range can be seen at its head, rising, as well as can be judged at several mile's di.^taIlce, steep from the water's edge. The mountains arc now hidden by Bell Island, height 1,00() to 1,3()0 feet, and wo pass through a very narrow channel which widens out after wo pass the western end of Bell Island. Looking ui) Bell Arm again, we see the roeky mountains, apimrently forming a wall along the north shore of the channel. From the same point a view is obtained up Bailey Bay, to and around the head of which the moun- tains come close down. The narrow point between Bell Arn\ and Bailey Bay is formed by a steep, rooky, projecting ridge of the mountains teriiiriating in high and steep wooded hills. To the west of Bailey Bay the rocky summits come close down to the shore of Behm's ("anal. Three or four miles from the western end of Bell Islanart of the t)eninsula. South of Spacious Bay, around the head of Port Stewart, the mountains rise high again. Wooded heights are seen backed by some bare hunmiits, but llie weather whin 1 passed was rainy and unfavourable for idose observation. From here we ran into Naha Bay, in Rovillagigedo Island, and lay at the wharf at Loring till lute next nior!i- ing, when, the weather having elean'd, we set out to round Ca|)e Cnaniano. Some miles up Helm Bay are seen high rocky mountains, guarding the Bay on each side. These mountains run behind the wooded hills which sloji' down to Capo Caanuino, and reappear about three mill's north-west of the latter, as high rocky moun- tains, rising from the water's edge. These mountains are wofMled nearly to the top, and resemble those on the shore near the mouth of Yes Bay. They run northward along the peninsula, receding somewhat from the shore, from which they are separateil by high, bold hills. Ship Point, about 10 miles west of Cape Caamano, is at the base of a wooded nio\in- tain, with nios.s-eovcreil rock summit. "Thi height of this mountain is given on the Coast Survey chart, 709, as 2,.H83 feet, and that of another summit close behind it is :i,ni.'i feet. From here northward, the hills near tlie shore are lower, and timbered to their tops. From a summit, height 2.20!) feet, due south of the head of I'nion Ba.v, the hills slope down to the long, low spit culled Ix' ilwurier Point, which divides Clarence Strait from Fnion Bay and Krncsl Smnul. East of Point Ix' .Mesinier lies Union Bay. It is about fo\ir miles from the point to the Iicnd of the buy, wlierc a snuill river enters. This river is about "."> feet widi', expanding into a shallow estnury before it enters the liu.v. It flows in a wide valley between the height above mentioned, Wiind Point Le Jfesurier, and a somewhat highv liill to the east. TTp the valley no hills are r^ecn. Since this valley extends in the direc- tion of Helm Bay, and the grouiul at the heail of the latter is shown on the chart as low, it is possible that a depression extends across here, through the mountains of the eoutheni part of Cleveland Peninsula. Along the banks of the river above the estuary is a strii) of ground covered with coarse grass ; such as would be called a "prairie" i.. the Frnser River Valley. East of the liigh hills which skirt the east side of Union Bay, stands a mountain nt no great distance with a rounded top of red rock. A few miles north of Fnion Bay is Vixen Inlet. The hills here recede, and none are seen behind the head of the inlet, but a flat extends in the direction of Spacious Bay. Snow-clad moinitains were indeed seen in the distance, but they were very far off, and must lie on Revillagigedo Island. North of Vixen Inlet the mountains come again close to the shore, and are frontfd by wooded hills rising precipitously from deep water. The depth of water close to the shore at the cape of the mainland which forms the eastern headland of the narrow part of Ernest Sound is given as 309 fathoms. From the vicinity of Niblack Island, eome distance further north, looking back, the hills backing this cape are seen rising very high to sharp-peaked mountains. Over Deer Island, which rises in wooded hills to 2,000 feet or more, are seen high, rocky, snow-streaked mountains, estimated to be 12 to IS miles awa.y. This must be the inner range which passes the head of Bradfield Canal, and which will be further spoken of when I treat of that inlet. After passing Beer Island we get a better view of the coast looking south-east up Seward Channel. A range of high moss-topped hills rises precipitously from the water. Close behind these are rocky mountains. The range close to the shore continues all the way to Point Wardc. The extremity of Point Warde is comparatively low, but about half a mile behind it the shore range rises abruptly. Here the channel turns easterly towards the entrance to Bradfield Canal. 113 Tlirci' and u half miles furtlicr Wf riJiuiil iiiiutlicr point luid oiitor DrmlticM Caniil. At tliis point till' liilln lire lower tliiui lliosc at Wardc Poiin, Imt ri»o to tin- level of tlio latler about a mile back, and a tauni; of woixled bills extends alonjf tllu shore of the bay betveeii this and I'oint Wnrde. Jlidway Iwlween llu>!-e two points ii niiiall >.lriiiiii enters the buy. A house wu» seen on the shore at its inonib, probably a tisbiiin sialioii. ICast of the last point lies Allan Day, and east of the latter is a proniineiilly pro- joi'liiiB point. Tin- hills whieb border the south side of tlw eanal ari' at this point very steep and ri.-e from the point to a rock-suniinil, siiow-streillied, about IJ miles baik from till' shore, whieb lies in a ranize of rocky -unimils e.\l<'iidiiiK m a :-oulli--uiitb- easlerly direetioii. In a direeliiiii approximately north nortli-we>l from the last meiilioiied point of the south shore is a similar point of the north shore, ami behind ibis the bills rise steep I" roik.v mountain.-, whieb are a eoiiiiniuition of llio-i' on the south pi irr fc^iir streams of considerable size enter, which are evidently fed by the jrlai'icrs seen in the valleys of the inner raii^c Tberc are probably, from iippear- anees, frlaciers aUo in the outer raiiffc. At Duck Islaml the inlet cuts into the (fbicicr raii(.'e. 'I'licse mountains arc bl)lli and ^teep massi'i. of roci:, rising prceipilously from the waters of the iulet to a niui'li (iieatcr bci(flit than the outer ranp'. There seems to be more tbiin one raufie of them. The inlet cuts a ilcep navigable channel compb'tely lbrout;li tbi' first and appeals to In Ii rminalcd in tjlaeicrs in the second of these ranges. Tbe .second ranifi iitains .Mount T.viK', a ver.v hitrli jieak of conical form. This and .Mount Kaplio, in the llrst rantje, arc very ]iroiiiinent features as sit'ii from the entrauee to Hradtield Canal. The main axial raiip- is probably that in which stands Mount 'I'.vce. Uetiiriiiut; III the entrance to the canal. Ham Island is about tbriH' miles west of llie point where lln' coast raiiiti' comes down to the north shore of the canal. The shore lictttiH'ii these points is very bi^'h and steep, rising to moss-topped summits. 1 have ti'accd on the char' the Iniiimlary as followini; the summits of the coast raiip', but it iiiijjbt well lie claimed that the line should follow the summits of these bills alontt the shore .south of Warde Point and north of Ham Island. These hills are true foothills of the roek.v mountains close iM'biud them which I call the <'oast raiiKc. and are not lunch inferior to them in beiplit. The dividinR line lM>tween these bills and tbe coast raiifre is marked b.v a small stream whieb Hows from tb<' north into liradtielil Canal about a mile and a half last of Ham Island. There is no well murked valley between these two ranges. From tlu' northern end of Ham Island, looking; south-easterly iicros- Hradtield Canal tbe coast raiiRe is seen over the foothills as a rantre of massive mountains with iriauy snow-Hlb'd ravines. lilake (Miannel is very narrow; it is bordered by the lii|;li and steep foothills, which bide the coast raiitre except where a valley atfords a Rlimpse of the rocks behind. The coast ruiiKe ajipears aKain at the bead of the small bay which terminates Hlakp Channel to the north, and turns more to tbe west to follow the Reiieral trend of the coast, though recediii(r somewhat from it. Tp a valley opeuintr northward east of tin narrows of Kastern I*as»a(re the raiiKC is seen at an estimated distance of four mib's. and aiiaiii up several valleys for some ten niib's north of I'oint Mailaii, always at about the same distance. The foothills alonji here aie not so abrnjit and are well wooded. I was unable to trace at Ibis time the eonneetiiui of Wranjfcll Peak with this i litre, but i iifterwarils obtained, from about ten miles out in SumiiK'r Strait, a hoimI view of tb" rantre, part of it Indnu ncarl.v "end on." ft ap|H'ared wi'll ilefiiie.|, with a ileprcs>ion between it and the ^rlacier ran»;e of the Stickeen, ami seemd to pii.ss behind Wrau^fcM Peak, which iipiieareil to lie the end of a spur fnni it. Xortbeast of WranRpll Peak the rnnRe continues until it eros.ses tbe Stickeen. The valley cut by the river through it is plainly seen, as of considerable width, and the mountains are not bold to the river, but slope considerably down to the valley. Hebind this is the liiith fllneier RanRP of the Stickeen in which can be seen the outlet of tbe tiarrow valle.v thronirh which the river passes. From the saire point of view (near Vank Island in Sumner Strait) the whole northern and eastern hori»>n is Imunded b.v massive mountains covered with snow- lields and tflnciers. Many mountains are carved into fantastic shapes ; tbe most remarkable is one in the north, supposed to be Church Peak at the head of the Pat- terson (tiacier. Due east from my point of view is a loiitr and bijrb white crest about midwa.v Iietween Alount T.vee and Mount Whipple, which, owing to the clearness of D— i» Ill till' iitiii(i«|i|ic II', iipfiNirs til ri liiM- licliind the Iiouh's «< tlir tnwn nf Wriiiigell, nltli>iii).'li it iiiiNl Iw lit li ii-t J.'i mill's fnuii tlii'in. I Inivi -kitilii'il I'll till- I'liiii't till' liMiiiiiliir.v line iis foli.i«iiiB lli ;ist ran)^ liiliiiiil \Vnin).M'll I'liili, mill irns'^intf tlir Stii'krt'ii iml fur iilmvi' tlii' lii ur tlirue liiiiiilri'il I'l'cl ill wiillli. Till' ili'ptli in tlu' rh^iiiiil tn lliis point is iiowIiiti' Ii'mk tliiiii KCVcn mill will iivi'i'nni' nvir Iwilvi fi'it. Tlu' iip|>i tiriiiiri' of llu' liif;li Irml mi rillicr siilc is as if rnntri's tri'inlinir N.W. iiml S.K. wcrr abuttiiiK oliliipidy ii|xiii tlii' rivrr." This iitiriT- witli iii.v iili-irviition. Tlir nlicivr ilrsiriptiMii i» i-viilintl.v tluil of a pi'Tsoii asi'inilinjr llir rivrr. wlio. on iiiToiinl of tin slopinii ami wooiliil iiatiirr of tlir fares of till' nioiiiitains towanls llir riviT, wonlil not spc tlii' roi'k.v piaks as wi'll as 1 did from n U'ttir point of vii w. Mr. .lo-i'jili lliintrr, of llio Ciinailian I'.iritir IJiiilway staff, in 1^77, iiiaili ii Hum r-r iind n ronnais-anoi' of ili,' Sliikiin Uivi r for ilio pnriiosc uf inilii'atin;; llir pisilion of tlir iHHiiiiliiry line. On liis |ilaii lii' shows tin' lioiimhiry aa followint-' thr trhii'iir ^lll^'l', from Mmiiit Whipple westi riy to a iiioiintniii mar the river valley ; ihinee nearly north, erossinj.' the riviT at its great -oiitliern Im nil, and ahoiit 7 miles south of thr jnni'iion of the Iskooi IJiver. the primiiial easterly hrnneh of the Stiikieii. His i'ro,'.-iii(f he t-'ives as distant from liothesay I'oint lM'7I miles hy til iimrse uf the river, and from the coast line, HDSuiiied to b»' n line b(>arin)t N. 32' \\'. tli.oiitfh l{otlii-ii.\ I'oint, I'.i'l:". miles. 1 may remark, in im-yxntil. iliat Mr. Iliiiiter iIim-s not seem to have pla<'ed Bii.v mark at thi.s point when' he siip|io«i'i| the moiintnin honnilary to eross the Stieki>oii, but he did phify' a nioiiuini'iit at a point of the river J'.*j miles ahove this, or .lo "99 miles from I'oint Uolhisay hy the eonrse of the river, at the point where b.v his tr.ivcrse he found thai till' rivir would ho rrossed hy a line X. Ill'" W, parallel to the nssunuHl line of the eoast tlipiiiL'li I'oint Uollie^av, and In marine leaiines distant from that line. I presume however that it is niiderstood that the (^inailiaii (iovernment is not hound hy Mr. Itiinter's action, which seonis not to have l)»>eii authorized b.v the instruetions under which he was working. On Mr. Hunter's plan is also .shown the line which Sir Matthew Begbie considered the summit of the coast laiifje. This line crosses the river -everal miles below THr. irunter's and near the head of the delta, and agrees very nearly with that indicated hy me. From the point of view in Sumner Strait the appearance north of the Stiekeen is as if a spur of the emist ranfie. similar to the spur endiii); in Wraiiifell I'eak, comes down to the Wilkes Range (sw I'nited States Coast and (ieodetic Survey chart No.7(l5), and west of this the raiiffe i.-i much broken by glacier vnlhy.? from the high mountains which approach within t) or .S miles the shore of Kriulerick Sound. The outer range hiiwevir can -till I c tiaced, thongh sometimes with diflleulty. up lo <'a|'c Kanshaw. Thi^ part of the line I have inilicateil hy a red line on chart Xo. 7l).'>, which is on a hirj-'c scale and sliow.s many of the mountain peaks. The line after crossing the Stiekeen at the little glacier runs to and then ahing the Wilkes Knnge south-east of Le Conte Bay. The mountains from which I* Conte fllneier flows apiiear to !«■ in the Stiekeen fllacier range. The coast range is much broken betwiK>n I.e f'onte Bay and Thomas Bay, and the next peaks of it appear to lie ThundiT Mountain and the summits behind Horn Cliffs. Thence the line turns northward to the nnuintains on the cast side of Thomas Bay. Horn Cliflfs rise iirecipitoiisly from tho water's nAge to a heiftht of 1,800 feet or more, and behind their escarpment rises the pinnacle of Horn Mountain. As seen from across the sound, near the mouth of Wrangell Strait, liehind Horn Cliffs there appears to be a plateau, out of which rise this mountain and the other peaks eiustward from it, including Thunder Mountain. The plateau, as well as these peaks, nearly to their summit, is sparsely wooded, and seems to extend hack to the bfls<> of the Glacier Mountains. Between it and them is the appearance of a valley, through which possibly the discharge of the largo glacier shown on the chart S.E. of Patterson Glacier Hows to Le Conte Bay. I was unable, however, to verify this conjecture. From Horn Mountain, the line runs to the summit nf tho " small glacier " of the chart, which. I think, discharges into Brown Cove, east of Point Agassiz. This seems to be the glacier referred to on page 127 of the Alaska Coast Pilot. " On the eastern side of Point Agassiz an imniensi' glacier comes down to a good sized bay which is usually encumbered by mimic bergs from the foot of the glacier." The description, however, in the Pilot of the toiiography here, as well as along the northern shore of Frederick Sound generally, is inaecuratp. The glacier is not of large size, although by a distant observer, unless in a very clear atmosphere, it might he confounded with the extensive glacier behind it. Wood Point and Point Agassiz are promontories of a low, flat, woodeiiiiill iii'iiiiir^iila lirniiiialiil liy ruim Vaiiili'ini'.. Close behiiul tl»>m' lints risi- tin- jH'aks iif ll»> ruix^l THt\m; wliioh lliiw Iki.m)|iii;s UKalli a I'ontiniuMis ruiii,'!', cliiiincl Inmi tlu' iiKiuiilaiiin lii'lilml. A very ^lrlkill).' liiitiiri- <ciaNl laiitfc is tlif iiinss cif ruck wliich riser* from till' eastern shore ft' 'riioiniis Hay lieliiiiil llii' ili>i'liai'>:e el'aiiiiel nf {\:c I'Mttersoii ( Ha- eier. Tlie faee of this nioiiiilaiii is (rroov,,) l,y roek^iide iljaiiriels 1 roin top lo liollon,. It is iiiarkeil mi tin eliart as " Land Slide." Kroiii otf the iiiouth .if Tlioinas liny tie l'alter~oii ami as^ociati il ^hieiers present a inUKnitieent speetn<'le — the seaward faoea and siiniMiit ridp > of the nioiiiilains arc euvered hy a vast field nf -now and iie. out of which project rooky i>eaks. AnotliiT ureal iflacier- HainI ' llaeic r — eoinej down to the hi-ad of the northern arm of 'riioniiis Hay. Knaii the Land Slide to I'owell I'eau, • ■n the other sid<' of the hay. the ilirei-lion is nearly parallid to lli ast. The niie.'e then eimtinnes well marked to Spoon K-ioll on the east sidi' of Farrnpnt Bay, and ap- pears to be eoiitimii'il on the other -ide of Karrajfiit liny by .lame-invn I'enk and tin iinnameil inonntains east of it. bnt n spur raiiue runs out to Hny I'oiiit Knoll, Cyaiie I'eak, Man of War I'eak, and raiii.'enf I'enk. Tlii'se are peaks ri-iii;; from the summii of a hi^h ami innssivi- woixlfd ri Straits eomiiiK «est. The rid(n' agipears to !«• rnt off from the othi'r mountnins by valleys little nbo> I he sen level. The iioint ln'tweon the two arms of KnrrnKiit Hay ia oeenpied by n hiirh hill, wood- ed to its top. whieh is nu the line of (he coast ranff''* Wist of Tanpiit I'eak, looking over the lower land whieh lies west of tlu' >rreat riilfJTe are seen .Mount Knn.shaw and the massive roek snnimit of .Moimi Dahlfsreeu. Of till- former I did pot obtain n ).'ofinrh(Hid. The weather was nlso hail when I |iass<'i| on the return journey. The anchorage is on the south shore of the port, about three and a half miles in, just west of the cluster of small islands. .Miout two miles south of this nnehoraue stands a oinven rook inountnin jK^ak. South of this aftnin is a large conical mountain, which is probably Dahltrreen Mountain. These mountains are the cimtinuation of the ranpe wliici; T have notieeil as erossinjr Farrnuut lia.v, and turninf; northward from then. This rauK'' is contimuHl in the same ilireetioii on the other side of Port lloufthton in (he high and precipitous wooded hills of Point Hobart (1,500 feet), Poitit Wind- hnm (2,000 feet), &e. I could not see, however, any hare sunnnits of these hills, for si'veral mih^s north of Port irouRhtoii, and hence have traced Ihe line as passinu north-cast across the inlet to a mountain of the ranue next behind that eontainins Jlount l)nhl(ireen, i.e.. the rnufie eontaininp Mount tiarfiidd, Lincoln Peak, ie., from whieh branches the Dahlgreen ranpre, between Thoraas and Farraput Bays. This ranpe is not the Kinder range ; thnt is seen nt the bend of the inlet 10 miles from our nnchorago. The mountain on the north side of the inlet through whieh I hnve drawn the boundary line was seen during a break in the clouds ns a massive snow-capped mountaia rising from the shore of the inlet 4 or 5 miles N.E. from our anchorage. The next inlet north of Port Houghton is Hobart Bay. Looking up this from its entrance, the coast range can be seen about 5 miles back coming down to the shore Inhind the inlet, where it turns north. There is a slight break in these mountnins through whieh nt a much greater distance is seen n range of jagged peaks. TTp Windham Bay the coast range is again seen 5 or 6 miles from the coast. These mountains probably cross the inlet but the opening is not sufficiently wide or straight to show the jagged range behind. Between the snow-clnd peaks of the const ningi' here nnd the coast, is a range of wooded hills with rfa-ky summits. These are very similar to the foothills already noticed which lino the shores of Blake Channel and of Ernest Sound south of Bradfield Inlet, Between Hobart and Windham B.iyd the hills next the coast are not so high nor so precipitous as the bold promontories of Point Hobart and Point Windham. Tho peninsula betwe«'n Windham Bay and the southern arm of Hoikhnm Bay terminates to the west in two points, Point League nnd Point Windham, the latter beif.g about 2 miles north-west of the other. Mount Windhnm, 2,000 feet high, bnrc on its top and on part of the seaward face, apiiears to be the culminating point of the mountains between Holkham and Wind- Ill) mber lino, uu.l iiri' in a vrry :tUiiiniit:i I'Uil iir at Ica^l arc .1 Point Ciil-o. liuni Bay». TIktu is a rocky »uinniit bctwiuu Mount Wimlliani and llio cntrunc.- of Ilolkliani Bay, and lii^li and stirp wooded foothillii follow tlio slioff of tin- lati.r fmii I'oiut Astluy van and sou'li-oant up tliu soutlitru arm of tli.' bay. .Similar liilU riite bi'hind I'oiut t'oki', but neitlicr from tlio nunitli of Tracy Arm nor from I'orl Snot- tislicm could any rock summit be niilcw north of Point C'okc, though the range from that [Hiint northerly is very Jiatiuet. bwkiug U|> th ■ south arm of Ilolkham Bay, large simw-ilad mountains can bo seen about its head. Uicky sununits of less heiglit come down on the cast shore of the bay hclwien the north and south aruw. A (small glacier is seen in a ravine of these nearly due east from Point Coke. Rocky mountains also (•ome down to the point bctwivn Trai'y .Vnn and il:. -Iiorl wtatern branch. From ihe hcail of this branch a low wooded Hat e.\lcnd» to the southern arm of Port Snclll.>h«ni. Harbour Island and the other i-lands in Ilolkham Bay arc low. The cnlranci' lo Port Smllisham is gtnirdcd by the promonioritTi of I'oint .\nmer and Point Stylcnnin on the .-outh and north respictively. From Point Coke to Point Aumcr the hills along the shore arc high and bold. " The land b.twccn Point Coke and the present proniioitory is backed by lofty and rather bare monnlains, iheir >iile» sciurcd by avalanches and displaying, about :i miles E. S. E. from Point Anmer, a rcnuirkable cii.~cad.- which falls froni a ravine into the sea." Coast Pilot, page lOt*. (ioiiig into Port .Snettishani, a view of tlnw mou lins from behind is obtained. The summits fronting on Port Sncllisham are liigli lian those . 'On from the sea. They rise t.i :l,."ilHl or 4,IHK) feet, Uing far above II ri'guli'r range. As above mentioned, however, the T> obscured by the wooded foothilLs .some distance north The southern jirm of the port is about two miles wide and Kve long and terminates in a llat of the sjime width, which evidently eontinues to the norlli-we-lern arm of Ilolkham Bay. I king up this valley, snow-clad miointains are «ecn at the appar.-nt distance of 20 to l'.'i miles; these must In- the niounlains about the south-ea^lern arm of Ilolk- ham Bay. The coast range coraen down to the south shore of the entrance of Pr-t Snettisham in a well defined ridge, ending in a point of the shore about two miles west of where the sontlarn arm turns off. Ojiposile to thi- mi the north siile, tin' range is ecpmlly well detiniHl. It pas.~e.s north-westerly from here, behind Taku llarlKiur lo the shore of Taku Inlet. East of the two arms of Port Snettisham is a high rocky range which rises rapidly to the east to still higher mountains, through which are cut the valleys of Speel and Whiting Uivers. Tliise mountains come west of the mcmth of S|H'el Kiver almost to the coast range from which they are separated by a mirrow valley only. \Vi' followed the iwtuary of Whiting Kivcr for about three miles up to a short distance ImIow its first bend. The mountains here come down precipitousl.v to the water on each side. The estuary is similar to that of Chickamin River, being fi!''-d \>it'i sand bars nearly to its month. These are uncovered at low tide, leaving a narrow and erookcil I'hannel for the swift wati'rs of the river which is of considerable volume. ."^IM'cl River I did not examine. Passing along Stephens Passage north of Port Snettisham, the coast range is seen behind Limestone Inlet ami Taku Harbour, rocky lind snow-pati'hed, five or six miles book from the coast with some nearer foothill |>eaks. Five miles north of Taku Ilarlmur, another small inlet cut.s south-easterly through the high hills along the shore. At the head and to the east of this the coast range is well seen running parallel to the general line cd' the coast. The mountains are ver.v high, with some remarkable precipitous rireiiscly whirc they strike the shore, but the.v siM'ni to narrow the inlet some- what about five miles from its mouth, jirobabl.v at the point shown on the chart about that ilistam'e in. They ai>pear on the other side of Tnkn Inlet, opposite to this point, as a imissivc rocky range. T*aku lidi't is bordered on both sides b,v mountains, of nnu'li the same height as the coast rang<', I'xcept at its heail where the serrated ]>eaks of stnin'mlons glacier moun- tains are pi'ed np in eonfnsifui. From my point of observation, the mouth of the inlet, the nature of the dividing valleys lM'twi.en tlw ranges nearer the coast could not be distinguished, but the impres- sion was given that the ridges run parallel to the coast and are cut at right angles by the inlet, especially on the west side, where there seems to be a distinct valley beyond the const range. This rangi' eonliniies north-\vi«terly parallel to the shore of Gastineau Channel for several mih's and at a distance of five or six miles therefrom. But between it and the 117 «liiiro thr woodod fonthillH south of Tnku Inlpt nrr PDiitimicd n« n rnngc of mountnin« riHiiig from tlu' water's <-i1ki' to fiir iiImivi; tlie tiinlMT line. Tlicse nre shown ns s|nir- riilgcH from tlic rnnge iH'hinil on ii ninp of Uurris Mining Diiitrict, nimli- hy Mr. Oiir- fciilf, a surveyor of .Inneiin, but from what I eould sec from the viilU\v of (ioM Cn-eU in the vieinity of SilviT How BaHiri, 1 am inelimil to believe that they are ilislinel mountain!!, separati'd from oni' another by the valleys of numerous streams which r\iu from the inner range to the sea, nnd connecteil with that range only by eompurativcly low ridges. The Silver Bow Basin is a basin about half a mile in diameter, nearly s\irro>indeea just north of the town of Juneau. There is another, but smaller basin, on the course of the creek below the Silver Bow. The height of the rocky summit just across Gold Creek from Juneau is stated to lie ;!,.'iO() feet. A luiU^ or two further back another |ieak of the same niouutain must be ."iiK) feet higher. 0|)|HMite to this last summit is the equally high iH^ak of the mountain Is'liind Juneau. The straight line joining these peaks will probably cross the lower bmin near tl»' centre. About thrw miles south-east of Juneau is the mouth of Sheep Creek, at the head of which there is said to l>e a basin similar to Silver Bow Basin. From Juneau, as the western part of tJastincau Channel is unnavigable on airouut of sand bars, we have to travel back to the liead of Ste,ihcns Passage and thence along the south and wi«t sides of Douglas Island, anil thcnic cast of Shelter anu Lincoln Islands into Lynn Canal. On account of the high mcnntains of Douglas Island, the mainland is not seen until the western end of *hat island is reached. The continental shore opiH>site this point is let'ply indented by iidets out of one of which the Auk (ihicier dischar(.;.s. Along the northern shore of Gustineau Channel is seen the range of high mountains close to the water, like tho.so at Juneau. This range is cut through by the inlets mentioned, and behind them is seen a lofty range of moun- tains |>erhaps 10 miles bai'k, from which the Auk Glacier seems to conus forcing its way through the cleft in the I'oast range, its f(Hit almost at the sea b'vel. The coast range is friuitcd by wooibd foothills, but they are dwarfed by the mas- sive mountains behind them. Xearl.v opposite Gull Island, Kaglc Glacier is seen on the lastern shore of the canal. The apis'araui'e hi're is similar to that at the Auk Glai'iir. except that the ci'ast range seems higher ami the glai'ier mountains nearer. All the piaks of the coast range north from here arc snow-coveri>d (I'Olh Sept- ember). Many snuill glaciers are seen in the ravines. High mountains also follow the western shore of L.vnn Camil. Passing Bcrner.^ Bay, Point Bridget and Point St. Marys appear as sloping foot- hills, running out from the mountains close lichiiid tluni. The peninsula from Poiat St. Marys to Point Shcrnnin liceonies stceji towards the siu in the vicinity of 'he liiltcr. The head of Berncrs Bay seems to run in behind tlu' coast range and llic ruggwl glacier range is .seen at the head of the bay not covered by any front rani-'c. The coast range is continued in the nuissive mountains northeast from Point Sherman. The " Coast Pilot " ()>age 105) says of the points : " Point St. Mary lies X. W. J X.. 4J miles fnmi Point Bridget, like which it in li.v.- and wooded, while its axis rises inland to mountains covered with snow, attaining tm this point about five mih'S X.W. by \V. lies Point Sherman, named by Mi'ade, apparently low and wooded, from which the north-eastern shore of l.ynu • anal extenils high, steep and rocky, at the base of the imposing mountains abov.' mentioned, some twenty miles in a N.W. by N. direction." The west shore is similar in apiiearaiiee to the cast. Point Whiilhey peninsula looks like a foothill spur from the mountains whii'h keep their course |iarallcl to the I'oast and distant two or three miles friuii it. Point WhidlM-y is descrilnd in the Coast Pilot (page lit.")) as "a rather renuirk- ablc high, steep, wooded promontory whose face is about three miles in length in :i .V.N.W. and S.S.E. direction, and which projects from the western shore of the canal to the extent of about thret! miles in an K.X.E. direction." From the southern extremity of the promontory of Point Bridget to the soutliein extremity of Point Whiilbey the distaiue across Lynn Cainil seems to be less tliiin six marine miles. The Admiralty chart No. 2431 makes it more than 6 miles, but the Coast Sur- vey chart 899, printed in March, 1891, and containing probably the best information, makes it oidy about five. D— 30 118 Ilcnci', Lynn Caniil north of tliis teiis^fs i. Ijr imrt of ll.c i,ci\'.n, iinil tlii.- liau coiiniH'tinK these points lii'iMinics the coast Hue. The bmii.liiry line will then I'liss from the nionutiiin behinil I'oint Bridget across the canal to that Leliinil I'oint Whidbc'y. Even if the mountain boundary were discarded and a line ten marine leagues from the ocean were tukon, llie ten-league line wnla between the two inlets. The peninsula is covered with low sloping hills and the first niouutain on it is that AV.S.W. from the mouth of Taiya Inlet and uearl,v uorlli Irom Pyramid Harbour, and soulli I'rom (TiilUuot Lake. Two or three miles south of this mountain the " Portage Road," about a mile in length, crosses a depression in the peninsula from iidct to inlet. Xorth of Point Sherman the rai.ge of mouulaius east of Lyini Canal rises directly Jrom the water's cdwe. There appear to be no iool hills, but on the western side the mountains are fronted by a range of foot hills of fairly regular height. 17 miles north of Point Whidbcy, Endicott Kiver eut.s a canon through the mountains of the west shore. Every ravine on both sides of the upper part of Lynn Canal is filled with snow and there are nmny glaciers, the most iirominent of whieb is the Daviilson (ilaci-jr, whose termiiml moraine jirojects into Chilkaht Inlet in a wide Hat point, covered with trees of large size. Jforth of this glacier the foot-hills on the west side vanish, and the mountains ri^e direct from the shore. Pyramid L^lnnd Harbour, on the west-side of Chilkaht Inlet, two or three miles below the mud flats at the mouth of Chilkaht Kiver is the most northerl.y and westerly point which I reached. Here accordingly my description of topograph.v ends. It has been a.'i-iinied throughout, in marking the boundar.v line on the map that inlets arc- not part of the ocean, nor their shores part of the coast line. If it be decided othcrwi.se, Portland Camil is also part of the ocean, and the boundary line must run from its- head to the stinnnit of the rangi' which runs along its western shore; theuee eoutherly along this range to fiap ilountain, and tlicnee north along the chain of mountains I have described to Burroughs Bay. This would give to Caimda the whole interior of the peninsula between Portland Canal and Behm's Canal, hut at the expense of (he loss of the heads of all the inlets. I understand that the T'nited States legal autliorities in Alaska claim jurisdiction as far inland as 10 nuirine leagues from liile wnlcr. There is, of course, no authority for this in the treat,v, the limit of tide water being a very different thing from the coast line. I submit with this re))ort the following charts and maps — United States Coast and Geodetic Survey chart Xo. 89i), upon which I have sketched in the principal moun- tain ranges, ami indicated the tnaty boundary by a r.'d line. Mr. Hunter's line at the Stickeen is shown by a blue line, and tile alternative ten marine league line at Lynn Canal h.v a dotted red line, I'nited States Coast and (ieodetic Survey Chart No. 709, showing Cleveland Peninsula on a larger .--cale. t'nited Stales Const ar.d (ieodetic Survey Chart No. 700, a large scale chart to illustrau my rennirks ujion the coast between T'nion Bay and the mouth of the Stickee.i. I'niteil States Const and (ieodetic Survey Chart No. 70,'), showing the north shore of Frederick Sound. Map cd' Harris ^Mining District and mines near .rmieau, made by O. W. flarside of Juneau. United Stntes Deputy Surve,\or. United Stntes Ni.vy ChnrI Xo. !I04, which will illustrate the vicinity of Portland Chainiel, &c. I nniy mention here, although this is a matter outside my instructions, that the last mentioned chart shows Cape Mu/.on in hititiule 54° 40' almost exactly, Cape Chacon in .54° 4i'0, and the mouth of Portland Channel, just south of the small island on which is situated Fort Tongms, in Intitmle .14° 41,'. At the time when the treaty was maile it was not known, though suspected, that Capes Alu/.on and Chacon were on dilferent islands; "Prince of Wales Island" of tlio treaty is to be understood as including both the present " Prince of Wales Island " of which Cape Clincon is the southernmost point, and Dall Island, which tcrininatcs in Cape Muzon which is further south than Cape Clinoon, 110 Hence the iiiitinl jpoiiit of tlie treaty description is Caix; iliizoii. A .-^triUKlit line (Irnwn from tliis ea|ii to tlic iiortli of Portland Cliannel will eut off a small portion of Cupe Cliaeon. By article IV of the treaty the whole of Prince of Wales Island is to be included in Kussian territory. Hence instead of one straight line from Cape ^luzon to Port- land Channel, we n.nst have a straight line from Cape iluzon to Cape Chacon and another from the latter to Portland Channel. The fonner of these lines seems to tonch the small island called IJean Island which lies west of Cape Charon. The other line crosses no land. The channel calli'd Portland Channi'I, or Canal, hy Vanconvi v, which hei-'in-^ south of old Fort Tongass and runs inland lii'tween the uniinland and XannaKhnnut, Sitklan, Wales and Pearse Islands is not the intricate and tortuous passatie it is sometimes rcpresenlcd to be. It is deep anip,»er part of Portland Caiml with which it is continuous in direction. FiJihci'ics. ti'c, on Ihf Const. On a small island nbou? 4 miles east of Cape Fox, and north of the er.tranc ■ tn Vancouver's Portland Channel, is Fort Tonorass. This was a United States Military station after the purchase of Alaska fn)m Russia, and for manv j'^ars tlie port of entry for the whole of " .South-F.asleru " Alaska, ilany of the old barrai k hnildings a"c still standing, but there is only one nnin living here, who i.s engaged in salting Sidmon. On the east side of Nakat Inlet about ;i miles fr.)m its head, stand- a snmll liou.se, lately occupied by another man in the same business, but now deserted. I was informed that there was another man resident on the shore of the channel north of T'earse Islauil, also engagn aecipiint of the scarcity ami high prii'i" of labppur. They have been ilpping spptue fishing, hipwcver, for the Yi's Bay cantiery in KlaluKMUi liiver ami .Stjnvarl (pir Chii'katiiin) River. Tiiev wer.' using a very largt' net, which tbp>y plae-ed acr(PS.s the miputh pif thp' river (Ivlaheena) in such a way as Ipp guiile the fish intpp a trap. At Ves Bay the pack this year is about IS,I)II0 cases, emphpying ahpuit s whites and ;)0 Chinamen in the cannery, bcsitlcs liipliatis tp) ilo the fi.sliiug. Bartlett. Bay cannery was not worked this year. On the upprth shore pif Xiiha Bay.ppii tlip' wpst si.lo ,pf Ri>villa (Jgigiil.p Ishiiipl, is lhp> large cannery of the Alaska Salniipu Packing and Fur ("oinpany. They havi' pap'ked this ,vear :'!,Ofl() eases. Tbi' full capacity ppf the cannery is upwarpls ppf .'iO.OOO p^a-cs but they find it ditlip'ult l

!^° .50' it is probably in Alaska. There is no doubt that the canneries at Lorinp, Point Ilighficld and Point Rothe- say are in Alaska, the two former being on islands, and the latter on a straight portion of tlie continental shore. Huts were seen in several places on the shore at the mouths of small rivers, pro- bably belonging to Indians or others engaged in drying salmon. Jfany other kinds of fish besides salmon are found in the waters of Alaska, al- though the latter only are the basis of organized industry along the coast strip. The species wdiioh came more pnrtieularl.v under my notice were flounders, halibut, " bull-heads," dog-fish porpoises and whales, the last abounding in Stephens Passage. A great many hnir-senls were sien, esiieeially in T'nion Ba.v on the west coast of Cleveland Peninsula, which is also remarkable for its nhnndanee of fish and fowl. Mines. Chickamin River probably not t(. be relied \ipon. The nuin in charge cif the Burroughs Bay cannery told me that five miners went up this river this season, but one of them, falling sick, shortly afterwards returned with one of his companions. The remaining lliree are supposed to be doing well. The two who returned walked o\it from the mines in nine days. There seems to be no mining between this river and the Stiokeen. The mines of the Stickeen are far inland and are too well known to need descrip- tion hcTc. There are said to be comparatively few miners in Unit district at present, many having gone on to the Yukon. Fort \Vran„ell, wbii'h was a thriving town, of the usual frontier stamp, during the palmy da.vs of Cassiar, now presents much of the a))pearance of a deserted village. From Cape Fanshaw northward, the coast appears to be rich in minerals, especially gold and silver (piartz. Little capital, however, has iK'cn cxiM-ndedin development, excoi)t iu the immediate vicinity of the town of .Tuncaii. Leaving out of consideration the great Treadwell mine, which, Iwing on an island, does not concern our present iiurposc, the largest mining o]>eratious in Alaska are car- ried on in the valley of Gold Creek, bidiind .Tuueau. A general description of the topography of tliis region has been already given. At the farthest point of the Silver Bow basin, about five miles from ,Tuneau, is the 10 stamp mill of thc> Eastern Alaska Co. They get their rock from the summit of a high ridge to the so\ith-east by means of a cable with slung buckets. About J mile west of this are the liydraidi Argenta liasin ivhiTcin a number ipf chums have been located The basin lies about three miles east of StepluMi's Passage and about two miles west of the south arm of Snetishane Bay, and is in extent about equal in size to Sheep Creek Hasin, and is easily accessible from either side, a wagon-road grade being easily obtained. The ore found on the west side of the basin is mostly a gray copper ore which runs high in silver and could be easily concentrated. On the east side (d' the basin a :ill-foot ledge was recently discovered by Snow, Miller & Company, which was traced for the distance of a mile. The vein is well defined, lying iK'twiH'U the black and [lorphyritic slates. This ore is a heavy galena and sulphurets rock and carries both gold and silver. Further down the creek towards Snetishane lies the location recently made by Frank Kupid and partner whieli i-o very rich in gidd, assays from which run into thousauhore of Lynn Canal, iiiuler the high inoiiiitiiiii north of Port •Shirmaii. I ilid not stop her.' to make any iminiries. Some recent discoveries arc reported by the Miuinii Uvcoril in Dcrners Bay. I understand thai there are now no miners iiji Takii IJivei. nor (Ui the shores of Taku Inlet. Siirrei/a, No Mirvi.vs of the interior appear lo have been made by the t'nited States (iov- ernmcnt, except Lieut. Scbwiilka's explorations of llie Yukon and the I'ouinry behind the St. Fdias Alps. Fast and south of Lynn Canal their surveys have been confined to the coast, the inlets and the islai.ds. This year the Coast Survey steamboat "Carlile Patterson" was engaged during most of the season in .iiirveying lielini Canal and lioi'ii de (jiiadra. The coast surveys are probably now eompleted as far as the eontiiientiil shore is concerned. The survey of the bouinhir.v line, if eoiitincd to the coast range of mountains, ought not to be a dillicult. or very expensive task, tliesr mountain^ being so readily reached from the sea. The photographic process will greatly abridge the labour and cost, especially in the northern part of tlii' coast, wla re the delerminalion of the line is most urgently needed, for theru the timber line, below which photograidiy -s on'"' partially available, is at a less height above the sea. If any of the interior rangi s are taken as the dividing line the labour ami cist will Ix' inealciihibly iiu'reased. The iK'st season fur survey o|M'ratioiis is jirobably from May to August iiieli- five. Septemln'r is a very wet and stormy moiitli, as I found it. October is considered 133 uncertain. Fresh snow was notiwcl after the equinoctial storms on ilie niountainH nearest the coast, but not south of Kevilla (iigedo Island. A marked rise of tcmiwrn- tiire was noticed in passing south from Frederick Sound. I have the honour, to be, Sir, Your obedient servant. W. F. KING, Chief Aslroiiomer. E. Ukville, Esq., Surveyor General, Ottawa. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOK. TOI'OGHAl'lIU'AI. SinVKVS BIIANCll. Ottawa, .'ith March, l.S!)2. Sib, — I have the honour to submit a copy of Coast Survey Chart No. 89'.>, upon which I have marked the Alaskan boundary line according to various interprettttions of the treaty of 1825. The contention of Canada is tliat mountains exist within a distance of ten marine leagues from the coast, such that it is possible to apply, without ambiguity. Article III of the treaty, in following their summits " situated parallel to the coast," and that the mountains nearest the coast should be followed. It is not necessary that such mountains should lie in a continuous range. Such a range however exists. There is a definite and continuous range, which appears to be a continuation of the main coast range of British Columbia, and which runs in a direction genernlly parallel to tjie coast, at a distance therefrom of 15 to 20 miles. This range is the principal watershed of the coast. It is cut through by none of the inlets, and by not more than one or two rivers besides the Stickeen. Mr. Hunter, who in 1877, made a survey of the Stickeen for the Government of Canada, for the purpose of locat- ing the boundary, adopted the axis of this range, discarding the outline ranges near the coast. I have shown approximately the summit of this range by the dotted blue line. These sunnnits would form the boundary if un absolutely continuous range were required. Such a range however is not spoken of in the treaty, and between tliis range and the sea lies at least one other range, sometimes more than one. These ranges have also a general parallelism to the coast (that is to the ocean, not the shores of the inlets) ; they are cut through by most of the inlets, and in some places are broken by valleys of rivers tributary to the inlets or to the sea. The highest of these ranges is distant four or five miles from the ocean. I have drawn a red line on the chart to indicate the boundary line as following these last summits to the 5(ith parallel; thence in a straiglit line to the liojid of Port- land Canal, thence along Portland Canal to Cupe Cluicon and Cape !Mu7.on. Where the line encounters an inlot it goes straight across it to the nearest summit on the other side. This red line may be considered as ir,, interpretation, from observation, of General Cameron's coulcntion. I diflfer from him, however, in one place in Portland Canal. He ])as8es north of Fillmore Island, a snuill island which lies north of Wales Island. I follow the direct channel south of Fillmore Island. His course there is indicated by the dotted red line. Mr. Klotz has contended that the line does not cross the inlets, but passes along the mountain summits around them, so as in no place to touch salt water. Otherwise ho agrees with General Cameron. Jfy interpretation of his contention is shown by the dotted red lines around the heads of the inlets. His line follows close to the shores of Lynn Canal and around its head. However, Lynn Canal is less than six miles wide near Port Bridget. The " ocean " (Article IV) ends here, and a line 10 nuirinc leagues from it will cross the two branches of L^vnn Canal, Chilkaht and Chilkoot inlets, in about the lotitude of the Davidson Glacier. This is indicated by the dotted preen line. There is another point to b,: considered. In thi^ description in Article III, there is a break. The line runs to the head of Portland Canal. It begins again at the inter- section of the mountains by the .'ilith parallel. It is not stated how we are to get from one of these jioints to the other, but the natural course to take is a straight line. Now, it appears that the ."ittth imrallel crosses the mountains nearest the coast in at least three places, namely, in two points about the head of Bohm's Canal, and in one point near the west shore of Cleveland Peninsula. I have drawn the full red line, whieh 1:23 indicates my intiTprctntiun of tlie treaty, from the lieiid of I'ortlniid Caiuil to tlie near- est of these intersections. It may, however, be contended that, under Article IV, tlie coast strip is intended to begin at tlio 50th parallel and continue northward, and that no part of it should be south of that parallel. In this ease the line would be ilrawn (see green line on the chart) from the head of Portland Canal in a straifjht lino to the farthest of the interseetionn, namely, tlmt on the west side of Clevelaiul Peninsula. The line contended for by the United States is shown on the chart by the black printed line. It is such that each point of it is 10 marine leagues from the nearest point of salt water. I should mention that in drawing my red I'^e to follow the crests of the mountains situated parallel to the coast, I have taken as mountains those summits which rise above the timber line. Dr. Dawson states in his " Notes " on the report of Jlr. Klotz lU Alaska, that an.y summit rising above 1 longation as far as tlb^ Frozen Oc'ean, shall form the limit between the Russian and British possessions on the Continent of America to the Xorth-west." " IV. With reference to the line of denmrcation laid down in the preceding Article, it is understood : — 1st. 'I'hat the island called Prince of Wales Island shall belong wholly to Russia. 2nd. That wherever the summit of the mountains which extend in a direction parallel to the coast, from thi' Stith degree of north latitude to the jioint i>f intersection f the 141st dcgriH! of west longitude, shall prove to be at the distance of more than tt>n marine leagues fnun the ocean, the limit between the British possessions ancl the liiu,> of coast which is to belong to Russia, as above mentioned, shall bi' formed by a lino imrallel to th(^ windings of the coast, and which shall never exceed the distance of ten marine leagues therefrom." With regard to the intcpretation of these articles, the following questions present themselves for consideration and decision :— 1st. What is the iioint of e(uninencement ? 2nd. What channel is Portland C^hannel ? ilrd. What course does the line take from the point of connnencenient to tho I'Utrance to Portlaml Cliannel ? 4th. To what point on the 50tli |)arallel is (he line to be drawn from the head of Portland Channel ? I'i4 5th. What are the mountains situated parallel to the coast ( fith. What is the const ( Before discussing and, if i)ossible, deciding upon these various points, it will be well to consider upon what KeoKrai)hieal infornmtion the negotiators based their word- ing of the treaty. The evidence points eouclusively to Vancouver's charts and the nnrrntivc p\d)lished in his " Voyages," as the main source of information. He was the original explorer of the greater jiart of the coast in question, and his survey was, aH the time elago," that is, with the large mass of land shown nn his chart as terminating to the Boutli in Capes Chacon and .Mnzon. This we know from his " Voyiigcs " (p. -Hit, Vol. II, 4th idition) he sui.iostd to Le a number of islands, but having no knowledge f>i any dividing channels, he showed the w) .