1060 Q792c THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES Confidential. CE11T AIX ( When the animal has horns it is better to leave them attached to the skull, but then to remove the flesh from the head it is necessary that a cut should be made below the chin, but if more convenient the horns may be sawed from the skull below the skull leaving them attached to the skin and when the flesh has been removed the skull may be replaced in the skin. The fleshy parts as the nose or feet are sometimes attacked by insects they then should be washed with spirits of turpentine. Some persons employ arsenic or arsenical soap to rub the inside of the skins, especially the parts about the heads, but wood ashes and burnt alum do very well, especially in cold climates and the danger of using arsenic is avoided. The use of corrosive sublimate should always be avoided as it rots the skin and makes it come to pieces when the specimens are damped to set them up. I may observe that in addition to the specimens asked for any mice rats, shrew mice, moles, lizards, snakes or any small quadrupeds or reptiles would be acceptable they may either be skinned or placed in rum or strong spirits of any kind a cut being first made in the side of the body to admit the spirits to the intestines. It is supposed that there are many kinds that have not hitherto been brought to Europe though they are common when found and are confounded with the common European kinds ; but upon comparison and minute inspection they prove distinct. (Signed) JOHN EDWARD GRAY, Keeper of the Zoological Collection British Museum. 30th March, 1842. HUDSON'S BAT HOUSE, LONDON, 31st March, 1842. DUNCAN FINLAYSON, Esqr. &c. &c. &c. Red River Settlement. SIR, The Governor & Committee being desirous to render every assist- ance to Science have directed me to forward the annexed copy of a letter dated 17th February from S. E. Gray, Keeper of the Zoological collection of the British Museum with a copy of directions for skinning quadrupeds & I am to request that you will issue instructions to the gentlemen in charge of the various districts to comply with the desire of Mr. Gray as far as lies in their power. I am, sir, Your very Obedt. (Signed) WILL'M. SMITH. Secy. HUDSON'S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. 15 PEEL'S RIVER. June 22nd, 1842. JOHN LEE LEWES, Esq., DEAR SIR, I have much pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of your favor of the 1st inst. from Fort Good Hope likewise copy of your letter under date 17th February last from Ft. Simpson. The Beavers of the Winter Express I am truly grieved to say have not reached this Establish- ment & no doubt have perished on their route either from starvation or having lost themselves. The Beavers of the spring letters Mr. McKenzie & Walls having failed in their endeavours to get up to Fort Good Hope I immediately on their return despatched Frances Boucher with an Indian to acquaint you with the state of affairs at this place. The season being so far advanced when Boucher left here 7th May that he experienced a great deal of difficulty before he reached Fort Good Hope 2nd June the very day you took your departure from it & altho he followed the Boat as far as Blue Fish River without success he was obliged to return to the Fort where he left the letters Inventory, & Men's Winter advances in charge of St. Amand who will no doubt forward them to you by the Summer conveyance Boucher and the Indian arrived here in safety on the 19th Inst. having to hunt for his support' all the way down. In my communications of the 24th April & 7th May I had stated our scarceity of Provisions at that season and the privations which generally prevailed among the natives during the latter end of the Winter & Spring which prevented them from giving any assist- ance consequently we are without any provisions for the ensuing Winter except about 500 Ib dry meat collected since the opening of the navigation. Any quantity however small of provisions including dry meat & pemecan you can spare us will be most acceptable. The Rat Indians who went to the Beaver Country last Winter did not succeed in their enterprise principally from having suffered incredible hardships & privations some of the party died from want & the others were reduced to the necessity of eating most of the Beaver skins to keep them alive, this unforseen circumstance has entirely blighted my fine prospects of good Returns which will fall greatly short of last year both in number & value of Packs. Having detained the leader of the Rat Indians here since the beginning of May in expectations of learning your decision respecting the expedition across the Western Rocky Mountains The determination of Mr. McKenzie to go out and the unfortunate fate of the two men in March would of itself prove a sufficient obstacle in the way of prosecuting this desirable object. Nevertheless I have resolved on accompanying the Indian to-morrow with only two men & a kind of Interpreter. I have every hope of success at least of reaching the rendezvous of the strange tribe from whom the Rat Indians procure the Beaver, Should all go well I expect to be back in suffi- cient time to accompany the Returns to Good Hope in August. Mr. Mc- Kenzie will leave this about the 5th of next month for the upper posts & will deliver you the Requisition for Outfit 43 as also the private orders of Inland men. Having nothing else to add worthy your notice, I remain, dear sir, Your obedt. servant, (Signed) JOHN BELL. 16 HUDSON'S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. COPY 9th Paragraph of the Governor and Committee's Despatch of the 30th March 1842 to Duncan Finlayson Esqre & the Council of the Northern Department. It gives us satisfaction to learn that an accession of trade may be ex- pected in the McKenzie's River District by the Establishments of Posts in the country recently explored by Mr. Campbell which is represented as being rich in fur bearing animals and with abundant means of living. The loss of life in this District has been very great, which we much deplore and we must impress upon you the necessity of instructions being issued to guard as much as possible against similar accidents. Application has been made by the relatives of William Mowat & three of the men that perished with him viz. James Loutett, William Merriman, & William Robertson natives of Orkney, respecting the balances left by these persons in the Company's hands which however cannot be settled until information is received whether the parties have made Testamentary dispositions of their property or left families in the Bay. In order to enable us to close the Aces of deceased Servants as soon as possible we desire that search be always made immediately after their death to ascertain if a will has been left, which should be sent to England without delay information should at the same time be transmitted, if the parties have left a family stating their names and ages. FORT SIMPSON, 24th June, 1842. JOHN LEE LEWES Esqr., &c. &c. &c. DEAR SIR, Immediately after your departure on the 21st I began to collect the various supplies you left me for Frances Lake after you told me that you had delivered all the voyage to the Guide who also himself told me that the Main Lines, Lodges and oil cloths were secure in the house garret. I was perfectly at ease on that subject, but when in the course of the evening you left us, but one of the Main Lines could be found after a diligent search all over the Fort you may easily guess my perplexity, this was a most vexatious disappointment the more so that I could only supply the deficiency of such an absolutely necessary article but by splicing the Bow & Stem lines & replacing them with such pieces of old halyards &c as I could find. I cannot comprehend what has become of the original line which Frances affirms was lying in the garret, its fate is a mystery I cannot unravel. The same day Isbister had the misfortune to have his foot run up by an old rusty nail in the pit-saw which had laid him perfectly useless & on but one leg for God knows how long ; but being a good man which the duty I have to perform much requires, I will take him on in the hopes of his recovery in every other respect I could not wish to be better equipped and provided than by your kindness I am, & nothing but the high water in this unnatural river will prevent our making a prosperous campaigne of it. Agreeably to your request I herewith beg to hand you an Indent for additional supplies in Fall on account of Frances Lake of which you are aware I cannot at present form but a very imperfect estimation of what HUDSON'S BA T COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. 17 may or may not be required to meet the demand of Trade soon as this part of my duty was performed the crafts left for their several destinations, the last of them on the morning of the 3rd September. The Winter arrangements for the several posts then had taken place viz. : Frances Lake : Mr. Robert Campbell and ten men, including Guide and Interpreter. Fort Halkett : Mr. Pambran and three men. Fort de Liard : Mr. C. T. Fisher and six men. Peel's River : Mr. C. T. Bell, James Prudens, seven men and an appren- tice boy a son of Frances Hoole engaged last Spring on a seven years Con- tract and sent to Peel's River from whence I have desired Mr. C. T. Bell to send him with the Loucheux Chief for two or three years so as to perfect himself in the language of that tribe that he may hereafter act as Interpre- ter for the Post of Peel's River. Fort Good Hope : Mr. Alex. Christie and three men. Fort Norman : Mr. Adam McBeath and four men. Fort Simpson : Mr. C. F. Lewes, Mr. William Hardesty and nineteen men, part of these men wintered at the Big Island Fishery after having HUDSON'S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. 27 performed the trip to the Long Portage west branch river, our provision store being too low to admit of keeping them all here. Mr. Hector McKenzie apprentice Pt. Master I found at this place on my arrival, he had arrived but a few days before me from Peel's River, and as ic was then too late for forwarding him to Red River in the regular Sum- mer crafts he passes the present Winter at the Big Island Fishery in charge of that station, his salary for the current year must be left to your decision. On the 30th September last I received despatches from the lower posts, Mr. C. T. Bell was at Good Hope when Mr. Christie, junr, reached that post and I am sorry to say that the information received from Mr. Bell regarding his charge and future prospects is not of so high and satisfactory a nature as would be wished. The Natives of his post were partakers of the general scarcity of food last season the consequence of which has been a great falling off in the article of Beaver, the total returns last year were 1200 odd, this year of what is at present stored at Good Hope only 600, a few more may be added to this ere Spring but not in sufficient numbers I suspect to make it tally with the past outfit the total number of packs brought by Mr. Bell to Good Hope are 51. Eleven of these belong to outfit /41 and the other 40 to the current season, In addition to the decrease in the Beaver returns from that post a general scarcity of pro- visions at it is likewise to be much regretted, by Mr. Hector McKenzie. Mr. Bell wrote to me stating the picture of his future prospects for passing the long and dreary Winter and that unless he received assistance in the way of provisions hd dreaded fatal results towards himself and those under his command before ensuing spring. To aid him as I would have wished was out of my power. The total failure I may say throughout the District both last Spring and Summer in the provision trade rendered such impossible not two thousand had been collected during Summer among all the posts and what was made in this essential commodity was only at Forts Simpson and Norman, not an ounce was available from any of the other posts towards our general disbursements, nevertheless low as I found my- self for meeting all the heavy demands from this place; Mr. Bell, come what may had to be assisted, and he was so to the utmost of my power, from this he received 1400 Ib. of dry meat and Pemecan and from Fort Norman 1 00 Ib. of the former making in all 1900 Ib., on receiving this at Good Hope he writes that with that supply sent he thinks he will be able to pass the ensuing winter if not in absolute plenty at least so as to keep body and soul together. Mr. Bell during last summer had undertaken a trip of discovery to the West side of the Mountains but owing to the desertion of his Indian guide it was a failure. The following paragraph of his letter will put you in possession of all that is interesting to learn on that head. In my communication of 22nd last June previous to my departure on a voyage accross the Western Mountains I entertained sanguine hopes of being able to reach the large River mentioned by the Mu- quash Indians which flows through the country inhabited by a tribe of the Musquash Indians more remote than themselves. The desertion of my guides & the difficulty of procuring provisions defeated my expectations, the distance from the Peel to cross a long chain of mountains will I fear be an insur- mountable barrier in the way of extending the trade to that part of the country. We took 4 days of difficult travelling to reach a small river which descends between the Mountains in a S. W! course, this stream is fordable where I fell upon it but like all the Rivers which rise in the Mountains, it is fed by innumerable rivulets which greatly contribute to augment its waters and renders it of sufficient depth for small boats. I attempted to carry a small canoe accross the Mountains but owing to the badness of the road the men were obliged to abandon it, on arriving at the 28 HUDSON'S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. i river I felt the want of a canoe to navigate it & the two men & two Indians that accompanied me soon made a raft with which we decended three days the current being hardly perceptible, our progress was consequently slow, in the evening of the third day we happened to find three small Indian canoes on the Beach two of these we tied together with cords & embarking two men in each, the third with one man in it preceded us for the purpose of killing game for our daily wants. We now proceeded more expeditiously with our fiail vessels which the least wind and ripple threatened to over- whelm ; after having travelled 4 days we arrived at a Camp of Rat Indians which they apparently abandoned a few days before. My guide whose re- lations they were proposed to go and see them at a short distance in land for the purpose of obtaining some dry fish for our voyage, promising to come back early next morning which he never intended to fulfil ; but took the precaution of sending another in his place, at first I was highly pleased with this substitute being an experienced man and seemed well acquainted with the river to which we were bound. The second day after we set out with this new guide I was much surprised on hearing him declare that he would proceed no further with us alleging the distance to reach the large river, 1 so anxiously wished to see, to be so great that we should be over- taken by the cold before we could be able to come back in the Fall and that for want of clothing he was not prepared for such a long journey. I remonstrated with him in vain on the impropriety of his conduct but no persuasion could induce him to change his mind. I then had no alterna- tive but to return, being apprehensive had I persevered in reaching the object of my wish without a guide I might probably return too late to forward the Returns to Fort Good Hope & having left nobody at the Fort to do it in my absence. The route to return by the river being long and winding the Indian guided us home across the country of the Musquash Indians and we arrived at the Fort on the 24th July after an absence of 32 days. In my voyage down the River I observed the scarcity of wood and have not seen one place where large timber fit for building could be found. From this imperfect sketch you will be better able to judge of the practicability of establishing a post beyond the Western Mountains. From Good Hope llth Sept. he wiites : "By the arrival of Mr. Christie here yesterday I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favor under date the 31st ulto accompanying the outfit for Peel's River a few pieces of which got wet on the passage down in consequence of the leaking of the boat. I am truly pleased to see the quantity of Pemecan and dry meat you have forwarded by this conveyance which will render us great service & I sin- cerely trust will be the means of enabling me to pass the approaching long winter without want. I arrived at this place on the 30th ulto after a favourable and expeditious passage of 7 days. The returns amounting to 51 packs were stored here in perfect good order, I am truly distressed to acquaint you with the unfortunate fate of the two Express men who were cruelly murdered by the Indians of this Post three days journey below the Establishment and their bodies have no doubt been eaten by their mur- derers. It is reported that a widow with her family who committed this horrid crime and when the fact of her being the murderer is clearly ascer- tained and proved against her an exemplary punishment ought to be inflicted on the cannibals. Next Summer either Mr. Bell or Mr. J. S. Pruden will again make the attempt to penetrate to the Westward for the purpose of exploring that unknown part of the country. The Post of Good Hope was under the charge last Summer of one of the common men Buonaventure St. Amand the dreadful misfortune of last season has left so few Indians that but little could be expected from the few that do survive. Mr. Christie, junior, writes that a few furs were in HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. 29 store when he arrived but not a mouthful of dry Provisions but notwith- standing his then scarcity his hopes for the future were somewhat sanguine of procuring some for a few Indians had been in and report that the Rein Deer were flocking from the Coast to the Interior. The Summer report from Fort Norman is as satisfactory as can be wished for the provisirn trade excepted which only yielded 800 pounds, 500 of which was sent to Mr. Bell, but I am not apprehensive that any scarcity of food for Winter Consumption will take place at that Post. Mr. A. McBeath has the Bear's Lake at hand for yielding a supply of fish, the able manner in which he last year availed himself of this reserve proved of the greatest benefit not only to those immediatfily under him but to his neighbours likewise this year he has followed the same plan by boating his fish home and will I trust procure plenty for passing the present winter. In another part of this letter I stated that the last Craft left this with outfits on the 3rd September these were two boats for the long Portage West Branch River having on board the Outfits of Forts Halkett and de Liard and additional supplied for Frances Lake on account of the current year, and likewise an outfit for Frances Lake for Outfit /43 to lay in depot at Fort Halkett till next Summer where Mr. Campbell if he requires it early can send for it on the 20th September. Bapte. Bruce who was guide and had charge of these two boats arrived safe at the Portage and there he found Mr. Pambran & Whitford the latter from Frs. Lake with one small boat sent according to my instructions by Mr. Campbell to take up the additional Outfit and servants advances. Whitford left the Portage on the following morning after Bruces arrival for Frances Lake since then I have received no tidings from that place. Bruce returned from the Portage on the 25th September when I received letters from Messrs. Campbell and Pambran. The following paragraphs from that of Mr. Campbell's will put you in possession of all that that gentleman reports regarding the new establishment forming under his management. Agreeably to your instruc- tions Whitford with a boat and slender crew will leave here Monday next (5th) to meet those sent from Fort Simpson with the Outfit at "Portage de Diable " which with such velocity of current in their favour I hope they will reach by the tenth. I would willingly transmit to you by the same conveyance the various informations you requested regarding the natives, &c., but I had not the pleasure yet of seeing any exclusive of those composing my own party, one family and of my old acquaintance is all that I saw since I left Fort de Liard and in lieu of any other news I will give you the outline of our voyage up which was the most toilsome that can possibly be conceived rendered particularly so from the unusual circumstance of the water having kept uncommonly high the whole summer, till indeed after our arrival here, the current everywhere strong and in many places one continuation of rapids and but little beach to afford tracking that the people were com- pletely exhausted especially the Indian part of the crew which were so much overcome with fatigue that they were not worth being named as such. From Fort de Liard (which we left on the 4th July) we were till the 18th reaching the Portage being some days water bound other whole days half of the crew were a head with the Oxes while the rest were towing on the boats. At the Portage we could not attempt to pass the Boats by Water consequently we had to make a road across that Mountain of three miles long and launch the Boats and Cargoes across which with our mutual and collected strength put forth took us till the close of the 23rd to accomplish it by which time we were all as fatigued as fatigue could possibly make us. 80 HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. i We reached Fort Halkett on the 25th where we found Hoole well and the result of his summer management as satisfactory as could be expected. Susseaume I gave in exchange for Hoole and made over the charge of the place to Mr. Pambran and left it early on the 27th and after toiling in the usual way against strong current and without any delay except a few hours with Indians at the Forks of the Deases and West Branch we reached here at last on the 13th August, a voyage of 49 days including delays and of a continuation of toils and difficulties which I hope now no future successor will have to experience. The little house we built here in /40 we fitted up and it serves at present as a temporary store for our goods, the other buildings were immediately commenced but from the circumstance of building wood being so scarce and far to carry on men's shoulders, so few good axemem among the party, with this, the attending to Fisheries and getting of the various materials for and making of small canoes &c that we are getting on but rather tardy, however a house of 42 feet inside by 17 & 9 Ft. Posts a store of 30 by 20 and 10 ft posts is up and logged except the roofing and the frame of Men's Hoiise of 30 by 16 ft is rendered on the spot ready to be erected. The site is a very fine one on the Forks of the Lake directly opposite the mouth of the River about 3 miles distant ou a beautiful "Cottian " at the Foot of Simpson's Tower. But upon the whole when so many necessary things are done & a doing T cannot complain of the progress we have made in so short a time but now that our party must break up some for the Portage others soon to attend regularly to the Fisheries the building will as a matter of course go on but at a small pace and what has also retarded us greatly is that the only good builder I have here Old Lapierre has been for half the time I have been here laid up so very ill that his life was despared of but he has now so far recovered that he is at his work again, that you may see that with every expedition we can use Winter will be upon us before we can possibly have any shelter ready to protect us from its severity but if we have provisions I do not despare of our being snugly housed before Christmas. Our Fishery with 9 Nets constantly in the water is not sufficiently productive to support the Establishment, with their whole produce the meat of 2 Reindeer we have also spent 2* bags of Pemecan since our arrival here. The day we arrived we got 6 nets set without delay and almost immediately after they produced 49 fine fish and the next morning 61 this promising well for the beginning but we did not get so many in any day since & what is singular they regularly diminish after the first night a net is set till none at all is got till changed to some other place but as yet we had but little time to look about us there being so much to do and so little time for it. Rennie our Fisherman at least the intended one will I am afraid be of little service this season. He cannot go yet into a fishing canoe & this lake is a terrible place for wind that had we boats for that purpose it would be a god-send to us, as indeed some- thing of that kind we must soon have there being no bark in this quarter fit for Canoe making. Regarding our hunters they went off in different directions as soon after our arrival as they got canoes made (a no easy task here) ay that it is now pretty manifest that none of these Mountain Lakes tho' of a large size can be depended upon for yielding fish in sufficient quantities throughout the year so as to prevent privations, the following extracts, from Mr. Campbell's letter will lay before you all the information that gentleman has transmitted to me regarding the new post under his charge " Frances made a very expeditious voyage to & from the Portage, but then long delay there has brought with it an endless series of evils in its train which has disorganized my plans of operation & kept our buildings altogether in the rear. I cannot commence my letter with the usual phase of that it affords me pleasure the very contrary is the case nothing but adverse and untoward circumstances makes me trouble you at this early period, which in one word is this, that my prospects of procuring food for the support of the Establish- ment over Winter is none of the most favourable. The fishery has hitherto continued very unproductive, no improvement since you heard from me, first nights trial has been the best yet though the Lake has been tried all over with plenty of good nets, then produce falls short of the daily consumption at this time which is generally the most favourable for fishing & what may we expect in the dead of winter. Rennie who was stationed at the furthest end of the Lake to little pur- purpose, I sent off at the close of Sept. with Indians carrying canoe and fishing agres across land to Finlayson's Lake. The report we heard of that and several other lakes in the vicinity was truly flattering and since the arrival of the boat and more hands I have been anxiously waiting (not in idleness) for the arrival of an Indian with news, and Guide Frances with a man or tWo there for attending the fishery and other operations I had in contemplation, and it was only late last niht that the Indian cast up, & I am sorry to say with the sad news that no fish was taken in either fishing lake or any other lake that was tried, thus my brilliant hopes failed before they were bloomed. The Hunters likewise have done but little good. That from the little knowledge and experience we have of the country & its resources it would be risking too much to keep such a large Establishment i 3 84 HUDSON'S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. i of men for Winter, with such gloomy prospects before, especially that once the River sets fast I can have no retreat should matters come to the worst. But had you followed up the plan upon which we parted (viz) to send a sufficiency of provisions for rendering the Outfit here ("Here I beg leave to note that Mr. Campbell is labouring under a very great error, our plans alluded to I more than followed up, provisions were sent from here 450 Ib pemican or 5 Bags to the Portage de Diable as cargo expressly for victual- ling the crew of the Boat sent by Mr. Campbell to take up the remnant of his Outfit &c the crew consisted of 7 men at 3 Ibs per day each man I had sent for 21 days full rations and they were only 16 en route so that I had sent a bag of pemecan more than was necessary to take them back to Frances Lake but it would appear that out of the 5 bags sent only 3 were delivered to Whitford the Guide of the Boat at the Portage. Mr. Camp- bell consequently must have been misinformed, otherwise he would not have stated what he has done in this last sentence :) " and could you spare it some for next seasons operation, in case how matters would turn out by this having a little Depot say 2 or 3 bags pemecan at Fort Halkett, I would have a safe retreat at any season, a bag of pemecan would be sufficient for every two men from here to Fort Halkett and from thence to Fort de Liard, a bag for every three men, were this the case I would stand it out to the last extremity rather than break through our first arrangement, an expedient which I have adopted with the greatest reluctance & which pains me to the soul as it not only puts a stop to our present operations (which were getting on nicely) but also deranges my intended plans for next season, and it grieves me most of all, that any news but favourable would go from Frances Lake to Head quarters But from the aspect circumstances wear with the unfavorable result of our personal experience here I would not be justified in committing myself without the possibility of retreat to the danger of our lives and Company's Interest. Fort Halkett without any pro- visions there is the same as if it did not exist at all. Regarding our build- ings for the time we have been at them, we have advanced remarkably well ; I have now got an excellent set of men who are daily improving, and sorry I am on that same account to break them up & I can assure you that since the day of our arrival here that none of them have eaten their fish in idle- ness, to-day they have all been at work among snow mud and stones making chimnies till about 1 P.M. after which our fur parcels were tied up and I suppose soon after midnight they will be off. Did you not expressly tell me that you wanted Frances next Spring I would not have sent him I am apprehensive how the party without him would get on now or secure the Boat at " Portage BruleV' You know that he is the only confidential man I have got & that no officer has been sent I know not how I can risk the Fort into the hands of any other I have next season during my absence as ] am quite willing, determined to go on with my discovery voyage next season, but you are not to expect any furs or perhaps news next Spring, a circumstance to which I am glad you were pleased not to restrict me & which if you did it would be impossible for me as will easily see from the arrival of the beavers to carry it into execution, I have however for- warded the few furs I have to be ready for exportation and I have to beg you will be pleased to excuse the hurried manner in which they are tied up. I do not wish to detain them longer for fear of the cold setting in sud- denly. I will request Mr. Pambran to forward what few furs he may have also & if from the state of the weather and other circumstances Frances will not venture to take the canoe from Fort Halkett, there will be no other alternative than that they take the boat from lower end of " Portage de Diable " to Fort de Liard, then Mr. C. T. Fisher will forward them by some other craft. Be assured that it galls me sufficiently to have to give rise to such complicated troubles, but I have no other alternative with any possible HUDSON'S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. 35 safety that I could follow and after all God only knows how we are to get over the Winter few as we are, but I am not discouraged yet and with the help of a kind and gracious Providence I hope to get through with life & safety & have some furs into the bargain ; My prospects in that way are better than on the provision line. We have however seen but few Indians, but is now known here & report says we shall see plenty by & bye. Our old enemies the Naharnies are said to be resolved to banish us the country. I fear not their threats if I have provisions the only thing that has ever given me trouble to be without. The River I was on is said to be a very large river from the number of Tributaries which swell it in its course to the Coast & also trading parties are along the Coast whether Russians or Siberians crossing the Straits from Asia I know not or what part of the Report can at all be relied upon, one thing certain is that some goods are brought up from that quarter & it would almost appear as if an opposition of some description did already exist between the Coast trafficers, but T am going astray from my subject on this supposition which I hope with the help of God to know personally the particulars of by & bye. I have to beg of you the favor that you will please have the goodness to transmit to the Governor & Council my most sincere thanks & gratitude for the advance that has been so unexpectedly added to my salary I cannot hope to have merited such high marks of their approbation. I am exceedingly proud of the confidence they repose in me & the important trust they are pleased to commit to my charge from which I hope I need not say that I am most desirous of giving satisfaction." The furs sent by Mr. Campbell & now in store at Fort Halkett amount 389 16 2. If we are fortunate between this & June next to collect some quantity of provisions in all probability I shall when I start for Portage la Loche despatch a small Boat to Frances Lake with supplies and any provisions that can be spared. By one of the extracts of Mr. Campbells letter, neither information or packs from him are to be expected next spring consequently the first news you will receive of him after this date will be by the Winter express 43/44. I am happy to state that the last information from Mr. Pambran notes a favorable change had taken place with him in the living way after he had sent off his two men as I before stated the fineness of the Autumn enabled the only man with him to prosecute the fishing business to a very late period, the consequence was that 1100 fine fish were taken, these with rabbits, which are again becoming rather plentiful in that quarter will' now prevent the once threatened desertion of that post. By the last arrivals nothing new or important had occurred at Fort de Liard of note Health prevailed & they had abundance of Fish for passing the Winter. Having pr. Winter Express of last year intimated my wish of availing myself of my rotation of Furlough for /42 & this not being complied with by Council ; I beg leave again to draw your attention to my being granted leave of absence next Summer for one year the plead of the 3rd Minute of last Summer's Council I trust can no longer be set forth as a preventive to this favor be granted me for the 7 years as stated by the 4th Minute of Council /41 will then in my case be expired since I was in England last. At this early period of the season nothing like a just estimate can be found as to what the results of our Returns may be for the present Outfit. Marten I am sorry to say do no appear to be so plentiful as last season ; Beaver we are restricted to a certain number & of Musquash tho' the best in the country, thousands of them form but a vesy small sum in S. D., when they get to market, so that I will not venture in case of disappoint- ment to say I expect even equal to last. Nevertheless for your information 36 HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. \ I may here state the furs on hand at the Outposts up to the last dates July & Sept. & what is here at the present moment shows an amelioration of two or three Hundred pounds compared with the same period last year. Collectively we have rather better than 80 packs valued at nearly 4000, on account of the present Outfit /41 valued at 613 4. 4. As it may be pleasing for you to learn of the healthiness of all within this District & it is as pleasing to me to be able to state for your informa- tion that general health prevails both among the Company's servants & natives & if all can but procure the needful in the way of food throughout the Winter it will be a blessing equal to health itself & which has not been the case for the last 2 years among us. In conformity to the Minutes of Council I shall accompany the Brigade to Portage la Loche next Summer when I trust I shall have the pleasure of receiving your commands in reply to the many subjects herein laid before you for consideration, & in the meantime I beg leave to subscribe myself, Gentlemen, Your obedt. servant, (Signed.) JOHN LEE LEWES, C. F., H. H. B. Compy. PART II CORRESPONDENCE ii 1 ii HUDSON'S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. 721 > Mr. Henry Addington presents his compliments to Mr. Simpson, and having received Mr. Secretary Canning's directions to communicate with Mr. Simpson on the subject of the Columbia River and North West Boundaries with a view to the final adjustment of those important questions with the Government of the United States he is desirous of arranging an interview with Mr. Simpson and in so doing wishes to consult Mr. Simpson's convenience equally with his own. He therefore requests that Mr. Simpson will have the goodness to let him know at what hour and day, and where it would be most convenient to him to favour Mr. Addington with an interview. 191 Regents Street, 28th Decemb : 1825. Mr. Simpson presents respectful compliments to Mr. Addington will have much pleasure in communicating with and giving him all the information he possesses in regard to the Columbia River and North West Boundary ; for which purpose Mr. Simpson will do himself the honour of waiting on Mr. Addington when and where he may be pleased to appoint, Mr. Simp- son's time being quite at Mr. Addingtons disposal. HUDSON'S BAY HOUSE, 29th Deer. 1825. Mr. Addington presents his compliments to Mr. Simpson, and requests the favor of a visit from him agreeably to his proposal at one o'clock p.m. to-morrow, if perfectly convenient to Mr. Simpson. Thursday 29th December 1825. 191 REGENT STREET, 30th December, 1825. SIR, I inclose herewith the set of queries on which I wish for more particular information. The answers to them may be as concise as is consistent with perfect perspicuity. The more matter of fact they are, the better. That to query IX. I wish to be as strictly conformable to fact and history as possible. I am, Sir, Your very obedt. humb : servt., H. W. ADDINGTON. p.S. Be so good as to send your answer whenever it may be ready addressed to me at the Foreign Office. Mr. Henry Addington requests that Mr. Simpson will have the goodness to send in the answers to Mr. A's queries (whenever they shall have been finished at Mr. Simpson's entire leisure) addressed to him at his own lodging which he has changed, instead of to the Foreign Office. 194 Regent Street, Jany 4th, 1826. ii 1 HUDSON'S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. 11 Mr. Simpson presents respectful Compliments to Mr. Addington, begs to hand him answers to his list of Queries likewise a corrected chart of the Country on both sides of the Rocky Mountains ; should Mr. Addington require further information on this important subject Mr. Simpson will do himself the honor to wait upon him at any time he may appoint. HUDSON'S BAY HOUSE, 5th Janry, 1826. Queries. 1. What is the nature of the soil, its capa- bility of production, and general character in the Vicinity of the Columbia and Lewis's Rivers? What the climate ? 2. Are the natives on the Northern bank of the Columbia warlike or pacific, inclined or averse to intercourse with the whites ? Is the Country between the Rocky Mountains and the Columbia densely or thinly in- habited ? 3. Is there good hunting ground immedi- ately on the northern bank of the Columbia? 