A^ ^>^>^^-'.o. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 S iiiiitt M 14 III 1.6 6" Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 it^ h a Doc. No. 102. v: F:; their power 'o accomplisli the greatest practicable extent of work, and have obtained many results which cannot but be important in the examination of the vexed and important question which has been committed to them ; but, after having fully and maturely considered the subject, and interchanged the results of their respective operations, tiiey have come to the conclusion that it would be premature to embody the partial results which they have attained, in a general report, for the purpose of being laid before the political and scientific world. The meridian-line of the St. Croix has not been car- ried to a distance of more than tifty miles from the monument at the source of that river; and the operations of the other commissioners, although they have covered a wide extent of country, have fulfilled but one part of the duty assigned them — namely, that of exploration ; while, even in the parts explored, actual surveys will be necessary for the purpose of presenting the question in such form as can admit of no cavil. In particular, the results of the examination of the most northern part of the line appear to differ, in some points, from the conclusions of the late British commission. Satisfied that the latter have been reached in too hasty a manner, and without a suf- ficient time having been expended upon comparative observations, they are cautioned by this example against committing a like error. In respect to the argumentative part of the report of fhe iJritish commissioners, the duiy of furnishing a prompt and immediate reply to such parts of it as rest upon the construction of treaties, and the acts of diplomacy, has been rendered far less irapoi.ant than it might at one time have appeared, by the publication of the more important parts of the argument laid before the King of the Nether- lands, as umpire. This argument, the deliberate and studied work of men who well understood the subject, is a full exposition of the grounds on which the claim of the United States to the whole of the disputed territory rests. It has received the sanction of successive administrations, of opposite politics; and may, therefore, be considered, in addition to its original official charac- ter, as approved by the whole nation. To this publication your commission beg leave to refer, as embodying an argument which may be styled unan- swerable. The operations of the parties under the command of the several commis- sioners, were as follows: The party under the direction of Professor Renw^ick, left Portland, in de- tachments, on the 2Gth and 27th of August. The place of general rendez- vous was fixed at Woodstock, or, failing that, at the Grand Falls of the St. John's. The commissary of the party proceeded as speedily as possible to Oldtown, in order to procure boats and engage men. Professor Renwick passed by land through Brunswick. Gardiner, and Augusta. At the former place, barometer No. 1 was compared with that of Professor Cleaveland ; at Gardiner, with that of Hallowell Gardiner, Esq. ; and arrangements were made with them to keep registers, to be used as corresponding observations with those of the expedition. At Augusta, some additional articles of equip- ment were obtained from the authorities of the State; but the barometer which it had been hoped m\ght have been procured, was found to be unfit for service. At Houlton, two tents and a number of knapsacks, with some gunpowder, were ftirnished, by the politeness of General Eustis, from the Government stores. The boats and a]\ the stores reached Woodstock on the 3d September ; and all the party were collected, except one engineer, who h9.d been left be- hind at Bangor, in ihe hopes of obtaining another barometer. A bateau .«^^v.^.> work, and have examination of 3 to them ; but, 1 interchanged the conclusion hich tliey have are the poUtical s not been car- it at the source although fhey one part of the en in the parts presenting the r, the results of ear to differ, in lion. Satisfied without a suf- \tions, they are n respect to the 3rs, the duly of is rest upon the endered far less bhcation of the of the Nether- i work of men )unds on which territory rests, ipositepohtics; official charac- ur commission styled unan- sveral commis- ortiand, in de- eneral renJez- alls of the St. as possible to ssor Ren wick At the former Cleaveland ; igementswere g observations tides of equip- the barometer nd to be unfit ks, with some istis, from the d September ; ' been left be- Kr. A bateau Doc. No. 102. 3 was therefore left to bring him on. The remainder of the boats were load- ed, and the party embarked on the St. John's, on the morning of the 4th of September. This, the main body, reached the Grand Falls at noon on the 8th of September. The remaining bateau, with the engineer, arrived the next evening, having ascended the rapids of the St. Johns in a time short beyond precedent. On its arrival, it was found that the barometer, on whose receipt reliance had been placed, had not been completed in time ; and although, as was learned afterwards, it had been committed, as soon as finished by the maker, to the care of Major Graham, the other commission- ers felt compelled to set out before he had joined them. The want of this barometer, in which defects observed in the others had been remedied, was of no little detriment. A delay of eighteen days had occurred in Portland, in consequence of the refusal of Messrs. Cleaveland and Jarvis to accept their appointments ; and it was known, from the experience of the commissioners sent out in 1838 by the State of Maine, that it would require at least three weeks to reach the line claimed