- on his chart as one island. Hence the PIenii)otentiarics mitnrally referred to it in the discussions preceding the Convention, as well as in the Convention it«elf, as " Prince of Wales Island." In theae discus- sions it is also referred to as being cut by the SSth parallel, which is not the case with Wales Island, now so called, which lies at the entrance of Portland Inlet. This point is of consequence bc<'ause Jlr. Uayard, I'^nited States iS(>eretary of State, in a despatch addressed to Mr. Phelps. I'liited States ilinister to (ireat Britain, dated 20th November, IHH.'i, appears to accept the theory projiounilcd by soiue I'liited States officials that Wales Island is the Prince of Wales Island referreil to in the Con- vention. As a nuUter of fact, it has been so named only within the last thirty years. Vancouver named th> scmthern extremity of the island " Point Wales " which, u" cloubt. led to the application of that designation to the whole island. Moreover, Prince of Wales Island is recognized at once by the recorded latitude and longitude of its south- ern coast. Vancouver showed on his chart the island as terminating in the points ^luzon and Chacon, in nearly the same latitude, namely, about .14° III', also the southern shores of the island as much broken, anss of the latitude in the Convention was purposely intended in order to cover both of these known points, and any other point whii'h might prove to project further south than they from the shore of this tract of land. From the best modern charts it apix'ars that Cape Chacon is the southernmost point of the main island and that Cape Mu/.on is that of a smaller, though still considerable, island lately named Dall Island, separated from the other by a very narrow channel, and that the latter cape is further south than Cape Chacon. Although Miizcm is not the sonthcrnuiost jxiint of the largest island of the Archipelago, yet. the intention of the Plenipotentiaries in giving the wide margin in the hmgilnde being to cover all the points. Cape Muzon must be undcrstoixl to be the point intcndeil by the Cnnvention. " Which point lies in the parallel of .54° 40' north latitude, and bctweB, not by a parallel of latitude and two meridians of longitude 7.1 miles apart. The mndiis vivendi made belwwu the Ignited .Stati's and linssia in 1H24, in which 64° 40' is mentioned aa the boundary for the purposes of fishing and trading tnerely, cannot be taken as explanatory of the intentions of the negotiators of this Convention, which purports to demarcate territorial possessions. Beeing that the line is to "a«cend to tlie north " from the point mentioned, n claim that the line is to run for 76 milos i2r. due oast along n parulifl of latituilo suoius absurd. It Is undurdtoud that thi' United States claim tliat the negotiatoM intoudi-d that thf lino should follow thi' parallel of ,14° 40', and to provide for the possibility that this parallel might eut olf a part of Prince of Wales Island, they nnide the proviso in the 4tli article that the island called Prince of Wales Island shall belong wholly to Kussia. It nuiy be nolieeil that, if such was the intention, there was no necessity for mentioning Prince of Wales Island in the third article at all. The name is superlluous, and ought, under this contention, to have been omitted as misUading rather than explanatory. Also, if the Russians supposed the point of Prince of Wales I.shmd to pas.s below ,14° W they were claiming sovereignty over territory which in tlie previous year, by Convention with the United States, they had agreed not to oeeuiiy. I'pon the theory thai the line, eomnieneing at the southernmost point of Prin<>e of Wales Island, in the latitude ami between the longitude mentioned in the treaty, immediately begjin to ascend to th,' north, it was requisite to provide that the whole of Prince of Wales Island should belong to Russia, otherwise su-cb a line would possibly have cut off sonic portions of the island and given them to Britain, and this fact explains and harmonizes both parts of thi' description in the (-'onvention, which otherwise would be obscure, if not misleading. In this connection it is necessary to refer to tln^ contention of th'i Govornmjnt of British Columbia, as contained in the Minute of the Executive. (,'ounint according to the next clause of the description; and thes(' mountains parallel t) the coast wer<' shown by Vancouver on his chart as coming ilown to the shore of Bur- rough's Bay. According to this reading of the description, the line from the southern- nnist point of Prince of Wales Island to the 50th parallel would asccn I to th.: north along an actual water channel all the way; whereas, a line following Portland Channel must leave the water some miles before it reaches the .Kith l)arallid. The contention that this reading of the Convention would lie more self-consistent and more in accordance with the topography of the country is not without basis in reason. It is at least as reasonable as would be a cfinteiitiou on the part of the t'niteil States that the parallel of .14° 4(1' should be the liiii' as far as the mouth of Portland Inlet, for that contention could be rendereil logical only by the omission of the words " souihcrninost point of Prince of Wales Island." Two astronomical co-ordinates are given in the (\iiivention for the purpose of identifying the point of commencement, namel.v, latitude .14° 40' and longitudp l.'!1° to \'M]°. One of these co-ordinates is as vital as the oilier. Neither the one nor the other can be disregarded. The Conven- tion requires the line to ''ascend to the north." It cannot ascend to the north along a parallel of latitudi'; but it can ascend to the north between longitude 131° and 13o° without inconsistency, and this will support so far the eonteulion of British Columbia, since Burrough's liny and nil lb uinecling waters betwe'cu it and the southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island lie, according to Vancouver's chart, between the long- itudes named. Some maps and other documentary evidence exist which indicate- that at the time of the Convention, and shortly afterwards, the northward course of the line along Clarence Strnit was accepted by gengrnphers ns the intent of the Convention. But while the above arguments may lie urged in support of the claim of British Columbin. and thus may he valuable as a taetienl outwork, as suggi'sted by I)r. Pawson. with ,i view, if nec(>ssary, of lioing abandoned, it will probably have to be admitted that the words " ealh'd Portland Channel " must be governing words, seeing that they occur in the Convention. None of the inner channels on this part of the coast were known before Vaneouver's time ; he visited them and gave them the name by which they were called at the time the Convention was entered into, and which, for the most pufi, they still retain ; and, ns set out at the beginning of this memorandum, the negotin- P-.12 1 I'll turs wiiluiut doubt liiul Vaiicuuvir's rliurts before them and most likily ilrew their discriptioii acturdiiig to thi'iii. What rhaiiiiol is Portland C'haiiuol < J ho words of till' Corivinlioii aro : " Sliall ascoiid to the north aloiin; the oluiniiel called Portland Channel as far as the point of the inntinent vvlu-re it >trikes the .Itith parallel of north latitude." What is meant by Portland Channel is olear from thi' text id' Vaneouver's " Voy- ane^ 4.V It is the channel ■ entrance is ju^t so\ith of Fort I'oiiv'ass, in latitude 5t° Of the occasion upon which he mimed the ehannel V'nciniTer speaks thus ■' In the forenoon «( reached iiait arm of tile sea whiwe examination hud oecupivd our time from the -'"111 of the p'eeedint; to tin- ind id' this month" (Au(rust, 1T9'J>. " The distance from its entrance to its source is about "0 miles, which, ill honour of the noble family of Ucntinck, I named Portland's Channel." His reference here to llic date of exploration leavc-i no doubt that his "Portland's Chnimel " is the channel which i)as,scs north of U'annaKhnut, Sitkl..n, Wales, Fillmore and Pearse Islands. The channel now called Portland Inlet is a part of the waters named by Vauoouver, Ob- ■sirvatory Inlet. J lis reference ill another place to Point Wales and Point ilaskolyne l^as the headlands at the intrance to Observatory Iidet. leaves no doubt upon this point. His chart also shows that b.v " Portland Chaaiiel " he intended the more northerly if the two channels, and .such seems to have Ixin the aubsiquent practice of eartopraphers until a comparativily late date, when the name Portland Inlet haviiiK been aiiplied on an Admiralty chart to the lower part of Observatory Inlet, the Tiiitcd Stales Coast Survey, under the plea of avoiding confusion of noineiielature, pave the name Pearse Canal to what is projierly the lower part of Portland (^hannel. Even uji 1,1 so late a date as ls8i the Tniled .States II.vdri(;raiiliie chart of Alaska and Alcxao- der Archiiielajlo shows Portland Canal as continuing iMhiiid Pearse Island. 'i'he entrance to Portland Channel is referred to by Sir Cliarles Bafrot, during the ncKotiatioiis precedent to the convention, as beinp in latitude ."14° -l"/. aRreiintr with Vancouver's recorded latitude id' the mouth of the channel named by him "Portland Cbannel." The Portland Channel of Vancouver is quite distinct from the Portland Inlet of recent charts, l^oth these jiassajfes were explored and named by \'aiicouver. As al- ready shown, he (lavc the name of I'ortland Channel to the more northerl.v. The southerly channel he named Ob>ervatory Inlet. This Observalor.v Inlet included not i'iil.v what is now known by that name, but also its continuation to the ocean, which is now called Portland Inlet. This is clear from the fact that Vancouver, in his '' Vo.ya!!;es " speaks of Pidiit Wales and Point ilo-skelyne us iHiiifi the headlands of the y oeenn entranc f Observatory Inlet. Vancouver's nonicnelature appears to have been retained on all majis and chart= until the year lS."i.'!, when on the Admiralty chart of Queen Charlotte Islands and ad- jacent coast, the name Portland Inlet was applied to the lower jairt of Observatory Inlet, and this name has been retained ever since by cartographers. Xo authority can 111 traced in the ll.vdrograiihic 1)c|>artinent of the Admiralty for this name. On the eluirt of Alaska, iiublished by the I'nited States Coast and Cieodetic .Survey in ISOD, Portland Chaiinel is shown as distinct from Observator.v Inlet, and the course of the bi undary aloiin' the ehannel is not marked, although a dotted line is drawn from the head of Portland Channel northwesterly to indicate the inland boundary. On the Initcd Slates Ilydi'ographic chart of Ih^i, Portland Channel is shown as imssiii); north of Pearse Island, but the boundary line is niarkeil as jiassiiig in by way of Port- land Inlet. In later charts the name Piarse Canal has been given to the part of Port- land Channel between the north end of Pearse Island and Fort Tongass. The whole of the confusion arises from the unauthorized use of the name Portland ^ Inlet on the Admiralty chart of l.'<5;i, but it is iK-rfectly clear that, at the time of the Convention, Observatory Inlet was consideri'd to begin at Points Wales and Maskel.vno, and no subsequent usage of cartographers can l)e taken as iiitcr|)reting the intention of the iH'gotiators of 1825. Upon the inaiut<>iiance of this position, that the channel named by Vancouver Portland Channel is that intended by tjie framers of the Convention, depends the owner- whip by Canada of Peaise, Wales and the adjoining islands. The commercial and mili- tar.y value of these islands to Canada, as comniaiuiiug the nearest deep water coinmnni- eatioii with the ocean of an area of vast extent, has In-en i)ointed out by Major-Ocneral Cameron in his letter dated October 29th, 18.>St!, to the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies. These islands would eonimand not only the passage into Observator.v Inlet and Portland Channel, but also the harlMiur of Port Simiwon, whieli has been much discussed as the Pacific terminus of a second ('anadiaii transcontinental railroad. (3) What cour.se does the line take from the point of oommeneemcnt to the entrance of Portland Channel \ ia7 Till' lim> coiiiiiicMiiiiK lit llir siiiilliirmiiust pniiit miles of >-c'n. I'lio presumption is that (Jupt Altizoii and thi' month of the i-hanncl (that is the iniilwHy point hetwwn Kaimaglinnut and 'J'ongass Islands at the rntrai to the ehan- nel now ealh'd I'earsi: Canal) are to he joined li.v a shortest line or ^real eirele. The words "along the I'hannel " refer to tile eonrse of the line after it reiielied I'ortjaiid Channel and not hefore; hesides, there is no ehiinnel properly so eiilled, helweeii th(> two points. I'nrther, if the lini' were inteiidod to pass through navigiihle water all the way from iluzon to the inontji of the ehannel there would he no meaning in the reserva- tion in Arliele JV. of the Convention, of the whole of I'rinee of Wales Islanil to Unssia. Sinee the entranee to I'ortland Channel is further north than Cajie Mnzoii, the creat circle will be aseeiiiling to til. north all the way. It appwirs that such a gr.'Bt eirclo will cut otf a small iiieee from CajM' Chacon. All the islands, &c., south of this great eirele are to lielong to (ireat liritain, excepting only the portion cut otf from ('a|M' Chacon, which, hy tile terms of Article JV., were t,o lielong to Uussia (and now to the I'nited .States) together with such rights a.s are allowed by the law of nations williin three marine miles of the coast thereof. From tli(^ entranee t.o I'ortland Channel, the line phould ascend along the middle cd' the channel, that is, along a line e<|ni-distant from the mean, low water mark upon each shore iiiilil it reaches the head of the ehannel, which is in latitude .">."i" .lli'. There art) a number of small islands which lie in Portland Channel, the ownershiji of whieh will have to \h: dei'ided by actual survey. (4) To what point on the Siitli parallel is the line to bo drawn from the head of Portland Channel i The head of the ehannel is about four miles south of the ."iiitli parallel, which »he iiegotiator.s state is to be reached by a line a.seending to the north along Portland Chnnnul. There may be a iiiicstion here as to how the line is to pass between the two main points — the ehamud and the parallel. Is it to jiavs in a due north line, following the literal meaning of the words "ascend to llie north," and also thereby taking the shortest course from the head of the cliAnncl to the parallel I Ls it to continue in the general direction of the channel at or near its head, — that is in a direction some degrees to the east of north ; or is it to pass in a direct line or great circle to the intersection of the parallel with the summit of the mountains parallel to the coast i Of these threi' lines the last api»ars to bo the most in conformity with the words of the Convention, for the negotiators evidently intended that the line coming from the south should strike the ■'ititli parallel at some definite iioint ; and they go on im- mediately to say " from this last mentioned point the line of demarcation shall follow the summit of the mountains," &c. It is in the highest degree improbable that the due north line from the head of the channel, or a line prolmiging the direction of the ehan- nel, would intersect, or would be supposed by the negotiators to intersect, the Sfith |)arallel precisely nt the summit of a definite range of mountains. The fact that this line eonnecfing the head of the channel with the intersection of the parallel and the mountain summit will run in a direi'tion not many degrees north of west does not con- flict with the words "ascend to the north " more than does the nenrl.v due east course of the line from Cape ^luzon to the mouth of Portland Channel, since the evident intention was to draw a lino from one definite point, namely, the southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island to another definiti' point, namely, the intersection of the .Mtth parallel and the mountains by a line which would pass by way of Portland Chan- nel. The omission of the terminal course is merely a hiiilKx in words and not, in sense, just as is the omission of the first course. From the best information available, it appears that the .'itith parallel crosses the range of a mountain parallel to coast at least three times. If such be the case, it would appear most reasonable that llii^ point of interecction nearest to the head of Portland Channel should be taken and that the boundary line fnmi thence should pass along the aummit of the mountains, just, north of the parallel, thence to the south, cross- ing the parallel, and following alongside the coast of Cleveland Peninsula, and thence again north following alongside the coast of the continent. There is, however, another contention upon this point which it is tjiought Ix'tter to discu.ss, and which is discussed under the sixth heading, " What is the coast." (5) What are the nnnintains situate parallel to the coast? " From this last-mentioned point the line of demarcation shall follow t}"- summit of the mountains situated parallel to the coast as far as the point of intersc (ion of the 141st degree of west longitude." That the mountains nearest the coast are intended, is evident I'rom the following considerations : — Vancouver, in his account of his vo.vnges, refers repeatedly to mountains bordering the coast, wherever he touched, and such mountains arc shown on his charts. If the negotiators had intended the line to follow the watershed of the whole regiim. or the 12!< highest mouiitiiii'.-i, tiny would surely «> liiivi' ixprcssiil il, llic British m'ttotiutors, iK'ing cm tlii'ir Ki»ir shuwn by mrrrspduili lur jirt'o'diiit In tlic Cimvc iilimi, aKi>>>>st tlir ossumptiun that Vaui'uuvcr's delineation ol iiioiiiitains, or any ollu'r I'lalurc not innm- diatfly on the coast, was to be relied upon, lither as to di^tauee inland or direetion. In the eorreapondenee between the IMenipotenliaries many refirenees oeeur which show tlitit they had in their minds mi>nntains clone to the loasi ; as, for instance, in the observations nnide by the Uussian IMenipotenliaries on the ainemled |rroposal of Sir Charles Ba(;ot, where they speak ol a chain of monniains which follow, at a very short distance, the sinuosities of the const. The proposal of the British Plenipotiiitiary to limit the Russian territory by the seaward base of the mountains was met by the objec- tion on the part of liussia that il was not iinpon^iblc that these nlouutain^ inifiht I'Xiend to the very border of the sea, which would leavi' Uus^ia no territory on the coast. Other refcreuces in the (li|ilomatie I'orrespondenee iniKht be cited to show that the mounluins nearest the coast were inti'uded. The distinction bet\\ei>n niount.iins and hills is an arbitrary oia'. based upon alti- tude. A nioiintaiti may be deii'.uo, in accordance with the ceiieral usatre of fjeottraiih- ers, as "region in which llic elevation of the surfai hankies about l.tKlli f( it or iiiore by a sloi)e rapid enou^'ll to bi' plainly piTceptibli to the I'Ve " (p. HU Kclei-tic I'liysical Geopnipby. by Kussell llinman: indili>hed by Van Antwerp. Brair^' A: Co.. Cincinnati and New York. IXSS). .Such is ibe iii'iicral character of the elevations i:i;nicdiately bordering the sea alonir the whole .Maskan coast, but they are backed by biuhir moun- tains immediately biliiud them, whose summits are bare of timber and sometimes of all vcfrctation. Kinci' the distinctlou of heitrbt between hills and mountains is a rela- tive term, what are naiuntains in one country woubl U' hills in another. It may then- fore be found ailvisabli' for the purpose of facilitating an agreement, as well as having a better ilcHncd rangi', to rotrict the applii'atiou of the term mountains to those sum- mits which rise above the timber line. 'I'lie proiiriety of this use of the word does not admit of i|ucstion. The word parallel in " the summit of the mountains situated parallel to the coast " is explained by the reference to thise nunintnins in Artii'lc IV. " the mountains which extend in a direction parallel to the coast." Parallel is delined by Welister as "having the same dire<'tion or t.euib'Uiy: running in accordance with something." It is ncarl.v e(juivalent to " alongsitlc." The frc(iuent reference.' to these mountains by the nego- tiators in their corre-pondenee show that they believed them to follow jiretty closely the direction of the coast. That the word i)arallel is not to be taken in its strict gi'o- inetrieal sense as implying iMini-distamc is plain from the provision of Article IV. for the pos.sible ease that thi' mountains parallel to the coast may be sometimes less, or pomctinies nnu'c. than ttn unirine leagues therefrom. It is to be noticed that the line of ten nnirinc leagues from the coast is not pre- scribed by Article IV as the altermitive boundar.v. The provision is not that the line shall lie exactly icn marine Icague-s inland in the ease of absence of mountains within that limit, but that it shall not be more than ten marine leagues inland. That is, the negotiators assunu' that there are some mountains nearer to the coast than ten mnriiu' leagues, and these mountains the line is to follow. If, however, there is a break or reeessicm in the mountain range, the line is to cross that break keeping its general direction parallel to the coast. It makes no difference what causes the break, whether a recession of the mountains, a river, valley, or an arm of the sea not wide enough to he considered a part of the ocean. In the discussion of the negotiators, the territory assigned to Kussia on the continental shore is always referred to as a "' marginal strip" (lisiere). Nothing more was asked for by Russia than a "point d'appui " on the coast. The limit of ten marine leagues was iiisisteil upon by the British negotia- tors for the reason slated in the letter dated July 12th, 1.S24, from the Right Honour- able (t. Canning to Sir Charles Bugot: — "We have experience that other mountains on the other side of the Aiuerieau ooiitiuent which have been assumed in former treaties as lines of boundary, are incorrectly laid down in the maps; and this inac- eura<'y has given rise to very trouhU'Some discussions." Hence it appears that the ten marine league limit was intended a.s a safeguard merely, ami that if has no reference to any supposition as to the existence of a range of mountains at or about that dis- tance from the coast. In short, the intention of the negotiators was to make the boundary line run in a general direction, parallel to the coast, and thev believed that this object, with the further advantages of a natural boundar.v, would be best secured by folhiwing thi' siunniit of the mountains which they supposed to exist near the coast. ((I) What is the coast < The word "coast" means lands bordering on the ocean. It cannot b' properly applied to the shore line of a narrow bay, gulf or river. The word " cote " in the French original of the Convention, which is translated " coast," carries the same mean- ing. It is defined by Pierre Larousse in his Dictionnaire du XIX Siecle, a standard authority, as " the lauds bordering on the sea which present themselves to the e.ves (in 12» npproBching Inntl) ns being more elevated, the idea of considerable extent b'iiig con- viyed." An inlet or fiord which is leaj than six miles wide is territorial under the rule of international law which gives a maritime state property in the owaii to a ili.-'tauce of three nuirine miles from the «hore. Sueh an inlet is an indentation in llie coast, but not part of the coast itself. Again it may 1m' remarkiil that to consider the shore line of inlets as coast is inconsistent with Article IV., by which, if the mountains which extend in a direction liarallel to the coast i)rove to be more than ten marine leugues from the ocean, the line is to cross the gap parallel to the windings of the coast. Why is the word "owan" .-ubstituted here for the word '' coast " used everywhere else ? Certainly for the pur- pose of detining what is meant by " coast." The word " ocean," by the accepted usage of geographers, cannot be applied to openings in the mainland less than six miles wide. The word " coast " in this Article must nicun oii'un const. The references in the negotiations to a "marginal strip of coast," not to cxceeil ten marine leagues in breadth, make this still more evident. On tjie contrary assumption that the shore lines of inlets are '" <'<>asts," in the case of an inlet such as l.ynu ("anal, which is longer than ten nuirine leagues, the limit of tlu; marginal strip might \x' removed to ijo or :iO leagues from the ocean. Hence the word " owers, or those belonging to their respective subjects, shall miitually be at liberty t.i frequent, witliout hindrance whatever, all the inland seas, the gulfs, havens and creeks on the coast mentioned in Article III, for the purpose of fishing and trading with the natives." The " coast " mentioned in Article III means the particular con.4t there described, that is between the mouth of Portland Channel and the 14l8t meri- dian, not the whole western coast of the continent. If the latter were intended it would have read " the western coast of America," or words to the same effect, instead of coast mentioned in Article III. In the preceding Article (0), almost precisely the same words are used " coast indicated in Article 111," and there it is evident that the Russian coast alone is referred to. If it were not the intention to give Great Britain the heads of any of the inlets, why is the concession of the right of navigation of these inland seas, gulfs, havens and creeks made reciprocal '< If Russia had full ownership of them all, there was no need to reserve to herself the right of navigating them. It is well understood that the United States claim that the shore lines of nil in- lets, however narrow, are part of the coast. If they make good this claim, Portland Channel nnist be considered a part of the ocean, and the boundary line, instead of being drawn from its bead in a tlireet line to the intersection of the coast mountains by the COth parallel near Burrough's Bay, must be drawn in a direct line to the snnmiit of the range which follows the western shore (rf Portland Channel itself. It will then pass from the intersection of that sunnnit with the .5fith jiurallel south along the range t.. near Cape I'ox and thcnee north again to Burrough's Ba.v, after which it will take the course indicated already, excepting that it must pass around the heads of inlets instead of crossing them parallel to the ocean. The special cases of Dry Strait, at the mouth of the Stikine, and Oastineau Chan- nel, on which is situated the town of Juneau, require special notice. By maritime law, the edge of the sea is the mean low water mark. Evcrytliing above that water mark, although covered at high tide, is land. Dry Strait extends from Alitkof Island to the nuiinland at the delta of the Stikine. It is hare, except at high tide. Consequently, Witkof Island, with Rynda. Kadin, Farm, and other islands form a peninsula. The true coast line is here withdrawn to the first navigable channel,— Wrangdl Narrows. Since all these ishinils arc mountains, the boundarj' line will here cross by way of Kadin and Rynda Islands to Jlitkof Islands, and include the whole delta of the Sti- kine, as well as the upiKT part of Frederick Sound, in Canadian territory. The same is the case with (iastineau Channel, where the summits of the hi.';h mountains of what is called Douglas Island will form the Boundar.v, taking in, as Cana- dion territory, the towns of Juneau and Treadwell and the valuable mines in that vicinity. Summing up the arguments stated, it is recommended that the coiirse of the line of demarcation to be contended for on the imrt of Canada be as follows : — Beginning from the extremity of Cape Muzon, which is the soutjiernmost point of Prince of Wales Island, there are alternative courses as far as the point of the conti- nent wliere the line reaches the ."ifitli parallel, namel.v : — Ist. According to the contention of the flovernment of British Columbia, the line shall pass along the navigable ••hannels aroiind the southern and south-eastern coasts of Prince of Wales Island at a distance of one marine league from the shore, until it has rounded Cape Chacon, the most scuith-easterly point of the island ; thence it slnll D— 33 13(1 fdlliiw ill 11 striiiKliI liiii' til till' iMiiiit iiiiilway lii'twccii Cape Cliacoii aiul Capi' Niirthiiiii- IktIuikI. and tliiinc up thr iiiiilille i>f ClarriH'e Sirait, Hi'liiii'!< Canal and liiirn>ii|;irit Ita.v until it iiii'< ts, in tliat liay, llii' riiilli parallrl ; tlitnci' it shall puss in a slrai^lit lint' to the iirarcst siuniiiit Miiisseiit. an iiiojen il'nn accord qui nVler.'it. ; iipres Ic prlncIpe lies eonvenanees v''".-ipr.. n . s. divers points re- latifs au i i lumeviv, U iiavlitatlon. et nux peclieries de le'iis siijets sur I'tlceaii I'acl lliine. aliisl 'H" i ■^ .liulles ile 1: urs posses- sions respe- a .s ■ ar la cote nord-ouest de r.Vmerliine t nomnif' des rieiil))otentlal- res pour eoiiclure line Conventlou ft cet elTet. savolr:— Sa Ma.|este le Uol du Itojauiiie lul lie la t;rniide-Itreta(.'iie et de I'lrlaiiile, le Trfs Iloiionilile Stratford fanning. Consell- ler lie Sa dlt" Majeste en Son Coiisell I'rlvf'. etc. Kt Sa Majeste I'l'.nipereiir lie tontes les Hussies, le Sieur diaries Uoliert Comte lie Nesselroile. Sou Coiiselller I'live .Vctnel. Memlire ilu Consell de rKmplre. SecrC'talre il'Ktat illrlceant le ^lllllsl^l•e des alTalieH KtraiiKiTes. etc. ; et le Sleur I'lerre de I'o- leti™. Son Coiiselller il'Ktat .Vetuel. etc. lj>sipiels I'leiilpoteiitlalres. apres s'Ptre eoiu- niuulipie leurs pleliis-poavoli-s respectlfs. trouvf's en lioiiue et due forme, out urrMe et slunf' les .\rtlcles sulvants : .Art. 1. II est eonvenu ipie. dans auciine partle ilu Kinnd Ocean. apiHMe coinniunf^- nient Ocean racltii|«e. les sniets respectlfs des Ilautes rnlssanees ContraetantJ's no se- ront 111 troulilees. nl t;">nee». solt dans la navlKatlon. solt dans rexploltatlon de la pAelie. solt dans In fncultC d'nborder anx ITriiiiiilnllon.] l.\ THE NA.\(E OF THE .MOST HOLY A.\D lINDIVinEI) THINITY. Ills MiCesty the Klii« of the rnlted King- dom of Creat Krltalii and Ireland, ami Ills Maji-sty the Kinperor of all the Hu.sslas. lieliiK ileslrons of ilniwliiK still closer the ties of «ood niiilerstaniUm; anil friendship which unite them, hy means of an aKfeement which may settle. upon the basis of reciprocal convenience. difTereiit points coiineeted with the commeri-e. navltratloii and lislierles of tlielr subjects on the racllle (.cean as well as the limits of their respective poss.ses- sloiis on the north-west coast of America, have iiaineil rieuipiitentlarles to iMiueliiile a Convention for this purpose, that Is to say :— Ills Majesty the Kim; of the rnlteil Klniidom of (ireat Ilrltalii and Irebiud. the Itlulit Iloiionrnble Stratforil CaniilUK. a member of Ills salil Mii.|esty's .Most Iloiioiir- alile Privy Coniiell. &(:. anil Ills .Majesty the Emperor of all the Itiisslas. the Sleiir Cliarles Robert Count de Nesselroile. Ills Iiii]>erlnl .Majesty's I'rlvy ('oinielllor. a mem- ber of the Council of tbe Kmplre. Secretary of State for the Departiuent of Foreljiu .vn'nirs. &c., and the Sieur I'lerre ile Pole- tlcn. Ills Imperial .Maiesly"s Councillor of State. iVc. Who. after havlnir conimunl- cated to each other their respective full powers, found In (looil and due form, have nKreed upon and sl(,'neil the folIowliiK Articles : .\rt. 1. It Is ajrreeil that the resi>eetlve sulijects of the IIiKh Contra ctliitr Parties shall not be tronliled or molesteil hi an.v part of the Ocean, eomnionly called tbe I'aclllc Ocean, either In iiavicatiui; the same. In llshiU): tlien'lii. or In Inndlni; at such liarts of the coast as slinll not have been i:ti i/lh'tt, HUr (I<'K IHlIlltH l|Ul llf KITIlIl'llt ptlH (It*- JA (uruiM'S. mill il'y falri' Ir iipimiiiMi'r iivi'c ll'H llllliKl''ll>>H. Hlllll' tllllloflliS ll'H ri'Htrll'tloMH ft CUIKlitidllH (ir-tl'l'lllilM''l*H pat' lOH ArticloH illli Hlllvrllt. II. linns 111 vii<> l^l'lllIl^('ll«>r qui* h*M ilrnltH tic lllivijflltloll «'t lli> |m\'I|)> I'XrrivH Hlir li' u'riiiiil (lii'iiii piir ll'H Hiiji'ls ill's llaiiti'H I'tir- tU'H roiiti'iii-tiiiitrs ill' di'vii'iiiii'iit ti' pi'('>ti'xri' Iriiiivi' iin ^''tiilillH- si'ini'iit ItilNHi', siitiN 111 ihtiiiIkhIoii till iiiiuvi'r- ni'iir (Ml t'liniiniiiiilnnt : I't ipic n'Mipi'iiiiiii'- nii'iit. Ii's Hiiji'ts KiiNsi's 111' pniirront iilnii*- (IW HIIIIN pcriUlHHillll. it lllll'llll C'tllllllHHI'lniMlt llrltiiiinii|iii' Hiir in ri'ile noril-uiii'Ht. III. i.ii IIkik' ill* iK'niiirriitiiiii iMiti'i' ii'H poHHi'ssloiiH ili'H IliiiitrH rartli-H ('iintriii'tnii- ti'N »HI' III oiiti' ilii rontinoiit I't ii's IIch ilr lAinfTiipH' niiril-mu'Kt. hciii iriu-ri' hIiihI iiii'li suit : A partir dii point plus niC'rlilloiiai tie I'lli* ilito I'riiice or Walt'H. loi|Ui'l point so trouvi' sons parailMi* ilu .'i4<> tli-Ki'i'' -Hi uiiiiuti's i\e latltiiile iioril. i't I'Utro it- I.'ili' i't li- l.'Kii- clc- Ki-i'- 111* loiiKltude oiH'st liiif'ililii'ii ill' (Jrcfii- wk'lii. la ilito IIkuk riunonti'ra iiii iioril li- loUK lie lu pasHi- ilitt* rortlanil I'lianiicl, |us- ipi'au point tlo ill tiTi'i' fiTini- oil plii' atti'lnt li' ri(><> ili>sri'' (le iiitltudo noril : ili' ci- diTnlor point la IlKiii' de drinarcatlon sulvra la orOte ill's niontiiKni'H hIUiiVs paniiii'li'inont fl ia roto. Jusqirau point irinti'i-si'itloii ilu I4li> di'lin'' ill' ioiiKitudf otiost (niOnip infTlilieiii ; I't tlnali'ini'iit, du Jit point d'lnti'i'si'rtion. la ni^ini' llii'ii' uifTiiliiMini' ilu lUi- ili'^rf' for- iiii'ra, dans sou prolonuoiniMit Juhiiu'A ia .MiT (iiaclali-. ill ilniiti" cntri' ii>s possessions Itussi's I't IlritaniilipU'S sur io I'lintlni'iit do rAini'rIiiuo iiord-ouost. IV. II ost outi'iidu, par rapport il la llttui' i\i' dC'iiiarration di'torinlniV iliiiis i'Artirli' prrcC'di'iit : I. gui" I'llo dlto I'riinv of Wiiii's iippar- tii'iiilra touti' I'litifro i1 la Ilussio. 'J. ro do la ortto Indlquf'o dans I'.irtli'lo III. lip la prf'scntc Coiivpntlon. alroail.v oii iipiod. In urdor to Irado willi tlie iiativos, uiidor tlio rost riot Ions and onnill- lioiiM siioililod in tho foiiiiwiiiK .Vrllolos. II. In orilor to proM'iit tiio rli;lit oi' iiiivl- uatiiiK and lisliiii),-. oxoriisod iipoi' Ilio i au li.v llio siilijocts of llio IliKli Conlnii'linK I'artios. from lioioiniui.' tlio protoxl lor an iliiiit I'ommoi'i'o, It is iiKrood tiiiit liio siili- Jii'ls of His Mritannio .Majosl.v sliaii not iiiiiil at iiii.v iiiiiio wlioii- tlioio nia.v lio u Itussian ostaliiishiuont, williiiut tho iiorinis- siiin of till* liovoriior or romuiandant ; anil on till' otiior liiinil, that Itussian siilijoots shall not iiinil. witliout porinissioii at any llritlsh oslaiiilsliniont. on tlio niirth-wost roast. III. Tho iino of doinai-riition hotwoon tlio possossions of tho lll;:li Contraitini: I'artioH, upon tho roast of tho rontiiiout, and tlio isianils of .Miiorioa to tho uortli-wost shall ho ilriiwn ill tho maiinor following : roniinonoin;; from tho southorninost point of tho isiiind oailoil I'l'luoo of Walos Island, whioh point lios In tho paraiiot of .Vl doiiroos 411 miniitos. north iatltudo. anil hotwii'ii tho Ktlst and l.'Wril do^riH' of wost lonKlludo (niorldlan of (irooiiwiohi. tho said ilni' shaii asi'oiid to tho iif)rth aioiiK tho ohannoi i-aliod INirtiiind Chiinnoi. as far IIR tho point of tho oontlnont whoro It Ktrikos tho .'iiitli di'iin'o of niirtii iatitiido ; from tlilf* last iiiontionod point, tho iliio of domaroa- tiiai shaii follow tho siiininit of tho mountains sitnatod parallol to tlio roast as far as tho point of Intorsootion of tiio Hist di'uri'o of Host liin);itiiih' (of tho saino iiiorl- ilianl : and. tinail.v. from tho said point of Intor soi'lion. tho said morldiaii lino of tlio I41st doitroo in Its prolongation as far iiH till' I'ro/.oii Oooan. sliaii form liio iimit hotwoon tho llusslaii and Hrltish possos- sions on tho I'ontiiiont of Aniorloa to the north-wost. IV. With rofori'iioo to tho lino of iloinaroa- lloii iaiil down In tho prooodlii); Artiolo II In undorstood : 1st. That tho Isiaiiil oiillod Trinoo of Waios Island shaii holoiit; wtiotiy to Unssia. Liiiil. Tiiat wlionovor tho siiminit of tiio mounhilns wlilih oxtonil in a illrootioii paralioi to tlio roast, from tho ."iiltii doiiroe of iiortii iatltudo to till' point of intorsoi'tlon of tho I4lst donroo of xvost loii);itiido. sliaii provo to Im' at tiio dislanoo of iiioro than III marino loaifiios from tiio oooan. tiio iiiiilt In'twoon thr Itritisii poNsossions and tho lino of idiist whioh is to holiini; to Hussla. as aiiovo inoiitloiioil. shall ho forinoil li.v a line jiarallol to tho wlnilim.'s of tlio roast, and "liiili shall iiovor oxiood tho distauio of 10 marino loa^uos tiiorofroni. V. it is iiii.roin-or aurii'il (hat no ostaliiish- iuont shaii ho fornii'd h.v oltlior of tiio two parlios witliln tho iimits assl^'iiod h.v tlio two proroiiiny: .Vrtiolos to tho possossions of tiio othor : I'onsoquonli.v. Hritlsh sulOocts shall not form an.v ostahiisiiniont oitlior ii|>on till' ooast. or upon tiio liordor of tho oon- tlnont lomprisod within tiio iimits of the Itussian possossions. as ilosi|;natoil in the f.vo piooi'dlmr .Vrllolos ; and. In liko niaunor, no oshihiisiimont shall iio forniod liy Itussian snh,|oots iioyonil tho said liini' j. VI. It is uiidorsdiod that tho suhjoots of His Itritannio Majosty. from whatovor qiiartor thoy may iirrivo. wiiotlur from tiio oi'Oiin. or from tiio intorior of tiio oontlnont. shaii for ovor oiijoy tiio ri^ilit of iiavlpitiii); frooiy. and witliout any hindrani'o whatovor. ail tho rivors and stroams wliloi', in tiioir ooiirso towards tiio I'lioilio Oi'oaii. niti.v oross tlio iino of douiaroatlon uiioii tiio lino of ooast dosoriliod in .Vrdoio 111. of the pri'sont ('onvontloii. 132 VII. II est iiiissl I'litcndu (iiii', iH-iuliiiit I'os- piu'c (le 10 aiiH. i\ (later de la Hitiiiatuiv de fette Convention. Ie« valHwean.v dert deux I'ulssnnces, on ceux appartenans ft le\u'.s su- Jots respcctlfs. ponrront reelproiinenient fre- quenter, RiniH entrave (pieleontine. tontes les luers Interlem'es. Ich goltes, liavres. et crl- ijuos anr la cote nientlonnC>e dans I'Artlele III. atiii d'y fa Ire la pfelie et le eoninierce nvec les IndisftneH. VIII. Le port de Sitka, on Novo Arelmn- KClHk, sem ouvert an conuueree et anx vals- 'jeatix des siijets Hrltannliiuen dnrant I'espa- (» de 10 anH, (l datiu' de reeluniKe di's ratl- flcntlons de celte (.'onventUin. An las qu'nne prolongation de ee ternie de 10 ans Bolt aeeordee ft (luehpie iiutre PidHHanee, In nifnie prolont;atlrniettre au prf'alalde id vole de fiit. nl niesiu'e de force, seront tennes de fa Ire ini rapport exact de ralTalre et de ses cii*- eoustances ft l(>iirr: Conrs respectlves. les- quelles s'euyra^ent ft la rf'jrier ft I'andalde. ot (l'apr("'s les principes d'une parfalte Justlc(>. XII. I,a prC'seide ConA'enlhin sera ratltlf'e. et les ratlllcatioiis en seront C'clinnf.'f'('S A Iiondres. dans I'espaee de II seiuaini't;. ou plut(1t si faire se iient. Kn fol (le (piol les ri('Ulpot(>nllalreR res- peetlfs I'onl kIjiik''. et .>" onf apposf' 1(» caeliet de leurs urines. rait ft St. relerlmnrs. 28 in ffvrler, de I'an (le Grftee 182,-), (US.) STHATFOHI) CA\NI\(!. (I,.S.> I,F (OWTF. Ill' NKSSKI.nonE. (1<.S.) riKUHK m: TOMCTICA. VII. It is also understood, that, for the simce of 10 .vears from the sitfiintiire of the present Convention, the vessels of the two Towers, or those heloiiiflni; to their ivspee- tive subjects, shall uintually lie at llhin'ty to freipieiit, without any hindrance whatever, all the Inland seas, the i;ulfs, havens, and creeks on the coast iiieiitloned in Article III. for the purposes of tlshiiiK and of tiiiding with the natives. VIII. The port of Sitka, or Novo Archaii- iielsk, shall lie oiK'ii to the eounneree and vessels of Itrltish subjects for the space of 10 years from the date of the excliantte of .lie ratlticatloiis of the pivsent Convention. Ill the event of an extension of this term of 10 years beliii; granted to any other Tower, the like extension shall be wanted also to Troi{ii f'.w.viNo. IL.S.I COMTi, . >•: \'i:ssk;.h(>iik. tl.S.l TIKKItK ... TOMOTICA. Irlcil . arth ii CONVKNTIOX l^KTWKKN THE TTNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TITS MAJESTY THE EAIPEHOR OF AT-L THE KUSSIAS IJELATIVE TO NAVIOATINU, FISIITNC!, ETC, IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN, rCinicluded April 17, JH24; Katifieation exehniiKed Jniiiiary 11, 18215; proelnimed January Yl, 1825,] ITmnslalion.] AV NOM UK I,.\ TRRS SAINTK ET I.VDIVI- IN THE .N'A.MK OF THU .MOST HOLV A\'n Sim.E TIIINITK. I.N'DIVISini.E TUINITV T,e Tn'sldeiit des Ktals -CiiIk d'Ani('ili|iie. The TresldenI of the Cnlted Stiiles of et Sa Mii.hsti'' rKiiipeiciir de tontes les America and Ills Sfajesty the Kmiiena- df 1X3 KnsHicH. viiiiliiiit clnifiilor li's lli'iis (riimllir- qui IcH niilNsi'iit. el ]iHHnr*>r t'liirt' I'lix Ir iiiiilntieii Invjtritilili' iriiii ptirfalt lu-i'onl. iiKiytMintiiil 111 prrst'iitc Coiivt'iitioii, uiit iioin- iiif' iMiur Ic'uis I'lOrMpiili'iitlali'i-s ft ci't I'lTi't. Hiivoir ; J.v rrf'Hicli'iil dcs Ktats Inis irAiniV I'liiiip. Iv Sli'iir Ifriii'v Middli'tiiii. I'lloycn dcs dl(H Ktiils. I'l li'ur IliiVD.vC lOxlraiii'dliiaii'i' ft Mliilslri' ri''id|iip|i'iillaliv \>\i'-n Sa MaJi'Ntr Iiiipi-rlalc : rt Sa Maji-nlr ri;iii|MTval|pi- dp ppIuI dp Tatirlp liIaiH- ilp roI(i)j:iip, llraiid Criiix dp I'diilrp di' St. Kllpiiiip pl d'lliiiicrip, t'lipva- llpi-dpM oidi-pN dii St. Knprlt pt dp St. Mlclipl. pt (fraud Oiiix dp pplnl dp la I.pkIoii dllnii iipiir dp Fraiicp. Clipvalipr (irand I'riilx dps nrdri'N dp Taltilp rii)lr pt dp I'alKlp rniiiip dp rrii.'iHp. dp r.\)nioiip|adi' dp Sardaii;iip. dp CliarlPH in. d'K.spaiiiip. ili' St. I'lrdliiaiid pl ilii iiiprllp dp NapIpK. iIp I'lOK.pliaiil dp Danp- inarc. dp I'lOtiillp IVilalrp dp Siii^ilc. dp la <''»nrnnnp dp WiirlpinhprK, dp« diiplplips dp Ilaniivrp dii I. Inn Ilp|(;p dp la KldplltC dp Italic Pt dp St. ("ciiiHtiiitIn dp I'ariue : Pt riprrp dp I'cilptlpa. CoiiKPillpr d'Ktat actupl CliPvallpr dp I'ort'rp ilp St. Aniip dp In iPr clnsHP Pt (irand Croi.^ do I'ordrp ilp St. W'lailiinir dp la spppihIp; ipsiinpls aprps avoir pchaiiup IpdrH jdoiiiH pouvidrs. trouvpH pn lioniip Pt due forinp, out arri>t6 Pi Blgiie Ips sllpnlatlon.s siilvaiites— ARTIfT.E PHEMIEH 11 pst ponvpiiu ipip «latis aupuMP parlip dn irraiid oppmii appclp poiiiniinipiiipnt Oppaii racilhpip oil .Mpr dtl Slid. Ips pito.vi'ils oil siijpls rpsppitifs dps liaiitps piilsHiiiipps poii- triiPtameK up sprout id troulili^s, id ^C'lif'S, solt all llip Uiissliis. wishing to ppini'iit tlip lionds of iiiuit.v wMpIi iinllp tliPin, and to sppiirp hptwppii thpin tlip Im'ariahlp niaintpnaiipp of a |)pi fppl conpord. by lupaiis of llip prp- spiit (Niiivpiitioii liiivp naiiipi) as tliplr rit'iii- potpiiilarlps to tills pffppt. to H It -. The I'rcsldpiit of llip I'liitPd Slalps of .Vnipi'lpa, llpiiry .MiddlPton, a Plti/Pii of said Stiilps. and tlipir Kiivoy lIxInKHilinary ami Miiiistpr [Mpiilpotpntiary iipar ills linpprlal Majesty ; and Ills Majpsty tlip Kinppior of all tlip IMi. das, Ids liplovpd and faltlifiil Cliailps Uoiiprl. Coniit of .N'psssplrodp. ailiial I'rivy Coiinpiilor, .\Ii>iiilipr id' I lip Coniipil of Statp. Sppi-ptary of Stiitp dirpptiiiK tiic ad- iiiinlstrntloii of I'orPlfin AITnlrs. nptuiil Cliani- lipilalii. KiilKlit iif tlip Ordpr of St. AIpx- andpr \pvsUy, (Jrand Cross of tlip Orilpr of, St. Wladlnilr of tlip lirsl plass. KiilKlit of' tliat of tlip Wliitp Ktiiflp of roland. (Irand Cross of tlip Ordpr of St. StppliPii of lliin- piry. Kidjtlit of tlip (Irdprs of tlip Holy (Iliost and of St. .MIpIhipI. anil (irand Cross of Uip I.Ptilon of Hononi of I'niiipp. Kni^'lit ijrainl Cross of tlip Ordprs of Ilip ItlacU and of ilip lipd Kaulp of rrussia. of tlip .\nniiii- pial! >r Sardinia, of Cliarlcs III. of Spain. of SI. Fpi-dliiaiid and of .\Iprlt of .Naples, of llip lllppliant of lipiiinarU. of tlip I'olar Star of SwimIpii. of tlip Crown of W'irlPinlinrjr. of llip (Iiiidplis of llanovpr. of llip HpIkIp l.lon. of Fidpllty of lladPii. and of St. Coirslantiiip id' I'ai-nia : and IMorrp dp TolPtlpa. artiial Coniiilllor of Sliitp. Knlchl of tlip Ordpr of St. .\nnp of llip first plass. and OraiiiJ Cross of llip Ordpr of St. Wladliiiir of Hip s ii ; Who. aftpr having pxclian^'pil tlipir ' powprs. found In a I and ditp form. i. ,p iiKri'i'd upon and sIkiipiI Hip followiiur sti- pulations : .vuTin.ic 1. It is at'ri'Pii that. In any pari of tiip (iri'iit (tppan. pomiiionly lallpd Hip I'apilip Oppan. or Sontli Spa. (lip rpsppptivp pill/.piis or siili- jP"tM of the iiinh cnnlrapllni: I'owprs shall hp iipltlipr dlsdirlipil nor rpstraiiipd. I'lllipr dans la limitation, suit dans I'pxploltatlon in iiavi^ratioii ur in tlslllll^^ or in Hip powpr of rPHoi'tlhu to tlip poasts. upon points wlilpli may not alrpiid.x- havp hppii oppiiplpil. for thP piirposp of (radin>r wltli natlvps. saving always llip ipslrli'tions and poiiditions ilp- Ipiniliipil liy Hip followini; artlplps. dp la ppplip. soil ilans la fiipiiltf- d'lihordpr aiix pfiti's .^nr dps nolntn qtil no sprolpiit pas ilpjA oppiipps. atiii d'.v fairi* Ip poniniprrp av'p '.PS indlKPiiPs. siiiif tonlpfols. Ips ri's- Irh'H '.tH pt pondlHoiiK dptprinliii''ps par Ips nrlii Jps ipil snivpiil. AUTICI.R DEUXIK.MR. Ifans hi VHP d'piiippilipr qiip Ips ilroitK dp ii'K Iralloii Pt dp ppplip pxprpps sur Ip itrand oppali par Ips pltoypiis pt siijpis iIps iKilltPS pnlssaiipps pontrtiptaiilps iip dpvlpniipiit Ip pif'lpxlp d'lin poiiiini'rpp IIIIpIIp. 11 psl poii- vpt'ii. ijiip Ips pitoypiis dps I'',tats I'liis n'a- liordpi'ont ft aini'. i imlnl ".i 11 sp Ironvp tin plaidisspiiipid Itnssp. saii.s la prrniission dn (ioiivpriipiir on Cominandant : pI ipii' rt^cl- proiiiipniPiit Ips sii.ipts l:i: ..^sp iip ponrroni aliordpi' sans ppriiiission ft aiiPiin ptaldissp iiipiit dps l-:iats-riils stir la Cnip noril-otiPHl. -MtTIcl.K H. Willi .1 vIpw of prpvpiilinit Hip rltflits of mn'i;;atlon and of Ilsliin^ pxprplspil upon Hip (irpiil (ippaii hy Hip pIHzpiis and siih.lppts of Hip Iiiv'li '•ontraptlntr I'owprs from iippoin- iiid Hip pri'tpM for an IIIIpII Iradp. It Is iiKr I dial till' plHzPiis of Hip I'liltpcl Siatps sliall mil i-psorl lo any point wlipip Hiprp is a Kiisslaii psialillslinipiit, wlHioiii Hip ppr- iiiission of Hip irovpi-iior or I'oinnimamlpr : ■iiid that, rppipropiilly. Hip siili.ippts of Itnsshi sliall not i-psort. without ppi niisslon, lo any pstaldtshiiipnt of llip I'liltpd Sliitps upon tlip northwpsi pnast. MITII'I.E TIMISIRMK. II psl poin'Piiu pii niilrp. qiip doif'imviinl 11 np pniirni ''Irp fornif' par Ips pltoyonn lips Elalsrnin. on sons I'niitor.tP dps dlts ICtats. anpiiii plaldlsspiiipid sur la ( 'Alp nord oiiPst d'Aiiiprliiiip, 111 dans aiiPiiiip dps ih ' aillii- cpiltPS tttt tittfti dn piiiiplillitp n..atri''r..' dp- (iri^ Pl i|narantp inlniiU's dp h'titiah- spp tpntrlonalp ; I't ipip do iiienip II n'pn poiirra Ctrp fornif' iitiPiin par dcs sii.ipls Unssps. on Rolls I'lintoritp di' la llnsslp. tin '*tttl dp la nif^iiip paralMc 0-31 ATICI.E HI. It Ik inoi'povpr iikii'piI Ihai. liproaftnr, Hiprp shall not lip formi'd hi Hip pIH/phs of Hip Ifniti'd Statps. or iindpr tlip authority of till' said Statps. any pHtahiisimiPiil upon Hip north Hpst pnast of Aniprlpii. nor In any of Hip Islands inljappnt. In llir iinilli of lli'ty- fonr dpi;rpps .nid ."orty inimitps of north hitiliidp : and loit, in Hip sanip niiiniipr, Hiprp shiill hp iiMiip fornipd liy HtisHiiin huIi- .jpplH, or iindi'i tin' authority of Itnsshi, ,ioHt/i of thp minip piirnllPl. 134 ARTICLE QUATRIEME. II vHt iit^iiniiKilns ontondu iiuo (leiuliint >in terme de tllx aiinC'cg ft e(>mi)tpi' dp lii sig- nature de III prf'Ronte Convention, les vnlss- eaux de deux Puissances, ou qui apparticn- drolcnt A lenrs cltoyens ou sujcts respoctlfs, pourront rf'clproiiuenient fri>(iuenter sans entrave (inelcnnque. Ics mors Intfrleuros. les Kolfes. liAvros et ned In th" preceding article, for the purpose of tlshlng and trading with the natives of the ciuintry. ARTirLB CINQVIEME. Sont toutclols exceptfes lic ce im'uio cou)- merce acciirdf' par I'artlcle prOcMent. toutes les liqueurs splritneuses. les nrmes ft feu, armcs blanches, poudre et nuuiltlons dc guerre de toute i'spi>ce, <|ue les deux I'uls- sances s'eugagent rcclproquement ft ne pas vendre, nf lalsaer vcndre aux Indigenes par leurs cltoyens et sujets respectlts, nl par nucun Indivldu qui se trouveroit sous lenr autorlti^. II est f'galcment stlpulf que cette restriction lie iiourra Jamais servlr de prf- tcxte, nl etre allf'irnfe dans aucuii cas, pour nutorlser soit la visite ou la df'tention des Valsseaux, solt la saisie de la niarchaiidise, soit enfln des niesures quelconques de coii- tralnte envers Ics arinatenrs ou les ("'qiil- pages qui ferolent ce coninierce ; les hautes Puissances contractantes sV'tant ri'ciproque- inent rf'servc de statuer sur les pelnes ft encoiuir, et d'inlligcr les imieniles encourues en cas dc contra ventliui ft cet article, jiar leurs cltoyens ou siijets respectifs. ARTICLE V. All spii'Inious liquor.", flro-arins. other arms, powder, and munitions of war of every kind, are always exi-cpted from this same commerce permitted 1, i! , nrcdHling article ; and the tv.0 "iw -r "m ,i;;e, reclp- rocall.v, neither to mIi :."r .. • 'hem to be sold, to the iiativ .h i.' • tt- i ' '^i, i»ctlve citizens and Hubje( (s, . .v .;: ;y person wlio may be under thi-c autb. rity. It l8 llUewise stipulated that tliit. i-c.-niction shall never afford a pretext, nor be advanced, in an.v cast*, to authorize either seai'ch or deten- tion of the vessels, selznic of the merchan- dise, or in line, any measure of constraint whatever towards the merchants or the crews will, may carry on this rommerce : the high eoutracling Powers reciprocally reserT- Ing to themselves to determine upon the penalties to be Incurred, and to intiict the punishment In case of tlic contravention of tills article by their respective citizens or subjects. ARTICLE SIXIBME. Lorsque cette c'onvcntioii aura HC' due- ment ratlBfe par ie President des Ktats- I'nls de I'avis et du consentemcnt dii Senat. d'unc part, et di- i'autri' par Ka Majcstc rKmpercur de toutes Ics Iliissles. Ics lati- ticatlons en sennit (''cliangf'S ft Waslilngton dans Ic df'lal de dix miiis lic la liiili' ci- desBous on piutot si fairc se pent. Ku I'oi de quoi les I'lf'iiipoleiiliaries respectifs I'oiil sigiif'C, et y out fait apposer les caoiiiMs dc leurs armcs. Fait ft SI. I'clerboiirg le ITn avril de i'aii lie grflcc mil hull cent vlngt Kmperiir of ail the Unssiiis, the ratiliciitions shall be excliaiige our Knipirc fnini llic liiiiiliiig and Iradi.', .""