4. What, on a rough calculation are the annual profits of Trade in the district of Columbia and do they arise from the North- ern or Southern portion of that district principally ? Answers. The banks of the Columbia on both sides the River from Capes Disappointment and Adams to the Cascade Portage a distance of from 150 to 180 miles are covered with a great variety of fine large timber consisting of Pine of different kinds, of Cedar, Hem- lock, Oak, Ash, Alder, Maple and Poplar with many other kinds unknown to me. The soil of the low grounds is alluvial and found very productive, that of the high grounds a rich black mould, chiefly composed of de- cayed vegetables. Some of the points formed by the windings_ of the river are extensive and beautiful with sufficient Timber for use and ornament, and where the plough may be used immediately and the point on which the Company's Establishments of Fort Van- couver is situated is from its extent and from the fertility of its soil capable of producing large quantities of grain of every kind of pas- turing numerous herds of cattle and nutri- tious roots are so abundant that almost any number of Hogs may be reared. The climate delightfully temperate from the month of April until the month of Octo- ber, and from November until March rainy with little or no Frost or Snow. From the Cascade Portage to the entrance of Lewis's River, the banks are sterile, the Soil very Sandy producing Stinted Grass and willows and little or no timber. The Country in the vicinity of Lewis's River I understand is level and generally fertile but I cannot speak with certainty on this point not having had an opportunity of visiting it personally except at its junction with the River Columbia. The different Tribes on the banks of the Columbia are generally bold and warlike as regards each other and extremely jealous of any encroachments on each others Territory or privileges but peaceable and well disposed towards the whites with whom they are very anxious to maintain a friendly intercourse. Occasional differences I understand took place when we first entered the Country in which some li ^es were lost on both sides but at present the best \inderstanding exists be- tween us and them. The Country is densely inhabitated, on account of the great abun- dance of its resources in the way of living. The hunting grounds immediately on the Northern banks of the Columbia are nearly exhausted in respect to fur-bearing animals but the back Country is still productive and Beaver are found in all the small Rivers and Lakes. The Trade of the Columbia district is yet in its infancy and the Countries to the North- ward and Southward produce about an equal quantity of Furs amounting together in value to between 30 and 40,000 pr. annum. ii HUDSON'S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. Queries. 5. Have the Americans any Post or trap- ping parties on the Columbia or to the West of the Rocky Mountains in that direction ? G. Is the Country Northward of the Col- umbia favourable for Land and Water com- munication ? 7. For what extent of Country does the Columbia River furnish an outlet for Trade. Specify this exactly and according to the latest and most accurate accounts ? 8. What time is required for communica- tion between Hudson's Bay (York Fort) and Fort Vancouver ? 9. Upon what foundation does the asser- tion rest that "British subjects had been trading on the Coast in the vicinity of the Columbia, prior to Gray's voyage thither in 1788? N.B. Consult every authority within reach on this point and state the fact if anywhere positively ascertained, accompanied by date, and specification of the point where such persons opened an intercourse with the Natives. Answers. The Americans have not had a Post on the West side of the Rocky Mountains since the year 1813 and I am not aware that they ever had any Trapping parties on the West side of the Mountains until last year when the Hudson's Bay Company's Snake Country Expedition fell in with five Americans who had straggled across the sources of the Missouri. The Country to the Northward of the Columbia is not favourable for water com- munication with the Coast on account of the impetuosity of the current at particular Seasons in the different rivers and frequent chains of rapids and dangerous falls, and the Communication with the Coast by Land is quite impracticable on account of the moun- tainous character of the Country which is covered with almost impenetrable forests. The Columbia is the only navigable River to the interior from the Coast we are ac- quainted with, it is therefore the only cer- tain outlet for the Company's Trade west of the Mountains comprehending that of thir- teen Establishments now occupied : 1. Ft. Vancouver. 7. Kilmany. 2. Nez Perce. 8. Eraser's Lake. 3. Okanagan. 9. Ft. St. James. 4. Colville House. 10. McLeod's Fort. 5. Flat Head. 11. Chilcotin 6. Kootenais. 12. Thompson's Fort. 13. Alexandria Fort. I was last year occupied 84 days travelling from York Fort, Hudson's Bay to the month of the Columbia but I think the journey can be performed in the height of the Season : in a light canoe ; unincumbered with baggage, for the water communication and with good horses for the journey by Land which may be about jjth of the whole distance in 2 months or 65 days by a different route to that which I took. Both Meares' and Vancouver's Voyages confirm the assertion that " British subjects had been trading on the coast in the vicinity of the Columbia prior to Gray's voyage thither in 1788 Vizt. In Mearss' observa- tions on the probable existence of a North West passage page 55 it is stated " that the ' Imperial Eagle Captn. Barclay sailed from ' Europe beginning 1787 and not only arrived ' at Nootka Sound in August but explored ' the Coast from Nootka to Wacananesh and ' so on to a Sound to which he gave his own ' name. The boat's crew was dispatched 'and discovered the extraordinary Straits of ' John de Fuca, and also the coast as far as ' Queenhythe " within 30 to 40 miles of the Columbia River " when after the fatal catas- trophe which happened to some of them, the Ship quitted the Coast and proceeded to China having performed the whole voyage in twelve months. " The following note appears in Meares' Journal page 124 " The Imperial '' Eagle was a Ship employed to collect Furs ' on the Coast of America, in 1787, in the 'course of this business the Captain dis- ' patched his long boat from King George's ' Sound on a trading expedition as far as 47 ' North. She then anchored abreast of a 'river, the shallowness at whose entrance ' prevented the long boat from getting into 'it." A small boat however, which was ' attached to the other was sent up the ' River with Mr. Millar an officer of the Im- ' perial Eagle, another young Gentleman ' and four Seamen. They continued rowing HUDSON S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. ii Queries. Answers. " till they came to a village where they were " supposed to have been seized and murdered " by the Natives, as their clothes were found " afterwards stained with blood." By Meares' Journal pages 163 to 168 it ap- pears that on the 5th July 1788 he traded with Natives of Cape Shoalwater in about Lat: 46, 47 N. and on the 6th he named " Cape Disappointment " calling the mouth of the Columbia Deception Bay making it by an indifferent observation in Lat 46. 10 Lon : 235 34. In page 219 same Journal (17th Septr. 1788) it is stated that Mr. Gray in the Washington joined him at Nootka Sound, that vessel had sailed in company with the Columbia from Boston in August 1787, they separated in a gale of wind in Lat 59 South and had not seen each other up to that time. Mr. Gray informed Meares that he had put into a Harbour on the coast of New Albion where he got on shore, and was in danger of being lost on the Bar, was at- tacked by the Natives and had one man killed and one of his officers wounded. The harbour could only admit vessels of a very small size and must lie somewhere near Cape Lookout ; Meares in page 220 further says that he (the Master of the Washington) " appeared to be very sanguine in the super- ior advantages which his Country Men " from New England might reap from this ' ' track of Trade, and was big with mighty " Projects in which we understand he was "protected by the American Congress." It therefore appears evident that up to this period, Gray knew nothing of the Columbia and that the Americans were total strangers to the Country and Trade of the North West Coast altogether. Vancouver's Voyages Volume 2 page 53 April 1792 states that the River Mr. Gray mentioned should from the situation he as- signed to it, have existed in the Bay, South of Cape Disappointment. Mr. Gray stated that he had been several days attempting to enter it and at leangth he was unable to effect it in consequence of a strong outset. Page 388 same Work October 1792 Van- couver prepares to examine the Coast of New Albion and particularly a River and Harbour discovered by Mr. Gray in the (Ship) Columbia between the 46th and 47th degrees of North latitude of which Senr. Quadra had given him a Sketch, Vol : 3 page 124 Decbr. 1792 " The Dis- covery of this River we are given to under- stand is claimed by the Spaniards who call it Entrada de Ceta after the Commander of the Vessel who is said to be its first discov- erer, but who never entered it, he places it in 46 North Latitude : it is the same open- ing that Mr. Gray stated to us in the Spring (1792) he had been nine days off the former year (1791) but could not get in in conse- quence of the out setting current. That in the course of the late Summer (1792) he had however entered the River, or rather the Sound and had named it after the Ship, he then commanded (Columbia). The extent, Mr. Gray became acquainted with on that occasion, is no further than I have called Gray's Bay (15 miles from the mouth of the River) not more than 15 miles from Cape Disappointment, though accord- ng to Gray's sketch it measures 36 miles. ii HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. 10. What comparison does Fraser's River bear in magnitude and capacity for the pur- poses of Trade with the Columbia. Is the Native population on its banks dense or not well disposed, or not warlike or pacific ? 11. Could the Fur produce to the North of Fraser's river and West of the Rocky Mountains be conveniently transported by means of this river for shipment to other Countries ? Answers. By his calculation its entrance lies in Lat: 46 10, Lon : 237 18 differing materially in these respects from our observations ". From these extracts it will appear that Lieut: Meares of the R.N. was the first who discov- ered the entrance of the Columbia in July 1788 naming the head Land of the Northern entrance of the River Cape Disappointment which it still bears, and that Captn. Barclay of the Imperial Eagle had previously traded in the vicinity of the River and at about half a degree to the North ward lost a boat's crew in the year 1787. Gray's Bay is situated on the North side of the Sound about half way between Cape Disappointment and the mouth of the River which he appears never to have entered as Vancouver's Voyages Vol 3 page 109 says ' Previously to his departure however he ' formally took possession of the River and ' the Country in its vicinity in His Britan- ' nic Majesty's name having every reason ' to believe that the Subjects of no other ' civilized Nation or State had ever entered ' this River before ; in this opinion he was ' confirmed by Mr. Gray's sketch in which ' it does not appear that Mr. Gray either ' saw or was within five leaugues of its ' entrance. " These extracts and remarks will I trust satisfactorily answer query 9. Fraser's river is not so large as the Colum- bia and not to be compared with it for the purposes of Trade, the depth of water found at its entrance was about 3 fathoms : and banks are generally high and steep, covered with Timber and such places as are sufficient- ly low and clear for the site of an Estab- lishment bear marks of having been over flown in the Seasons of high water. About 70 miles from its entrance the navi- gation is interrupted by Rapids and Falls so as to render it nearly impossible, and accord- ing to the best information, I have been able to collect, the banks of the river about 150 miles up form precipices where the towing line cannot be used, and the Current so im- petuous at certain Seasons as to render it impossible to use either the setting Pole or Paddle, Canoes being the only craft that can attempt to stem the current at any Season. The Natives treated our party with civility and seemed anxious that we should settle among them. They assemble from the back Country to the banks of the River in great numbers during the fishing season (From April until October) when the population is very great, and at all Seasons the Country may be said to be densely peopled, and their character much the same as that of those in- habiting the banks of the Columbia, I should not however consider it safe to form an Estab- lishment there, with a smaller force than 60 to 70 men and officers, until we are better acquainted with them. From all the information I have been able to collect respecting Fraser's River, it is not my opinion that it affords a communication by which the interior Country can be sup- plied from the Coast or that it can be depended on as an outlet for the returns of the interior. I will further altho' unasked take the liberty of giving it as my opinion, that if the navigation of the Columbia is not HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. ii Quirttt. Antwers. free to the Hudson's Bay Company, and that the territory to the Northward is not secured to them, they must abandon and curtail their Trade in some parts and probably be con- strained to relinquish it on the West side of the Rocky Mountains altogether. (Signed) GEO. SIMPSON LONDON, 31st December, 1825. HUDSON'S BAY HOUSE, LONDON, 25th July, 1826. Journal 722 To the Right Honourable, P- 3 - WM. HUSKISSON. DEAR SIR, I have annexed to your queries such answers as the re- cords to which I refer afford : I think that there is sufficient proof that the Traders of the N. W. Company had established Posts on the Columbia long before the establishment at Astoria in 1811. Harmon distinctly states that they were established in 1806, the American Fur Company was only formed in 1810 and were erecting their Fort in August 1811 when Thomson went there from one of the North West Company's posts in the Interior. Lewis and Clarke had been down the Columbia in 1805 and returned in 1806 the natives on their route had many European articles but McKenzie had crossed the mountains and proceeded to the sea in 1793 and Thompson further south in 1802 at which time he was I understand on one of the tributary streams of the Columbia. From Meares' Memorial it appears that certain merchants under the immediate protection of the East India Company fitted out ships in the year 1786, and traded with the natives be- tween the Lat. of 60 and 45. 30, and obtained from the Chief of the District surrounding Port Cox and Port Effingham in Lat. 45 and 49, promiseof free and exclusive trade with leave to build on the land, and purchased from another a tract of land. I likewise inclose for your information copy of a statement relative to the Columbia River and Territories connected therewith drawn up in 1815 at the request of Sir Gordon Drummond. It was sent me in 1822 by Mr. Simon McGillivray ; if there is any other. information that you require I shall be happy to furnish it as far as I am able and shall feel obliged if you will allow me an audience any morning either this or the following week except Thursday. I am, Dear sir, Your faithful & obedt. servt. (signed) J. H. PELLY. HUDSON'S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. Queries. State the date (the year if possible) when any party or individuals belonging to the Northern or Hudson's Bay Company first had a station in or near to the Columbia or to any of its Tributary Streams and the proof on which such statement rests. Answers. The first year that any party be the North West Company had a belonging to station on or near to the Columbia was in 1806. Harmon an American by birth who was a clerk in the North West Company's service and after- wards a partner published a Journal of voy- ages and travels commencing April 1800 and ending August 1819 says in page 282 "That the country West of the Rocky Mountains with which I am acquainted has ever since the North West Company first made an Establishment there, which was in 1806 gone by the name of New Caledonia " and in page 220 he states "Monday April 6th. Six Indians have arrived from Eraser's Lake who delivered to me a letter written by Mr. David Thompson which is dated August 28th 1811 at Yek-koy-ope Falls on the Columbia River. It informs me that this Gentleman accompanied by seven Canadians descended the Columbia River to the place where it entered the Pacific Ocean where they arrived on the 16th July. There they found a number of people employed in build- ing a Fort for a company of Americans who denominate themselves the Pacific Fur Com- pany : he also writes that Mr. Alexander McKay* and others have proceeded North- ward in the vessel that brought them there on a coasting trade. Mr. Thompson after having remained seven days with the Amer- ican people set out on his return to his establishments which are near the source of the Columbia River." From this it would ap- pear that Mr. Thompson hearing at his Esta- blishment higher up the Columbia of the unexpected arrival of the Americans at the mouth of the River went down to reconnoitre their proceedings, was with them when thev were erecting their Fort and then returned to his own Posts which had been established after his first visit to the Country from the East of the Mountains in 1803, herewith is sent a copy of Harmon's work and in pages 194, 196, 218, 224, 228, 237, 239, 240, 242, 245, 246. will be found remarks relating to the establishments. * Mr. Alexander McKay has been in the service of the North West Company for several years, was a British subject and was engaged by the Pacific Fur Company from the knowledge which he had acquired of the trade while in the service of the North West Company. There were also Duncan McDougall, Donald McKenzie, David Stuart and several other British subjects who had ail been previously in the service of the North West Company attached to the crew and party sent out in the Tonquin and who built the American Fort on the South bank of the Columbia River. 2. When was the name of McGillivray given to the River now bearing that name? Was its course or any considerable part of it explored by any person of that name being a subject of His Majesty in the service of the Company and was there any settlement or station formed by him or others acting with him on that River and about what time ? 3. Did McKenzie explore and what parts of the Columbia or its Tributary Branches: in what year and was he then in the service of the Company ? In 1803 when Mr. Duncan McGillivray who died in 1807 set out on an Expedition with David Thompson from the North West Go's post in Saskatchewan River to cross the Rocky Mountains to explore the country and with a view to establish Trading posts, Mr. McGillivray was taken ill and obliged to re- main behind. Mr. Thompson proceeded with the Expedition crossed the upper part of the Columbia and called the first River he reached McGillivray the next after himself. McGillivray and Thompson were both part- ners in the North West Company. They traded with the Natives but formed no Establishment at that time. Sir Alexander McKenzie did not explore any part of the Columbia or its tributary branches he proceeded from the Athapescpw district by Peace river crossed the Mountains and travelled to the Pacific far to the North- ward both of the Columbia and Thompson HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. ii Queries. 4. In what year was the first English ship sent to the Columbia for the purpose of col- lecting Furs and carrying supplies to the Company's Agents and trading with the Natives on the Columbia River ? Has a ship been sent every year since the first ? Answers. Rivers, this was in the year 1793 at which time he was a partner in the North West Company. The Isaac Todd which sailed from England in 1813 and arrived at the Columbia River in April 1814 ; was the first ship that took any Produce of the North West Company's trade collected on the West side of the Rocky Mountains and carried it to China from whence she brought a cargoe of tea to England for account of the East India Com- pany : all that had been collected in former years having been sent by the Interior to Canada but as early as 1786 the East India Compy had vessels on the Coast and pur- chased Land of the Natives as related by Meares in his Memorial see States papers annual Register 1790 page 287. The Isaac Todd took at the same time all that had ever been collected by the American Fur Com- pany at the Establishment of Astoria. The Americans arrived in the Columbia as before observed Summer 1811, the Furs that were collected the following Winter, they were not able to send away the ship that was to have conveyed them having been destroyed by the Natives on the coast and the whole of the Crew massacred. No ship arrived in 1812 and in the fall of 1813 it was that the North West Company purchased of the American Traders all they had collected the proceeding two years therefore no American ship ever took away, or have the Americans ever taken any produce of their Trade from the Country and when they established themselves in 1811 on the South side of the River, they had no Establishment on the North side, and from the terms of the Treaty for the purchase it appears that they had one subsequently on Thompson River but abandoned it when they left the Country and they have never been there since. In 1814 the Schooner Columbia was sent out which arrived at Fort George in the Spring of 1815 and having delivered her supplies proceeded with skins to Canton from whence she returned to the Sandwich Islands and to the Columbia river in order to carry the skins of the following season to Canton. The supplies sent from England in 1815 and which reached Fort George in the Spring of 1816 were sent in the Brig Colonel Allen which vessel returned from the Colum- bia to England. All these were British vessels belonging to and fitted out by the Agents of the North West Company with supplies for their Traders at the Columbia River. The outfits of these vessels having been found expensive and unproductive in con- sequence of the restriction of British subjects from trading in China except under License from the East India Company which Com- pany refused to permit the Agents of the North West Company to carry away tea in return for the skins sold by them at Canton whilst American ships and Traders not being under similar restrictions had the benefit of freight for the whole voyage to China and back. Under these circumstances in the year 1815 an arrangement was made with a house at Boston under which the supplies of British manufactures required for the estab- lishments at the Columbia were sent from England to Boston from whence a ship was ii HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. 11 Queries. 5. How many Posts and settlements has the Company now on or near the Banks of the Columbia or its Tributary Branches; when as nearly as can be ascertained were they first formed and how many are North and how many are South of the Rivers or of its Branches ? 6. When the Company was formed of which Mr. Astor was the head, of how many partners did it consist, how many o_f that Company were citizens of Great Britain and how many citizens of the United States ? 7. Had the Company any charter of in- corporation or other instrument of special recognition from the State of New York or any other authority in the United States ? Answers. dispatched to convey them to the Columbia to take the skins from the Columbia to Can- ton and to carry the proceeds of their sale in Teas and other produce of China from Can- ton to Boston where the American house re- tained a certain proportion of the net pro- ceeds as a compensation for the freight. In this manner annual supplies were sent to the Columbia River in each year from 1816 to 1820 and in 1821 the Establishments were transferred to the Hudson's Bay Com- pany since which time the proceeds have been brought by British ships to England. The Company have now six settlements on the Columbia and its Tributary Branches exclusive of Fort George and thirteen settle- ments in the whole on the North side cf the River in New Caledonia. The Company have none on the south side but parties have been fitted out from Fort George to hunt the Country on that side. Formed in 1810 after Lewis and Clarke's return, do not know their number but several of them were British subjects and had been in the service of the North West Company. Can not say if they had a charter of incor- poration, but believe they were recognized by the State of New York. To The Right Honble. VISCOUNT PALMERSTON. HUDSON'S BAY HOUSE, LONDON, 24th Octr., 1835. MY LORD, I have the honor to acquaint Your Lordship for the infor- mation of His Majesty's Government, that by advices just received from Chief Factor McLoughlin the officer in charge of all the Hudson's Bay Company's affairs on the North West Coast of America, an expedition was fitted out and despatched in the month of May 1834, agreeably to instruc- tions previously issued by the Board of Direction at which I preside as Governor of the Company, to form a trading establishment within the British Territories, at a distance from the Ocean extending ten Marine leagues up the Stikine River in about Latitude 56 40'. Your Lordship is aware that a Convention was entered into between His Late Majesty George 4th and the Emperor of Russia signed at St. Petersburg 28th Febry. 1825 which determined the line of demarcation between the British and Russian Territories on the North West Coast of America and I have now to com- plain of an infraction of the terms of that Convention, to the very serious injury of the Commerce of the Hudson's Bay Company, by Baron Wrangell, Post Captain in the Emperors Navy and principal superintendent of the Russian American Fur Company's affairs on the North West Coast, who opposed an armed force to our expedition, and thereby prevented the objects for which it was outfitted being carried into effect. In so doing the Russian Fur Company have violated the 6th Article of the Convention, which provides that the Subjects of His Britannic Majesty, from whatever quarter they may arrive, shall forever enjoy the right of navigating, freely, and without any hinderance whatever, all the Rivers and Streams, which in their course towards the Pacific Ocean may cross the line 12 HUDSON'S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. ii of demarcation, upon the line of Coast described in Article 3rd of that Convention. They have thereby moreover violated the 7th Article of the said Convention, which provides that for the space of ten years from the signature of that Convention the vessels of the two Powers, or those belonging to their respective subjects shall mutually be at liberty to frequent, without any hinderance whatever, all the inland seas, gulphs, havens and creeks on tlie coast, mentioned in Article 3rd for the purpose of fishing and trading with the Natives, in as much as the ten years had not expired when Baron Wrangell prevented our entering the Stikine River, And I have further to complain of a violation of the llth Article of the said Conven- tion, inasmuch as the officers of the Russian Fur Company, under the authority of Baron Wrangell did oppose an armed force to our expedition, and thereby forcibly prevented our entering the River and carrying the objects of which it was outfitted into effect, thereby subjecting the Hudson's B>iy Company to a considerable pecuniary loss (expenses incurred in out- fitting the expedition) independant of the injury which our commerce in that quarter has sustained, by being thus lowered in the estimation of the Natives, who have, ever since our distinguished navigators, Cook, and Vancouver visited that coast, identified our interests as British subjects with those of the Government by whom they were employed. Herewith, I have the honor to transmit for Your Lordship's information in confirmation of the foregoing statements. No. 1. Extract from Chief Factor McLoughlin's Dispatch (dated) Fort Vancouver, Cola. River 14th March, 1835. No. 2. Extract from Chief Trader Ogden's Journal of the proceedings of the expedition under his command for the purpose of ascending the Stikine River. No. 3. Copy of correspondence between Chief Trader Ogden and Baron Wrangell and other officers of the Russ : Amrn. Fur Coy : No. 4. Estimate of expenses incurred by the Hudson's Bay Company in an attempt to erect an establishment at Stikine, amounting to 22,150 10 11 Stg, I have now to request your Lordship will be pleased to afford me an early personal interview, in order to lay the Case more fully before you, with a view to obtaining indemnification for the very serious injury, we have sustained by the recent violation of the Convention, and protection, in the intended prosecution of our valuable trade in that quarter for the future. I have the honour to be, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant, J. H. PELLY. GOVR. Vol. 722, FOREIGN OFFICE, P- ^ 13th Novr., 1835. To J. H. PELLY, Esq., &c. BAY COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. ii 145 tons also belonging to the sd. Govr. & Cornpy. & commanded by Capln. McNeil & w'ch sd. Brig had then on board Mr. Peter Skeene Ogden a Chief Trader & a party of Canadian Servants then in the Service & Employ of the sd. Governor g Shnp8on, 3 The respite enjoyed, for the last two years, from Fort Vancou- American opposition greatly aided our views of retrenchment, but they can- Ma'nfh 1839 not ^ e ^ U ^J carried out into practice, neither can we safely calculate on any further reduction of expenses, even in the absence of other competitors, as long as the Post of Stikine is occupied by a Russian Force, as the Tariff of that place must necessarily form the standard of the Company's prices at Fort Simpson, or a large moitie of the furs procured there, will find a market in the Russian territory from whence they are now drawn. 4 5 6 7 . '. 8 9 10 11 12 13 I have the honour to remain, Dear Sir, Your very obedient & humble servant JAMES DOUGLAS. Journal 722, pp. 228. HUDSON'S BAY HOUSE, LONDON, 26th Febry, 1840. To the Right Honble. VISCOUNT PALMERSTON &c &c &c MY LORD, I have the honor on behalf of the Hudson's Bay Company and of the Pugets Sound Agricultural Company to solicit your Lordship's attention to the accompanying extract from the St. John's Courier of the 4th January 1840, containing a series of Resolutions proposed to if not actually passed by the Senate of the United States Government at Wash- ington on Wednesday the 17th December last. One of those Resolutions Your Lordship will observe is " that it is the opinion of the Senate that the title of the United States to the territory of Oregon is indisputable and never will be abandoned " That on that opinion they found a request that the President of the United States, give notice to the British Government that the conventions of 1818 and 1827 shall cease in twelve months after such notification. They then proceed to resolve on the expediency of extending portions of the laws of the United States over the Oregon Territory of raising an additional regiment of infan- try for the purpose of overawing and keeping in check various Indian tribes or any foreign forces who may be in said Territory or its borders and of granting portions of 640 acres of land to each white male inhabitant (citizens of the United States no doubt) of said Territory of the age of 18 years who shall cultivate and use the same for five consecutive years, and to his heirs at law in the event of his death. These proceedings without any apparent reference to the claims of Great Britain to the country in question appear to say the least of them strange, summary and premature ; The country in question termed by the United States Government the Oregon Territory, we believe to be that valuable and extensive district watered by the Columbia River and its tributaries which has been occupied by British subjects in the pursuits of trade and agricul- ture for many years : that occupation being founded on the faith of the claims of Great Britain to its sovereignty on its discovery by expeditions fitted out specially for that object by the nation and by enterprising British subjects at a heavy outlay of capital in commercial pursuits. ii HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. In several communications I have had the honour of making from time to time to the Department over which Your Lordship presides especially in my letter to Mr. Canning of the 9th December 1823 in Governor Simpson's answers to a series of queries made by Mr. Addington under date 31st December of the same year in my letter fio Mr. Huskisson and answers to queries by that Gentleman under date $5th July 1826 and in my letter to Your Lordship of 9th March 1838 I hiive enumerated the claims of Great Britain to the sovereignty of that coi^htry. The Hudson's Bay Company have ,greatly extended their trade and settle- ments on the Columbia River and it;^ tributaries likewise on the North-west Coast and the Interior Country employing upwards of 1,000 British subjects in their service and under their auspices has been lately formed an Agricul- tural Settlement upon an extensive scale styled the Pugets Sound Agricul- tural Company with a capital of 200,000 in a district of country admirably adapted for that purpose situated between the North Bank of the Columbia River and Pugets Sound with a view of forming a large export trade, from thence to England in the articles of wool, hides and tallow, and to the Sandwich Islands other parts on the Pacific and to the Russian Settlements in grain and other agricultural produce. Should the United States Government be permitted to carry the measures proposed in those resolutions into effect, they will prove ruinous to the interests of the Hudson's Bay Company in that quarter, likewise to those of Pugets Sound Agricultural Company and deprive Great Britain of the only position on the shores of the Pacific that can be valuable to the coun- try either for colonization or commercial pursuits while the only safe and commodious harbours on that Coast will be in possession of jealous rival powers, giving to them the command of the Northern Pacific and in a certain degree that of the China Seas, objects of the greatest commercial and politi- cal importance to Great Britain. Under those circumstances I beg respectfully to draw your Lordship's attention to the important subject in question and to entreat you will be pleased to watch over the interests of the Hudson's Bay Company and of the Pugets Sound Agricultural Company in any negotiations that may be in progress connected with the proceedings alluded to. I have the honor to be, My Lord, Your Lordships most obedt. humble servt., J. H. PELLY, GOVR. HUDSON'S BAY HOUSE, 22nd April, 1840. The Rt Honble. LORD JOHN RUSSELL, :ause a disinclination to have recourse to measures or severity. Presuming on this laxity of discipline they have day by day become more daring until now that it is considered a service of danger even to pass through the country and cah only be attempted in strong parties. The complement of people in this district has been considerably increased, with a view of restoring good order and with the hope that more effective measures may be adopted for the apprehending of the murderer of Mr. Black as if he be allowed to remain at large unpunished the impression it would leave on the minds of the natives might prove dangerous to the peace of the country and the lives and property of the white population. 7. It had been arranged that I should meet C. F. Ogden at Okanagan but from letters 1 received from that gentleman it appeared he had pro- ceeded to New Caledonia a few weeks previously, with his outfit and people being unwilling in the present disturbed state of the country through which they had to pass to intrust so important a charge to other hands. Mr. Ogden's report on the affairs of New Caledonia is by no means so favorable as could be wished, the returns of this once valuable district having fallen off materially during the few past outfits. There has been a gradual diminution in the quantity of beaver and otter traded for several years past but this is the natural result of the exertions that have been made to prosecute the trade with vigor with the double object of benetitting by im- mediate results, and of rendering the country less inviting to the numerous United States trapping parties, who formerly threated to overrun the whole of the accessible country on the west side of the Mountains. There has also been a great diminution in the articles of Lynx and Martens during the last two j r ears which has caused a rapid decline on the profits of those compared with the preceding outfits. From the knowledge which has been acquired by experience of the habits of those latter animals however there is every reason to believe that this diminution in their num- bers is merely temporary arising either from migration to other quarters or from disease ; but that as soon as those causes shall be removed they will become as plentiful as formerly and assist in retrieving the present unpro- mising aspect of affairs in this district. 8. At Walla Walla my next place of call the business appeared to be in a regular satisfactory state without any material alteration having taken place in its condition as regards profits since last reported upon. In former years and until very lately this was considered to be a post of danger being surrounded by several warlike and independent tribes, who where difficult of management but I was gratified to find that both the natives and the people have improved greatly in each others' estimation, and that the latter feel in perfect security although the complement of servants at the post is very small. I am however concerned to say that the establishment soon after I passed it was destroyed by accidental fire but without any serious loss having been incurred as both the furs and goods were saved. The Indians on this occasion behaved with great propriety manifesting much regret at the calamity and affording every assistance in their power to save the property. The establishment was in a very dilapidated condition and was about to be enlarged and repaired so that the accident will be pro- ii HUDSON'S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. 