by the United States, from Bangor. It was, therefore, im- perative to push forward, unless the risk of having the whole of the opera- tions of this party paralysed by the setting in of winter, was to be encoun- tered. It was also ascertained at the Grand Falls, that the streams which were to be ascended were always shallow and rapid ; and that at the mo- ment, they were extremely low, so that the boats would not carry more stores than would be consumed within the time required to reach the re- gion assigned to Professor Renwick, as his share of the duty, and return. It became therefore necessary, as it had been before feared it must, to be content with an exploration, instead of a close and accurate survey. Sev- eral of the men employed had been at the northern extremity of the meri- dian-line ; but their knowledge was limited to that single object. Inquiry was carefully made for guides through the country between the sources of the Grande Fourche of Restigouche and of Tuladi, but none were to be found. One Indian only had passed from the head of Green river to the Grande Fourche, but his knowledge was limited to a single path, in a di- rection not likely to shed any light on the object of the commission ; he was, however, engaged. The French hunters of Madawasca had never penetrated beyond the sources of Green river ; and the Indians, who for- merly resided on the upper waters of the St, John's, were said (o have aban- doned the country for more than twelve years. The party was now divided into four detachments : the first to proceed down the Restigouche. to the tide of the bay of Chaleurs ; the second to as- cend the Grande Fourche of Restigouche to its source ; the third to be sta- tioned on Green river mountain ; the fourth to convey the surplus stores and heavy baggage to Lake Temiscouata, and thence to ascend the Tuladi and Abagusquash, to the highest accessible point of the latter. It was resolved that the second and fourth detachments should endeavor to cross the country and meet each other, following, as far as possible, the height of land. A general rendezvous was again fixed at Lake Temiscouata. In compliance - -ith this plan, the first and second detachments ascended the Grand river together, crossed the Wagansis portage, and reached the confluence of the Grande Fourche and southwest branch of Restigouche. The first detachment then descended the united stream, returned by the same course to the St. John's, and reached the portage at Temiscouata on the 7th October, All the intended objects of the detachment were happily accomplished. :1 i\ - 4 Doc. No. 102. Mi The second detachment, under the personal direction of the commissioner, reached the junction of the north and south branches of the Grande Fourche on the 22d September. Two engineers, with two men to carry provisions, were then despatched to cross the country to tlie meridian line, and thence to proceed westward to join the detachment at Kedjjwick lake. This duty was performed, and many valuable observations obtained ; but an accident, by which the barometer was broken, prevented all the anticipated objects of the mission from being accomplished. All the stores which could possibly be spared were now placed in a depot at the junction of the south tranch, and the commissioner proceeded with the boats thus lightened towards Kedgwick lake. The lightening of the boats was rendered necessary, in r jnsequence of the diminution of llie vol- ume of the river, and the occurrence of falls, over which it would have been impossible to convey them when fully loaded. For want of a guide, a branch more western than that which issues from the lake was entered. One of the boats was, therefore, sent round into the lake, to await the return of the engineers despatched to the meridian-line. The stores, which were all that could be brought up, in the state of th? waters, were now found to be wholly insufficient to allov of committing the party to the unexplored country between this stream and Tuladi. Even the four days which must intervene before the return of the engineers could be expected, would do much to exhaust them. The commissioner, therefore, resolved to proceed across the country, with no other companion than two men, carrying tf October. A determined me lunar ob- for the re- Ingall, who id, taking its le engineers The commis- st, blazing a ,nd as repre- sented on any maps, prevented the commissioner from nicctiiig tliis party. It found tiie source of the central or main branch of Tuludi to the north of that of the Abagusquash ; and, following the height of land, reached the deep and narrow valley of the Rimouski, at the point where, on the Hritisli maps, that stream is represented as issuing frou.- a ridge of mountains far north of the line ofTercd to the King of the Netherlands as the bounds of the American claim. The commissary, tlierefore, found it impossible to ascend Uiniouski to its source; and, crossing its valley, found himself again on a dividing rioge, whore he soon struck a stroam running to the southeast. This, from a comparison of courses and distances, is believed to be the source of .no main branch of the Grande Fourche f. Restigonche ; and thus the second and fourtii detachments had reached points within a very tiiiori distance of each other. The greater breadth of the dividing ridge has thus been explored ; but it will remain to ti'ace the limits of the valley of the Rimouski, which will form a deep indenture in the boundary- line. This line having been explored, a party was Ibrmc^d, after the assem- blage of the several divisions at Temiscouata, lor the purpose of levelling it with a barometer ; but the expedition was frustrated by a heavy snow- storm, which set in on the r2tli of October. This, the most important part of the whole northern