•.'i-il on by our loyal siilijccis in llie nortli-castcrn seas and along tlie coasts of Aineii.: I'-.V' attracted our Uoval atleiitioii and CMUsiilcralioii ; tlicrcfurc, having taken I'lidci' ■■■■.,■ ininiciliale priilcciioii a I'lmipany organized for llic aliovc-nanicd pii'-iiosc of i'iii'r,vii,,c ou liiiiit.ing and Iriiding. wc allow it to assiiine the appellation of ■' Russian-American f'oniiiaiiy undiT our liigliest protection;" luul for the porpo'-.' of aiiling the ("onipaiiy In its enterprises, wc allow llic Co iniaiidi rs of ';■,;? lai.<^ ii;.i sea forces to employ saiil forces in the Coiiipiin,v's aid if occasicri '■i^.j'-cs it, wiil"* '"'"* (iirllier relief and assist- ance of sniil Company, ami having exnii. ned theii- Wu . . .il Hegiilations, wc licreliy ilcdarc it to be our liighcst linpi'rial wll to 'frant ',:i l,his Compan.v for a iii'riod of twenty years tlic following rights and privileges,— 135 I. Ky tile right of iliscovery in past times hy Uussiuu imviBiitors ol' the north- uasterii part of Aiiiericu, begiuiiiiiK from the n5Ji degree of iiortji Iiititude ami of the ihaiii of isluuds extending from Kumseliatku to the north to Amerieu and soiitluvard to .iapan, and by right of possession of the same by liussia, we most graeiously permit the ('ompany to have the use of all hunting grounds and establishments now existing on the north-eastern (sie) coast of America, from the above-mentioned 551)1 degree to Behring Strait, ar ' on the same also on the Aleutian, Kurile, and other islands situated in t,lie north-eastern ocean. ■J. 'I'o nnike new discoveries not only north of the 55tli degree of north latitude but farther to the south, and to occupy the new lands discovered, as Kussian possessions, according to prescribed rides, if they have not bei'n iireviously occupied by any other nation, or been dependent on another nation. 3. To use and profit by everything which has been or shall be discovered in those localities, on the surface and in tlie bosom of the eartii, oitliout any competition by ithers. 4. We most graciously i)ermit this Company to establish Settlements in future times, wherever they are wanted, according to their best, knowledge and belief, and forlify them to ensure the safety of the inhabitants, and to send shijjs to tjioso shores with gose prolils and advanlagis not only to those wlic Would wish to sail to those eounlri(« on their own account, but to all former hunters and trappers who hive been engaged in this trade, and have their vessels and furs at those places; and other Companies which may have been formed will not be allowed to con- linui' their bu'.iness unless ihey unite with the present Coinpan.v with their free con- sent; but such private Companies or traders as have their vessels in those regions can either sell tlieir |iroperly, or. with tlie Company's coiiseiii, remain until they have ob- tained a cargo, but no longer than is required for the loading and rrlnrn of their vessel; and after that nobody will luive any piivileges hut this one Company, which will be pi'ote<'led in (he enjoyment of all the advantages mentioned. II. I'liiler our highesi proti elioii. the l{us>iMii-.\nieriean Company will have full control over all aliove-ni<'iilioiiessions in I'harge of the Company. In conclusion of lliis our most graeioos i>riler for the benefit of the Uussian-Ainer- inan Company mnler highest prolei-tion, we cnji.in all mir military and <'ivil aulhorilies in the above-mentioned localities not (Uily not In prevent them from enjoying to the (ullc8t extent Ihe privileges granted by us, but in case of need lo protect them with all 136 tlieir power from loss or injury, iiiul to reiider tlicm, upon iipplicntioii of tlie Comjiun.v'a authorities, ull neecssiiry aid, iissistanee, and iirotection. 'I'o (jive elfeet to lliis onr most (inieious Order, we subseribe it with our own luind and give orders to eonlirm it witli our Ini|'"rial seal. tiiveu at St. I'ltersiiurKh, in the year aftiT the birth of (^hrist lii'9, the 27th dav of Ueoember, in the fourth year of our rei(rn. (Signed) "rAix," KI'SSIA.V rk'ASK OF SKPTKAIBHR 4-1(1, Im'1. I On the original is written in tl: ■ccordinKly Vi.exandkh."! Iiandwritinn of Hi:, Imperial Majesty: "Re it Ka.m.mknoi Osthofk. SeptendxT 4, ISl'1. itiiles ostablishr'il for the Limits of XaviHation and OnU^r of eommnnieation alonp; the Coast of Kastei'n Siberia, tlie N(U-th-West Coast of Aineriea, and the Ah'utian, Kurile and oilier Islamls. 1. The pursuits of eomna'ree, whnliu).'. and lishi'ry, and of all other industry on islands, [losts, and Kulfs, ineludin^: the wlioli' of the north-west coast of .Vmeriea, be- ginning from liehring's Straits to the 51° of northern latitiuh", also from the Aleutian Islands to the eastirn <'oast of Siberia, as well as along the Kurile Islands from lieb- riufj's Straits lo the so\ith I'ape of the Island of Trup, viz., to the 4."i' ,")(!' north bititudi', is exclusively ^ranled lo Kussiau subji'cts. a. It is iliereforc pnibibited to all fondgn vessels, not only to land on the coasts and islamls belonging to Russia as slated above, but, also, to approach them within less than 101) Italian niilc^. I he Iransgressors' vessel is subject to I'ontjscation along with the whole cargo. :!. An e.xi'cption lo this rule is to he luaile in favmir of vessels carried thither by heavy gab's, or real waul of provisions, and iiimbli' to make any other shore but such as belongs to Russia, in these eases they are obligetl ti> produce eouvinciiig proofs nf actual reascMi fcu' such an exception. Ships of friendly ( loveriniH'nts, uaTcly on dis- coveries, are likewisd coasts, are obliged to enih'avour to i4ic)o.se a plaei' when' Russiaiw arc! settled, and to lo't as hereafter stated. .'>. On the arrival of a fon'ign niercbanl-ship, wimi and wcallu-r i»ermitling, a jiilot will na'-'l her lu appoiut an anchoring place approjtriatcd for the purpose. The I'ap- tain, who. notwilb.-iandiiig this, ani'liors elsewbere without being abli' to assign a reason to the ComnaoMli'r of the iilacc, shall pay a Hue of 100 dollars. li. All nJwing-liMiils of foreign iTicrchaut-vessels are obliged lo land at niie jilace appointed for them, where, ii: to procure all they want. Wlaa'ver ileviales fnun this Rule shall pay a tim' .>f UK) dollars. 5. If it be unavoidable, for the pur|iosc of ri'pairing or I'arei'uing a l'oreig?i nuT- ehant-ship, that she discharge the whidi' cargo, the nuister is obliged to ask the per-^ nnssion of the ("onnnjindcr of the place. In this case the captain shall deliver to the Ccunmamler an exact list of the natured quality of the goods disebargeil. Kvery one who omits lo report any part of the ciirgo will be suspected of smuggling, and shall ))ay a line of 1.000 dollars. !•. .Ml cxpc'usi's iiu'nrrcd b.v these vessels during their stay in the linssian territories nnisl he paid in cash or bills of exchange. In case, hi>wever, tla^ <'aptains of these ships have no money on hoard ami noboily gives .security for their bonds, ibi' Connnander can, al their ri'ipa'sl, allow lh<' sale of smh articles, slori's or goods, recpiircd merely for ilefraying the above-sl.'itcd expenses. These sules, however, can be nu\di' only to the Company, and ibnaigh the medium of tla' (^(annuimler, but must not exceed the expan- ses of the ships, nuder iiemilly of the cargo being seized anil a fine paid of 1,000 rleHnrs. 10. As sooti as said foreign men hant-vessels are rciidy for tbeir cargoes, stores, provisions. iVe., tliey iiiiist inimedialely proceed to take them in. and after an exnmina- lion, if they have loaded all the ahove-slatcd articles, and a written eerli(ieale of their 137 not having left nuything bohind, they are to set sail. Such vessels as have not been nnloaded are likewise subjected to sail without the least delay as soon as tliey are able to proceed to sea. 11. It is prohibited to all commanders of the said foreign vessels, commissioners and others, whosoever thiy may lie, to iweive any articles, stores, or poods in tlmse places where tln'y will have landed, excc^i)t in tile ease as per 7, under junalty of seizure of their ship and cargo. 12. It is prohibited to these foreipm ships to receive on board, without special per- mission of tlie Conmianders, any fif the iieople in the service of the Company, or of tho foreigners living in the Ooinpany's Settlenient.s. Ships proved to have tlie intention of carrying off any person belonging to the Colony shall be seize those who arc on shore and to those employed in the Company's ships. Any sliip acting against this rule shall poy five times the value of the articles, stores, or goods consti- tuting this prohibited tratlie. 14. It is likewise interdicted to foreign sliip.s to carry on any traffic or liartcr with the natives of the islands, and of the north-west coast of America, in the whole extent here above mentioned. A ship convicted of this trade shall be confiscated. 15. All articles, stores, and goods fcjund on shore in jiort.s and harbours belonging to Russian subjects (carrying on prohibited traffic) or to foreign vessels are to be seized. 10. The foreign merchant ships lying in harbour or in the roads dare, under no pre- tence, send out their boats to vessels at sea, or to those already coine in, \intil they have been spoken to and visited, according to the existing customs. Wheni'ver a foreign vessel hoists a yellow flag to announce an infectious disca-e being on board, or the symptoms of the same, or any other danger of which .she wishes to b.. freed, every communication is interdicted until said flag is taken down. From this Rule, however, are excepted persons appointed for the jnirpose and whose boats hi' under the colours of the Russian-American Company. Any vessel acting contrary to this regu- lation shall pay a fine of !>00 dollars. 17. No ballast may l)o thrown overboard but in such places as are appointed by the Commander,s. The transgressor is liable to a fine of .lOfl didlars. 18. To all foreign merchant ships during their stay in anehoriiig-pliices, harbours, or rottd.s, it is |irohibited to have their guns loaded either with balls or eurtridgcs under the risk of paying a fine of .50 dollars for each gun. 19. No foreign merchant ship in port, or in tln^ roads, or riding at anchor, may fire guns or mnskets without previously informing the Commander of the plac- or Settlement, uidcss it lie for pilots, signalizing the same by the firing of one, two or three guns, and hoisting her colours as is customary in similar wants. In acting con- trary thereto she is subjected to a fine of 100 dollars for each shot. 20. On tho arrival of a foreign ship in the harbour, or in the roa Is, a b >at will immediately In? sent to meet her, ami to deliver to the captain a printed cojiy of these Regulations, for which he must give receipt in a book destined for that purpose. lie is further obliged to slate in the book, as per annexed form, all information re(inired of foreign vessels. All ships refusing to comply with t'"".se Regulations dare not approach the harbour, roads, or any anchoring place. DeRtination of tilt* Vtwiwl. PIncf wlipfff ttu' VeARol ciilliefl fnnn. CaiKo Nampnf the Name of th. Captain. J t>\viu'r. Wl.at Natioa. Name iind Itiirtlieii of tlie Veis»l. 0—35 138 21. The captain of a foreign luerchaut-ship coming to an anchor in the port or in the roads is obliged, ou his arrival, to give a statement of the health of the ship's erew, and lihouUI, after this, a contagious illness be discovered on board of liis vissel, he must immediately inform the Commander of the place thereof. The vessel, according to circumstances, will be either sent off or put under tjuarantino in a place appropriated for the purjjose, where the crew may be cured without putting the inhabitants in danger of infection. Should the captain of such a ship conceal the circumstances, the sa'ne will be confiscated with her whole cargo. 22. The niaater of a vessel, at the request of the Commander of a place, is obliged to jjroduce a list of the whole crew and all the passengers, and should he omit any, he shall pay a fine of 100 dollars for every one left out. 2;i. The captains are bound to keep their crews in strict order and proper behaviour on the coasts, and in the ports, and likewise prevent their trading or bartering with the Company's people. They are answerable for the conduct of their sailors and other inferiors. Illicit trade carried ou by sailors subject the vessel to the same penalty aa if done by the captain himself, because it wore easy for the captains to carry ou smuggling without punishment, and justify tliemselves by throwing the fault on the sailors. Therefore, every article found upon sailors which they could not hide in their j)ockets or under their clothes to screen from their superiors, sold or bought on shore, will be considered as contraband from the ship, and is subject to the prescribed fine. 21. Foreign men-of-war shall likewise comply with the above-stated Begulations for the merchant-ships to maintain the rights and benefit of the Company. In case of opposition, complaints will be made to their Governments. 25. In case a ship of the Russian Imperial Navy, or the one belonging to the Eussiaii American Company, meet a foreign vessel ou the above-stated coasts, in har- bours or in roads, within the before-mentioned limits, and the Commander find grounds, by the present Regulation, that the ship be liable to seizure, he is to act aa follows: — 20. The Comnuindcr of u Russian vessel suspecting a foreign vessel to be liable to confiscation, must, inquire and search the same, and finding her guilty, take posses- sion of her. Should the foreign vessel resist, ho is to imply first persuasion, then threats, and at last force; emleavouring, however, at all events, to do this with as much reserve as possible. If the foreign vessel employ force against force, then he shall consider the same as an evident enemy, and force her to surrender according to the navol laws. 27. After getting evi^rything in order and safely on board the foreign vessel, the Commander of the Russian ship, or the officer sent by him, shall demand the journal of the captured vessel, and on the spot shall note down in the same that on such a day, month, and year, at such an hour, and in such a place, he met such and such a foreign vessel, and shall give a brief account of the circumstances, pursuit, and finally of the seizure. After signing the .same, he shall desire the captain of the captured vessel to confirm the same in his own handwriting. Should he, however, refuse to sign the same, the Russian officer is to re|)eat his summons in presence of all the officers ; and if on this it be again refused, and nobody will sign in lieu of the captain, he is then to add this circumstance, signed by himself. After this arrangement, the journal, list of the crew, passports, invoices, accounts, and all further papers respecting the views and pursuits of the voyage of the vessel, shall be l)Ut up in one parcel, as well as all private papers, viz., the journals of the otiieers, letters, ite., and scaled with the seals of the Russian officer, and those of the captain and first officer of the foreign vessel. This packet shall remain sealed with the C inmuinder of the Russian V('8.s-,y- thing to the master aeeording to the inventory, along with the adjudged damages, cx- aeting them from whomsoever is to pay the same. 47. If, on the eontrary, tlio Court reeeivc on the third day a repeal to its deeision, it is bound to take that repeal into immediate consideration, and, finding it just, to change its decision, if not, to eontirra the same, and make it known to the parties a Bfcond time. After this no representations shall l)e admitted, and both parties shall be summoned before the Court, which shall allow them to make their protest in writ- ing, and will then state all the i-eaiions why the sentence passed should be carried into execution. 48. If the Court find by the indictment that the vessel has been lawfully detaiuerl, then the master of the foreign vessel, or the two eldest in command under him, slial\ be summoned, and the reasons nf their detention made known to them, giving them n certified copy of the condemnation. 49. The Court is to receive within three days, and no later, the repres«"ntations ol the master, and if he do not present the same within the time limited, the Court sum- moning him, with two of his crew, notifies that his silence is received as a mark oi <.'omplianoe, and that the condemnation is just. 50. In this ease the Court comes to its final decision, which, on the following day, is communicated to the whole crew of the foreign vessel, who .shall sign, all and every one, that such sentence has been made known to them, after which the Commander of Kamtchatka is to carry the sentence of the Court into execution, as will be explained hereafter. 61. Should, however, the master deliver within the time limited his protest, then the Court, examining it with all possible impartiality, shall call for all further ex- planations, and, having inserted the whole into the journal of the Court, shall pass a final sentence, and i)ronounce it as stated in 47. 52. If, by sentence of the Court, the arrested vessel be released, and adiudged to receive damages for her detention, and if the vessel has been arrested by any of the Comjiany's ofiicers, aiul tlie damages are not above 5,000 roubles, the Commander of Kamtchatka shall demand immediate payment of said sum from the office of the Ru.-- sian-American Conii)any, but if the damages exceed that sum, he is to notify it to the Company's office, aiul give to the foreign master a certificate ; but the money cann(;t be paid by the Company otherwise than after the insiwction and resolution of its Court of Directors. If, on the other hand, the foreign vessel has been dctnined indaw- fully by a Russian man-of-war, the Commander of Kamtchatka is to pay the adjudged damages (not exceeding the sum of 5,000 roubles) out of any Government sum, and to report, in order to incash it from the guilty, b\it if the damages should exceed the sum of 5,000 roubles, the Comnuinder of Kamtchatka is to furnish a certificate for the receipt of the money after the regidation and confirmation of the Russian Gov- ernment. 53. The reimbursement of such damages as may have been incurred by unlawful detention shall be exacted from the Commander and nil the officers of the man-of-war, who, having been called by the (\>mmander to a conn<'il, shall have given their opinion that such a ship ought to be detained. 54. As soon as a foreign ship is sentenced to be confiscated, the Commander of Kamtchatka is to make due arrangements for transporting the crew to Ochotsk, and from thence to any of the ports in the Baltic, in order to enable every one of them to reach his own country. With the confiscated ship and cargo, he is to act as with a prize, taken in time of war. 55. After tliis the Commander of Kamtchatka shall order a Committee to value the vessel and her cargo. This Committee is to be composed of one m.ember appointed by the Commander of Kamtchatka, one by the Commander of the man-of-war, and a third by the Russian-American Company. 56. These Commissioners are to make up a specified list and valuation according to the following rules : — 1. AH provisions, rigging, iron, powder, and arms shall be put down at such prices as they cost Government there. 2. All merchandize which might be used in Kamtchatka and the Company's Col- onies, and which arc carried there at times from Russia, shall be valued at their prices then existing. 3. All goods which are not imported into these places from Russia, but are wanted there, shall 1«' valued like goods brought from Russia, being the nearest to them, and in jiroportion to their wants. 4. All goods not in use at Kamtchatka or the Colonies shall be sent to Irkutsk and sold at public auction by the proiier authorities. 141 Sr. Till' snid Commissioners sball present their viiluutioii to the Commander of Kiimtcluitka fur liis apimiliatioii, who, in case of not finJinjf the same exaet, lihall ri- liirn it, with liis remarks, and shall appoint other offieers to inspect Buch articles as may appear unfairly valued. TiS. If the Conimid»ionerB hireafter eontin.ie in their opinion, and the Commander of Kamtehatka lind it impossible to agree Ihireto, he .shall pr renuiiiuler is left to the officers of the men-of-war. Hut if a vessel bi' taken by the conjoint forces of n man-of-war and a Company's vessel, then the prize ^hall be divided between them in proportion to their strength, regulating the same according ui the number of guns. 01. The sum coming to the officers of the man-of-war shall be divided according to the Kules for dividing i)rizes in time of war. In all cases, officers who had a share in seizing foreign vessels convicted of the intention of infringing the privileges most graciously granted to the Kussian-Ameriean (.'omi)any, may expect to recidve tokens of His Imperial Alajesty's approbation, especially when, after deducting the expen.ses for ccmveying the cri!\v, their part in the prize money should provi> but triHing. (i2. If a foreign vesscd detained by a Kussian being under the command of a Kus- sian officer should bo cast awa.y before reaching the port of St. Peter and Paul, the fidlowing principli! shall be observed : — If the foreign vessel alone lie lost, and the Kussian accom|)anying her arrive at the port of St. Peter and Paul, then the (\)urt acts according to tlu' foregoing Hides to determine whether that vessel was lawfully seized. In this case (nivernmi'iit takes upon itself the expenses of , inveying to a port of the Baltic such of the ship's cr 'W ii> were saved. But if such a vessel should not be proved to have been detained biw- fuU.v, then independent of those expenses, the ship shall be valued, and such valua- tion forwarded to (iovernnient for the iiayment of what may be deemeil just ; at the same time investigation shall be made on the loss of the vessel, and the officer that had the command (if saved) is to be tried according to the maritime Rules .iiid Kegulations. (i.'l. The Commander of Kamtehatka is bound to make a special Keport to the (Jov- ernor (ieneral of Silieria respecting ever.y ciri'unistancc happening to foreign vessels, annexing copies of all documents, journals, and sentences of the (\iiirt, and of all papers relating thereunto. The original is signed : Count D. UURIKFF, Minister of Fiiiiiitces. Edict iif His Imperial Majesty, Autocrat of All the Russias. The Ilirccting Senate maketh known to all men : Whereas, in an Edict of His Imperial Majest.v issued to the Directing Senate on the 4th day of September, and signed by His Imperial Majesty's own hand, it is thus expressed : — " Observing from Reports submitted to us that the trade of our subjects on the Aleutian Islands and on the north-west coast of America appertaining unto Russia, is subjected, because of secret and illicit traffic, to oppression and impediments, and find- ing that the principal cause of these difficulties is the want of Kules establishing the boundaries for navigation along these coasts, and the order of naviil commuiiication D— ,3r. 142 OS well ill tlicso places as mi the wlmle (if the eastern coast of Siberiii iinil the Kiirilc IeIiiiuIs, we liiive deemed it neeessur.v tu determine these eiimintiiiientiiiiiN by specific Rogulnticiiis, wliieli ure hereto attaehed. "Ill forwarding these Uegiilalioiis to llip Directing Seiiale. we eoiniiiand that the same be published for universal information, and that the proper measures be taken to carry them into execution. " (Countersigned) Cot \t D. GriilKFF. Minixter of Finance.i. Tt, is therefore decreed by the Directing Senate that His Inii>erial Majesty's Kdict be imblished for the information of all iiieii, and that the same b<' olK'.ved by all whom it may concern. (L.S.) The original signed by the Directing Senate. Printed at St. Pelerahurg. in the Senate, Seplemtirr 7. 1S21. TKKATY t'OXCERXINC THK CKSSION OF THK KI'SSIAX I'OSSKSSIOXS IN XOKTII AMERICA BY HIS MAJESTY TIIK EMPEKOR OF AM. THE RUSSIAS TO THE IXITED STATES OF AMERICA. (Concluded March 30, 1867 ; ratifications exchanged June 20, 1867 ; proclaimed June 20, 1867.) .> de longitude oucst (meri- dlen de (ireenwic'iii la dlte Ilgne remontera. an nord le long de la passe dile I'ortland Channel, jnsiiu'au point de la terre ferine oil elle attelnt le ."iilme degrf' de latltuile nord ; ile cc dernier point la ilgne de de- marealloii snlvra la crete des moitagiies sltllt^es paralUMenieiit il la cote .lusiiu'au point d'lntersectlon I41me degre de loiigi- ARTICLE I. Ills Majesty the Emperor of all the Ilus- shis agrees to cede to the United States, by this convention. Iniinediateiy iipoii ♦he ex- change of the ratlllcatloiis tliereof. ..II the territory and doiuinion now possessed iiy his said Majesty on the eontlnent of .\nierlea and in the adjacent Islands, the same lielng contained within the geographical limits herein set forth, to wit : The eastern limit Is the line of deniMrcatlon lietwceii the Russian and the nrillsh pnssessioas In North .Vnieriea. as estalillshed liy the con- vention between UuHsIa and (Jreat Britain, of Uehruary 28-](i. IS-J.-i, and described In .Articles III and IV of said convention, in the following terms :— " Cflmmenciiig from tlio soniheriiinost point of the Island called I'rlnce of Wales Island, which point lies In Ihe parallel of .">4 degrees 41) minutes north latitude, and between the llllst anil the b'llird degree of west longitude (meridian of (irci'iiwich), the said lines shall ascend to the north along the channel called Portland channel, as far as the point of the continent where it strikes the ."Mith degree of north latitude ; from this last-mentioned point the line of demarcation sliall follow the summit of tlie nionntalns 11.1 iiiilc uucHt (iii<'im> iiii'riilkMi) vt ihiiili-nxMit ilii lilt point d'liitt'rwctliiii la iiif'iiii> IIkiu' iiii'tI- (lli'iinc (III Mime iloini'' fiinin'ra. ilaiis kiiii l>i'iiliiiii,'i'in<'nt JiiHiiu'ri III iiiir (ilaclali'. I:i iiniltl' t'lltl't' U'H poHHUHSldltM ICUt^Si'M ft Itl'i* laniiliiiK's Nur li- cuiitiiK'nl ili' rAiiir'i'liii'.c iHird-tnu'Ht. " IV. II cHt (MitoiiUii, par i°a|i|>oint of tlie islanil of St. Lawrence ■ nil the southeast laiint of Caiic I'honkolski. lo the merl.li.in of one hnnilred and seveiily-lwo wesl ln'iiri- tiiile ; thence from tlie intersei.tion of th.^t meridian. In a sontli-weslerly liireclion. so as to pass midway lietween the island of .\ttciii and tile I'oiiiicr island of the Kor- inanilorski coniilel or i:roup in the .\or1h racilic Ocean, lo tlic meridian of one hundred and ninety-three decrees west lonjiltiide. so as to include in the territory conveyed tlie whole of the .Meutian Islamls east of thill miTldinn. ARTICLE 11. Dans le Terrltolre I'l'de, piir I'urtlcle pre- cedent ft la SoHvenilnete des Ktats-I'iils sunt comprls le ilrolt de proprlcK'' sur tons les term ins et places pulilics. teries Inoccii- liees, toutes les constructions puliliipies, for- tifications, casernes et ailtres edilices ipil ne sunt pns propriete privce Indlvlduelle. II est loiitefois entendn et convenu ipie les cKllses construltes par le (Jonverneinent Uiisse sur le Terrltolre ccdf' resteront In pro- prlf'te lies inemlires de I'Kiillse (Ircciiue Orlentnle rf'sldaiit dans ce Tcrritnlre et ap- liartemeiit ft ce culle. Tons les archives, impers. et documents iln Oonverneinent ayant trait au snsdit Terrltolre et qui y sont iiialnteiiant df'poses sennit places entre les mains ile raireiit des Etats-I'nis : inals les Ktnts-tinis fonrnlront ton.ionrs ipiaiid II y aiini lieu des copies If'irallsf'es de ces doeii- nieiits nu Uouvernment Itusse. anx olHclers oil siijets KilBSes qui pourroiit en fa ire hi de- lunnde. 'R ICLE II, III the oessioa ui territory and dominion made by the preceiling article, are Included the rlKlit of pro|>erty in all pnbiic lots and Hi|uares, vacant hinds, and all public liiiild- iiii;s, fortltlcatlons. barracks, and other edi- lices which are not private individual imi- [icrty. It Is. however, tinilerstoiid and agreed that the churches wliicii have been built in the celled territory by the Uussiiiii (iovern- meiit. shall reinain the property of such inembers of the tJreek Oriental Clinrcli resi- dent In the territory, as may choose to wor- ship therein. .\ny (lovernment archives, papers, and docnnients relative to the terri- tory and doininion aforesaid, which may now Ih> cxistlii); llieiv, will be left In the possession of the aceiit of the rnlteil States; but an antlienllcated copy of such of tlicm as may be iiiinlred, will be. at alltlmes. i.'iven by the T'nited States to the llusslan (Jovernmeiit. or to such llusslan Oltlcers or subjects, as fliey may apply for. IH ARTICLE III. II I'Nt irwrvi' mix Ij^iIiII:iijh citi IVrrltoii'i- (/'til' li' iliolx ii toiitct'oJH (h's trlhiis Htiiivii^cs A Juiir ilr tuns li's (li'iiils, iiviiiitaut's ft iiiiiiitinitr's ilcH I'ltn- Ji'lln (Irs Kttlls I'tlis I'l lis st'lolll lllilllltclins «'l prnl(''m''s ilaiis If plflii fXfn-lrf tif Ifiir Illifi'If. ilriiil ilf iiriipi'Iftf ft I'fllulMii. I.fs ti'llius siiiiviip's s4'n>iii iissiijftlfs mix litis it i-fKlfinfiils <|iii' Ifs Ktnts-riils pniiri'iint niliipliT ill' Ifinps I'll tfiiips it rf>;]ii'il ili's triliiis nlmrluftifs ilf i-f piiys. ARTICLE IV. Sii Miiji'slf rKiiipi'i'i'iir ill' touti'H li'H ItiiH- i-ifs iioiiiiiifrii iiiissitrit i|Uf piissllilf nil a^'i'iit I'll ill's )i;:i'iits i-luiruf.s ilf ri'iiifltri' funiifllf- ini'iit i\ I'liufiit on mix iiisimiIh iioiiiinr's piir li'H Klats I'lils, If tfiTllolii'. la siinvfiaiiii'ti'', Ifs priipiiftf. ilfpi'iiilaiufs, ft appartfiiaiiifs iiliisl fi'ilfs ft ilf ilri'HsiT tiirt anti-i' nrtf i|iil siTji iifri'ssalri' it rai-fiiiiipllssi'iiiftit rif ffttf ti-aiisai'tiiiii. .Mais la rfssliiii, avfi- If ilviilt ill' possfssifii iiitiitfiliatf. ilnit liintffols ftri' I'liiislilfiVf I'oiiiplflf ft alisiiliif A ri'fliaiiiif (Iph nitlllfatloiis mins nltPiulrf la ri'UilHf t'ur- niolle. ARTICLB III. Tlio liilialiltaiitH of tlif ffilfil ti'irltoiy, aii'iii'illiii.! til tlifir iliiilif, ri'Sfi'vlii): tlii'lr natural alli'Klanri' iiiiiy tftniii tn Itnssia witliln llMi'f yi'iii's : lint If tlii-y sliunlil pri'l'f r 111 I'finalii In llii- ifilfil If ii'ltmy, tlii'y, with III!' fXffptliiii III' nni'lvHI'/.fil iiatlvf ti'llii'H, shall Ilf ailniltlfil tii llif fiijiiynifiit of all till' rlulits, lulvaiitiiKi's, anil ItniiiiiiiltifK III' I'ltl/.fiis of thf rnlti'il Stall's, anil shall III' inaliilaliifil anil prolfctfil In Ilif fii'f I'li- Joyiiifiit of tlifir lllifi'ty, pi'iipfi'ty. ami if- llKloii. Thf iiiu'ivlll/.fil tiilM's will l)f sniijfft to Niii'li laws anil ri'^'nlatlons as thf riillfil Stall's may fioin lliiif lu tinif ailupt In if- Kiird III aliui'lKiiial trllifs uf that ruiiiiliy. ARTICLE IV. Ills .MaJfHty till' lOinpi'iiii' of all thf Itnu- siiiH shall appiilnt, with I'onvi'iilf lit ills- patrli. an ii^i'iit or a^i-nts for tin* pni'iMisi* o:* foi'inally ilfllvfi-liiu to a similar aitfiit or a;;i>nlH appiilnlfil on lii'half of tho I'nitfil Stiitfs. thf tfrrltory. ilomlnlon, propi'rty, ilf- pi'mli'iirlfs anil appiirtfiiaiirlfs M'hii-li arf I'i'ili'il as aliovf. anil for iloliiK any otiii'r ai't whlrli may Lf iii'ri'ssa In ri'jraril thiTfto. Hill thf ri'sslon. with ' ;ht of 'innifiliiitf possi'sslon. Is ni'Vf to lif ilffiiifil fi'inplftf and alisoli 'f i'xrliaii>;i' of I'll titlfat Ions, wllhoii , for snrli I'or- nial ilfllvfry. ARTICLE V. ARTICLE V. Inimfiliatfiiif lit api'fs riM-haiiKi' 'li's ratill- Immi'iliati'ly aftfr thf I'.XfhahKi' of thf lations (If iftlf roiiv.'iilliin, Ifs foi'tlllratloiis riitlliiallonM of this loiivf ntloii. any fortlll- I'l li's ])ostfs inilltalri's ipil .fo triinvfronl snr i-atlons or inllitmy posts wliicli may lif In If ti'rritolri' cfilf seront ri'inlH h Tapfiit ili's llii* ivilfil tfrrilory. shall lif tlfllvfi'fil to tin* Ktats I'liis ft Ifs tronpi'S Itussfs ipil sunt aiffiit of tin- rnlli'il States, and any Unsslan stationiir's dans If dlt 'I'f rrltoiti*. si'ront re- troops which may he In the Ifrrilory, shall tirofs dans nii toriiif pi'.-U'tii-alilf ft ipii ho withdrawn as soon as may lif rfiiHoiialily piiissf convfiiir anx ili'iix partifs, and ronvfiili'ittly prarttcalilf. ARTICLE VI. I'^n ronsidf ration ilf la snsditf fcsslon Ics Ktats I'nls s'fiiKaKcnl A (myer A la Tri'- soifrif A Washington, dans If ti'i'iiif ilf illx mills iipfi's rr'fhaiiKf di's nitltiratlons df I'i'ttf convf iitloii. sept inillions deux ci'iit nilllf df dollars on or, an Ufpn'sf iitaiit ill- plianathini' on tout antri' aKont df Sa Majfstf rKinpi'ri'iir do toiiti's Ifs Hnssifs dOmfiit Hiitorisr' A ri'ff voir I'fttf soiiinif. La ffssloii (111 Ifirltolri' avff droit de sonvfralni'tf' lalli jiar ri'ttf I'oiiVf iitioii. est ilfflarof llliri* ft dfcadfi' df toiitfs ffsfrvatlons. privlli'Ki's. frani'lilsfs on dfs poKSfSKions par dfs cuiii- paifiilfs UnssoR on tont antrp irRalfiiif nt fon- Btltnti'fs on antrfini'iit on par ilfs assofla- ttiins saiif slinpli'iiifiit Ifs proprfftali'fH pos- sfilant di's lilfiis prhr'si Indlvldnfls "t la ffsston aliisi faltc transfi'ro tons Ifs *. • its. franrlilsfs ft prlvlli^ccs appartonant aftui'llf- ini'iit A la Rnsslf dans If dlt Tcrrltolrf ft Bfs di^iH^ndiiiR'Cs. ARTICL3 VII. I.orsiiuf ffttf fonvcntloii nura ftf- dniiicnt ratitlfe par Sn Ma,)fKl(^ TKinpfiiMir de tontes les UnsRlfs d'uiif part ft par If rlVsldent ties laLits-ITiilfl avei' I'avls pt le conspnteinfiit dn Sfiint (Ip I'aiitre, ips ratlfifatlnnH en sffont fflianiifes ft Washington dans le tei'ine de trols mnls. A I'liinpti'r dn Jonr de la sluiiii- tiiri", oil phiH tftt si faire .«e pent. Kii fol lie ipioi les rK'nIpntentlalres res- pei'tlfs out sljriii'' (ftte eonventlon ft y ont nppiisf If scpan dp lenr amies. Kalt A WnsIiliiKton le ]S-3n Jour dp XInrs dp I'aii lie Notre-SelKneni' mil hnit fent solxnnte-sppt. [f-.S.I EDOIT.VRD PK STOEOKI,. fL.S.I WIIXIAM n. SEWAItn. ARTICLE VI. Ill I'oiisidfi.'atlon of thf ifssloii afori'said, the I'liltfi'i Stall's aciff to pay at thf Tieasnry ill Wasliliit;toii. within ten iiiontlis after thf f xelianiif of tlif ratltiiatlons of this i-onvf ntii'ii. to thf diploinatii- rfprfSfiitatiVf or olhiT ani'iit of Ills .Majfsly thf Em- pi'i'iir of 111 thf Itnsslas. duly mitliori'/.fd to rfi'flvf till' siiinf. sfvi'ii niillion two lintidrfd thousand dollars in i;old. Thf efsslon of tfrrilory .iiid dominion Iicrfln niadf Is lieri'- liy dpflaii'd to lif frff and niiliifUintifri'd liy any 'fsfrvalloiis, prIvllfUfs. frani'lilsfs. >ri'ants. I r possfssions, by any iissoflateil fonipanifi. wlii'tlipr iMirimratp or Incorpo- riitp. Itnss'an or any otiipr, or by any parties f xii'pt me <'ly privatp Indlvlilnal pro|ierty holdfrs ; -iiid tlip i-pssloii lipreby niadf eon- vpys all he rlulits, fninchlsps. and prlvl- li'ltps now lieloiiKliiK to Itnssia in the said territory or dominion, and iippurtpiiancfs lliereto. ARTICLE VII. When tills poiiveiitlon shall have been duly ratified by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and coiiwiit of the SPinitf, on the one part, and on tlif other by Ills Majpsly the Emperor of all the ItnsRliis thp ratincatlons shall bp px- rlianiTPd at Washington within tlirep months from the date hereof, or sooner. If possible. In faith whereof, the resiiectlve |)lenlpo- tentlarles have sinned this convention, and thereto nUixed the seals of their nriiiH. Done at Washlncton, the thirtieth day of March. In the .year of our Lord one thousand Plslit liiindivd and sixtyspven. IL.S.j WILLIAM II. SEWAItl). (L.S.I EDOrAIin HE STOErivT.. II.-) FHOM WILLIAM M. HALL, rMTKI) STATKS COAST AM) nK.OMKTIC .srUVKY, TO DIt. (J. M, DAWSON, OF THK (iKOLotilCAL SIHSKY OF CANADA. Unitkd S'mtkh Coa.st and Orouktk' Sirvev OFKrCK, WAsiiiN(iT()N, .\pril -4, 1884. Mv Dkak Sir, — Ynur note in nneivi'd. I iiiii gliwl yoii iiri' iilfiiswl with tlie iiiiip. Ill rpgiiid to tlie Denao Liikc ir^'ioii, 1 have the lK7."> nmp, hut tlic iimp» nt' that icKioii aif MO contradictory tlmt I tlioufrlit it wiis liext to tiiki^ tlit; river, iVc, from the Western Viiion Teli'xrHph .Surveys mill so have all that |part uniforiii, es|iecially as the map of 187.^ iK'ars internal evidence of iMiin),' a nieri- »ke|<.h. Hunter's map, the Hussian maps, till' Itlake miips, and the 1X75 maps, dilVer in the most extraordinary way anion),' them- wives. New surveys are mrded. The matter of the lH)undary should lie stirred up. The laiif^uage of the tri'aty of l."<2.") is so indetiniti! that were the region ineludcsl for any cause to become suddi^nly of evident value, or if any serious interiintional qui>ation were to arise re){ardinK juris- diction, there would tie no means of settlinj; it l>y the treaty. There being no natural boundary and the continuous range 'uountains parallel to the coast shown on Van- couver's charts like a long caterpillar, having no existence as such, the United States would undoubterlly wish to fall Ixick on the 'line |i«rallel to the windings of the coast and which shall never exceed the distance nf ten marine Uiagues therefrom' of the treaty. It would of course 1h' impracn iblc to trace any such winding line ovei that 'sea of mountains.' I should think ll: it the bottom of the nearest 'alley parallel to the C(«st might |icrlmps be traceil and its stream form a natural Ixmndary ; even then it would lie dillieult to determine the line Ix'tween one valley and the next. Ucfore the question has attainisl any ini|iortance, it slunild lie referred t attached to Lieutenant Schwatka's Heport, Part II. of the .Map of the routes followed by him extends 'from Fort Selkirk, B.C., to Fort Yukon, Alaska' (H.C. standing for Hriti>h t'olumbia) ; and at p. .'i^i of his Ueport the latitude antl longitude of the site of Fort Selkirk i- uiveii as 02 4.0' ;I0' north, and i.'17 '2'2' 4,")" west, which is well within the territory Is'li'iitring to this country, which extends as far as 111 west. It will also be seen, on referring to pages JO and 47 of the Iteport. that Lieutenant Scliwatkn has indicated two points, viz.. I'erriers Pass and 140 west loiigitiulo, which he has iletermined as deliiiing the international lunindary. Her Majesty's Government, as you are aware, have agreiMJ in jirinciplei . l.ilie part in a |.i'eliniiiiary investigation of the Alask;i Itouiidarv question, hut they are not pre- pared to admit that the jioiiits referred to by Liimtenant fScliv "^ka in any way lix where the line should be tlrawn. Lieuieiiant ■''^chwatka. in the course of his militarv reeonnaiaanc)' in .\laska. apfwaiN to havi> traversed Uritish territory for a considerable distance ; but, so far as Her Majesty's (iovei'iiinent are aware, no intimation of sui'h a di'siro on his part whn conveyed to any of the Hritish ai: horilies. 'I'hev do not attach any importance to this fact, and no doubt, had their act] lieeeiu'e ln'eii asked, it would not have been n'fused. Her .Majesty's (Government ha\e no desire at llii' |ii'csent moiiicnt to raise any dis- cussion in regard to the question of the boundary between Alaska an*' Hritish (_'(4umbia: but in order that it may not be prejudiced hereafter by absence of nMiiark on their part on the lines nlhn'.eil to above, I rei|uest that you will in a friendly manner call Mr. Bayard s attention to the observations contained in this desjmtch. I am, iVc. (Signed) SALISBURY. No. 17. SIR L. WliST TO Tin: MAIUJUIS OF SAI.ISIIUIIV. (UKCKIVKI) NKPTKMHEll -'.) WASiiiNiiTON, September lit, 1887. (No. 207.) Mv LoKii, In olM'dienie to the instructions contained in yiuir lAirrlship^ di'spateh No. IMIO of the LMItli ulliniii, I havec.illed the attention of Mr. Ha yard lu il JKeivations therein I'laitainisl on Lieutenant .Schwatka's Ueport of a military recoiinaiKsaiK'e in .Maska "liave I havts tV'i^ Itepii iu a uoto iiod nioinoranduiu, copies of which I liave tlii> honour to enclime herewith. (Signed; L. H. SACKVI].^LE WEST. 147 Enclosure 1 in No. 17. SIK I.. WKST TO Mil. IIAYAHI). Wasiiinctos, September 14, Sib, — I have the hoiioui' U< iiieldse to you hennvitli a Memiiriuiiliiin v iittention of the I'liitod States (ioveininent to eertaiii jioints in the Hepmt Lieutenant SeUwatku, of lin^ Uiiiteil Statt's Arinv, of a recoimaiHsauee made Ahiska, and to oljseive at the name time that he travei'sed HritiMh territory si(U'rabh' distanee without any intimation having Ijeen given to the British fif his intention ai so doing. I may add, however, that tier .'\IajestvM (Jovernment do not attach any i to this faet, and that no doubt had their acquie.'ieeni"- heen aski'd it would been refu.sed. I have, ite., (Signerl) L. S. SACKVILLE W 18HT. alhni; the made by bv Hnu in for a eon- luthcaitics mnortN'ince not ha\o I';ST. Enclosure 2 in No. 17. MKMOHANDIM. lu the wording of the Itesohition adopted by the rnite siinio subject pi'ei)arod liy Jlajoi-Gencial 1). H. CanuMiin, R.A., C.M.O., wlio is t'amilar with, and has previously reporter inlcN which |ieiictralc that portion oi Alaska which ccnsists of the ,oast line fi'om ^Iount .St. Klias t<» Poitlam! Chainicl, and niiu'e partii'ularly the heaateh, No. 20, of the JDtli .January last, I transmit, for your informal ion, a copy of a letter addressed to the Colonial Olhce by Sir Charles Tupper, the High Commissioner f>f ' 'iiiaihi. enclosing a correspondence he had received from the Canadian Preuiier relat n niinuiir that a Charter is almut to be granted by the Alaskan authorities of till o^uitisfor certain privileges in that part of Alaska which is claimed by this count i I have to reijuest that you will inform Mr. Hayanl that this report has reached Her .Majesty's Government, and that it is presuimi to lie unfounded, us the territory in i|uestion is part of Her Majesty's dominions. I am, Ac, (.Signedi. SALl>liURY. No. 6. FOHKIUN OrFK K TO Col.ONIAI. f)FHrK. Ki.lll;iON OlKII'E, .\ nust M, 18.SS. Sir, — In reply to your letter of the '.'Ist instant. I am dii'ei'ted by the Maripiess of Haliabury to transmit to you, to Ih- laid before Secretary Lord Knutsford, a copy of a despatch to Her Majesty's Minister at Wasliinglon, instructing hlin to.alltl ittention of the United States (iovernment to the rumoui' which has reni'heil the I 'ominion Ciovernment of an intended grant of a charter by the Alaskan autlmriti. .f the United States for certain privileges in that part of Alaska which is clainuHl In iliis niuutry, I am, >V'c.. (Signed), !•. CUHUIE. No. 7. •Sir L. West to the MAii^t'Ess of SAtisnt'iiT. (HEfKiVED October 9.) (No. ;WJ.) Bkvkhi.v (.Massiiehusi'tts), September 21, 1888. Mv Lord, With reference to Your I.,ordship's despnteli. No. 207. of the 31»t ultimo, 1 ha\e the honour to enclose In rewith to Your Lordship, eopv of a note which I addressed to the Secretary of Slate, as well as copy of his reply thereto, uti the subject of a charter which it is siiid is uUiut to be granted by the authorities in .Maska for certain privileges in t, 1888. Sir, — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 10th instant, in which, at the request of the Marquess of Salisbury, you bring to my notice a rumour which has reachwl Her Mnjesty's Government that a charter is almut to be grantee! Ijy the authorities in Alaska fur certain privileges in territory claimed by Great Britain. The rumour to which you refer is, as stated by you, certainly vague and indefinite, and lias not come to the notice of this De|)artmont, which is wholly without information in regartl to the granting of such a charter as you mention, or to the locality of the territory to which it is said to apply. A copy of your note will at once !« transmitted to the Secretary of the Interior. I have, ic, (Signed), T. F. BAY '.BD. No. 8. Sir L. West to tub Marquess of Salishurv. (Received October 12.) (No. 317.) ■ Rkvehlv (Massachussetts), September 29, 1X88. Mv Lord, — With reference to my despatch. No. .'iOit, of the 21st instant, I have the honour to enclose tu Your Lordship licrewith a further note which I have received from the Secretary of .Statr on the subject of the proposed grant of certain privileges to the Alaska Company. I have, iVc, (Signed), L. S. SACKVILLE WEST. Enclosure in No. 8. Mk. Bavabd to Sin L. West. Department ok Static, Wa.shinoton, SepteniU'r 25, 1888. SiH, — In furtlier reply to your not.' of the lOtli instant, relating to a rumour which had readied Her Britannic Majesty's Government to the elVect tluit a diarter w.is about to be granted by the authorities in .Maska for certain privileges in territory chiiined by Great Britain, I have the honour to iMt'oriii you that the IVpartnient is in rei-eipt of a camuiiinication from the .Secrclarv "f the Interior, to whom your encpiiry was referrecate tlie boundary or frontier line. From some infornuil discussion of the matter, it is under- stood that the Hon. Secretary of State will be likely to re(|uir<' that the preliminary survey shall among other things accurately establish in latitude and longitude and per- manently maik such a number of accessible points at certain distances from the coast or along certain mountain summits as, together with such topographical reconnaissance as may Vie practicable, will aB'orji the geographical information reipiisite to tl»> proper negotiation of a treaty establishing the boundary. To obviate during such negotiations all cimtroversy as to the accuracy of such geographical information, it would sei'ui desirable that Inith parties should lie represented in the operations of the preliminary survey by competent surveyors and astronomers, whose concurrence in the determination of points in latitude and longitude and in the di.'lineation of to))ographical features would ensure acc undertaken before next spring. It is obvious that e,\cejit as to a portion of the frontier line which is coincident with the meridian line of the I list degree of west longituile -it would bo impossible for a survey to delinitely and autlMJlitatively locate the iHiinidary or frontier line. From some Informal iliscussion of tin' matter it is understcsHJ that the lion. Secretary of State will lie likely to ri'i|ulre that the preliminary survey shall, among other things, i.ccuruti'ly establish in latituileand longitude and permanently nuirk such a numlH'r of a,:i'essil)le points at certain distances from the coast or along certain nicain- tiiin suumiits, as. t get her with such topographical reconiuiissance as may lie practicable will alTonI till" g ogniphical infonnation rec|uisite to the proper negoliaticm of a treaty eNtabiiiliing a Kjundary. To obviate during such negotiation, all contrnversy as to the accuracy of .iuch geographical inforuuition it wnuld seem to Is' desirable that both juirties to the negi>tialion should Is' represented in the operations of the ptelimlnary survey, by competent stu'veyiu's anci astronomei's whose ciim'uri'enee, in the determination of points in latituii. anil hmgituile and in the id prosecution of such preliminary survey. The desired result mifjht as we'l l>e accomplished, though at disproportionately small cx]jense tor the Canailian Gover.iment, by the detailing of u single Cana' four. Except as it may Ix' ne(^e.ss'irily interrupted by climatic or other causes, it is exjiected that the survey, once Ix-gun, will Ix" c(jiitinu(Uisly proso- euttxl and that the parties will not return from Alaska until its completion within three years, and prolNd)ly two years from the actual conmiencement of the work in the field. In view of the foregoing considerations it is underst-KKl that the exjiediency of such joint action by surveyors, itc., of the two governments as is al>ove outlined, has been made the subject of corresixmdence between the two governments. I have veutureil to bring the matter to your attention now inasnmch as the sliorten- ing of the time prior to the o|ieniiig of the working season renders it desirable that all the interval should !»' rendered available to you for provisional or contingent selection of surveyors, Jcc, in antii'ipation of the formal action of your government which it is hoped may be favourable to such joint work by the surveyoi's and astronomers of both governments. Any <'xpressic>n of your v lews in the i)remises, with wliich you deem it proper to favour me, will be duly appreciated by Very respectfvlly, Your olxtlient servant, F. M. THORN, Hon. E. Dewdnkv, Sitppiiiilendinl. Minister of the Interior, Dominion of Canada, Ottawa. No. 1. COLONIAL OFFICK To KOUKKiX OFFirt (llKCKIVKU M.W 6). Dowxixfi Stuf.kt, May 1891. .SiH, — I am directed by Lonl Kiuitsford to transmit to you, to I* laid before the Maripiis of Salisbuiy, a copy of a des])atch from the (iovernor General of Canada, with its enclosure, reipu'sting that the Government of the United .States nuiy lie reminded that some ditVerence of opinion exists as to the marking of the boundary line l)etween Alaska and British Columbia, which can only properly Ije determined by an International Connnission ; and I am to suggest for Loiil .Salisbury's consideration, that a communi- cation should be addressed to the Government of the Unitetl States in theHen.se indicated Viy the Government of the Dominion. 1 am, A-c, JOHN' BKAMSTOX. Enclosure in No. 1. LOUD ST.VNLKV OF I'RKSTON TO Lolll) KNUT8F0RD. GoVKIiNMBNT HOLNK, OtTAW.V, ApHl 1", 1891. Mt Loud, — I have the honour to forward herewith a copy of an approveil Minute of the Privy Council calling attentiim to an extract from the lleport of the Unite-' .States Coast and Gi'odetie Survey with reference to the marking of the boundai .oie between Alaska and Hritish Columbia, and recpu's^ng that the United States Govern- ment may 1h' reminded that some dill'ereiue of npi lion exists as to this Ixmndary which can only be properly determined l)y an International CommissioiL 1 have, itc, .STANLEY OK PHESTON. Enclosure 2 in No. 1. IIKPOIIT OF A COMMrrTKK OF TIIK lloNOUUAULK TIIK I'llIVV COUNCIL, AI'PHOVKI) BV III8 KXCKLLENf'Y TIIK riOVKIlNOH (iKNKUAL IN COUNCIL ON TIIK l.'nil APHIL, 1891. On a report dated the lf*th March, 1891, from the .Ministei' of the Interior, stating tha his attention 'las txxT called to the fact that in the last published report of the Unil"d S'.ii es Loasi and Geoiletic iSuivey the Director says, page .') : - " By re«ent Co.igreisiurud enactment a preliminary survey of the fr(mtier line Is'tweeii .