59 ductive of less inconvenience than might be supposed. It is here my pain- Death of C. ful duty to report the melancholy death of C. T. Pambran, who lately had T. Pambran. cnar g e o f this establishment which was occasioned by an injury sustained in riding a vicious horse ; the death of that Gentleman who was a very active and efficient officer is a serious loss to the Department. C. T. Pam- 9 t ]y[ r- Pambran having died before the close of outfit 1840/1, his repre- entitled^o^ sentatives will be entitled to a half interest only on the current outfit say full interest 1841/2 there is consequently a half l/85th share vacant which can be made on Oct. 1840-1 applicable to filling up the full Chief Trader's interest of one of the Gentle- terottt on'oet., men recommended for promotion by the Council this year as stated in the 1841-2 36th paragraph of my despatch to your Honors from Red River Settle- The half 1, ment in compliance with the directions contained in the 23rd par : of your 85th to be despatch to myself of this season. ' given to one of the Clerks nominated this year. Forts Hall & 10. Two posts Forts Hall and Boisee more or less dependent upon Walla Walla have for many years past been maintained in the Snake country with a view of watching any trapping parties that might present themselves from In the Snake the United States and of encouraging the Snake Nations to direct their Country. attention (which formerly was principally occupied in the Buffalo chase) to fur hunting in both of which objects they have been successful. No U. S. There is not at present any organized Trapping Expedition belonging to trapping the United States employed in the Snake country, although there are several country 1 straggling parties the debris of other expeditions ; one of these parties headed by a Mr. Frabb was this season cut off by a war party of Sioux. But the debris They collect some furs in the Uta country through which the waters of the furf in the> W ^ Colorado pass to the Southward of the Snake country, and on the Platte country. and other head waters of the Missouri. These parties are principally out- And on the fitted with goods forwarded to them from St. Louis and occasionally receive Platte & Mis- a few supplies from Forts Hall and Boisee which are thrown by us in their S?L in ' way and of which they usually avail themselves paying for them in furs. A A nc^ 3*r6 sup- * i p i ii i i plied from St. want of success having or late made them irregular in their payments there Louis. is some doubts that the merchants of St. Louis who have heretofore outfitted Their want them will continue to provide them with supplies it is probable therefore of success. these people will become dependent on the Company for the means of follow- It is probable ing up their operations. Under these circumstances an arrangement is at they will present contemplated with Captain Bridger the principal man among these dent on the trappers by which it is hoped their entire hunts may next year fall into the Company. hands of the Company. Should such arrangement take effect it would of Arrangement course be necessary to make advances to the party and if they should con- contemplated s [^ er it more advantageous to their interests to lose sight of the Company's Bridger. claims upon them and decamp we should in that case benefit by their absence and would probably occupy some of their late hunting grounds in the Mexican territory ; but should they consider honesty the better policy and come back with the view of repaying their debts and getting a fresh outfit the transaction would likewise in that case be profitable so that our dealings with these people in either event are likely to be productive of advantage. Independent of the benefits derived from our intercourse with the Americans arising from our occupation of the posts of Forts Hall & Boisee the presence of those establishments has stimulated the Snake Snakelndians J nf li ans to industry in fur hunting : and as there are Beaver still in the rift VQ nccoiiiG more industri- country, we are likely to benefit more by the services of the Natives which ous by the will be secured by the maintenance of those posts (at a very moderate expense) for their convenience than by the employment of a trapping MlOSC J/OSIJS . ._ .. 1*1 c i ii Expedition in the country while the occupation of those posts enables to HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. ii ad vantage* derived trora incoxirse with American trappers. The affairs of Snake Coun- try greatly improved of late. Although they have ruined theU. S. trappers. Arrival at Fort Vancou- ver where I found the American Antarctic discovery expedition. Loss of the Peacock. Expedition preceded by "Wave" with supplies. Proceedings & discoveries of the expedi- tion. Their home- ward route. obtain more or less of the hunts of our late rivals in trade from the United States. The operations of these trappers being principally confined to the American territory east of the Mountains and to the country situated to the Southward of Lewis and Clarke's river and Eastward of the Bonaven- tura valley, it cannot be said that they injuriously interfere with us in any shape ; but should the mode of dealing with these people now contemplated be carried into effect they will be in everything but name the Honble. Company's servants or hunters. 1 1. The Snake Country and its affairs which until they fell under the direction of C. F. McLaughlin were in a very disorganized state and pro- ductive of more loss than gain have for several years past been managed with so much judgment and address that they have been a source of profit while in very many instances they have been ruinous to the United States adventurers who in this quarter entered the lists against us, and the want of success that attended their exertions, frustrated many plans that had been laid both in Boston and St. Louis of wresting from the Honble. Com- pany the advantages they were deriving from their exertions on this side of the continent. 12. Resuming the narrative of our voyage. We took our departure from Walla Walla remaining there but a few hours and on the 25th August arrived at Fort Vancouver where the Intermittent Fever was prevailing as usual at this season of the year. Besides C. F. McLaughlin & Douglas and the other officers and people belonging to the Establishment I here found Commodore Wilkes Captain Hudson and other officers of the United States Discovery Expedition. Three of the five discovery vessels were in the river say the Porpoise, Sloop of War the Flying Fish tender and the Oregon (late Thomas Perkins) store ship. The Peacock sloop of War had been totally lost on the Columbia Bar a few weeks previous to my arrival but the officers and crew were providen- tially saved ; and the Vincennes Corvette had proceeded from Puget Sound direct to San Francisco there to await the arrival of Commodore Wilkes with the other vessels. The Expedition was preceded by the Schooner Wave with supplies from the Sandwich Islands. The Wave it will be recollected was the same vessel that had been chartered by the Hon. Company in the month of November last for the transport of goods to the Sandwich Islands and had been rechartered from thence by Commodore Wilkes for the trans- port of the supplies in question to the Columbia. 13. This Expedition was dispatched by the United States Government in 1838 principally for the purpose of discovery in the Antarctic sea ; in that object it had been successful inasmuch as it had on the same day as a French Expedition fitted out for the like purpose but at a distance of several hundred miles discovered a continent in Lat : 69 S. but so com- pletely icebound that nothing more could be known of it than the bare existence of land of which I beg to send proof in a particle of rock from this land of small promise taken off an Iceberg. In the course of their voyage they visited Madeira, Rio Janeiro, Rio Negro, Terra-del-Fuego, New South Shetland, Valparaiso, Lima discovered some new Islands and sur- veyed others in the Pacific between the tropics, touched at Port Jackson from thence proceeded to the newly discovered continent which they traced 1800 miles ; they afterwards returned to Port Jackson proceeded to New Zealand, resumed their discoveries in the Polynesian region, thence pro- ceeded to the Sandwich Islands then to the North West Coast of America, touching at Puget Sound and the Columbia from whence they intended proceeding to California, thence to the Sandwich Islands thence to the East Indies -and thence home via Cape of Good Hope. While the Expe- dition was with us they surveyed the coast from Puget Sound to Eraser's ii HUDSON'S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. 61 Every civility & attention shown to the officers. Letter of thanks from the commo- dore. Supplies to the Expedi- tion. Departure from Vancou- ver for the N. W. Coast. Start from Nisqually in Steamer . Trade of the establish- ment. River made some partial surveys in the Straits of Juan de Fuca and between Cape Flattery and the mouth of the Columbia River ; they like- wise surveyed the Columbia from the Bar to the Cascades Portage and the Willamette up to the Falls ; they moreover made excursions in the Interior crossing from Puget Sound to Okanagan and visiting Forts Colville & Nez Perce" crossed the Cowlitz Portage and. closely examined the country on the banks of the Willamette forwarding a land party through the Buonaven- tura valley to San Francisco. 14. Every civility and attention were shown to Commodore Wilkes and his officers, and such facilities afforded him for prosecuting the objects of the Expedition as our means would admit ; and it is satisfactory to be able to say that the Commodore seemed fully to appreciate the attention shown to him and his officers, as will appear from a letter addressed to C. F. M. McLoughlin & Douglas, copy of which is herewith forwarded. Both at the Sandwich Islands and at the Columbia & likewise at Puget Sound the expe- dition received supplies from the Hon. Company's Stores amounting at this place to about 3000 and at the Islands to for which they paid by drafts as advised in the 61st paragraph. 15. Learning that the Beaver steamer was agreeably to previous arrange- ment in readiness at Puget Sound to convey me to the North West Coast on a tour of inspection of the posts in that quarter ; and on a visit to the Russian American Company's principal depot of Sitka, I took my departure from Fort Vancouver (after a stay there of six days) on the 1st September accompanied by C. F. Douglas, touched at the pastoral establishment on the Multnomah island ascended the Cowlitz River visited the Puget Sound Company's tillage Farm at the head of that River, crossed the Cowlitz Portage to Nisqually, a distance of from 55 to 60 miles and reached that establishment on the evening of the 4th. but as I shall in another part of this dispatch have to notice the farming operations both of the Hon : Company and of the Puget Sound Company it is unnecessary here to make any remarks on that part of the journey. 16. Starting from Nisqually situated in Lat : 47 8' N. and Long : 122 2' W. on the shores of Puget Sound on the 6th September we proceeded Northwards between Vancouver's Island and the mainland passing through Johnston's Straits, Queen Charlotte's Sound and inside Colvert's island to Fort McLoughlin, situated on an island near Mill Bank Sound (the position of which is in Lat : 52 6' Long : 132 6') where we arrived on the 15th September having of the ten days occupied in getting from Nisqually to Fort McLoughlin been detained wood cutting, trading with the Quakeolith, Newettee tribes and wind &, fog bound about half the time. This estab- lishment employing a complement of 12 men besides the officer in charge collects aboot 1500 beaver & otter besides small furs, the value of the returns being from 2500 to 3000 the charges amounting to about 1400 and the nett profits to about 1200. It is visited by about. 5200 Indians the natives of seven villages ; the trade extending from Smith's Inlet in Lat: 51 up to Hawkesbury island in about Lat : 52 45' ; and interiorly to a range of mountains that divides that part of the coast from the interior of New Caledonia. While American opposition existed on the Coast the establish- ment of Fort McLoughlin might have been necessary for the protection of the trade, but in another part of this dispatch, I hope to show that this establishment may now with others be abandoned without either loss or inconvenience to the business while the saving that would arise from such abandonment will greatly increase the present profits of the trade of the Coast, North of Eraser's River district. Fort McLoughlin is principally maintained on country provisions say Fish in great abundance and variety, venison and potatoes and the natives who were at one time troublesome comparatively peaceable towards the establishment, more from a feeling HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. ii Departure from Fort McLaughlin. The returns. The fort w 11 situated . Departure from Fort Simpson . Indians who frequent the establish- ment. The returns . that they are to a certain extent in our power than from any good disposi- tion towards us. 1 7. We took our departure from Fort McLoughlin on the 1 6th and passing through Princess Royal's & Grenville Canals and Chatham Sound arrived at Fort Simpson the following day. This establishment which is the most im- portant on the Coast is situated in about Lat 54 34' Long : 130 38' near Dundas Island and close upon the Southern Russian Boundary. It is visited by a great many Indians occupying the Islands and continental shores to a considerable distance among whom are the inhabitants of five villages on the mainland ; likewise by the natives of Queen Charlotte's Island, the inhabitants of Tomgass and by those of Kygaraje one of the islands forming the Prince of Wales Archipelago (Russian Territory) in all a population of about 14000 souls. From this will be seen that the range of its trade is very great and if the existing arrangement with our Russian neighbours had not been entered into, opposition prices would havp drawn to Fort Simpson a considerable portion of the furs now collected at Stikine. The present returns are from 3000 to 4000 Beaver and otter, about 50 sea otter and a large quantity of small furs, the gross amount being about 6000 of which about 3000 forms the amount of charges so that the nett revenue arising from this post may be estimated at 3000 pr. annm. The establishment was in the first instance placed at the outlet of Nass River but the situation being found inconvenient for shipping, it was removed to its present site which is besides being a good position for watching our own Northern and the Russian Southern frontier well adapted for opposing both the Russians and the Americans should such at any time hereafter become necessary. There is a complement of two officers and 18 servants at this post, where the means of living are abundant, consisting principally of Fish, venison, and potatoes and a large body of Chimsseans have seated themselves down in the neighbourhood as the home guards of the Fort. In any point of view this is a valuable and important establishment and ought by all means to be maintained as the depot of the Coast while we have anything to do with its affairs. 18. Leaving Fort Simpson on the 18th we immediately entered within the Russian Southern Boundary and passing through Canal de Reveilla and Clarence Straits arrived at Stikine on the 20th. This establishment of which we obtained possession on the 1st June last year (1840) under the arrangement of 6th Feby 1839 is situated on the North end of the Duke of York's island near Point Highfield 4 to 5 miles South of the Outlet of the Stikine or Pelly's River in Lat : 56 33' Long 132 14' and was in the first instance formed here by the Russian American Company in 1833 with the view of protecting their trade which they had every reason to suppose would be endangered by the establishment which the Hon. Company then contemplated forming within the British territory up the Stikine River. The post is frequented by Secatquonay who occupy the country about the mouth of the river and the islands contiguous to and running parallel to that part of the coast. It is likewise frequented by the natives of three villages situated on islands, to the trade of which we do not consider that we have any claim under the existing agreement. Nearly all the furs collected as this post, which are appropriated by us are brought from the British interior territory amounting to about 1500 Beaver & otter, besides small furs estimated at about 3000 of which 1500 forms an item of charge so that the nett profits of the post are about 1500 pr. annum. The furs appropriated by us are principally traded by the Secatquonays from the Niharnies and other Indians of the Interior some of whom have been teen at the Establishment in the McKenzie River. The Secatquonays meet ii HUDSON'S. BAY COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. 68 those Indians for the purpose of barter about 150 miles distant from the Coast, where the Niharnies have a villiage about 60 miles distant from Dease's Lake which place they visited in 1838-9. Nearly all the furs col- lected at Stikine are obtained from the Niharnies at that village which is a great fishing rendezvous and is during the fishing season visited by all the Indians of the neighbourhood. The complement of people at this establish- ment is 2 officers and 18 men, which notwithstanding the good disposition shown by the Indians cannot with safety be reduced. The post is main- tained by fish and venison which are procured in great abundance from the natives at a very cheap rate. JLeave Stikine. 19. We remained at Stikine but a few hours taking our departure thence on the afternoon of the 20th and passing through Wrangell's Straits and Prince Frederick's Sound arrived at Tacow on the 22nd. This establish- ment is situated in Lat : 58 4' Long 133 45' and was intended to have been placed at the mouth of the Tacow River but no favorable situation having been found for an establishment there, it was erected on its present site on the mainland between two rivers: the Sitko and Tacow, about 15 miles distant from each. It is frequented by a great many Indians occupy- ing the continental shore, both to the Northward and Southward, likewise by some of the Islanders ; in all from 4000 to 5000 souls are more or less The returns, dependent upon this establishment for their supplies. The returns of the past outfit were about 1400 Beaver and Otter besides small furs yielding a profit of about 1000 but from the growing industry of the Indians to the Northward arising from their being more regularly supplied with goods than heretofore it is expected that the returns will next year amount to about 1800 to 2000 Beaver and Otter. The Fort The establishment is surrounded by a village containing from 300 to 400 surrounded by Indians who have recently shown a disposition to be troublesome, more village. from a jealousy of the encouragement afforded by us to other tribes than from any hostile feeling towards ourselves, on the contrary they likewise all the Indians in the neighbourhood of the different establishments are very much pleased to have us settled among them, as our presence affords them protection to a certain degree from their enemies while they benefit in many other respects by our intercourse with them. The complement of people at this establishment is 2 officers and 22 men. It is principally maintained on venison, got here as at the other establishments on the Coast t so cheap a rate from the natives that we absolutely make a profit on our consumption of provisions, the skin of the animal selling for much more than is paid for the whole carcase. Nearly all the returns collected at this establishment are brought from the British territory inland of the Russian line of demar- cation running parallel with the coast, and traded by the coast Indians from those inhabiting the interior country very few being hunted by them- selves. TTurs traded 20. Both at Tacow and Stikine, likewise at Fort Simpson some sea otter and at lacow land furs have been collected which the Russian American Company think fetikine at Jft, . , . . .. <> i / t nrai Simpson. they have a claim to under the provision ot the agreement of oth .beby 1839, and as the article is not quite distinct an equitable adjustment of the matter has made with Govr. Etoline which has removed all difficulty on the subject. By that arrangement it has been agreed that the Russian American Company shall give up to the Hudson's Bay Company at cost prices all continental furs taken by them to the southward of Cross Sound, and that the Hudson's Bay Company shall in like manner give up to the Russian American Company at cost prices all brought by Indians belong- ing to the Russian Islands and there being a question as to whether cer- tain Indians the Hoonaquonays of Cross Sound reside principally on the continental shores or the islands it has been agreed that any sea Otters traded by the Hudson's Bay Company from them shall be exchanged with 64 HUDSON'S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. ii the Russian American Company for Beaver after the rate of 9 full sized Beaver for one full sized sea Otter skin. Under the strict letter of the agree- ment I am not clear that we could claim these skins but Governor Etoline acceded to the arrangement already mentioned in consideration of the Russian American Company benefiting by the trade of the Indians of the Alsache River which empties itself into Port Francois about 40 to 50 miles North of Cape Spencer under the impression that those Indians make their hunts to the S.E. of a supposed line drawn from Cape Spencer to Mount Fairweater, whereby those hunts would belong to the Hudson's Bay Company by the agreement of Feby 1839. It was com- 21. When the arrangement by which we became possessed of the Russian form^a dhain territory to the Northward of Lat : 54 was first entered into, it was in con- of posts along templation to form a chain of posts along the Coast up to the outlet of Cross the coasts Sound and from those establishments to form outposts in the interior, under in* the" 1 ^ & an impression that the country between the coast and the Rocky Mountains Interior. was of much greater extent, more numerously inhabited and more valuable than we have since ascertained it to be. There are only two streams of any magnitude falling into the ocean between the Russian Southern Boundary and Cape Spencer, those are the Stikine and Tacow Rivers ; the former being navigable in seasons of high water for about 40 to 50 miles by the steam vessel and afterwards by canoes, and the latter by small craft only. Range of There is a range of mountains running along the coast extending inland mountains about 60 miles beyond which there is a district of level country partially the coast. wooded but as there are few lakes in the interior it is difficult of settlement except in a direct line between the great chain of Rocky Mountains and the coast ; and as the coast Indians are in constant communication with those of the Interior it is not supposed that the presence of establishments would tend materially to increase the quantity of Furs at present collected ; so that all idea of occupying the interior country with posts during the existence of the present arrangement with the Russians is now abandoned. I have little doubt that our Russian neighbours will be glad to prolong the arrangement beyond the expiration of the ten years, as independent of other considerations it would be a means of avoiding competition in trade with the Hon : Company which they are well aware would be highly injurious to them but should they alter their present view of the subject and object to the extension of the arrangement beyond the year 1850 it will in that case be advisable to establish three posts in the Interior say one from 40 to 50 miles up the Stikine River another on the banks of a river falling into the head of Lynn's Canal where we should be well received by the Chilcat nation ; and a third on the banks of a Lake situated inland from Admiralty or Behrings Inlet near the Northern British Boundary at Mount St. Elias where our presence and high opposition prices would greatly disturb the Russian trade as far North as Cook's Inlet. Such a measure however I hope will not be necessary as the Russian American Company must be well aware that the benefit by the good feeling arising from the existing arrange- ment whereas a discontinuation thereof would bring us in collision with them by which their interests would be greatly affected. The trade of 22. The trade of the North West coast which need not under any circurns- Wes^Coast tances be ever estimated at more than 10,000 Beaver & Otters besides small furs is understood to be that of the coast and islands extending Northwards Fort Simpson from Point Mudge which is situated inside of Vancouver's island in about the Depot. j^ a j. . QQO p or t Simpson being the most central point and principal establish- ment upon that coast is considered the depot of the district although the outfits for the different posts have heretofore been made up at Vancouver & conveyed direct to the establishments which together with the transport to Sitka has this year been the principal employment of the barque Columbia, the Schooner Cadboro and the Beaver steam vessel. HUDSON'S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. 65 The trade of 23. The trade of the Coast cannot with any hope of making it a profitable net afford to"" Business afford the maintenance of so many establishments as are now maintain so occupied for its protection together with the shipping required for its trans- many posts, port nor does it appear to me that such is necessary as I am of opinion that the establishments of Fort McLoughlin, Stikine & Tacow might be abandoned without any injury to the trade and that the establishment of Fort Simpson alone with the Beaver steamer will answer every necessary and useful purpose, in watching and collecting the trade of the whole of that line of coast the transport of supplies and returns to be accomplished in one trip of a sailing vessel from Fort Vancouver to Fort Simpson. Under this arrangement the steamer would be constantly employed in visiting the principal trading stations between the Quakeolth village in about Lat : 50* 30' to the Northward of Johnston's Straits and Cape Spencer the Northern entrance of Cross Sound. These stations she could visit at stated periods six times a year which would be sufficiently often for the purpose of col- lecting the trade and of supplying the Indians and would be more convenient to the natives generally than the permanent trading establishments now occupied which many of the more remote Indians are unable to visit in some instances on account of the distance and in others from an apprehen- sion of difficulty with the home-guards at the different posts who look upon such visits with much jealousy desirous as they are of having the trade entirely in their own hands by acting as middlemen between the Fort and those distant tribes, in order that they may have the benefit of an agency by the transaction ; indeed I am of the opinion that when once the steam vessel comes into regular operation so as to visit the different trading stations at stated periods the returns of the coast will materially increase as it will render our intercourse much more frequent with the natives than it would otherwise be, and thereby bring our supplies into more general use among them than they now are, and consequently stimulating them to * industry. Principal ob- 24. The principal objection to this extended alteration in the arrangements change is the 8 ^ tne coast trade is the possibility of another attempt being made to dis- possibility of turb it by American opposition : of that however I have no apprehension American as j^ j s perfectly ascertained that the late adventurers upon the Coast have opposition. , , ,, . ,1 , lost money by their attempts upon the trade, and as they cannot afford a sacrifice of means in what they must know to be a hopeless attempt to dis- lodge us, I do not think they will ever interfere with us again in this quarter. But even should they be disposed to make the experiment it could only be on the line of coast to the Southward of Lat : 54, which is open to them pending the adjustment of the Boundary question between Great Britain and the United States, which however the establishment of Fort Simpson, with the presence of the Beaver steamer, or any other vessel is sufficient to protect The country to the Northward of Lat : 54, being Russian territory is under any circumstances safe from opposition being protected both by treaty and by the Russian American Company. The trade of that part of the Coast, say the Russian territory will be more effectually protected by the Beaver steamer from any possible breach of good faith on the part of our Russian neighbours than by the posts now occupied ; but I have not the least apprehension of any unfair dealing on the part of our neighbours, on the contrary I feel perfectly satisfied they will honorably fulfil in spirit and to the letter all their engagements with us. The saving 25. The saving that would be effected by this alteration in the mode of ^^ted'b^ be con ducting the business of the Coast would amount to upwards of 4000 p. thechange annm. besides leaving the shipping disposable for other important services would be a portion of the time now occupied in that branch of trade. about 4,000 r per annum. ii 5 HUDSON'S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. ii In the event of any acci- dent to the steamer. North West Coast. 26. It might be urged that in the event of any accident occurring to the steam vessel the trade of the Coast to the Southward of the Russian Boundary Line would become exposed, but before any opposition could avail itself of our unprotected condition arising from that cause the accident might be repaired, or we should be in a situation to supply her place either by establishing a post or by the presence of a sailing vessel, until another steamer could be got from England, as in the e^ent of the loss of the Beaver I would strongly recommend (notwithstanding a difference of opinion on this subject with Gentlemen for whose judgment I have a very high respect) I consider that another steamer should be provided with as little delay as possible My reason for so saying is that I consider a vessel of that description peculiarly adapted for the inland navigation between Puget Sound and Cross Sound, and that the t ransport business of those inland seas cannot without the assistance of a steam vessel be done justice to, while her presence in my opinion has had more effect in overawing the natives of the coast and expelling opposition therefrom than any other means that could have been adopted. Climate of the 27. The climate of the North West Coast differs very much from that of ne country to the Southward of Lat : 49 arising I conceive in additon to the difference of Latitude, in a great degree from the character of the coun- try, which north of that point is exceedingly mountainous and the tops of many of the higher mountains covered with perpetual snows ; while North of Stikine glaciers are to be seen in many of the valleys to the waterside and floating ice in several of the canals & Straits all the year round From our departure from Red River Settlement up to the time of our arrival at Stikine we had the finest weather that can be well imagined but there it became wet and stormy, and at Tacow we were detained in consequence three days, starting from thence on the 25th, and passing through Stephen's Passage, Peril and Chatham Straits arrived at Sitka on the 26th where we were received with every mark of kindness and atten- tion by Governor Etoline and the other Russian officers at that establish- ment. 28. Sitka, or New Archangel situated in Norfolk Sound in Lat : 57 Long : 136 is the great depot of the Russian American Company from whence nearly all its outposts and dependencies on the North West Coast likewise in the Aleutian and Kurile Islands are principally supplied Here they have a steam vessel which -was originally intended as a protection to their trade from any attempt that might be made upon it by the Hon : Company previou3 to the amicable arrangement that has been entered into ; but being no longer required for that object it is now principally employed in collecting the trade of the Islands and in towing their sailing vessels out of and into harbour. She is built upon the plan of an American River boat and although she cost from ,0000 to 6000, is by no means a good Sailing vessels nO r serviceable vessel. They have moreover a small steam tug, with twelve sailing vessels from 120 up to 350 tons burden, employed in their transport business in the country; besides a number of small craft of from 10 to 50 tons attached to their different hunting and trading establishments. The large vessels usually winter at Sitka and during that season there is an establishment of people at that place of exceeding 400 officers and servants, which with families, makes the population of Sitka upwards of 1200 souls ._ _ * T i* -n i i i independent ot a numerous Indian village, situated immediately under the guns of the forts. 29. Themodeof conductingtheirbusinessdiffers very much from that which we pursue being characterized by a formal routine and display, in humble imitation of a Government establishment, admitting in my opinion of many improvements and of curtailments or reductions which of themselves would Departure from Tacow. Sitka. Establish- Mode of con- ducting the trade. ii HUDSON'S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. 67 The Returns. Tariff. All the Rus- sian furs sent to Ochotsk. Negotiations respecting the trade of Kamschatka. produce a very considerable gain in the shape of savings. Their entire collections both on the American and Asiatic shores are about 1000 sea otters 13000 Fur seals 12000 Beaver 5000 Land Otters of which 2000 are the rent paid by the Hudson's Bay Coy for the Russian territory held by them Small furs 10000 sea Horse Teeth. Their tariff of trade is very nearly the same as ours but notwithstanding the terms of the convention between Great Britain and Russia of Feby 1825 I find that a considerable quantity of spirituous liquors is disposed of by them to Indians in barter for both furs and provisions. We have dis- continued the use of that article upon the Coast as a medium of barter except in the immediate vicinity of Russian establishments ever since the Americans have withdrawn, and the natives are become so perfectly reconciled to the privation that in the whole course of my travels this season where the use of it was discontinued, I only heard one enquiry respecting the article of Rum. With a view to the wellbeing of the Indian population of the coast and to guard as much as possible against even the semblance of competition I suggested to Governor Etoline that the use of spirituous liquors should be discontinued by both parties on a date that may hereafter be agreed upon previous to the 31st December 1843, and I have much satis- faction in saying that he readily assented to this arrangement. 30. All the furs collected by our Russian neighbours are sent to Ochotsk where they are made up for the Russian and Chinese markets. The article of sea horse teeth cannot bear the charge of inland transport they therefore retain the collections of that article until opportunities cast up every third or fourth year of sending them by sea to St Petersburg and as so large a quantity, imported at one time naturally gluts the Russian market, they are willing either to enter into a contract with the Hon : Company for the sale of half their annual collections at a price that may be agreed upon or to send that quantity by our annual ship for England on freight as a con- signment to be disposed of by the Company on their account and with that view about half a ton is now forwarded as a specimen of the quality of the ivory. I could not learn that the hides of those animals have ever been sent to market : they are very thick and heavy and might I think be applied to some useful purpose in England. A few of them are therefore sent by the barque Columbia on account of the Russian American Company and if they clear anything beyond the cost of transport and charges they will for- ward on freight for sale in England by the Company's annual ship from 5000 to 6000. 31. Governor Etoline informed me that there was a negotiation at present in progress between the Russian American Company and the Imperial Government with a view to placing the Civil Government of Kamschatka in the hands of the Company and of affording them the exclusive right of the importation and sale of foreign produce and manufactures to the inhabi- tants, likewise the exclusive right of trading and hunting furs on the coast & in the interior of that Province. Should that arrangement take effect of which Govr. Etoline did not entertain the smallest doubt, he said in that case a further quantity of grain say about 10,000 Bushels Wheat would be required from the Country with the annual cargo of British produce and manufactures from England equal to 400 tons, 200 of which would be required for Sitka and the other 200 for Kamschatka ; and that whether the arrangement with respect to Kamschatka be carried into effect or not they will require by the Company's annual ship about 200 tons British produce and manufactures from and after the shipment of 1842. HUDSON'S BA Y COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE. ii The R. A. Co. have not yet abandoned Bodega. The Governor expressed himself as highly satisfied with the Otter skins that had been received by them from the Company in fulfilment of the contract of sale entered into, likewise with the wheat and other agricul- tural produce that had been delivered under the same contract, for which payment had been duly made by his Bills on St. Petersburg transmitted : so that I am in hopes our present dealings with our Russian neighbours from which the country derive important advantages, are but an earnest of future and more extended business operations, and as I hope to see Govr. Etoline again on my way to Siberia, and Baron Wrangell and the Board of Directors of the Russian American Company as I pass through St. Peters- burg it is more than probable that further extended business transactions may be determined upon previous to my return to England. 32. The Russian American Company have not yet abandoned their establishment of Bodega in California being unable to effect a sale of their buildings and stock ; that stock consists principally of sheep, cattle, horses, Agricultural implements, 9-60 ; in continuation of the narrative of the opera- tions detailed in my despatch No. 3 of the 28th March, 1859 ; and with reference to the arrangements made for their prosecution communicated to you in letter No. 6 of the 3 1st May, 1859. 2. In my last report, I informed your Lordship that Capt. Darrah, R.E., the Asst. Astronomer to the Commission, Dr. Lyall, R.N., the Surgeon and Naturalist, and a large proportion of the detachment of Royal Engineers had proceeded to the Sumass River on the 9th April ; an advanced party having been sent there a short time previously to erect store houses in readiness for the reception of provisions : that Captain Haig, R.A, the Chief Astronomer (with a few more Sappers) had gone thither on the 25th April, after attending the meetings of the joint Commission at Semiahmoo ; and that Mr. Lord, the Assistant Naturalist and Veterinary Surgeon had arrived at the same place at the end of April with the pack-animals and some beef-cattle from Puget Sound. 3. Captn. Darrah proceeded at once to the neighbourhood of the Sumass astronomical station, and employed his party in opening trails to the Boundary and extending the clearing along it, which had been commenced in the previous season and which it was now intended to complete through- out the interval between Semiahmoo and the point on the parallel derived from the Schweltza Astronomical station. Besides the storehouses at Sumass sheds were erected for the accommodation of the pack-train ; and the neces- sary bridges were made over the streams on the nDrth and west sides of Sumass Lake, by which route communication between the depot and Captn. Darrah's camp was maintained until it was altogether cut off by the periodical rising of the waters which covered the prairies surrounding the Lake to the depth of several feet. From that time communication was kept up by water ; but provisions, &c. were transported from Capt. Darrah's Depot to his working parties by means of a proportion of pack-animals sup- plied for that purpose. The surveying to ascertain the direction of the Boundary was performed by Sappers under Captn. Darrah's supervision ; and the clearing was made by working parties principally of hired axemen, of such strength as could be obtained or could be conveniently employed, until the end of July when it was found absolutely necessary to discontinue it until later in the year, owing to the impossibility of getting men to work on account of the indescribable annoyance caused by mosquitoes. 