line, therefore remains for future investigation. It can only be stated, tlmt strong grounds exist for the belief that its summits are not only higher than any point which has been measured, but that, although cut by the Rimoiski, it exceeds, in average elevation, any part of the disputed territory. Tli(5 levelling of the Temiscouata portage appeared to be au object of great importance, not only on its own account, but as furnishing a base for future operations. As soon as a siiliicieut force had beun assembled at L^ake Temiscouata, a party was, there/ore, formed to survey the portage with a theodolite. Orders were also given by the commissioner, that the first ba- rometer which should be returned should be carried over the portage. It was believed that this double provision would have secured the examina- tion of this point, beyond the chance of failure. A snow storm, however, (the same wliicli interrupted the last operation referred to,) set in after the •ijvel had been run to the mountain of Biort ; and one of the laboring men, worn out by his preceding fatigues, fell sick. The party being thus ren- dered insutlicient, the engineer in command found himself compelled to re- turn. The contemplated operation with the barometer was also frustrated ; for, on examination at T(!miscouata, it was found that all were unlit for further service. In order that the desired object might be accomplished, a new expedition was despatched from New York, on the 12th of Novem- ber, furnished with four barometers. This party, by great exertions, reached St. Andre, on the St. Lawrence, on the eighth day, I'md accon)plished the object of its mission. 'J'he operation was rendered possible, at this in- clement season, by its being confined to a beaten road, and in tlie vicinity of human habitations. The countrv which has been the object of this reconnoissance, is, as may already be understood, of very diflicult access frou) the settled parts of the State of Maine. It is also, at best, almost iini)enetrable, except by the water- rourses. It furnishes no supplies, except, fish and small game; nor can these be obtained by a surveying party, which cannot be strong enough to allow for hunters and fishermen as a constituent part. The third detach- ment alone derived any important benefit from these sources. The best i H ^. i Doc. No. 102. H :'i h mode orsnpplyinjT n party moving on the cnstnrn section, would be to draw provivsions and stores tVoni the St. Lawrence. It is, indeed, now obvious, aithouijh it is contrary to the behef of any of the persons prolossintr to be acquainted with tlie subject, that, liad iho. commissioner proceeded from New York, by the way of Montreal and (Quebec, he might have r(!ached the district assigned to him a fortni'j;hl earher, and have accomphshed twice as much work as his parly was able to perform. Although much remains to be done in this region, an extensive know- ledge of a country hitherto unknown and unexplored has been obtained ; and this not only sheds much light upon the boundary question in its pres- ent state, but will be of ])ermanent service in case of a further r.r /;ar/c examination, or of a joint commission being agreed upon by the Govern- ments of Great Britain and the United States. The season was too late for any efficient work, as the hne to be explored was not reached before the 22d of September. Not only were the rivers at their lowest ebb, but ice was me!, in the progress of the parlies, as early as the 12th of September, and snow fell on the 2lst and 22d of September. The actual setting in of winter, which sonietimes occurs in the first week of Oc- tober, was therefore to bo dreaded. From this time, the coiintry becomes unfit for travelling of any description, until the streams are bound with solid ice, and a crust formed on the snow of sufficient firmness to make it passable on snow-shoes. The only road is that along the St. John's river ; and it would be almost impossible for a party, distant more than ten or twelve miles from that stream, to extricate itself after the winter begins. No duty could be well imagined more likely to be disagreeable tlian that assiiincd to Professor Rcnwick. The only feasible modes of opproach lay, for hundreds of miles, through the acknowledged limits of the Hritish terri- tory ; and the line he was directed to explore was included within the mil- itary posts of that nation. It may be likened to the entry upon the land of a neijjhbor for the purpose of inquiring into his title. Under these circum- stances of anticipated difficulty, it becomes his duty, as well as his pleasure, to acknowledge the uniform attention and civilities he experienced from all parties, whether in official or in private stations. AH possibility of inier- ruplion by the local authorities was prevented by a proclamation of his excellency Sir John ITarvey, K. C. 15.. Lieutenant Governor of the Prov- ince of New Brunswick ; and the British warden. Colonel McLaughlin, was personally instrumental in jjromoting the comforts of the commissioner and his assistants. Similar attentions were received from the officer.s of the garrison at Fort Ingall, the commandant of the citadel of Quebec, and from his excellency the Governor General. Fiven the private persons, whose property might be affected by the acknowledgment of the American claim, exhibited a generous hospitality. The party under the direction of Captain Talcott left the settlements on Hall's stream on the 6th of September. The main branch of this was followed to its source in u swamp, in which a branch of the St. Francis also had its origin. From this point, the party followed the ridge dividinq: the Atlantic from the St. Lawrence waters, until it was supposed that all the branches of Indian stream had l)een headed. In this work the party was