\laskr and Bi'iish Columbia, in accordance with plans or projects approved by Cape 153 tlio Secretiiry of State, lias been placed in charge of tliis Bureau. Such a preliminary survey, involving the dotermination of a nunilx>r of points in geogra])hical ])<)sition, and their complete marking by permanent monuments, will have to be carried from Cai«' Muzon, thriyugh the I'milniid C'iiiiiil,ti> th(! oOtli degrer from the Colonial Ofticc,* enclosing a despatch from the Governor General of Canada requesting that the Unitefl Government may l)e reminded that some dift'erence of opinion exists as to the marking of the boundary line between Alaska and British Columbia, which can only he properly determined by an International Comniission. I have to rei|uest you to adort of the ' Unittil States Coast and Gemletic Survey,' in which th.' directoi' writes as follows i — 'By recent Congiessiimiil eniM'tments a ]U'climinary survey of the frontier l.'ne between Alaska and Hritish Columbia, in accordance with plans or projects appiiiveu by the Secretary of State, has Is'en placiil in charge of this bui-eau. .Such a prelimin- ary survey, involving th( detj'rmination of a number of points in geographical positiim and their ciunplete marking by permanent m.numents, will have to 1m/ carried frian Cape Muzon Ihmiigh the I'nrtliiwl Vannl to the .50tli degn>e of n(uth latitude, tlience No. 1. D— 39 164 north weatwiirdly, fdllowiiig, hh nearly as piuctivable, tlip Kt>neral trend of tlio ciwst at a distance iif iiIidkI J'i miliK /'rom it, U< tlie Hldt de^tree of west longitude, and tlieneiMliie north to the Artie Ocean, a total didtance of aliout 1,400 niileK. The Dominion Government have expressed the desire that the L'liiU'd States (iov- ernnient may Ik' reminded that the c|uestion of the Ijoundary at this [Hiiiit is, at the prt>- sent time, the subject of some ditVerenee of opinion and of eonsidenible eorrespondi'nce, and that the actual boundary line can only 1h' properly det<,'rniined liy an International Commission. 1 have aceonlingly been instructed by the Mar)|uis of Salisbury to call your att<'n- tion to the above extract, and to the olwervations of the Dominion Government thereon. 1 have, lie., JULIAN PAL'NCKFOTE. CONVENTION BETWEKN GREAT HUITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES, KESVIX'TING THE liOUNDAKY BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTHIES (AT ASKA AND PASSAMAQUODDY BAY) SIGNED AT WASHING- TON, .JULY '>■>, 1892. Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and till' United .States of America U'ing ei|ually desirous to jirovide for the removal of all possible cause of diU'ei'ence Ix'tween their res|)eetive Gftvernment-s hereafter in n'gard to the delimitation of the existing Iviundary U'twiH'n Her Majesty's ^Hissessions in North America and the I'nited .States in resin-ct to such ]M)rtions of said Ijounrlary as may not in fact have Iwcn peiiiuinently marked in virtue of Treaties heretofore coru'luded, have resolved to concludi' a Convention in furtherance of thesfi emis, and for that pHr|iose have appointed as their respective Pleni])otentiBries : III .Majesty the tjueen of the United Kingdom of Givat Britain and Ireland, the Honciur'ible Michael H. Herliert, Charge d'.VIl'aires inted severally by the High Con- tnicting Parties, with a view to the asrertaiiimeiit of the facts and data necessary to the lieniiaiient ileliMiitatioii of said iMMindary line in accordance with the spirit and intent of the cxistiiii; Treaties in rcganl to it Ijetween Great Britain and Russia and Iwtween the United States and Russia. .\ppliciitioii will lie iiiaile without delay to the respective liCgislative BtHlies for the aji]iropfiMtioiis necessary for the prosecution of the survey, and the Commissions to be iil>pointed by the two Governments shall meet at Ottawa within two months after said appiopriatioiis shall have Is'en made, and shall proC(s'y thi' Hif;h C'ontrnctinf; Parties in equal moieties. Aiiiclilll. — The I'lesent Convention shall be duly ratified by ller Uritunnic Majesty and by the President of the I'nited States of America, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof; and tlie ratification shall iM'exc'hanjjed at Wa^'hinjjton within 1 2 niontlis from the date hereof, or earlier if ])oHsil>le. In faith whereof we, thi' respective Pleni|Kiteiitiaries have signed this Conven- tion, and have hereunto atfixed our at'als. Done in duplicate at Wa-sliington, the 22nd day of July, 1892. IL.SJ MICHAEL H. HEHBEHT. [L.S] JOHN \V. FOSTEK. CONVENTION BETWEEN GUEAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED HEATES EXTENDING THE TERM PHOVIDED IN THE CONVENTION OF JULY ■i-1, 1892, FOB THE SUHVEY OF THE ALASKA BOUNDARY I INE. SIGNED AT WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY ,•), 1894. The Governments of Her Majesty the l^ueen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the United States of .\nierica, being credibly advised that the lalwurs of the Commission organized pursuant to the Convention which was con- dudeil between the High Contracting Parties at Washington, .luly -'L', 1H92, providing for the delimitation of the evisting boundary between Her Majesty's Possessions in North America and the United States, in res[>ect to such portions i>f said Ijoundary line as may not, in fact, have been permanently marked in virtue of Treaties heretofore con- cluded, cannot l>e accomplishwl within the jienod of two yi'ais from the tii'st meeting of the Connnission as fixed by that Convention, have de<'med it expedient to conclude a supplenientrv Convention ext<'nding the term for a further |H'ri(Kl, and for this purjxise have named as tlieir respective Pleni|Nitentiaiies : — Her -Majesty the t^ucen of the United Kingdom of Givat Britain and Irelaiifl, His Excelleiicv Sir Julian PauMcefote, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., .Vmlmssador Extraordinary ami Pleiiijxitentiary of Great Hritain ; and The Pi-esier 2'*, 189J ; hence the timi' allowed by that Convention expires Novemln'r L'8, 1,><94. Relieving it impossible to com|ilet<' the reipiireil work with the specified period, the two Governments hereby nuitually agrei' to extend the time to Dee her .'il, 1893. Aiiii-li' II. The present Convention shall lie duly ratifiepographieal facts) ia Ixirred. For, if the possession was lx,'foiv 189'.', they have renounced their title ; if after, occujiation would not confer h'gal title, for tlie matter has l)een ever since nuh jiidice. It may lie argued against this that the Russians acquinnl title hy possession and occupation ; that this title was intendwl to he conveyed to the Unittd States hy the treaty of l.S(i", and that therefore the 'spirit and intent' of the treaty of 1807 would give the I'nited .States all that Russia liehl hy |)osse.ssion. However, the words of the convention are the 'treaties,' not the 'treaty,' and thus the spirit and intent of the treaty of 1 f<2ri must also lie considereil, and it w as manifestly not then intended that Russia should acquire hy possession anything heyond the limits aasigned hy the treaty. The al)ov.> ai„-iiiieiit would make the '.sjiirit and intent ' of one of the treaties nullify that of the other. Again, a line ten leagues from the heails of inlets has IxN'n arguwl for on the evidence of maps, old aiui new, • the general usage of geographers,' itc. The general usage would lie evidence of the interpretjition ])ut ujion the treaty of 182.") hy geographers, hut hardly evidence of the intent of the treaty itself. It may Im' ojieii for the I'nited States to argue that, owing to the alleged failure of the survevs of 18'J2 189.") to prove the existence of the niount4iinu sisiken of in the treaty of 182."), the ten league line must be taken, hut the n priori argument for the ten league line on the gniuiid of general usage falls to the ground. For the whole |)uri«)se of Article 1. of t' .' Convention of 1892 was to make a prel'"iinary survey to a.scertaiii the necessa- . facts, Ac. Now, if the ten league line had ix^en til. true line, a preliminary survey would have Ix'en (juite useless. The agreement of tile United StJiles to a preliminary and not n final survey amounts therefore to a 'I'aiver of ii prinri claim to the ten leagues. W. K. KING, Ottawa, August 11, 1899. RKl'ORT OF MKSSRS. UUKFlELlt AND KING, DECKMBER 31, 189."). The uiideisigneil. William Ward Uutliehl, on Ix'half of the Unit<'d States of America, and Williaiii Fii'ov- maneiit dcliinitation of said boundary line, in accordance with the spirit and intent of the existing treaties in regard to it iH'tween (Jreat Britain aiul Russia and In'tween United .States and Russia. '.Application will be made with out delay to the respective legislative bodies for the appmiiriations necessary for the prosr'cution of the s'- >ey, and the Commissioners to be appointed by the two (iovernments shall meet at Ottawa within twci months after the said a]ipropriation shall have been made, and shall proceed aa soon as practicable there- after to the active discharge of their duties. 'The respective Commissions shall complete the survey and submit their final It-ports thereof within two years from their first meeting. ' The Coumiissioncr.s shall, so far as they may lie able to agree, make a joint report to each of the two Governments, and they shall report, either jointly or severally, to each Government on any points uimiii which they may U> unable toagre<'. ' Each Govermnent shall pay the expenses of the Commission appointed by it. ' Each Government engages to facilitate in every possible way any o]H!ratioiis which, in pui-suance of the plan to Ih> agreed upon by the Commissioners, may lie conducted within its territory by the Commission of the other. 'Tlu> High Ciintracting Parties agree that, as siMin as practicable after the replotit' tlioii- ji)int cir sfpiiriitc ri'iMiits, wliicli, by tlir foiincr C'c invent inn, I'xpiiiil twn years from the diito nf tlie lirst nus'tin^j uf the C'liinriiissiimers. that is tiiMiiy, an Nnvenilwr "JM, IS'J.j, »iis extenili'r the determination of chroiioinetrii' diUer- ences of longitude betwet'n Sitka as a lm.se station and the observatories established bv Mr. Dickius at Burroughs Bay with Dr. Kdinonds as observer, by Mr. 'I ittniann at D— 40 158 Fciit Wninj!!'!! witli .Mr. Putiuiiii in ciIjscimt, iiikI by Mr. Oj^cU'ii at tin' mouth of the Tiiku Rivrr with .Mr. French us oliscrvcr. At ciirh of the iiliovc statioiiK latitude and loli^ituile were also ileteniiiiK'il. Tile rniteil States st<'aiiier ' llassler ' was einploved throughout the seaHoii in niakin;; the necessary exchanges of time, the chronometers being in ohurge of Mr. l^iril. The parties were on thi' gruuiifl anil the work Ik'kuii in the miilille of May ; and the early snow falls renderin); mountain work iniixissilile, it was found necessary to retire fruni the lield in .S"pteml)er. During the following year, I8U4, the following piirtieH were placed in the (ielil, on lichalf of the I'liited States Commission :-- Mr. I'ratt on the I'hilkat Inlet and liver and on ChilkiMit and Taiya iiduts and Taiya l{i\er, he lieing engagfl chietly ill triangulatioii. Mr. l>ickins on I'nuk Uiver and t'hilkat Inlet. Mr. Klenier on ChilkiMit and Taiya Inlets. Mr. Hitter im (Jliilkat Inlet and Itiver. Mr. Mctirath on the coast westward from Yakutat Bay and at Lituja Bay. Mr. Morse at Sitka longitude station. Ijititude and longitude were determinwl at the olwervutory at Anchorage Point, Pyramid Ilarlxiur, the steamer Uitimhr making the necessary chronometer trips as Ix'fore. Mr. Hayford niaile the observations at Pyramid HarlKHirand Mr. Page had charge of the clironomet<'rs on the //dW'C. On l)ehalf of the British Coimnisaion : — Mr. Saint Cyr at the lieaarties in Alaska and Mr. Morse was stationiKl at Seattle as astronomer for the redetermination of the differences of longitude l»'tween that |">int and the observatories at Port Simpson, B.C., at .Mary Island, Alaska, and at a station at the head of Portland Canal. The observations for latitude and longitude were iiiade by Mr. French at Port Simpson, by Mr. Dickins, at Mary Island, and by .Mr. Wilker, at Lion Point, Portland Canal. Mr. Young was in cliarge of the chronometers carried by the steamer ' City of Topeka,' between Seattle and the stations at Port Simpson and Mary Island. Coniparisfins lietween Poi't Simpson and Lion Point were ellectetl by the Unitfd Stat<'s launch ' Fuca.' The results of all these surveys are exhibited in the accompanying maps, namely, sheets N'os. 1 to il, made on a scale of ymj'jojr with contour lines of eh'vations 250 feet apart, from the surveys of the British Commission; and in maps Nos. 1 to 12 of the United States Commission, made on the same scale. These maps have Ix'en agreed to by us, subject to the limitations hereinafter set forth, IIS correct rejiresentations of the tojKigriipliical features, and have tieen signed bv tis to testify thereto. In submitting twfi sets of inajis which cover the same ground, and which, to a large extent, have lieen prepared indejK'ndently in the offices of the respei'tive Commissioners at Washington and Ottawa, it is understofnl that wherever there is a did'erence bc'twecn the maps, either from different meth'Hls of representing the topography or from discrejiancy as to the position of natural features or otherwise, such flifference is to be interpreted by ivference to the hei<'inlieforc descrilKnl scheme of par- tition of the siirvex' work between the respecti\'e Commissions; and where the surveys cover the same or nearly the same ground, the maps are to l)o taken as mutually explanatory, having regiml to the conditions under which each survey was made. Tho mn cipiitinciital shdiv liiii', frmn latitude 'ti W to Pciiiit L'uvi'i-iliii. at tlir siiutli»t'st<'rly eiitmncT to I,yiiii Canal, 1 !■ . iii^ lnt'ii siirvt'VfHJ bv the I'liitod Siatrs I'oast ami (iciKli'tio Survey, tile I'liiti-il States map sliali, in ea.se of rliHei'e|ianey, ;.''»vern aH to tlie shore line; so also from Vakutat Hay to the Itlsi nieriilian. Hut from I'oint t'o\enlen north westerly ^> Yakutat 'lay, incluilinK tilac ier Hay and the otliei- Mays, whielj, with the exeeption Ut the cntranee to Ijtuva lia\-, ha\e ni't In-en so siii'\eved, the maps of the Itritish Commission shall pi\ern. The slaa'e line of the islands of the Alaskan Arehii«la;{o have been inappeil aeeordin^j to the surveys of the L'luted States Const and (ieiKletie Sur\ey, wherever such nurvey liaH txt-n nnide ; elsewhere the best information axailable has ix-en used. To show the topographical features of the country in another way, we herewith submit photojjraphie views, Iwinj; eontaet prints from the photo^'iaphic ne;,'atives of the otlicers of the British Couunission, whose woi-k was lar>^ely exeer, since this is not shown on the maps. Speaking broadly we may say that the average altitude of the timlier line lietween Burrounhs Hay and Lynn Canal is 2,."i(IO feet, l»'in){ n little hifrher in the south and a little lower in the north. Timlier line is juinuirily a matter of heat, so that altitude and latitude ha\e similar ell'ects. Howe\'er, in a country rif which so much has i)nt recently been uncovensl from ;,daciers, tind>er line is atl'ected by another factor, and that is the presence of soil foi- tri'es to take r(H>t. As the foot of a mountain is Hrst exposeil. the forest starts there, and in tinu', as exposui'e and consetiuent disintet^ration take ]ilace, creeps upwards. Now there are numy |>oints in the area aljove referred to where this process of forest cree|)inf! has not reached the limit set by climatic conditions, and hence we find tiiuln'r lines near each other, but varyiiiK in altitude by hundrisis of feel. This is most noticeable on the west side of Lvtin Canal. Naturaliv we would expect the timlxM' line in the s(Uith to Ih; hi;;her than in the north, but as a nuitter of fact it is the reverse there, Ix'iiiis; scarcely 2,000 fiH't for the former and nearly 11,000 feet for the latter. In jjeneral the timber line on the east side of Lynn Canal is somewhat higher than on the west si(h'. Around Juneau the tiinl)er line docs not reach the 2,000 feet limit. Between the entrance of (i lacier Bay across I >unrlas and Taylor Bays and Cape Spencer the timber line may be put at 2,00(t feet alxive the sea. In Glacier Bay, north- ward from the entrance, the timber line r.ijiidly descends and in the northern part the forest practically tlisapi)ears altogether. In fact aloni; many of the smaller bays there no w.mkI whatever is found. 'J'his phencanenon is ]>lainiy indicative of the recent recession of the vast complex of (fhu'iers. On the outside, Is'tween Lituya Hay and Cape Spencer, the line is Imi'ely 2,000 feet, while in Yakutat Bay it is 1,000 feet. Most of the mountains U'tween Yakutjit Bay and Lituya Bay are not timln'red at all, but this is probably due — up to 2,000 feet-to the fact already .staled, i.""., that the recession of the glaciers is t recent to admit of the necessary clisintegration for vegetation to spring up, as well as to the efl'eet upon the tenijierature of the nearness of the existing glaciers. 160 The altitude of the'lriimber line at varioiw points is as follown-i — Place. Maxiniuiii. Avfrafirr. Vortlaiul r'aiial I'ir.lk Kivcr liuiTutinhV Hay llradtif'lil'H (.'anal South (if Stikino N.iitli iif Stikint) TlioiiiiiH liny Eiidicntt Arm Snt'Cti^liain Bay Taku liik't Kfwt hiiti- liyiin Canal. ... Head of Lytin Canal WeRt Hide of Lynn Caniil Outsiflt', WB8t of ( 'a|H* Sfienoer.. >Mtm .'.WW .'.7IKP J.TIKI !.70O VMK) (.(UK) .',4C0 I,5S.) It is further nfrreed. on I lie pari of the I'ldtiil States, that all eonnnereirtl v,«selfl of the Donnniou of (.'nnada shall have free in^tress and egress to and from the l,vnn Canal in the teriTtorv of .Maska, and to and from any |Kiit or harhoiir 'hereof, an freelv ami on the same HMTnti, and sidijei't to the same conditions as the eonimei'cial v(>Ni«e]s of tip- rnitiil Slaties. and suhjeet to no other charires or restrictions than those a])plied to like vessels of the United States .Ml mcrehiinilise arriving at any port estalilisheil on said eaiial and destinefj to any place In tlii' Dominion of ( 'anada may )>e landed at such |iort for transit across ihe intevveiuui; teiritorv of .Maska witlioiil the (layment oi duty. under such proper rcixidalions of the Secretary of ihi' Trea-surv of tlii' liiited Stales a« shall lie reipiired for the jti-otection of the M»\'eiiue. For the grt'atei- facility of sucii transit trade, il is further agreed that tlie Dominion ot I 'anada iiiiiv estalilisli at such |nirt an olliee, witii m»eessarv agents, lor the superx'iHion of such tmnsit, and (if so de.iiii'd) for the coilm'tion of (.'aniuliii.ii customs duties on all merchandise in transit an alrresaid. In like iiiaiiticr. ail merclmmtiMc arriving rroiii ( 'tiimda at the inland frontier of .Vlaska jind dcstntcil for export liv wav- of saifi canal to ativ foreign I'ountrv, or to any 161 Caniuliiiii poit, imiy Im' traiisiHirtcd fiiini said fn)nti<'i' to tlic port of pxportatiim on the Niiifl caiml, ami may l«^ thinii"' c>xpoi'ti> if the dis]iut4'. .Vs regards Pyramid IIarlH>ur. llii' liritish Commissioni'rs would assent to an agree ment giving spial rights to United States and Cana*ih land a consideration of other cireunistunces if, and so far as, they atl'ect that determination) by legal experts. MKMOHANDIM IlKSl'HCTINl; Till-; ALASKA DOLNDAriV. (Givt^n to iSt'ltator FnirhaHkM, I6tli lh'.rt>mhft\ ISttS ). The (piestion of the boundary in the neighlKjurhoml of the Lynn Canal having lieen .separat<'ly deiilt with from the rest of the Ixiundarv in disjiute, it has Ix'en thought con- venient to continue this si'parate treatment for the moment. It is to lie observed that, whilst as regards the Lynn Canal theie is to l)e a coiiiplett! surrender of all territorial claims by (ireat IJritain, the proposals iiiadi' oiler no con- (cession to the liritish view in other parts of the biaindary, although, in the opinion of the British numibers of the Coininitte lixeil, and at any other agived points. The circumstances at the present time are, in their opinion, altogether dillerent, and the obligation appears to lie impiised on them to provide for a delimitatiiin of the whole of the boundary from its simthernmost point to the point where the bounihiry line eneimiitets the lUstdegrie of longitude. .Any othei' course appears to them open to the gravest objections. They art' i|uite willing to endeavour to lix this boundary by agriH>nient with the United States Cimimiasioners, but this will l)e impracticable if it can only be attjiined by a sunvnder tliroughiiul of what they believe to be the rights of (ireat hritain. It can only Ix- accomplished on the basis of coneessioiis on both siih's, which can Imi regarded as fair e(|uivttlonts. If Tio ayreement is possible, the only mode of making " provisions for the delimitation und establishment of the Alaska Canadian boundary, ' seems to them to be by inwuiH of legal and scientilic ex|ierts. D— 41 162 SlKMuKANnrSI WITH H TO Tin: I'OINTS FOlt FIXIN(i TIIK AI.ASKAS llOUNDAKY. ( Remved rnmi Sfiuilin' F nrliitration. MEMOHANIl'M AH TO PHI !D Ai;nKK5ll;NT poll FIXINO Till; ALASKAN IIOI'N'DAIIV. ( Sfiil In SeauUn)!' Fdirlmii/.n, „'Jiii/ J)fi-''iiihn: tS'.iS. ) I am no. -u re that 1 uaiierstand the new proposa', hnt I irather that it is intcndi'd to limit tlir "tixalion and iinirking " of the Alasl;a!i houn>at lenirth for coming to the conclusion that the upper part of the canal was within Hrmwh territory. .More recently an ollicial of the Colonial OHice, reporting on till- ipiesttioi!. '.ihilst not adopting in its entirety the Canadian view as tothe Innindary geiierjiiilv. iiuiin^aiiied stronglv. and gave his reasons for so doing, that the upper part of the l..vnn l-.aiiai was within the l.ritish hoiindarv. IfUA'PT iETH'Id'; HKSl'KCTINC 'I'lIK ALASKA Hol'NDARY, HANDED VK V.MKHICAN C()11,M1S,SI(JNKUS, li.xii FEBKUAIIY, 18!)!). Tie' iiiir ri.iiiuienciiig at Cii)Ki Chacon, wliich is the most southern pointof Prime of Wales i .imio. sliall ascend northerly to the entrance of Portland Canal, west of Wales iiid )'eur*. Island^, thence iipwarils through the centre of said lanid to the mouth of Bear llivei ! hence from a pejik on the right hank of Hear Hiver northerly to another peak on tile .iCitli degree of north latitude', theiioe hy intt'rvi.sihie peaks, as much as (MMsible inii' slraiuiil line to Ihg Mountain, thence in the same way to Kate's Needle, thence in Win siuue way to a peak 7,10!) feet high in the vicinity of the junction of the Tolu»i|ue Uivei' with the Taku. 1 hence in the same way to the White F'ass, thenci' in the same uiiv !<» the (^hilkoot Pass, thence in the same way to a peak 7, .'(0(1 feet high ea^i • '' ' '<>th degree of ioiigituile, thenee in the same way to IMack Mount, which lie e miles eaflt of the same degree of longitude, and iiliout ."i!) fi' of north lati! "le-e 111 till! .same «ay to a peak lying at the northern extremity of ./ohii llopkni '.laeier. thence ill the same way to .Mount Pinia, thence in the same way to Mouni I eMl.. iiiience in the Hiime way to nlount SI. Klias. thci'.' ■tliii.i iie uianted t>i Her fh'itannlc Majesty the possession of Pyiamid Har lioiii on i hil^i lulet of f.ynii Canal, .'ind a strip of territory along the Chilkat Itiver, and I negoti S ratilic t'lienc 1 sidera I inelui and |> withii 1G;J tlic whole ti) 1«' iiiclfiMi'd in the fiillowinji limits ; Ci)niin('iicinK nil the hi'ii-sIkiii' at thi; 5!) 10' lit' mirth hitituilc, iinil thciici' west in ii »tniif,'ht line t(i the suiiiiiiit iif the hills lit a |Kiiiit where till' sai Chilkat IJiver, to the point of intersection of the above ileserilx'd lioundary line. UevertiiiK to the alxive nventioned stjirtiny point on *he sea-shore, the line shall proceed to Pyaniid Tsland incliidinj,' the same, thence in astiai^dit line to a peak on the hills of the ri;,'ht hank of the Chilkat Hiver, ovei-|ookin;{ the Can- styaskali villaf,'e, from the said peak upwards liy intervisible sunnnits, alon;; the range of mountains paraHel to the valley of the Chilkat Itiver, to the point of intersection of the ahove described boiindarv line. The said port and teri'itory within the aliove limits shall lie subject ti> the exclusive jurisdiction of the Dominion of Canada, and of its laws civil and ciiininal. Jt is agreed, however, that the rights of individuals and eori^irations heretofori' acquired in the said port and territory shall he respected. It is further agreeil that should the Canadian (oi.ernment cease to mainlaiu a custom-house at said jiort or a police force sutlicieiit to preserve order in said por't and territory, the ju'ivileges almve granted shall lerniinale and the said port anil territory Hhall revert to the I'nited States, but all concessions of land made and all rights and privileges previously granted by the Canadian (iovernment shall be respected. It is stipulated that vessels of (he I'nited States and of Mritish or Canadian register shall liave equal treatment in the harlKiurs of Pyramid, Skagway and Dyea. .MKMORANDUM BECEIVEU FROM IlIK CMTKI) STATES COMMIS- SIONKHS, llTii KEHIU'AUY, IM!)!). .MITK l.K. .Ar..\.SKA>( llOUMMRV. In older to facilitate the final adjustment of all points in ilitl'erence in respect to the boundary line ln'tween the territory of .Maska and the liritish territory adjaciMit thereto, the high eontraeting parties nuitually agree upon the following provisions ; — 1. It is admitted that the teriitorial line dividing the said possessions of the resjMM'tive tjovernments is to \h} ascertained and established .as early as possible in aeeord- aiiee with the iletinition thereof contained ill .Vrticles 111. and (V.of the Convention betwwii liiissia and (ireat Britain, dated the U'Sth ( Hilli) I'ebruary, IflL'."!, and lejiroduceil ill .\iticle I. of the Conventiiai between Uussia and the United States, dated the .'!Oth .March, l.'orls hereinlM'fiire reipiired of thein within two years from their llrst meeting. 164 ALASKA CANADIAN BOUNDARY. MEMORANDUM SENT TO INITKI) STATES C0MMI8SI0NKRS, !)TU FKHHlAIiV, 1899, That provisions for the (U-l imitation and I'stablishmont of the Alaska-Canadian boundary Ix; niado in the followin); manner, that is to say : — That it Ix' referred to an eminent jurist to Ix' appointed l)y tlie President of tlie United States and an eminent jurist to be appointed by }Ier Uritannic Majesty on the nomination of the Judieiiil Committee of tlie Privy Council, and a third eminent jurist (to be named) or (to be ajjreed upon l)y tlie jurists a])pointed as aforesaid), or in default tliereof to Ix* appointe |ioinl on the oCith degree (jf latituile alxnc indicated, crosses the Skoot, Stikine, and Taku Hivei's, the nuaintain passes north of the head of Lynn Canal, the Chilkat, Tatshenshini, and Alsek Itivers. ;i. [ietween the points to be determined as indicated in the hist alxive paragraph, and also between the .Msek Kivei' and .Mount St. Elias, the Conunission shall delineate the bountiary as near as may li*' following intervisible mountain peaks. The determination and award o: the Counniasion shall Ixi a(^ci'pt<'d by the govern- ments of the United States and Great Britain as linal and conclusive. NOTES ON I'llOI'OSITION. As a convention has be(>n entered into and is now pi'uding in t he .Senate resjxM'ting the boumlary line between Mount St. Elias and the Arcti<' Ocean, no action as to that portion of the lx>undary is necessary on the part of the .loint High C(mn)iission. The territory which is ]H'0]ioscd above to be subuiitteil to ai'bitratiiai, espei'ially in paragraph two, is std>stantiully in accord with an arrangement which was proposed by the I'nited Stjites in I87.'i, aiui approved by the British Government (.vee ' Canadian Sessional Papers,' vol. .\i.. No. PJ,'), IM7.'<, pp. 10 to 37). .MKMOKANDl'M SENT TO UNITED STATES COMMISSIONKIIS, FEUHUAIIY 11, 1H99. Till" Hritish Connuissicmers aii. unabli' to accept the proposid made, inasnnich lus it assumes in favour of the United States a matter in dispute and limits the arbitration to a portion of the disputed bounilarv. They h've already stated in previous communications that, in their opinion, they are entitled, in ilefault of an agreement, to have the whole of the disputed Ixanidarv referred to arbitration. Hy the Protocol in pursuance of which this Commission assembled, provisicup was t« Ih' luaile for the delimitation and establishment of the Alaska Cauaoints and referring to the evidence uprinted statement or argument, but in such case the other Party shall be entitled to reply either orally or by written or print«l statement or argument as the case may lie. AIITICLK IX. Tlie Aibitnitors may, for any cause deemed by them siitheient, enlarge the periods fixed by Articles V 1, V 1 1, and V 1 II, or any of them, by the allowance of thirty days additional. The decision of the Triliunal shall, if possible, be made within three months from the close of the argnmiMits on both sides. It shall be made in writing, and dated, and shall Is- signed by the Arbitrators who may assent to it. The decision shall be in duplicate, one copy whereof shall Is' delivered to the Agent of (ireat Hritaiii for his (iovcrninent,and the other copy shall lie delivered to the Agent of the riiite]>ointed to determine the boundarv line between the territory of Alaska and thi' Dominion of Canada within the limits detincd in the following Article III. ; — ARTICLE II. The Tribunal shall consist of six impartial jurists of repute, thrcv on the part of (ireat Britain, nominated by the menilxMs for the time Ix'ing of the Judicial Conmiittee of Her Majesty's Privy Council, and three on the part of the United States, nominated by the Presiflent. In ciuse of the death, absence, or incapacity to serve of either of the Arbitrators nominat^'il as afitresaid, or in the e\ent of either (»f such Arbitrators omitting (tr declin- ing or ceasing to act as such, another imimrtial jurist of repute shall Ik- forthwith nominated in his place by the sunu" authority which appointed his predeoe.ssoi'. AIITICLK in. 'I'lie Tribunal shall determine anil if practicable delineate on suitable maps the Itoundary line between the Tcrritoiy of Alaska and the Dominion of Canada from the southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island to .Mount .St. Elias, in accordance with the Treaty l«'tween Russia and (ireat Britai.i, dated the l.'8tli (Kith) February, 18'J,"), anil the Treaty of cession from Russia to the United Stat<'s, dated the IHItli March, 181)7, or, as the same shall Ix' established by said Tribunal under the Rules hereinafter provided. MITK LK r\. Before (leciles of interna- tional law, aiul the i'(|uitics of the case shall, in tlii' opinii>n of the Triliunal, ri'ipiire ; and all towns or settlements on tiile-water, settled under the authority of the I'niti'il States and under the jurisdiction of the United States at tin dale of this Treaty, shall remain within the territory and jurisdiction of the I'nited States. AUTici.r. V. The .Arbitrators shall meet at within sixty days after the delivery of the printed arguments mentimuMl in .Article 8, anil shall [iroceed impartially and 168 carefully t > exiiiiiiiii' unci decirli- tlic mnttoi's suhinittoe Isnind, if the other ))arty thinks propt'r to apply for it, to furni.sh that parly with a copy thereof, and either party may call upon the other, through the Arbitrators, to produce the originals or certified copies of any piipci s adduced as evidence, giving in each instance notice thereof within thirty days after the delivery of the case, and the original, av cf)py, as i-etpiested, shall Irf' delivereil as scum as may be, and within a perioil not exceeding forty days after the receipt of notice. .\ini('i,K viii. It shall be the duty of the .Agent of each Party within months after the ex])iration of the time limited for the delivery of the Counter Case on both sides, to deliver in duplicate to each of the said Arbitrators and to thi^ Agent of the other Party, a printeil statement or argument show ing tlic> points and referring to the evidence upon which his (iovernment relies. The other Party may submit reply thereto. The .Arbitrators may, if they desire further elucidation with regard to any point, reipiire oral argument l>y Coii.'isel upon it, or a written or print«d stat<'inent or argument, but in such case the otlier Party shall t)e entitlwl to reply either orally or by written or printed statement or argument, as the case may l>e. AHTICI.l-: IX. The Arbitrators may, for any cause deemed by them sufficient, enlarge the periods fixed by Articles VI., VJI., and Vllf., or any of them, by the allowance of thirty days ailditioiuil. ARTKLK X. The decision nf the Tribunal shall, if possible, lie made within three months f-.mi the close of the argumi'iits un Ijotli sides. It shall be made iu writing, and dated, and shall 1m) signed by the Arbitrators who may assent t^^ it. The decisiiui shall 1«» in duplicate —one c()py whereof shall ho delivered to the Agent of (ireat Britain for his Government, and the other copy shall 1m> delivered to the Agent of the United States of America for his Oovernnamt. AHTICLK XI. The Arbitrators shall keep an accurate record of their pi'oeeedings, and may appoint and employ the necessary oiKcers to assist them. They may also employ any scientific ex|ierts whose assistance they may deem necessary for the discharge of the duty entrusted to them. AKTK.'I.K .VII. Kach (jlovernmont shall pay its own Agent and provide for the remuneration of the Counsel (if any) employed by it, and of the Arbitrators appointed on its Is'half, and fiu' 169 till' ex|)(!iisi' lit' lUTpimnj,' and Huliuiittinj^ its eune to tliu Tiibuiiiil. All utliiT ixpiiiM's iumicct<'il with the arbitnitiim ahull I* dofraywl by the two (uivciiiiiirnts in i'c|iiul iiii)ioti('N. AllTltLK xm. Till' lliffh ('iintiiictiiiK Piiitii's ciiKii^'i' to I'onsiili'i- llir ii'snlt of the iinH!i'i'(liiij,'.s nf till' Tiibiiiiiil of Ailiitintion us ii tull, pt'ifi'ct, anil final scttli'iiit'nt of all iiiit'stioiis rrfi'iii'il til till' Aibitnitiirs. No. 26. Mil. S. CAXNIXl; TO Mil. Ii. CASNIXII. IteeeirrrJ Juiif U. (Ni'. 17.) Wa.shixoton, May •'!, l^^'l'^. Sin, Till' Kussiaii Knvoy, Baron Tuyll, who airiveil licit; about tliirc weeks ago, lias proposed to the Aiiieiiean (Joveniiiieiil, in the name of his eourt, to send instiiio- tioiis, to Mr. Miildletoii at .St. Petei'sbiir;^ for the pur)iosi' of eiiablin;; him to nejjotiate an arrangement of the ditrereiices arisiii<> out of the eluinis a.sserted by the Kmperor of Russia to an exclusive doiiiiiiion over the northwest coast of America, and the rieigli- bourinj; seas as far as the .")lst degree of north latitude. The |>rii]>o.sal, I conceive to Ik' siinllar to that which was made by Count Nesselri«le to His Majesty's Plenipotentiary at Verona relative to the same object, as it elli'cts (Ireat Britain. The Americuii Secretary of State, in apprising me of the coniinunication received from Count Tuyll, expressed a desire that I would mention it to His Majesty's Governnient, and stating that Mr. Middleton would, in all probability, be furnished with the necessaiy powera and instructions suggcst<'d whether it might not Im' advantageous fur the British and American (oiveriiments, protesting as they did against the claims of Hussiii, to empower their .Ministers at St. Petersburg to act in the jiroposed negotiation on a comnion under, standing. He aili'ed that the United States had no territorial claims of their own as high as the ."ilst degree of latitude, although they disputed the exteiitof those advanciil bv Hussia, and opposed the right of that jmwer to exclude theii' citizens from trading with the native inhabitants of those regions over which the sovereignty of Itussia had been for the lirst time asserted by the late edict of the Emperor, and most particularly the extravagant pretension to prohibit the approach of the foreign vcss"ls within lOU Italian luih's of the coast. .\t the same time that he submitteiJ this overture for the consideration of His Majesty's Government, .Mr. .\danis informed me that he had n'lciviHl an account similar to that which lately appearisl in the newspapers, anil which has already been forwarded to your otlice, of an .Viiieiicaii trading vessel having been ordeved away from the north- west coast by the command of a Bussian frigate stationed in that ijuarter. He did not appear, however, to a|>prehend that any unpleasant conseiiuences were likely to result from that oeciirrciice, as it was iindei'stooil that ]irovisioiial instructions of a less exce))- tional teiiour had U'en dispatched from .St. Pet<'rsb\irg in compliance with the representa- tions of foreign powers. In bringing under your notice tliisovi'itureof the Ainericaii (ioveriiment, respecting which I raniiot presume to anticipate the sentiments of Ifis Majesty's Cabinet, 1 have only to add that on asking Afr. .\daiiis whether it was his intention toenter more largely upon the subject at present, T was inforuK^il in ri']ily, that it would be desirable for him previously to know in what light the British Government was disposed to \ iew the suggestion which he had olVered. He appeared to Ik' under an impression that the instructions and powers reipiisite for acting separately in this all'air had already been transmitted to Sir Charles Jiagot. I have, itc, (Signed) ,STBATF0B1> CANNING. No. 27. .Mil. G. Canxino to Siii. C. Haoot. (No. 12.) l'"oiiKiiiX Ofkick, July 12, 1»<23. 'Sin, — I have the honour to enclose, for Your Kxcellency's information, the cojiy of a despatch received from His .Majesty's .Ministi'r in .\iiierica ii)ion the subject of the Russian Ukase relating to the northwest coast of America, also of a letter from the Shipowners' Society upon the Name subject, and of a memorandum of mv repiv to that letter. D— i:i 170 Ydur ExiTllciiey will iibserve, frmii .Mr. .'^triitfiird Camiinjj's dcspitcli, that the Goveniinent of the Uiiitid States are desirous to join with that of His Majesty in bringing forward some proposition for the definite settlement of this <|ue8tioii witli Russia. We have no pirei.se information as to the views of the Anieriean (nivernnient, Mr. Knsli not having' nreived any instrm'tions upon thesulijeet. It seems prol)ahle, however, that the part of the que tion in which the American CJoverinnent is iH'euliarly desirous of establishin;,' a concert with this country, is tliat which concerns th<'e.\tni vacant assump tion of maritime jurisdii'tion. Upon this |)oint, it Ix'iufj now distinctly underston this ]ioint, therefore, such a concert as the Ignited States are understoStat<'s may be satifietl jointlj' with smaller conces- sions than either ]K)wer could accept singly, if the demand of the others were likely to 1m' higher than its own. I therefore think it Ix'st to defer giving any precise instructions to Your KxeeHeney on this )Hiint until 1 shall have l)een infornien it. In the meantime, however, you will endeavour to draw from the Russian Govern- ment a proposal of their terms, ami we should undoubtedly come much moif omvenient- ' i' to the discussion, and Im' much mine likely to ecmcert an agreement upon mcHleratc terms with the American Government, if a projHisal is made Ut us, than to agree in originating one which would lie satisfactoiy at once to Ixith (iovernmentsand to Russia. The other part of this ipu'stion which relates to territorial claim and ls)undaiy is perhaps susceptible of a separate settU'iiient. Of the two principles on which the settle- ment could be made, viz., joint occu])ani'y or territct in your despatch No. 12 of the ll'tli of last month, to apprize him of the probability of \Ir. Middleton ond myself U'ing soon iiistruct<'d to act jointly in negotiating with him some proposition for the tiie seerinii i>hject, tindinK that (.'imnt XesselpMle r('('ei\t'(I so favcdirahly ■ •'y intinMttioii of tlie course we were aliout to |iiirsue. I though that I should Is'st h'lirn wliel ler the Kussian (joviMiitnent was preiuued in |>roed to him, as I did, the t'aiihties wlncii it \Kaild prohahly iitlord lo all parties if, instea])o.se that M. Poletica would lie authori/.ed to eoneliide ;i -i arrangement, or that anything could Ik' dehnitely settled until after his own return. In the meantime the .\mcrican Minister here has not yet received his instiuctions referred to by Mr. Stratford Canning in his letter to you of 3rd .May. :i 'py of w hich is enclosed in your despatch No. I J. J have, however, apprized him ot i lie wish of his government to act in concert with that of His Majesty in this business of His Majesty's readiness to accede to this wish, and of the probability of his receiving, in the course of a \ery short time, pierisc Instructions upon the subject. From the few general conver- sations which I have had with .Mr. Middli'tt year, by the direction of the I'resident. several interviews with Count NessclriMle and Count Cajioihstrlas upon tlii' sidiject of this Ckase, and that it was at length ayieed that he should impiire ollicially what were the intentions of the Im)«'riHl Govcrninenl In rcgartl to the execution of it, an assurance Ix-ing ]ireviiiusly given thai the answer which he shouhl receive v»ouhl Is- satisfactory. Mr. Middleton has U'cn goisl enough to furnish me with a copy i f this answei. which I now enclose. .\s, however, he considers the eonnnunleation of the paper as personally eonlidential. I take the lilierty of n'i|uesting that no public use Iw maile of It. In regard to the second part of this ipiestion, that which relates to the territorial claim advanced liy Russia in respect to the north-we.st coasts of North .Vmerica, I ha\e explained to Count Nesselrmle that the I'nited .States making no ]iretension to territory so high as the olst dc);iee of north latitude, the (juestion rests lietwiTii His Majesty and the Emjieror of Russia alum', and becomes therefore a matter for8e|)arate settlement by the respective Governments. T have suggesttsi to him that this settlemi'nt may jH'rhaps b(» In^st made bv Conven- tion, and I linve declai-ed our ii'adiness to accede to one framed either U|kiii the principle of joint iH'cupancy or demarcation of iKiundary as the Hussian Government nuiy itse f prefer, intinuiting, however, that in our view the latter is by far the most convenient. Count Nesselrisle innneiliately and without hesitation declared himscly to be entirely of that opinion, and he a.ssuiisl me that the chief if not the oidy object of the Imperial Government was to Ix' ujion some certainty in this re-pcet. This conversation tiKik place Ix-fore 1 had receivrd your private letter lit cypher of the '_'.">tli of last month, which leaehed me on the 1 Ith Instant by post. I had, however, taken u|Hin myself toalistain from bringing forward any suggestion that the territorial arrangement should Ik* made for an expirable periml, as 1 thought it possible that such an arrangement might, in the end. be found to be Inconvenienl. and as it appeaivd to me that it was a jiropositiiin which I should at all events rcsci've for a later jierliwl of the discussion, when it might, in ease of difficulties, be found an useful instrument of ih'gii- tiation. 178 III It HCfiinil interview wliieli I have liml with C'nillit NeMsehmh' ii|«iii the Milijeet nf this Meparate iie^rutiatinn. I tuM him tliat niir ]ireteiisii ins hail, I iM-lieMMl, ahiio^t exteiiih'd to till' ."I'lth (le;;i-ee nt' iim-th latitude, hut that a line nt' ileinai'i'iitiiin ilrawii at tile .')"th ile;,'iee wiiiilil Ih' entirely sati-st'aeluiv tii us, aiiil that I lielieveil that the Itiis- Mian Uovei'iiiiient had in t'ael nii Sttleinents to the sniithuaiil iil' that line. I am nut, liowever, i|ilite sine that I am riyht in this last assertiim, le the Kiissian S'ttlemeiit nf Sitka, to which I am told that the itiissiaii (IiAeiiinient pieteiids to attaeh liieat ini|.oit- luiee, is not laid down very |iiecisely in the iiiaji piililislied in IHO:; ill the (Jiiaiter- ^laster-tieiiernrs I lepai'tnient here, or laid down at all in that ot Arrowsmitli, whieli has lieen t'liniislied to nie t'rom the Koreiun Olliee. He this, however, as it may. Count MesselriKle illil not appear to lie at all startled hy the )>i'o|Misition. lie said he was not cnini;;li aei|iiainteil witii the siihjeet to ;;ive an immediate answer to it, lint he maih- a inemorandiim ot'what I said, and 1 hope shortly lo Ik- able to aseertain how tar this (hivernment niiiy lie inelined to accept a mull' t'oiiiml prii|HMitiiiii fouiidiil u|kiii this l)U.sis, I have, Ac., (Siirned) CH.MILKS |!A(_i()T. P,S, — Since writini; the alsive 1 have ayiiin ~een Couiit Nesseliode. who has informed mo that he has received the Kmpeiors cominands to put M. I'oletiea in dirct ciiinmnnieation with .Mr, .Middleton and myself upon the siilijeet of that part of the Vkiisp in which it is proposed that we should act conjointly whenever Mr. .Middleton shall liave received the instructions which he expects from his (ioverninent. C. H. No. 31. Sill C. H.viaiT TO Mil. (1, C'anmni; U'vired Afinmliif 17. (No. IK, Coiilideiitial.) St. PETElisiirKii, Octolier iii, IK'J.I. Sin,- Mr. lln){hes, the American Char),'e d .Mlairs at Stockholm, arrived heie on the I'itli instant, and ha-s delivered to Mr. Middleton the instructions which I had ftlready led him to expect from his Oovernnient upon the subject of the Imperial I'kase of Septeniher 1, l-'^Ji. and upon the concert of measures which the United .States are desirous of estahlishinj,' with (Ireat Hritain in ordei' to olitain a disavowal of the piv- tensions advanced ill that I'ka.se hy this country. .\s Mr. lliiu'lies was the hearer of instructions upon the same subject to the American .Minister in London, 1 iiiav, I am aware, presnine that Mr. Hush will ha\e already commiinicated to you the view taken of this i|ncstion by the United States, and I think it probable that you may Icive alre.idy anticiiiated thic despatch by framini; for inv jiuidance sui'b further instructions as , under that view, it may be thought necessary that I should receive. It may, nevertheless, be very desirable that I should lose no time in reportinj; to you the substance of some conversations which Mr. .Middleton has held with me since the arrival of Mr. }luj;lips, and it is principally for this purpose that I now despatch the messenger Walsh to Knyland. Althoiigh Mr. Middleton has not communi ated to me the instructions which he has reci'ived, I have collected from him, with eertainty, what T had lon^' had reason to suspect, that the United States, so far from admittin;; that they have no territorial inten'st in the demarcation of boundary between His Majesty and the Kiiiperor of Itussia to the north of that dej^iee are fully prepared to assert that they have at least at eipial pre- tension with those powers to tlie whole coast a', hii;h as the Olstdejjree, and an absolute rif,'ht to he parties of any sulHliviaion of it wbich may now be made. Unless I ^jreatly misconceive the ar};imient of Mr. Middleton, it is eonteiideil by the American (lovernmeiit that, in viilne of the Treaty of Washington, by which the Floridas were ceded by Spain to the United States, the latter are become possessed of all claims, whatever they miffht 1h' which S])ain had to the north-west coast of .America, north of the l"_'nil degree of north latitude, and that when (Jreat Hritain, in the year 1790 disputed the exclusive right of Spain to this coast, the Court of lUissia (as, indeeil, apjiears by the declaration of Count Florida IManca, and as it would, perhaps, yet more clearly appear hy reference to the archives of the Korcign nepartnient here) disclaimed all intention of interfering with the pretensions of .Spain, and, coiise- <]uently, all pretensions to ti'rritory south of the *ilst degree, and that, therefore, any division of the coast lying between the I'Jnd and lilst degree ought in strictness to Iw made between the I'nited States and flreat liritain alone. .Mr. Middleton, liowever, admits that the Ignited States are not prepared to push their pretensions to this extent. He says that they are ready to acknowleilge that no country has anv absolute and exclusive claim to these coasts ; and that it is oiilv intended ITS by Hi« (iiivciniiK'Ht In UHscrt tliiil. an ln'ir>H to tlir iliiiins ot' S|>ain. tlii' I'tiitiHl SlatrM liiivc, in tWt, 'lie iM'st |iirti'iisiiiiiH wliicli any nt tlir thict^ |miwi>in iiitrii'Kttd can uii;!'. Assurniny, u|Min tlicw jjinnnrlH. tlirii i'i;;lit to ii share in tlir cliviniiin, tli<' liiitiij Slati's il si'i'uis, clfiiii' tliiit, tlir (livisicm liiinf; niailo, tlic tlinr I'dwiis slinnld rritii ItiIh u joint cnnvcntiiiM niiitiially tn ;.'iant tn I'acli ntluT, fcji' snnii' liniiti'il |ii'iiiKl, n'ricwnlili' at tin- plrasiu'i' tit* tlit' pai'tit'H, tlir t'fcciliiiii of lislH'i-y anil of trailr «itli tin* nati\fs, itiut wliati'Vi'i- olhrr ailvnnta(,'i's tlir coasts may all'orcl : anil Mr. Midilli'ton lias ronliili'iitiallv n('(|iiainti'il nil' that liu lins in fact ri'ccivcil fi'oni Ills fiovciiiincnt the ' iinijct ' of a til piivtitc coiiM-ntion to this clVcct, anil he lias coiiiiiiiinicated to me a copy, v^liii-h I now inclose, of the full |Mi\verH with wliii-h he Iiiih Im-cii fiirni.sheil to negotiate such convention with the l'leni|>otentiaries of (ireat liritaiii anil llitssia. As neithei- the instructions nor the powers which I lia\e reeeivcil In reyaril to this ipicstion were franieil in contemplation of aiiv such pi-eten.sion as that w liicli is nou' put forwaiil liy the American (joviMiimenI, I liii\e explaiiieii to Mr. Miililleloii how iiiipos- sihle It Is for nie to pi'iK'ceil further with him in the liusiness until I shall have icecivcil fresh instructions from you, ami I have, with this know leiljre, informeil .