4. Captn. Haig remained at Sumass until the middle of May, by which time he had stored the Depot with provisions ; and he also purchased an additional number of mules, as it soon became apparent that the strength of our pack-train was far below the amount of work that would be required from it our whole dependence resting on such means of transport over a very difficult and lengthening line of communication. Captn. Haig pro- ceeded on the 17th May to Schweltza astronomical station which he had occupied at the time of the previous season, but at which he wished to iii 3 34 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. iii repeat his observations with a Zenith Telescope kindly lent to the Commis- sion by the United States Chief Astronomer. Here a good boat for supplying and communicating with the Camp at the bend of the Lake had to be built ; the distance across being 2 miles and the mountain sides hemming in the Lake being impassable. Captn. Haig was delayed at this Station for a long time, viz : up to the 15th July, first by the observations and computations but principally in consequence of the length of survey which had to be made between the astronomical station and Parallel, which included the labour of clearing its course. I may here remark that at the very close of the previous year's operations when in fact the winter had set in with severity, there was no time to select and prepare a station nearer to the Parallel, the only approach to which at this point is up the Schweltza Valley. 5. While Captns. Haig and Darrah were thus employed, storehouses were in process of erection at a site selecte J for a Depot at the mouth of the Chilukweyuk River for the supply of the parties at Schweltza and on the line of operations to the eastward of that point ; and as soon as possible large quantities of provisions and forage were stored at Chilukweyuk which place formed our main depot during the greater part of the season. The trail between Sumass and Chilukweyuk and that branching to Schweltza required repair and frequent attention. Working parties were then pushed forward upon the trail between Chilukweyuk depot and lake, a distance of 35 miles', which was greatly improved and in some places diverted this proved a very costly operation, but upon the good condition of the trail the successful maintenance of a regular supply of provisions, &c. to the advanc- ed parties with our limited pack-train very greatly depended. 8. On my arrival at Chilukweyuk, Captn. Haig was engaged at Schweltza and Capt. Darrah at Sumass, as above stated in paragraghs 3 and 4. Lieut : Roche was immediately employed exploring the left bank of the Chiluk- weyuk River with the view of establishing a communication with the Selacee Valley which is crossed by the 49th Parallel and through which flows a tributary of the Chilukweyuk upon which it was intended to establish a station. He attempted to bridge the Tummeahai, a similar tributary, some miles up which is a station of the U. S. Commission ; but this as well as the formation of a good trail was found to be impracticable. Lieut : Roche then proceeded beyond the Chilukweyuk Lake for the pur- pose of selecting a spot for an astronomical station between Chuckchehum (the eastermost point fixed by the U. S. Commission in the preceding season) and the Skagit River at which the U. S. Astronomers were then employed but the intervening mountains proved inaccessible, at least for such an object. He continued his explorations beyond the Skagit ; a trail- making party being employed in opening a road to the eastward, upon which the U. S. Commission were also at work. The trail used between Chilukweyuk Lake and the Skagit was reopened and improved by the Americans before our parties had advanced so far. At the extreme of his explorations, Lieut: Roche discovered a stream, a tributary of the Simil- kameen, and therefore on the eastern slope of the Cascade watershed. Upon this stream, which Capt. Haig named Roche River, a site for an astronomical station was selected. Just at this time Lieut. Roche was recalled to his ship owing to circumstances arising from the occupation of the Island of San Juan by United States troops ; and Capt. Haig going to the Chilukweyuk Lake at the same time to make arrangements on his taking charge of the Commission in consequence of his having received information of my sudden departure for England, Lieut : Roche accom- panied him and thus terminated his connection with the Boundary Com- iii FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 35 9. On completing Schweltza station Capt. Haig proceeded to Chilukweyuk Lake where he remained for a short time superintending the arrangements for the establishment of an advanced depot at that place. The line of communication here traverses the whole length of the lake, a distance of 5 miles (the margin being as at Schweltza impassable) for the passage of which a large tioat or " scow " capable of containing a number of animals had been built by a party of Sappers aided by civilians, and a canoe made by Indians. This obstruction rendered it necsssary to keep a separate pack-train on the eastern side of the lake to communicate with the advanced parties while the stores at the lake depot were kept supplied by the train travelling between it and the main depot at the mouth of the River. This separation tended still further to cripple our limited means of transport. A lateral trail of 5 miles having been made to it Captn. Haig occupied an astronomical station upon Roche River, the work of which he completed between the 9th and 26th September. The parallel was here marked by a clearing 20 feet wide across the narrow valley, with a cairn at each end of it 4 ft. square at base and 4 ft. high. Stone was scarce ; and time pressing, as winter was already setting in at this altitude. In consequence of Lieut : Roche's recall to his ship and Lieut : Mayne not having been able to join the Commission, Messrs. Calder and Macdonald had been engaged as sur- veyors ; and while Captn. Haig was employed at Roche River station, Mr. Calder performed the survey between it and the Skagit River, and Mr. Macdonald that between the Skagit and Chilukweyuk Lake. By the end of September snow had begun to fall in the mountains and no more work in advance could be undertaken. Captn. Haig and the surveyors therefore retreated Captn. Haig's camp on one occasion being pitched in 6 inches of snow. The survey from the Chilukweyuk Lake to the mouth of the River, including the connections with the Nasaquotch and Selacee Valleys here- after mencioned in paragraph 10, wat at this sime executed l-y Messrs. Calder and Macdonald ; as also the survey between the latter point and the foot of Schweltza Lake which had been connected with the astronomical station at its head by triangulation. 10. I now continue the detail of Captn. Darrah's proceedings from para- graph 3. Having discontinued for a time the cutting of the Boundary be- tween Semiahmoo and Sumass, and Schweltza as previously stated, at the beginning of August, that officer arrived at the right bank of the Chiluk- weyuk River opposite the Selacee valley, in which as also in Nasaquotch val- ley it was intended to establish stations, and to define the crossing of the Parallel. Here much detention occurred in bridging the Chilukweyuk River and in finishing a trail 6^ miles long up the valley ; and it was not until the 31st August that Captn. Darrah was able to begin his observations, which occupied him until the llth September. ' Meanwhile a trail 6^- miles long was also in progress up the Nasaquotch valley from another bridge over the Chilukweyuk, and as soon as it was completed Captain Darrah proceeded thither and was fortunate in the occurrence of clear weather to enable him to obtain a sufficiency of observations just in time. A cutting along the Boundary across the valley was made at Nasaquotch, though only to the extent of 300 yards, a cairn of stones was erected at the east end of it, and a rock occurring in the Parallel on the left bank of the stream was marked thus A 1 this station was occupied between the 1st and 27th October, by which time there was about a foot of snow on the ground. Captain Darrah then returned to Selacee, and completed the work in that valley the bridge over the Chilukweyuk had been partially carried away and provisions and stores had to be " packed " by Indians. A cairn of stones 4 ft. square at base and 6 feet high was erected on the right bank of the stream and on the left bank a waterfall occurs just on the parallel. There was now about two feet of snow on the ground, and Captn. Darrah iii 3i 38 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. iii was in fear of being snowed up, and considered the season too far advanced to perform the requisite cutting across the valley which was therefore left undone. He states that the thoroughly impracticable nature of the Coun- try in both the Selacee and Nasaquotch valleys will prevent all settling for many years this is doubtless so, and may be said generally of the Cascade Mountains ; but, nevertheless, the fixation of as many practicable points as possible is even under such circumstances an important, and unfortunately a very expensive part of the duties of the Commission. 11. On Captn. Haig withdrawing from the Mountains early in October, he turned his attention to cutting the parallel between Sumass and Schweltza, which had been discontinued at the end of July. Some bridges on the trail alon^ the east side of Sumass Lake communicating between the depot and that portion of the Boundary, which has been washed away by the floods had to be restored ; and several miles of trail were made. Cutting* were proceeded with as soon as possible both from the Schweltza and Sumass points on the parallel ; from the former under Captn. Haig himself ; and from the latter under Mr. Stephens, an engaged surveyor, who had been previously employed reconnoitring for and opening a trail between Langley and the Parallel. When the cuttings became visible from each other on the 12th December, Captn. Haig found that they differed about 8 seconds in Latitude, they were however connected, though the line thus denned is obviously not strictly the Boundary of the Treaty. The season was now so far advanced that nothing more could be done, excepting that Captn. Darrah and his party were left at work on the section of Boundary between Sumass and Semiahmoo as detailed below in paragraph 12. On the 27th December, accompanied by Lieut : Wilson, Dr. Lyall, Messrs. Lord and Banerman, and a proportion of the Detachment of Royal Engineers, Captn. Haig left the Fraser River and retired for the winter to Esquimau It. 12. Captn. Haig being employed on the line between Schweltza and Sumass; on Captn. Darrah withdrawing from the Selacee Valley, he proceeded on the 21st November to open a trail (already in progress) from Fort Langley to the Parallel between Sumass and Semiahmoo, by which route it was pro- posed to supply the cutting parties on that section with provisions, In m y accompanying letter No. 14 of the 28th ultimo I have of State. detailed at great length the proceedings of the North America,n Boundary Commission during the past season ; and I now beg permission to submit to your Lordship some remarks upon the arrangements for and prospects of the season now about to open. 2. The work remaining to be done between the Cascade and Rocky Mountains consists of the necessary surveys, &c., in the space of about 125 miles between tbe western watershed of the western Kootenay which was the most easterly point attained to last year, and the intersection by the 49th Parallel by the crest of the Rocky Mountains which forms the eastern extremity of the Boundary under the Treaty of the 15th June, 1846, entrusted to the joint Commission ; and the survey and demarcation of the ill FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 55 interval of about 25 miles between Statapoosten on the Newhoialpitkw River and the Columbia. The United States Commission were engaged throughout the past season on the space between the western crossing of the Kootenay and the Rocky Mountains; and exclusive of the most easterly astronomical station on the watershed of the Rocky Mountains, they would appear to have occupied all the most accessible points, viz : the eastern and western intersection of the Kootenay ; an intermediate point on the Mooyie a tributary of the Kootenay ; and a point between the eastern Kootenay and the Rocky Mountains on the Kishenehu, a tributary of the Flathead which is the same stream that is called lower down, the Pend d'oreille or Clark's Fork. Though we have not had an opportunity of examining the astronomical determinations of the United States Com- misssion, they are understood to be perfectly satisfactory, and it may be assumed that the points on the Boundary derived from them are accurate. The United States Commission have moreover cut and marked two portions of the Boundary viz : across the valley at the eastern intersection of the Kootenay, and between the Kishenehu and Flathead which are represented to be the only practicable parts of the line for such purpose. 3. From what we understand to be the nature of the country, it appeara doubttul if it will be practicable to occupy more than two other astronomical stations, viz : one on the Yah'k, another tributary to the Kootenay to the east of the Mooyie ; and another on the head waters of a stream (the Wigwam River ?) flowing into the Kootenay from the eastward between that river and the Flathead. I am very desirous that observations and corresponding results should be obtained at these places, both to complete the mountain series, and to preserve as nearly as possible the alternation of points so fixed which has been the general rule by which the two Com- missions have been guided. Captain Haig, the Chief Astronomer, pro- poses to proceed to the eastern extremity of the Boundary so as to arrive there as soon as the advance of the season will allow him to do so : and having obsprved at that point, in the absence of the Commissioner, I have arranged with Lieut : Parke, the U. S. Chief Astronomer that he (Captain Haig) is at liberty to adopt the U. S. determination, to assume a mean between it and his own, or to deal otherwise with it in such manner as the result of his proceeding** may show to be necessary ; no doubt being enter- tained as to a near and satisfactory agreement. Besides the above three astronomical points, the work will comprise the necessary connecting surveys throughout the line, including references to the U. S. stations, and as much of the neighbouring topography as the strength and time at command will permit to he obtained. 4. It is so essential that this section of the Boundary should be completed this year without fail, and the division of the mule-train on which our move- ments entirely depend would so materially increase the difficulties of com- munication, stern Kootenay, at least as far as the U. S. station at the Mooyie in good time ; upon which he will be disposed of in the manner that I propose to indicate below in paragraph 9. Should Captn. Darrah not have reached the western Koote- nay, and it is very improbable that he will have done so, Lieut : Anderson will relieve him and complete that work, including the connection with the point attained in the past season on the western watershed of the Kootenay. 6. In paragraph 9 of my letter No. 14 of the 28th ultimo, 1 stated that the Boundary so carefully and completely defined and marked by Captn. Haig and Lieut : Anderson in the past season, between the Similkameen and the western intersection of the Newhoialpitkw at Statapoosten would require revision. This necessity arises from the connections made between the various British and American points on the Boundary derived from the astronomical operations at the several stations showing great and unex- pected discrepancies in the latitude of the points. The results of the astro- nomical operations by both Commissions seem to be in the highest degree satisfactory ; the points on the 49th parallel derived from those results are not liable to errors which can be detected at the stations themselves ; the country through which the connections have been made is of a generally favourable character ; and the method of connection does not permit of errors at all approaching in magnitude the discrepancies found to exist. There seems to be no way of explaining these discrepancies except by attributing them principally to local causes affecting the astronomical observations similar to those vitiating the determinations at Schweltza alluded to in paragraph 16 of my despatch No. 9 dated 21st May, 1860 ; and which probably affect more or less every station between the sea and the Rocky Mountains. Two ways of dealing with this difficulty presented themselves either to connect the adjacent stations by curves representing and having the properties of the 49th parallel (there being no apparent reason for preferring or rejecting the determination of any one of the stations) which might have been the preferable method had there been grounds for suspecting the accuracy of the manner of making the connec- tions, and which will be followed in revising the line between Semiahmoo and Sumass ; or to adopt a mean parallel from the continuation of the several astronomical results and their connections, from that mean to cor- rect the result obtained at each station and to run, and mark a parallel coinciding with those corrections. There are two British and three U. S. determinations of latitude in the space of nearly 65 miles, from between the Similkameen River and Osoyoos Lake, to Statapoosten, the greatest discrepancy is between the British station at Osoyoos and the U- S. station iii FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 57 at Statapoosten, which differ about 860 ft ; and none of the stations agree within less than about 180 ft which is the difference between Statapoosten and the British station at Inshwointum. In this case, the first plan would certainly not produce a parallel of latitude, and thus would knowingly fail to fulfil the provisions of the Treaty the second plan would result in a parallel which would probably be the nearest approach to an accurate determination of the 49th parallel that any but a very elaborate and extended course of observation could arrive at. Captn. Haig has written at length to Mr. Airy the Astronomer Royal on the subject of these unwelcome and very unexpected discrepancies and on the method of dealing with them. At a meeting at this place on the 4th March, attended by Lieut : Parke, the U. S. Chief Astronomer, in the absence of the Com- missioner, Mr. J. S. Harris, one of the U. S. assistant Astronomers, Captn. Haig and myself the above question, and the plan of this year's operations were discussed ; and it was agreed that a mean parallel should be adopted, and a new line run and marked from the Similkameen to Statapoosten This Lieut : Parke has undertaken to do, on the part of the U. S. Commis- sion, on satisfying himself as to the existence and amonnt of the alleged discrepancies. 7. It would have been as well to have included the British and U. S. determinations on the opposite banks of the Columbia with the other astronomical results from which the mean parallel alluded to in the preceding paragraph -is to be derived; but the connection between the Columbia and Statapoosten has not yet been made, and the relation of those points to each other is consequently not known. The mean of the two determina- tions on the Columbia is therefore to be assumed as the point on the 49th parallel at its intersection with that river ; and the manner in which the Boundary between it and Statapoosten will be marked depends on the nature of the country Captn. Haig will meet with in performing the work. I hope that a continuous and well-marked line from the Similkameen to the Columbia, a distance of nearly 100 miles, will prove to be practicable throughout. 8. By the operations of the two Commissions alluded to in paragraphs 5 and 6, the field work between the Cascade and Rocky Mountains would be brought to a close. It will depend altogether upon the time by which this work can be completed whether or not this Commission can be with- drawn from this place before the winter. If it can be done my movements will be governed by the instructions of the Secretary for War, for which I propose to apply by this mail ; which will I presume direct the immediate return of the Body of the Commission to England. Should we not be able to withdraw before the setting in of winter, so that travelling with so large a party with such stores and instruments as it would be necessary to carry with us becomes impracticable, there would be ample occupation for the computing and drawing departments; no temporarily engaged persons would be kept in employment except those whose services might be indis- pensable, such probably as some packers in charge of the stock ; and the earliest possible move would be made in the spring. 9. It is my present intention to withdraw Captn. Darrah from between the eastern and western Kootenay as soon as the completion of the work on that side is assured, and in time for him to cross the Cascade Mountains to the Fraser River, probably by the route between the heads of the Similkameen and Fort Hope ; for the purpose of rectifying the direction of the Boundary line ai d cutting between Semiahmoo and Sumass, and of fixing the iron monuments along that portion of the boundary. To effect this, I propose to furnish Captn. Darrah with a surveying party of sufficient strength to perform the necessary work under his supervision, and to attend to the fixation of the monuments ; and with a sufficient number of mules to main- 58 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. iii tain his communications and keep up a supply of provisions, &c., for his working parties. Captn. Darrah will I hope be enabled to carry on this work without intermission until its completion ; and if he meets with no unexpected difficulties, I think it may be done in two or at most three months. This will finally complete the field operations of the Land Boundary Commission, and under the instructions of the Secretary for War, this party also will I presume have to return to England by the earliest opportunity. 10. At the wish of the United States Commissioner, expressed at the joint Commission meeting in November last, I communicated with Captn. G. H. Richards, R.N., H.M., 2nd Cummissionerfor the determination of the Water Boundary, respecting the erection, on the western face of Point Roberts of a stone obelisk to mark the intersection by thi 49th parallel of the western coast of the continent. This point appertains to the Water Boundary ; but being that which by my original instructions No 2 dated 30th March, 1858, I was directed to adopt, it is also common to the Land Boundary ; and knowing that the proceedings of the joint Watt r Boundary Commission were in abeyance, I was induced to move in the matter. Captn. Richards expressed himself strongly of opinion that the point should be marked, and that longer delay in doing so would be inconvenient ; and he therefore had no hesitation in recommending me to carry out my proposal to mark the point in question. I quite agree with Captn. Richarda that while a larger mark can give no greater significance to the spot on which it stands unless there were a special agreement to that effect, as the coast of Point Roberts forms one natural boundary of the Channel named in the Treaty, and as it is undoubtedly the most prominent point, it is quite consistent that the most prominent beacon should be placed upon it, without seeking for any other cause. I propose therefore to take steps for the erection of the proposed obelisk, and Captn. Richards has pro- mised to render me all the assistance in his power. The point on the eastern face of Point Roberts, anc also that on the eastern shore of Semiahmoo Bay, are to be marked by Capln. Darrah with the ordinary iron monuments. 12. In the middle of February I despatched Lieut: Wilson, the Secre- tary, to San Francisco principally for the purpose of bringing back with him some chronometers and other instruments which had been sent there for repair, the conveyance of which would require extreme care ; and to obtain a large sum in cash for use at this remote place. He was also directed to procure a few articles of provisions and other stores which were required ; and to arrange about the transport of some instruments, stores and ammunition from England which had been detained at the Dalles or Walla Walla during the winter. About 3 weeks after Lieut : Wilson's departure, Mr. Lord followed him with a small train of mules for the pur- pose of bringing him back from Walla Walla or the Dalles should the steamer between thos places not be running ; and they may now be expected back in about ten days. Preparations for entering actively upon the work of the season have been making for several weeks past, and a large quantity of provisions and stores have been moved one stage of the outward journey ; but our movements are dependent on a sufficient growth of grass to afford food for our numerous animals. I have the honour to be, Your Lordship's most obedient, humble servant, J. S HAWKINS, ill FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 59 Endorsed : Letter No. 15 (with one enclosure). April 12th, 1861. Report of arrangements for the operations of the North American Boundary Commission in 1861, 2. Endorsed. Sketch Map of the Boundary between the British Possessions and the United States on the 49th Parallel of North Latitude from the Columbia River to the Rocky Mountains. Inclosure No. 1 in Despatch No. 15, dated April 12th, 1861. No. 18. H. M. BOUNDARY COMMISSION, SlNYAKWATEEN, PEND D'OREILLE RlVER, August 26th, 1861. Extract of Extract of Letter Lieut: Colonel Hawkins to Secretary of State. Letter, Lieut. Colonel _ , Hawkins to 4. it will be convenient, and I think it will be found more explanatory if Secretary of I combine my reply to the 1st, 4th, and 6th heads of enquiry; and I must take the liberty to refer your Lordship to the sketch maps which accompanied my despatches N os. 14 and 15 of the 28th March and 12th April, as I have not the means at this place of preparing any others. Captain Haig, the Chief Astronomer, has already verified and finally marked the eastern terminus of the Boundary on the water-shed of the Rocky Mountains and the connecting survey thence to the eastern crossing of the Kootenay River has been made. By this time it is probable that the whole series of astronomical determinations of Latitude which the joint Commission agreed to undertake is completed : Capts. Haig and Darrah being at the last stations, the one on the head-waters of the Wigwam River, a tributary of the Kootenay, between the stations at the eastern terminus of the Boundary and the eastern crossing of the Kootenay, and the other on the Yah'k another tributary of the Kootenay, between the eastern crossing of that river, and the station on the Mooyie, also a tribu- tary of the same river, early in this mouth. Captn. Darrah would then complete the survey he had carried from the eastern crossing of the Koote- nay, past his station on the Yah'k to that of the Mooyie ; from which point Lieut : Anderson will have taken up that work on about the 19th inst. for the purpose of continuing the survey to its connection with the most east- erly point attained last year on the western watershed of the western cross- ing of the Kootenay. This will complete all that it is intended to do between the Columbia River and Rocky Mountains. Captn. Haig is now no doubt on his return from this section of the work on the way to Colville, whence he will proceed at once to Statapoosten on the Newhoialpitkw River, to connect by survey and if practicable to lay out and mark the Boundary between that point and the crossing of the Columbia, which would complete an important, and well-defined section of the Boundary between the Similkameen and Columbia rivers comprising about a quarter of its entire length. From the west bank of the Similkameen to the west- ern base of the Cascade Mountains between Schweltza and Surnass, an interval of about 110 miles, all that it is intended to do has been done in the determination of almost all the accessible points on the Boundary, and their demarcation by means of short cuttings and stone beacons, &c. and by the performance of such a connecting survey between the several points as the nature of the country would admit of. From the western base of the Cascade Mountains to Semiahmoo, the actual line of Boundary has to be 60 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. Hi revised to the extent of the discrepancies in the meeting of the cuttings made from opposite directions in the winter of 1859-60 ; and the revised line has to be denned by means of the iron pillars sent from England for the pur- pose, for the removal of which to the most convenient accessible points, I have already taken steps. Two or three of the pillars have also to be placed on the portion of the Boundary line crossing Point Roberts. On complet- ing the work previously alluded to as now being in his hands, Captain Darrah will proceed across the Cascade Mountains to undertake the above revision, &c. ; which with the erection of a small stone obelisk at the western terminus of the Land Boundary on the western face of Point Roberts (being the point of separation between the Water and land Boundaries) for which I have also taken measures, will finally complete the field labours of this Commission. Captn. Haig I have already stated is no doubt now on the way to take up his last portion of work, but it is very unlikely that he will be able to complete it before the advance of the winter would make it impossible to work any longer in the Mountains, though I have full confi- dence that he will complete it before retreating to winter quarters so open and favorable a season as the last cannot be counted upon, and the end of November may be named as a probable date. The portion of survey left to Lieut : Anderson west of the Kootenay, though mountainous and very rugged will not I think occupy him beyond about the end of next month ; after which he will proceed to assist Captn. Haig. Captn. Darrah has a long journey to undertake before he can enter upon his concluding portion of the work, and I am anxious that he should cross the Cascade Mountains before the trail becomes impeded by snow ; but he proposes to work through the winter until his labours are completed, in doing which he will have the experience of the winter of 1859-60 during which he worked on the same ground until March ; and indeed, from the swampy nature of the district such work is facilitated there by hard frost, being at other times nearly impracticable, and it is quite so in Summer from the intolerable number of Mosquitoes. Captn. Darrah will hardly begin his work before the latter part of October ; and its progress will depend upon so many uncertain con- tingencies, such as the weather and season, the quantity of trail-making he may find necessary, or the greater facilities for communication that the past two years may have produced, the number of men he may be able or may find it convenient to employ, &c. that it is difficult to suggest a probable date by which this portion of work will be brought to conclusion ; but I venture to name some time in January, and at all events much before the portion of the Commission wintering at Colville is likely to be released. With regard to the movements of the Commission on completing the field work, I beg respectfully to refer your Lordship to paragraph 8 of my letter No. 15 dated 12th April last, and I await the instructions of the Secretary for War, whom I addressed at length on the subject in a letter No. 85, dated 13th April 1861 which may have been submitted to your Lordship's consideration ; but if it has not, I should be glad that it should be laid before you. 5. As the British and United States Commissions have very seldom been working in close proximity, few or no opportunities have been afforded of ascertaining the strength employed by the U. S. Commission ; and from the very different position occupied by their military escort to that of the detachment of Royal Engineers attached to this Commission, even with greater knowledge of the details of their proceedings it would be difficult to institute a comparison of the relative strength employed by the two Commissions. It has always been my opinion that the proceedings of the U. S. Commission were conducted with energy and ability, and that nothing was allowed to be wanting in their organization and arrangements. Their staff of officers was certainly larger than that of the British Com- iii FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 61 mission their train of animals was at least equal to, if not larger than ours (they had I believe many more mules but fewer horses) besides the separate train for the supply and transport of their escort and being always a season in advance of us, the amount of trail-making, bridging, &c. performed by the U. S. Commission was much in excess of what we had done of that description ; while we have always unavoidably benefitted more or less, by their labours thus in advance, and this year we have done so to a very great extent. They have certainly undertaken less cutting on the Bound- ary, but even that has been more equalized by their having undertaken the revision of 'he line between the Similkameen river and Statapoosten (vide paragraph 6 of my letter No. 15, 12th April 1861) this year, which has just been brought to a very satisfactory conclusion. I have no reason whatever to think that the expenditure of the U. S. Commission will not bear comparison as to its gross amount with that of the British ; and in some details it might be so to my disadvantage, as they have had many facilities in agencies, the assistance afforded them by the military and other authorities, their dealing with their own countrymen, and greater knowledge of their character, &c. from which I was debarred. The iron monuments for marking the Boundary between Semiahmoo and Schweltza have been provided by Her Majesty's Government, and I have undertaken the erection of the proposed small stone obelisk on the western face of Point Roberts (of the probable cost of which I am not yet informed) without making any proposition about dividing the expense which, under certain circumstances of previous non-accordance with the U. S. Commissioner which I reported at the time to your Lordship, I felt to be a somewhat delicate question, which might be raised if necessary at some future time should any com- parison of expenditure be made ; but these items are likely to bear a very small and insignificant proportion to the general expenditure and perhaps even to the difference in the total outlay of the two Commissions. If H. M. Water Boundary Commissioner had consented to the U. S. Commis- sioner's proposition for the erection of a monument at the initial point at Point Roberts at the time it was first made, as the head-quarters of the U. S. Commission were then established at Semiahmoo, I have no doubt that Mr. Campbell was prepared to undertake the work, though I cannot sug- gest whether or not he would have proposed to share the expense. 