employed until the 14th September. It had now arrived at a point wheie tlie Megalloway river should be foimd to the left, according to the most authentic map of the country ; especially that prepared by the New Hampshire commissioner, appointed in 1830 to explore the boundary of that jld be to draw now obvious, ol'ossiiinf to be roceeded from hfivo r(!acbod nplished twice tensive kiiow- eeii obtained ; on in its pres- rtber ex- parte J the Govern- to be explored e the rivers at cs, as early as )tembor. The 5t week of Oc- intry becomes e bound with sss to make it John's river : e than ten or ter befrins. able tliaii that approach lay, p IJritish terri- ithin tht! mil- on the land of these circum- iiis pleasure, need Irom all )ility of inler- uKUion of his of the Prov- McLauirhlin, commissioner officers of the lec, and from rsons, whose erican claim, settlements \ of this was St. Francis dge dividincf osed that all rk the party d at a point 3rd in o; to the by the New iidary of that Doc. No. 102. 7 State, and accompanyinfif that report.* The party, accordino'ly, boro well north, to avoid bt!ni<; led from the true "heisfhtof land" by th.j dividing ridge between the Coiniecticut and Androscocja^in rivers. After crossing several small streams, it came, on the aftfrnoon of the l.^th, to a rivulet, about Vi feet wide, runninjj to the east, which was supposed to be the main M<'{j'i"<'W"y • ''i^ "J'l' was spent in explorinj^ it to its source. The next day it was discovered that what had btuiu taken for the Megalloway was a tributary of Salmon river, a lar^re branch of the St. Francis; and, conse- quently, the party was considerably to the north of the boundary. The supply of provisions did not allow the party to retrace its steps to the point where it had divercied from the true dividinj; ridge. The course was therefore changed, until it bore a little south ; but it was not until the 22d that the party found itself again on the dividing ridge, and then upon the waters of the Megalloway. The party reached Arnold river, or (^haudiere, above Lake Megantic, on the 24tli September. After having recruited, and taken a fresh supply of provisions from the depot established there, the party was divided into two detachmei s. One returned westward, to find the corner of the State of New Hani,ishi-e, as marked by the commission in 1789 ajipointed to trace the bound ne. It was ascertained that the corner was on the true dividing ridge, and not from _ht to ten miles south, as has been erroneously reported by the surveyor employc^d by the New Hampshire commissioners in IS^jO, and reiterated in several official papers. From the State corner, the dividing ridge was followed to wiiere it had been previously explored by the party. Thence a course was taken to the northeast, so as to reach tlie head of liakc Megantic, and thence to Lake Magaumac, where, on the 8lh October, the two detachments were again united. The detachment led by the assistant, Mr. Cntts, had successfully followed the dividing ridge from the camp of the 24th, on Arnold river, to this place. It was now ascertained that (he provisions remainins" were not sufficient to subsist all of the company until the K^ennebec road could be reached liy following the lieii^-ht of land. It was thought advisable again to separate into detachments — one to follow the ridge, supplied with provisions for twenty days ; and the other to strike for the nearest settlement, which, it was supposed, could be reached in four or five days. This movement com- menced on the lOth October, and the detachment, following the high land, reached the Kennebec road on the 23d ; and on the following day, provis- ions for the party for fifteen days were placed there, and a like quantity at the mouth of tlie Metjarmette. It was intended that the two detachments should move, simultaneously, from these two points, on the 26th, to explore the boundary-line as far as Lake Etchemin. A deep snow, which com- menced falling on the night of the 25th, compelled the commissioner to abandon further explorations at that time ; and there was not the slightest probability that thf^y could bo resumed before another year. The result of those explorations may be stated as follows: Aboiit IGD miles or country along or near the " heig-ht of land'^ have been traversed, the travelled distances carefully estimated, and the courses meas- ured with a compass, Ba"omctrical obseivations were made as often as ne- cessary for giving a profile of the route from the head of Hall's stream to ♦ Also, see Rep. No, 176, Ho. Reps., 3d session, 25th Congress. , i' I ,1 , \ \v i t' ; a, :•, : s. f V: f.iii' lb 8 Doc. No. 102. Arnold's, or tho ('hniidiere rivtir, nnd tlienco to Lnko Mn Ibe prevalence of clouds, not as often as was desirable. They will serve for correctinuf the; courses and es- timated distances as travelled, nurometricjil observations lor comparison were made at the intersection of the Kemiebec road and heijrht of land, hourly, from 7 A. M., to 5 P. M., while the parlies were on tlic dividing lidjje. Tho only discovery of interest made by this party, is, that the Ma^jallo- way river does not head any of the branches of the Connecticut, as ii was generally believed it did ; and, consequently, our claim to Hall's stream is de- prived of the support it would have had, from the fact that all tho other branches were headed by an Atlantic river, and, conse([Ucntly, could not be reached by the line along tho height of land from tho norlliwest angle of Nova Scotia. Th 3 other commissioner (Major J. D. Graham) did not receive his appoint- ment until lOtli August, to (ill the place left vacant by the non-acceptance of Proftissor Cleaveland ; and to him was assigned the survey and examina- tion of the due north line, commencing at tho source of tho riv