\l. I'olclica that I iimst, for the pi'i'seiit, suspenil the conferences (upon the teri'it4)rial part of the ipies tioll at least) into which he anil I hail alreaily entereil. I cannot ilis>;uise from myself that, juiljiin),' from the convci'Mationn which I have hail, Imtli with Count Nesselroile ami M. I'olctica, upon the ;;enpral suliject of the Ukase, these new, anil, I must think, imex|H'ctiil pretensions of the I'niteil Stjites are very likely to render a satisfactxiry adjustment of this business a matter of mure ilitlieulty than I at lirsl apprehended. A full disavowal by liussia of her pr tension to an exclusive maritime jurisdiction in the North Pacific Ocean, will, I lia\e no iloiiht, Im' obtained ; but I am stroii^lv inclined to U'lieve that this (iovernmcnt will not easily lie \irou).'ht to acknowleil;re the justice of any claim of the I'niteil .*4ersburfr, aci|uaiiitin;; me that the EmiM-iiir had a)>pointo any precise point, I have abstained from enterin); with him as fully into the matter as I .should have done had his powers lieen more cvtensivp. I had, however, two conversations with him previously to Mr. MidiUeton's receipt of his last instructions, u|ion the subject of territorial boundary as it reyiiriled ourselves, and I then j'i L'kiiM' i.f l.s-Jl. That cxiiei'tatidii was lielil ciui ih ;lii' iii-hct' that 1 sliould hiivi' to instruct you to coinbint' your pni('i'eilin},'s with thow .it tlif Aiiicmtan Mduistor : mill the tromuiLf awvii iustiuctions wjln of ni'ciixsity, ileliivcii iiiitii Mr. KunIi tihould li«' ill poNKeaBioii ofthe intentions of Ins (jovemment n|rt»n tlit- sulo^^'t. rpoii rcf^fijit <)f \'our K?;*TlleiKrv ^ ilcspatt'li No. i^, ri'|M»rlin^ tin' iirrival oi : Mji'. Huftlii's lit f*i. Pi'ti'i'shui-;;. with tile iii>;irin'tiiins ul' tilie iiie i.i some Hirtiiw«ct4ii-v iiiiilerstaniliiiL' with Mr. U4ih^i> oiitlie lirineijiles anil leailiiii: ixiint.s «it the nejrutiitTEuiii, anil that, at all events, it whs lu^viKiiiile to ascertain ^o tiiurti fpmin Mr. Uush as iiiitrtit t'liahle us to jniiire win" ■■ uli! or wiiulil iiol I \)H-«M*nr. to iifjree to the (>i-ii|MMtl ot the Uniteil States In _ our si'\eral neii'iiiatioiis witih Ruhsi.-i into onr- .Sucli a ' oMiliiiiiitiiini iiiiH irwu-eil ali'eaiitv' it^Mi |iro[toHeil to us with reMfH*i't to ho iinii-h of oiir reM|teef.i\e iliHiruHwi-ins wiTIi iiuHNia jis liifneii iijion the iiiiintiine prptension of the Hussian I'kase. Hur thai {iro|ii>iNiLl lia.s iimt Im-ot. niaile in eoiitein|itation of thi' territorial iiui'stion to wliieli the pretensions .if the I nitefi'-^aies have jji\en .i new anil eompitf*.ateii character. The oltjeei HI applvme jiiintlv to Hti-sHia fif .i ilisavowal or iintililiciilioii of lier niiir itiiiie pretension was at iinee to simplifv anil to'-Miffen tvi Hussia tiiut act of quHlilimtum or ilisavowal liv eriablin;j liussia to siitislK- liomi powers at once without s|ie<.'iiil ami separate eoiM^Hsmn. lint, as in tlie i|iiestion or territorial liiniti. Uitssia. at wliiit4*ver point her pn-fenwMri. uii^ht Im' sti)p|ieil. conlil luive liut one of tlie two Powers for her neiifhhour. mt st'em to Im' anv oIiN'Iohk ailvunttufe in omuatiu Uith lo hear upon her t' le settlement of those iiiiiifA,. It is ■ while we I'oiiline u|K»n tin- lliis.sian territor-- ■'■■' '■■•rrti, wenUo eoiihne n|i' " I niteil .sitates to the Hwiitli. we iniiRt at ■ - llii'r •ome to a settle!!. ;ich of those imwers. Uut then* is no tihvioi j., i ueeeMsitv for niakiiiu tlwihe N«mileui»nts siiniiltuiieoiiH, e,><»mBiaUy as we haveiunvnity ii> eimveiition siihsiatiiiL' with the liiiited .Stutes which siih|i«bM(. the necessity or uiiy ilrtimite settle nient with that (iovprnnwint for live venrs vet to .f^me Wlnitner, tlierefore. ^ our KxccUeiicy slioiihl in| of the (iiiv«Tiinieiit of the Initeil States, to neiiot uient witli Ruwiia innil tln' I'liitcil States, or slioiii tion with Kii.ssiii sini;ly. iiccoriliiif.' to the tenor <•' your trt iie iletermineii in a ;;rvat ineHsure liv the inin'e or li unilei'staniliu^' iM'twcen (ircat Hritain ami the I'mt^Hl Stntt.'s as to i-un- i-rlut ■■ as -*i-!l as their .ioint concerns in sucli nc;;otiatioii. Xow we have ;4ihk1 reason to l»lie\e llial. in res[»s't lo the ijui-siion o; iirrit'iriiil iloiilinion hetwecn us anil Itussia, an arrtiii^cinent niav li' a^reeil u^hiii wiiich will sutiBfv the wishes anil secure tin convenience to both parties liy a line of lieiiianation to he ilrawii hetwetm the soiithernniost seltlenienl of Uussia ami the northernniost piwi of the Nor' h west Company. The iniwt soullierii cstahlishnient of I'ussia on llie iiortli west coast of Ainerieji i» Sitka, which is not laiil ilowii in our Latest maps with sullicient <>xactiicss, hut wlucii appears hv the ltus,sian map piihlisheil in \^'U to he situateil, aw the encloscil copy of Ui letter from Mr. I'elly, chairman of the lliiilson's Hay t'onipuiijy, also re)ii't>scnts it, B« laliliiile .")7 . .-iiiil not (as the map of which a copy was iniiliMi'il lo Your K>:. . .!encv in- ilicates) on the continent, hut on a small islainl of the same name at the noiith of Nor- folk Sounil ; tlic lai-fjer islanil ciiiiti;,'Uous thereto, foiinini: <»hal is called hy VanciHivcr) KiiiK tleor^c's .Archipelago, are separalcd from each other hv a strait, c lied Clmthani Strait mill from the inainlanil l)\' another strait, callisl Stephen's Strait or pussa^^e. Wlielhi'i the Hussians have exlendeil their settlements to these lar^rer islands, is not known, hut Mr. I'elly positively avers that they have no settlemciil on the miiinland, nor any cnninierce to the eastw-ard of the coast. H-e su((j;cst^, therefore, either the cliHiinel hetween the islands, or thai helween ]'ii,t) in conlliet with liotli partie- he the Ml test fo • siieli an (itlii'e. as the point at whicli .\|. liiissia and < Meat liritaiii I'oletii Your IC-\(.'elleiiev s despatch No. IS descrihes hitittirle i ic:i appcarei II PI should lie drav 1 to wish that tlu' line of deniarcatijii lietv V a nienoraniluin w V liich I hi ived troin Mr. Hush of what hi^ < io\eriimeiit \vould propose as a ;;emM'al settlement, it upjiejirs point which the I'liited States likewise have proposed fo- that that latituile Oo is the ■anie line of deinaraction. This coin(;ideiK-e ci-rtainly arjiues either a fore^'itiie i.nderstandinj,' lietween Itiissia anci the I'liited Stairs, or a i.rtition betwei'ii Ifu.ssia and ourselves can 1m' settled : as no doubt it can, without arbitraion. My iidinittin^; the I'nited States to our nejioliation with li.issia, we should incur the necessity of iliscnssiiig the American claim to latitude ."il~ at :he same time that we were settling' with liussia our respective limits to the northward. Hut the ipie^tioii of the American claim is for the ]iresent in 'I'ged in the L'on\eii. lion of I SIM ; and it would be a wanton increasi' of dilliciilties to tin. iw that Convcnlioii loose, ami thus to bring the i|ui'stion which it has concluded for a tii.ie into discussion precisely for a purpose of a coincidence, as embarrassing as it is ob\ioi.slv unneecssai'v. If liussia, being aware of the ilisposition of the United .'States to concisle her the limit of latitudi' "10 . should on that acciaint be desirous of a joint nego:iation, she must ! 'collect that the proposal of the I'liilcd States extends to a .joint occ.ipaiiey also, for a limited tinie, of the whole territory bi'loiiging to the three I'owei's ; aiiil that the ( 'on- \enl ion now subsisting U'tween us and the I'nited >St;ites give, that .joint occnpancv reciprocally lo us in the territory to which both lay claiip. T;res8, anil had not even received ollicially a copy of Hie Presideiil's Speech. His I'onxiclion, luiwever, was, that against whatevi'r Power the President's doctrine was direi'ti'd, it could not be directed againsi us. lie appealed in supporl of that con- viction lo the existence of the Convention of |S|S, by which we and the I'liited States hold for a lime joint oceiipivney and coinnion enjoyment of all the territory on the nortli- wesl coast of .America above latitude 42 . It WHS obviouslv the iiii|iressioii on .Mr. liiish's mind thai this pretension on tlii' part ot his (.ioveniineiit was inlendeil as a set oil' against the maritime pretension of the liiissian I'kase. 1 d'i not me.in to aiilliori.'e Your I'^xcclleiicy lo reporl I his consti iiclioii al Si. Pet<'rsbiirg as that 'if an .\ rican Minister, but you will have no dilUciilty in staling it is one to which we think the President's Speech liable, as that indeed which appears to us to be by far the nioit proliable loiistruction of it ; as suili. it furnishes n conclusive reasim for our not mixing iiurselves in a negotiation In'tween two parties whose opjsisite 176 pi'rtfnKions ni'p s(p oxtmvngiint in thi'ir srvcriil ways as tn hi' subject not sd nuii'li cif Iirarticil iidjustmciit as i>t' ri'iMpioiTil ilisavnwal. .Mv. Itusli is liiiiisclf sle nt' the President's that althmi^jli iie had hithciti) ni'ged with l»*.MMnin;i pertinacitv the iidciptinn ot" th*i su^j^estutn ot the < lOXiTinnent, he has, sinee tlie .ii-i-ival n at St. l'eters]>nrg, and has jirianised to wrile liy this iiiessenKer lo Mr. MidiHelon to prepare him for Your Kxeellcncys con- tinuing.^ U> act utmn you?' t'oriuei" instruLtions. It r; I'jains, tlierefore, only tVa' me to diivct Your K.xceUency to resunu^ your niyoit- ation with the Court of St. Peterslinr;,' at the point at which it was suspended in conse- i(Uence of I li*» ex|M-et<»d accession of the I'nit'-d States, and to endeavour to hriiii; it as .speedilv to an antit^nhh* and lionouraliie conchision. The <|Ui-sti one drawn thiou^'h 'Chatham Strait,' the channel sc|iiirntin;X the island ftn which Sitka is situated from the island to the eastward of it, or if I lie liu.ssian^ ha\e pstalilishiiients on that island also, then thromih the channel called ' .Ste)iheii s Passat-'e,' which .separates tlie whole ai'cliipela;fo from the iiiiiinlanil. If one or the other of these channels cannot be obtained as the boiindiirv. then the line must hedra"iioii the mainland to the north of the northernmost post of the North- west ( 'oiii)iany from east to west till it strikes the coast, and thence may descend to whatever latitude may be necessary for takinj; in the island on wl'icli Sitka stands. It does not aiipcar from Your I'^xoeliency's despatch how far the line pro|iosed by M. Polcti<:a lo Iw drawn at la'itude .'1.5 was intendeil to run to the eastward. If to the Iloi-ky Mountains it. obviously, would be wholly Inailniissible by us, inasn,uch as the communication of the North-west Company from (_'anada thrtly and amicably on both poiiiti of litigation Hould. perhaps, he not less valuable to l(u.s.-,ia in her subseipieiit discussions with the I 'nited States, than would have ln'cn thefacililv which we had in contemplation for Russia w lii'n we originally propo.scd that her dia- uvowal of the maritime principle should be addressi>d simull^meously to us both. At llial time our claim lo such disavowal and the claim of (he t'nited .States were piiH'isely alike ; Russia had nothing to pli'iid against either of us as a compensation for those claims. The principle put forth by the President of the I'liitcd Stales has iniro- W7 (liici'il 11 (lifti'i'-'iK'i' lii'twoi'ii the i'('s|«M'tivc situiitidiis of llic I'liiti'd Stales anil (Ji'ciit Britain witli irM|iect tii Uu,-.--!.i wliifli flirl nut I'xist Ix'tnrc. In tlio t'orinrr 'lanatiot). Tlie only point of view in wliieli the I 'nited States c-iiuld now insist ii|ion intert'er- in^ with, er e\en t.ilvini/ eoLrnizatice ot, tlie nei^^ntiation iM'twfen us and Ilussia would he in order tu see that the pretensions ()n the nortli-\\es( eoast of Aiuej-iea rler'i\ed to the l';:itiwl Stales from Spain, rlnouiih the 'IVealy of lft prejudieed hy our separuo' a;;reeinent. 'I'liat ohjeet eaiinol Ije more efiectuidly pro\ ided for thun liy insertiiL;; into our I'laivention with Uussia, as a protee'ion ior 'lie claims of tin' Uiiiteil States, that part of the llird article of the Comcntion eoiiclud "d l>y us with the I'Mited States i:i l.-^l,"*, which was inserted in that Conxention for tile protection of the claims of Spain herself in the rifjhls which she had not then cedeil. My ihut Arfiih' it is stipulated that the agreement l«'t ween the two Cotitractintr Parties "should not betaken to all'eet the ilainis of any other Power or State in any part of the said countrv," Such a clause Your Ivxecllencv will voluntardy propose to inseit in the Conventiou which you are to conclude with (."ouiit Nesselrodt' ; and you «ill apprize .Mr. Middleton of your intention of proposint; that insertion. I am, AC., |Si;.Mieil) (JKOUtJK (ANN INC. Enclosure 1 in No. 40. (HlDSoN.s H.W t'o.Ml'ANV TO .M It. (;. ('.VNMSI..) IliDsoNs li,\Y Hou.sE, I-oNDON, January S, lf<_'4. ,Siii, In reference to the ccin versa t ion which I had the honour of having' with you oil JFonday last, I Im'j; to call your attention to my letter tlu' L'.'ith Septeiiil«'r, l."":.':;, on the suiijcct of the trading stations of the lludsuiib Ha} CVuiijianv in the countries on the north west coast of .\inerica. In addition to what is therein stated, I have to inform you that it appears, hy the intelligence received this last season, that our traders are extemlinL' their jiosts still farther to tliC northward in the country to tlie west of thi- Koeky .Mountains. It may lie proper for me also to mention, that the lluilsoii's Hay I'onipany have a chain of trading posts on the .McKenzie's liiver, as far north as alMUil li" north l,iti- tude, and that Imiians trade at those posts who come from the countries Iving to the wi'st of that Kiver and to the north of lid north lalitiide, ami that our traders ari' ex tending their posts to the westwaril into that country. 'I'lie Uussian station called 'Sitka ' is an island, and can give no claim i)y occupa- tion to aiiv part of the continent, hut, even if they had stntions on the sea coast of the conhnent. this could not lie lielrl to give to liiissia a lietter claim to a southern iKiuiidary on a line of latitude eastward than our stjitioiis in 07" north latitude gives to (ileal Hritaiii to one on a liii" of l.ttitiiile westwaril. I'rom a want of accurate knowledge of the courses of the river or ranges of inoun [ains. it is illlliciilt to suggest any satisfactory iMiundary ill the interior of the country in ipiestion, anil (if coiiHistent with your views), it niiglit, pei'hap.s, lie Niillicient at pre sent 1o settle a l)inindar\' on the coa.st only and the countrv ,')tl or 100 miles inland, leaving the rest of the country to the iiiath of that pi-inl ,ind to the west of Ihi range of mountains which .separatj' the waters which fall oito the Pacilic from tliosi' which Mow t't the east and north, open to lli,' traders of lulh nations. In this case, 1 would siiiigesl the norllierii er.d of the inlet called Chatham Straits as the most .southern point al wliichthc ast lioi.ndary oimlit to he ti.\ed. This is hut a little |if at all) to the north of the most northern trading station in the country to the west of the Hockv .\lountains. The islands to the west of (.,'liatliani •Strait:' may lie given to Itussia ; liut the linssiaiis not to trade either on the coast or in the interior south of the liouiidurv, and the Kritisli not to trade on the coast north of ii. If it is considered proper to lix at present '.he interior lioundary, 1 would suggi'st a line drawn from the iiIiom' nientioned point at ('liatham Strails due north, until it strikes t hi' range of inoiinlaiiis which separate llie waters (liejng thesuppo.sed eoiitinua lion of the range called the liocky .Mountains), and tlience to follow the ridge of these iiioiinlaiiis to the l''rozeii (I n. This is the gnatest concession which I think it would lieadx isahleto make to Kiissia with rcL'ard to the inlenslsof the llritish fur trade, and it would lie desiriihle, as a means of prevenling the risk of collision lietween the traders of the two nations, if .Mount i'llias on the coast at DO" north latitude was Uiken aa the lioundary point, from whence the line of longitude should lie draw II. I have, ,\c. (Syd.) .1. 11. noi.i.v. D— 15 178 MinK»liI.\[> mCl.ATINfl TO THK NORTH-WEST COAST OK AMKHTt'A. The )iiiii(i|riil setUeineiit.s of' tlic Hussi.in Fur C'dinpiiiiy in the N'ortli I'aiilir (tccaii lire on till' Aliiitiiiii or Fox Islmuls. the I slum I of Kiuliak bciny tlic {jrcat entn'pi'it or nlllJ;azi^l• of tin; ix-ltrii-:-, wlii"li arc collected in the neiglibourinj; islands and from Cook's Inli't. I'rincc Williiiin Soiinil where, however, it docs not a|i|ieio- the Hussians have estalilishnionts inland, liut the fiU's are colleet<^'" .'iO'. The country of .W'w .Mttjon is covered witii oak-ash pine timl)er of large dimen- sions, tit tor slilp-buildinv', aiul on tiie coast of California, a vi'ry tine description of hemp is found. The latel is capable of the highest state of cultivation, producing ex- cellent wheat, pot!!l«M\s, hemp. a.nd all kinds of vegetables. The Hussians iiuild \*essels (if iarixe burden at their settlement, and under the pre- text of eiivouriiging tie- fur traili', have encroached so far south ; and in the ycai' IS(l."i (hev sent a M. de HcsaiikolV to negotiate with the Spanish (Io\crnmciit fia" permissinn to form an establishmcnl in New CalitVa'ida. which negotiation, however, faded. Tlie lius-iian tiovenimeiit liaM', however, never lost sight of this plai'c, anil it is suppo.scd are endea\'ouring to purchase the Califoi-nais from Spain ; the possession of whii'h would not only enable the Hiissian (lovernment to form a naval arsenal in the Pacilie, and, inider the pi-etext of eneiairaging the fur trade, to form a hardy race of seamen and bold advent urers, but wiadd giie to timt Oovernment the power of inter- fering with the lilwities ot South America. liussia can have no claim to the country of Ni'W Albion by the right of Hist dis- covery. This right is elaii I by 'Jie.it Hiitain and .Spain, but from various authorities it iH'longs, beyond ;i ijoiibt. to Cicat liiitiiin, which it would be of great importance to establish. shmiM .Spi.in |ia\c ci'ded tlii' ciaiiitiy to liussia. In the year l.")? t, .Vbiaham Ortelius, the geographi-r of the King of Spain, ack- nowledged that the noi'tli west cfnist of .\meiiea was *|uite unknown, and a few years lifter this declaration, t,'ueeii Klizabelli sent Sir Francis I >rake on an expedition roumi C.ape Horn, which he named <^tueeii I'ili/alieth's Foreland, and he sailerl as high as 4>'°, if not higher, landing at dilVcrcnt places, and talking possession of the country, which lie called .N'ew Albion, ami which has been so named ever since. It would thus a]ipcai' the Knssiaiis have no claim to the coast, or to the niainlaml on the north-west coast of .Vmerica, ( xcepl t»i the land about H^Hlcga. cither by pre-^ent oecH)iaiiey or from lirst i|isco\ery. the land, which IcherikolV made in 1711, being the coast of Norfolk .Sound .ind Island, and divided from the niiiiulaiid by a broad channel. and as I t d. les n west coas t of Ai it app.'artliat Uussia has anywhere e.stabliBhnients or posts on ll le north lower than I'rincc William's Sound, except Hodega which could her the claim to present occiipancx'. (Ireat Hritain has, however, ('.-taliiishments of posts ep to :i"°, trading "illi Indians to I he northward, am ing iv exi)C( 'ditii of di: 1" -t on till' .Mil zie liiver vhieh lire mereas- Captain Franklin in 1 ry, and it may fairly and with gieal ii'ason. be lio|icd that lis I x|H-iiition wi II di^ nil take possession, if no treitty to the contiarv is made, of all the ci.ast and coiintrv to the westward of Makeiizie |{i\ far ley Capi Mr. IVIIv No. 40. esellts hi: n\\ I ■iMi'.\\> To hould nevertheless have to accpiaint you that I have entirely failed in inducing' the Kussian eo\ernun'nt to accede to what I consider to U- a fair anil reasonahlc adjustment of our respective pretensions on the noi'th wi st coasts of North .\meiica, or to the adoption of liny line of territorial detnareation which appeal-- to me to be reconcilable under the Apirit of your instructions, with our lejjitimale iiilercst In that ipiartcr of the world. In oi'iler that 1 luav put vtiation upon this subject, and nuiy explain the precise grounils upon which 1 have felt myself compelled to suspend, for tlii' present, all further proc'>edinj;s in this business, it "ill, 1 fear, 1m' necessary, that I should enter into a detail of som,' length, and that I shoiilil load this despatch with several papers which arc now bcromi' of importance. ]t was 111 the Hith of last month that 1 had my lii'st conference upon this i|Ucstiou with the Russian rieniiio'.ciitiaries, iMiint Nes-^elrode and M. I'olcfiia. 1 opened this (•onference by expl.iinin^' to the t'lcnipotenliarics the reason for which His .Majesty had juilt'Oil It advisable to treat ■»i'paiately upon this m.itter, rather than, as it had been orii!inally intended, in concert with the yovernment of the I'liiteil .States. 1 then laid befvu'e them Count Lie- en's note ti) vmi of the .'list .lanuary, l^L'.'l. proposiiii.' that the ipiestion of strict lijjiil should Si' provisionally waived on Imth sides, and that the adjust ment of our mutual pretensions should Im', made ujion Ihi sole prini'ipleof the respective convenience of both countries. 'Ihi'- luisis of iu'<.'otiatioii l>cin;,' williiiijly accept^'d by all parlies, I sta,,'i| that, so far (US I understood tl>>- wishes and intirests of Itussia, her princiiial object must lie to Hwuro to herself her tisheries upon the islands AWti shores of the north-west coasts of North .\iiierica. aiiii the posts which she mi^ht havi' already cst.-iiilished up'.n theni ; that, on the o-her hand, our chief objects were to secure the posts upon the coniincn; belon^in^' to the Hudson's Hay Coinpanv, the embouchures of such rivers ■; u'i^iht alVord .-in outlet for our fur trade In the I'ai'ilic and the two banks of the .''■hickenzie Hiver; that, in the belief thai such were our respeelive objects, I would propose as our boundary a line drawn lhrou'.»h CImtleiin Straits to the hoad of liVnn Ciiial, tlionee north wi'st to the I tOi ii deure ' of loniiilude west of (ii-c'cnwieh, and thence alon;; that de({, and • <'lo.sui'e). [:i otl'eriiiK this i'»»yc»!-/H'r;/'7, Count NesHclrodc seemed to intimate that, however ini»fsHeil the Kmperor niinlit Ix' to ri'tnii't pretensions advancid bv liim.self which iiiiuht U' tliou^;l t to colli! ict w ith the i ut crests of othei- powers, it won hi be asking too much of the Inipenal diyiiily to n ipdre that pretensions advanced tvvi'iity hve years a;;o by tlii' Kin|H'ror i'aul, and which hail been hitherto iindisjuiicd, should 1k' now renounced. I thoii){ht it my duty, upon an intimation of this kind being made, to declari' at once that all consideratiiaiK of such a nature wi'ie incompatible with the stipulated basis of oni negotiations, and that if the (piestion of nation. d diL'iiity was to be touclusi, 1. loo, should have much to sav ujKin that head, and should probably lind it iiuite impossible to make those coiiccsHions which, upon the simple ground of mutual oonvonience, I liken for consideration by ihe oU'ered a '■•iiiiri-i>i'i>j'l, vvhii-h I of vvhieli I enclose a copy. (In 180 iiiii,'lit |iprlir.;is ■sitlinnt ilirticiilty rio. This oxplieit declaratidii liiul its ilesiioil ett'cct, anil llu' liiissiaii l'lerii|iiit™tiaii('s ciiguiii'd not t(i inticKliice iipiin uri.'unifnts of this Uiiid iiiti) oui' (liscusNidiis. Ah thi' i-uiilr'-/irasonal)le objct'tioii made to it (an ol)jection made in conver>;ation hy the Kus-ian I'leinpotentiaiies), vi/., the inioiivenii'uce whii'h iJussia might cxiieiienee by scssels of the United Statts elaiming a right under their Convention with (!reat Kritain, to \isit t!n' waters iving between J\ing George's Arehi|)eIago and the islands and etai- tinent to the eastwaid of it. anil whieh might, in this manner, seriously annoy the snb- jeets of Mis Imperial Majesty in their pursuits and oeeu|iations u])on those shores. This modilii'ation of my first pro|Kisjil will he found in the inelosed ]iapi'r (Inolosure 1*). whieh I ili'livei'ed to the Hussian Plenipotentiaries at om" next (,'onferenre. Yon will ohser\e that in making tho proi«isal so modilied, 1, in faet, exeeeded, in some degree, the strii't letter of your instruetions by assigning to Hussia the islands Iving Ix'tween Admiralt\' Island to the north, and I-)iike of York and Prinee of Wales Islands tip the >outh, bnt I entertained sanguine expectations that sueh a pro]iosal, eoupli'fl with the entu'ession of a line of coast exteiuling 10 nuii'ine leagues into the inferior of the I'ontinent, woidd have been considered as amply sullieient for all the legitimate iihjeets « hii'h Russia might have in ^ iew. and ipiite as nnii-h as she eoulil j>retend to with an\' shadow- of real elaini or justice. So fai-, however, from this being the i-ase. inv amended proposed was niet at our next Conference by obsei'vations whieh 1 ag/un rei|uesteil might be reduced to writing, and which will be found in inclosed p.'ipei- (Inclosure .'!). As, in this paper, parts of the main i-ontinent to whieh Russia cannot hv possibilitv have ever aci|uireil any claim, and of which tireal Ib'itain is at this moment aitually in partial occupation, are oll'cred to His .Majesty in the light of concessions, it liccame nccessarv for me to reject any such oilV'rs as a boon in the most explicit tei-ms, and vou will hnd thai I have not failicl to do so in the ineloswl paper (Inclosure t) with which I replied to ihe paper in i|uestion. .\s, however, 1 fi'lt strongly the importance of adjusting this business, ii possible, at the pi'esent moment, and as I felt aKo that, although the Russian I'lenipotentiarics had, in consei|iience of my former remarks, agreed !o waive altogether all i|uestion of national dignity in discussing it. Mis Inipci'ial Majesty might vet possiblv fee] an inv incible repugnance to retract from the pretensions advanced bv the I'juperoi .'aul in the Charter given to the Russian .Xmeiican Company in I "!•!) (however unacknowledged by other Rowers such pretension might have been), I thought that 1 shoiilil not act in oppiisition to the spirit at least of my instructions if. in deference to such a scniimetit on the pari of the Kmperor, and with a view to finish the business ipijckly, I ventured to make vet one other iiroposition which, while it saved this point of dignity lo Itussia by giving to her the ."i.ltl preserve also uninterrujit degr, d on' of .lands, mii'lil His Majesty latitude as her iKiundarv upon the is is ill till' I'acilic (Iceaii. and secure Ii the ."il'ilh degree of north latitude as the Uritish lioumlnry upon the coasi The proposition by which I had hoped to elTeet these objects will also be found in the paper (Inclosure I), in delivering vvhich I gave it clearly to 1h' understcHKl that it contaiiusl my ultimate proposition. It was not till the day before yesterday, that is, nearly ten days after I had given in this paper, that F was invited to another Conference, when I was informed that the Imperial (lovernment had, after anxious con.sideral ion. taken their linal decision and I hat they must enntinue to insist upon the demarcation as described bv them in the tirst paper (Inclosure 1 ). Kiiiding this to be the case, I rejieati'd that I had already gone far beyond the utni"-! limit of my i istructions, and tliat I was sorry to say that I leust now eonsidei our iiegotial ions as neccssaiilv suspended, so far at least as t!ie i)uestioii of territorial demarcation wa^ rouceined. Count NesM'liiHle then ini|uireil whether I should object to transmit to my Court the linal decision of himself and M. Roletica as it is declait'd in the enclosed paper (Inclosure o). and whelhei- I did nut think that His Majesty's (lovernment. seeing how slight our disagreement was. might not be disposed lo furnish me with such further iiisl ructions as would enable me to meet the views of the Russian (Jovernment, inform ing ine, at the same time, that it was intended to aci{uain( Count ijieveii by the courier, who is to be dispatched to night to liondon, with the course which the negotiation had taken, and to insi ruci him to hold some conversation with you upon the subject, I lold Count Nesselrode that I s.hould, of course, fei'l it to be mv duty lo transmit this and all other papers connected with the negotiation lo yi u vvithoiil lossof time, but thai I eiiiild nol liy any means take upon myself to say what might he the opinion of Mis .Majestys tiovernnient as to the ju'etensions so teicicioiislv adhered to by the Impe rial fhniTnment. fnrlher than hy saying that certainly they were such as had never liecii coiilemplateil l>y uiy Court in the instructions wilh which I had Ih'cii lus yet fur nished. and that if a tj'rritorial arrangement perfeclly satisfactory to Imth parties could not (lovv be made, it might possiblv be tliouiiht hv niv tlovi'rnment that our resiicctive Ui>^ Wfiininr I'l >|Ue ell mO iiillnetl li'limali les pos iiuest Celli niix i>i fen I'K pncnie ("omi rile I niit« pulllte.- KiimhIc 181 jiri'tciisioiis inii.'lit still nmiaiii willmnl any scriniis iiK.'uiivenii'ncr in tin' slatr in wliiili tlicy lull! Iii't'ca-r sfiiiMl. anil tliat it wmilil cmly l>i' iicccssarv fur tlic lucscn* tu ciailinc tlirn" atti'iitiiai to tin* ailjnstuit'nt of tlir rnorr iir^'t'iit point of tlir ntai-itina' ]M'rt<-n^ion — a point «liirli wonlil not ailinit of i'(|nal piKtponcinrnt. In reply to lliU oWsci-vation, Coinit NoHscii'odi' statcil, to my I'xtivnn' stn'|a'isi'. tliat if the tfiiitia'ial ai raiii,'rni('iit was not roiii|ilt't<'{|, lie did not sec the in'cessily of iriakinv' any a;:fcenH'nt n's[n'ftin;i tlu' inai'itim*- ipicstion ; and I found nivsclf most imrxjM'i-ti'dly uiidi'P the iiccrssity of ajiaiii cxjilainin^; leiy distinctly, tiotli to liim and to M. I'ol.'tiia, tin;! till' iiiai'itimi' pretension of Uussia was one wliieli, violating as it did tlie tiist and most establishtMl ]»fineiples of all pnlilie maritime law, admitted neither of explanation nor moilitiration, and tluit mv (joM'rnment i-onsidered themselves possessed of a elear eni.'aL;ement on the part of liiissia to retract in some way or other a pretension wliirli could neither he justilied noi- enforced. Mere the mat tei' rested : hut I ou;..dit tostate tlia'., notwithstanding this unexpeeted ohser'xatioii of Count Ni'sselroii(>. I do not at all helic\'e that, had we been alile to agree upon om' southern line of demarcation, we should have found any reid dilliculty either as regards the i-etraction of the maritime pretension, oi- as regards our western Imnnil- ary la' any of the other minor details which we si oulil ha\e heen called uiion to adjust ; hut the ohservation was naule, and considering what has already passed upon this suli ject hoth here, in l^indon aiul in .-Vmerica, considering; also the delicacy with which His Majesty had loft it to the Uussian (lovernment themselves to frame the terms in which their retraction of this preposterous pretension should he made. His Majesty's Go\ern- ment may perhaps think it ad\isahle that < 'ount liie\en should 1m' again gi\en clearlv to understand that it is a point to which no slight imjiortance is attached hy His Majesty, and that the pretension iis it now stands will admit of no remedy hut that of public, formal and precise retraction in some shape or another. Such has heen the (■oursc of my late ncgotiatiiai upon this ipiestion. and such the grounds upon which I have thiuight it my duty to suspend it for the ja'esent. 1 know full well the inconviaiiciu'e of hi-eaking oil' sui'h a nigotiation in such a stage ■mil upon a point which, judging only hy the map, might perhajis appear of .so little real iu.noi'tunci' to His .Majesty's present interests, hut when I consider hv how much I have already exci-^sieil mv instriu:t ions, how more than doubtful is the real right of this (i' M'rninent to any part of the territory in most immediate dispute, and how much more exorbitant an." their pretensions u|Kiii the northwest continent of .\tnerica than I had before had reason to suspec't, \ certainly could not venture to take upiui myself the heavy responsibility of making any further concessions of a territory the value and pos- sible local advantages .if wliicl. I had no means of estinuiting and which I l)elieve are as yet so impi-rfectlv knouu. It is •.iimewliat rciiuirkable that whilst the Uussian pretension of maritime juris- diction stands unrecalleil amiuig the I'kases of the Imperial Government, u note such as tliat of which I herewith inclose a copy shiaild have Iwcn addressed to me in the midst of our negotiations asking protection foi' a liussian ship to na' igate in safety thoae very seas and visit those very shores which thet'iiurt of Uussia has by such high hanI1T1;.\-TI.\IIIES. Ui"« (iriiiHiNitl 's I'nites par Ics I'leulpo- 'I'lie propiisnU nnide liy tlu' Itussian I'leul- IwnritilreH de Unssie ft Sir Charles llacol, poleutiarics to Sir Cliarles Hapit, ami I'l line sou Excellence a etc price lie premlre wlilcli His lOxccMcncy has lieeu rei|ucsti'il "11 nnlre I'lmslilcmllnu, temloU'iil a fMh'e to take hilo serious consiilcration temieil iiilmetire le .Vie ilegri'' de hitlluile septcn- to liave the .Vitli ilenree iil' iiorih latitude Irifuuile connne llKue de itrMuarcation entre rei-ojxni/.cd as n di\-idiu;j line lietwi-en tlie Ics possessions i-esiiectlvcH Hitr la cote nurii- res] tl\e possessions on tlie north-west ouest de r.\uu''rii|ue. cii.'ist of .Vmerica. Celle nicme llmitc a iK'jil etc asslcuee Tills same limit has alrcail.v lieeu assigned MUX iiosKcssiuns Itussi>s par la Cliarle iiue to the possessious of Uussia hy the Charter feu rKnipereiir I'muI I'l' accorde i1 la Com wliicli the late Kinpernr I'aul I. granted to Iiaunic .\mi''rlc!ilne. the .\merlcau I'ompaiiy. Coniuic le par.'illMe ilit ."i."ie deuiv coupe luasmuch as the .Vith dcKTce of parallel rile dii rrliice de (iailes dans sun extre- lutersecis the I'lliice of Wales' tslauil at iiilt* luerlilloiiale, lalssaul eu ilclmrs deux lis suiillieni eiiil. le.ivlim oulsiile two jieliits polutcs lie terre. Ics I'lculiioteiili.-iires de of hind, the Itussian l'lcui|iuteiillaries have Hiissle mil propose ipie ces deux pointcs pniposed that these two iiohits shouhl he I) |() « 182 fusscnt coiiiprfsi'H liaiiH li'S Itiiiitfs Uiisscs. vouliint I'vltpr juir lil line illvlslmi de Irrrl- tiilri- ('Biilciucnt liRiiiuiiKiilc mix ilcux pnr- tiCB Inti'I'l'SKfoS. roiir fdiiiiilc'Ici' III llciic ill' iir'iiiari'iitliiii rt 111 rt'llllrr illlssi llislilli-ti* 1)111' posslhli'. li'S rii'iiliioU'iitliiiii's lip Itnssi" iiiit rxpriini' \e (li'sir lie liil lain' sulvi'i' li' riii'tliiiiil Ciiiial jiiHiiirnux iiiiiiiliiijiirs i|iii borili'iil In i-riti'. Ill' 11' point, la llinili' ri'iiiiinli'i'iilt li> liiiif; ill' i.'('s niiMitiiifiit'S piiriiltr'li'iiii'iit Jinx siiiun- sitf's ill' la I'i'iti'. .|iisc|n'A In lini^Htinli' ilii l.'tlit' ili'yri' iiiiT'i-lilli'ii ill' I.iMiilri'si. ili'irrr- iloiit In liKiii' lie pi'oIiiiiKatl'iii vers le iiiiril foriiierolt la lliiiito ulterleiire eiilre li'S pos- si'SMlons Hiisses et Anj;Ii>lsi's an iioril, roninie il Test. Le iiiollf priiii-lpal i|iij rnri-e la Uiissle A iiislsti'i' sill- In siiiivi'i'ninli*' ile la lisiei'i' iii- lUqiiee pins liant sur la telle feline ilepuis le IVirtiaiiil Canal jiisqiran iioiiit il'lnter- si'ctloii iln ii.'!° avee le i;i!l" ile liiii).'ltn(le, e'est l|lll'. pi'lvCe lie oe telTltiiire. la C'lilll- piiBiile Knsse-Aniei'leaine n'anriilt aiienii uiojeii lie siniti'iilr lew I-]tal>lissenieiis ijiii serolent ties Iui'8 8111.4 point il'appui. et i|nl lie iioiiriolcnt avoir nuciuie soliillte. Kii revaiiclie la Itiissle .se lemit nil ilevoli' d'ouvrii' anx siijets ile Sa Majeste Itiltaii- iikiiie la lilire iiavl;;atliin lie tons les tlenves qill aliiintlsseiit A I'Ooeaii ilaim letle memo llslere. IVnir ilininer line ilernli^re preuvo de Boii eiiiin'essi'iiient A aller an "e\-ant dei5 viiMix dn (ionverneineiit .VhkIoIs. elle unvrlrolt niissi nu ooinnieree iles sn.iets de Sa Ma- .ii'slf' Itritanniiine et A leuffs vaisseaux. le poi't de Novii-Ai'iliaiiKelsk, dans le oas oA les propositions ei-dessus sei'oient aoepteos. liii hided wltliln the Unssian IluiltH, Intend- \UK tliereli.v to avoid a dIvlHlon of terrltoi-.v liiconveiili'iit eiiiially to the two parties In- terested ill the ease. Ill order to (iiniplete the line of deinarea- tloii and to make It as dlslinet as possllile. the Itnsslaii I'leiilpoteiitlarles have expressed the wish to make It I'ollinv the rintland Canal as far as the nioiiiilainB wliU'li run aloii); the eoast. Kroin this point. Ilie liniit siionlil iiKeeiid aloni; these inoniitalns eiiniillslaiit from the sinnDsilies of the roast, as far as the Ktlltli di'Ui'i'e of loii);itiiile lineriiliaii of liOiidoni. I lie line of prnlonpitioii of wlilrh deiiree towards the north would I'oiistltiite the ulti- mate liniit lietweeii the Unssian and the l-hiKllsh possessions to the north as well as to the east. The priiielpal motive whlili fortes Kussia to Insist npon retaiiiini,' the sovereliiiit.v over the strip of land desirilied previousl.v on the inaiiilaiid froi'i the rortland Canal as far as the point of Intersection of the dliril decree of loimltude with tlie KWth decree of the same, is that, if deprived of this ter- ritor.v. tlie l{usslaii-.\iiierii'an Company would he left witliont any means of sup- port inn the Kstalillshments wliieh would tliereliy lie left wllhont any support and loiild not have any streiiirtli nor solidity. .\s a eompeiisatioii, Itussia would consider It a duty to cpeii to the HUh.iectB of His Itrltlsh .Majesty the free navigation of all the rivers which empty Into the Ocean within the said strip of land. In order to Rive a hnal proof of his anxiety to meet the wishes of the Itrltlsh :! Ctre Ips Ktiits-riils. en vniii df leiii' i'mii- vciitloii HM'c la (iniiiili'-Hi-i'tii(.'ni' ilf I'rMiii'f ISIM, ill' iiiivlKiiiT lilirciiicjil il^iiK 1..II i,.s piiniKcs I'lilrc rile ilii Itcil li fi' ft In IciTi' rcriur, I'l lie (.'('•ncr nliisl df iiiH'lijUf wiirli^ li-' (•(iriiiiicrcc ill's siijcis ilc Sm lliijcsti' Iiii- iu'l'llllt' (lllllK COH ciiux. Tour olivliT i\ rrl Incipiivi'iiiciit ri piiiir MSHiii'i'i' A III liiisxii' I'lMilh'Ti' sonviTiilni'ti' lie ii'S iiiinijii'N. iiiiisi i|nr imili's li's ilcs >■[ Ics lotcs 111I II y II cITc-cIlvcnii'lit (li..i ICfiiMlssi- iiiciiH Itiissi's. Ill liriiriilc llri'tinrnr iiriipn- ►iTiilt ill' in'i'iiilri' iiimr lifiii' ili' ilriiiiiri'iitinn I'liti'p Ii's tcri'ltiilri's ili'N ili'iix riilssiini'i's iiiic liunc tnii'i'c ill' rmii'sl in-s I'.'sl. imi- li' iiillU'ii ilii iiiiiiil i|iil si''|ini'i' li's Ill's il\' I'lliiw ill' (iiilli's I't ilii l>iir irYcii'k ill' tiinti's li'S Ill's slluC'i's nil iiiiril ili's illti's ili's Jiisiin'it 11' iin'cllc liiiiilii' 111 ti'i'i'i' fi'iiiii'. He 1ft si> iH'iiliiiiKi'iint iliiiis III iiiPiiH' il'.i- tiiin Kill' III tiTii' fi'inii' .|iisi|u'fl nil pniiit ilis- Illllt ill' 111 I'nil' ill' ID lIl'UI'S nilll'illl'S, 111 liL'lIf ri'inonti'i'iilt ilr ci' iioini vits li' noiil rt h' iiiinl (Mii'st. iiiiriillMi'iiii'iil mix siniiiislif's ili' III I'l'plc. et tiinjiiiii's A III ii;stiiiii'i> ill' lit lieui'B iiiiii'liii's ilii I'lvai,'!'. .Iiisiin'nii Hii' ili'Kir lie IiiiiKltiiiU' iilc (irri'iiwli'lii limit I'lli' siil- \Tiiit iilii's ilii iiriiliiiiiri'ini'iil jii«i|irri In .Mi-i- I'oliilrc. iviiiilil pi'i'liiips iliiliii. Ill \litiii' 01' tlii'ir ('i)iivi'iitliiii with lii'i'iil Ili'itiiiii 111' till' yi'iii' l"-ls. oT I'ri'i' '.iiivipitliiii lliriMi).'li tin' wiiti'i's lii'iwi'i'ii till' Isl.'iiiil lit' Kill!.' (ii'ijri,'i' mill tliu iitaliilmiil, tlii'ri'li.\' iiitfrt'i'i'lim in soiiu' way with till' triiili' 111' Ills liiipi'i'lal MaJi'Hty'H SUlljl'l'tH III tlll'Sl' Wall'l'H. Ill iiiilrr til I'l'liiiivi' tills lliiiiiivi'iilonro mill 111 I'lilitirill ill CMMnir ol' Itiissia tiic ati- ^oliiti' sii\i'ri'i;;nty om-i- tlii'si' wmIit'^ ami iivi'i' all till' Islmiils mill llli' roasls wlii'i'i' tlirrr ari' ai-tiially to tn' t'uiiiiH Iliissimi Vis- lalillsliiiii'iits. ili'i'iit Ilritiilii wiiiilil pi'npiisi' tf) taki' IIS a liiii* of iliMiiai'i-atimi tii'twi'i'ti till' ti'i'iitiii'li's 111' tlif two I'liwi'i'M a Mill' rniiiiiiK; from wi'sl to I'list, lliroimli tin' iiiiiMli' o! ihi' iliaiiiu'l wliii-li iliviili's till' I'l'imi' of Wall's' Islmiils anil tin' Isliinils of till' liiikr of York from all tin' isliiiiils lyiii^ to till' iiiii'tli of llii' siilil islanils until it Mtrikrs ilii' iniiliilaml. Tlii'in-i'. i-\ti-iiilini: in tlio Hiiuic iliri'rttou upon till' niainlaiiil as far as a point in imirlni' li-aKH*'^ ilistmit from llio roast; Iroiii this point till' lini' woiilil I'nllow a nortlii'i'ly anil inirlli-wi'sti'rly illrrrfion pai- iillt'l to till' Hiniiositii's of tilt' roast anil ill- wii>s at II ilistmii'i' of In miiriiii' li'imni's from till' sliori' as far as tin* Moth ili'jiroo of lonirilmli' inf (tri>i'iiwii-lt) tho proloima- tioii or i'\t-:iisliin of wliirli «-onlil la* fol- Imvi'i! as far as tin' rolar Son. Inclosure 3 in No. 44, OBSERVATIONS OF III sslAN I'l.llMl'i irKNTIAIilRS ON Sill r. lUliin's AMLNOKIl IMIOI'OSALS. Le motif i|iil fait pi'opiisi't' rniloptlon ilii in'ini'ipe ilos coMvi'iiani'i's nintiu'lli's. ft li' preiiili'f iiviiiitaKi' ilo ci' prini'ipr, r'l'st li'i'iii- pi'i'Iii'l' i|ue Ii's Ktalillssi'liii'iis I'l'Siii'i'tlfs snr III i-rito noril-oni'St no pnissi'iit so niiifo li'S nils mix miti'.'S ot oiiti'or on oollislon. I. OS Mtalillssi'inons .\ii):lols ilo In Coiii- piiKiilc- ilo 111 Halo do llndson ot ilii Nord- (iue8* toiidi'ht A Si' portor vors I'ouost par los ri3t' ot 7A' ilo^ros do latltudo soptoiitrio- iialo. I.cs Ktiilillssoinons Unssos do la Coiii- paKiilo Aini'rlonino tondoiit A ilosoondro an sud vol's lo oot' panillolo. ot andolA, oar 11 o»t A fomaniuor quo si la CoinpiiKiilo Ainorloalno n'li point oiiooro fornif' d'F.lii- liUssomonts tlxo snr la lliiiio inatlif'inatlijiio dii "ic iloKi'f', II n'on ost pas inolns vral iin'oii vprtii no son prlvilojro do 17(H1. iimtio loipiol micniio rnlssanoo n'a janiais ri'olaino. olio oxplolto la cliiisso ot la poolio dans oos pa- niKOM. ot i|iio rounlioi'i'ini'iit olio ooonpo los II08 Pt loH I'fitos avolslnaiilos dans la siiison i|iil Ini poniiet d'y envoyor sos rliaKspurs ot SOS porlionrs. II f'toit ilono do 111 oonvononoo inntnollo ilos ilonx Knipii'i'S d'asslKiior do Justoa liniilos A ilos pmur^s roi'lpi'oi|Uos qui no lionvaiont iiirin'Oiisiininoi' iivoo lo toinps los pins fAohoiisos ooinplioalions. II otoit iinssi do lour I'onvonanoo niiitiiollo do df'torminor oos liniltos d'aprfs los sf'inirn- tloiiH iiatiirolloH i|iii forinoiit tonjonrs los fi'ontlNos los plus distlnotos ot los pins oor- tallies. Cost par CPB rnlsoiis qtie les PWnlpotentl- nlroH do Itiisslo ont pmposi'' pour Ilmltos snr la onto iln oontlnoiil 1,11 snd. lo I'ort- liinil ('anal, doiit riirii;iiio dans los torros ost par lo Tilii' iloKi'i' do Intiliide noril. ot, A lost. 111 ohaino do inoiitai.'iios, i|iii snit A line ti'i^s potllo dislaiice los slmiosltOs do la o.'ito. ri'apri>s los CnrtcR los pins rooentos ot les molllonros pnliUoos on .Vinrlolorro. los Kta- 'I'lio inotlvo whioli lias proniplod tlio adop- tion of till' priiioiplo of niiitnnl oonveiiionoos and till' lirst advantaj.'i' of this prinolplo is lo pi'ovont till' ri'sjii'iiivo Kstalillshiiieiits on till' iiortli-wosl lonst from Injuring; onoli otlior mid I'oinln;; inl" roiillii't. Till' KiidHsli Ksinldlslimonts of Iliidson's Hay Company mid of the Xorth-wost Com- pany show a disposition to oxtoiid towards till' Host liy till- ."ilii'il and -"14111 dofroos ol mirth latitndo. The Itnsslaii Kstalillslinionts of the .\nieri- oan Conipany sooni to move south towards the .Vitli parallel, and lioyoinl. as It is to ho olisorvi.'d that if the -Vniorioaii Conipany has not yot formoil poriniinont sottloments on llio niiithonintioal lino of the .Vitli do- yri'o. It Is iiono the loss a fnot that In virtue of its prlviloKo or ITilP, against wliloli no I'owor lins vvvv ontorod a protest, they carry on the i-liaso and tisiiin;; in Ihi'so territories and that as a riilo it iioenplos tlio islands and the adjoinint.' loiists ilnrini; the season whioli allows for the .-iondiiiK tlloro of Its hiinters and tishernion. It was tlii.'ii of a reoiprooal eonvonlonce for the two Kmpires to assl>;n proper llnills •to nintnal linpro\onii'iits \\iil<'Ii with tinie lould have only ooeaslonod most serious I'omplii'iitlons. It was also oonvi'tilent that hotli parties should dolormino those iiniits. takih^' Into oonsiiloration the natural division which always form the nio.st distinct and indls- pnlalilo frontiers. I'lir these reasons the Kusslan IMenlpo- tontiarios lime proposed as the liinlts on the coast of the continoiit. to the south, the rortlmid ('liannel, whose head is about the ,''iOth liosroe ot north latitnde, and to the east the oliiiin of monntains which follow at a very small distance the wlnditiKH of the coast. .Vi'cordinn to the most roront and la st ^laps piihllshod In Kii^'land. the Ksliililish- 184 hll8S(MiH>ntH ilo 111 ('Dinpit^nie ()(> la Itair ItiiHsIr lalssc laoni ol' ilir lliisslan rii'iil]ioti'iillai'ii's onvrrls a roMcnsion succcshIvc dos Colo- lra\cs open lo the ^railiial oxlciisioii ol* iho nics Aiidlalsi's : 1:m«1IsIi I'olonii.s : 1. 'I'onio la |iarlic> do la >-olo I'idrc I'lMii- 1. All thai part - as itnsslan possosslons in tlio lUaso of tonihri'. IS'Jl. ' Si'ploinhiT ,', Isi'l. 1". Tout lo toniloh-o slliio onlio lis Kta- -, All tlio lorrllory lyini: liolwion tlio lillssi'iai'iis AiiLdoN all 7,A'- parallolo oi I'orl- KiikHsIi Ksialpllshinonis on tho .".mh parallid 1,'lni' dii I'orlhinil Channol. iiid osi an oil" and Iho hoad of I'orlland Channol. wliloli parallolo. Ilos liy llio ."iiiih iiarallol. :!. Toiil lo loiTiloiro siliii' diTi-ioro la 'A All tho loiTilory siinaloil liohind Iho ohaino i[f inonliiL'iiis dont 11 a olo i|iii'sllon olialn of nioinitains rofonod lo provloiisly. cl-di'ssns. Jnsiin'an point d'inloi'siMilon dii as far as Iho point of intorsi'iiion of tin- i:i!l'' ilouiv do lon;.'ltiiilo, inoridion do Croon- lilntii doi.'1'i'o of lon^'itiidi', niHiidlan of wloli. I ;roin\\ ii-h. Los rK^'iilpottMitlalt'oa do Sa Ma.iosto Iin- Tlio rionl|Mitontlarlos of His linpoilal porlalf. pi'ovoyant nif'ino lo ras oa. snr la Ma.losiy forosoolni; ovon Iho oaso wiioii on llsli-ro do la ooio i|iil apiiartlondroit a la Iho sti-ip of Iho loasl whiili would lioloni; lliissii", 11 so tronvoi'oi! dos llonvos an inoyon lo Itnsshi. thoro should happoii to lio I'lvofn dosi|iiols los Klalillssoinons Anjilols pom- hy moans of wlihh llio Kii;.disli r.stalillsh- folont oonimnnlqnor aviv inroan, so soiit monis nilclit liavo ooininnnioaiion with tho oniprossos d'olVrir. par iiio stipnlatloii o\on- ttooaii. liavo liaslonod to olt'or. hy a lonipor- liiollo. la Hiiro navi^'aliol. do oos llonvos. ary aKi'ooinont. tho froo navit;athin of ihoso ri vol's. lis out. on oiili'o. aniioni'o ft Son I'l.xoi'l- Monovor. thoy havo nntlliod Ills i;,\ool- loiiio Sir Cl.arlos lta;;ot i|iio lo port do loiny Sir Cliarl'os lla;.'oi ihal Iho port of Novo-ArohaiiKolsk sora oiivort an oonnnoroo .Xovo-Aroliainioisk wonld ho oponod lo trade dos sn.lols i\r Sa .Majosto lo Itol do la for Iho snli.jools of Ills Majosty tho Klni.' Crando-Iirotai-'no. of Ci"at llrllaln. D'anlfo pan, los I'loiilpolonllairos do On tho olhor lianil. tlio llnsslan rionipo- Ilnssio out riionnoiir do Inl olisorvor Iti'ra- lontiarios havo tho hononr lo ronilnd lilin. tlvomont. ipio sans nno lisioro snr la oolo onoo nioro. that witliont a strip of land (hi contlnont A partir dn I'orlland Channol. on tho ooasi of tho oontlnont from I'ort- les lOlaldisso as Itiissos dos ilos dn volsl- land Channol. tho Itnsslan Kstalilislinionts iniKo n'anrolonl anonn point d'appiil: iin'ils on tho ad.ioinln^' Islands wiinid lio loft tin- soroionl il la iiioni tU' loiix ipio dos otran- prolootod. thai thoy would ho loft at tho Bors forinorolont snr la lorro forino. ot ipio nioroy of thoso Ksialilishinonts wliioli for- tonl arran;;oiiiont soioKlalilo. loin iri'^tri> olcno'rs inl(.'lit form on iho mainland, and foiido snr lo prinoiiM' dos oonvonanoos inn- Ihal all sotlloniont of this naliiro. from tnollos. no prosoiilorolt i|iio dos daniroi's A liolmr (.'roiindod upon tho prinolpio of inntual I'lino dos rartios ot dos iivantiiKos oxolnsifs i onvi nlonios. would olTor only dainiors to rt I'autro. mio of Iho part!"s and oxolusivo pilns to tho othor. On no parlora |ioint ioi dos iloiix poliitos .Montlon will not ho i lo lioro of tho two do llio dn I'rlnoo do (iallos. Mill sunt sllnoo.s hoadlaads of Triiioo of Walos' Island, au-dossoiis do la IIkiio dn .'i.V ilocro do latl- whloli aro sitnntod holow tho lino of tho tudo Hold. Cos donx polntos no ponrrolont .-|.-,tli dodioo of north lal tndo. Tho two otro iranonno ntllllo a la (irando-Iirotauno. Inadlands oiinlil not ho of any uso to Croat Pt si los iionf-dixloinos do I'llo dn rrinio Hritalii and if tlio nhio-tonths of tho Prlin'O de Callos aiiiiarllismont A la Itnsslo. 11 est of Walos' Island liolonir to Uiissia It Is I'vl- Cvldommont d'lin Inlorot roolproiinc ipio I'llo dently of a reoiprooal Intorost that tho apparlioniio tout ontii'ro. wholo Island should holnin; to It altoirothor. Vi' . iiurt oxposo snillt pour Justillor lo This short statomoiit sultlolontly Justltlos projot i|Uo los rionlpotontiairos do Sa Ma- tlio draft whloli tho rionlpotontlaiios of Ills Joslo Iniporlalo out ronds A Sir Cliarlos Iniporial Ma,|osly havo dellvorpil to Sir niit'ot. ot snr la tonour dininol lis no pou- Cliarlos Itajjot. and iiiion tho oontonta of voiit iiu'iuslstor. wliioh thoy oannol Insist loo niiioh. lis osporonl. ail rosto. ipio los Intontlons Moroovor. thoy liopo that tho inlontlons i|ni oiil ilioto i-o projot soroiif approoii'M's wliloh havo promptod this ilrafi will lio taut par rAmiiassadoiir do Sa Ma.