6. With reference to the inquiry whether, so far as the Boundary has been marked it is admitted by the American Commissioner, as well as by myself, I had very great satisfaction in informing your Lordship in Paragraph 8 of my Letter No. 14 of the 28th March of the Concordant result of the last meeting of the joint Commission in the beginning of November, 1860, prior to the departure of the U. S. Commissioner to Washington ; at which meeting a general acknowledgment of the separate operations of the Commissions was made. The U. S. Commissioner consented to the demarcation by iron pillars of the Boundary from Point Roberts as far eastward as it was found reason- ably practicable so to define it, including the two points on the eastern face of Point Roberts and on the eastern shore of Semiahmoo Bay at which he had at first wished to erect monuments similar but inferior in size to that proposed for what he designated the "initial point" on the western face of Point Roberts. It was also then arranged that the U. S. Commission should undertake the revision of the line from the Similkameen River to Statapoosten, rendered necessary by the discrepancies in the several latitude determinations in that interval detected by Captn. Haig in the course of his operations last year. The manner of performing this revision was agreed upon at a subsequent meeting with the U. S. Chief Astronomer reported to your Lordship in paragraph 6 of my letter No. 15 ; and that work has just been completed, Lieut : Parke having moreover stated to me 62 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. iii that " the adjustment of the discrepancies was most satisfactory " to the U. S Commission, and that " the agreement between the two results of the two Commissions, for Latitude obtained at the same station, and the several azimuthal determinations, is most satisfactory." By agreement, if found practicable this portion of actually defined Boundary is to be pro- duced to the Columbia, although the interval between Statapoosten and that River is occupied by lofty Mountains ; and as previously stated in paragraph 4, Captn. Haig is no doubt on the way to take up that work. The examination of the results of the latitude determinations at the moun- tain stations was deferred though had any system of marking it been propos- ed we were in a position to have produced the British results which up to that time had been arrived at. There is however no reason whatever to doubt that such mutual examination will eventually prove perfectly satisfactory to the Commissions. I may here mention that at the eastern terminus of the Boundary at the Rocky Mountains, Captn. Haig only differed from the American result by 38 ft : entailing a change in the position of the terminal monument of only 19 feet : at the crossing of the Columbia, Captn. Darrah differed from the American result (on the opposite bank) by a little more than one second, or by (I think) about 113 feet ; and at Lake Osoyoos where the U. S. Astronomers have made very careful obser- vations in consequence of the alleged discrepancies in the Similkameen Statapoosten determinations, they differed from Captn. Haig by not f rds. of a second or by about 64 feet. A portion even of these small discrepan- cies is most probably due to the different season of the year at which the observations were made, and the different stars observed ; as during the winter Captn. Haig obtained a set of observations for Latitude, at the U. S. Commission observatory at the adjacent military post, using his own instrument but as nearly as possible the same stars that were observed at that point by the U. S. Astronomers for the purpose of comparison, and the results were almost identical, differing I think by only 15 feet. On the scale that the nature of the surveys will admit of the maps being laid down, there is little likelihood of any disagreement of any importance in producing a joint map from the independent surveys of the two Commissions. None but simple practical questions can arise, which can I think be easily practically solved. At present I know of nothing under this head of enquiry in which the two Commissions are not in entire accord, a state of things I confess I did not anticipate not many months ago : 7. The features of the country lying under the 49th parallel are shortly as follows from the sea to the Cascade Mountains, generally level, but mostly covered by dense forest and obstructed by extensive swamps ; and from thence to the Rocky Mountains continuously mountainous, in three fourths of that interval the Boundary being practically only accessible by the lateral valleys in which the astronomical stations have been located. For about half the distance between the Similkameen and Columbia Rivers (about one eighths of the boundary) the line passes over smooth rolling but mountainous country, which is the only favourable portion in its entire length. The principal difficulty of the survey has been that of penetrating the country ; the survey itself being unavoidably of a very simple description, producing a connection between the several latitude determinations and the points on the Boundary derived from them, its own value depending on its greater or less agreement with the latitudes of the astronomical points by which it is divided into separate sections. A future comparison with the surveys of the U. S. Commission (which are I believe of a generally similar description) will also furnish a further test upon it. The difficulties encountered and the expenditure incurred by this Com- mission have not been caused by the nature of the mere survey ; but they are entirely due to the character of the country in which the operations iii FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 63 have had to be conducted, the enormous rate of wages ruling in this country, the coat of supplies and stores of every description, which have further had to be conveyed from distant points by means of transportation only to be obtained at exorbitant rates, the necessity of maintaining an expensive pack-train to furnish transport and keep up supplies along the line of operations, the entire want of supplies, accommodation, or facilities of any description whatever from one end of the work to the other, besides many minor similar causes which I need not attempt to enumerate. In such a country moreover the labour expended upon trail-making &c. has been very considerable : and I may further point out that the line of operations was accessible from very few points ; so that, always difficult, as it lengthened as the work advanced it afforded no more favourable means of approach to and from communication along it. 9. In reply to the demand for information as to the manner of marking and preserving the Boundary I have honor to submit the following remarks. When leaving England in 1858, in my original instructions I was directed to define the Boundary " either by monuments in the open country or cuttings through forests in a manner to prevent any doubts on the subject being raised hereafter," and there was also the precedent of the New Brunswick and Maine Boundary to guide me, in which I believe the line was cut and marked throughout at intervals (generally) of one mile by cast iron pillars similar to but smaller than those provided on my demand for marking the interval between Semiahmoo and Schweltza. It will be observed that my instructions directed my attention to monuments or cuttings ; but being myself of the opinion which the Lords of the Treasury have been pleased to express that a mere forest vista would be wanting in permanence, and also that without marking certain points defining the actual line of Boundary it would be indefinite to the extent of the breadth of the cutting believing also that cuttings and monuments have been com- bined throughout the New Brunswick and Maine Boundary the cutting from Semiahmoo to Schweltza, and also that across Point Roberts will be permanently marked by iron pillars placed generally at mile intervals, with a few additional ones at the crossing of trails, &c. It is also intended to define the Western terminus of the Land Boundary on the western face of Point Roberts, a point common to the water and land Boundary Commissions, by a small stone obelisk about 20 feet high. About half of the portion of boundary between the Similkameen and Statapoosten passes over rolling grassy country with occasional patches of forest and the other half is rugged and mostly thickly wooded. During last season cuttings were made throughout the forest occuring in this in- terval, excepting in the bottoms of some of the deep valleys on the moun- tainous chord crossing the southern bend of the Newhoialpitkw in conse- quence of the work having been interrupted by snow ; and in the space of about 70 miles 54 stone beacons were erected at the most prominent or otherwise important points, besides there being 3 or 4 others placed by the U. S. Commission in the previous year from some points on this portion of the line, 8 or 10 beacons can be seen and the Boundary can be traced for many miles. In revising the line this year by the adoption of a mean parallel between the discrepant latitude determinations, the U. S. Commis- sion have replaced all the beacons (which are "square pyramidal piles of stone, carefully laid, six feet square at base and six feet high"), and added one more ; so that this important portion of the Boundary is marked throughout by nearly 60 monuments. I am further informed by the U. S. Chief Astronmer that on the revised line " the timber has been cut out at all the monuments, crossings of valleys trails and ridges, in all smooth roll- ing country and mountain slopes where the old vistas already existed and were visible from routes to travel," and that " the old monuments were all 64 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. iii taken down, and in many cases the stones removed." It is intended to continue the demarcation of this portion of Line from Statapoosten to the Columbia ; but even should Captn. Haig find that the necessary cuttings are not reasonably practicable, I have no doubt that from his connecting survey he will be enabled to determine the position of a sufficient number of beacons to define the line satisfactorily and permanently. The above are the most important cuttings that have been made, and the longest portions of the Boundary that have been or are proposed to be marked. Last season the U. S. Commission made good cuttings for 5 miles on each side of the River at the eastern crossing of the Kootenay and for about 7 miles between the Kishenehu and Flathead rivers ; but in my opinion these considerable distances are very insufficiently marked by monuments, there being according to my observation only three at each place this I have no doubt was owing to stone not being procurable on the spot, and to the difficulty there would have been and delay that would have occurred in conveying it to suitable points. At the numerous mountain or other stations, the points on the Boundary are marked by short cuttings and by one or more stone beacons, and nothing intermediate between such points has been considered practicable, the connecting surveys having been carried along the trails by which the line of operations has been traversed. The eastern terminus of the Boundary on the watershed of the Rocky Mount- ains is defined by an ordinary beacon, placed on a low short and narrow saddle with precipitous sides, lying between two rugged mountains which rise abruptly from it, a secure spot where the monument is very little likely to be disturbed by man or even animals, though in that bleak region it may not be spared by the elements. The saddle itself which runs nearly north and south will always define the position of the Boundary within an inconsiderable limit. With regard to the remark made by the Lords of the Treasury, that the cutting of a forest vista would seem to their Lordships at once costly and wanting in permanence ; I beg permission to observe that in laying out a continuous line of Boundary through forest I hardly see how it could be done without cutting such a vista. It would hardly be practically possible to determine satisfactorily the points to be permanently marked without the assistance of such an opening ; and even if it could be done, it might be said that the points intended to define the line would be lost in the forest without having any connection with each other. I would have ab- stained from these cuttings had I considered it practicable to do the work without them ; and the two Chief Astronomers at the joint Commission meeting in April 1859, gave most positive opinions that if a continuous line was to be marked, the cutting could not be dispensed with. The cut- tings on this have I believe been very different from those on the New Brunswick and Maine Boundary, some being through timber of the heaviest description, and the openings are likely to be identified for many years to come ; but I still considered that monuments of a more permanent character and defining the actual line, were required. On the close of the joint Commission and final authoritative adoption of the Boundary it appears to me that it will be necessary to place the monuments under the particular charge of the land Departments on either side of the frontier, for the pur- pose of identifying them from time to time, and of preserving them by bestowing that degree of attention upon them that they may be found to require ; and I think also that as facilities increase, the beacons of dry stone should be replaced by similar erections of solid masonry the result of such labor and expense should not be lost for want of future care ; and even the accessible cuttings might be preserved at no great cost by a little timely attention to them at intervals. FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 10 , 11 I have the honour to be, Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant, J. S. HAWKINS, Lieut : Colonel Rl. Engra. The Right Honble. ff. M. Commissioner. The Secretary of State, for Foreign Affairs, &c. &c. &c. Endorsed. H. M. Boundary Commission, Sinyakwateen, Pend d'Oreille Rivers. August 26th, 1861. Lieut: Col. Hawkins, R.E, Despatch No. 18. Report on the operations of the Commission called for by despatch No. 1. F. O. 29th April, 1861. F. O. 811, No. 19. ^8 a H. M. BOUNDARY COMMISSION, NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C., October 15th, 1861. MY LORD, . . , I enclose a sketch of the proposed obelisk, which as your Lordship may observe is to be of comparatively small size for the purpose intended hav- ing been so designed solely on the ground of economy. It will stand retired a few yards from the edge of a steep bank upwards of 150 feet high and will be dwarfed in appearance by the lofty pines around it, while it is desirable that it should be conspicuously visible from the sea a shoal extending off the coast of Point Roberts preventing the approach of vessels to within a mile or two of the shore. On the western face of the obelisk it is intended to place the title and date of the Treaty as shewn on the sketch; on the eastern the latitude and longitude of the point, and the date of erection ; and at the suggestion of Mr. Campbell, on the north and south faces, the names of the Commissioners. Owing to the existing state of things in these Colonies, the cost of the work will not fall far short of 1,500 ; a sum probably representing from twice to three and four times that for which it might be performed in most other parts of the world. The obelisk is to be of solid cut granite of the weight of about 40 tons, in stones varying from 1 to 2J tons each. As before said it will stand on the top of a rugged bank upwards of 150 feet in height which rises abruptly from a shingle beach not more than 10 or 15 yards in width above high water mark. Up this bank every article has to be hoisted for which purpose a strong wooden tramway has been laid under Captain Gosset's superintendence. I have the honour to be, Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant, J. S. HAWKINS. Lieut: Colonel Rl. Engrs. The Right Honble. H.M. Commissioner. The Secretary of State, for Foreign Affairs. &c., &c., &c. iii 5 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. iii Endorsed. H. M. Boundary Commission, New Westminster, B.C., October 15th, 1861. Lt. Col : J. S. Hawkins, R.E. No. 19. Report on the erection of a granite obelisk to mark the western terminus of the conti- nental Boundary. F. O. 811, No. 22. 1858-63. H. M. BOUNDARY COMMISSION, COLVILLE, WASHINGTON TERRIRORY, U.S. November 27th, 1861. MY LORD, You will already have received detailed reports respecting the course pursued by the joint Commission for rectifying the discrepancies found to exist between some of the latitude determinations at the several points on the 49th parallel upon which the demarcation of the Boundary is abased, on connecting those points by the most accurate means that the time at command and the nature of the country would admit of. This information is contained in paragraph 3 of mj letter No. 14 of the 28th March last, paragraph 6 of No. 15 dated 12th April, and paragraph 6 of No. 18 dated 26th August, 1861 : and your Lordship will thus have learned that no question affecting the position of the Boundary line will be left for further settlement by the joint Commission, after leaving the field. It however appears necessary to furnish your Lordship with a distinct reply to your despatch No. 5 of the 22nd July, instead of merely referring to my previous letters in which the question put to me is fully reported upon, and the means adopted for its settlement are detailed. The discrepancy between the British and the United States determination of a certain point on the Boundary (" at Boundary Creek "), alluded to in paragraph 5 of Governor Douglas' despatch of the 28th February, 1861, to the Duke of Newcastle, was one of those detected by Captn. Haig on connecting the series of astronomical determinations between the Similka- meen river and the most easterly crossing by the Boundary of the New- hoialpitkw river at Statapoosten. As before stated in my letter No. 15, a large proportionate part of these discrepancies between independent and astronomical results of a high degree of accuracy must be attributed to local physical causes affecting the astro- nomical observations, which probably more or less affect the accuracy of every astronomical station between the sea and the Rocky Mountains. Upon careful consideration by the two Commissions, as a practical and per- haps the only practical way of dealing with this difficulty without incurring indefinite delay and expense it was agreed upon that a mean parallel between the several astronomical determinations extending from the Sim- ilkameen to Statapoosten should be adopted. This work was undertaken by the United States Commission ; and in executing it, the results previously arrived at by Captn. Haig were verified, and the agreement between the work of the two Commissions was pronounced to be remarkable and satisfactory. At other portions of the Boundary which have been (or are now being) laid out and marked, the above plan has not been adopted, as it could not be so without incurring delay which neither of the Commissioners deemed expedient and of which I am sure neither of the Governments would have approved. In such cases the astronomical determinations have been adhered to and connected ; though there is every reason to believe that such connecting lines diverge slightly from a truly accurate parallel. In iii FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. ffj frequent conversations with Governor Douglas (when at Victoria) respect- ing the proceedings of the Bouudary Commission, he was made aware of my entire agreement with him as to the propriety of accurately and permanent- ly denning the Boundary between Her Majesty's and the United States territories in all practical places ; and as he must have known that the operations of the Commission were still in progress and consequently incom- plete, had he thought it fit to write to me on the subject instead of troubling his grace the Secretary for the Colonies, I could by return of post have assured him that he had no cause for anxiety as the question raised by him had not been overlooked and would receive due attention. It was of no practical importance at the moment. The " small town " consisted of three or four log buildings ; and as I believe the immediate difficulty experienced by Mr. Cox related to the collection of duties in British Columbia : the sale of liquors, &c. might have been quite as easily effected a hundred yards further south as at the spot in dispute. The original discrepancy was about 120 yards ; and by the adoption of the mean parallel the Boundary line at this point was moved only 35^ yards to the south of the U. S. Astronomical determination which happened to approach closely to the mean of the entire series. I have the honor to be, Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant, J. S. HAWKINS, Lieut : Colonel Rl. Engrs. H. M. Commissioner. The Right Honble. The Secretary of State, for Foreign Affairs, &c., &c., &c. Endorsed. Lieut : J. S. Hawkins, R.E., No. 22. By post through H.M. Consul at San Francisco. Reporting the means adopted for assimilating discrepancies in the demarcation of portions of the Boundary. F. O. 811 No. 24. 1858-63. ' H. M. BOUNDARY COMMISSION, COLVILLE, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, U.S., December 31st, 1861. (Extract.} MY LORD, 4. On the 20th July Captn. Haig reached the neighbourhood of the Boundary, at its eastern terminus on the watershed of the Rocky Moun- tains 77 miles from the Tobacco plains. Here observations for latitude were made from the spot used by the U. S. Commission, which was both convenient and accessible ; and as that point was about a mile to the north of the Boundary, a triangulation was carried south for about that distance. The point on the 49th parallel derived from these operations proved to be 38 feet north of the monument erected by the U. S. Commission ; and in accordance with the joint agreement reported to your Lordship in paragraph FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. iii 3 of my letter No. 15, the existing stone pyramid was destroyed and another similar in size and shape was erected on the watershed midway between the two determinations. This monument, marking the eastern extremity of the Boundary under the Treaty of Washington of the 15th June, 1846, stands nearly in the middle of a short and narrow saddle with precipitous sides, lying between two rugged mountains which rise abruptly from it it is not so prominent as it would have been if the intersection of the parallel and watershed occurred on a mountain ridge ; but the spot is well calculated to insure its permanence, which is likely to be most endan- gered by the elements in this bleak and exposed region. It stands at an altitude of about 7,056 feet. On the 3rd August, Captn. Haig retraced his steps westward ; and on the 6th he reached the head-waters of the Wigwam river, a tributary of the Kootenay, on which it was proposed to establish the position of the Boundary intermediately between the Flathead and Koote- nay rivers. A branch trail of about 7 miles in length had been previously made, and the approximate position of the Boundary determined by Lieut : Anderson Captn. Haig was here rejoined by the axemen who had hereto- fore been employed with Lieut : Anderson. This station was occupied between the 6th and 15th August. The Boundary was marked by a cut- ting in the forest 20 ft. wide and nearly f of a mile in length crossing the principal sources of the river, and by two stone monuments of the usual size and form erected in the vista. On the 16th August Captn. Haig commenced his return march to Colville he followed the northern route between the Tobacco plains and the Chelemba ; reached Sinyakwateen on the 3rd September, where he remained three days while the mules were being shod ; and arrived at Colville on the 15th September. On the 18th he again left Colville and proceeded to Statapoosten on the Newhoialpitkw river, and on the 20th commenced the operation of running and marking the Boundary between its eastern intersection of that river and the Colum- bia. This interval is altogether mountainous, rugged, and densely wooded. Between the 20th September and 30th October a connecting line was run between the two rivers, and a good trail made, with branch trails to the points best adapted for monuments. Captn. Haig's operations disclosed a discrepancy of 212 feet between the starting point on the Newhoialpitkw derived from a mean of the latitude determinations between Statapoosten and the : Similkameen (vide paragraph 6 of my letter No. 15), and the mean of Captn. Darrah's and the American results on the Columbia ; but in accordance with the method agreed upon by the joint Commission, the two points were to be connected as to avoid indefinite delay it had not been considered expedient to combine the results obtained on the Columbia with those from which the mean parallel had been deduced, although it now appeared that such a line would be inclined to a true parallel by about 8| feet in a mile, or at an angle of about 6^- minutes. Captn. Haig there- fore returned westward, correcting the Boundary line between the Columbia and the Newhoialpitkw and erecting monuments on the mountain ridges the timber was cleared to the width of 20 ft. on 9 ridges, on eight of which stone pyramids were erected, and on the ninth, where no stone could be found within a long distance of the line, a monument was made of logs. The distance between the Columbia and Newhoialpitkw is 25 \ miles, in which space there are eleven monuments, and there is another on the left or eastern bank of the Columbia. The length of trail made from point to point was about 35 miles, passing over an altitude of 4,500 feet. While correcting the line and erecting the monuments, there was snow on the mountains varying in depth from one to three feet which would have mate- rially impeded and might even have altogether interrupted the progress of the work but that the working party was unusually strong. Having lii FOREIGN OFFICE CORRE8PONDENGE. 69 brought the work to completion on the 22nd Novr. Captn. Haig and his party returned to Colville. 5. Captn. Darrah having separated from Captn. Haig on the 15th July, proceeded to cross to the western side of the Kootenay for the purpose of occupying the country between the eastern and western intersections of that river. This was not fully effected until the 18th during which deten- tion surveys in connection with the Boundary marked by the U. S. Com- mission on both banks of the river, and a topographical reconnaissance were put in progress. It was determined to penetrate the interval between the Kootenay and the American demarcation of the 49th parallel on its tribu- tary the Mooyie by a route as near to the Boundary as the nature of the country would permit ; and to establish the position of the Boundary on the Yah'k, another tributary of the Kootenay, intermediately between the Mooyie and the eastern Kootenay. Through this district no trail existed, though traces of old Indian hunting tracks were occasionally met with. A very lofty " divide " intervenes between the Kootenay and Yah'k, and much of the country is densely wooded and encumbered with fallen timber. It was not until the 6th August tLat Captn. Darrah carried his trail to the Yah'k, a distance of 31 miles from the Kootenay the survey was effected concuriently with the road-making. Between the 7th and 16th August Captn. Darrah was engaged in determining the position of the 49th parallel at its intersection with the river. Meanwhile his party of axemen had pushed ahead with the trail towards the Mooyie, both to advance the survey which kept pace with the tra ; l-making, and to afford means of obtaining a fresh supply of provisions which it had been arranged should be " cached " at the Mooyie station. The trail and survey a length of 55 miles between the Yah'k and Mooyie passing over another high and rugged divide, were completed by the 30th August ; upon which the axe- men returned to the Yah'k, and the Boundary was marked there by a cut- ting 20 ft. wide and l miles in length running up the hills on both sides of the river, and by four stone pyramids at as many points on the parallel. The distance along the Boundary between the Kootenay and Yah'k is 21 miles, and thence to the Mooyie 24| miles. By this time, as reported below in paragraph 6, Lieut : Anderson had already performed the work between the Mooyie and western Kootenay ; and as Captn. Darrah had a long journey before him, to take up the Point Roberts and Semiahmoo-Schweltza work at the western extremity of the Land Boundary, it was necessary for him to start at once to insure his crossing the Cascade Mountains before the trail should become impeded by or perhaps even impassable from snow. Captn. Darrah therefore left the Yah'k on the 10th September. On the 16th he transferred some sappers, his axemen and some of his mules to Lieut : Anderson and continued his march to Sinyakwateen, which place he reached on the 23rd. The journey was resumed on the following day Lieut : Wilson accompanying Captn. Darrah on the withdrawal of the greater part of the Commission from that part of the country ; and they arrived at Colville on the 2nd October. On the 7th October, Captn. Darrah with 1 3 Sappers and a small pack-train started for the western side of the Cascade Mountains via the Similkameen and Hope trail, for the purpose of revising the Boundary and placing monuments on Point Roberts and between Semiahmoo, Sumass, and Schweltza, and of finally completing that part of the work. On the 22nd of that month I met him and his party near the watershed of the Similkameen and Skagit Rivers, since which date I have not received any report of his proceedings. 6. Lieut : Anderson was detached from Captn. Haig's party on the 17th July between the Kootenay and Flathead (Pend d'oreille) rivers ; and he immediately commenced the connecting survey eastward. He also pro- ceeded to open a trail to the head-waters of the Wigwam river in pre- 70 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. ill paration for the astronomical station which Captn. Haig was to occupy after determining and marking the eastern terminus of the Boundary. The trail which led over a moderate divide between the Wigwam and Tobacco rivers, both tributaries of the Kootenay, was completed on the 22nd July, it was 7 miles in length, and its course was surveyed as it was made. Meanwhile the connecting survey along the main trail was pro- gressing towards the eastward ; and there being no other immediate employment for the axemen, with their assistance Lieut : Anderson com- menced a survey from the eastermost astronomical station at Akamina westward on the 27th, and the two surveying parties effected a junction on the 31st July, Lieut : Anderson left the party of axemen at the fork of the Wigwam trail to rejoin Captn. Haig; and on the 6th August with his surveying party took up the survey from the point at which it had been commenced on the 17th July and continued it westward until on the 9th August he connected it with Captn. Darrah's work at Kootenay east. The distance along the parallel between the eastern terminal point and the eastern intersection of the Kootenay is 51 miles, and the length of survey performed (exclusive of the branch trail to the Wigwam station) was 77 miles. Reconnaissance surveys for topographical purposes were also made in conjunction with the main operations. Having completed this portion of work Lieut : Anderson proceeded to the Mooyie station which place he reached on the 20th August. Captn Darrah not having yet issued from the interval between the eastern Kootenay and Mooyie, and there being no tidings of him between the 21st and 30th August Lieut : Anderson per- formed the survey connecting the American stations of Mooyie and Kootenay west, a distance of 36 miles crossing the divide between the Mooyie and the main river the distance along the Boundary is 15J miles. Steps were taken to obtain the approximate position of the 49r,h parallel with all practicable accuracy, and a stone pyramid defining it was erected at its intersection with the trail between the Mooyie and Kootenay. It had been arranged that for the performance of the work west of the Kootenay, Lieut : Anderson should take over Captn. Darrah's axemen on the latter officer leaving this part of the country ; but on completing the operations above detailed and revisiting Mooyie station, Lieut : Anderson learnt that Captn. Darrah's progress had been much impeded by the roughness of the country he was employed in, and that he would not be able to spare the axemen for another fortnight. Lieut : Anderson therefore made an effort to proceed with his work as well as the very limited strength at his disposal would permit. He rafted the Kootenay on the 6th September, and com- menced a trail over the swampy valley working all day in wet clothes affected the mens' health and reduced the working strength still further. At the distance of three miles from the river, mountains of the most rugged description rise abruptly from the flat valley, and through these the trail was slowly pushed until the 18th September when Lieut : Anderson was at length joined by the small party of axemen. The difficulty of the ground caused the trail to advance very slowly until the 15th October, by which date it had extended only 26 miles from the river for about half this dis- tance it had been taken more or less along the Boundary, but the remainder had necessarily followed a south-west course ; and having made an exten- sive reconnaissance on the 1 4th, Lieut : Anderson found that if continued the trail would have to be carried still further to the south. At this time the weather had become unsettled and threatening, and the ground was covered with snow. To save time, therefore, and to ensure the completion of the work before being compelled by bad weather to withdraw from the mountains, Lieut : Anderson determined to complete the connection with the easternmost point attained by Captn. Darrah in the previous year by pushing forward the survey in spite of all obstacles in the direction in iii FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 71 which it was calculated Captn. Darrah's mark would be found. In attempting this almost insuperable difficulties were encountered. The valley of the stream draining into the Kanik'su Lake was reached by a descent of 2,000 ft. in less than f mile, and its western side was all but inaccessible ; while the non-commissioned officer who had been sent in advance in search of Captn. Darrah's mark represented that the upper part of the mountain was too rocky to be chained. Hereupon, as the erection of a more prominent mark made the point upon which the survey was directed visible from the valley, Lieut : Anderson made the necessary con- nection with it by means of triangulation, which brought this difficult and tedious portion of the work to conclusion on the 18th October. The dis- tance on the parallel from Kootenay west to Captn. Darrah's mark is 23 miles, and the length of survey was 36 miles. The main watershed be- tween the Kootenay and Kanik'su which is a tributary of the Pend d'oreille (Flathead) river was crossed at an altitude of 5,500 feet ; and the closing point of the survey stands on the divide between the Kanik'su and main stream, 6,000 feet above the sea. It was intended to define the Boundary by monuments on these divides or at other accessible and prominent points ; but unfortunately Lieut : Anderson found this quite impracticable owing to the extreme roughness of the country, the advanced period of the season, and the delay required to make the necessary computations for such pur- pose, and though it would have been very desirable and satisfactory thus to render the demarcation of the Boundary more complete, the omission is not of much practical importance, as these inhospitable mountains are very little likely to be penetrated for any purpose for an indefinite period. Lieut : Anderson commenced his journey on the 21st October, and arrived here on the 14th November, having experienced a continuance of rain and snow throughout the march. 7. In addition to the operations above detailed during the outward march from Colville to Sinyakwateen Chelemta, and Kootenay east, repeated obser- vations for time and latitude were made chiefly by Captn. Darrah and Lieut : Anderson, and the necessary notes were taken for mapping the route the same practice was followed by Lieut : Anderson on travelling between Kootenay east and west by the northern route down the valley of the Mooyio. The differences of longitude were obtained by means of several pocket chronometers which maintained good rates ; which results combined with the differences obtained by the continuous surveys along the Bound- ary, and the latitude determinations which may be depended upon within a very narrow limit, will fix the positions of the points of observation with great geographical accuracy. Captn. Haig took advantage of the time afforded by the longest halts to make magnetic observations at several of the camps. The usual meteorological observations were continued at Col- ville during the working season by the Corporal left in charge at this place ; and similar observations were made at the depot at Sinyakwateen, as com- pletely as the serviceable instruments at command would allow ; and baro- metrical readings were obtained throughout the line of operations on the Boundary. Under this head I may further report that during the winter lunar transits for absolute longitudes were taken here by Captns. Haig and Darrah on all practicable occasions similar observations have been resumed during the present winter by Captn. Haig and Lieut : Anderson. Also, before taking the field for the season some surveying operations were per- formed under Lieut : Anderson's directions by parties detached for a few days from headquarters. A connecting survey between the observatory at this place and that of the U. S. Commission at the neighbouring military station was made between the 5th and 9th February a re-survey between Statapoosten and Colville was effected between the 14th and 28th March 72 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. ill as the original work was found not to plot satisfactorily and Lieut : Ander- son himself performed a similar re-survey between the intersection of the Columbia and the mouth of the Salmon river between the 3rd and the 1 6th April much snow was on the ground on each occasion, but especially during the progress of the first two surveys. 9. Having thus recorded the movements of the Commission during the past season, the general results of the main operations may be summed up as follows : The verification of the latitude at the eastern terminus of the Boundary under the treaty of the 15th June 1846 ; and determination of latitude at the Wigwam and Yah'k stations ; including the necessary monuments and cuttings on the Boundary parallel derived therefrom. The laying out and marking of 25 miles of Boundary between the eastern intersection of the Newhoialpitkw and the Columbia. The connection by survey of 160 miles of Boundary from Statapoosten to the Columbia (the portion just alluded to), and from the easternmost point attained last year between the Columbia and Kootenay rivers to the water- shed of the Rocky Mountains ; by a length of survey, including that of the branch trail to the Wigwam station of 280 miles. Not less than 164 miles of these surveys pass over entirely new trails, a very large proportion of which was opened over the roughest kind of ground-mountains, rugged and densely wooded, and crossing several formidable watersheds which of necessity required to be made passable by the pack-trains conveying pro- visions and stores. This was exclusive of repairs to the existing trails, bridges, &c., in which, as before mentioned, our labours were materially lightened by those of the U. S. Commission in the previous season. Reconnaissance surveys in the neighbourhood of the Boundary for topo- graphical purposes, made to as great an extent as the strength at command and the rate of progress of the working parties would permit ; and geo- graphical determinations obtained on the routes travelled to and from the scene of operations. Your Lordship cannot fail to observe how very considerably the material progress of the Commission has been impeded by the great distances travelled over ; which was unavoidable but both lessened the amount of work produced, and greatly lengthened the time required for its execution. This cause was inseparable from the nature of the work to be done in a remote and unsettled country affording neither accommodation, supplies nor facilities of any kind whatever ; and it has been in operation through- out the expedition, but especially during the last two years and to a greater extent in 1861 than in 1860. But I have drawn your Lordship's attention to this point in previous despatches, and therefore I need not enlarge upon it here. 10. The completion of the work between Statapoosten and the eastern ter- minus at Akamina brought the field work of the Commission to conclusion ; excepting what remains to be done by Captn. Darrah between Point Roberts and Schweltza, which has no doubt been in progress for many weeks, and is probably now nearly finished. I may therefore I think with propriety briefly recapitulate the manner in which the entire land-boundary will be defined from west to east. The western terminus will be marked by a substantial though small obelisk of solid granite, which will I doubt not endure as long as any political significance attaches importance or necessity to its preservation. From the above point eastward, the line of Boundary will be marked out by a series of strong cast-iron pillars, crossing the peninsula of Point Roberts, and extending inland for about thirty miles from the eastern shore of Semiahmoo Bay, at which latter point, and on the eastern face of Point Roberts, iron pillars will be placed. The distance eastward that will be thus marked is contingent on the number of pillars available (42 having ill FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 73 been provided, some of which are required to mark the intersection of trails, streams, &c.) and on the practicability of carrying them over the rough and precipitous ground at the western base of the Cascade Mountains to which it is calculated they will reach. The alignment of this portion of the 49th Parallel is dependent on the astronomical determinations at Semiahmoo, Sumass and an intermediate station. Thence eastward as far as the right or western band of the Similkameen the Boundary is denned by points upon the parallel astronomically deter- mined in almost every accessible situation which presented itself ; of which there are nine, at irregular intervals, in the distance of about 108 miles. These points, or rather portions of the parallel, are marked by short cuttings in the forest, and dry stone beacons. The country in which this work was performed is practically almost impenetrable arid there is little present likelihood of its being visited excepting by Indian hunters, who, however, do not, I think, frequent it much, or penetrate it to any great distance. From the base of the lofty mountains on the west bank of the Similka- meen to the left or east bank of the Columbia 96 miles of Boundary are continuously marked by 67 beacons placed in the most prominent or other- wise suitable positions these beacons consist of carefully built pyramids of dry stone, with one exception which is made of logs. Of this section of the Boundary, 71 miles comprise the mean parallel derived from a combi- nation of the results obtained by the two Commissions at five astronomical stations ; and the remaining 25 miles from the connection between the eastern extremity of the mean parallel and the joint determination of the intersection of the Columbia. Between the Columbia and the eastern terminus of the Boundary at the Rocky Mountains, in the distance of 163 miles there are nine determinations of the 49th parallel (including the terminal station) made at convenient intervals, and similarly marked to those in the Cascade Mountains ; excepting that at the eastern intersection of the Kootenay, and between the Flathead and Kishenehu, the cuttings made by the U. S. Commission were extended to distances of 10 and 7 miles, but they are in my opinion insufficiently marked by beacons as I previously stated to Your Lordship in paragraph 9 of my letter No. 18 of the 26th August last. The intersection of the Boundary is also approxi- mately marked by a stone pyramid on the trail between Kootenay west and the Mooyie. In the above enumeration the British station at Sohweltza is omitted, as I fear it will be found necessary to abandon the determination obtained at that place in consequence of the great discrepancy in latitude which was shewn to exist by the survey (made in 1 859) connecting it with Sumass station vide paragraph 11 of my letter No. 9 of the 21st May 1860. The result of the observations taken at Schweltza was very satisfactory and quite as much so as at any of the other stations ; but as above said it is unquestionably discrepant with the Sumass determination ; and there is little doubt that if a similar test was practicable, similar discrepancies would be discovered between every pair of stations from west to east ; which is the case with the six stations thus connected between the Similkameen and the Columbia. It is well known that local physical causes are likely to affect the most accurate and delicate astronomical operations, to a greater or less extent, at almost any point on the surface of the earth at which they may be undertaken ; and in the country traversed by this Commission, this effect is undoubtedly aggravated by its very rough and broken character. The whole line of Boundary under 'the Commission I have the honor to hold being thus defined, in the manner agreed upon with my colleague as being the most practicable and expedient for the execution of our joint duties ; I beg to add to the above statement that the series of mountain 74 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. ill stations would have been made as perfect as the nature of the country would admit of by an astronomical determination on the western fork of the Ashtnolaon in the Cascade Mountains, and by the demarcation of the Boundary on the Mountains to the westward of the Kootenay. A station on the western Ashtnolaon would have been preferable to one on the eastern fork ; but having occupied the latter in 1860 with the object in getting to work in the least, possible delay, Captain Haig found that the time required to arrive at, and perform the work of another mountains station would have altogether crippled his progress for the season, shortened as it already was by the time consumed in travelling from Vancouver Island, and I think he exercised a sound discretion by the course he followed in pushing on to the eastward. The difficulties which prevented the intended demarcation on the mountains west of the Kootenay have already been alluded to above in paragraph 6. I do not consider either omission to be of any serious practical importance. In concluding this subject, I have to observe that when terminating the labours of the Commission on the Crest or Watershed of the Rocky Moun- tains, I did not overlook that my original instructions in despatch No. 2 of the 30th March 1858 informed that from the wording of the second article of the treaty of October 20th, 1818, it would seem that the point " where the Boundary laid down in existing treaties and conventions between Great Britain and the United States terminates " is to be found on the eastern base of the mountains. I learned however from the instructions of the U. S. Commissioner that the Act of Congress of the llth August 1856 under which he was appointed limited the proceedings of the.U. S. Com- mission to the demarcation of the line of Boundary " which forms the Boundary line between Washington Territory and the British Possessions " and Mr Campbell gave me to understand that the" northern boundary of Washington Territory ended on the crest of the Rocky Mountains. I con- sidered, therefore, that any work performed by the British Commission beyond that point would have no joint official character ; and apart from the serious loss of time which must have been incurred in executing it, a joint agreement as to the point at the base of the Mountains at which the Boundary under the Convention of 20th October, 1818, might be assumed to terminate would have been necessary, into which the U. S. Commissioner was not prepared to enter. 