|osto Hrl- oi]ually aiiproolatod hy Ills !lrltannlo Ma- taniiliino ipio par .son (iouvornoinont. josiy's amliassador and liy his ({ovornnuMit. mont. Inclosure 4 in No. 44. iiKi't.v iiv Sill V. n.MioT ro onKiuATUi: s of inssi.w i'i.i:mi'oti;ntimiiks. I. a dooonvorto on la siiiiplo ooonpallon do Tho disoovory or tho nioro ooiujiation of i|iiolc|iios ilos sllnoos snr la ooto dun oon- soino islands sltnalod aloiiL' Iho ooasI of a llni'iil no poM donnor auouii droit A la sou- Contlnont. oannnt aivo a rlKlit lo tho voralnotf- do la forro fornio volsino. prini'i|io sii|iroiiiaoy ovor tho ail.joinini; mainland, a ipii n'osi pas mollis fonilo snr roplnloii ro- prinolpio wliloh is liasoii Just as inuoh upon I'onnno dos Jnrislos los plus loioliros. i|no liio rocot'idzod opinion lif tlio most noti'd snr rnsau:o unlvorsollo'uont olinprvf! of.tro Jurists as upon tlio iisat'o nnivorsally nh- loy nations. sorvod between nation!). I S.-) n'iipi''"'« !■"• priiiiipc. Sir Chiiili's Ilin!"! II i-ni)sttiiniiii-iii sontcnii <)iiiis Ii-s t'uiifrmiiM'H Mii'il a I'll riiniiiM-iir il'iivnlr :imt ti*s IMr-iil- poti'iitiiiii'i-H lie ItiisNJc. ijiic Sii Mii.li'sli'' Iti'l- t}iiiiili|U<> 111' stiiirult iifliiirtti'i' i|ui> It's ilrultM lit' la KlISHir Nlll' hi rote niH'll-iMll'Sl iln (*nll- llni'iil irAiiii'i'ii|iii' piilsM'iil s'l'li'iiilri' vi'i-H li' iiilill mil ntlni'iit iiii-ili'lA oil In Itiisslr iirtiH'lli'iiit'iit rin'im'' (Ii'M I'Hiilillisciiii'iiH. II ii'ii JjiiiiiilN T'li'' tilhniir' par li-s rii''iilpu- tt'iitltiiri'H lit' Sa Ma.li'Mti* [iiipi'TiaU' i|iii' In UiiHsli' pnssi^ili' ili'H Ktabllssi'tiii'iilH i|iii'li'iin- qvH'M Mill' la ti'i'ri' riTiiii' au siiil ilu liii*' ou ni*"- ili'Kiv ill' lallliidi' iinril. mills il» uiir ilT'i'liiri'' qui'. pi'i\i''i' iriiiie lisir-ri' siir la ti'i-ri' rrniii'. la Coiiiptimili' UUMsii'-Atiii'i'ii'aliii' n'aurnit iiiii'Uii iiii.'.vi'ti ill' sniiti nil' SI'S l''.tiil)llss('iiit'nts Hiir li'H fU's. qui si'i'iiii'iit ill's lnrs saiiN point irappiii I't III' piiurriili'iit avoir aiU'Uni' soli- dity TdiiI aririiini'iit I'luiili'' siir la ri>nsliir'ratioii ill' la riHiVi'iiaiii-i' priitlqiio lio la ICussii* no poiivoil otri- qui' ill' plus ^raiiil polils. I't lo I'li'iiipnti'iitlalrc ill' Sa Maji'str- lirilaiiniqin' n'lu'sila pas il'aliamloiiiiiM*, on I'onsi'qui'iiri' ill' i-i'lti' ohsi'rvalion ilos IMoiiipotontiairi's ilo llussii'. la limic ill' ili'iiiarralloii iin'ii iivolt il'iilioril proposf'i' savolr. ri'lli- i|iil ilovilit passor par lo iiiilii'u iti> I'hatliaiii Straits lusqu'A roxtri'iiiiti' sopti'iitrioiiali' ilo I. .vim Canal It ill' la il Mont Klias. on a riiiti'i'- Ki'itliin ilii nil' ili'irro ilc loiitltiiiii'. ol il'i'ii priiposiT mil' aiitro qui jiMsiiri'roit fl la Itiis- hlc lion sriili'iiii'iit um- llslori' sur li- I'oiitl- iii'iit. vIs-A-vIh ill' rKtalillssiniii'iit lo plus iiioriillonal qu'olli' poss^ilo sur Ics ili's, nulls qui iiil assiiri'i-oit anssi In possi'ssion ilo liiuti's li's ill's I't li's I'liux qui ravolsliii'iit. on qui so Irotivont plai-oos oiitro oot lOta- bllssoniont ol la li rro fornio, la possosslon oiiliii ill' loiil CO i|iii iionrroii dovonir. par la wilte. do qui'lquo nlllllo. on jionr sa soli- dltl"! ou pour sa inosporllo. Mais lo rionliioloiitialri' do Sa .Majoslo llrltiiiinlqiio no iioiit pas ailnnltro iino la Kiissio aooordorolt ou iissuroroil A Sa .\la- JoHtf' Brltanniqiio un nouvol avantauo par sn roiionolatlon A la partlo do la ooto si- tuo' oniro roniliiiuoliure dii rorlland (anal ot lo di'Ki'o de latlmdo onvlsaKo ooiiiino 11- nilto ill's possossions Ilussos dans rouka/.o de 1S21, 111 nionie par sa roiionolatlon A tonio pnrtio ilu oontiuont nil iiiliil ilos l' & la (iniiidv-ttretUKiii' U°(*ii liuHM'th-r III iiiiiivi'i'iiliit'K'- (li'H (liMix rlveu. i'v lilt iliiiiH '"!■ lull' lU' iMjiivoIr >'-i' COM oIlJclH ill!l IIVOI' WIIX (ill (ioll- vvriifiuciit Iiiiik'tIhI. vl (K'ti-riiiliicr miiiih plus II\ piirlii-M il'lll'- riiliKi'i' (K'liiiltlvi'iiii'iit till iiioiiK'iit iK'tui-1. i|iii' le ri(^iilpnt*>iitliilrt' Of Sii MtiJi-xK^ Itrltiiiiiili|m- I'flt riiiiiiiK'iii' >!(■ pi'npiiKcr slir Ii>M lU'H li' (li'Ki'*'' ilt> latltiulo <1<''hI- ISiif' liar I'OiikaHi' ili' ITIH). asHlKiii'roit en iiif^iiu' ti'iiips A la (iniiiili'-Ili'otaKiio i">iif II- iiiltf Kiir III roll? Ui- la terre fcriui- la ladtudv mr 30' imrd. II HiMiiiili' •lu'iiiio llBiip tnicf'P lie IVxtK'iul- tf'i" iiirrlillnnalK (111 ilrtriilt iioiiiiiii' " IMikc of Claicncc's Soiiiiil " par Ic luilimi di- <•<■ di'- triilt, Jiisiin'aii iiillli'ii do dotrolt ipil H<''pari! It'H InIi'h dii I'rliii" di< (ialU-H i>t du Uiip irVorU do iimti'N li's Ili's sltin'i-s an iiord di's ditcs Ill's, do 111. vers TchI par lo iiiillcn dn iiii>iiii' di'lrolt .jnmin'A In tcrri' fi'mit'. ft sf proloiiKfaiit fimnitf dans la dirfctlon, ft df la iiiaiiUTf df'Jft proposiV par If I'lfiilpotfii- tlali'f df tin .Ma.|fstf Ilrllannli|iif JiiHiprA .Muiit Kllas. on A I'liitfrHfi'tloii dn l-KI" dfKi'f df lonsltiidf. fiiriiifrnlt uiif lliiiif df dr'niar- calloii i|ni fniK'lllfralt Ifs foiiVfiiancfH nin- tufllfH dps dfnx rarllfK. ft ipil asHnrfrolt ppnt-Otrf d'Hiif nianltVf Hatlsfaisantf Ioh In- tfrfts rfi'iproiiiifK taut actiifls ipif fnturs dfs dfiix lOiiiplres da lis ffltf piiitif dn kIoIio. aiiiuuiit Iniporlauff fur liri-at Rritaln to IHiHMfHS tile Hoverelgiity ovor liotli shorfH. It was In tile hope ut' foiiflllallii),' llifse most Important poliitH Willi tlie vlfws or llif luipfrlal liovfrnnifiit. and wlllioni an.v fiir- tlifr delay KcttlliiK a ipifHilon wliU'li It sffuii-d to lif tlif IntfrfHt of liotli partlfH tu liiivf dflinltely arraiiKcd at tlif pri'sfiit iiii- infiil. tliat tlio I'lfiillHitfiitlary of Ills llrl- taiinlf Majesty liinl tlif lioiionr to. In Ills last ConriTfiiff Willi tlu- Uusslaii I'lfiilisi- tfiitlarii'S. to propose a line of ileiniirnitioii wlilfli. Willie seenriilK to Kiissia as Its Hontlierii lioiindary to tlif Islands, tlif di'Ki'ff uf latltndf nienlloned l>y the I'kiise of I7IN). w*iiiild, at till' siiitif tinif, asHltrn to (ireiit Ilrltain as liuundary on the inainland euu8t the hitltnde ut .'1)1° .'tu' iiorlli hitllnde. It seems that a line ilniwii rroiii the sonlliern fXtreiiie end of tlif Striiits nillfd " I>nke of rhirence's Sonnd." tliroiiKli tlif nildiUf of tills strait as fur as llic middle of the straits wlileli divides the I'rlnce of Wales and Ihf IMikf of York's Islands from all Ihf Islands lylnir to thi rlli of the aforesaid Islands, from thfiiee eastward, llironKli tlif inlddlf of tin- same elianiiel im fill as the niiilnland. and fxtfiidliiic lliiTe- froiii In thf sanif dlivftioii and niannfr alrfiidy pro|HiSfy Ihf rieiil|Hiteiillary of Ills llrltannle .Majesty as far as Moniit KHas. or to the Intersei'tlon of the Mlllli dfltrff of loiiKltiKlf. slionid form a Iliif of dfinareatlon whieli wonhl foiirlllate the innlnal foiiveiileni'fs of liotli I'lirtlfs and would pfrliii|is sfeni'f In a salisfaeloi'y way the reelproial Inlerests. present and fiitnre, of iHilh Kiii|ilres In thai part of the world. Inclosure 5 in No. 44. FIX.M. DKClSlilN OK HI S^I.V.N I'l.EMI'oTKNTI.VIIIKS. T.es rifiilpdlenllalres de Itnssie out port*' il la eoniiolssanif de I'KiiiiM'renr. leiir Maltrc. Ifs dfrnirres propositions ipie leiir out C'te faltes par Sir Cliarles ItiiKot. ii'ln- tlvement ft la ll^ne df iirniiireation ipii separerolt les po-isessloiis Itnsses des pos- sessions .\ni;lolsfs siir la cfitf iiord-ouest cln ('onlliifiit df r.\ini'rli|Ue. .MtfiithfiMfiit fxamlni^eB par 8n Mnjeste Iinperlate. res propositions tie Inl out point parn de nature A poiivoir etre aceepti^es. l/'Knipereiir ihariie si's pleiilpolenthilres df dfflarer iti'iatlvfiiifnt ft .M. r.Viiilnissa- dfur d'.VntJlflfrrf : Qiif 111 possession de I'lio dn I'rllU"e de lialles. sans line portion df tfiritoire snr la eAte sltiif-e vis-ft-vis de cetle He. ne pourroit ftro d'aumiif ntllltf ft la llussif. ()uo tout nialillsseiiifiit fornil^ siir In dite lie. on sur eeiles ipil renvlronnent. so troii- veralt fii <|iii'Ii|nf sortf loiiriif par les Kta- lillHseiifiis .MikIoIs df In terrf ffrnie. et fompletteinent ft la iiiefri de ees deriiiers. ijn'fn ('onsei|Ufiiee nil arranp:finfnt sfiii- Idalilf Uf seralt iiullemenl fonforine an prln- elpe des fonvfiianefN mntiifllfs. Un'ail I'fstf. d'aiiifs le tC'inolKiiaiie des Cartes les plus rfM'fiites pnl>llf>fs fii .Vnirle- lerre. II u'exlsle aili'Un lOliihliSBenifnt .\n- Klnis nl snr la cAte niOiiif dn enntineiit nl an noril dn .'14° de lalltnde septfiilrloiiale. Qu'ainsl. i|Uiind les llnillfs llxi'fs mix poHsfssloiis ItnssfR par In clinrlo df 17t>!l, n'anrolfiit point en leiir faveiir depnis vlnirt- eini) alls If foiisfnlfiiifiit tiiellf ilf toiilfs les Pulssaiiffs. encor(> la IlnsKlf fXfrcfroll- fllf snr cetle piirtle de la I'rtte pn'fisr^nifiil les niPines drolls ipie in Ijrniiiie Ilretaiine. The rienlpoteiiliaries of Itnssia liavo liroiiKlit to the knowlfdKe of llie Kiniieror. their master, the iasi proposals wliieh have lieeii laid lii'fore llieni l>y Sir Cliarles llaifot with roKard to the lliif of dfmnrratioii wlilcli wiMild si'iiarate the Itnsslon possess- ion from tlif KiiKllsh possession on the north foast of the Continent of .\Tiifrifn. Carefnlly exaniined iiy Ills Imperial Ma- .iesly. tlifse proposals liiive not appeariMl to lie of Kiifli a nature that they could lie no- cepled. The Kmiieror instructs Ills plenlpotenllnr- ies to declare Iterallveiy to the .\iiiliassndnr of KiiKland : That the possession of Prince of Wales' Island, witliout a isirtion of lerritoiy on the const opposite llils Island could not lie of any use to llnssia. That any estalilishiiifiit formed on the said Isliind or on thosf around II would. Ill soiiif inaiiiifr. lif turiifd by Ihf ICinrllsIi fstalillshmeiits of the nialnland and lie rnin- pletely at the nieny of the laltfr. That Iherefore such an arniiiKeinfiit would not Ilf coiiforniahie in any nianiifr In thn prliiflplf of .intiial eoiivfiilence. That nioriiiver from the exi'i'tnallon. les- tiniony of the most recent niiips published In KiiKland. there are evidently no Rnffllsb settlfincnts on the const even of the conti- nent nor north of the .'i4lli dcKree of north latitude. That llierfforf fvfu If the llinlts nsslRned to Ihf Unsslaii possfsslon by Ihf chiirtfr of niHt. did not liiivf In their favour for thn last twenty yi'ars. the tni'it ncceplance by all the Powers, still IlnssIa would exer- lisf on that portion of the coast preelsel.v tlie same rit.'lil as lireat rirllnin ; lienee 187 il'oil II K'Niiltc i|Uv III (|iK-stlnii ilcvi'iill lull Jimi'K l"lll' iC'Wlllll'. 111)11 lI'lllH-l-H IcS lllll'Tc'IS CXI'lllxIrH ll'llll 1IO8 (llMIX KlIipll'OH, miilN lie iimn'i'iv 1I niiH'lllcr li-urn liiti'TC-ls rf'oiiiru- qilCK. QiiViitlii, i|iiant A In iiiivliciilloii den llciivi'n. la ItiiHsic ri'o.viill avoir iilTfrt A III (iriiiKli'-IlrctaKiit' Iiiiih Ick avaiitaKi'H I't toiitCH roiiri'HslotiH qui> colh^-ci pout i'. Kt ijiic (laiiH ct'l ftiit tU" cLoWH li'H I'li'lil- potiMiliall'OK il<- Sa MaJi'XtC' Iiiipi''rlaU> avoieiit iii'dri" iriiiHlxti'r Kiir Inirs proposltiuiiH aii- ti'Tlciii'i-M. propiMllloim limit ilH out niiiplo- nii'iit (K'v»»lopp<^ loH iiiotlfH A son Exci'lh'iu'i' M. Ii> Clii'vailrr lliigot. l/Kiiipi*rtMii' ('Hpor<> (|iu' ci'H iiiollfH Hfi'oiit appi'f-rli'M par li> iit >l<> Sa Ma- JcKti'' llrltaiiiili|iii'. i>l i|iii' M. rAiiiliaHHailciir d'AiiKlctorri' Ics fern viiloir avci' iv ili'Rlr si>iit ; iiuiIh clip Mr tintto i|iu> li-s ivHoliitioiiN iir'tliilllvt'H 1I11 Cabliii't ili> I.oiulicH I'lnprcln'roiit sans doiiti' ccH poiirpiirlors ili- <1i>nioiircr rIi'tIIcs. Salnl-I'i'ti'rlioiir).'. ]<• l; Mars. INiM. it Is liil'oircd that tlio iiuosiiiii should al- ways Im- ri'solvcd iioi froui llii" oxrliisivc point of v\{*\v of Ili4* lnti>n>stH of unt* of tlu* two Kinplri's, hut In siii'li a iniiniii'r as to i-unriliali' Ihi'ir ri'i'iproclai Inli-ii'sis. Thai lliially wllh ivcard to thi' naviiiatioii of till- rivors. Itussla llioii):ht slii- had ofTor- I'll (o Cri'iil Ili'llalii all Iho i.dvanla);<'s and ronri'sslons Ihat Iho lall«>r roiiid ili-sirr. And thai Ihls hi'liiK th<' laso, llic |>li'iil- poli'iitiarli'H of Ills Impel lai Miiji-sly had hi'i'ii Inslriii'trd lo Insist on tlit'ir I'ornu'r proposlllon. niutlvcs of wlihli liavi> lipen fully I'xpialiifd l>y tin in lo Sir (hiirli'S llaKot. Tilt' Knipt'i'or liopi'K tliat llii'so inoiivos will 111' iippi'i'dnli'd liy Ihc novcrniiicnt of Ills llrilaniilc .Majesty and Ihat Ihc Ain- iiassador of Knxliiiid will hrlnic llioin forth Willi thai desire to I'oiirlilale the resperlive opinions wliii'h he liaH shown all Ihroii.'li tills neffollMtion. Ills Imperial Majesty renrets to see it not Iii-oiikIiI to an end al laesent. lull he is In liopi'8 Ihat the lliinl resolntioiiH of Ihc l.oinlon Cahlnel will jin'veiit. witjoul doiilil, llii'se eonfen'ines from fnlllnit ihroiiKli. Sainl-I'elerslioiiri.'. Ilie ITIh-ltlth Manli. 1824. Inclotare 6 in No. 44, MKMORAXDl'Al. La roinpaunle Itu-fc'-Amrrieaiiie a ef' niiinie A ilifTereiiles epoipieH de la part iles Missions f'Iraiiireres iteeredllet's jir^s la I'oiir linperlale de lliissle de eei'lilinilH destini's A assurer appiil et proleeliiui aux iiavires i|lle la (lite Koeli'le illrlife vers leu eontrees soiiniises A la douilnatioii des rnisxanees andes. Sarhaiit appiC'i'ler tons les iivantaKes d'liiie iiHsislanee aiissi elllcaee. la I'oiiipaunie vieiit de sHiiresser ail Mlnlsleii' IinpOrial dans ie lull d'olileiiir par son inlervenlion line le*- Ire do proterlion d'lisaire poiir Ie vaisseati " ilfli''iif\" eoniiiiaiiiir' par I( I.loiilonnnt de la MMrine Tihisliiikofr. I'o liAlinieiil, diiiit la deslliiallon est do porter des provisions anx Colonies de in t'ompiiKiiie, s'oeiiipera en inenie teiiiH de reeherehoH seleiililiqiies dans les parages vers lesijuels II dirlue sa I'oiirse. Kn eonsi^iiuenee, lo SoiissIkiiC' a I'hoiiiieiir de prh'r Son Kxielieine M. Ie < iievaller lie Hairot. .\mi>nssailonr l''.xlraordliialre et ril''nipolonllalro de Sa .Majesti'' Ilrlliiiiiili|iie, de roiiloir liieii liil Iraiisinollri'. A I'lisaito iln Meulenant TelilsllaldilT. iiii eerlilleat lequei, en spf'eltlanl Ie lint de rexpi'ditiou. re- ehimorait en favour ilu eomniaiidnut et do lY'ijulpaKo nil aeriieil hospllaller. el s'ils so Iroiivaiont dans Ie eas il'y avoir reeonrH. iiiie nHslfitaui'o olflcnre de In part des au- torllC'H llritaniiiiini'H. I.e Sonssiiinf' se pinirait A rivounaltre dnns iin aeeiiell favoralile A la domnnde <|U'il vieiit d'exiiriinor au iioni do In Coin- laKiilo ItiisKe'.Vmr'rh'aiiie line noiivelle liroiive don relalloiis iiinleales ipil oxistont eiitre Ipd rtonx Coiirs. et II salslt, oto. iSiirnl^^ XKSSKI.HODK. St-rETEimnoiMto, lo 12 Minn 1824. Tlie Itusslan-.Viupriean I'lunpany has lii'on supplied, al iliflerent IlinoR. hy tlio Koreifii Missions liaviii): credontlais for the Imperial I'ourl of Itussla. wllh eerlihi'aloM ilesiuned lo insure iiolp and proteellon lo Hie sliips which Ihe said eompanj' sends lowarilM the eoiinlrU's under the dominion of frleniliy powers. I'liily aware of the iidvanlaires of siii-ii an efToelive assisl.-iiire. Ihe eompaiiy has Just applii'd lo till' Iniperlai Minislry. witii a \'lew of seriirin^ liy lis intervention an oi'dinary letter of proiei'tlon for liie ship Ifi'l'iii'. i-iannianded hy tlie Marine I.ieiiten- anl Teliisliiikon'. The ship. \\'hose mission is to transport pro\-|sloiis lo tile eompaides' setlleiiients will, ill llie meanljme, underlal 17 iivi'll lS2i. M. LE C'OMTE.—I'ar iiii'n (Ii'imVIich illi 17 dp o<' iiiiiIh, J'lii liilt n>iiiiiiltri> i\ votre Kx- CClll'ltfl' ICH rr>MllltalS piMI HIltlHt'ONailN i\v iios n('K<><-iatloM« avif Sir CluirloH Uauot, rela- tives aiix I'lonllfii's i|nl dolviMit sf-iiarei' Ics posSttHHltHIH ItllHM^H tlOM poHHI'SHloIIH All- kIdIncs par ta fot** iiiti-it-ntioHt (!«' rAMir'ii(|ii(\ Aiijoiii'iriuil, M. Ic Comic, Ji' von« ilf'vo- loppi'rai li'H naitirs ipii iii> ihiuh out pas IM>riiils irai'icplcr Ioh pi'opusll lolls do rAiii- liaHHiidoiir d'Auiilotorro. Tour no I'UH oiitror sails iircoHsllo daiiK do tro|) loiijis ilotalls. ,|o mo lionionil ft dlsoiitor 1(1 lo pi>int do la iiiiostloii siir loipiol iKiiis iravoiiH pit toiiilH'i* il'in'cord. I.'oiikaso dii ,' Soploniliii! 1821, aviilt poi'to jiiHiiu'iiil ,''>l ' do latltiidi' sopti'iili'lcinalo ios liinltoH dos doinaliios tlo la ICiisslo siir la ooto iioi'dciiioMi dii roiitiiionl Aiiioiioalii. • 'opondrnl rKiiiporoiii' s'otaiit I'laiviiliU'U iplo proM(|n7l la iiioiiio ('piKiiio la t'onipaKiilo Aiiulolso do la llaio d'lliidsoii avolt I'orino dos I'^tahllNsoiiioiis par Ios ."t,*r ot .">l^ do liitiliido sopliMili'lDiialo, or i|ili s lOtalilisso- Iiioiis n'oloioni tiiomo phis lrt"^s olol^ia's do 111 ooti". iiiais aiiloi'lsa ii diiiiiioi', dos I'liiivoi'- liiro dos iii'xoolat lolls, iiiio proiivo do sos lii- toidliais ('iiiii'iliaiilO'<, on doolai'iiiit il Sir Cliarlos llapil i|iio luiiis nous ttoiidi'iiais .aiix lliiiltos jissijrnoos ft IIOS posso^Kloiis Amori- lainos par la iMiatlo do rKiiipoioiir I'aiil, ipioii i'onso(|iioiii'o la llmii- dii .Vii" di'i.'1'o do laliliiilo soploiilrliiiialo, i onsliluorolt all niidi la ri'iuilioio dos Klals do Sa Majosti'' Iniporialo. ipio snr li' ronliiioiit ot vits i'ost, Ironlirio piiini'oll lonrlr li' loiii: dos iiionlai.'iios i|iil Niiivi'iit Ios siiiiiosllos do la ooto Jiisijiraii Miait-Klio, ot <|iio ilo iv point .liisiprft III Mor lilaolalo ikuis lixoiloiis Ios liornos dos possossiiais ri'spootlvos d'apros la lltiiio till l4ilo ili'Kii'' do loiiKitlido onost mfrldlon di- lirooiiwloli, Allii di' no pas loiipor I'llo du I'rlnoo do ttallos, qui soloii oot ari'Miiuoiiiont dovolt I'l'stor !\ 111 Itiisslo, nous pi'Mposlniis do por- tor la rroiitii*>ro inorldoiialo do iios doinalnos iiu .'14 llf do lallliido ot ilo la I'lilro alioutir sur lo Contlnont iiii rort'aiid Ciiiial, dnnt roinlioucliiiro dans roooaii I'st ft In liautour do rilo du rrlnoo dd liallos ot rorlclni- dans leg ton-OS oniro lo ."i" ot .'iir do lutlliiilo. ('otto iM'oposltloii no nous assnrolt i|U'iiiio olrolto lIslc'To sur In crito iiiOino, ot olio lals- Koll mix Ktalillssonions AiikIoIs tout I'ospaoo iioiossalio pour so iniiltlplior ot s'otoiidri'. Vous vorro/.. M. lo I'onito, par Ios places ol-Jiiliitos, i|U°oii ouiro nous iinnoiK.'liuiH rouvorlnro do I'ort do Novo-AroliaiipMsk ol ijiio nous promi'tlloiiH la llhro navigation dos tlouvos i|Ul so troiivoroinnt our iiolro torrltolro. ApriV ipiolipios dIsouHNloiiH, Ion dornliTos oiiniro priiposlllons do Sir t'lin'los lltiKOt Inroiit do coiuMrondro touto I'llo ilii I'rlnoo do liallos dans Ios pnsHossloim do In ItiiHslo, Ilia Is do sllpiilor ipio iiidro froiitliVo sulvrult do ootto lllo la piisso dito Ihikr »l llnrrmi'ii KiiMiiil, ot ijU'ollo n'ahontlrolt ft la ortt« i|u'aU'dossUH du oil" do liitltudo soptontrlo- ntilo, I 'otto dirrrronoo. Hi on la consldt^ro sur la I'arto. piirnll liisl^rnlllanlo an proinlor ooup d'o'll ; olio t*Ht noiiniiioins si ossontlollo pour iioiiH, iju'll nous ost iiliHoliiuiont liniioRsililo d'lidlii^ror an |ilan ilo doiiianatlon triioi^ liiir lo IMiMilpolonllaIro do Sa Majostf' Ilrl- laiiiilijilo. Nolls lul avoiis osposo. duns notro r'piMiso A sa sooondo nolo vorlialo ot dans notro n'-- Ht. i'KTEHsiiouRU, April I'tli, 1824. .\l. lo Conite,— lly my dospatelios of the ITtli of tills mimtli 1 liuvo hrouk'Iit to tlio noil<'o of Your 10xc'ollono,v llie unsallsfaolory rosults of our noKwIatioiiH with Sir ('lmrlo8 liiiKot ooiioornliiB tlio fronllors wliloli U'unt soparato tlio UusHlaii |h)HM(»ss1oiis from the KiikHsIi posM^ssloiis, on tlio north-wost ooast of Amorloa. I slinll to-day, .M. liO Comte. lay out the luotlvoH wliloli liavo provoiited us from lu'oi'pllii); tlio proposal of the Itrltisli Ainliassador. Ill orilor to avoid too Ioiik dotalls I slinll I'ostrlct niysolf to dlsouss tlio point of tlic i|Uostl(iii lai wliloli wo linvo fall<>d to uKroe. Tlio T'kaso ,',. Soptombor. 1821. had oar- rlod up to tlio ."1° dogiw of north latitude llio limits of tlio domain of Kussla ou tlio norlli-wost oiMist of tlio .Vmoiioaii oouti- llOllt. 'I'llo Kinporor, liowovor, having hooii oon- vlni'od that iiliout tlio saino tlino ilio Kim- lish Company of Hudson Hay h.id t'orined sottlonionts In tlio ."CI and ."it doi: 'os of iiorlli liitlliido and that tlie-o sid, ■inoiitH ^I'oro not ovi'ii \or.v far from tlio roasts, aiilhorlxod us lo kIvo, at llio vory oponlne of llio iioifoolalliuis. a proof of Ids ounollla- lory Intoullons. liy ih'oliirlni; to Sir Chiirlos ltiiv;ot that wo would hold to the limits as- slmiod lo our .Vnioricaii possossions liy Iho oliiirtor of tho lOniporor I'aul, that tlioii'foro Iho lino of tlio .") douroo of north latllildo would roiislitiito tho soiilhorn fronlior of His liii|H'rlal Majosty's pos.sossioiis, that on tho oontlnont and towards tho oast this frontlor loiild run iiIoiik tho niountalns which follow tho wliidliiKH of the ooast as far as Mount ICIIas and that friini this point up to Iho .\rotlo Ocean, wo would tlx the houndarlos of tho ii»spoctlve possessions iio- oordlni; lo llio lino of the 1 CI douroo of west loiiKitudo (lirooiiwloli nioridani. Ill order lo avoid liilersoctInK the Trluco of Wales' Island, which according to tliU arraiiKemeiil, should hnloii); to KiisRla, wo proposed to carry the sunt horn frontlor of our iloiiialiis to tho ."il ih'uroes in' of lati- tude and to make It strike on the contliioiit Iho Tort, and Canal, the mouth of whicli on the oooiiii lies a' the helirht of rrlnoo of Wales' I sill I d and tho head Inland lielwooii tho ."m and ."s. deitreo of latlluile. This proposition laily secured to us a nar- row strip on the const Itself and loft to the lOiiitllsli estalillsliiiients all the space re- tpilrod for their Inoroiiso and extension. You will see. M. I.e Couito, hy tho onclopofl ilocumonts that wp iinnouni'Od, moreover, the opening of the port of Now .Vrolmnirel itiid that we promlsoil Iho frcH> navigation of the rivers which run through our terri- tory. .Vfler some dlsciisHlon the last oouutor- drlfts of Sir riiiirles IhiBOt were to the elTeet that all I'rlnce of Wales' Island should ho Included In the Itiisslau pnssesM- lon. lint to stipulate that our frontier should follow from Hint Islnnd tli'> pass cnllert Duke of CInrenoe Hound and that It would strike Iho const only nhove the ."iillli donree of north latltiiilo. This dllTcrouco, If conslih>rcd on tho Map, seems, at tirsi hIkIiI to he of no Importance : It Is however such a material point to us that It Is ontlroly liiipossllilo for us to nci|iilcsco 111 Iho propos(>d deuiaroatlou ns traced hy the rieiil|Hiteiitlary of Ills llrltnn- lllo Ma.losty. Ill our nnswer lo Ills seooiid vt rhni note, and In our relolnder of the I8II1 .dai'i'li. we 180 plUHie (111 18 MiirM. (leu oiimliKTiitloiiH i|m> I)C»IIK l)L> pdUVIIIIS |M>riln' t\*^ VIH* ft qui llltllH 8cllll>l<'llt dlVlHlVI'S. I/ iioiiH irnroiiM ihih for- inr d'KlnlillsKOiiK-iiH I'-tnlillH Hiir In eflti- iiori' cii|Hitiiin oHt lo wul doiit oos pnrafcos Holont HiiHOoptililoH, on dii uiolnM lo Boiil (|iil Kolt iif'i-oKWiiro lorxqu'tiii IH-ii plii8 au iiord on u fondi- ot orKimlKf- dog CulonloH. NouM Honinioi) done ploincuiont en droit d'hiRlHtor snr In oontlnuntlon d'nn W'liolloi- ipio notro oonuni-roo H'ost UHsnrr- di*K I'nnnC'o 1709. tnndls quo Ion ConipnitnloM AnKlolHOH do !a Itnio d'Mudiion ot du Nord- OnoHt out ft iH'Ino atteint dojiulM trolH nnit 10 volslnnKO do com latitudes, tniidlx qu'ollos n'oocupont oiiooro auoun point qui tnnt-lip ft rocf-an. ot (lU'll OHt notoiro que c'est iwur I'avonlr Bouloment i|U'oIIph olioroliont ft n'y nii'-nnKor li-s protltH do la cliaHm- et do In pfclio. AinsI nous voulons lOHnnrcr, ot lOH Conqta^nlos AiikIoIhok voulont nrifu^rtr. ('otto Honio olroon»tnn«' snttlt |>our JustlUer noK propoHltlouH. I')ll.^ no 8ont pnK inolnH confornios au prlncliie do» ooiiveiiancoR nm- tuolloK. qui dovolt Horvlr do base ft la nf-- tsnolatlon. SI rile du Prinoe do Ualles nous denienre, 11 fnut qu'ello pulsso nouH Ptre de quelqne ulllltC-. Or. d'aprOs lo plan do rAnilNisHn- tul>llHHonioiiH Anelols de In ertte. Nous nous C-pnIsorlons en fmis de fnirde Pt do surrolllanoo dont aiicuue com- pensation n'alK'-Korolt lo fnrdonn. Un nr- rauKoinont pnroll reimserolt-ll sur le prln- ('l|H> dos oonvenani'oH niutuollps 'I Xous Invoquons toutefols oi> prlncl|)e avec d'autant plus do Justlop qm> I'AnKleterre ollo-nifnie n prouvf- par un acto nutlientlqiie qu'ello reKardolt ooinino doutoux ses droits Hur l(! terrlloiro dont elle doiuande I'lilHin- don. Iin Convention passi'-e lo :!<» Ootobre. 1S18. ontre la Cour do l,ondn>s et les Ktnts- I'nlH. df'i'laro proprii'to couiniuno iIi-k deux pnlsHnm-os pour dix ans tnnte rc-tondue de pays I'ouiprlHo omro los Kurku UmintiiliiH. l'Oi><'>nii rnolllquo. i-t li-M |M>ssosslons Ilnssog. l.os litres dos Ktnts-rnlH ft In sonvoralneti^ de Vi* pays wont iloiic anssi valabl-s quo eonx do r.Vnclotorri'. Cepondiint lo Cnblni-t do WjiHlilnxton a roronnii quo nos llnillos doroloiit dosrondii- .Insqu'nn .M 40'. II I'a I'ronnti par urn- ti*niiHjirtion fornH-llo que noiiH vonons do pnniplior nvor son I'lonlpo- lonllalro ot i-olli- roronnolssanoo na imint pour coiisoqui-noo nnlquo *h^ fortltlor nos ai'irunioiis. olio mam proruro d'aulroH ro- snllalH nuxquols nous attaoblons nvoo nil- sou, lo plus liaiit liilorAt. 'rninquilles di- oi- rilli*. nous n'nvons innln- ti-iinnt nui'uno ornliito A nourrlr, ot lo Cnbl- liave (riven uttPranoo to oonsiilomtlons wliloli wo onniiot iivorliHik and wliirli ap|s'ar to lis as decisive. 'I'lie Knii»>r«r bid" .vou. Mr. le Couito. to Invito tin- Cnbliiot of SI. .Ininos lo inko liioiii iiilo ronsiderntioit iiioKt serious- ly mill Ills .Mnjosty Iio|m>s Hint afti-r an lininirtlal oxanilnatlon. lie will lilniself hnslon to n(*knowlod}(o how gi-rioiis nnd lof;l- tln;nto an- our iiiotlvos. In the llrsi pinoo. no Powrr luis pn>tost)-. whereas the KiiKllsh ('oinpnnies of Hudson's Itay and of the Xorth-west have lianlly. within the last thriH- years roaohi-d the iiolirhlHiur- hotsl of these Intlludo. whilst they do not yet oet-upy any isilnt <-onti);uous to the Oc<>an, and that it Is n known faet that It Is only for the futun- that they are ondenvouriiiK to seoure the iH-notits of llio fur tnido and of llshliiK. In short, wo desire to koi'p and the Kn^tlish Coui|ianles nniit to an|uliv. This view alone Is sulHoloiit to justify our pro- IMisnls. It is none the less in •-onforinlty with the prliK'lple of niutnnl coiivenloni'os which must se; ve as a basis to the noKocla- tion. If the Prince of Wales Island nnnalns ours. It m If tie of some utility to us. Now, aceonllUK to the view of the KuKllsli .Vnibas- sailor It would be only a burden to us and niniost an iticoiiveiilouci^. IndtMil. this Island and the Kstnbllshments which would l«- foniidod by us. would lienune altotsetlie'- Isolated, ileprtveil of all snp|Hirt. surrounded by the |iossi>sslons of (Jrenl Ilritain and at the iiieroy of the Kniillsh establishments on the CiNist. The cost of uialntenanoi- and of sn|H'r>lsloii would Is- rnliious the burden of which would not bo n-ll'-viHl by any com- liensntlou. Would an aKris-ment of this nature rest upon the principle of mutual nnivenlein-es 't However, we np|ieal to that principle with the nion- Justliv that KnKlnnd horsplf hai deiiKMistnitod by an aiilhentlo deed that she consldprod as doubtful her pn>tentli>iis upon the territory (he abaiidonmpiit of which slip Is rp<|uestlnK. The Conveiition aKreed to on 'Jllth of October. ISIS, between the Cc.irt of London nnd the rnllod SIntes reco)riilses ns pro|H>riy conimon to both Powers, for ton yonrs. nil tlinl oxtont of Country lylim botwii-ii the His-ky Moun- niliis. the Pnclllc Oi-onii and tlio° Itnsslan doiiilnlons. Till- titles of the I lilted States to the Sovon-litnty over this country are then as valid as those of Knirlnnil. How- ever, the Wnshlnirloii Cnbliiol lins admltlod that our frontier should extend south as far ns tlio r,i w. Th,.,- have admlt- lod it by a formal Iraiisnetloii which wp have Just liiltlnliHl with its Plonlpolonllary : this ackiiowloduomont dis-s not only siroiiKliton our prolonslons. bin II emails ollior rosiills which wo consldeii-d with ri-nsoii of the iiiniosi Inteii-si lo us. I-'oellim sociiiv on this point we have now no fear to entertain and the Cabinet of I.on- 1!I0 net di> t.ondre8 I'onvloudrii whim duutc i|U'un tol ftiit dp clioHcs nuKiuviito li- prlx ih's sii- iTlllc™ <|UC IIOUH llli olTl'dllK. KrJA il I'Xiati' uno dllTi'riMiei" dc priV do iiimlri' (Ii'kK'k I'lilrc la d<-uiiirc'ttliiiii d<> rOiikiiKc ihi 4-1ilS<'|iti'iii- liru 1S21. et cclU' i|ii<' ii»U8 liidliiiiiiiix iiiijoiii'- d'liiii. LcH ICIiiblifHi'iiDMiH di's riiin|>iiKlii«H AiikIoIkpx poiivi'iit iKTUiHT cct liiterviilli'. A Vent 11k iMMivciit iiiilr Ii'h di'iix iViIi-k di' I'A- iiiC'ri(|Ui> ; nil iiildl I'icii ii'i'iiipiVlu' iiii'IIh ii'ik'- i|Uirn'iit lUH" oxtciiHioii (.'DiiHUU'nible. I'our iioiis, iiuiiM lioi'iioiiH iicis dcinandi'N A r<'lli> d'uiie Hiiiipli' llsii'iv dii ciiiit Input, <'t allii do lorpr toiitc olijcctlon. iiiiiin KaniiitiHsoiiM la liliro imvlpitUiii dt-s ttoiivcK. iiouh aii- tinii<.'0ii8 rouvcrtiirp dii purt do Novo-Ar- I'liniiKelHk. I^ HiihhIp no Hiiurult piiiiHM'i- plus loin 808 coiieoKHloiis. Kill' ii'oii lora pan d'au- tres, et elle oHt aiitoi-lsoe a en attoiidn> de la part de rAiigletorre ; iiiali* eiieuro line fols. elle no rf'elaiue iiuo de» coiu'chmIuiih m'- (ftitlvoB. t)ii ne pent elTwtivelueiit a»He!i le I'opf'ter. d'apr(>H lo tenuilKHaKe doH t'irtes leg plus rOecntes, rAiiKletorro iie poxHudo au- ciiii KtabllHHeinent, ul A la liaiiteur do I'urt- laud Canal. n< au liord de rooean, et la Kiih- sle, qiiand elle liiHlHto Hiir l.i riiiiHorYatloii d'liii nifdloere esiMiee ile lorro forme, n'lu- RlBte an fond ijiie Hiir le inoyen de fulro va- iolr, iioiiH diniim pliiH. de ne iiax perdi'e lo8 ties envlronnaiites. ("est la poHltlon doiit iioiiK parlloiiK tuiite A I'lieiire ; lions ne reolieroliiins aiicnii aviintiiKe. nous ronlons f'Vlter de Knives iiieonveiilens. Kn rf'sniuC', M. lo C'ointe. si I'mi consnltc lo droit dans eotto n^'Koelatloii. la Itussle a eeltii iin'iissnient, d'une part, iin vonseiito- nieiit taclte. nulls Ineoiitestahlo. de I'aiitre. niio exploitation palsllile depiiis vliiKt-elnii alls et ipll pent Mro considC'reo eoinine eiiiil- vulente A line oreupatlon contlmie. SI Ton Invoiiiio I" prliiol|H> dos oonvcnan- eos nintnelles. la Hiissle lalsso an df'veloppe- iiient procroHsIf dos Ktalillsseinens Anglois, Hiie vasle f'tondiie de eote et do terrltoire ; elle leiir assnre ile lllires dt^lioiielC's ; elle poiirvolt aiix liitorPts do lenr eonimeroe. et pour eoinpensor taut d'offres dlotOes par le pins sliK'fre esprit ile conelllatlnn. elle so rt^sevve niilipienient nn point d'appni. sans leiiiU'l 11 liil serolt linimssllde de itarder line inoltlC de n(>b doinalnes. De tellos vnos n'oiit liosoln ipio d'etre iirf-- sentPos dans lenr vral Jour jionr ipi'im Oouvernenieiit poinine celiil de In (imiide- Hretn(rno siiplie les npprooler. Douter de son ikUiOhIoii dans eetto eircoiistanee, oe se- rolt douter de sa liistlco ; et il vour sera frtpile, riOiiipereiir se plait A le croiro, d'oh- tenlr le eonsenteinont dMIiiitif de I'AiiKle- terre A uno tranasactlon qui reiiipllrnit iios voeux et nos c8|>Ariin<'eR. on prCvennnt toiite dlgcusslon ultOrleure. Recevei, etc., (SiKli«) NGS8BLRODB. don will eei'taliily admit tliat 8Ueli ii coiull- lioii of alTairM adds to tlio value of the von- I'l'ssions wo are olTeriiii: iil'ii. Tliore is alroad.v a dirforonio iif nearly four doitrtH's liolwirn tile line of deniarpation aeeurdlnK lo the I'kaso of Sept Iier 4 111. 1H-,!I and llio line wlilcli we pmiHise to-day. The Kslahlisliinonts of the Knrlisli Conipany may oppupy this mip, Wasloriy. thoy can ■ oiiiippt liotli poasls of tlio ponlinont. notlilm; IH'i'voiits tlieni from sproHdiiiK eiiimldeniliiy towards tlie south. As for us wo rostrlot our demands to a small strip (iisipn^i of I'oast on tlio pontiiipiit. and in order to dis|M'l all objeetlons wlialsiH'ver. we Bim- lantw tile free imvlitation of tlip rivprs, we piooiaim tile oponiiiK up of tlie port of .\(>vo-.\rpliaiii;ol8k. It is impossible for Hiissla to lunke any more ponrt-ssions. Slip will not iiinke any more, and she in aiitlioriised to ox|H*pt 8oiuo from KnKlaiid, but once more, she only elulus iieKiitlvo ponccssioiiH. Itpally it cniinot be insisted u|Kiii too inupli, from the evidence of the most I'ppent maps. lOliKland d(K not posspss any KstalilisliiiiPiitM, neitber at the head of I'ortliind ('hniinol, neither on the sliore of the Uceaii, and when ICusBin p<>rsi8'B in plaimlng the reservation of an unimport- ant strip on the mainland It Is only as r. meaiiB to enhance the value, nay more, not to lose the adjacent Islands. This is the posi- tion we have ulludetl to previously ; we are not asking for any favours, we wUb to avoid serloUB Incoiivenioiices. To snmimirlxe, .Mr. le t'omte. If we con- sider what Is right in this iieKotiation we liiid in favour of Itussia what in aanotioned liy an implicit, but indlsimtable concensus, on the other side, a peaceful i< "cnpatliin diiriii); twenty-live years. wbl<-li may be I'oiisidoi'oil as oiinlvaiont to a iiintlniious oppuiNition. If the principle of reciprocal couvenienceg Is advocated, Itussia gives up for the pro- gn-ssivo extonsion of tlio Kngiisb Kstabllgh- ments a vast extent of coast ami of terri- tory : sb<> gnaninteeH free markets ; she makes provision for the interests of their trade, iiiid as a conipeiisatlon for so many olTors Inspired by the sliicerest spirit of tonpiliation. she reserves for herself only n point of Hupiwrt without which It would not bo possible fur her to keep one half of her dominions. Such views only reiiuire to be pregeuted in their true light to be duly apprleciiited by a tiovoriiinent like that of (inuit Kritain. To question Its acquiescence under these eir- puinstaiices would amount to iiuestion its Justice ; the Brnjieror tiatterg bluiself to believe that It will be an nisy matter for you to obtain the tinai assent of Kiigland to a tningactloii which would fulfil all our wishes and our Iioih>s by pr(>venting all gub- Niibset|uent dlgcugglon. Pleage accept, (Signed) NBSSBLRODB, No, 46. Hudson's bay company to mr. a. oanninq. (Received, April ■ ) Hudson's Bay House, Txindiin, April 10, 1824. Sir, — I have this morning laid before the Committee of the HiidBon'a Bay Com- pany Sir Charles Bagot's despatch and papers coiineclpil with it, which you did me the honour to intrust to me on Saturday morning, ami I am to state that if His Majesty's 191 UoTernnieiit consider it ndvieablc in otlur refinrte to arceilc tu tlic Inul iir(i)>(>niti(in made by the Itus^iun Guvcnitnt-nt I'nr ilic urruiiKi'iiK iit nf ii line uf duniurcatiun be tweeu tlie pussesBionb ol' liutsia luid (Irciit Briluiii mi the voi'st uf Xorlh Amcricii, they Bee no rcaaon to object to it, as it will atfcct tlicir |mrtiear» to secure to tlicni a frcf access in llie sea lor the purposes of their trade on the whole cuast to the ca^'tward of the i:!lMli dcitni- of longitude. They beg me, however, to sunKcst the cx|K>illciU'y <>( -nnii' more definite deniarca- tion on the coast than the supposed chain of ini>untainn cimlinuous to it, and thcv I'oii- ceive there can be no diHiculty in arranKinf; this jxiint fmni the expression in ,he pro- liosition of the Kussian nc|i;o!iators : " I.a chaine des nuiiitafines, <|\ii sont ii une trei iietitc distance dcs sinuosites de la rotu." Neither party have any accurate jfeoKraphical information with resiK-ct to llic country in the immeiliate neighbourhood uf the sea. ami if the inten ions of the Itus- sin") (iovernment are fairly to lie inferrelinfr for the iKnindary on the mainland the nearest chain of mountnins, not excee ■■nablc'd sliortl.v tu ncml to II i« Miiji-ly"~ Aiiil>U'>->uiI»r at St. l*rtji'<'i iiiiitliT III ImiiIi u* -liall niifl, in n Kn'ut iIiKrir, llic niiilii'N of yiiiir Court. 1. Ah Id llie liuf iif ilfninnnitinn to In* drawn betwren KiitMin and Hritiuli iMviipa- tion on tile imrtli-wisl i-im.-i nf Anurifii : Sir Cliarli's Kiik«<'i di«'rrliim will Ih> so far onlar^ed as to I'lialilc liini In .nliiit, uiili ortnin i|uuliti<'alions, ilic tiTni laxt |irii|ios<-d by tlio UiKwian (iiivcrnniunt. Tlir iiiialilii'iiliiiiis will conitiiit I'hii'fly in n more M-ri|ition of tho limit t i wliiili llic strip of land rniniriMl by Kii>iiia on llw i-imlincnt is Vo Ix' ri'strirtiil ; .r; till' si'li'clioii of II sMiiicu'lial iiiiir)' svt^T-li'rii diirnt' of loiiuitiidi' a- llio boiiiidiirr to tlu* norlliwanl of Moiiiil Kliiis : in pricis<> and nosilivf rivili'ni's of trade as arc, or may Im\ -lipnlnti-il with Russia by any other nation ; and we take for Kfiinlcd that the evdiisive claims of iiariiration and jurisdiction over tlie Xorlh I'acitii' Ocean, which were put forward in the I'kasp of .Septi-nilnT. 1HJ|, nre to be altogether withdrawn. Ho. 49. (No. 22.) {Mr. it. i'tiiinihg tn Sir ('. ii'iftof.) FoRKMiN Ctm K. May l".i, 1*^4. Sir. — I transmit to Your Kxc«dlency n ••"P.v of a letter which I have addressed to Count Lieven upon the sulijcct-niattir of two ilespatehe- from Count Ni -selmde to Count l.icven, which that Ambassador eoniinnnicat<*d to nie, and copies of which I aliio enclose. Voiir Kxcelleiicy will learn from m.v better to Coinil I.ipven that .von niny exiiect dcHnile instriielions very >liortly, Ixiih f.,r tli'- coudu-iou of tln' ni)iotialion I'elaliiiK to the north-west eoust of Anieriea, and to the pro|>oseiI Cunfen-nee on the paeitieatiin of (ini'cc. I hoiM' to despatch a ineswnnpr to Your Exe?ll«>nev with the«> instructions in the roursc of the next week. .Meantime the enclosed pa|K'r will put Your Exivlleney (p-nernll.v in |)o»sessioii of thi' sentiments of llis Majesty's (ioverninent uixpii these several subjects. Bui Your Kxcellency will not take any step ufion them until yon shall have received m.v promised instructions. I am. Ice., (Signed) OEOHtiE CANNINfl. Liei Vo. 60. MR. O. TASMM; To MR C. B.MM1T. (No. 26.) FoRRKiS OmcK. July U>. 1«24 Sin, — .\ffstion iK'lweeti the two (!overnnients iinscltled f'lr an indefinite tinic. His Majesty's (ioverninent have n>«iolveil to aulliorize Your Excidleney to nmsent to include the south points of Princo of Wales' Tslaiid within the Hussian frontiers, anil to laki' as the line of demarcation n line drawn from the southernmost isiint of Piiiu-e of Wales' Island from south to north through Portland Chatmel. till it strikes thi' mninlnnd in latitude ."ilt ; thence fidlowintr the sinuosities of the i-on-l, n\>>nit tbi' bas<. of the inoiiutnins nearest the sen to Mount Elias, and thence aloiiK the l.lfttli dejtree of binpitnde to the Polar Nea. T inclose the ilrafi of a projet of Convention founded uiion these princitdes, which Your Excellency is authorised to «i(rn i>reviousty to your ouitlinir .''t. Pclcrsbnrir. The advnntaircs concedivl to Russia by the line of demarcation traei^d out in this Convention are :ii) obvious, as to render it quite impossible that any objection can rea- loa Honalil}' Ix" iiffcrcd cm llic part of tlie Hunsinii taken that the line of demarcation to be drawn parallel with the coast, as far as Monnt Elias, is not ea ipd too far inland. Tb s is done by a proviso that that line should in no case (i.e., not in that of the mountains which aplH^ar by the i(ap almost to border the eoast, turninK out to be ftir removed from it) carried further to the cast than a specified number of leagues frfnii the sea. The utmost extent which His Majesty's (lovernmeiit would be disposess of the rivers, creeks, &c., on the continent, the use of all which is in the nature of a comiwusation for the periietual right of territory granted to Russia, and, therefore, must be alike iierpctual. If your Excellency shall, as I cannot doubt, eoii- cdude and sign this ('onvention before your departure, you will make it a point to bring with you the ratification of the Russian (jovernmeni to be exchanged by Count Lieven against that of Ilig Majesty. / have, &c., (Signed) GEORGE CANNING. Enoloture in Ho. 50. DRAFT CONVENTION, His Majesty the King of the United Khig- dom of Great Britain and Ireland, and Ills Majesty the Emperor of all the RussiaH, being desirous of ilrawing still closer the ties of friendship and good understaiKlIng which unite them by means of an Agree- ment which shall settle, upon the basis of reciprocal convenience, the dllTercnt points eonnecteeherleg de leurs snjets sur I'Oci'an Pacl- flqiie, alnsl que les llmlteg de leurs posses- sions et f'tnbllsseniens sur la cflte noril- oiiest de I'AmPrlriue : leurs dites M'ajeslf's out noninir' des PKinlimtentlalres pour eon- I'liire line Convention ft cet effet. savolr. Sa Majestt^ le Rol du Royaume-t'nl de hi (ininde-llrctngne et de I'lrlande. etc.. etc.. etc. : Kt Su MaJestC- rKnipcreur de Toutes les Hussies, etc.. etc., etc. ; I.es(|iip|s, iipri^s sY'tre ri^clproqiiement coni- muiil(|ii(^s leurs plelns ponvoirs respectlfs. trouvf's en bonne ct due forme, sont eon- \eiius lies .\rlicles siilvans:— ARTlrLB I. It Is agreed between the Illgli Contracting Parties that their respective subjects sliiill enjoy the right of fr(>e navigation along llie whole extent of the Paelllc Ocean, coinprc- D-4!t ARTICLE I. II est convenu entre les Ilautes Parlies Coiilrnclanles que leurs sujcts respcctlfs iiii- vigiici'diit Hblcnient ilans tonic rclenilue ile rocl^'an Paclflque. y coniprls la Mer au r.u bt'iuliii); till' m-ti W'ltliili IIi'IiiIiik SIi'iiIIs. and hIiuII iicltlii-r III' trouliU'il iiur iiinli'Hti'il In rari'j'liiK uii Ibeir tnuit* anil IIhIu'I'Ii-n, In nil IwrtH of till' Halil iii'i'aii. I'lllicr ii> IIk' imrtli- waril iir siiiitliwiiiil llii'iTiir. It licliiK wi'll unili'i'Hioiiil that tin' h:iUI riKlit of llHhi'ry hIiuII not lie i'Siti'IhciI liv tbu HUllJI'l'tH of I'llliur llf till' two I'llWl'l'M. iieari'i' tbiiii 1! uiarlni' li-aKUi'x rrniii llu* i't'» peCtlVl' iKIHHt'HHluilH uf till' UtlliT. ili'ilaiiM (III |)i''lrolt lilt ill' lli'lii'liii;. I'l ni' Hi'roiit iiiiliil tri>iil>li''i< III inolrHii'H i-ii i'.\i'i'i.'iiiil Idir c'ommoroo t-t Iviirs pOi'livrlfM, ilaiiii tonii-a IfH imi'tlcH ilii (lit iicraii, taut all iiuiil iiu'iin MUd. Itli'ii I'liti'iiiln. qui' III illti' IllicrtC' lie imN'Iii'- I'll' lie Mcrii i'X4'rri''4' par Ii'h hiiJi'Ih iIc ruiii' lIl'H lll'IIX rulKHiiiircH l|U'A III illHtaiirc ill' U liciii'H niaiitliiii'H (IcH ihihhi'hnIoiik i-i'HpcrtlvcH il" laulri'. ARTICLE II. Tbe line wliltb HcpanitcH tliu |MiH»i'«»i<>iis of tbv two lllitli Coiitiacllni: rartlcH iipmi tbi' L'uiitliiL'iit anil tlic iHlaiiilH of Anicrliii to tbc iiurtb-wcxt. nball lie dnitvii In tbu man- lier followliiK :- Couiuit'iiriiiK from the two poliitH of llic lalaiiil calli'il " I'riiice of \Valv8' iMlaml," wlik'b form the wnitln'rii I'Xtrmulty tbiTi-of, wlilob poliitN lie in tbc panilli'l of .'>4° M>', mill lii'twiK'ii tliv liUHt 1111(1 lU3i'(l (li'Krvc of wfHt louKltiulv inii'ridlaii of Uri^unwli'bi. tin' lliiu of frontier lietween tbc llrltlHli and UiisHiiin posHeMHiaim ^liall aHeeiid iiorllierly aloiiK llie Cliaiini'l calli'd rurtland t'lianiiel, till It HtrlkcH tbe eoiiHt of tbu eiiiitlnent lylliK In the .'Hllb dcitree of iiortli bitltiule. From tbiH point It hIiiiII lie carried aloiiK tliat coHMt. In a direction parallel to ItH wlnillnKX. and at or witlitn the Neiiward liase of the nioiintaliiH liy which It Im lionndeil. iik far iih tbe 13Utli ilcKree of biiiKltnile wcHt of the said nierUllan. Thence the Hiild meridian line of l.'KMli di'itree of wcki loiiKitinie In its cxteiiKlon an far an tbe Frozen Ocean. hIihII form the lionndary of tbe KrItlHh and ItUHHlan iioHNCKHlonH on the Hiiid I'ontiiictit of America to the iiortliHeHt. AKTim.B II. l.a llKiie reparative eiitre lei* IHtHHCHMioiis lies denx llalltcH Parties ('iiiitractanteH sur le cuntlnent et les Isles de I'AmMilile dn noril oiiest, sera trael'-e de hi maniCre sni- vantu ;— Kli c'omnieiii;aiit (les denx |Kilnts lie I'lsle illte (111 I'rince de (iiilles, qnl en foruiciit re.\tr<''nilt(!' mr-rldlonale, lesiiiiels [Hiiiits hoiiI sitni'-s sons le parallMe de ■'■4" 411', et eiitre le i:tl<^^ et ie I'd'' ili'iir^'' de loiiKllude ouesi imC'rldlen de Lire<>iiwlcli). la llKiie de la froiitlttrv, eiiire b's possessloim Il<''e an rsi di'ure ile hililiide noril. iH* re poiio elle snivru cette ci'ite, pariilUMciiient A ws slniiosltes, et sous on dans la base vers la iiier lies iiioiita;;nes ipil la Itordent, Jiisi|U*an l:Sli" di'ure de loiicltnile oiiest dn illt nnVi- illi'ii. Kt de lA. siisdlte ll|{ne liiMillunale dn l.l!!' deuri'. de loiiuilnde oiicsl. en sa pro- biiiKation Jiisi|ii'A la Mer (ilaclale, forineia 111 llnille lies |Hissessloiis Hritannbiues et ItilHHes. sur le dit Cuntlnent de I'Amerliiin' llu nord-oucsl. ARTICLE III. It is. iieverlbelcss. uiiderslood, with re- MU'd to the sllpuiaMons of the precedlMi; Article :— 1. That the said line of coast on tbe Con- tiiieni of .Vnieriia. which forms liie Isniini- ary uf the Itussiiin posseKshins. shali not. In any case, ('xleiid more than marine lenKUi'S In hreadth from the sea towards the Interior, at wliatever distance the afore- said mountains may lie. 2. That Ilrltlsli subjects shall for ever freely navlKnte and tniile aloUK Hie said line of coast, and iiIoiik the iicicbbourlng Is- lauds. .'I. That tbe navlxntlun and eomniervp of tlios<> rivers of tbe contlneiit wblcli cross tills line of const shall he open to Kritish subjects, ns well as to those tnbnbltliig or Visiting the interior of this continent, as to those coiiiiiiK from the raeiflc Ocean, who shall touch nt these latitudes. AHTICLE III. li est conrenn ii<^anniolns. par rapport aux stipulations de I'Artlcle prf'cf'dent :— 1. yne la snsdite llsiiVe de crtte sur le ('oiitinent de l°Ainerli|Ue, formant la llinlte lies possessions Itusses, lie (Udt, en iiucun cas, s'eteiidre en largeur depuls la mer vers rintC'rIeiir, all delA de la dlstanei' de lieiies inarlllines, A i|Ueli|Ue distance ipie seriint les susdites uiontaKiies. 2. Que les sujets llritannlques imviKueront et eoinmercoront llhrement A iH'n'f'tiiltf' siir I'l (lite llslPre de ciMe, et sur ceiie des Isles qui rnvolslnent. .'t. (^iie In nnvltcntion et le commerce des fleiives du continent trnversant oette llsl&re, seront llhres nux sujets Hritannlqiies, tnnt A oeux linbltniit ou fr<^queiitniit rint(^rleur de ce continent, qii'A ceux qui aborderont ces parnges de cOte de rOcftin Pnclflque. ARTICLE IV. The (Hirt of Hitka or Nove Arcbnngelsk shall be. and shall forever remain, open to the conimerce of the suhjeots of His nrltnn- nlc Majesty. ARTICLE V. With regard to tbe utbcr parts of the north-west coast of America, and of the Islands adjacent thereto, belonging to either of the two Itlgli Contracting Parties. It is agreed that, for tbe space of years from tbe April. 1824, tbelr respective vessels, and those of tbelr subjects, shall leclprocnlly enjoy tbe lilierty of visiting, without blndrnnee. the gulfs, havens, and creeks of tbe said coast, In places not al- ready occupied, for the purirases of flshery ARTICLE IV. Le port de Sitka ou Nove Arehangelsk sera et restera ouvert au coininerce des sujets de So MaJestC Iliitannlque. ARTICLE V. I'ar rapport aux autres parties des cfltes du continent de rAmC-rbiue du nord-ouest, et des Isles (|ul I'avolslnent, apiMirtenantes A I'uiie et A I'autre des deux Hnutes Parties Contractantes, II est convenu que i>endaiit I'espnce de dlx ans A compter du Avrll, 1824, leurs valssenux rc8|iectlfs, et ci'ux de leurs sujets. pourront rfclproque- nieiit frCqiieiiter. snns entrnve. les golphes, bavres, et crlqiies des dltes cAtes, daus des endrolts non d^Ja ocmipOs, nllii d'y fatre la IM mid of ouniUKTi'i' nllh ili*- natives nt tlii> < uuiilry. It lit'liiK iiiiili'i'Hlnil : 1. Tliiit IIm- hiiIiJi'i'Ih i>r I'itlifr i>r till- iiiiili • 'iiiitriK'thiK I'lirili'H hIiiiII not Iniiil at any Hpot whcrt' tlifrc may 1h> an I'MtalillHtiiiH'nt of tliH iillii-r, witliiiiit ihr iH'i'inlxKliin ><( tlii' liiivi-rniir m- oIIht antliiiili.v nf tin- |ilay Kti-i'HH of »i'«tl»'r or nlliiT arlili'iilK. 2. Tliat till' Hiilil lllM'rty nf loniini-n'i' uluill not iiirliiilo tlic triiili- In H|ilrlliiiiiiH IIi|IIeriiilHHloii (In t'oniniiin- limit on autre |ire|i'>Heile eet ellilrolt, it lllolliH ■ IH'IIk ii'y wroiit riiire» |«ir teiii|ietes on inu-l- i|ile antre aiiiilent. 1'. i^ne la illte lllierte ile roninieree lie iKiniireiiilra point leliil iIi-n llipieiirH uplrl- tr iiHeK. Ill ileH iii'ineM A fen. lies ariiieH 111 cheH. lie la iHiiiiIre A eiiiion. on traiitres I'HpeeeH ile inllnltlonH lie l,'l"'l'l'<'- Toll" I'"*- iplelH lirtlcleH leH ilellx rnlswiliieH sen k'liKeiit iV'elpriHpn'ineiit lie lie point lalxwr veiHln- III trmiHfen'r, en iiiiiiili're ipn-leoiii|ile. mix liiill|{<>iieeH lie IV* payw. AIITK'I.E VI. Nu eHtalillHlinieiit Hliall. In filliire. lie foruieil liy IlrltlKli Hiilijeits. elilier upon the I'oilHt or upon the Uinlers of the eontlnent louiprlHed within the llinltH of the ItiiHHlan Iiuhm-hhIuiiii (leHlKiiateil In .Vrtlele II. : anil, ill like iiiaiiner, no siieli estalillHlnneiit shall lie furiiieil liy ItliHHtmi snlijeets lieyoml the nald lIuiltB. .MITK'LE VI. Iioreniivaiit II lie poiirra etre foriiie par h's siiJelH llritminliineH iiiieiiii C'lnliliKM-ini'iit. Ill Niir li'H I'oteH III snr la llslere ilii eontlneni roiiipi Ihi'k itaiiH les liiiiiteH lies posseHslons liiiHses lirslifiiees par I'Artleh' 11. : et de ii.eine. II n'eii imiiriii |HiH (^tre foriiil'' iineilii par ile« siijeiii Itiisses liorn des illtes lliiiltes. \HT|CI,B VII. Snt'li llrltlsh and ItiiKslan vessels iiavl- Kiitliii! tliew seas, an may lie eonipelled liy BtresH of weather, or l>y any other aeelilent. to take Bhelter in the n'sis-elive iiorts. shall lie at lilicrty to relit tlierein. to (irovlde theinselveH with all neressary stores, and to pnl to sea auaiii. wlthniit the (uiyinent of any ilnlieH e.\eept (sirl and IIkIiHioiihi- dilea not cxceeillni; those paid hy national \eBHelH. Ill eiiHe. however, tile master of siieh xhlp uliunld Ih- oIiIIki-iI to iliH|ioHe of some of hlH iiierchandim- In order to defray lilH i-xpenseH. lie shall loiiforiii himself to the n-KUlatlons and larilTs of the phiie when- hp niny linvp landed. XHTin.K VII. Li-H vaisseiiii.