11. Having in former reports offered a few remarks on the nature of the country traversed during each working season, I may now state that the intervals between the Newhoialpitkw and Columbia, and between the latter river and the Kootenay, are occupied by masses of rugged mountains rising to altitudes of five and six thousand feet. The valleys of the main streams alone afford means of communication between the British and United States Territories. The water carriage afforded by the Columbia river is much used both by Indians and gold-diggers ; and it is only within the last few years that the Hudson's Bay Company have discontinued to send an annual express from Fort Colville to the eastern side of the Rocky Moun- tains, which used to proceed by water for several hundred miles to the ' boat encampment" at foot of the pass in the main chain between the Columbia and the head waters of the Athabasca ; but the lower parts of the Pend d'oreille and Kootenay rivers are much obstructed by rapids and even the Indians residing on their banks seem to make use of those streams to a limited extent. Captn. Haig found the only favorable ground for his main trail between the Newhoialpitkw and Columbia to lie entirely south of the Boundary ; and the country under the 49th parallel between the Columbia and Kootenay west is practically impassable. In 1860 Captn. Darrah proceeded from the Columbia to the Kootenay Lake by the North- east fork of the Salmon river and an opposite ravine issuing on the lake li FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 75 about twelve miles north of the Boundary, but the route proved to be quite unfit for our purposes, though in case of necessity it might be possible to carry a frontier road over it. Between the western and eastern intersections of the Kootenay rugged mountains again intervene ; but the northern trail, forking near Kootenay west and following the upper valley of the Mooyie, is carried over a moderate pass at an altitude of about 2,730 feet; and much of the thickly wooded valley of the Yah'k (principally to the south of the Boundary) is flat, but it is separated from the Mooyie and Kootenay by lofty and rugged divides, and if approached by its entrance it would probably be found to terminate in a cul-de-sac, in the mountains in which the river heads on the right or western bank of the upper Kootenay. Trails do not exist up the valleys of the Yah'k and lower Mooyie. The practicable entrances into this part of British territory are therefore by the valley of the upper of Lower Kootenay ; or by the upper Mooyie trail which affords a tolerably favor- able route, passing over a considerable tract of tableland on the watershed at an altitude of about 2,750 feet. The line of route within United States territory between the Kootenay (Chelemta) and the Spokane rivers is very favorable, there being no mountains to traverse ; and the whole distance could easily be made practicable for wheel transport waggons having been used both by this and the U. S. Commission as far as Sinyakwateen. On the means of access to British territory by the valley of the Flathead river I am unable to report, as it is at present unapproachable at its intersection by the Boundary ; and it is I believe not even traversed by Indians, though perhaps visited by hunting parties as trails were met with. The south Kootenay or Boundary pass between the Kootenay river and the prairies east of the Rocky Mountains, I consider to offer a very favorable means of communication for travellers and />ac&-transport, though I am not able to compare its facilities with those of other passes in use. As may be expected, between the Kootenay and Flathead, and between the Flathead and main chain of the mountains, the trail is more or less rocky and rugged ; but no very serious difficulties are to be met with, and good " feed " for animals is to be obtained at convenient intervals. The trail crosses tha pass between the Kootenay and Flathead at the south end of the Galton range at an altitude of 4,970 feet; being about 3,035 feet above the Kootenay valley and 1,235 above that of the Flathead at the points where the trail strikes those streams. The true " pass " over the mountain ridge 5,500 feet above the sea (being six or seven hundred fret below the summit level of the existing trail, according to Captain Blakiston, R.A.), does not appear to have been in use ; as the Indian trail, leaving the valley of the Kishenehu at the point where that stream after following a north-west course from its source turns to the south west, proceeds by a long and very steep ascent directly over the crest of the mountains ; whereas by the upper valley of the Kishenehu the abcent is gradual throughout, and the water- shed is reached almost unexpectedly, while on the eastern side of the mountains there appears to be a similarly favorable descent by the valley of a small stream falling into Waterton Lake this route may be a little longer than the other, but it would pass by much more favorable grades over a considerably lower level. The Indians were probably induced to use the direct trail over the mountains in consequence of the existence of much fallen timber and a few swampy places in the upper part of the Kishenehu valley, but a very little well-directed labour would make this road in every respect very superior to that hitherto in use. The south Kootenay pass is probably open from June to September inclusive, though in 1858 Captain Blakiston met with a depth of two feet of snow as early as the 6th Septem- ber, but it is likely that this soon disappeared, and that the pass continued open for some weeks longer. It does not appear to have been in very 76 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. iii general use until the improvements upon the trail last year, by the TJ. S. Commission, led the Kootenay Indians to adopt this route in preference to that which they had hitherto followed in their hunting expeditions to the eastern prairies. No agricultural land properly so called, was met with during the year's operations. The Kootenay valley south of the Lake, is hemmed in by mountains and perfectly flat, and it consists of light alluvial soil which produces rich grass of great value to the Indians, especially for wintering their horses ; but it is flooded to a considerable depth during great part of the summer. The Tobacco plains on the east side of the upper Kootenay are arid and sandy, and quite unfit for cultivation the grass upon them seems to become parched up at an early period of the year. There is some open land of somewhat similar character to the Tobacco plains on the western side of the upper Kootenay and on the divide between it and the Mooyie ; and at the head of the latter stream there is a small patch of well-grassed land, due apparently to spring floods ; but with the above exceptions, almost the entire frontier which came under the obser- vation of the Commission consisted of wood growing on poor soil, mountain and rock. 14. I have the honor to enclose a tracing showing the course of the Bound- ary from the eastern intersection of the Newhoialpitkw at Statapoosten to its eastern terminus at the Rocky Mountains and the lines of communication with the various points upon it alluded to in this report. 15. , I have the honor to be, Your Lordship's most obedient, humble servant, J. S. HAWKINS, Lieut ; Colonel Rl. Engrs. H. M. Commissioner. The Right Honble. The Secretary of State, for Foreign Affairs, Will you be good enough to instruct me as to the manner of obtain- ing funds for carrying on the work of the North American Boundary Com- mission from the 1st of this month, on the estimates forwarded with my letter No. 31 of the 14th inst. It is probable that the sums required to close the Boundary accounts up to the above named date will be furnished FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. ffi to me by the War Department, as had been hitherto done from the first formation of the Commission those accounts are not yet quite complete, but will be made so in a few days ; and I intend to bring them to an exact balance so as to begin a fresh account from the 1st instant. I have obtained authority from the War Department for the supply of stationery articles for the use of the Commission office at No. 2 Victoria Street, Westminster Abbey. I took this course to avoid inconvenience and delay as I had been so long in communication with that Department on all matters of detail, but I presume that I shall have to trouble you on any future occasions. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient, humble servant, J. S. HAWKINS, Lieut : Colonel SI. Engrs. H. M. Commissioner E. HAMMOND, Esq., C.B., Under Secretary of State, Foreign Office. Endorsed. Colonel Hawkins, 27th October, 1862. How is he to draw funds for the continuance of the Commn. work ? Land Boundary Commn. Ansd. October 23. The arrangement for the issue of funds by the War Department is not superruled by his being employed on the same service in England. He will be apprised when the Treasury approve estimate. 2108 U. S. H. M. BOUNDARY COMMISSION, F. 0. 811, No. 83. 2 VICTORIA STREET, WESTMINSTER, January 3rd, 1863. 1. MY LORD, I have the honor to submit for your consideration a copy of a report of his proceedings furnished tome by Captn. R. W. Haig, R.A., Chief Astronomer to the North American Land Boundary Commission, who was recently dispatched by me to Washington to communicate with the United States Commission in furtherence of our joint operations. 2. The point immediately at issue has reference to the preparation of a map to accompany and illustrate the proposed joint report affirming the execution of the first article of the Treaty of the 15th June, 1846. In the opinion of the two Commissions, and guided by the precedent of the treaty for the settlement of the New Brunswick and Maine Boundary (9th August, 1842), & joint map seems to be almost if not quite indispensable ; and indeed I question if the U. S. Commissioner could be induced to consent to the final ratification of our proceedings if such a document was not forthcoming. 3. Under the circumstances reported by Captn. Haig, I agree with him in thinking the arrangement he proposes that he should again proceed to Washington, probably by about the end of this month after hearing from the U. S. Astronomer to offer the most rapid means open to us for pro- ceeding with the joint map ; but with reference to his estimate that if we meet with no further delay such map may be completed by about the end of June it is my duty to represent to your Lordship that even then the preparation of the final report and the ratification of the proceedings of the ill FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 81 joint Commission would still have to be entered upon. In my opinion, these technicalities need occupy but a short time ; but I have reason to fear that the completion of the TJ. S. map will be protracted to an indefinite and distant period and that the U. S. Commissioner will not be inclined to lend his aid to forward these closing proceedings while his own work con- tinues in an unfinished state. 4. A map constructed from our own observations and authorities conld still be prepared within the limit of the estimate submitted to your Lordship with my letter No. 31 of the 14th October, leaving probably sufficient time at command to proceed to Washington for the preparation of the final joint report, if no delay should be interposed with respect to that document ; but as I have now no idea that such would be the case, and as I think there can be no doubt that it is very necessary to bring the proceedings of the Commission to a formal conclusion that will be satisfactory to both parties, I need not trouble your Lordship with any remarks upon a course which I am not prepard to recommend, and which I do not think you would con- sider it desirable to adopt. 5. I am well aware of the wish of Her Majesty's Government to bring this Commission to the earliest possible close, and it is my earnest desire to do all in my power to that end ; but 1 trust your Lordship will observe that our proceedings are in a great measure dependent upon those of the U. S. Commission. From the delay already incurred by the failure of the object of Captn. Haig's recent journey to Washington, the time he has now named is the very earliest by which it will be possible to complete our copy of the joint map, and that is contingent on no further delays being interposed ; but as it seems to me very unlikely as I have before said that the U. S. Commissioner will then consent to our making any further progress towards the winding up of the joint Commission until he considers his own work to be in a sufficiently advanced state for the purpose, it is not in my power to give your Lordship an estimate of any value as to the probable time when the work of the two Commissions will be in a state to admit of their being mutually closed. As soon therefore as our copy of the joint map is ready, it may be the best plan to suspend the action of the British Commission until the U. S. Commission is prepared to take part in whatever may then require to be done. 6. The failure of the estimate under the terms of which the Commission is at present working has rendered it necessary to trouble your Lordship with the above report, and to request any instructions with which you may think fit to honour me. It may appear sufficient for the present to authorize me to proceed with the joint map and other documentary details with the least possible delay ; and to take further action at a somewhat later period, when I may be in a position to submit a further report of our progress to your Lordship, which I should not fail to do as soon as it appeared necessary. Meanwhile, while awaiting your commands, the work of the Commission is in active progress. I have the honour to be, Your Lordship's most obedient, humble servant, J. S. HAWKINS, Lieut : Colonel HI. Engrs. H.M. Commissioner. The Right Honble. The Secretary of State, for Foreign Affairs, &c. &c. etc. iii 6 82 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. iii Endorsed. London, January 3rd, 1863. Lt. ColonelJ. S. Hawkins, R.E., H.M. Boundary Commissioner. No. 33. 1 enclosure. Reed. Jany. 5th by Messenger. Report upon, and requesting instructions as to the proceed- ings of the North American Boundary Commission. F. O. 811 Copy. America, 2 VICTORIA STREET, S.W., 31st December, 1862. LX5S-03. S. ANDERSON, Lieut : R.E. SIR, Having returned from Washington I have the honor to report that in consequence of the American Commission being as yet unprepared to produce a table of Latitudes and Longitudes on principal points on and near the Boundary similar to the one which I took with me I was unable to make the necessary comparisons in order to determine finally the position of such points with a view to their being laid down as a basis of construc- tion of a joint map of the Boundary line and Country adjacent to it. The American Commission expected to be prepared with such a table in three or four weeks from the 15th inst. and when ready it will be sent to us. When we receive this information it will be difficult to decide upon final positions in the absence of any member of the American Commission, but I expect to have sufficiently accurate data for the commencement of the final map. The next Ltep will be to compare the details of our existing maps with those of the Americans, to do which one of their members must come here or else one of the British Commission go to Washington. I propose at once to prepare tracings of our existing maps and to hold myself in readiness to go again to Washington with them as soon as we hear that the American Commission are prepared to make the necessary comparisons. The date of my return from this trip cannot be estimated earlier than the end of March 1863. This would postpone the completion of the joint map to the end of June 1863. The plan proposed above is without doubt the most rapid open to us of constructing such a map. It appears to be the opinion of Mr. Campbell U.S. Commissioner and of the Astronomer of his Commission that the proper way of winding up our joint operations is by the production of a map embodying the results of the observations of both Commissions. In this opinion I entirely concur but have to report that it cannot be done within the time estimated by you for the completion of our work. To finish within the specified time it will be necessary to give up all idea of a joint map and for us to construct one from our own authorities and observations. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient, humble servant, R. W. HAIG, Captn. Rl. Arty. Chief Astronomer, N.A.B. Commn. Lieut : Colonel Hawkins, Royal Engineers, H.M. Commissioner. Endorsed. Letter dated London, December 31st, 1862, from Captn. Haig, R.A., Chief Astronomer to the North American Land Boundary Commission, to Lt : Colonel Hawkins, R.E., Comrar., reporting his pro- ceedings in Washington, inclosure in letter No. 33. iil FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 83 F. O.811, No. 36. America, H. M. BOUNDARY COMMISSION, 2 VICTORIA STREET, WESTMINSTER, July 31st, 1863. MY LORD, In my letter No. 33 of the 3rd January I stated that I should submit to your Lordship a further report upon the proceedings of the North American land-Boundary Commission as soon as such a step appeared to be necessary, which I now proceed to take in accordance with the arrangements proposed in the letter above alluded to, immediately on receiving an intimation from the Astronomer to the United States Com- mission that he was prepared to proceed with the comparison of the work of the two Commissions. Captain Haig the Chief Astronomer to this Commission again went to Washington in the middle of February. On his arrival there I am sorry to say Captain Haig found that such a state of preparation did not exist and that the computations on which his work depended were not in a condition to admit of material progress being made. He immediately communicated this state of things to me ; and having informed me of what was being done, said he did not consider it desirable to return to England as he had previously done without bringing some information with him to enable us to proceed with the preparation of our final maps, &c. and he subsequently remarked that his doing so would he thought have the effect of breaking off negotiations with the American Commission a step which at this advanced stage of our proceedings would be more than ever undesirable. Captain Haig eventually returned home on the 13th June after an absence of four months, bringing with him data which enabled us at once to set to work upon the maps. In my opinion his communications with the U. S. Commission were con- ducted with judgment and discretion, and have tended to forward the work ; though we cannot but deeply regret the loss of much valuable time during his detention in America. Even now we are not in possession of all the information we require, and which we hope to receive from time to time through the post ; but your Lordship will I think easily understand the difficulty and inconvenience of having to arrive at results common to the two Commissions at such a distance apart ; while in the present state of affairs in America and with a view to economy, it would not have been desirable to have established ourselves at Washington, and the U. S. Commissioner has shewn no inclination to transfer himself and his staff to this country. In paragraph 3 of my letter No. 33, I reported that it might be possible to complete the maps by about the end of June, if we met with no further delay ; that is, if having proceeded to Washington by the end of January, Captn. Haig had returned with all the necessary information within reason- able time, say by the end of March. This was obviously rendered impossible by his not having been able to return until the time mentioned for the completion of the maps. There seems reason to believe that the maps to be prepared by the U. S. Commission will be very elaborately finished at the expenditure of much time and cost ; but this is not I think necessary, nor do I conceive that your Lordship would approve of it, in the case of the British Commission, though I should wish to produce creditable draw- ings at our final meetings with the American Commission, and as permanent official records of the demarcation of the Treaty Boundary Such maps are now in progress. Their execution is tedious ; and it is not easy to procure draftsmen accustomed to the kind of work which is of a somewhat unusual 84 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. iii character ; but as 1 am anxious to push on and employ as many hands as I conveniently can, I am now endeavouring to procure the services of one or two additional and competent men from the Ordnance Survey or else- where. By the end of the present quarter I hope that the maps, &c. will be nearly but I fear not quite completed ; and by that time I may perhaps be able to inform your Lordship if there is any probability of the United States Commission being then ready to ratify and close our joint proceed- ings ; or if, as suggested in my letter No. 33 and approved of by the Treasury Board it will be necessary to suspend the action of this Com- mission until the U. S. Commission is prepared for our final meeting. I have the honour to be, Your Lordship's most obedient, humble servant, J. S. HAWKINS, Lieut : Colonel Rl. Engrs. H. M. Commissioner. The Right Honble. The Secretary of State. for Foreign Affairs, &c. &c. &c. Endorsed. London, July 31, 1863. Lieut, Col. Hawkins, R.E., H. M. Boundary Commissioner. No. 36, Received Aug. 31, by messenger. Re- porting proceedings of the North American Land Boundary Commission. F. O. 811, No. 38. America, 1858-63. H. M. BOUNDARY COMMISSION, 2 VICTORIA STREET, WESTMINSTER, February 24th, 1864. MY LORD, I beg leave to report to you that I propose to close the office of the North American Boundary Commission on the 29th instant, and to remove the records of the Commission to Woolwich at which station I hold the command of the Royal Engineer Department. The maps are not quite completed, but will be so by the employment of a draftsman for a few weeks longer ; and when done, T hope to be permitted the honour of personally submitting to your Lordship the results of the labours of the Commission. I discontinued to diaw pay on account of the Commission from the 1st October last ; Captn. Haig, the Chief Astronomer, from the 1st January ; and Lieut : Anderson, the Secretary, will do so from the 1st March ; but, as we shall all be stationed at Woolwich, with the permission of the authoritias at the Horse Guards and War Office we shall be ready to re- assemble for the final meeting which I presume to be necessary for the ratification of our joint proceedings, and the authoritative adoption of the Boundary marked out by us, as soon as the United States Commission is prepared for it. ill FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 85 I propose to inform the U. S. Commissioner that the Commission Office in London will be closed ; but that the officers of the Commission will attend to any communications addressed to us at Woolwich. I have the honour to be, Your Lordship's most obedient, humble servant, J. S. HAWKINS, Colonel & Lt. Col. R.E., H. M. Commissioner. The Right Honble. The Secretary of State, for Foreign Affairs, &c. &c. &c. Endorsed. Colonel Hawkins, No. 38. Oregon Land Boundary Office of the Commission in London to be closed on the 29th. Proposed proceedings. F. 0. 811, A*b. 39. America, 1858-63. ROYAL ENGINEERS' OFFICE, WOOLWICH, April 30th, 1864. SIR, In reply to your letter of the 22nd ultimo, I have the honour to state for the information of Earl Russell that, in accordance with the intention stated in my letter of the 24th February, on closing the London Office of the North American Boundary Commission at the end of that month, the records and maps were removed to this place. One draftsman is still engaged on the tedious operation of completing the writing and finishing up tho more minute parts of the drawings of the several series of maps. I did not overlook the instructions conveyed to me in your letter of the 29th September last respecting the deposit of the maps &c. if possible in some fireproof building previously to their being finally authenticated by the joint Commission. Though not fireproof, this office is I hope safe from fire ; but it is necessary to have the maps at hand while they remain incomplete. On their being quite finished I intend to submit to Earl Russell a propo- sition to obtain a few copies of them, for public use and record, by means of the photo-zincographic process which can I believe be readily done at the Ordnance Survey establishment at Southampton at very small cost ; after which, on their being bound up, and merely awaiting authentication by the joint Commission they might be deposited in the Foreign Office, or at such other place as his Lordship might approve. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, J. S. HAWKINS, Colonel & Lt. Colonel R.E. H.M. Commissioner. E. HAMMOND, Esq., C.B. Under Secretary of State, Foreign Office. Endorsed. Colonel Hawkins. D. 60, April. Rec. 3 May, 1864. Ansd. 22nd March. Maps of N. A. Boundary Commission at Woolwich. As to taking copies of maps by photo-zincographic process. iii 7 PAKT VI FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY 49TH PARALLEL BRITISH COLUMBIA 1869-1870 lv1 m n ri i c ,?b H - M - BOUNDARY COMMISSION, Jb . U. 14b, .-. 1865-71 WASHINGTON, U.S. 10th May, 1869. MY LORD, In compliance with your instructions conveyed to me by Mr. Hammond on the 22nd February, I left Barbados on the 9th and arrived at New York on the 21st April. Lieut : S. Anderson, R.E., Secre- tary to the Boundary Commission, arrived on the same night and joined me on the following morning. We proceeded to Washington on the 23rd April ; and having reported our arrival to Her Majesty's Minister on the morning of the 24th, I put myself into immediate communication with Mr. A. Campbell, the United States Commissioner. 2. I have now the honor to inform your Lordship that on the afternoon of the 7th instant our labours were brought to a conclusion, which will I hope be quite satisfactory to you and Her Majesty's Government, and meet with the Approval of Her Majesty. Several days were occupied in the careful comparison of the astronomical determinations, and of the Maps, &c., and formal meetings of the joint Commission were held on 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th May. A protocol authenticating the points by which the land Boundary has been defined upon the ground, and the maps severally pre- pared by the two Commissions was agreed upon ; and it and the maps were countersigned by Mr. Campbell and myself on the 7th instant. The pro- tocol is herewith enclosed, with the two lists of astronomical determinations alluded to in its first clause ; together with the originals of the two protocols adopted on the 14th August, 1858, and 8th November, 1860, Copies of which were sent to the Foreign Office with my letters, Nos. 3 and 14 dated 28th March, 1859, and 28th March, 1861, and of the minutes of the proceedings of the joint Commission in April 1859 on which occasion no agreement was arrived at as reported in my letter No : 6 of the 31st May 1859. The maps require some trifling corrections of detail and the addition of some names common to the two sets ; and upon their completion I have desired Lieut : Anderson to convey them to the Foreign Office, to be disposed of as your Lordship may see fit to direct. 3. The detailed reports made by me during the progress of the work con- tain minute information both as to our operations and the nature of the country traversed by the Land Boundary ; but upon reporting the execution of so much of the Treaty of the 15th June, 1846, as was comprised in my Commission it may be as well to recapitulate in brief terms the nature and results of those operations. 4. Between the extreme east and west points, upon the watershed of the Rocky Mountains and the eastern shore of the Channel which separates the Continent of North America from Vancouver's Island in West Longitude 114 3' 34" and 123 3' 53", the exact length of the Boundary upon the 49th Parallel of North Latitude is 409 T 4 7 miles. The position of the Parallel was determined from 28 astronomical stations, 11 of which were established by the British Commission, 14 by the American Commission and 3 were ob- served from by both. Another station was fixed by the British Commission, at Schweltza Lake, but it was rejected for the reasons given in paragraphs II and 16 of my Report No: 9 of the 21st May 1860 and again referred to in letter No : 24 dated 31st December 1861 though our after experience of the most accurate instrumental observations in that mountainous country now leads to the conclusion that the result at Schweltza was quite as trustworthy as any of the others. It is however not included in our final determinations. I believe the observations of the two Commissions to have iv H 3 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. iv been made with the utmost attainable precision, which is most conclusively shown by the computations ; but upon connecting 5 of the stations by the demarcation of a continuous line of Boundary in the 60 miles between Siinilkameen and Statapoosten stations, we were greatly disappointed by the discovery of somewhat large discrepancies between all the determina- tions of the accuracy of which we had previously been quite satisfied, and which can only be attributed to prevading physical causes affecting the Instrumental observations which were quite beyond our control. By agreement these discrepancies were adjusted by the U.S. Commission, by the verification of the work of the British Commission and the adoption of a mean parallel between the determinations alluded to which probably approximates very nearly to the true 49th parallel ; but as this test was not 'practicable in any other cases, the astronomical determinations have in them been necessarily adhered to. 5. The actual demarcation was affected as follows: The western extremity of the Boundnry is marked by a substantial Granite obelisk in West Longi- tude 123 3' 53", which stands upon a steep cliff on the western face of the prolmontory of Point Roberts, about 160 feet above the sea. The several faces of the obelisk are inscribed as follows on the north face with the names of Her Majesty's water and Land Boundary Commissioners, Captn. J. C. Prevost and G. H. Richards, R.N , and Lieut : Colonel J. S. Hawkins, R.E., on the South face with the name of the American Com- missioner Archibald Campbell, on the West face with the designation and date of the Treaty, viz: Treaty of Washington, 15th June, 1846, and on the east face with the Latitude and Longitude, and the year of erection, viz: Latitude 49 0' 0" N., Longitude 123 3' 53" W, Erected 1861. For 44 8-10 miles eastward there are 42 iron pillars placed at points on the Boundary which the officer to whom the duty was entrusted thought most suitable and convenient. One pillar stands on the eastern face of Point Roberts, 2 miles 704 yards from the obelisk, and there are two intermediate pillars in the interval at average distances apart of somewhat more than f mile. A pillar on the west shore of Semiahmoo Bay is 12 m : 1177 yards : from that on Point Roberts on the opposite side of the Bay ; and thence in 29-f miles to the easternmost pillar the average distance apart is about 1380 yds. varying between one mile 1245 yds., and 198 yds., on the opposite banks of the Sumass River. These pillars all stand in a continuous cutting through the forest or in intervening patches of swamp and Prairie. From the easternmost iron pillar to the right or west bank of the Similka- meen River, in 107 9-10 uiiles, the Boundary is defined in the vicinity of 9 astronomical stations by 19 cairns or pyramids built of dry stones as care- fully as the materials and circumstances would permit, and one bench-mark cut on the face of a rock (at Ensakwatch) ; and at several stations short vistas were also cut in the forest, between the cairns. This wide interval comprises the rugged and inhospitable region of the Cascade Mountains in which it would only have been possible to mirk the Boundary line more continuously by an expenditure of time and money out of all proportion to the object in view One of the widest unmarked intervals on the Bound- ary occurs in these Mountains, between Pasayten and Naisnuloh, the dis- tance between the marked points being 23 7-10 miles ; and this might have been obviated by placing a station on the main or western branch of the Naisnuloh River which however would have prolonged the work of the British Commission by another Season. From a cairn at the foot of the Mountains on the West side of the Sim- ilkameen River to the east or left bank of the Columbia, the Boundary for 95 miles is well and continuously marked by 69 stone cairns and one mound of earth, and bv forest cuttings in all necessary cases. This was the most favourable portion of the work parb of the line passing over rolling prairie FORKIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 5 country interspersed with wood ; but very considerable portions were also mountainous, rugged and heavily timbered, though more accessible from the valley of the Newhoialpitkwn River than were the Cascade Mountains. Two cairns stand within 129 yards of each other on the east bank of the Columbia River (one having been placed by each Commission) and the average distance apart of the remainder is 1 mile 679 yards. From the hill tops the line of Boundary defined by the cairns and cuttings can be traced for many miles. For the remaining 161-8/10 miles between the eastern cairn on the left bank of the Columbia River and the terminal point on the watershed of the Rocky Mountains in West Longitude 114 3' 28", the Boundary passes over successive Mountain ranges intersected only by the Valley of the Kootenay River at two points 75-f miles apart, and by the adjacent valleys of the Flathead River and its tributary Kishenehu Creek, by which alone, the 49th parallel is practically accessible though even then by long circuit- ous routes. This portion of the line is marked in the vicinity of 9 astrono- mical stations, by 26 cairns and one bench-mark cut in the face of a rock at the Kootenay Mtn. Station, and by a cairn fixed by survey on the trail between Kootenay West and Mooyie Stations ; and the usual forest vistas were cut at the several defined points, besides longer cuttings of 10 and 7 miles at the eastern crossing of the Kootenay, and between the Flathead and Kishenehu Rivers. No better means for marking the eastern end of the Boundary were at command than by a dry stone pyramid of the usual description which was built as carefully as possible, and which may be pre- served for many years by its protected situation on a narrow saddle with precipitous sides connecting two lofty mountains, which position will more- over serve to identify the approximate locality of the Boundary at any future time. Between the Columbia and the Rocky Mountains, exclusive of the Mooyie trail cairn, and the intervals between Kootenay Mountain and Kootenay West stations and Mooyie and Yahk stations, the distances between the consecutively marked points at the several astronomical stations average about 13J mi'es ; but between the stations named they extend to 25 and 24 miles owing to the inaccessible nature of the inter- vening country which is quite as bad as the Cascade Mountains. 6. Having thus described the manner in which the Land Boundary hag been marked from end to end, I respectfully request your Lordship's con- sideration of the 3rd Article of the closing protocol by which the Commis- sioners agreed to understand the Boundary laid out by them to consist of a series of straight lines between the successively marked points, without regard to the distances between those points or the curve of the parallel in the longer intervals. We were induced to do this upon the consideration that it was of the greatest importance, nothing should be left for future discussion or settlement, and that our operations should be final and con- clusive. Even had the Boundary line been continuously marked through- out by defined points at say a mile apart, the actual parallel would have been departed from by the straight lines or chords joining such lines upon it ; and owing to the insuperable difficulties attending a more minute demarcation in the rugged country traversed by us, we have been compelled to adopt a more irregular and longer sided polygon than we should have wished. I may state that opposite the centre of a chord of 25 miles in length the departure from the 49th parallel would be about 40 yards, and of 12 miles 9 yards, which in such country and under present circumstances is of no appreciable value, and this even would be materially afiected by the very great uncertainty attending the precision of the astronomical results previously alluded to ; so that I hope our definite action in the matter will be fully approved. The points being identified, they can be joined at any time with no greater difficulty than attends the running of a FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. iv straight line between two fixed points' over a rough country and sometimes for a considerable distance, but no scientific question would be involved in the operation which could be performed by any careful surveyor. 7. The above remarks lead me to request your Lordship's further con- sideration of the necessity of entering into a convention with the United States, supplementary to the Treaty of the loth June 1846, declaratory of the Boundary marked out by the joint Commission being the Boundary of the Treaty notwithstanding any possible departures from the actual line of the Forty-ninth Parallel. The more than probability that such departures unavoidably exist is alluded to above, and in previous reports ; and the necessity for a supplementary Convention was suggested by me in the con- cluding paragraph of my letter No : 28 of the 4th August 1862, and recog- nized by Her Majesty's Government in a letter from the Treasury to Mr. Hammond dated 26th September 1862. 8. In conclusion, I have only to repeat previous recommendations that some certain steps should be taken to preserve the Boundary marks laid down at such large cost of time, labour and money. This cannot of course be done without some occasional and special expenditure for the purpose, as it ought not to be left to accidental opportunities ; but it is very probable that the country which was almost inaccessible in 1858-62 is now more or less traversed along the greater part of the frontier line ; and the labour of a few Woodsmen under the supervision of the Colonial Survey Department, for the maintenance of the stone uairns, and the preservation of the forest cuttings, would not be very costly. In the more accessible parts as oppor- tunities offer, it would be very desirable to substitute permanent monu- ments of some simple character for the dry stone pyramids and I presume this could be done by concert with the public authorities in the adjoining United States territories. The obelisk at Point Roberts should be also duly maintained, and the iron pillars on the western section of the line occasionally painted. By these simple means the permanence of the Boun- dary would be ensured. Trusting that my proceedings will meet with your approbation, I have the honour to be Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant J. S. HAWKINS Colonel Rl. Engrs. H.M. Commissioner. The Right Honble. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, &c. &c. &c. WASHINGTON D.C. 1869. Meetings of the Commission on the part of Great Britain to ascertain and mark out so much of the line of Boundary between the British Posses- sions and the United States described in the First Article of the Treaty between Her Britannic Majesty and the United States of America dated 15th June 1846 as lies between the Rocky or Stony Mountains and the Eastern shore of the Channel which separates the Continent of North America from Vancouver's Island, and the Commission on the part of the United States to carry into effect the first Article of the Treaty aforesaid, held at the office of the United States Boundary Commission, Washington, District of Columbia, U.S. on the 4th. 5th, 6th, and 7th May 1869. iv FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 7 Present : John Summer-field Hawkins, Colonel Rl. Engrs. Her Majesty's Commis- sioner for ascertaining and marking out the line of Boundary from the point on the Forty-ninth Parallel of North Latitude where the Boundary laid down in existing Treaties and Conventions between Great Britain and the United States terminates, to the point at which the Forty ninth Parallel'of North Latitude strikes the eastern shore of the Channel which separates the Continent from Vancouver's Island. Samuel Anderson, Lieut : Royal Engineers, Secretary to the British Commission. Archibald Campbell, Commissioner on the part of the United States to carry into effect the first Article of the Treaty of the 15th June 1846 between the United States and Great Britain. John G. Parke, Major U.S. Engineers and Brevet Major General U.S.A. Chief Astronomer and Surveyor on the part of the United States to carry into effect the first Article of the Treaty as aforesaid. William J. Warren Secretary to the United States Commission. Robert Wolseley Haig, Captain Royal Artillery, Chief Astronomer to the British Commission was unable to attend the meetings of the joint Commission on account of serious illness. 1. The astronomical and geodetical determinations of the several astro- nomical stations, and of the points on the Forty-ninth Parallel of North Latitude by which the Boundary has been denned between its western terminus at Point Roberts in West Longitude 123 3' 53" and its eastern terminus on the watershed of the Rocky Mountains in west longitude 114 3' 28" agreed upon and exchanged in May 1863 between Captain R. W. Haig, R.A. Chief Astronomer of the British Commission and G. Clinton Gardner, Assistant Astronomer and Surveyor to the United States Com- mission having been carefully compared and corrected are finally adopted ; and lists of them are countersigned (2) and hereunto attached. 2. The two sets of seven Maps prepared severally by the respecthe Com- missions upon the above named data on a scale of 1:120,000 having been carefully compared and countersigned, are hereby declared to represent so much of the Boundary described in the First Article of the Treaty between Her Britannic Majesty and the United States of America dated 15th June 1846 as is comprised between the intersection of the watershed of the Rocky Mountains by the Forty-ninth Parallel of North Latitude in west longitude 114 3' 28" and the point at which the 49th parallel of north latitude strikes the Eastern shore of the Channel which separates the Con- tinent from Vancouver's Island in West Longitude 123 3' 53". 3. It is agreed by the Commissioners that, between any two successive defined points, marked on the ground shown on the maps, and set forth in the accompanying lists, the line of Boundary above described is to be under- stood to be a right or straight line ; and that this rule is to apply through- out the entire Boundary without regard to the distances between the con- secutive points or to the course of the parallel in such intervals. J. S. HAWKINS, Colonel RL Engrs., H.B.M. Commissioner. 7th May, 1869. ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL. U. S. Commissioner, &c. &c. &c. May 7th, 1869. Endorsed. Copy to Mr. Thornton No. 190. June 26th, 1869. 1. In Colonel Hawkins, May 10th, 1869. FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. NO. 1. TABLE of Astronomical and Geodetical Stations located and determined by the United States and British Commissions from which the 49th Parallel of North Latitude was denned. (To accompany Protocol of Proceedings of the Joint Commission dated Washington, May 7th, 1869). Name of Points. Latitude North. Longitute West of Greenwich. Obelisk at Initial Point , 49 00' OC 0" 123 03' 53'0" Camp Semiahmoo Observatory 49 00 43'1 122 45 30'0 British Station 49 00 OO'O 122 37 01 "6 Camp Sum ass and Station . . . . . 49 01 25'8 122 11 52 '8 Camp Tummeahai 49 02 04'9 121 47 34'4 Senehsai Station 49 00 34'3 121 36 15'4 Ensahkwatch Station 49 00 30'0 121 30 41 '8 Camp Chiloweyuck 49 00 22'2 121 23 41'8 Camp Chuchchehum 49 00 03'7 121 16 41'4 Camp Skagit 49 00 02'3 121 02 45 "2 Roche Station 48 59 49'8 120 39 14'8 Camp Pasayten 48 59 42'6 120 32 12'8 Naisnuloh Station .... . . ... 48 59 53'9 120 00 18'8 Camp Similkameen .. 48 59 12'1 119 34 53'2 Camp Osoyoos and Osoyoos Station 49 00 09'9 119 24 12 '0 Camp Newhoialpitkwn 48 59 04'3 118 44 28'5 Inchuintum Station 48 59 58'5 118 28 12'3 Camp Statapoosten 49 00 10'8 118 16 15 '6 Camp Columbia , ..... . . 48 59 50'4 117 37 41 '8 Fort Shepherd Station , 49 00 OO'O 117 37 19 '4 Pend d'Oreille Station . 49 00 03 - 5 117 21 52 '9 Kootenay Mountain Station . 49 00 12'8 117 10 48 '4 Camp Kootenay West 48 59 55' 1 116 31 16 "2 Camp Mooyie. ... 49 01 26'0 116 12 40'5 Yahk Station . 48 59 55'4 115 38 510 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. No. 1. TABLE of Astronomical and Geodetical Stations located and determined by the United States and British Commissions, etc. Concluded. (To accompany Protocol of Proceedings of the Joint Commission dated Washington, May 7th, 1869). Name of Points. Latitude North. LongitudeWest of Greenwich. Camp Kootenay Kast . 48 59' 44 '" 115 11' 19' 2" 48 59 42'8 114 45 02'0 49 00 02'8 114 21 09'0 Camp Akum in; i and Station 49 00 52'0 114 03 34 SAMUEL ANDERSON, J. S. HAWKINS, Lieut. Royal Engrs., Colonel Rl. Engrs., Secretary for Captain ffaig, R. A , H. B. M. Commissioner. Chief Astronomer. 7th May, 1869. ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL, Endorsed ; 2, U. S. Commissioner, In Colonel HAWKINS. &c- <&c. &c. May 10, 1869. May 7, 1869. 10 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. iv No. 2. TABLE of Longitudes of Monuments marking the 49th Parallel of North Latitude to accompany Procotol of Proceedings of the Joint Commission dated Washington, 7th May, 1869. From what Station determined. Longitude west of Greenwich. Description of Mark. No. of Mark. Location. Camp Semiahmoo Ob- servatory. 123 03 53-0 03 02-9 02 12'7 00 42 9 Obelisk. Iron pillar. ii 1 2 3 4 On west face of Point Roberts. On flat east of obelisk, Point Roberts. On ridge. On east side of Point Roberts. British Station. 122 43 59-9 42 20-5 41 22-7 40 04'1 38 45-5 37 269 37 01'6 Iron pillar. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Near high-water mark, Semiahmoo Bay. On small ridge between swamps. On flat west of Ravine. On slope south of trail. On first bench south of trail. Latitude mark, British Station. British Station. 122 36 08-5 34 46'7 33 27'7 32 13'7 31 05'1 30 07-9 29 37-2 28 32-9 27 19-3 25 04'1 24 22'7 23 05-9 22 20'7 21 47'6 20 29'4 19 55-1 19 08-9 Iron pillar. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 On flat near stream and south of trail. On flat south of trail. On ridge south of trail and stream. On flnt north of trail. On ridge west of Seh-ko-mehl Creek. On trail crossing line west of Sekomehl Creek. On edgeof slope west of swamp and south of trail. On belt of timber between swamps. On slightly elevated ground west of creek. On flat south of trail. On trail crossing boundary line east side of creek. On trail crossing line. On flat north of trail. On west side of swamp and north of trail. On trail crossing line. On east side of small lake. British Station. 122 18 00-6 16 29-1 15 04-1 14 Ol'O 12 55-2 12 46-3 11 52-8 Iron pillar. i 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 On hill 20 chains east of trail crossing line. On flat north of trail and west of swamp. On top of hill west of swamp and on trail cross- ing line. On trail crossing line. On Whatcom trail west side Sumass River. On east side Sumass River. Latitude mark, Sumass. Sumass Station and Camp. 122 11 00-8 10 02'7 8 38'4 7 50-4 7 21-7 6 31-9 5 26-6 4 45-2 Iron pillar. 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 On mound east of latitude mark. On flat east of stream. On bench west of stream. On face of hill, 5 chains from base and near trail. On bench above rocky precipice east of trail. On top of mountain east side Sumass prairie. On bench at base of hill. On de Lacy's trail, Whatcom to Fort Hope, crossing line. FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 11 No. 2. TABLE of Longitudes of Monuments marking the 49th Parallel of North Latitude, &c. Continued. From what Station determined. Longitude west of Greenwich. Description of Mark. No. of Mark. Location. Camp Tummeahai. 121 43 58-1 43 31-6 42 56-3 Pyramid of stones. 44 45 46 On side of mountain west of falls of creek. On side of mountain south of creek. Sen-eh-say Station. 121 35 28-4 Pyramid of stones. 47 On east side of Senehsay River. Ensawkwatch Station. 121 30 21-2 30 08-4 Bench mark T>. Pyramid of stones. 48 49 On west side of Ensawkwatch River. On east n \, Camp Chiloweyuok. 121 23 48-5 23 ll'O Pyramid of stones. 50 51 On west side of Klahaihu Valley. On east <, Camp Chuckchehum. 121 18 57'3 16 56-2 16 41-4 Pyramid of stones. M 52 53 54 East of and near trail to Skagit. West it n At foot of mountain south of camp. Camp Skagit. 121 04 22-2 02 26-6 Pyramid of stones. 55 56 Outside of mountains west side of Skagit Valley. On side of hill east of Skagit Valley. Roche Station. 120 39 47'2 38 51-9 Pyramid of stones. 57 58 On hill side west of station. On hill side east of river. ' - - Camp Pasayten. 120 32 29'3 32 00"9 Pyramid of stones. 59 63 On slope west side of Pasayten Valley. On bench east of u n Naisnuloh Station. 120 00 46-1 119 59 57'9 58 38'7 Pyramid of stones. 61 62 63 On sharp ridge west side of stream. East and near to stream. On flat east side of stream. Camp Similkameen and Camp Osoyoos. 119 42 20-9 40 32-7 39 56-6 37 45-9 36 14 6 33 24-0 29 52'6 28 48-0 26 04-5 Pyramid of stones. 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 At foot of mountains west side Similkameen Valley. On left bank of Similkameen. On summit of isolated mountain of Similka meen. East of and near trail up Similkameen. On summit of ridge east of trail up Similkameen. On southern slope of a rocky knoll. On plateau north of Similkameen. Near divide between Osoyoos and Similkameen and near junction of trails. West of trail up west bank of Lake Osoyoos. 12 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. iv No. 2. TABLE of Longitudes of Monuments marking the 49th Parallel of North Latitude, &c. Continued. From what Station determined. Longitude west of Greenwich. Description of Mark. No. of Mark. Location. Camp Osoyoos and Camp Newhoialpit- kwn. 119 24 08-9 22 37'6 21 26-4 18 58-1 17 10-4 14 27 2 11 56-5 10 18'4 9 32-8 8 02-8 Pyramid of stones. n n 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 East of trail up east bank of Lake Osoyoos. Summit of first ridge east of \< n On spur from mountain to the north. North and west of small creek. South-east of Colville trail. North of Small Lake. On first bench west of fork of Rock Creek. In valley of fork of Rock Creek, west bank. On summit east of fork of Rock Creek. Camp Osoyoos and Newhoialpitkwn. 6 15-0 4 36-0 2 54-9 1 23-0 118 59 33'6 Pyramid of stones. 83 84 85 86 87 On rocky ridge east of Small Lake. On high plateau south of Rock Creek. On valley east of wagon road to Rock Creek. Camp Osoyoos and (1869) Camp Nehoial- pitkwn. 118 56 58-9 55 58-2 55 05-0 53 06-6 52 26'6 51 14 9 48 27'3 46 45'6 45 48-9 45 12-6 Pyramid of stones. i i Mound of earth. 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 On summit : east of waggon road to Rock Creek . On ridge between two creeks. On same ridge. On point of ridge south and east of creek. In valley of Nehoialpitkwn. On point of ridge in bend of Nehoialpitkwn. At foot of mountain right bank of Nehoial- pitkwn. Camp Nehoialpitkwn and Inchuintum Sta- tion. 118 44 13-8 43 24-5 42 38-4 41 49'6 40 57-2 39 51-5 38 24-9 36 43-4 33 43-0 31 28'4 29 48'7 28 40-8 Pyramid of stones. 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 East of and near Colville Trail. In open country east of Rock Creek. n n ii At northern slope of mountains. On sharp ridge between heads of tributary of Rock Creek. On divide between Rock Creek and Newhoial- pitkwn. On summit between two creeks. On first bench west of Small Creek. On first plateau west of river. Inchuintum Station and Camp Statapoos- ten. 118 27 408 26 32-6 25 38-2 24 07-2 22 18'6 21 36 3 18 45-4 16 36'7 Pyramid of stones. 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 In valley near and east of Colville Trail. In valley of Newhoilpitkwn south of river. On high ridge south of river. On north slope of mountains south of river. iv FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 13 No. 2. TABLE of Longitudes of Monuments marking the 49th Parallel of North Latitude, &c. Continued. From what Station determined. Longitude west of Greenwich. Description of Mark. No. of Mark. II Location. Camp Statapoosten. 118 14 21-0 118 13 19'1 11 56-1 09 58-2 09 26'0 05 15-8 03 17'1 01 52-2 117 59 00-9 53 08'1 45 49 5 41 17-7 38 49'1 37 36'2 37 05-2 Pyramid of stones. n 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 130 131 132 On point of ridge right side of valley. In valley near trail to Colville. On a gravel ridge west of river. On side of mountain east of Nehoialpitkwn River. On hill west side of stream. On hill between streams. On slope between streams. On side of hill between streams. On hill top west of Camp Columbia. On brink of hill west bank Columbia River. Near east bank of river. Fort Shepherd Station. 117 36 59-4 Pyramid of stones. 133 Near east bank of Columbia River. Pend d'oreille R. Sta- tion. 117 21 52-9 22 03-0 22 54'8 Pyramid of stones. 136 135 134 Latitude mark, Pend d'oreille Station. On bench west side of river. On high ridge west. Kootenay Mountain Station. 117 09 56-5 08 55'9 Bench mark Pyramid of stones. 137 138 On face of rock ridge east. On bench, west side, south fork Salmon River. Camp Kootenay, West. 116 35 44-9 31 05-9 Pyramid of stones. 139 140 On side of mountain west side of valley. On brow of first hill right bank river. Camp Mooyie, Mooyie trail monument. 116 14 59-2 Pyramid of stones. 141 On trail leading from the north to Chelemta. Camp Mooyie. 116 12 22-3 11 54 11 25-6 11 24 Pyramid of stones, 142 143 144 145 On side of mountain west side of valley. Approximate on plateau above creek. On left bank of creek close to water. Approximate on high bluff west bank. Yahk Station. 115 39 46-5 39 24-5 39 10-5 38 29-5 38 02-8 Pyramid of stones. 146 147 148 149 150 On west side of river. Near east bank of river. On hill side east of river. FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. No. 2. TABLE of Longitudes of Monuments marking the 49th Parallel of North Latitude; &c. Concluded. From what Station determined. Longitude west of Greenwich. Description of Mark. No. of Mark. Location. Camp Kootenay, E., 1869. 115 16 01-4 11 11-2 10 11 6 3 28-7 Pyramid of stones. it 151 152 153 154 On east brink ravine beyond which the moun- tains rise. On right bank Kootenay River. On second plateau, left bank river. At foot of mountains left bank small creek. Wigwam Station. 114 45 16-1 45 42-0 Pyramid of stones. 156 155 Near west bank of river. On hill west of river. Camp Kishenehu. 114 28 02-5 27 09-4 21 17'3 20 53-9 Pyramid of stones. 157 158 159 160 On second terrace left bank Flathead River. On first bench right bank u n Near trail entering Boundary Pass. On left bank of|Kishenehu Creek. Akamina Camp and Station. 114 03 28'41 Pyramid of stones. 161 On the Divide of the Rocky Mountains. SAMUEL ANDERSON, J. S. HAWKINS, Lieut. Royal Engrs., Colonel Royal Engrs., Secretary for Captain Haig, R.A., H. E. M. Commissioner. Chief Astronomer. May 7th, 1869. Endorsed : 3. In Colonel HAWKINS. May 10th, 1869. ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL, U. S. Commissioner, &c. &c. &c. May 7th, 1869. Omitted. First meeting of the Joint Commission, August 13th, 1858. See enclosure to despatch No. 3, March 28th, 1859. Hawkins to S. of State. (Copied from Vol. 811.) Omitted. Meetings of the Joint Commission dated 6th, 7th & 8th November, 1860. See enclosure 1 in desp. No. 14 of 28th March, 1861. Hawkins to U. S. of State. (Copied from Vol. 811.) Omitted. Meetings of the Joint Commission dated 16th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, and 23rd April, 1859. See enclosure 1 to desp. No. 6 of 31st May, 1859. Hawkins to Secy, of State. (Copied from Vol. 811.) iv FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 15 0. 1468, H. M. BOUNDARY COMMISSION, NEW YORK, 15th May, 1869. MY LORD, In the 2nd paragraph of my letter of the 10th instant re- porting the closing proceedings of the joint Commission for the determin- ation of the Land Boundary between the British Possessions and the United States under the Treaty of the 15th June, 1846, I stated upon the completion of some corrections and additions to the maps they would be conveyed to the Foreign Office by Lieut : Anderson R.E. secretary of the Commission to be disposed of as your Lordship should direct. 2. The maps consist of a set of seven, which are authenticated by the counter-signature of the United States Commissioner and are those alluded to in the 2nd article of the closing protocol ; of a set of six showing the Boundary upon the larger scale of one inch to a mile, which would be of more general use than the smaller maps, and by which the Boundary marks and forest cuttings, &c., are more distinctly shown so that by means of them the points on the Boundary could be more easily identified ; of an index map in two sheets ; and of a general map in three sheets, showing the whole Boundary from the Lake of the Woods to the Gulf or Straits of Georgia, which was compiled from the best data at our command when it was prepared. There are also three title pages for the two sets of Bound- ary Maps and the General Map making 21 sheets in all. 3. I beg respectfully to recommend to your Lordship that the whole of these maps be carefully mounted on cloth and bound together as the official record of the execution of so much of the Treaty as relates to the Land Boundary. I have directed Lieut : Anderson to have an index sheet of the positions of the Astronomical Stations and Boundary marks prepared, to be bound up with the maps, and I beg also to suggest that one or two sheets of photographic representations of the Obelisk at Point Roberts, of the stone cairn at the Eastern terminus of the Boundary on the Watershed of the Rocky Mountains, and of the cairns and cuttings at several intermediate points be bound up with them, for which object I have desired the neces- sary preparations to be made. 4. I learn from Lieut : Anderson that all the maps were photo-zinco- graphed at the Ordance Survey Office, Southampton, before being brought by him to this country. Copies of them will be very valuable for various purposes and in several of the public offices, such as the Foreign and Colonial Offices, the Topographical Office, and for use in the Colony of British Columbia ; and I therefore think that owing to the alterations above alluded to fresh plates of at least the joint maps will be necessary. The cost of them will I believe not be very large ; and it is most desirable that the copies should be fac-similes of the Authenticated Maps. The additions to the index and general Maps are of less importance, but of them too accurate copies are to be preferred, and would I think be worth the expense. 5. A very interesting representation of the entire Boundary would be obtained by a set of the joint maps being mounted in a roll, the sheets being joined together at the common meridians so as to shew the continuous line of Boundary and the curve of the Parallel. This might be kept with the original maps, in a tin case. 6. I have undertaken to recommend to your Lordship that a complete set of copies of the British maps be sent to the State Department of the United States for deposit with their own original maps, as a complete record of our joint operations to which I hope your Lordship will be pleased to accede ; and I venture further to suggest that those maps be 16 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. ly also mounted and bound. Mr. Campbell the U.S. Commissioner has inti- mated his intention to supply us with copies of such of the American maps as may be photographed. I have the honour to be, Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant J. S. HAWKINS Colonel Rl. Engrs. H.M. Commissioner. The Right Honble. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs &c. &c. &c. Endorsement. From Col : J. S. Hawkins per Lieut : Anderson R. E. Reed, by Lieut : Anderson 8th June 1869. Relative to maps of the Land Boundary between the British Possons. & United States under Treaty of 15th June 1846. F. 0., 1468, NORTH AMERICAN BOUNDARY COMMISSION America, BARBADOS W.I., 4th June, 1869. 1865-71. SIR, In a letter to the Secretary of State, No. 30 dated 20th August 1862, I had the honour to suggest that upon the completion of the opera- tions of the North American Boundary Commission (which I then had reason to suppose would be brought to a much earlier close) a short narra- tive of them should be printed in a convenient, accessible and cheap form, something in character with the proceedings &c. of various Scientific Societies, and the flora of some of the Colonies published under the auspices of the Colonial Office and the direction of the Superintendent at Kew. I appear to have made some subsequent reference upon the subject, as on the 12th May 1863 I was informed by you that before determining upon the question the manuscript of the Reports &c. should be submitted to the Controller of Stationery with the view of obtaining an estimate of the probable cost, and I was directed to put myself in communication with the Controller on the subject. This I did, and a gentleman from the Stationery Office called at the Commission Office at No 2 Victoria Street, but he was unable to say positively what the size and cost of a book of the kind would be from the materials being in an incomplete state, though it is in my recollection that he thought they would be quite moderate. The proceedings of the Commission being now as I presume, finally closed, I beg permission again to bring the question under the consideration of the Secretary of State. Amongst the Commission records there are some valuable papers which ought not to be lost sight of, vizt : geological, zoological, and botanical re- ports prepared by the scientific officers attached to the Commission which received the approval of eminent authorities in the several branches to whom they were submitted ; with zoological and botanical catalogues of the collections made and deposited in the British & Kew Museums ; and there are also 9 lithographic plates of interesting zoological objects which were prepared at the British Museum while the collection was being arranged and catalogued in that institution, and which I deposited at the Topographi- cal Office upon the Commission Office being closed to await any future iT FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 17 action that might be taken. I proposed also to furnish meteorological notes and tables and some ethnological notes and vocabularies, which Capt. 0. W. Wilson R.E. the original secretary to the Commission undertook to supply, and which it is likely he would be still able to do as I understand he is about to be employed in London at the Topographical Office. I intended to preface the above subjects by a short narrative describing the operation of the Commission ; supplemented by notes and tables of astronomical deter- minations and positions, limited to such an amount of detail as would exhibit the data upon which the demarcation of the Boundary line depends. Sketch maps in explanation of the narrative could be prepared at the Topographical Office by reduction from the Commission Maps, at small ex- pense ; and the book would be greatly improved by the addition of a few lithographed illustrations say about six or eight copied from photographs taken by the Commission. The addition of magnetic notes and tables to the above named subjects might depend upon the opinion of the president of the Royal Society as to their isolated value ; but I believe that the observations taken by Captn. Haig were found to be of great value in extension of former observations. The time which has elapsed since the question of publication was first entertained and the dispersion of the officers attached to the Commission somewhat alter the means available for preparing and editing the several subjects ; but I think the delay will not have made them less valuable and interesting. Though the state of his health prevented his joining me in Washington to attend the closing meetings of the joint Commission, I have reason to hope that Captn. R. W. Haig R. A. F.R.S., the Chief Astronomer to the Commission, would be quite able to supply the narrative of our pro- ceedings and the astronomical notes, and to compile the astronomical tables &c., and also to undertake the editorship of the book if its preparation should be authorized by Her Majesty's Government. He would I am sure receive all possible assistance from Captn. Wilson and Lieut : Anderson who acted as secretaries to the Commission throughout its operations, and from any other of the officers who might be within his reach ; and the official re- cords of the Commission, which are very complete, are at his command; and I do not doubt that the result would be the production of a permanent and valuable record of an important and international undertaking. I respectfully submit the above suggestions to the consideration of the Secretary of State; and if they should be favorably entertained, I beg to say that Lieut : Anderson would do all in his power to facilitate communication with and assist Captain Haig, whose continued ill-health will I regret to say prevent his putting himself into personal communication with the Foreign Office. I have the hononr to be, sir, Your most obedient humble servant J. S. HAWKINS Colonel Rl. Engrs. H. M. Commissioner. The Under Secretary of State, Foreign Office, Downing Street. Endorsement : Respecting publication of the proceedings of the Bound- ary Commn. under the Treaty of Washington dated 15th June 1846. iv 2 18 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. iv F. O. 1468, America, 1865-71. H. M. BOUNDARY COMMISSION, BARBADOS, W.I., 5th June, 1869. SIB, Upon the dissolution of the Commission for the demarcation of the land Boundary in North Western America under the Treaty of 15th June 1846 I request instructions as to the disposal of its records. The Astronomical computations &c. should I think be deposited in the Royal Observatory Greenwich, as in the case of the Maine Boundary Com- mission ; to which I presume the Astronomer Royal would make no objec- tion. The other records, viz : correspondence, duplicate accounts, &c. are very complete and ought I think to be preserved. I therefore beg to sug- gest that Lieut. S. Anderson R.E. the Secretary, be directed to select such only of the papers as are worth retention as records of the operations under the Treaty, and to pack them away in one or more of the metal lined mulo boxes in which they have hitherto been kept, which might then be stored in the vaults of the Foreign Office. The useless papers should be destroyed. Requesting that the necessary instructions may be conveyed to Lieut: And- erson at Chatham I have the honour to be, Your most obedient humble servant The Under Secretary of State, Foreign Office, Downing Street. J. S. HAWKINS Colonel R.E. H.M. Commissioner. Endorsement. Requesting instructions as to the disposal of the records of the land boundary Commission under the Treaty of Washington dated 15 June 1846. F. 0. 1468, America, 1865-71. H. M. BOUNDARY COMMISSION BARBADOS, W.I. 7th June, 1869. MY LORD, I have the honour to inform you that upon my return from Washington I resumed my military duties at this place on this day, from which date inclusive I shall cease to draw any salary as Boundary Com- missioner. I trust that the report of my recent proceedings at Washington will have been found satisfactory by Her Majesty's Government and I pre- sume that the Commission for the demarcation of the land Boundary in North Western America under the Treaty of 15th June 1846 will now be dissolved. As therefore the services of the several executive officers will no longer be required upon it, your Lordship will perhaps think it expedient to make a communication to that effect to His Royal Highness The Field Mar- shal Commanding-in-Chief and the Secretary of State for War ; and as no previous recognition has been made of them, I hope it will be in your power at the same time to make favourable mention of the zeal and ability dis- played by those officers in the prosecution of an arduous and prolonged service which has at length been brought to a successful termination. Their names are : Captn. R. W. Haig R. A. F.R.S. Chief Astronomer, Major C. J. Darrah, R.E. Assistant Astronomer, Captn. C. W. Wilson R.E. Secretary, Lieut : S. Anderson R.E. Assistant Surveyor and Secretary after the return of the Commission to England. FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 19 The details of the duties performed by the various officers will be found at length in the various reports addressed by me to your Lordship's pre- decessors during the progress of the operations, and I have now only to repeat the expression of the sense I entertain of the hearty and friendly co-operation I experienced from all of them from the first to last. In con- clusion I venture to observe that some mark of Her Majesty's approval upon the completion of our labours would be very gratifying to myself, and to the officers and men who served for so long a period under mv 'com- mand. I have the honour to be, Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant J. S. HAWKINS Colonel HI. Engrs. H.M. Commissioner. The Right Honble: The Secretary of State &c. &c. &c. Foreign Office. Endorsement. From Col : J. S. Hawkins R.E. H.M. Boundary Commis- sioner. Barbados 7th June 1869 by Mail Steamer Received June 29th '69. Reporting return of Col : Hawkins from Washington, and the completion of duties under the Commission for the demarcation of the land Boundary under the Treaty of June 15th 1846. F. O. 1468, NORTH AMERICAN LAND BOUNDARY COMMISSION. 1365*' ROYAL ENGINEERS ESTABLISHMENT, CHATHAM, July 22, 1869, SIR, I have the honour to inform you that I deposited with Mr. Hertslet at the Foreign Office on the 17th inst : the series of Maps of the North American Boundary Commission amounting in all to 21 sheets, that had been left in my charge for the purpose of making certain alterations and additions that had been noted during the verification of the series with the American Maps at Washington. The corrections required have been made to all the maps except the series bearing the signatures of Colonel Hawkins and the American Commissioner, which are the joint maps of the Commission. The corrections and additions required to make the joint maps agree with the American maps have not been made, as Mr. Byrgne instructed me to make no alterations in the maps, over the signatures of the Commissioners. A list of the corrections, &c., required is forwarded herewith, as a record of errata and addenda to be referred to whenever the maps are consulted. I beg to add that the American Commissioner in order to save time, signed our maps subject to the corrections, then only made in pencil on the maps, being properly made in ink on our return to this Country, and the list of corrections required as per accompanying list, mentioned above, was prepared in the presence of the American Chief Astronomer. Accompanying the series of maps in Mr. Hertslet's charge are two extra sheets one being a list of astronomical stations and Boundary monuments and the other a collection of Photographic views illustrating the Boundary cuttings and monuments thus making 23 sheets in all. 20 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. iy In compliance with the instructions conveyed to me in your letter of the 6th inst : enclosing Colonel Hawkins' letter to you of June 5th I have handed over to the Astronomer Royal the Astronomical and Surveying records of the Commission. I have selected such records as should be preserved in the Foreign Office and are of such a form as they can be bound in books, and propose to retain them pending reference to the Stationery Office concerning publication, on which subject I have to day received instructions from Mr. Atway. The books of the Commission as detailed in list 2, forwarded herewith have been packed in a box by themselves, and I propose to forward them by rail to the Foreign Office addressed to the Librarian. The other records of the Commission being now useless will be destroyed according to Colonel Hawkins' wishes. I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant, S. ANDERSON, Lieut. R.E., Secretary, N.A.B. Commission. The Right Honourable Edmund Hammond, C.B. Under Secretary of State, Foreign Office. Endorsement : Reporting proceedings, list of corrections to be noted in maps and books forwarded to the Foreign Office. F. 0. 1468, Enclosure No I. America, 1865-71. List of corrections and additions required to be made to the joint maps of the British North American Land Boundary Commission, in order to make the British maps agree axactly with the American maps ; the maps were compared at Washington in May 1869. Sheet 1. Add various streams, trails, &c., as shown in pencil, and write the following names : 1 Point Garry. 2 Point Pelly. 3 Westham Island. 4 Cowitchin, site of Indian Village to be marked. 5 North Channel. 6 New Westminster, site to be marked. 7 Pitt River. 8 Manson Island. 9 Barnston Island. 10 Kaitze, mark site of Indian Village. 11 Derby, mark site. 12 McMillan Island. 13 Mark site of Fort } ( and town and write name Fort Langley. 14 Crescent Island. 15 Kwo-tis-a-lick Creek. Write Chiloweyuck River as on Sheet 2. 16 Obelisk. 17 Cheahwassen Indian Village. 18 Simiahmoo Bay. 19 Parallel Station. 20 Drayton Harbour. 21 Birch Point. 22 Birch Bay. 23 Tahtaloo Creek. 24 Callam Creek. 25 Conlahm Creek. 26 Sumass River, twice. 27 Gulf of Georgia. 28 Nooksahk River. 29 Trail from Whatcoin. To be put in some swampy features along Parallel, &c., from Strip map. Work up vicinity a little. Correct features by reference to strip map ; or as pencelled at : 3rd Monument west of 122 40' 2nd " east of 122 35' 1st " west of 122 30' and alter hill features to match. Centre monument between 122 25' & 30'. Trail east of 122 25'. Position of Lake in 122 20' relatively to Mountains. Position of small hill west of 122 15'. Bend of Sumass River on Parallel, so as to pass FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 21 between two monuments. Correct spelling of Chiloweyuck Depot. 30. Tilbury Island. 31. Annacis Island. 32. Boundary Bay. Note. The Nooksahk River is pencilled in full wide, and should be penned in well within the pencil marks. Sheet 2. To strengthen some of the names. To mark Skagit Cache () plainer. do Summit Cache. Alter position of Stream between % at Pasayten in accordance with strip map. To strengthen some of the principal creeks in all the maps. To strengthen W. monument at Skagit. Add word " Roche " to Station. Sheet 3. Alter position of stream between monuments at Pasayten, as in sheet 2. Make slight alteration of west side of Lake Osoyoos on Parallel in accord- ance with Strip map. Alter trails between 2nd and 3rd monuments west of Osoyoos and add trail to Lake, from Strip map. Alter stream to east side of 2nd monument, from east sheet line, as in Strip map, and strengthen features on both sides of gorge, especially east side, but Sheet 4 preserve uniformity between Sheets 3 and 4. Sheet 4. Make similar alteration to stream between 2nd and 3rd monuments from West Sheet line, as on Sheet 3. The monument at N.E. end of Haig's pond is close to the pond, as shown in Strip map. Position of Pond to be altered accordingly. Write name Haig's Pond in small italics. The first monument east of 119 5' Meridian is more on crest of hill. Alter- stream to west side of 1st monument East of 119 meridian, as shewn in Strip map. Alter feature at centre monument between 118 20' and 25' so as to shew it on ridge. Alter feature on monument 118 5' 16" so as to shew it on hill top. Write name " Haig's Pond " in small italics, on parallel between 119 5' and 10'. Write name "Little Dalles" on Columbia River. Sheet 5. Alter feature west of 117 45', so as to shew monument on ridge. Shade out the hill on 117 40' on Parallel. Mark site of Fort Shepherd Y""""( on west side of River. Write " Kootenay River " in italics Capitals, same size as on Sheet 6. Sheet 6. Alter River so as to run between 2nd and 3rd Monuments from West, see Strip map. Yahk Station. Write Tobacco River, in italics, as on Sheet 7. Shew position () and write U.S. Cache. Kootenay River in same character as on Sheet 7. Place additional monument on east side of Mooyie River, even if a little out of Longitude, touching bank of River. Sheet 7. Shew () of U.S Cache 115 10' as on Sheet 6. Alter river and features at Wigwam station in accordance with Strip map. Continue trail FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. IT on east side of Flathead River at both ends. Erase eastern branch of Stream at E. Kootenay Monument, east of 115 5'. Write Rocky Monuments twice, in block Roman. True copy from original list prepared by Col : Hawkins, R.E. S. ANDERSON, Lt. R.E. List 2. Books belonging to the North American Land Boundary Commission, transmitted to the Foreign Office on the close of the Commission. 