\ Itrllmiiiii|lies et Itiisses navi^aiit dans res niers, ipil si-ront fori-vs par lies tenip'^teH. on |>ar ipiehpie mitre aeel- ilent, A se refiitrler dans les ports n's|M-etlfs. poiirroni s'y radoiilH-r et s'y poiirviilr de tolltes rhoses neeessalres. et se remttre en iiier lilirenient. sans jiayer anciiii droit hors leiix de port et lies fmiaiix. iini n'l-xeederont |ias le ipn- iiayent les na vires inillireiies. .\ mollis ipie le patron il'iin tel iiavlri* lie s*- tioii\'(-roit dans la neeesslte de veiidre iiuel- • jiii- niari'liiindlHe |ioiir defrayer ses dr-- peiises ; mi ipiel eas. 11 sera teiiu tie se eiin- foi'iner mix (IrilonnanieK et Tiirlfs de Ten- droit oil 11 mirn ainirdf-. AllTlf"I,K VIII III every oase of eoinplaliit on lueonni of an liifnietiim of the artlfies of the pn-w-nt eoiiveiitlun, the utlhi-rH employed on either Hide, nltlimit previously eii)t.i(rliiK them- seivi-H III uiiy violent or forellile iiieaHnreK. hIidH make an i-xnel and elreniiiHtantial re- |iort of the matter to their ri-speellve eoiirts. who will nrmiiue the smiie. aeordlii); to Justice, in a friendly ma tier. AHTICLE VIII. Hans tuilH leu eas de |iliiiiite |>ar rapport A rinfraethin ilea .VrlleleH dii prf'sent aeeord. les iitltelerK et einployf-H de part et d'mitre. sans m- permettre an prf-ahihle aniline vlo- leiiee 111 voye de fait, sennit teniis de reiidre nil rapiKirt e.xaet de I'alTaIre et de ki-m elreoii- stanees. mix ('ours respeellves, lesiinelles li teruilneroiit seloii hi Jnstice et A I'anil- iilile. ARTICLE IX. The prenent eonveiitlon sliull he rntiUed, and the nitlUeattonH hIuiII lie exehanKiiI at within the upaoc of inonthH, or sooner, if poKslhle. In witness wiiereof the respe<-tlve pleni- liotentiaries have signed the same, and Imve pi-<>tlfH I'oiit HiiiiiCe. et y iiiit ap|His(> le eaehet iifllxed thereto the s<>als of their arms. de Iciirs amies. Done at the day of Fnit ft le I'nn de , io the year of Our Lord, 1S24. (irfloe, 1824. ARTICLB IX. I.a prf-sente ('onventlim sera ratltlf-e. et les ratineiitloiis en seroiit C-ehanKees A dans I'esiMiee de mills, on pliitot si falre se pent. Kn fill de i|Uiii les PK^nlpotentlaires res- No. SI. (MR. 0. CANMNO TO 8IR 0. BAOOT.) (No. 29.) Foreign OrnoE, 24th July, 1824. Sir, — The " projet " of a Convention which is enclosed in my No. 20 having been communicated by mo to Count Lieven, with a request that His Excellency would note any points in it upon which he conceived any difficulty likely to arise, or any ex|ilaiia- 196 lion tu be nucciwary, I have rvM-ivetl fruiii Hin Excellvncy thu M'f the iiiouiituiiH, in?ti'»il uf the niiiiiiiiit «^< tlie line of biiuiiilary; llie tei'oiiii, the exti'U- Biiiii uf the ri^hl "( the iiaviKatliMi <>f ihe I'aeitic In llie ^ea iH-ymiil Itehriiix'ii Slraits. As to the tirst. Mil trreat iiicoiiveiiinu'e ran arise frciiii Ynir Kxcelleney (If pri»«'il for tliat alteratiiiii I eonMMitiiiK l<> .-^iilwtiiiiie tlie siiiniiiit uf thu mi>UMtai:iii instead nf the seaward ba«e. provided always that the stipulation as to the extreme distance from the coast to whiidi the lijiiire is in any case lo run. be adopted (whieh dinta-. 'e I have to re|ieat to Vonr Kxi'<'lleney shoidd 1h' niadi' as short as |Hissilile), ami provided a stipu- lation be addiHl that no fort* shall bi' established or forliftcalions en'Ctwl by either party un the suniinit or in the passiM of the inouutaius. As to the seeomi point, it in, perha|>s, as Count t^ievou remarks, new. But it is to be remarked, in ret\irn, that the circumstances under which this additional security is recjuiri'd will l>e ni'W also. By the territorial dcimircatiun aifret'd to in this " Projet," Russia will become pos- sessed, in a<'knowlcdf^' supposed capable of a dispositioii to apply the same character to a strait coniprehendtil lietwiHMi two shor>» ul' which it b<^comes tile undisputed owner; but the shutting up of Hehrini;^ Straits, or the powe' to shut tliem up hereafter, would be a thing not to lie tiilerat«Hl by Knithinil. Nor d world. The proMs'lion (livcn by Ihi' ("onventi^m to the American coasts of eueli )Miwer may (if it i» thouxht necessary) be extended in terms to the coasts of the Russian Asiatic territory; hut in some way or other, if not in the form now prescribed, the free navigation of Behring'a Straits aud of the seas beyond them must be aeeured to us. TIk'S*' being the only M COIXT I.IEVEN ON THK .NORTH-WEST COAST CONVENTION. L»' Projet de ('onvention redigc par le Cabinet Anglais fait courir la limite dcs |)o88essions Kus.s<-s el Anglais<'s sur le cote nord-ouest d'Amfriquc an aud du Mont Elie; le lonii lie In hitue des monlaijneii qui siiivt-ni leu sintiosilies de celle cole. II est ii observer qu'cn these gi'ncrale, li>r»ipi"un<' I'lminc dc montagnes sert ii fixer uno limite quelconcpie, c'est toujours la cimr de cv* montagnes qui forme la ligne de demarcation. Dans le cas dont il s'agit, iei le mot dc husr par li' s<-ns iiidetini qu'il prcscntc, ct le |dus on nioins d'extc'usion ipi'iu- ix'ut lui donncr, no parait gnerc propre a mettre la delimitation ii I'abri ile tonics contestations ulterienres, car il ne scrait point impos- sible, vii le IM'U di rtitude des notions geographiques que Ton possede encore sur cos parages, qui- les montagnes dcsigiices pour limits s'^tendisscnt par one iH>nte insensible ju.squ'aiix Ixirds menie ili' la cote. Quant a la idaiise du menu' " Projet," ayant pour hut il'assurcr anx vaisseaux Anglais rentrei- libre dans le Mer (ilaeialc par le Petroit de liehring, il senible en pre- mier lieu ipic eette eonsi'r les i-otes ile s<'s po.sscssions Asiatiqucs dans la Mer Glaciate aux inconvenicns qui |HPurraicnt naiire ile la visile ill's biitinicns elrangers. (No. SO.) 1!I7 Ho. 63. MR. ADDINOTON TO HR. O. CAMNINO. {Rtceivtd September 8.) Washington, August 2, 1S24. Sib, — A Convention concluded butwecn this Uovcrnniuiit and that ui HuititiH fur tlio Bt'ttleinunt of the reapective claims uf the two nations tu the intercourse with the luirtli- western coast of America reached the Uepartnicnt of St/ite a few days since. The main points determined by this instrument are, as far as I can collect from the American 8ecn;tary of State, (1) the enjoyment o' a free »nd unrestricted inter- course by each nation with all the settlements of the otii-' '• 'he north-west coast, of America; and (2) a stipulation that no ncA Hettlenienis air >>e formed by Kuusia south, or by the United States north of latitude 64° 40". The question of the mare claimum, the sovereignty over whii.n was asserted by the Emjieror of Itussiu in his celebrated l>kasc of 1821, but rir 'laliy, if not expressly re- nounced by a subsequent declaration of that sovcreiit., lias. Mi Adams assun-^ me, not bi^-n touched upon in the ubove-nientiouiKl tre Mr. Adams seemed to consider any formal stipulation recor'ling tli.il renunoiatiou s unnecessary and supererogatory. I Vavt vO., (Signed) il. U. ADDINOTON. Ho. 64. 8IB C. BAOOT TO MB. O. CANNINO. (Received September !).) St. Peter8BL'r>.ii, August 12, 1824. Sib, — You will certainly learn with considerable sun>ri*' that, so far from having it in my power, as I had confidently liopiil that I Hliould have, to tirinfe with me, on my return to England, a treaty signeipro<'nlly io each Power to visit, for n term of years, the other parts of the north-west coast of Anic. iclarc that, Iiowcvit, disposed tlioy might, and probably should be, to renew this liberty to His Majesty's subjects ot the exi>iration of ten years, they can, under no circunistances, coiiaent to divest themselves for ever of u iliscri'tioimry |K)wer in this resiioct. by granting such n privilege in rx;r|)etuity. Fpon this point, 1 reminded the PleiiipotentiaricB tliat the freedom of the port of Novo-Ari'hangclsk was oritrinally offered to (ireat Britain by thcniselves, unsnlicit"<| and \insuKgested by me, in the first " Contro-Projet " which they pave to me in our D— 50 1<.(8 former eonfcrciiecs ; that the same offer ha ceiled to Russia, ,from the I'ortlnnil Canal to the (tOth degree of north latitude, and the islands ailjaeent ; and that they are ready to grant for vver the right of ingress and egT6«8 into and from whatever river? may How from the Americuii continent and fall into the Pacific Ocean within the above-described liniere. but that tjiey can, under no circumstances, and by no supposed correspoi.dont advantages, be iiulueed to grant to any Power the privilege to navigate and trade in periw'tuity within a country the full sovereignty of which was t.o In^long to Russia ; and that such iicrpettial concession was repugnant to all national feeling, and was inconsistent with the very idea of sovereignty. As regards the third point, the Russian Plenipotentiaries declared that the ooastii of North America exttmding from the (lOth degn« of nortji latitude to Behring's Straits, the liberty to visit which, inidcr certain coiulitions, is stipulated in the " Pro- jet " by Great Britain, in return for a similar liberty to be given, under the same conditions, to Russian subjects to visit the North American coasts belonging to His ImjXirial Majesty are, atul luivc always been, the absolute and undisputed territory of His Imperial ilajesty, and that it is not the intention of His Imperial Majt'sty to grant to any Power whatever for any period of time the lil)crty which is re(piirere, of minor importance, and such as would, I think, have been easily adjusted. What they are will be best shown by the " Contre- Projct " enclosed. I hope that His Majesty's Oovernment will give me credit for not having too liastily supposed that the objeclious urged by the Russian Pleuit)otentiaries were in- surmouMtable. 1 am, 1 think, too well acquainted with, and have too long negotiated ujion, this stdjjci't to lutve (h^ceivod myself in this respect, and I am f\dly ix-rsuadcj, from what has passed l)ctween Coinit Nesselrode, JI. Polctica and myself since the arrival of yo\ir instructions, tjiat the iletermination of the Russian Oovernment is now taken rather to leave the question >inscttleil bctwit^n the two (iovernmeuts for any indefinite time, than to recede from their pretensions so far as they regard the three points which I have particularly specified. In closing yesterday the C^onfereiu-e, which assured me that all further chance of negotiation was, for the iiresent at least, terminated, I thought it my duty to remind tlie Russian Plenipotentiaries that the Maritime jurisdiction assumed by Russia in the Pacific, which he had hojied to sec revoked in the simplest and least unpleasant maimer by mixing it with a general adjustment of other points, remained, by the breaking off of our negotiations, still unretracted ; and, that my Oovernment would probably be of o)iinioii tjiut, upon that part of the question some urraiigcnient must yet be entered into. It would be i)roper to add that, in reference to the 0th Article of the '' Contre- Projet," I gave the Ritssian Plenipotenti.iries distinctly to understaiul that neither His Majesty's Oovernment nor those of the other Maritime Powers of the world would, as I thought, be likely to accept the free luivigation of Behring's Straits as a concession on the part of Russia. I have, &c., (Signed) CHARLES BAGOT. 199 Enclosure in No. 64. (Ciiunler Draft of the JliissUfit Plenipotentiaries.) Sa Mnjestfi rEiiiiinri'ur tip ToiiteH Ipb Ruh- sli's el Sa Miiji'sti' !<■ K'll ilii ItiiyiMiiiii-riil lit" la (iiaiiilo-Ili'ftaKiH' >'l >li' I'lrlaiidp vmi- lant ri-sserrcr lea lions trainltIC' ot u- n ri<|UI'1h, aprf'» H'f'trr i'unimunli|U(^s, &(•., ont nrrPtf' Pt Hlgnf Iph Articles sulvaus :— Ills Mnjpsty tlip Eniperov of all tin- Rns- slaH anil Ills .MaJcHty tlip Klni; nf tin- I'nltpd Klnudiim of ti.eit llritaln and i^r Ireland lielnif ileslriniB of diMwIii); stiil i-loHpr tlip lies nf friendslilp and of good nnderHtiindlnK wlilrh unite tiiein. by the ineans of an iiKrienient niileli would settle, aeeordliii; to tlie principles nf reciprocal conveniences, the limits of their possessions and estalillshinents on the niu'tli-wpst coast of .Vmerlca, as well as various points con- nected with the coinnierce. navigation and llslierlps of tlipir subjects on the I'nclHc Ocean, have named pleiilpotentlnrles to con- clude a coiivenllon for this purpose, viz., etc.. who. after having exchanged creden- tials, have decided upon and signed the following articles : ARTICLES I. La llgne de dcnnircatlon ciitre les posses- sions di' deux Ilantes I'artics Cnnlrai- lantes sur la cntc nonl-onest de I'.XmfMiiiuc ot los lies adjaceutes, sera tracf-o alnsl iju'll suit :- A partlr des deux ptilnts ipil fornient I'cx- trffmltC uiMdIonah' de I'lle dite du l*rlnce de Ualles, lauuellp appiirllcndra tout cntl^re ^ In Unssie. points sitncs sons la piirallcli' du 154° 40' do latitude nord ct cntre h-s llil" I'l i:t;i" lie londliidc oncsl iinvriilicni d.' Greenwich) la llgne de lii frontlerc cntre Ics ItOBsesslons Hlisses et les iMissesslons Itrl- tnnni<|iies reniontern nu iiord par la passe, ditp le IVa-tliiiid ('liannel. Jin-iin'au piiliil ofi cette passo se termlno dans I'liitf'rieur de la tcrre forme au TM" do latitude uoril. Do CI! iM)lnt, olio snivra cette ci'ite paiall'"'U>- niput ft sps sinuosity's Jusqu'au IMO" de longi- tude ouest (nit^me uit^rldien) et dp 1ft. la frontlfre Piitre les possessions respectlves sur le Continent AinCrlcaln sera forinee par la llgne du snsdlt degre de longitude dans sa prolongation Jnsiiu'fl la Mer (ilacialc. ARTICLE I. The llnp of demarcation betwepu the pos- sessions of tlip two high contracling parlies upon the north-west coast of .Vmerlcn and the adjacent islands shall in' drawn In liic following innnner. commencing from the two iMiliits which form tlie southernmost extrenilly of the Island called " Prince of Wales Island." which shall entirely belong to Russia, which points lie In the parallel of ."4° MY north latitude and bplwpen the i;ilst and l.'Wrd degreu of west longitude inicrldlan of (ircenwlclil llic liric iif fnm tier lictwccn the Russian and lirltlsli pos- sessliHis shall ascend northerly along the channel called I'ortland Clmunel until the said pass comes to an end In the Interior of the nuilnland. situated at the ."iCth degree of north latitude. I'roni this (sdnt It shall be carried along the coast, in n direction parallel to its windings, as far as the i:mtli degrep of longitude west (sniiie merldiani. and Ihcnce liic boundary between til" n'spcc- tlve possessions on the said continent of .\inerica shall be formed by the line of tliP said dpgrpp of longitude In Its extension as far IIS the frozen sea. ARTICLE II. ha llsl/^re de la cAtc nord-nuest aiipartc- iiante ft la Rnssle depuls le I'ortland Chan- nel JUBiiu'au imlnt rOclproiiuo de frfiiuenter jlbrpinent leg golplies, hftvres, crl(|iies, dans les parties des lies et dps cfttcs, qnl iip sprnlent point oceupCes par des Ktabllssemens, solt Russes, solt Brltannlques, et d'y faire In pPclie et le commerce nvec les nntnrels du pays. 2. Quo pnrtout oil II y aura un Rtnbllssp- menf do rune des Ilanles rulgsances Con- tra eta ntes, les sujets dc Taut re no pocrront ,v nhordcr sans In permlnKion dn Coinman- dnnt OH pri^pose du lieu, snuf les ens d'acci- dens on de tompPte. ARTICLE II. The strip of the north-west const belong- ing to Russia, from the Portland Channel up to tlip point of Intorspctlon of the l.TOth de- gree of west longitude (meridian of Oreen- wlcli), shall not have In width, upon the continent, more than 10 marine league* niensured from the shore of the sea. ARTICLE III. It Is understood: 1. Thnt within the possessions of the two Powers, as they are described In the pro- ceeding Articles and spe<'lally up to the line of .10° .W north latitude, but not be- yond their respective vessels and those ot their subjects for the space of ten years from the r.tli (17th) April, 1824, fhallrecl- procnlly enjoy the liberty of vlsltbig with- out hindrnnce, the gulfs, havenj and cnieki in the parts of the Islands and coast not already occupied by either Russian or Hrlflsh estiibllshuients nnd to fish niid trade with the natives of the countiy. 2. Thnt the subjects of either of the high contrai'ting jiartles shall not land nt nny spot where there may be nn establishment of the other without the permission of the governor or other iMithorlty of the place un- li'ss tliey should bo driven thither by stress of weather or other accidents. ;!00 3. Que la llberti^ de coiiiiuorce cl-ilcssim iiKMitioniiC'e 111' ('iiinpriMidni iii les li(|iK>i Ics iifuu'H i\ fpii rt iiriuP8 blanches, iil la iH>iire de lu dite cAte in- diqnfie en I'Article II de In prCsente Con- veutlou coiume nppiirtenante A la ItUKHle Ics BUjets de Sa Mnjestt' Kritannique Joul- rout il perpC'tulte de In llbre nnviimtlon des fleuves, solt qu'lls liubltoiit I'lntOrleur du continent, solt qu'lls veulent y arrlver de rOc6an Paclflciue nu nioyen de ceg nit^uies fleuves. 5. Que le port de SItku ou Xovo-Arclinii- Relsk sera ouvert. pendniit dlx aiis, au com- merce etmiiiier et qu'ft rexpiraticiii rinlt the nboTe-named articles to be sold by their rcsp«?ctlve sub- jects to the natives of tlii> coast, and of the Islands of North-west America. 4. That 111 the strip of coast described by Article II. of the present convention, ns lie- longing to Kussin, the subjects of His Britannic Majesty shall forever freely nnvi- gnte the rivers, whether they Inhabit the In- terior of the continent, whether they Intend to rench theft> from the Paciflc Ocean through the said rivers. .". That the [tort of Sltlia or Nove Arch- aiigelsk shall l>e open, during ten years, to foreign trade and at the end of tliat term, this privilege shall lie renewed according to the wisiies of Ulissla. ARTICLE IV. A I'avenir ne pourra Otre fornie aucnii Etabllsseiuent par les sujets de Sa Majesty Hrltannique dans les liinltes des posst-ssloiis Russes designees anx Articles I et II et de uif^me II ii'eii pourra Ptre fornif' nucuii par les sujots de Sa Majeste I'Kmpereur de ToutcH les UusslcH bors des dlti-s llniltes. ARTICLE IV. No cstabllsbiuent sliali. in future, be t'oniied by the siiiiJectM of Ills Britannic Mnjest.v within the limits of tiie Itusslan IHissessious designated In Article I. and II., and. Ill like manner, no such establishment siinll lie formed liy Itusslnn subjects out- side the said limit. ARTICLE V. Les Ilnutes ruisstiiices Contriictaiites sti- pnleiit en outre que ieiirs sujets respectifs iiavlgiieront llliremeiit. sur toute I'l^tendue de i'Dcean I'lii'llhine, taut nu iiord qu'au Slid, sans entrave qnelconqiie. et qu'lls Joulront du droit de pOclie en linute iner, mnlK que ce droit lie jiourrn Jnmnis Ptre exeroO qn'A In distniice de 'J iieues mnrlnes des cfttes ou possessions, solt Uusses. KOlt Brltannlques. ARTICLE V. Tile High Coiitractliig Parties stipulate moreover tliat tlieir resjiective subjects siiall freely iinvlgate over the whole Paciflc Ocean, north and south, without iiiiidnince wiintever and that tliey shall enjoy tlie riglit of tishliig In deep sea. lint thnt tills privilege will 1h> valid only outslIiiJest(^ I'Enipereur de Toutes les Uus- Bles. voulant mPnie doiiner uiie prcuve pnr- tlcullCre lie ses fgards pour les intfrPts des sujets de .*riealn, consent ft ce que la llbertf- de iiiivlgntlon meiilloiilif'e en I'Article precedent s'Ctende sous les uiOinea condition,*, nu liftrolt de Behrlng et ft In nier slliiCe au nord ile ce d(^trolt. ARTICLE VI. His Majesty tli" Emperor of all the Uus- sins, being desirous of giving a special innrk of his regnrds for the Interests of His lirlt- lUiiilc Mnjesty's subjects and to render more useful the success of nndertnklngs, wlilcli might result In the discovery of a pnssnge to tile north of the ("ontlnent of Anierlrn, ngrees that the same freedom of navigation to navigate, sucli as described In liie pre- ceedliig .\rticie, slinll extend, under the sniiie conditions, to liie Stniits of Behrlng, and to the sen lying nortii of snid stmlts. ARTICLE VII. Les vnissenux Uusses et Britnnnlques iin- vlguant sur rocenii Pnclfliiue et In nier cl- ilessiis InilliiiiC'c, c|ul serolent forc<*es pnr Ics tempMcM i>n pur (luelqiu' iivarle de so ic'fnirlcr dims Ics ports respectifs des Ilautcs I'aitles Coiitrnctiiiiles. pnurront s'y rndon- ber, s'y poiirvolr de tons les olilets qui leur scroiit ni'M-cssfili'cM et se remettre en nier libreiiienl. sans pn.ver d'nntres drolls que ceiix de port et ilc fniinnx, lesquels seront flxi^s pour eux dii nifnie inontnnt que pour les imvlres niillniinux. Vm pai'clMcs occasions les pntrons des bfttiineiiH. Holt Hiisses solt if rllinuilfjiies. sciniit tciius de se conformer auz loll, Or- lioiinaiiccs, ct tiii'lfs en vlgiienr dans le port, Mil lis nuroiit nbord& ARTICLE VII. Siicii British and Hussiaii veswHs navl- gntlng the Paclllr Ocean and tiie wn nfoi'e- snld indlcnled ns may be coinpelled liy stress ■ if wentlier. or by any other accident, to take sliclter III the respective jiorts of llie High t'ontnictiiig Parties sliall be nt liberty to rcHt therein, to provide Iheiiiselves with ail necessary stores, mid to put to sea again, witiiout the payment of any duties, except lort and llglit-iiouse dues, which shall not I'Xci'i'd for them tliose paid by niitlonal vessels. Ill such occnsliiiis, tlie innster of such ships, eltlier llusshni or British, shall con- form themselves to the laws and regnlntlons and tariffs In force nt tiie port wliere they iiniy have Innded. 301 ARTICLE) VIII, Ltaus touB lea cua de plniiite sur I'iiifrac- tlon (lea Articlca du present accord, lea otH- ciera et fonctiuuna Irea puhllca a'abatleu- druiit de part et d'aiitn; de toute vloloiice ou voye de fait, et rendront un eouipte exact de raffalre et de aea circonstancea & leun Coura respectlvea, leaquellea termlneront le dtrrfrend il I'amlable, et aeloii lea priiiclpea d'uiie luiituelle Justice. AHTIOLE Vlll. Ill every case of coiupliiliit ou account of nil liifnivtiou of the articles of tlie pn>8'.Tn> iMiriienilt ft deniniidcr pour son i . iiiinerce dans scs pnrnges U's pi'l\ lli^sri's que In llussle nccor- denilt oil qn'elli' luiiiilt nccordiVs ft d'nutres Nntloiis*. re point ilevalt ilonc sulvnnt • •* II rnn lliirdly he expected that wo sllnuld not also pill In our ilnlni for Ihr like iirlrllrgrt of tratlf aa nro or niny l>o srlpulntod tiy RuHHia with nnv otior nufloii."— Offlro ilo M. rnniilnK on ilnle'du 29 Mai llSt. Penza, September, 4, 1824. .MONSIEUH le COUTE, Hy Ills dispatch Xo. 90, your Excellency bad forwarded to me n memorandum which .Mr. ('mining had sent you after having discussed with you the questions of limits and of maritime Jurisdiction which were to be solved between Uussia and England, over the .N'orth-west Const of America. In this nieinoranduui, Mr. Cunning taking into consideration the latest proposals made hy us to Sir Charles Bagot, was Informing you Monsieur le Comte, tLat they would lie ratilled with some slight alterations and some additional Articles wbicli wore not to alter in any way the main features of our draft of agreement— These articles were to have detlned In a more precise innrnfr of the strip of Cniat wliich we were to possess In the .\nierlrnn continent, In the determination of a more western degree of longitude from Mount St. Ellas, and In the free navigation of rivers, seas, straits, and bays within the dominions of His Imperial Majesty. .\H we had previously declared that the I'kase of September 4-1(1. 1821. would not go into force with regard to the extent of one bniidriMl miles of soa, the imvlgntloii of which was rorbidden lo foreign vessels, and that on the other side we had hastened to otter to tlie subjects of His Britannic Ma- jesty In our negotiations with Sir Ciiarles Bagot. the privilege of Ingress into nil the rivers crossing our territory on the Xorth- wost (^onst ; it np|ienred to us that the inodillontloiis desired by Mr. Cnnning would c'linso no ditllciilty whntever. niid wo were in llio liopo that ns siMin na tiie English .Viiilmssndrr would Imve ro<'olvod dollii'te iiislniitloMs ive uiiglit conolndH Willi liini a trniiHnilion in coiifrirnilly oininlly with llio rights nnd the Interests of both Powers. Our expiH'tntion soeinod tbe more Justilled Hint Sir I'iiarles Ilngol liad ropontedly ilo- ilnrod lo ns. niiii liiul Mr. ('niinlng ni.so nssortod i-,i his coiiiniiinicntion nfon-sniil. iiMMillonod Hint Englnnd wouiil only deniniid for its tnido In I'loso liM'rIiirlos the pri- vliogi's Hliicli lliisKin ivoiiid grniit or had nb-onily ginnled to otlior nnlioiis. In nil prolmlilllty tbls ciuosMoii should linve boon U— fil 202 tout*' iirolmliillte. Otri' inissl fiirilc A rOgler <|Ul- U'8 IIUtl'l'H. (Vp4>li(ltiiit trois uioiH s'rcdulrii'iit MiiiHi|iit> Ihk instriK'liiiiiH ilii l'l(''iilpiit<>'.iii,ilri' ilc In four ill' I.nmlrcs, liii fiiHHi'iit i'XIiCmIIi'm'h cI lorHqu'i'lli'M iiiTlvi'it'iit i-iillii imr I'liitorim''- iliiilre lie Ml'. WiirJ i|Ui>I(|IIi'h JciuI'k uviiiit iiorn- iU''|Hii't. nuns tnnivAiiD'H A iidtiv ki'dixI iv(rr<"l iiii'i'lli's I'liijsiMtaicnt cii un piojct i1<' <'oiiveiitloii. i|iii NOUS pUisleiirs riiiiports tri'H t'MHt'iitii'lN. ('-tiiit bleu lutu de reuiplir uutro Htll'llll'. VouK CM iivi'/. prl«. M. W t'oiutc. unt' Icc- tiiri' rapiili'. imiU iiuo pnuf i|iic vous puls- H[t^7. uiicux U' jii|i*'r. Jt* vous t'u iidrt'ss*' uui* cMjpli'. Jill I'diisljtm'' (IniiH lU's imti's iiiiirKi- imli'8 i|Ui'l(|ii<'K ri'iiuiniucH ili" iir'tiiil ct Jo ino r*''8ervo lU* vous df'VolopiT tlaiiw ii'ttt' ilrpi*- t'hi* ti'S ul)serviitioiiK Ii>h plus iiuportiinti's, relies i|ii<' re^rariliMit ties I'lausi's iju'il nous est coinpleteiiieiit impossible il'tuluiottre. Klles sunt an noinbre ile trols :-■ 1. I.a lllierte pour le» sujets AiiclalH de faliv 111 eliiiHse, 111 peelie et le coinmerce tivtc les naturelH du pays A perpetultf' sur toute lelte partie de la I'dte ipll forme le siijet de la dlseusslon et ipil s'eteiiil du Tilf de Intllude Xord au ."4° W. '2. I.a libertf' pour les sujets Anglais de fa Ire la rliassi», la pOelie et le eoiiiinen-e iivei' les iiaturels du pays iHMidaiit dlx aus sur uiie autre partie de iios ofttes et de nos lies ilepuls le ".0° de latitude Xord Jus- qu'au df'trolt de lleliriiii.'. 3. I/oiiverture A pei lultf- du port de Sitka ou Nova AivliaiiKelsix. Ad Ini. Le projet de t'oii.entlon du Tabl- Iiet de l.oiidres lie s'exprlni' pas aver uiie prfelsloii pnrfalte sur eet aniele et <'e sout iios exiilleatioiis verbales ave,' Sir Cliiirles Ttiiicot iiHi nous out appris ipie i'AiinIetern' reelanialt le droll de eliasse. de |H"'elie et de tonilueree A perpetultf' dans eette portlou des doiiialiies de la Itussie. uials ees expll- f'litloiiH out ete si positives iju'elles lie nous out liilsHe nilcuu doute sur les deslrs du Ca- binet Rrltaiiiiii|Ue. Pour savoir si iiniis iravloiis pas lieu d'eii f'tre f'toiini's et s'll nous est possible d'y <'oii- desi'ondre II sullit de rellre d'un eotf le pas- KIIKO lie I'otriee de Mous. raiinliii.' <|Ue J'al eltC' plus liaut. et de Jeter les yeux de I'aulre sur noire Couventloii avw Ktats-I'iiis. Le I'rliielpal Secrf'taire d'Ktiit de S. M. B. vous a dfM'larf' ollteielleiiient et par f'erlt que rAiiKleterre reelanialt de iiotre part des prlvlli^Kes de eouimeree seiubliibles A eeux <|ue nous iieoorderioiis A d'autres rulssaiu'es. Or les Ktats-T'nls sont la seule Pulssanee A Inquelle nous eii nyons Jamais aecordP et eeux que nous ieur avoiis earnntls par In Convention du r> (17) Avrii ile I'annf'e eou- rniite ne dolvent diirer que dlx nns, NoUB BatiBferlouB done aux demandea qne rAiiilleterre elle niCino nous ft f'UonelV's, en 111! KDrantissaut pour le uit'nie espnre de temps, les monies prlvili'>KeB. Comment pourrloiiH nous d'allleurs. eonsentlr sous ee rapport, en faveur des sujets Ilritnniiiques. ft des pw^ropitives cine noils venous de refu- ser aax Bujets Amerlentng 7 Lcb sujets Brt- tannlques. nous ne saurlonn trop le rf'pMer. n'ont Jninnis poussl^ nl ienrs f'tabllssemeuts ni leurs operations de eoinmeree Jusqu'ft la rftto Nord-Ouest. Le t(^inol|fnn(re des cartes les plus rl^eentes piiblH^es en Anirlcterre rfi- vMc et dl^montre ee fnlt. SI les compajniles de la bale d'lTudson et du Nord-Ouest appro- rlient de la cftte. ce n'est que depnls trois nns A peine, taudis que les sujets .\m(>ri- epns ont roiistamment frOquentf ces para- aiiil •10" l'::r settled Just as easily as llie others. How- ever, llircc luoiitlis piisst'd and tile liistriU'- tioiis 111 the IMeniiiiitciiliary < f llie Court of l.oiidiiii had not been forwarded to hiiii. iiiid when at last they arrived through Hie lucilluiii of .Mr. Ward, a few days before our dcpartui'c. we perceived to our Kreat sorrow, that they loiisisled in a draft of Conveutiou which in iiiiiiiy very cssculial points was far from iiieetiiiK our expectations. Yon have. Mr. Le Comic read llieiu over rapidly, bill to eiialde you to form a IicIIt idea I semi you a copy of the siinie. 1 liave placed in inarKlnai notes some remarks of little liiipiirtauce and 1 reserve tii uiysili' to develop in Ibis des|iiitcli the most impor- tant observations, those alTcctiiiK Hie articles which it is utterly impossible for us to ad- mit. They are Ihreq in iiuiiilier ;— 1. The liberty for ever for all Kiiglisli subjects to hunt, tish anil trade with the natives of the country over all that part of tile Coast now under discussion which cxteiiils from the .")lt° to the 54' decree of uortli hitilude. 2. The lilierly ilurlni; ten years, for tflisli subji'cts to hunt. Ilsh and trade with the natives of the country over another iiarl of imr coast and of ours and of our Islands from the i"!!!" of north latitude as far as llehrlni; Straits. :i. The openlni; forever of the port of Sitka or .Novo Archnni.'clsk. Ad. Im. The wordiiiK of the I>nift Coii- veution of the Cabinet of London with pei- feil prii'lsion is not sullicleutly precise on this artkJe. and it was only tiirounh our verlial explanations with Sir Churleu HaKot that we have learned that IJuiciHuil was clalinliiK for a perpetual rlKht of Imiitln):. llshiuK and trading over that part of the diiiiiinlons of Uussia. but these ex]iliina- tlons were of smh a positive character that they left no doubt In iiur iiilnd about the wishes of Ihe Urillsh Cabinet. In order lo ascertain if there were no cause for our aslnnisliinent and If it were possiiiie ti acquiesce to it. it is sulHcieut to read over acain the extract of Mr. CaniiliiK's meninraiiduin which I have previously quoted, and. en tlie other hand, to examliM' our Convention with the I'nlted States. The Chief Secretary of State of His Itri- taiinic .MaJ(>sty has olflcially declared to yon as well as by wrltimt tliat KiiKland Intendeil ti I'laim from us commercial privileges simi- lar to those that we inldlit (trant to other Towers. Now. the Iinited Stales are tlie only I'ower to which we have ever Kninleil such privileges, and the same which have been guaranteed to them by the Convention of the nth f17th) April of this year cnnuot remain in force more than ten years. We would thus meet the requests made by EnglHud, by gmntlnit to her the same privileges for the same spaee of time. Be- sides, how eould we. lu this case confer to British subjects prerogatives which we have Just refused to American subjects V We conld not repeat It too much, the British subjects have never carried their estahllsli- moiits. nor their eoinmerolnl operationR as far as the North-west Coast. The evidence derived from the most recent maps publish- ed In England discloses and conHrms this fact. If Ihe Hudson's Bay and North-west Companies have come near the const. It Is only since scarcely three years, while the .\inerican traders have constantly visited tills region and that their undertakings have given cause (o the discussions which w(^ 303 Kos ot (pie ro Hoiit Icnrs iMilrcprl-m's i|iit out fait iiiiltii' Wh tlUt-tiHHioiiH (|iif iioits Iraviiil- loii« a tormliier. Xoiih spniit-il |iiisHiliU> iiiiri-M <'Olt). i|iiiiiiil iiiOiiH* iios fiitvrrts iKiiiH tt> |H>r- mettralent, de leiir doiiiier pour dix nng ce line iioiiN (loiiiivrioiiH u |H>t'|»f*Ulitf'' aiix siiJoIk liriUiiUiic|iii>H V .NuiiM avdiiH lilt*ii voiilii Hii|i|HiM>r ciiip iiial- irrT' Dill' |irlH«* ili' posHi-KKiiiii fornii'lli'. iiiic Uiiilfiii' iHTiijiatliiii iIVh itiihitK iiriiii'i|iatix, iiiii' I'xploltiitinn pnlHihli! iIph Kiiurii-H dc rpvoiiii et de rli'lioMseg qu'ofTrt'iit li « eoiitrfn's dont II s'amill. lis limits ili> Kiinvi'i'iiiiii-ti'' ili' ia IHis- »i<' JiisiiH'iiii ril° ili> iaiitiidc Xiird iMiiivali'iit i''tri' ia iiiatiiTp d'liii ilniiti-. Noun ios iivdiik liiinif'M I'll riiii»ri|iii'iiri' all ."i4° ■>!>'. Pt iimir iin'il III' pnt H'l'ii'vpr ft cct I'minl aiiciiiu' n- I'iaiiKitiiiii iioiivi'iiy. nous avoiiH |H'i-iiiis i|iii' Hiir tout!' i'f'toiiilm' di' rMc oil iios droits Hvnii'iit W- coiiti'strs line dfs IMiissaiiii's nvoi' lai|iifll<' iioiiH f'tioiiK en iiti(a> parta- ci'flt pi'iidanl dix ans Ics iH'iif'tli-i's d" ia I'linssi'. ill' ia pf'ciip I't dil I'liiniiipriT avoi' ii-s IndlKfiiof. Xoiis offronH Ios inf-iiips avaiitiiKi's ft i'.\in.'l<>t(>rn'. iiinis icn ai-cordcr ft poriM'-tuitf- re Berait n'obtenir la reoonnalB8anc<> d«> tins litres de sou vera iiieti i|Ue pour en aiidiquer I'exeriiie. ee serall eonwiilir ft lie posH<''der d^sormats que de nom ce que nous i)osfin8 de fait nu.|ourd'liiil. I-e MIlilRtJ^re Anclals sera frapjif- de ees considfTiitlonB et noim osohb ei ilre que dfiB Ion II rSdnlrn \ee demandoR renferral^eB dang Bon projet de Convention toinliant leu pri- vlljiges de coninierce. aux termeg de sea dC- elnrationg antf'rleures. Ad 2ni. (lutre ia faeultf de faire la chagse, ia jiPelie. et le eoirierce ft iM-riW^tuitf' Kur la partie de la rnte NordDuest qui nous appartiondrait depiiis le 54° 40'. ile latitude Nord Jiisqu'iiu .'iP", lo Cabinet de St. .lames selon le sens que Sir Charles Bagot attaoliait A beg projiositloiis rf'olame la iiienie raeiiltf' pour dix nng 8Ur la eOte et lea lleg qui g'C- tendent du .W au df'trolt de HeliriiiK. Ici noug elteriiiiH eiieore I'lilHce que M. Canning voua a adregge, M. le Comte, en date du LI) Mai. II .v est dit i|ue I'AiiKle- terre deiniiiiderait le llhre UKage de tons les tleuveg qui traverHeraient la lislere de eflte appurtenant ft la Ituggle et de toutea lea mers, dfitrolta, bnlea, etc., qui ge trouveralent dang geg douiaines quelqueg ligneg plug lias I'ofltoe du I'rincipal Secrf- ?alre d'Ktat ajoiite (|u'il repirde nuiiiue en- tendu et gtlpule que In Kugale retire touteg les prfitentlong i •eluBlves qu'elle avaltuilges en avaiit dans roukase de 1821 relatlve- meiir ft la nnvlKation et ft la Jurisdiction de rocean paclHque du Nord.di Quand on oonipiire ees deux demaniles qui Be atdvent de gl pros et qui g'expliquent et Be cumpl^tent pour alnsl dire I'une par I'liutre, II est dlBli'lle d'y trouver autre eliose que la lllire navlKiition des eaiix et des iiiers (|ul lialgiieraient lea pimgegsioiig de In Kiis- sie. or eette IllKTtf nous nous gomnies toii- jourg niontrfg prfts ft la ttarantlr. Peg or- dreg dlftfrentg de la teneur de I'oukaze du 4 (10) Sept. 1821, out M^ expnitlon of the same, it would tie ai'quiesc- inu to iHissess only nominally In the future what we possess to-day in fact. The Kngilsh ministry will lie struck liy these considerations, yet we would fain iie- lieve that in conseiiueiice they will reduce the deinnnds contnineil In their draft of con- ventions concerning the prlviledes of I'om- nicrce. to the terms of their former declara- tions. Ad. 2 in.— Ilesldes the faculty of hunting, figbing and trading forever on that part of the noitli-west coast which would iielong to ug, from the 54 degri-e 4fi in. of north latitude, up to the .'iP \ tile caliinel of St. .lames, accoriliiig lo the senge which Sir Ciiarh's Itagot has given to their pmiHisals. clalmg the game privilege during ten years on the coast and the Islands which extend fiiuii the ."i!i= to Itehrlng Strait. Here we shall again quote the com- inunli'ntion addressed to you M. le Comte. hy Jlr. Canning, on the 2flth of May. It is stnteil therein that England would de- mand the uge of all the rivers which run acroKB the Ktrlps of const l>elonglng to Kiisgia and of all the seas, strails, liayg, etc., to lie found In her domnlng .V few lines further on. the comnuinlcatloii of the principle Si-cretiiry of State adds : " That he congiders at' understiKid and stipu- lated that Itussin withdraws all her exclu- sive pretensions which she had put forward In the Ukase of 1821 concerning the navigation and jurisdiction of the North I'aclHc Ocean." When thege two demandg which follow one another so chisely and explain eaeh other and are completed one by the other so to say. are compared, it ig difficult lo see therein anything else but the free navlga- tlon of the waters and sens, which would wash the UilBslan Possessions. Now that IllH-rty we have always shown ourselves ready to guaraiitei'. Ordera different from the meaning of the rkaae of September 4tli, (1) N.n. — "In procise and posit. /c stipul i- tionfl for th*» frnp use of all rivers which may he foiiinl lo ('mpl.v themselves Into the .sea wtlhtu the RusHlaa frontier ; and of all seas, Biralis, nnd waters which the limits assigned to R'Msln may '■omprehcnd .... and wo talip 11 for granli'd ihat the exclusive claims of navignilon and Jurisdiction over the North I'aclflc Ocenii which were put forwarii hi the I kaz" of Septemher. ISJt, are to be altogether wlihdrawn." onico 'lo M. i-^nnning, en date du 3li .Mai, 1*2*. 204 crolBlfreg tlftg roiivertiire den iwiirpiirlers ot iiOHH piiKiigerfnnH volontlers piir dos gtlpnln- tlons formclleg ft laiSRcr ilfwiriualH leg vals- Bcnux f'trangprs niivlguer wiiw I'litravpH 8iir toute I'Cteiniue Oe I'ocf-an paclttiiii« Hpptcn- trional en clrooiiwrlvant rcxereice ilf iuim lt8 (U- JurlHdIctloii iiiaiitiiiif ft la rtlH- tniice do dcnx Ueups niarlnoB dp ii(m *^tal>llB- sementB et de iioh cAto» Jusques et y com- prlB le dMrolt de KehriiiK, comme le propoBP le projet de Convention envoyfi par le Cabi- net de 8t Jamea, malg quant ft la chaaae, a la pOclie, ot au commerce avee Ipb naturels du pays noiiB ne imnvons noiiB empik-lier d'fta- bllr nnc digtlnction Importante. Lea tltres de Souveralnete de la Rusale Bur la cOte Xord-Ouest lul ont 6t6 dlgputCg t partlr du 59° de latitude Nord. En con- sequence depulB ce deKTfi JUBqu'ft la paral- Ifle qui fornicnilt notrc llmito uifrldlonale. nous nouH soninicH onipressfK d'offrlr des avantnges partlcullers iiux PulKsances avec lesquellpg nous ^tions en discussion. Nous avons accordfi pour dix ana aux AuK'-rlcalnB le droit de pSche, de chassc et de commerce avec les naturels du pays et nous S)U8crlrons la mPme conceHslon en faveur des sujet de S. M. Bque., malH 11 dolt Otre blen cntendu !)" U'S tltres de soiive- ralnetC' de S. M. I. n'ont Jamais M6 mis en doute non seulement dans ancun eerlt iiffl- clel, nialf" encore dans ancun des articles ([ue les fpullleR d'Anglptprrp pt d'Anifrlqup ont publlf' Bur cpttp qucstliin. Pour ppu (lU'on veulllq ppspr une clrcouB- tance nussl df'clolve, prf'tendra-t-on (|ue nous placlonB sur la mi^nie liRue les doraal- ups dlBptit^s Pt cpnx qui ne le sont pas, que nous noua soumettlons pour ips uns pt Ips nutrpB aux mfniPB sacrlflcpa, que notia cx<'l- tlons Ips Justps niarnips dp notre conqjagnlp Am(^rl('.'ilnp Pt qn'en iiuvrant In cliasse pt la p^clip et le coniniprce avpc Ips natnrpis du pays pour dix tins, nnus pxposlotis ft une rulne lotiilp des Ctabllssenients dont le nom- bre auRnientc de Jour en Jour dans des con- triver, qui nous appartlenncnt ft tons les tl- tres. qu'assurpnt une premlfrp df'couverte, une opcupjitlon lniniMlati> pt rfcllp riul comptp prPs d'un sidcle et une possession pnlslblp pontrp laquelle aucune Puissance n'a Jamais rfclanif. Certps dans cpttp par- tip dc SPB doniahips. la Russle a bleu le droit dp np prpndrp |)our sulde de scs rOgle- ments de commerce, que sps proprps bpsolns Pt SPS proprcR convenancps. Elli' ii bipn lea droits d'y rp<'UPllllr llbrement tous lea prollts dp la cliasse et de la iiflclip et sauf ft respecter et ft obsprvpr Ice prbu'lppa (ji^n^- raux dps lola qui iirononccnt sur Ips rapiiorts rCcl]>roqueR (lea nations, pile est innltresap d'.v adopter toutps Ips nipsuri's {lu'cllp Jurp ntllps en sent to our cruisers iit the very opciiinK of the iiPKotlatloiis, and we would willingly bind ourselvpa by rorinal stipulations to allow In fiiturp forplKii ships to navigate without hindrance, on the whole stretch of the N'urtli \*aplHc Ocean, by limiting the exercise of our rights of nnirl- tinip Jurisdiction to the distance of two marine Ipaguea from our establlshnieuts and our coast as far as and Including Kehring Strait, as It Is proposed In the draft of con- vention forwarded by the cabinet of St. .laniea, but as to hunting and flshing and trading with the native's of the country, we cannot help drawing an Important distinc- tion. The titles of Russia to sovereignty over the North-west coast have only been con- tested from the ."i!>' of north latitude. Thprefore from that degree to the parallel which would form our southern Iwundary, we have been prompt to offer si>eclal ad- vantages ' J the Powerg, with whom we were negotiating. We have grante<1 for ten years to the Americans the right of flshing, hunting and trading with the natives of the country, and we are ready to make the same concesslona In favour of HIg Britannic Malesty's subjects, but it must be well underBtood that this concession shall only extend to the apace lncludeed poBsesalon against which no power has ever raised a claim. rertaliil,v Russia, In that part of her domain has the right to take as guide for her trade regula- tions her own requirements and conven- ience. She certainly has the right to gather ficpiv all tlip proHls of flshing and liuiitiiig. and barring respect and observance of gen- pral princlplps of thp laws which regulate the reciprocal relation between nations, she Is free to adopt all the regulntiong which she thinks useful or necessary. This being the case, she could not consent to allow In that country the competition of foreign traders, iiuntera and nshermeii. hut whilst prohibiting trade, liunting and flsh- ing, shp will In nowisp proliililt navigation, and she will rcatrict tlip exercisp of her maritime Jurisdiction to two marine leagues I'roni her coaata. Ad. .1m. Islands. The third clause of the Itritannic coiiventinn to wiilch we could not give our assent, refers to tlie perpetual open- ing of tiie port of Sitka or New .Vrcliangel. It was ourselves who. In our negoclatlons with Sir ("liarles Hagot, have announced that llip port of Sitka would be iqieiicd to 306 ■eaux et an cnmmorce OtraiiK^rs. Nous per- 8l8t iioiim lipr leH maiiiH |)our avenlr hiiiih tmriiPK : iiuiih iioiiriions garnntlr que I<> port dc HItka iie Rpralt paH fprm^' (le tllx aim ; II PHt probalile que iiouh y InlRRprliiiiH HiihfitKtor Iph r^KlPUieiitH qui I10U8 y aurlonH IntriMliiltH. Allpr pliiB loin gprnit dp notre cMfi un a<'tp <'tupllp. Told BDiit. MouHlPur li' rimtp. Ip» trolH points du projpt de Convention Britannique que I'Empereur n'n pas tronr^s admlsslhles. Toutes Ips autres propositions de la Cour de Londres ont H6 aocpptPes, et nous nvons remls ft Sir Charles Baeot le eontre-projet cl-Jolnt. Scs Instrurtlons (^talent trop pr^ rises pour qu'll pflt conKpntlr ft des modlfl- oatlons. La seule dont II nous alt parl(^ so rt'dulsait ft stipuler I'ouverture du port de BItka imur vlngt ans, terme qui est encore trop lonfc. II ne nous est done rest(> que In vole dps explications dlrectes Pt nous nous plalsons ft espfrer qu'elles ne sprout pas In- frtictueuses. Notre (■' iitre-projpt reportp nns llnillps d" 51° de lat. N. nu 54° 40'. II Inlssu aux Ha- bllHsements que les coiupaKnIeg Anglalses pourront former un Jour sur la cftte Nord- Oupst tout lp tprrltoirp n\U\fi nu inldl d>i !* >rtland Channel. II supprlmc la d^'slKna- tlon des montainies |)o'aprCs son dfslr pncore II ouvre aux sujets Brltnn- nl<|ues la navigation de tons les fleuves qui ti'nverspnilput eette llslCre, enfln II leur ns- Burp des avantngeg C>gaux ft ccux qu'ont ob- tenuB leB sujets des Etats-ITnls, et II annulle de fait I'oukaze de 4 (10) Septtmbre 1821, en dm-Iarant d'une part <|He nous n'exerce- rons dp JurlHillctlon marltlue qu'ft deux lleues de noi cfttes Pt dp nog lies sur toute I'f'tendue de nos imsHesHlons, et pn Htipulniit d'unp nntrp, i)U'aU('Une pntravp up sera mise (I la llbre navlitntlon do I'Ocfan Pacl- flque nl mf^me au llbre passnfce du dCtrolt de Behrlng. Pans inie nCttoolntlon qui de- vnlt avoir pour base le prlncl|>e des conve- nances rfdproqups, nous croyons qu'll Ptalt diniclle dp rpgpecter plus srrupulpusement toutes celleB de rAugleterre. Votre Excellence aura soln do falre appi-C- cier A MonsU'iir t'annhiK "os v»ipb et n«»lrt» eonstnntp nuMlcratlon. EIIp lul reprfsentera avcc ipiel cniprcNSPiiicnt nouN avohH adnilH toutes les dcunnulcs de la (irande Brctannp qu'll niius etalt poHHililc d'adnicltre, couiblen noUB avons lieu de noua attendrp inaintenaut ft une JUKte rf'c'lprncltf', cumblcn notrp proJpt est niMfornu' anx dcVliirntlons renferinf'ps dans I'olttce du I'rinclpal Hpcrf-taire d'Eint de 8 M. Brltaniili|ue en date du •Jil Mai. pt Climb.. II 11 si'i'iiil ullli' eii adoptiiiit ( >iitre- projpt (car nous ne saurloiiH pousscr plus loin iioB sacrlllccB) ilp tprnilner entre les deux (Jouverucinciits des dlHcUKRlons Ion- Jiiurs rftclicuKCH et dont on f'tiiufferalt Jus- qu'an dernier (rernie. Voire Excellence est autorlsl^e A doiuicr lecture et Copie de In prCsente ilf'p^?lie ft M. Canning, et dans vos I )- nj foreign ships and trade. We persist In our intention In this matter, but It Is Impossible for U8 to enter Into an IndeQnIte agrtvement, to bind our hands for the future without limit ; we could guarantee that the (lort of Sitka would not be closed for ten years ; It Is probable that we would allow to stand the regulations which we would have In- troduced liitiier. To go further would be on our part a want of foresight. IJuforseen contlngencie« might comiwl us to revoke or modify these privileges. It is a latitude which every gov- ernment should reserve to themselves in such an occurrence. We see no obligation to give It up and we could not take such a course without ex- posing ourselves to serious Inconvenience. We cannot, therefore, in the circumstance agree to a periictual stipulation. Such are, M. le Conite, the three points of the draft of the Britannic convention which the Emperor has not deemed accept- able. All the other proposals of the court of lAudon have l>een agreed to and we have handed to Sir Charles Bagot the annex counter draft. His instructions, however, were too precise to allow his assent to any moditlcntlon. The only one which he has mentioned to U8 consisted only In stipulating the opening of the lort of Sitka for twenty years, a |H-rlod which Is still too long. The only course left to us was that of direct explana- tions, and we are pleas(>d to hope that they shall not be fruitless. Our counter draft carries our frontiers from the 5lBt degree north latitude to the n4tb degree 40 m. It gives to the establish- ments which the English companies may one day form on the north-west coast, all the territory lying south of Portland Chan- nel. It leaves off the designation of the mountains as limits to the strip of main- land wlilch Russia would posseSB on the Americau continent, and rebtricts tiie width of that strip to ten marine leagues, accord- ing to the wish expressed by England. .Xgrrt'aliie also to her desire it opens to the llrltiKh HUbJects the navigation of all the rlvpi-B iTonsIng this strip, finally It seeures to them aiivaiitageit. equal to those olitalned by (he subjects of the UnltP accept iinil tiuw nitich Mt( li.'M'c ri'iison til e.\pn't n.iw ii fair rn'i- pniclty. liiiw much our linift Is lu coiifnniilly with the ilii'iaratliiiis coiitnlni'd in the iimi- munication of the rrlnclpnl Secretary of Stale of Ills Britannic Majesty of the Jfltli of May anil Imw useful It would be to aiiiipt tills counter draft ifor we would not extend our concessions furtlierK to end between the two uovcninients disciissliins always un- pleasant iiiiil which wiiiilil then be slltlled to tlielr last cause. Your ICicelleiii y is atitliorizcd t'l give lecture anil copy of tlip pr(>sent despatch to Mr. Canning, nnd In 206 entretlena avec cc Mlnliitr<'ohi' et de commerce nvoc lea indlc^iieii pour dix ana, qne duna cellea de nna poHnexftlona (|iil noni avalent (£t6) conteet(^, on en d'ati- trcfl termea dana I'eapace poniprlM i-ntrp le M» 40' et le 89"' 30" de latitude wptentrir)- nale. Recevei, etc.. (Sisn6) NE88ELKODE. jiiiir iiinviT^iitliiiiM with tlilK iiiliiUti'r, ji'i' mil fldd. Mr. le (Viiiile. the oliHervntlnnn thiit liv niir tri-!il.v with the I'lilted Stiiti'i of llip ."•til of .\|irll «e liiivi' never intended to ){l\e tin III the rlicht of hiiiitlni,'. tUhliiK mid tniil- iiie with Ihi" iiHtlveii f r ten .vc'»r«. snve in tliiwi- iif "iir piiHi-fiKlnn which liiid lieen ilN- piited til III*, iir in other wnrdH iietweer, tlie '^^'■ 411' iind the .Mr :mi' of north liilltnd.'