3 Copies of British Association Catalogues : Part 1. Richardson's North American Zoology M it n Fauna Part 2 ii it ii Zoology ii 4 Bagay's Logarithms 2 volumes Owen's Geological Survey of Wisconsin &c. Illustrations. Beeche's Geological Observer. Dana's Mineralogy Woodward Recent and Fossil Shells Phillip's Geology 2 Copies Bailey's Astronomical Tables & Formulae. Galbraith's Surveying & Engineering 2 Copies Babbage's Logarithms. Vol. XI. Pacific Railroad report. Shadwell on Chronometers. 2 Copies Shadwell Occultation Tables. Pictet's Palseontologie 4 Vols & Atlas. Raper's Practice of Navigation. 3 12-year Catalogues. 2 Copies of Greenwich Appendices. 3 six-year Catalogues. 10 Five figure logarithm Books Endorsement: 2 In Lieut: Anderson's July 22nd, 1869. F. 0. 1468. ROYAL ENGINEERS OFFICE BARBADOS, W.I. 10th August, 1869. SIR, I was very sorry to learn from Lieut : Anderson R.E. that in consequence of a technical objection to making any alterations to the Maps delineating the Boundary in North Western America under the Treaty of 15th June 1846 after their counter signature by the United States Com- missioner and myself, by instructions from Mr. Bergne he has been pre- vented having a few trifling corrections made and some names added to the maps prior to delivering them over to the Foreign Office. I the more regret it, as this contretemps might have been avoided by very simple pre- cautions had I foreseen it, which I admit I perhaps ought to have done. I beg to explain that the British and American maps were separately and very carefully compared by myself, and by the United States Chief Astrono- mer ; and the only discrepancies of the slightest importance were found to be in the position of three or four of the Boundary monuments on our Maps, which were caused by the monuments having been inserted on the IT FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 23 maps by their values as derived from the astronomical determinations of the joint Commission, as the last process, it was done in fact while we were in Washington ; and the discrepancies were altogether due to slight errors of topography caused by the double process of making the preliminary tracings and then transferring the features to the maps, which on the small scale of the maps affected the relative position of the monuments on their being afterwards plotted. In one case two monuments were shown on the same instead of opposite sides of a stream, and in others they did not fall accurately upon features which had been selected as suitable positions for them. I further found that more names had been put upon the American maps than had been shown upon the tracings previously agreed upon, to which there was no objection, and which did not in the least affect the Boundary ; but I thought it desirable and wished to assimilate the two sets of maps as much as possible, and therefore noted them for addition to our maps, as well as the topographical discrepancies on the Boundary for cor- rection. When signing the maps it was verbally agreed upon and distinctly understood that the corrections and additions noted by me were to be made On the British Maps, which would then be as nearly fac-similes of the American Maps as such elaborate drawings in different styles made 3,000 miles apart could well be expected to be ! I might have had what was requisite done in Washington, but we wished to have it done by our own draftsmen ; and owing to the inf requency of communication with this place the delay might have kept me another month in America. Or I might have obtained the United States Commissioner's signature to a list of the corrections &c. to be made, and this precaution I am very sorry I did not think of and take. I was aware that some correction to be made on the British maps was noted in the final protocol of the Maine Boundary Com- mission ; but that I think affected the number and position of- the monu- ments defining the line ; whereas in this case the demarcation of the Boundary is quite right and only slight errors of drawing require correction. I therefore thought that any formal mention of them in the protocol would be quite out of place. I may add that the topography was verified by reference to the larger scale map prepared by us, which was made entirely from our own original data and would be used in correcting the features of the joint map in the cases and to the small extent alluded to. Under the above circumstances I trust that the requisite corrections and additions noted by myself prior to signature, and agreed to by my colleague, will be permitted to be made. The former are of reaJ importance to the accuracy of the maps as delineating the Boundary, which would be very imperfectly done by attaching a note of the errors to the maps ; and the latter would not affect the authenticity of the maps in the slightest degree, but merely make them more full and complete and coincident with the American maps. Or even now the United States Commissioner's signature to a list of the alterations to be made might be obtained, which I feel sure would not be withheld ; and if that alternative be adopted, it would be necessary for Lieut : Anderson to send me a list for submission to Mr. Campbell, or time might be saved by his communicating on my behalf with the Secretary to the American Commission. I had hoped that fresh photozincographic plates of the corrected maps would be taken, that copies of the maps supplied to the Colonial Office l^th ultimo, I have the honour to inclose copy of a note which I have received from Mr. Fish, and in which he expresses his readiness to sign with me the Declaration as amended by Your Lordship approving and adopting the maps prepared by the joint Commission for surveying and marking the Boundaries between the British possessions and the United States along the 49th Parallel of North Latitude to the middle of the channel which separates the continent from Vancouver's Island I shall therefore take an early opportunity of carrying out Your Lordship's instructions on this matter. I have the honor to be with the highest respect My Lord Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant EDWARD THORNTON. The Earl of Clarendon K.G. &c. &c. &c. Endorsement. 1870 Washington Janry 25. Mr. Thornton No. 34 Reed. Feb. 5 by Messenger to New York. N.W. Boundary Maps. Mr. Fish will- ing to sign declaration as amended by Lord Clarendon. F. 0. 1468, 1865-71. Draft to Col : HAWKINS R.E. Pomona House Great Malvern Foreign Office, August, 22nd, 1870. From Mr. SIR, I am directed by Earl Granville to transmit to you for your Thornton, perusal the accompanying Dispatch from H. M's Minister at Washington 29 1870*, in* y by which you will see that the American Government assent to the inser- onginal. FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 25 tion in the signed maps of the Boundary along the 49th parallel, of all the additions specified in the lists prepared in Octobt r last by Lieut : Ander- son at your direction with the exception of two, one of which they object to wholly, the other they are prepared to accept on condition that a further description be added to it. Lord Granville requests you will be good enough to favour him with your opinion whether what is proposed by the American Government may be assented to, and the question closed. If so, His Lordship presumes that the maps had better be sent to you or Lieut : Anderson at Chatham to be completed. G. F. 0. 1468 NORTH AMERICAN BOUNDARY COMMISSION TOPOGRAPHICAL OFFICE, 4 NEW STREET, SPRING GARDENS, 22nd September, 1870. SIR, In reply to your letter of the 22nd August giving cover to Des- patch No : 339, 29th July, from Her Majesty's Minister at Washington, and copies of other correspondence respecting proposed additions and cor- rections to the signed maps of the Land Boundary between British and United States territories along the 49th Parallel west of the Rocky Moun- tains, I have the honour to state for the information of the Secretary of State that there is no objection whatever to the modifications in the lists of corrections furnished by me, proposed by the American Government ; viz : to describe the " Obelisk " on the Eastern shore of the Gulf of Georgia (No. 16. Sheet 1) as the "initial point," and to omit the name " Boundary Bay " (No : 32 on the same sheet). I beg permission to remark that the United States Commissioner appears to attach some importance to designating the obelisk as the " initial point," from its being the point of separation between the land and water boundaries ; but though it is the point where the 49th parallel strikes the eastern shore of the Gulf of Georgia it is not specially alluded to in the Boundary Treaty. As however its being so called can have no adverse effect upon the settlement of the still open ques- tion of the water Boundary, there can be no objection to acceding to the wishes of the Commissioner. With regard to " Boundary Bay," I was not before aware that any objection was entertained to so harmless and suita- ble a name. I think it was adopted from the Admiralty chart of the survey made by the present Hydrographer, and the bay will probably con- tinue to be known by it notwithstanding its omission on the Boundary map. There really can be no greater objection to it than to the numerous other names in the same locality given by English and American discoverers and surveyors. This arrangement will probably close the question ; and it would appear necessary to make a communication to that effect to the American Govern- ment, that the word "obelisk " may be added to the United States Map. From the notes made upon the lists it would also appear to be intended to make some slight alterations on the American maps in conformity with the corrected British maps. As Lieut : Anderson does not possess facilities at Chatham for correcting the maps and it will also be necessary to correct and complete the zincograph plates which are now in this office, to strike off the required number of impressions to mount and bind the original maps for deposit in the Foreign Office, and to bind a complete set of the copies iv 3 26 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. iv for transmission to the United States Government and perhaps also some other sets for use and reference in the Foreign and Colonial Offices and in the Colony itself without the necessity of applying to the originals, I have the honour to suggest that all this work can be best done in the Topogra- phical Office, the present Director of which is Captain C. W. Wilson, R.E., who was Secretary to the Boundary Commission throughout its active operations, and besides being intimately acquainted with the whole subject would take great interest in the completion of the Commission records, in communication with Lieut : Anderson and myself. Captn. Wilson would render accounts for the necessary expenditure in the same way as for any other work performed by him for the Foreign Office. If this suggestion is approved of, the maps &c, now at the Foreign Office should be sent to Captn. Wilson at this Office together with the zincograph copies of the United States maps which I understand to have been received from the American Govt. I herewith return Despatch No. 339 29th July 1870 from Her Majesty's Minister at Washington I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant J. S. HAWKINS, Colonel R.E. The Under Secretary of State Foreign Office Downing Street. Endorsement. 1870 London 22nd September Colonel Hawkins R.E. Boundary Commissioner 1 Enclosure. Received Sept. 22. By Messenger. Report upon proposed alteration to British maps of Boundary in North West America under Treaty of 15th June 1846. PART V FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE NORTH-WEST COAST AMERICA-ALASKA v-l FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. Draft FOREIGN OFFICE. Novr. 13th, 1835. William R. LordDurham. MY LORD, I transmit to your excellency the accompanying copies of a letter, and its enclosures, received from the Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company complaining that the Russian Authorities on the North West Coast of America, have interfered with an expedition fitted out under the directions of the Company for the purpose of forming a settlement, ten leagues up the Stikine River in about 56 40' North Latitude and that the Compy. have in consequence sustained a loss of about 22,000. The rights of the Crowns of England and Russia on the North Wet>t Coast of America, are, as your excellency is aware denned in a Treaty concluded at St. Peters- burgh on the 16-28 February 1825, of which I enclose a copy for more easy reference. " The sixth article of that Treaty stipulates that the subjects of " His Britannic Majesty from whatever quarter they may arrive, whether " from the ocean or from the interior of the continent, shall forever enjoy " the right of navigating freely and without any hindrance whatever all " the Rivers and Streams which in their course towards the Pacific Ocean " may cross the line of demarcation, upon the line of Coast described in " Article III of the present Convention. The 7th Article stipulates that " For the space of 10 years from the "signature of the present convention, the vessels of the two powers, or those " belonging to their respective subjects, shall mutually be at liberty to f re- " quent without any hindrance whatever all the inland Seas, the Gulphs, "Havens and Creeks, on the Coast mentioned in Article III for the pur- "pose of fishing and of trading with the Natives." The Treaty having been concluded on the 16-28 day of February 1825, the ten years specified in the last mentioned Article did not expire until the 28th February of the present year. But notwithstanding this the Rus- sian authorities on the Coast issued on the 15-27 May 1834 a notification to Foreign Merchants vessels, that henceforth no trade would be allowed with the Indians within the Territory of Russia ; and in virtue of the same noti- fication warned off the British expedition which arrived off the Stikine River on the 18th June 1834. But the British Expedition although entitled under the Treaty to frequent and trade in the waters of the Russian Dom- inion until the expiration of the above mentioned period of 10 years had not been fitted out with that view but was undertaken for the purpose of exercising the Right secured to the British subjects forever by the sixth article of the Treaty " To navigate freely any of those streams, which in ' their course towards the Paci6c, cross the line of demarcation upon the "line of Coast described in the Treaty," and the ultimate object of the Expe- dition was to form a settlement within the British Territory. The obvious meaning of the 6th Article of the Treaty, is that British Settlers should have opportunity of conveying to the sea, the produce of their industry, notwithstanding that the coast itself is in the possession of Russia. And His Majesty's Government certainly do not imagine that the Cabinet of St. Petersburgh will be disposed to set up in opposition to the clear stipulation of the Treaty the argument used by the Russian Authori- ties in justification of their conduct, namely that the formation of the intended British Establishment might prove injurious to Russian commerce. The Treaty recognizes no such monstrous principle as involved in that argu- ment. On the contrary the fifth article stipulates " That no establishment " shall be formed by either of the two parties within the limits assigned by " the two preceding Articles to the possessions of the other " and therefore FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. v clearly implies that the respective Governments contemplated the formation of New Establishments within their respective Territories and the subsequent article secured to all British establishments then formed, or thereafter to be formed, a free communication with the ocean through the Territories of Russia. No less unfounded is another pretence set up by the Russian authorities as a ground of justification for their conduct and which they seek to draw from the second article of the Treaty. That article stipulates that " in order to prevent the right of navigating and fishing exercised upon the 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 may be a Russian Establishment without the permission of the Governor or Com- mandant." It does not appear that the British Expedition referred to in the present papers, had any design whatever to land at a Russian Establish- ment, or to carry on Commerce of any kind upon the Coast. But even if the British Expedition had manifested any disposition to land, the Russian Authorities could only have been justified in preventing them from doing BO and could have no right whatever to prevent the Expedition from passing up the River. With regard to the further allegations of the Russian Authorities " That the 6th Article of the Convention can have no ' application to such Rivers as the Stikine upon which shores there is no ' British Establishment in the interior and which is besides an insignificant ' and shallow River, and interrupted by Cataracts in such a manner, as ' not to be adapted for facilitating the communications with the British ' possessions in the Interior." The fifth article of the Treaty disposes of the first part of this allegation and with regard to the latter part of it I have only to observe that the 6th Article of the Treaty contains no limitations as to the size depth or character of the Rivers, to which it is applicable but declares generally That the subjects of His Britannic Majesty from whatever quarter they may arrive, whether from the ocean, or from the Interior of the Conti- nent, shall forever enjoy the right of navigating freely and without hindrance all the Rivers and Streams which in their course towards the Pacific Ocean, cross the line of demarcation upon the line of coast described in Article III of the present Convention." I cannot conclude my observations upon this subject, without expressing some surprise that the Russian Authorities at the very moment that they were driving the British Expedition away from the coast by threats of actual violence should quote the llth Article of the Convention which provides that "in every case of " complaint on account of an infraction of the articles of the present Con " vention, the civil and military authorities of the High contracting parties " without previously acting or taking any forcible measure shall make an " exact and circumstantial Report to their respective Courts." Neither can I pass over the unbecoming Declaration of the Russian Captain Zarembo, to the superintendent of the British Expedition, that his instructions were to prevent the Expedition, and that by those, and not by the Treaty would he be guided. His Majesty's Government cannot entertain a doubt of the existence on the part of Russia of a disposition to execute with good faith the provisions of the Treaty and are convinced that the conduct of the local authorities was unsanctioned by the Government at St. Petersburgh, and will be dis- avowed by that Government. Your Excellency is therefore instructed to bring the subject without delay before the Russian Cabinet, to claim redress and compensation for the British subjects who have been thereby aggrieved and to express the FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 5 confident expectation of His Majesty's Government that such orders will be given to the Russian Authorities on the coast as may prevent the recurrence of similar violation of the Treaty. F. O. 1638, America, 1835-68. WASHINGTON, April 2nd, 1867. New York Tribune, April 1st, 1867. Confidential No. 102. MY LORD, The Russian Government have entered into a Treaty ceding the whole of their possessions in North America to the United States for seven million dollars. The Negotiation was conducted with the greatest secrecy, nor was it known until the Proclamation of the President appeared summoning an extra Session of the Senate to consider it together with other executive questions of interest. The Russian Minister states the motives of the sale to be the little value and unproductive nature of the Territory, the expense of the force necessary to protect it and preserve order, and the desire of getting rid of a possession which may ultimately involve them in questions with the United States But considering the condition of the Turkish Empire and the ambitious views of Russia in that quarter, the aggressive policy of the United States undisguisedly bent on ruling North America without a rival And recollecting that Great Britain is the oppo- nent common to both, it seems not unreasonable to infer that the object of Russia is to provide the means of neutralizing the efforts of Great Britain in the event of antagonism in the East. The United States will find means of evading a settlement of the questions arising out of the late war with Gt. Britain, they will base claims for cession of British Columbia or other territory as satisfaction for what Mr. Seward calls the political wrong and material injury done to the United States by the recognition of the Con- federates as belligerents, and there will be an understanding between the two Powers as to the proper period for carrying out simultaneously their projects. (Unless a great change takes place in public opinion, I regret to say that this policy will meet with general support in the United States. France has receded from Mexico before the menaces of this country, Russia makes sacrifices to gain her friendship, and it only remains to humiliate Great Britain to complete the self satisfaction of this people. It would seem however that the republican party are not by any means satisfied as to the value of the purchase, as they are certainly indisposed to give their sanction to a measure which must redound to the credit of the administra- tion. The article I enclose from the New York Tribune gives the views of that party and it is certain that the Treaty will meet with considerable opposi- tion in the Senate on financial and economical grounds. It may be doubted whether the extension will prove a source of strength to the United States, but it will certainly act prejudicially to our interests as a step towards the absorption of this Northern continent. I have the honour to be, With the highest respect, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant, FREDERICK WRIGHT-BRUCE. The LORD STANLEY, M.P., &c. &c. &c. FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. Endorsement. 1867 Washington April 2nd. Sir Fred Wright-Bruce Confidential No. 102. 1 enclo Reed April 14 By messgr to N. York Russian Treaty with the U.S. She cedes her possessions in N. America to the U. S. for 7,000,000 dollars. Article fr N. York " Tribune " F. 0. 1638, ST. PETEESBURGH, April 4, 1867. MY LORD, I received on the evening of the 1st Instant Your Lordship's Telegram of that date relative to the sale of the territory of Russia in America to the United States, and I lost no time in endeavouring to obtain some information on the subject. The result of my enquiries as I had the honor to report by Telegram the same evening, was that the alleged arrangement had been under negotiation for some time, but that no infor- mation of its having been completed had been received from the Russian Minister at Washington, information however which subsequently arrived, as I reported in my telegram of the 3rd instant. The reason given to me for the sale was that the Russian American Company though receiving an 200, 000 rubles, annual Subvention of two hundred thousand rubles from the Government, was almost in a state of bankruptcy, its stock having fallen from one hundred and fifty rubles to seventy-five or eighty, and that while the terri- tory was therefore a source of expense instead of profit to the Empire, it would be entirely incapable of being defended during war, if measures were taken for its conquest by a maritime Power. During the two days which followed I found that I was almost the only person in society who appeared to have heard of the transaction, and many persons holding important official appointments to whom I spoke of it, treated my information as unfounded. It was not till the 4th Instant that the report in the London Papers became generally known, when two of the leading organs of the press here declared it to be un worthy of belief, and insisted that a report of the kind could only have been circulated by the enemies of Russia, for it was incredible that she would sell a portion of Her territory and a number of her orthodox Subjects and wound the National feelings of the Country for dollars * ne P a ^ry sum of seven millions of dollars, of which at least three millions 7,000,000. would have to be paid to the Russo- American Company, as an indemnity for the withdrawal of its charter, which had only recently been renewed for a term of twenty years. The next rumors, according to these papers, would be the sale of the Crimea, the Caucasus or the Baltic Provinces. The " Viest " the organ of the aristocratic Party, alluded to the report as one of the aburd stories frequently invented about Russia on the Continent. The Moscow Gazette has not yet mentioned the subject, but I am told that the impression produced at Moscow was of a most painful character. Under an apparent apprehension therefore of further and more positive expressions of dissatisfaction on the part of the Press, the enclosed notice acknowledging that the sale had been effected for Commercial objects, and hinting that it might also advance the political interests of the Empire, was circulated here on the 8th instant in a flying Supplement to the " Journal of St. Peters- burg " with a view to calm the public mind until the Government are in a FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 7 position to reveal the exact nature of the transaction. These criticisms however have not prevented the stock of the Company from rising nearly 100 per cent. Prince Gortchakoff on my referring to the transaction at a recent interview with His Excellency, spoke of it as being without any political importance, and as having been entered into for entirely economical reasons, and He expressed satisfaction at the English Press having apparently taken this view of it and as having considered it more calmly than that of Russia. I said it might have been considered a friendly act on the part of the Russian Government if She had afforded Her Majesty's Government or the Government of Canada an opportunity of purchasing the territory which has been sold, but that their not having done so, was materially unimport- ant as I felt assured it would not have been bought I have the honour to be, with great truth and respect, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant (Signed) ANDREW BUCHANAN. The Right Honble. Lord Stanley, M.P. etc. etc. etc. Endorsed: 1867 St. Petersburg, April 4th, Sir A. Buchanan No. 117. Reed. Apl. 15, by L. M. Webster. Sale of Russo- American Territory to U. States F. 0. 1638, Foreign Office, Apl. 16, 1867. America, Draft 1835-68. No . 71 SIR, I have to acquaint your Excy : that H. M. Government approve the language you held in your convn. with Prince Gortchakow, on the sub- ject of the Sale of the Russian territory in America to the United States, as reported in your Despatch No : 117 of 4th Inst : you were quite right in saying that if the Territory had been offered for sale to this Country it would not have been bought ; the offer might have been an act of courtesy on the part of the Russian Govt. but it would certainly have been declined. Endorsed: Draft Sir A Buchanan, No. 71 F.O. Apl 16 1867. Approving language to Pr. Gortchakow respg. sale of Russian Territory to United States. Russia FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. F. O. 1638, America 1835-68. In replying quote the following Initial Letter M ADMIRALTY, 3rd October, 1867. SIR, With reference to the reported cession of Russian America in the Pacific to the United States, I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to state for the fnformation of Lord Stanley that they consider it desirable that the water Boundary between the British and Rus sian Possessions in the Pacific should be clearly denned. The terms of the Boundaries are given in the text of the Treaty of 1825, but their Lordships are not aware that they were ever defined on any Map or Chart. The Coast was surveyed by Vancouver in the years 1792 3-4 and the names of the Boundaries used in the Treaty are those given by him in the Survey. There has never, to their Lordships knowledge, been any dispute between Russia and this Country as to the actual limits of the respective Posses- sions, and there is a Hudson's Bay settlement within a few miles of our Northern Boundary, but written Conventions are frequently in a measure vague and have before now boen interpreted differently by Parties inter- ested. In the case of the Oregon Treaty of 1846 many years have been extended in profitless discussions. Land and Water Commissions have been employed at an enormous expense and the question still remains unsettled from the omission to have the Boundary even generally traced on a Chart. My Lords would therefore suggest for the consideration of Lord Stanley that, in the event of Russia having made, or hereafter making, any communication to Her Majesty's Government on the subject of the cession of Her Territories in America to the United States, arrange- ments should be made with the Russian Govt. for having the Water Boundaries between Russian and British Possessions clearly defined on a Chart, and that Russia should obtain the acquiescence of the United States to the Boundaries thus defined. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant J. H. BRIGGS. The Right Honble. E. HAMMOND FOREIGN OFFICE Endorsed: October, 1867. Want the water boundary between English & Russian Possessions on Pacific coast of America to be clearly defined. De- partmental minute. F. O. 1638, America, 1835-68. Draft SIR A. BUCHANAN No: 192 Foreign Office, October 15, 1867. Oct. 3. SIR, You will perceive from the inclosed copy of a letter from the Admi- ralty that it is considered desirable, with the view of avoiding any question hereafter, that H. M's Govt., should be in possession of the exact position and extent of the Territories in America ceded by Russia to th ^ United FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. 9 States, and that the water boundary between the British and Russian Possessions in the Pacific should be clearly defined. I have accordingly to instruct you to endeavour to induce the Russian Govt. to carry out the wishes of the Admiralty as set forth in their letter. Endorsed : Dft. Sir A. Buchanan, No. 192 P.O. Oct. 15, 1867. (Copy of letter from Admiralty asking exact extent of territory ceded by Russia to America. To find out) F. 0. 1638, ST. PETEESBURGH, October 23, 1867. America, 1835-68. Confidential No. 365. MY LORD, At a recent interview with Prince Gortchacoff I placed in His Excellency's hands an extract from the letter of the Admiralty, of which a copy was enclosed in Your Lordship's Despatch No. 192 of the 15th inst., and I expressed a hope that he would be disposed to comply with the wish of the Lords Commissioners, that the Water Boundaries between the Russian possessions in America lately ceded to the United States, and those of Great Britain, should be clearly defined on a Chart, and that Russia should obtain the acquiescence of the United States to the boundaries thus defined. From the manner in which Prince Gort- chacoff received this proposal, I fear there is little probability of his acced- ing to it. He said the territory was already ceded to the United States and that he could not enter into any negotiations with them as to the meaning of the Treaties which designated its Boundaries, which was row a question for Her Majesty's Government to discuss with the Cabinet at Washington. As he said also that he did not understand what was meant by a Water Boundary, I suggested that if he refer to the Treaty of 1825 and to the Topographical Department of the Government, he would obtain full information on the point, and I said it was not improbable that the Boundary referred to might be already defined on the Russian Charts. He said that if any such Chart existed he might perhaps be able to com- municate it to Her Majesty's Government but he had no communication to make to them on the subject of the cession of the territories formerly pos- sessed by Russia in America. I asked whether there was any probability of his being prepared to speak to me again on the subject before the departure of the Messenger, but he said he did not understand clearly what was wanted and he must therefore decline for the present saying anything whatever about it. He asked me, however, to leave the extract, which I had communicated to him, of the Admiralty letter, and promised to have the subject inquired into with every wish to do what would be agreeable to Her Majesty's Government. I have the honour to be, with the highest respect, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant, ANDREW BUCHANAN. The LORD STANLEY, M.P. v 2 10 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. V Endorsed: 1867 St. Petersburg, Oct : 23. Sir Andrew Buchanan No : 365. Confidential Reed. Oct. 28 per Messr. Haworth. Conversation with Prince Gortchacoff respg Water Boundary between British and LATE Russian possessions in N. America. No. 366. p, Q 163g ST. PETERSBURGH, October 23, 1867. 183jH5& a> M Y LORD, With reference to Your Lordship's Despatch No. 192 of the 15th instant on the subject of the Water Boundary between the Russian possessions in America lately ceded to the United States, and those of Great Britain on the Pacific, I have the Honour to enclose herewith a translation of the Treaty for the cession of these territories, which has been published in this day's "Journal de St. Petersburgh" and I also enclose a Russian Chart corrected to 1864, on which the land Boundary line is traced, and consequently shows the point at which in the opinion of the Russian Government, the Water Boundary line in Portland Channel terminates. I have the honour to be, With the highest respect, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant, ANDREW BUCHANAN. The LORD STANLEY, M.P. Endorsed : 1867. St. Petersburgh, October 23. Sir A. Buchanan No. 366. Two inclosures Reed. Oct 28 By Messr. Haworth. Water Boundary between British & Russian newly acquired possessions in North America. F. 0. 1638, ST. PETERSBURGH, October 24, 1867. No. 370. Most confidential. MY LORD, With reference to my despatch No. 366 of the 23rd instant, I have ascertained from a confidential source, that on an American map, delivered to the Russian Government and attached to the Russian copy of the Treaty for the cession of the late Russian possessions in America to the United States, the Water Boundary between the possessions acquired by the United States and the territory of Russia is traced, but that the map does not extend far enough East or South to include the Water Boundary between the possessions of Great Britain and the ceded territory. I have the honour to be, With the highest respect, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant, ANDREW BUCHANAN. The LORD STANLEY, M.P. &c., &c., &c. Endorsed: No. 370 Reed. Oct 28 per Messr. Haworth has learnt that Water Boundary between British and late Russian possns. in N. America is not marked on U.S. Map. FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. F. O- 1638, Foreign Office, October 28, 1867. America, 1835-68. Draft. Admiralty. Sir A SIR, I am directed by Lord Stanley to transmit to you to be laid before Buchanan, the Lords Commrs. of the Admiralty the accompanying copies of Despatches Nos. 365, 366, from H. M's Ambassador at St. Petersburgh containing information with reference to the wish expressed in your letter of the 3rd instant that the Water Boundaries between the Russian possessions in America lately ceded to the United States and those of Great Britain should be cleary defined on a Chart. Endorsed; Dft. Admiralty F.O. Oct. 28, 1867 Water Boundary between British and Russian America Copies of Sir A. Buchanan Nos. 365, 366 & 370 respy. F. 0. 1638, ST. PETERSBURGH, October 30, 1867. America, 1836-68. No , 373 Memorandum MY LORD : With reference to my despatch No. 365 of the 23rd instant marked confidential, I regret to say that my fear has been realized that the Russian Government would decline acceding to the wishes of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty respecting the Water Boundary between the late possessions of Russia in America and those of Gt. Britain on the Pacific. Prince Gortchacoff informed me today that he had communicated on the subject with the Minister of Marine and the chief of the Russian Topo- graphical Department, and that the only information they had enabled him to give me, was contained in a Memorandum which he placed in my hands, and which I have the honour to enclose herewith. As his Excellency said that Water Boundaries were never traced on maps, I replied that I thought Governments generally attached maps to Treaties in cases like the present, in which such water Boundaries were traced ; and as I asked whether the Boundary between the possessions ceded to the United States and the Asiatic territories of Russia had not been defined in this manner, I was surprised to receive an assurance from His Excellency, that such a measure had not been considered necessary. I have the honour to be, With the highest respect, My Lord, Your Lordships, most obedient, humble servant, ANDREW BUCHANAN. The LORD STANLEY, M.P. &c. &c. &c. Endorsed : 1867 St. Petersburgh Oct : 30 Sir Andrew Buchanan No. 373 1 enclosure Reed. Novem : 4 per Messr from Berlin Prince Gortchacoff states that Water Boundary was not marked between late Russian possns. in N. America and Asiatic Russian territory. 12 FOREIGN OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE. F. 0. 1638, Foreign Office, Dec. 9, 1867. America, Draft Colonial Office E.H. SIB, I have laid before Lord Stanley your letters of the 19th and 20th November and of the 3rd instant asking for His Lordship's opinion as to the instructions that should be sent to the Governor of Vancover's Island on certain points connected with the cession of Russian America to the United States, and I am directed by His Lordship to state to you in reply for the information of H. G. the D. of Buckingham and Chandos, that he does not see on what ground Great Britain could object to the establish- ment of an American military post opposite Fort Simpson. With regard to the facilities respecting cattle requested by the United States officers, Lord Stanley considers that they should in common courtesy be granted independently of their being beneficial to the Colony His Lordship also thinks that the Governor should give his advice if asked for to the American authorities respecting the control over the Indians and that if he could arrange the river limit it might be desirable to do so, that is to say if the possession of one or more Rocky Islets is likely to be of importance. Lord Stanley will consult the Queen's Advocate as to how far under International Law, the United States are now bound by the Treaty between Great Britain and Russia of 1825. Endorsed : Dft. Colonial Office. E. H. F. O. Dec. 9, 1867. Cession of Russian N. America to U. S. Facilities as to Cattle should be given to the U. S. Auths a river limit settled if possible. (Colonial Office Dec. 3.) THE LIBRART ~ ESJVERSITY OP CALIPORN* L .. >, LOS ANGELBS