. .Vi'cept, iVc NKSSKI.HOKK. FIRST DRAFT CONVENTIO.V WITH RUSSIA ENCLOSED IN MR. CANNINO'S LETTER TO SIR C. BAGOT OF I2TH JULY. 1824, WITH ANNOTATIONS BY rOUNT NESSBL- RODB. REFERRED TO I.N NESilELRODB'S LETTER TO LIEVEN 4TH SEPTEMBER. Ib:4. Sn Mnje«t<' le Rol dii Roynnnie-rnl de hi Oninde-Rrctairne et de I'lrlnnde, et 8ii Ma- Jetite I'Kmperenr de Toutea lea Ruaatea, dC- Niriint rewterrer Ii-h Ilena d'amltll^ et de iKiniie intelllKenec t|ul lea iiiilBHeiit, luuyei: naiit un aeoord <|Ul r^icleralt, giir le priii- eilM" d'une conveniinpe rik'lproiiiie, dllTC- renlN polnta relatlfa nil commerce, il la ou- vlKntioii, et aiix p^'herlea de leiira aujeta Hur roef-fln Pnciflqiie, nlnal ipie lea IliulteH an, tant au nord qa'au and. Blen entendu qne la dlte liberty de pCche- rte ne sera ezerc<^ par lea sujeta de I'une dea deux Pulsaancea qu'ft la diatance de 2 lleuea marltlmea des iioasesslons respectlves de I'autre. I. Dana I'Artlcle correspondant, les PlSnl- INitentlairea de Rusale ont auprlmO les mots "en exergant leur commerce." piiroe qn'll lenr n paru iiue eet Article se rnpporteriilt prlnolpalement A la navigation en haute mer, et qu'en haute mer 11 n'y a pas de commerce poeslble. D'allleurs tout ce qui concerne les rela- tions commerclalea sc trourc Tig\6 par d'au- tres Artlclea. ARTICLE II. 2. La llgne sfiparatiTe entre les possessions dew deux Ilautes Parties Cnntrnctantes siir le continent et les ties de I'AmC-rliiue dn .Vord-Oueat, sera tracpe de la manlCre sul- vante :— Kn commencant des deux points de I'tle dlte du Prince de Oalleg, qui en forment rextrf-mltC mCridlonnle. lesquela points aont Kltuex wiuM la parall<>le de 54° 4(y et entre l« i:il' et le y.Kt' degrfi de longitude ouest 307 2. Article II. Thin article Is the llret of the KUHxlan countei'-draft :— As at the \cvy openlDg of the nt'micliitloiiK, the execiitlon of the Ukave of 1821 had l>e«'ii Hiit)i)eiidett€T light. We have, whilst changing this order, kept in all the articles of the British draft. init'-riiili'ii lie |H>rl iiiin iiiitri'H piirtlt-H ili'it crtlcH (III Ociiitlni'iit ill' r.Mnf'rlinit' ilil iioril- oiifHt <■( il(>B lli-M i|iil I'livolKliit'iit, iippnrttv iiHiitcH A riini' ft A I'anlri- iiilfliit TeHpiu'e ill' illx iiiik A roinpti-r ilu Avrll. \K>4. IciirH viiIhhi'iiiix r<'»i«'o- tlfB. c't ci'iix ilp lt'iir» Hiijcts. pimrront rf'ri- priMiiit'iiit'iil ri't^qiii'nti'r. hhiim I'litriivc, Ii'h Rolplii'H, ImvreH. <>t orli|ii)'8 iIph (IIIch tiMi'h, diinh ilcH cndroltM iioii iK'JA di'i-iiiM^h. iitlii il'y falri' In pf'cln' et li> ooniinproi' tivi'c Ich ml- tnri'ls ilii pii.vH. HIpii piiti'iKlii :— 1. QiU' pnrloiit oft II HO tronvcrii iin ^tiilillRHcniont ill' runt' iIph Ilnuti'fi I'lirtlPH Contrni'tiiiiti'H. leu HiiJptR iIp I'niitrp up imiir- runt y iilM>rilpr. Raiiii In pprniNKlnn ilii <'i>iu- niiiiiilnnt. on niitrp pr(>poi<^ iIp opt Piiilrolt A moiiiH iiii'IIh n'y Hprmit Inrcfn piir tpin|i(>tPii oil i|UPli|ii'iititrp ncrldcnt. '2. i)w In (lltp llhprt*' iIp poiiiriiprcp ne com- prpiiilrn |>olnt cpliil iIpb IliiiiPiirx HplrltiiPtiiiPH, III ilp8 nmiPH A fpu. (IPB nrmcH blanrhPN. de In |Kiiiili-p A cniioii, on d'niilrPH PHpf>i'PH de inniiitloiiH dp (THerrp ; toim IpsqiipiN iirtlPliit Iph (Ipiix I'nlHHiinri'K K'piiKUKPnt r#olprorp qiiPlcniuiiip mix IndlK^iiP" dp cei pays. ARTICLE VI, rKirf'iiiiviiiit II IIP iMiiirrii ftrp foriiiC pnr Ipg HiiJptR KrItiiiinliiiii'H. iiiipiiii ('tiilillXNcinpnt, nl Hiir Iph i-AtPH. nl Hiir In IIhIi^pp iIu riintliii'iit roinprlHPH dniiH Iph llmltPA dPH |>oHHP8f«lonii Itiissi'H iir'sliiiipi'S pnr I'Artlrlp II ; pt. de iiif'ini'. II n'pii ponrrii piiH Mrp fornii^ nnouu pur dPH HnJi'tH UnssPH liors dps dltPH IIuiUpk. ARTICLE VII. T.ps vnlsHpniix lfrltniiiili|iiPH pt RnxnpK nn- vlizniiN linns <'pn niprs i|iil sprout forcf's pnr s du pr(i»pnt npnord, Ii'h ottirli'i's I't Piii|)loy(>s dp pnit Pt d'nntrp, sniis SP ppriiiPttrp an prf-alalilp iiucnnp vlo- Ipiu'p 111 voIp dp fnlt. sprout tpiins ili- rpiidre iin rnpiMirt pxai't dp ralTalri'. i't iIp sph clr- oiinstani'i's nnx fours i'ps|M>ptlvpR. lesqiiPllPii la tprniliipront sploii la Jnstlpp pt A I'nnilnble. ARTICLE IX. I.n pri'spiitp Coiivi'iitlon sprn ratlflPp pt Ips ratlllcntioiiH pii seroiit f'cliaiiKfes A dans I'pspapp dp niols, on plus tM si fairp HP pput. En fi)l lie qnol les PlfnlpotPiitlnlrps rps- ppctlfs Tonl sl;;ii(^p. pt y out apposC' |p rarlipt dp li'urs ariUPH. Knit A t«24. Ip ,rnn dp grlkce •-'(»!) Ho. 56. (MR. U. CANNING TO MR. WARt).) FuREioN OrnoE, September 13, 1824. (No. 3.) Sir, — Sir Chorles Bagot'e despatches of the 26th August w«re received here on tjie 9th instant, and have been laid before the King. The only point on which I have to instruct you, in consequence of their arrival, is that of the refusal of the Court of St. Petersburg to conclude and sign the Treaty respecting the north-west coast of America. Nothing could be leas expected than this refusal, and the grounds of it are the more unsatisfactory, as part at lenHt of the stipulations u which objection is takeu, was founded on suggestions of the Russian Plenipotentiaries themselves. I did not, however, intend that you should enter into argument upon this subject with Count Nesselrode, or the Minister to whom the Forlefeiiille may be intrusted in his absence. What you are to represent, and earnestly to urge with the Russian (iov- emnient, Ib that they should send to Count Lievcn instructions and full powers to conclude find sign the Treaty here. By these means it will still be possible to bring it to a conclusion before the meeting of Parliament. And you will assure the Russian Minister that this consideration weighs with us most particularly, because the lio]>o and promise of some amicable and satisfactory arrangement touching the Ukase of 1821, has been so often confidently held out to Parliament, that we look forward with great anxiety to the discussions which might arise upon a fresh disappointment of tUose expectations. I am, &c., (Signed) GE0R(1E CANNING. No. 88. Hudson's bav company to foreign orncE.) (Received October 20.) Hudson's Bat House, London, October 20, 1824. Sib, — I duly received Lord Francis Conyngliam's letter of the Iftth instant, with its inclosures, and it does not appear to me that the Countor-Projeot of Russia is so essentially different from the one which His Majesty's Ministers have considered it advisable to propose to Russia as far as the Hudson's Bay Company are concerngd, to reject it, except in the 2nd Article, which should more accurately define the eastern boundary from the Portland Canal to the 61st degree of north latitude ( ^ be the chain of mountains at a " trfis-petite distance de la cote," but that if the summit of those mountains exceed 10 leagues, that the said distance be substituted instead of the moun- tains. It certainly would have been o more advisable arrangement had it been practicable to have made the Straight between the mainland and the islands instead of the moun- tains the division not only as a more natural one, but would have prevented the pos- sibility of collision of the traders of the two cotmtrics, and if this could be now obtain- ed, relinquishing the proposed license of visiting and trading with the notivcs for a term of years in that part of the territory to which Russia is to be acknowledged as entitled to the sovereignty. I think it would be advisable, but if not, practicable, we should have the same privileges as were granted to the Americans. On a fiirnier occa- sion I proposed the Straight as the line of demarcation upon the principle of prcvpiit- ing collision, which was not only my idea, but you will recollect was cuie of the prin- cipal reasons stated by Russia for proposing a division of territory; and when it is con- sidered the large tract that is conceded to the westward of the l.'litth degree of longitude to which Russia can have no lietter right than Oreat Britain, and which it is hoped Captain Franklin may be the first European who will explore, and having made a grant of it to the R\issian Fur Company which has not been objected to by any Eurorpeon. State (for Russia neither disecivered or has any Sf>ttloment« on it. or on any part of the continent within those latitudes and our own, extend to the ."iTth degree, and trade with the natives who come b<>yond the OOth degree), I do not think it too nuieh to r(>- quire; at the same time the Committee of the Hudson's Bay Company e, and to furnish yon with ihi' necessary instrtictiona for terminating this long protracted negotiation. Tha correspondence which has alri'iidy jiassed upon this subject has been submitted to your perusal, and I enclose to you a copy — 1. Of the " Projet " which Rir Charles lingot was a\ithorized to conclude and sign ■ome months ago, and which we had every reason to ex|)ect would have been entirely satisfactory tc the Russian (iovernment. S. Of a " Contre-Projet " drawn up by the Kussian Plcnipotertiaries, and present- ed to Sir Charles Bagot at their last meeting before Sir Charles Ba^ot's departure from .St. Petersburg. 3. Of a despatch from Count Nessulrode, accompanying the transmission of the " Contre-Projet " to Count Lieven. In that despatch, and in certain marginal annotations up-":-, liie eo|>y of the " Pro- jet," are assigned the reasons of the alter.itions proposed by the Kussian Plenipoten- tiaries. In considering the exiiodiency of admitting or rejecting the projmsed alterations, it will be convenient to follow the Articles of the Treaty in the order in which they stand in the English " Projet." You will observe in the first plac-e that it is proimsed by the Kussian Plenipotentia- ries entirely to change that order, and to transfer to the latter part of the instrument the Article which has hitherto 8too uniformity of stipulations i»i pari malerid gives clearness and force to both nrriiugemcnts, and will establish that footing of cqiinlity between the several contract- ing parties which it is most desirable shouhl exist between three Powers whose inter- ests come so nearly in contact with each other in a part of the globe in which no other Power is concerned. This, therefore, is what I am to instruct yon to propose at once to the Russirn Minister as cutting short an otherwise inconvenient iliscus-iion. This expedient will dispose of Article I. of the " Projet " and of Article V. and VI. of the " Contre-Projet." The next Articles relate to the territorial demarcation, and upon tlioin I have only to make the following observations : — The Russian Plenipotentiaries propose to withdraw entirely the limit of the lisu're on the coast whicli they wt^rc themselves the first to propose, viz.. the summit of the mountains which run parallel to the coast, and which appear, according to the llap, to follow all its sinuosities, and to substitute generally that which we only suggested as a corrective of their first proposition. We cannot agree to this change. It is quite obvious that the boundary of moim- tains, where they exist, is the most natural and effectual boundary. The inconvenience against which we wished to guard was that which you know nnd can thoroughly ex- plain to tlie Russiiin Plenipotentiaries to have existed on the other side of the Ameri- can Continent, when mountains laid down in a Jlnp «s in a certain given position, s.ul nssnmed in faith of the iiccuracy of that Map as a boundary between the possessions Oi Enghuul and the United States turned out to be quite ditfcrently sit\nite(l, a discoviry which has given rise to the most perplexing di'^cussions. Should tin Maps be no mop' accurate as to the western than as to the (T.siirn miuinlains. wi' might he assigning to Russia iiuniinse truct^ )f inland territory, wlieri' we only intended to give and they only intended to usk, a s'rip of sea coast. To avoid the chance of this inconvenience we propose to qualify the gi-neral pro- position, "that the mountains should be tho boundary, with the condition if tho.se moun- tains flhouKl not be found to extend beyond ton leagues from tlie coast." The Russian Ph-nipotentiaries now propose to take the distance invariably as the rule. Hut we can- not consent to this change. The mountains, a< 1 have said, are a more eligible Ihuiu- dary than any imaginary line of ilemarcafion, and this being their own original pro- jiositioii the Russian PlcniiKitcntiaries cannot reasonahly refuse to ndli'Tc to it. Where the mountains arc the boundary, we are content to take the aummil instead of the "seaward base" as the line nf demarcation. I (anittcd in my last instructions to Sir Clmrlcs Bag.it. though I had signified to Count T.ievcn. that I intended to rr of .\\\ the Rnssias, being desirous of ilniwiug still closer the ties of goml und<>rslnniling iind frii'udsliip whii'li unite them by menus of nti Agreement which shall settle, upon the basis of reciprrxjal convenience, the different points <'oiinei't<'d with thi' I'lunincn'r, navigation, and fisheries of IliiMr sulijcets on the Pneifii^ Ocean, as well as the limit? nf their possessions on the north-west const of America, thcur said ^lajesties have n lined their Plenipotentiaries to eonelnde a Con- vention for this purpose, that is to sa': His Majesty the King of the Uniird Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, &c. And llis Miijesty the ICmperor i f All the Russins, &c. D— 64 214 Who, after having commimicntcd to each other their respective full powers, found to be in due and proper form, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles : — ARTICLE I. It is agreed that the resiwotive subjects of the High Contracting Parties shall not be troubled or molested in any part of (he Great Ocean, com-nonly called the Pacifick Ocean, either in navigating the saine, in fishing there, or in binding at such parts of the coasts as shall not have been already occupied, in p:der to trade with the natives, under the restrictions and conditions specified in the following Articles. In order to prevent the right of navigating and fishing exorcised upon the Great Ocean by the subjects of the High Contracting Parties, from becoming the pretext for an illicit commerce, it is agreed that the subjects of His Britannic Majesty shall not land at any place where there shall bii a Russian establijumcnt, without the per- mission of the principal ofiicer in autlioilty there, and, on the other hand, that Russian subjects shall aot land, without similar permission, at any British establishment on the north-west coast. ARTICLE III. The line which separates the possessions of the two High Contracting Parties upon the continent and the islands of America to the north-west, shall be drawn in the manner following : — Commencing from the southernmost point of the island called " Prince of Wales " Island, which point lies in the parallel of 54° 40', and between the ISlst and 138(rd' degree of west longitude (meridian of Greenwich), the line of frontier between the British and Russian possessions shall ascend northerly (the whole of Prince of Wales Island belonging to Russia) along the channel called "Portland Channel" till it strikes the coast of the continent in the .'ifith degree of north latitude. From the point where the line of demarcation strikes tliis degree it shall bo carried along the summit of the mountains parallel to the coast as far as the 140th degree of longitude west of the said meridian ; thence the said meridian line of 140th degree west longitude, in its extension as far as tlie Frozen Ocean, shall form the boundary of the British and Russian possessions on the Continent of America to the north-west. Provided, nevertheless, that if the summit of the aforesaid mountains shall turn out to be, in any part of their range, at more than the distance of 10 marine leagues from the Pacifick, then that, for tliat space the line of demarcation shall be a line parallel to the coast and its windings, at the said distance of 10 marine leagues there- ^' m, .'(o that the said line of demarcation shall never extend farther than 10 leagues from tlie coast. It is agreed that neither Party shall form any establishment within the limit." assigned by this Article to the other Party. No establishment shall in future be formed by British subjects either upon the coast, or upon the borders of the continent compriseil within the limits of the Russian possessions designated in this Article; and in like manner no such establishments shall be formed by Russian subjects beyond the said limits. ARTICLE IV, It is understood that the subjects of His Britannick Majesty, ns well as those who may come from the interior of the continent as those who may come from the Pacifick Ocean, shall enjoy for ever the free and unmolested navigation of all rivers or streams which, in tlieir course to the Pacifick may be found to cross the line of demarcation on the border of coast described in the foregoing Article. It is nevertheless, understood that, for the space of ten years from (lie signature of tlu! present Convention, the vessels of the two Powers, or those l>cl''ile III., for the purposes of fishery and of commcroe with the natives of the c. ,;y. ARTICLE VL The iiort of Sitka, or Nova Arehangelsk, shall be open to the commerce and ves- sels of the subjects of His Britannick Majesty during the space of ten years from the 215 date of the exchange of the ratifications of the present Convention. In ease of a fur- ther extension of the term of ten years mentioned in the foregoing Article to any other Power, the like extension shall he granted also to (ireat Britain. ARTICLE Vll. The said liberty of commerce shall not include tlie trade in spirituoiis liquors, in fire-arms, swords, bayonets, ic, gunpowder, or other warlike stores, the High Cou- trncting Parties reciprocally engaging not to permit the above-mentioned articles 1o be sold or transferred, in any manner wliatever, to the natives of the country. ARTICLE Mil. Snch British and Russian vessels navigating the Paeifiek as nia.v be compelled by stress of weather, or by any other accident, to take shelter in the respective ports, shall be at liberty to refit therein, to provide themselves with all necessary stores, and to put to sea again without the payment of any duties, except port and lighthouse dues, not exceeding those paid by national vessels. In case, however, the master of such ship should be obliged to dispose of some of his inerchandiEe, in order to defray his expen- oi's, he shall conform himself to the regidations and tariffs of the place where he may have landed. ARTICLE IX. In every case of complaint on account of an infraction of the Articles of the pre- sent Convention, the officers employed on either side, without previously engaging themselves in any violent or forcible measures, shall make an exact and circumstantial report of the matter to their respective Courts, who will arrange the same, according to justice, in a friendly manner. ARTICLE X. The present Convention shall be ratified and the ratifications shall be exchanged at within the space of months, or sooner if possible. In witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have afiixed thereto the seals of their arms. Done at Lord. the day of in he year of our No.67. (MR. 8. CANNINO TO MR. 0. OANNINO. St. Petersburoh, February 17, (March 1,) 1825. (Received March 21.) Sir, — By the messenger Latchford I have the honour to send you the accompany- ing convention between Mis Majesty and the Kmperor of Russia resiieetiug the Pacific Ocean and north-west coast of America, which, aceording to 5'our instructions, I eon- eluded and signed last night with the Russian Plenipotentiaries. The alterations which, at their instance, I have admitted into the " Projet " such as I presented it to tlii'ni at first, will be found, I conceive, to be in strict conformity with the spirit and substance of Ilis Majesty's commands. The order of the two main subjects of our negotiation, as 8tat«'d in the prennible of the Convention, is preserved in the articles of that instrument. The line of demarcation along the strip of land on the north-wesi cimnt ,if America assigned to Russia is laid down in the Conven- tion agreeably to your directions, notwithstanding some difliculties raised on this point, as well as on that which regards the order of the Articles, by the Russian Pleni- potentiaries. The instance in which you will perceive that I have most availed myself of the latitude afforded by your instructions to bring the negotiation to a satisfactory and prompt conclusion, is the division of the third article of the new " Projet " as it stood when T gave it in, into the third, fourth, and fifth articles of the Convention signed by the Plenipotentiaries. This change was stiggested by the Russian Plenipotentiaries, and at first it was suggested in a ^hape which appeared to me objectionable, but the articles as tlio.v are now drawn up I humbly conceive to be such as will not meet with your disapproba- tion. The second paragraph of the fourth article had already apiwared parenthetically 216 in the third article of the " Projet," and the whole of the fourth article is limited in Its signification and connected with the article immediatoly preceding it by the first paragraph. With respect to Behring Straits, I am happy to have ft in my power to assure you, on the joint authority of tlio Russian Plenipotentiaries, that the Emi)eror of Russia has no intention whatever of maintaining any exclusive claim to the navigation of those straits or of the seas to the north of them. It cannot be necessary, under these circumstances, to trouble you with u more particular account of the several conferences which I have held with the Russian Pleni- potentiaries, and it is but justice to state that I have found them disposed, throughout this latter stage of the negotiation, to treat the matters under discussion witji fairness and liberality. As two originals of the Convention prepared for His Majesty's Government are signed by the Plenipotentiaries, I propose to leave one of them with Mr. Ward for the archives of the embassy. I have, &c., (Signed) STRATFORD CANNING. No, 68. (Count Nesselrode to Count Lieven.) St-Petebsbouro, le 13 Mars 1826 (Received 29 March (10 April.) Monsieur le Coute, — Votre Excellence trouvera ci-joint la ratification de la Convention que nous avons conchie avec Mr. Stratford Canning, au sujet des pos- sessions rcspcctives de la RuEoie ct de la Qrande-Bretagne, sur la cote N.-O. de I'Ameriquc En cchnngeant cet instrument contre celui qui doit nous etre remis par la Cour do Londres, I'Emiiereur desire. Monsieur le Comte, que Vous observiez & Mr. Canning, qu'i! cut ete plus conforme d'apres I'opinion de Sa Majest6 Imperiale, et aux principes d'uno mutuelle justice et a ceux des convenances reoiproqucs, de donncr pour frontiere & la lisiere de cote que la Russie doit posscder depuis le 66° de latitude Nord, jusqu'au point d'intersection d\i 141° do longitude Ouest, la crete des montagnes qui suivent lea sicuositjs de la cote. Cetto stipulation en effct, cut assure nux deux Puissances, unu parfaitc egalitc d'avantagcs et une limite naturelle. L'Angleterre y ox'it trouvc son profit partout oil les montagnes sunt ii nioins de dix lioues marines de la mer, et In Russie, partout oii l:i distance qui les en scparo est plus grandc. II nous semble que, touoliant dos contreos dont la (i<''0)rrni)lii(' est encore pcu conuue, on no pouvoit [iroposer le stipulation plus f-quitablc. Votro Excellence njoutcrn, quo le Plenipotentinire de S. M. Britnnniqnn ayant d6clnre qu'il so trouvoit dans I'impossibilit/i d'accucillir les vcoux quo nous lui avons exprinies sous ce rapport, c'cst uniquement iiour donner au Roi d'Anglcterre une preuvo de Scs dispositions nmicnles que notre August© Mnitre nous a i)ermis de signer net article tcl qu'il cxisto dans la Convention actuelle. L'Empcreur So flnttc quo S. M. Britanuiquo nppri'i'iera un aussi sincere t6moi- gnago du dosir qui nous animoit de tennincr des discussions fachcuses et d'on prevenir le retour par une transaction definitive. Votre Exc<>llenco est nutnrlseo A donner lecture de la prfttente ft M. Canning et it lui en lai«''or une copie, avec pridre de la mettre sous les yeux du Rni. Rooovoz. Monsieur lo Comte, rassurnnce de nui luuite consideration. (RiailT IlOy. GEO. CANNINQ TO MR. S. OANNINO.) (No, 8. Extract.) Foreign Office, April 2, 1828. Sir, — Your despatches by the messenger Latchford were received here on the Slat of March, and that of the 12th of March by the post on the 28th. Having laid tlioni before the King I have roccivoci His Majesty's commands to ex- press His Majesty's partionlnr satisfaction nt the oonolnsinn of the Treaty respecting the Pacific Ocoan and North-west Const nf America in a manner so exactly conform- able to your instructions, and to direct you to express to the Russian Oovernment the pleas\iro which Tlis Majesty derives from the amicable and conciliatory spirit mani- festoil by that govornment in the completion of this transation. * • * • Bny. ■21; MAP8 WHICH HAVE BEEN FOUND TO AGREE WITH THE BRITISH COLUMBIA COXTEXTION OR TO FAVOUR IT. Map published by the Quartermaster-General's Department, Russia, 1802. This was transmitted to Foreign Office in London by Sir C. Bagot with his despatch of 17 November, 1821. Sir C. Bagot'a M.S. notes on the original. This map shows the southern boundary of the Russian possessions running inland nearly at right angles to the coast from a point on the mainland nearly opposite the north-east angle of Revillagigedo Island, a few miles south of Burroughs Bay. The mountains and coast line copied from Vancouver or very n'^Tly so. Mountains form- ing a practically continuous range following the coast at a small distance from it. (Reproduced in Appendix IV., British Case, Behring Sea Arbitration.) Carte Encyprotj-pe de I'Amerique Septentrionale D^diee et presentee & Monsieur par H. Brue, Ingenieur-Geograplie de S. A. Royale, Paris, 1815. In this the line of boundary shown on the coast to northward for British Posses- sions, gives Prince of Wales Archipelago to Russia, includes whole of Revillagigedo Island as British (running along channel to north of island) and strikes inland in a north-easterly direction from the head of Burroughs Bay. (Brit. Mus. Library, 69U15, .36.) America, by R. Wilkinson, London, dated 1824. Engraved below title, republish- ed by William Darton, 58 Holborn Hill, London (no date given for republication, but presumably a year or two later than original date, as the boundary between British and Russian Possessions is shown with " Boundary settled 1825 " engraved along that part of line which follows the 141st Meridian. The line on the coast gives Prince of Wales Island, &c., to Russia and Revillagigedo Island to Britain, striking inland at right angles to the coast at Burroughs Bay. Thence running in a straight line in general parallelism to the coast to near the end of Lynn Canal. Then jogging to the west and next running straight in general parallelism to the coast to the 141st Meridian, which it follows northward. (British Museum Library, 69810, 16.) America, Prof. J. M. F. Schmidt, Berlin, 1830. This map shows the boundary line going inland from Burroughs Bay, running direct, in general parallelism to coast to near head of Lynn Canal. There jogging to west, and then resuming straight course in parallelism to coast to long. 141°. Gives the whole of Prince of Wales Island to Russia, the whole of Revillagigedo to Britain. (British Museum Library, 69810, 56.) Weltchartc in Mercator's Projection ; von Christian Gottlieb Reichard, neue au- Bgabe, Murnbcrg bei Freide, Campe, 1839. In this edition of Reichard's very carefully compiled map, the political boundaries of countries arc coloured. The boundary between Russian and British possessions begins in the narrow neck of the promontory between Revillagigedo and Frederick's So\md. Runs thence away from coast, and then sweeps along in wide curves in gen- eral parallelism to coast nearly to Mount St. Ellas, where it bends northward and ends indi.'finitely. (The blue line here shown is tnus not identical with others quoted, but shows independent opinion on the subject.) Gives the whole of Priiu-e of Wales Island to Russia. The whole of Revillagigedo to Britain. (British Museum Library, !I20, lOlt.) A. Carte Physique et I'olitiqiic do I'Am-rique Septentrionale, par A. H. Brue, Gcngrnphe do S. A. R. Monsieur, Paris, 1821. This shows the southern boundary of the Russian possessions running inland from Cape Fnnshaw. B. Cnrtr de I'Anierique Septentrionnli', etc., par L. Vivien, Geosraphe. Paris, ISO.I. Shows the boundar.v running inland from about the snme point as last. C. Carte de rAnu'riquc Septentrionale Redigee. par A. 11. Brue. Paris, 1825. Shows the boiiniiary niniiinp up ClfiroMce Strait and cnterinpr the mainland nl- Burrniighs Bay. Marked " Liniite tixi'e en 1825." D. Carte flenerale dc rAnu'ricine Siptentrionalo, etc., par .\. Brue, Geopraphe du Roi, Paris, 1828. Snme indi<'at!on of boundary. E. Another e.lition of the nlinve. 18:19. Same indicniion of boundary. F. .\ni('riqni' Septentrionale, pur F. nelamarche, Paris, 18.1.3. Shows (in colour only) boundary beginning on mainland about head of Biirrouplw Bay. (The fnropning works m.nrked .\ to F form part of n mllortion of Xorth-wi^t Coast literature in my own posoossion.'* — G. M. D. Compare al»o Russian American Company's nhnrter of 181(, where it is snid thiif commencing from tlie sontheriunoit point of Prince of Wales Tslnnd " the above line runs nnrlhward alnnri the sirnlh named Portland Clinnuel to that point of the main- land wlicre it tiinchcs the 5i1th ilcgree of north latitude." (rnited tates nehring Set Case. App. L, p. 29, Sec. 2.) 0—56 •-'18 EXTRACT FROM A REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE IIONOl'RABLE TUE PRIVY COUNCIL, APPROVED BY IIIS EXCELLENCY ON THE 28tli MARCH, 1898. The Committee of the Privy Cuuncil have Imd under consideration a cleapntch, hereto annexed, dated 8tli March, 1898, from tlic Right Honourahle ilr. Chambi'rlain, marked " secret," in which the proposition is made tjint Commissioners sliould be ap- pointed under Article I. of the Convention of tlic 22nd July, 18!I2, to consider and establish the boundary line between Alaska and British Columbia, tlie Commissioners to be instructed in the tirst instance to define a provisional boundary in tlie Lynn Canal region. The Minister of the Interior, to whom the despatch was referred, submits that, in his judgment, such action 'votild be open to grave objection fur the following reasons : — 1. Article 1 of the Convention of 1892 contemplates a permanent and final, not a provisional delimitation of the boundary line. The provisional line when marked out would acquire no validity from the fact that it had been marked out under the Convention ; and agreement between the Govern- ments would be necessary to make it valid. Nor would it have moral force towards securing such agreement as would a permanent line agreed upon by Commissioners acting imder the same provisions of the Convention. An agreement between Her Majesty's .\mbnssador at Washington and the (iov- ernnient of the United States to adopt a tempo y line for the purposes of administration wotdd secure all that is necessary at the present juncture to avoid conflict of jurisdiction. 2. The assent of tlie (lovernment of Canada to an arrangement whereby Com- missioners, appointed under a Convention which purports to aim at estab- lishing a permanent line in accordance with the boundary treaties in regard to it, should establish a provisional line, might be construed into an ad- mission on the part of Canada that the line described in those treaties is inconsistent with the topographical features of the region and therefore impracticable. The Government of Canada, on the other hand, has always held that it is quite practicable to survey and mark out the boundar,y in strict accordance with the treaty description. 3. In order to make plain the fact that the description of the line in the treaties is not inconsistent with the topographical features of the region, and to resolve existing differences of interpretation of the treaties, it appears essen- tial that the line be considered as a whole. The determination of a part of it in accordance with merely local topographic conditions may defeat this object. Tlie Committee, on the recommendation of the ilinister of the Interior, advise that Your Excellency be moved to inform the Right Honourable Her Majesty's Prin- cipal Secretary of State for the Colonies that the Government of Canada is unwilling, for the reasons stated, to agree to the determination of a provisional line under the Convention of 1892, but tjuit this Government sees no objection to a provisional arrangement with the United States Government, whereby, pending the settlement of the boundary question, and as to the territory traversed by the mountain passes which lead from Taiya Inlet, each Government shall remain in possession of the territory now actually occupied by it, and that, for this purpose, a line drawn at the summit of tlic passes or the watershed between the rivers flowing into Taiya Inlet and the tributaries of the Yukon River would be satisfactory to Canada. All of which is respectfu'y submitted for Your Excellency's ajiproval. (Signed) JOHN J. McOEE, Clerk of the Privy Council. The Honourable The Minister of the Interior. EXTRACT FROM A REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE HONOURABLE THE PRI\T COUNCIL, APPROVED BY HIS EXCELLENCY ON THE 27th JUNE, 1808. The Committee of the Privy Council have had under consideration a despatch, herelij nttaclied, dated 14th May, 1898, from His Excellency Her Majesty's Ambassador ot Washington, transmittinf herewith a copy of n Pro Mrmorin which, under instruc- tions from the Marquis of Salisbury, he delivered to the United States Secretary of 219 State, on tlit 18tii of April, 181IS, reaiieftiiig a iirovisional delimitation of the Alaska boundary in (he rc-gion of the Lj-nn Canal, and copy of a Xote v.liich he rcueived from Mr. William K. Day in reply. The Minister of the Interior, to whom the matter was referred, submits that the prop(*itioii of tilt I'nited States (joverninent, as stated therein, differs from the pro- IKibition set forth on behalf of Canada by Order of Your IC.\celleney on the isth oi May, 1H!)S, in certain important particulars. This proposition was that, iR'iiding the settlement of th'. boundary qiiestion and as to tbe territory traversed by the mountain passes which lead from Taiya Inlet, each Government shall remain in possession of the territory now actually occupied by it, and for this jmrpose a line drawn at the summit of tht^ passes, or the watershed between t,he rivers flowing into Taiya Inlet and the tributaries flowing into the Yukon Uivcr, would be satisfactory to Canada. Th.' Minister submits that it is to be observed tliat Uie United States proposition ns communicated by Secretary Day to Sir tlnlian Pauncefote, substitutes "Lynn Canal " for " Taiya InU^t." Accordingly Secretary Day, while acceding to the (hina- dian pro|)osition to place the provisional line at the I'aiya summit, proposes to apply the principle of the watershed range between rivers flowing into I.ynn Canal and rivers flowing into the Yukon Uivcr to the route coinmoiily called tlie Dalton Trail, which leads from the head of C'hilkat Inlet. The effect of this will be to place the boundary line much more tlian ten marine leagues from the nearest salt water, where- as, under the terms of the Convention between Great Britain and Russia of 1H25, and of that between the United States and Kussia of 1867, the United States, even if it be admitted that the coast s|>okcn of in those Conventions is the shore-line of inlets (a claim which, however, is not admitted by Canada), can have no claim to any territory beyond ten leagues from salt water. Moreover, Canada is at the present time in effec- tive iiossession of a jiortion of the territory on the st^award side of the summit of the Chilkat passes by a Mounted Police l)Ost and Custom House on a tributary of the Chilkat Kiver. The Minister suggests as a suitable and unmistakable natural feature for a pro- visioitiil boundary on the Chilkat route, for the purpose of avoiding confliet.s of juris- diction, but without prejudice to the rights of either party when the boundary question is finally determined, the junction of the Klaheela (otherwise called Klehini) River with the Chilkat River. i The Minister states that as regards the marking of this point, as well as of the summits of tht ChilkcKit and White Passes, it does not ajijicar that it is necessary that Commiesioners should be appointed. The officers of the Government on the spot, either the Customs Officers, or the Military or Mounted Police Officers, could arrange the matter, planting posts, if necessary, in as satisfactory a manner as could Com- missioners specially appointed. The Crmmittec advise that Y'our Excellency bo moved to forward a certified copy of this Minute to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, and also to Her Majesty's Ambassador at Washington, All which is respectfully submitted for Your E-xccllcncy's approval. (Signed) JOHN J. MiGEE, Clerk of the Privy Council. The Honourable The Minister of the Interior. AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY AND THE RUS- SIAN AMERICAN COMPANY RESPECTING CERTAIN COMMKCIAL ARRANGEMENTS HEREINAFTER NOTICED, SIGNED AT HAMBURG SIXTH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 18;i!). The Governor, Deputy Governor, and Committee of the Hudson's Bay Company of London, and the Directors of the Russian American Company of St. Petersburg, being desirous of drawing still closer the ties of good undcrsanding and friendship which unite them, by means of an Agreement which may settle upon the basis of re- ciprocal convenience and advantage, different points connected with the commerc of the said Hudson's Bay Comjinny and the Russian .\nierican Conipnuy, have nnnicnd, to act in their behalf, and the Russian Americiin Company have appointed His Excellency Baron Wrangell, Rcar-Admiral in the service of His Majesty the Emperor of Russia, to act in their behalf ; who, after having oommuni- 220 cated to each other their respective full powers found in good and due form, have agreed iipou and signed the following Articles : — ARTICLE I. It is agreed that the Russian American Company, having the sanction of the Russian (Government to tlint olTeet. slinll eegislatiire. The Act of 14 Ueo. •!, c. h;1, which is Intituled, " An Act for milking mon; effectual Provision for the (iovornment of the I'rovime of (iuebee, in North America," in describing the boundaries of Canada, exprtwsly refers to their lying " northward to the southern boundary of the territories grunted to the Merchants Advent\irers of Kngland trading into Hudson's Day;" thereby distinctly recognizing tho existence of such a grant,, and referring to the known boundary on the south of the territories so granted. Again, an Act waa paMsed in the 4;ird year of the reign of Geo. ',i, c. 1H8, intituled, "An Act for extending the Jurisdiction of the Courts of Justice in the Provinces of Lower and Upper Canada to the Trial and Punishment of Persons guilty of Crimes and Offences within certain Purls of North America adjoining to the said Provinces;" and this Act, liuviug stated in the preamble that crimea committed in the Indian territories were not then cognizable by any jurisdiction whatsoever, declares that such crimes should be considered as if committed within the jurisdiction of the Cana- dian courts. A doubt having arisen whether this provision extended to the territories possessed by the Hudson's Bay {'onipany, because, although they formed part of the Indian territories, crimes therein conmiitted could not be said not to be cognizable by any jurisdiction whatsoever, inasmuch as the Hudson's Bay Company had a distinct juris- diction conferretl upon it by its charter, an Act was passed in the Ist & 2nd Oco. 4, c. 66, intituled, " An Act for regulating the fur trade, and establishing a commercial and Civil Jurisdiction within certain Parts of North America," by which, after recit- ing that doubts had hcen entertained whether the i>rovi8iona of the Act of fleo. 3 extended to the territories grunted by charter to tlic (iovernor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay, and that it was expedient that such doubts should be reniovitl, and the said Act should be further extended, it was declared and enacted, that the provisions of the Act of 43 (ico. it should be deemed onil construed " to extend to and over, and to be in full force in and througli all the terri- tories theretofore granted to the Hiulson's Bay Company;" thus again distinctly recog- nizing the existence of the grunt of the soil, us well as tho jurisdii'tion; for the .\ct contains an exprres reservation that nothing therein contnincd should affect tho rights, privileges, authority or jurisdiction of the Tliidson'" Bay Couipiiny; and, in conse- quence, from that period, the Company and the Canadian courts have exercised a con- currrnt jurisdiction .is to offences committed within the territories of the Company. Bj' this Act also power was given to the Crown to make, grant or give licenses for the exclusive privilege of trading with the Indiana in all such parts of Xorth America as should be specified in any such ,;.Mi>ts or licenses not being part of the lands and terri- tories granted to the Oovernor nr.i '"ompany of Adventurers of Knglnnd trading to Hudson's Bay, and not be;!\K part if iiiy of the Crown provinces in North America, or of any lands or territories beloiminir to the United States of America. By virtue of licenses 'iT;.r.;ci under the powers of this Act, the Company are entitled to rertnin cxolusivi rit'b'.s of trading beyond the limits of their own territories ; bu» this .Xct is referred to here as distinctly recognizing the rights of the Company to exclusive trade within their own territoi-ies. With legard to Taxation and (iovernment, the Company, imder their charter, are invested with power " to make, ordnin and constitue such and so many reasonable laws, constitutions, orders and ordinances as to them, or the greater part of them, being then and there present, shall seem necessary and convenient for the good government of the said Company, and of all Governors of colonies, forts and plantations, factors, ina-l(r>, niiiri;i(rs and other officers employed or to be employed in any of the territories and liiiids aforesaid, and in any of their voyages, and for the better advancement and continuance of the said trade or traffic and plantations, and the same laws, constitutions, orders and ordinances sc niailo, to put in use and execute accordingly, and at their pleasure to revoke and alter the same, or any of them, as the occasion shall require : and it is provided that the said Governor or Company, so often as they shall make, ordrtiji I r otahlish any such laws, constitutions, orders and ordinances, in such form as aforesaiil, shall and may lawfully impose, ordain, limit; and provide such pain», penalties and punishments, upon all offenders contrary to such laws, constitutions, orders and ordiniiuees, or any of them, as to the said Governor and Company for tho time iH'ing, cr the grrnter part of them then and there being present( the said Gover- nor, or his deputy, being always one), shall seem necessary, requisite or convenient for the observation if the same laws, constitutions, orders and ordinances ; and the same fines and aMicrcinmi'nts shall and nuiy, by their officers and servants, from time to time to he appointed for that purpose, levy, take nnd have to the use of the said Gover- \ W. \ 225 nor and rompany, mid tlieir successors, without the impediment > t us, our heirs or tucoessors, or of any of ihu offic«Ts or ministers of ua, our heirs oi succeesors, iiiid with- out any account therefor to us, our heirs or successors, to l)(> made so always ns tho ■aid lawB, constitutions, orders and ordinances, fines and amerciament«, Ix' reasonable, and not conlriiry or repufniant, b\it as near as may be aKreoable to the laws, statutes or customs of this o\ir realm." And it is further provided, " that all lands, islands, territories, plantations, forts, fortifications, factories or colonies, where the said Com- pany's factories and Irade are or shall bo, •.vithin any the ports or places afore limited, shall be immediately and from henceforth under the power and command of the said Governor and Company, their successors and assigns, and the said Governor and Com- pany arc empowered to appoint and establish Governors and all other officers to govern them." And it is provided, " that the Governor and his Council of the 8<'veral and respective places where ^he said Company shall have plantations, forts factories, colo- nies or places of trade, within any of the countries, lands or territories hereby granted, may have power to judge all persona belonging to the said Governor and Company, or that shall live under them, in all causes, whether civil or criminal, according to the laws of this Kingdom, and to execute justice accordingly; and in cose any crime or misdemeanor shall be committed in any of the said Company's plantations, forts, factories oi i ^aees of trade, within the limits aforesaid, where judicature cannot be executed for want of Qover'ior and Council there, then in such case it shall and may be lawful for the Chief Factor of that place and his Council to transmit the party, together with the offence, to such other plantation, factory or fort whore there shall be a Governor and Council, where justice may be executed, or into this Kingdom of England, as shall be thought most convenient, there to receive such punishment as the nature of his offence shall deserN'e." In purauancc of the authority thus given, the Compony have invariably exercised all the powers of Government necessary for the administration of justice in their territory, and for that purpose have appointed proper officers, who have acted judicially in all matters arising therein. As already observed, the Canodian courts have now a concurrent jurisdiction with the Company. It may be right here to refer to several Acts of the Legislature which have recog- nized the general rights and privileges claimed and exercised by the Company. An Act passed in the sixth year of the reign of Qutsen Anne, c. 37, intituled, " An ' Act for the Encouragement of the Trade to America," and this Act contains an express proviso, that " nothing therein contained shall extend or be construed to take away or prejudice any of the estates, rights or privileges of or belonging to the Gover- nor and Company of Adventurers trading into Hudson's Bay." In like manner, in 1745, when an Act was passed (18 Geo. 2, c. 17), for granting a reward for the discovery of a north-west passage through Hudson's Straits, it was expressly provided, that " nothing therein contained should extend or be construed to take away or prejudice any of the ebtates, rights or privileges of or belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company." No exact system of taxation has been claimed or exercised by the Company ; and until a colony of resident settlers was established, other than the Company's own ser- vants, the Company defrayed the whole expenses of the government of their territories, without tho aid of any contribution whatever; but since a colony was formed, it has been made a stipulation with the community, upon their becoming settlers, and receiv- ing parcels of land, tliat they should contribute towards ihe expenses of the govern- ment of the colony ; but tlie main charge has continued to be borne by the Com- pany. Commissioner's Office, Hudson's Bay House, Winnipeg, 13th December, 1892. W. F. Kino, Esq., Boundary Commissioner, Department of the Interior, Ottawa. Sir,— In reply to your letter of the 24th ultimo, I write to say that my information ia to the effect that the Company never had a Post on Chilkat Inlet or Lynn's Canal. They had a Post, I understand, on Tackoo Inlet, further particulars of which I shall hope to be in a position to send you shortly. Tours faithfully, 0. 0. CKIPMAN. D— E7 226 ■J; CoMMIiiSIONEB's OFFICE, Hudson's Bay House, WiNMi-EO, 13th February, 1893. Sir, — I am in receipt of some further inforraatinii rcgardint( the matter referred to in your letter of the 20lh October, 1892, which 1 transmit with the hope that it may be of service to you. I learn that in the year 1832 Fort Simpson was built on the Naas River, but the long inlet by which the Post wa.s approacbeil from the sea waa found unsuitable for shipping, while the harbour was not a well-protected one, and search was at once made for a position which would be within easy reach of tlie tribes in Southern Alaska and Northern British Columbia. The presiMit site of Port 'Simpson was selected, and removal to this point was made in the year 1834. In the same year Fort .McLaughlin was built on Milbank Sound, and it was operated until quiie recently. In 1820 and 1830 Fort Nisqually was built at the heail of Puget's Sound, where farming operations were conducted on a large scale. In 1840 the Company took over from the Russians their post called Fort Stickeen, close to the mouth of the Stickeen Biver, and established a Post on Tackoo Inlet, which was called Fort Durham, in honour of the then Governor General of Canada. It was fou.id that the Indians of thes<; two latter Posts were so difficult to deal with and so treacherous, that it was decided to abandun them, and in Outfit 1842, probably in the spring of 1S43, these Posts were closed, and the goods removed to Fort Simpson and Fort McLaughlin. The Furs, however, were still collected at tb's point by Steamer, which continued to trade with the Indians of Southern Alaska up to the time that the United States purchased that territory from the Russian Qovermnent. It appears, however, the Post of Tackoo wr-.i situated ou Tackoo Harbour, about 12 miles south of the entrance of the inlet of that name. Smue ruins of the old Post and the whole site are still to be seen close to the present Indian fishing-village of Tackoo. Yours faithfully. W. F. Kino, Esq., Department of the Interior, Ottawa. C. C. CHIPMAN. Hudson's Bay Company, Victoria, B.C., July 3rd, 1893. 0. E. H. Warden, Esq., Department of Interior, Ottawa, Ont. Dear Sir, — I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter oi 26th ult., with remit- tance for $23.10, for which amount I now return official receipt duly signed. Thanking you for your kind attenticm to this matter, we are, Yours faithfully. For Hudson's Bay Co., J. W. ANDERSON, Acet. DESCRIPTION OF THE MOUNTAIN BOUNDARY OF THE LISIERE ' ::!- CORDING TO THE CONTENTION OF CANADA. Beginning in 50° north latitude and in longitude 131° 42" or thereabouts, on the southern slope of the mountain marked 4070 o:i Sheet No. H of the British Commis- sion under the Convention of 1892 ; thence following the summit ridge of *he moun- tain« across said peak 4070, and peaks 3H()0 and 3700, and along the northerly ridge of the lust to Bradfield Cniial, and across the same to peaks marked .3400, 4150, 4600, 6200, 5543, 4800, 5980 and 4030 in sucwssion, all ou said She'«'/«. f«r?„°° cif T