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MAINE LEGISLATURE. 
 
 V: 
 
 
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 Feb. 16, 1827, 
 The Joint Select Committee to whom 
 was referred so much of the Governor's 
 Message as relates to the North Eastern 
 Boundary, and t» whom was also refer- 
 red a communication from the Governor 
 containing a copy of a letter from the 
 British Minister in this country to the 
 Secretary of State of the United States, 
 having reference to the North Eastern 
 Bonndary of this State,have had the same 
 under consideration and ask leave to Re- 
 port: 
 
 That the territory lying within the lim- 
 its of the State of Maine, the right of 
 jurisdiction over which is now under dis- 
 cussion between the governments of the 
 United States and Great Britain, is high- 
 ly important and valuable to the citizens 
 of this State, as well from its extensive 
 forests of timber, as for the richness and 
 fertility of its soil and susceptibility of 
 cultivation and.iraproyement. Although 
 its settlement is not rapid, arising no 
 doubt, in some measure from the con- 
 flicting claims of national jurisdiction, 
 yet it is destined at some future period 
 to support a numerous, hardy and enter- 
 prising population. The governmen* of 
 the United States have an important in- |'; iii^:''|; 
 terest in the decision of the question: "'-•■' 
 So has the State of Massachusetts; but 
 however important those interests may 
 be, — this State has a more important one, 
 — for her rights of sovereignty and pro- 
 perty are both deeply concerned. Such, 
 indeed, is the importance of this question 
 to our State, that all her citizens ought 
 to be alive to it, and all her public ser- 
 vants shou'd use every exertion in their 
 power to bring the subject to a speedy 
 and correct issue. 
 
 Your Committee have examined the 
 subject, with all the care and delibera- 
 tion in their power, and are not aware 
 that much, if any light can be derived 
 from the ancient g-rant-s, proclamations 
 and treaties of the governments of 
 France and Great Britain, because there 
 seems almost always to have been con- 
 flicting claims of jurisdiction, and few or 
 no certain boundaries established. The 
 War of 1756 terminated the power of 
 France in Canada and Acadie, and by 
 the treaty of Fontainbleau, which ter- 
 minated that war, she ceded those pro- 
 vinces to Great Britain. Great Britain 
 then became as much possessed of Cana- ; 
 da and Nova Scotia, or Acadie, as she 
 was of her other colonies in North Amer- 
 ica, which she had settled and protected; 
 and had over them the same political 
 power and the same rights of changing, 
 altering or moditymg their jurisdictions, 
 boundaries and governments, siuch con- 
 tinued to be her rights over all her North , 
 American Colonies until changed by the 
 , American Revolution and consummated 
 I by the Treaty of 1783. 
 
 ''4- 
 
 '^he Revolution brought into existence ma||L 
 a new power, which Great Britain re- iHRk 
 luctantly acknowledged, but, when she ^^ 
 consented to treat with that power, it was i< . ;: 
 competenit for the great contracting par- k ■ ' 
 ties to make compacts, to prescribe such ■ • 
 limits, and to establish and define such 
 boundaries, as they pleased. This they 
 have done in the treaty. Wherever the 
 descriptions in the treaty are clear and 
 not perple.\ed with ambiguity, there 
 seems to be no necessity for resorting to 
 any thing beyond its own provisions to 
 settle its meaning, more especially when 
 the instrument itself contains no such re- 
 ference. 
 
 The treaty of 1783 contains a very, 
 clear description of the luie constituting I 
 the North Eastern Boundary of the U- 
 nited States. The description is s:> ac- 
 curate and well defined, that it could nev- 
 er have been doubtful, except at one 
 point, to wit, — whicli of the rivers falling ' 
 into the Bay of Passamaquoddy, and ulti- 
 mately into the Bay of Fundy, was the 
 true St. Croix, thereby intended. The 
 Commissioners appointed under tae trea- 
 ty of 1794 have settled that question; and 
 although there was much reason for fix- 
 ing on the first river West of the St. 
 John, as the true St. Croix of the treaty, 
 still the Commissioners finally fixed upon 
 the Schoodic as the true river, and as- 
 certained its direction from the mouth to 
 its source, and settled the hne to the 
 monument which they erected. How- 
 ever hard the bargain was for us, we 
 were bound in good faith to acquiesce 
 in the result, and still do, and are not 
 now disposed to disturb any thing which 
 was thus mutually settled. 
 
 There is not, to our knowledge, any 
 controversy as to the point where the un- 
 settled boundary commences, nor as to 
 the course of the line, — for all parties 
 commence their surveys at the same 
 point, to wit, at the monuibent, and run 
 the same course. The controversy is as 
 to the length of the line, or in other 
 words, what is meant by the North-west 
 angle of Nova Scotia and the highlands, 
 as described in the treaty. The boun- 
 daries of the United States are describ- 
 ed in the provisional articles between the I 
 United States and Great Britain, and are |, . 
 incorporated into the definitive treaty of |jj^^ 
 I peace, with a preface which gives them f" 
 an increased solemnity and effect. 
 
 The first part of the second article of 
 the treaty is as follows:—" And that all 
 
 disputes which might arise in future, on f 
 the subject of the boundaries of the said; 
 United States may be prevented, it is '■■■, 
 hereby agreed and declared, that the fol- 
 j lowing are and shall be their boundaries, 
 to wit: From the angle which is formed 
 by a line drawn due North from the 
 source of the St. Croix river to the high- 
 lands, along the said highlands which di- 
 vide those rivers, which empty them- 
 selves into the St. Lawrence, from those 
 I which fall into the Atlantic Ocean, to the 
 ' North-western-most head of Connecticut 
 I river, — thence down along the middle of 
 I that river to the (brty-fifth degree of 
 North Latitude," &c. 
 
 We have belbre observed tliat the on- 
 ly point which admitted of doubt in the 
 description of the North-eastern bounda- 
 ry, was the locality of the river St. Oroix, 
 that being the point of commencing the 
 line defined by the treaty. Until that 
 was settled, the guide for finding the 
 North-west angle of Nova Scotia could 
 not be reduced to mathematical certainty. 
 But, v/hen settled, it became a certain 
 and definite point, from which, connect- 
 j ed with the other part of the description, 
 to wit, the highlands which divide the 
 waters which empty themselves into the 
 St. Lawrence from those which fall into 
 the Atlantic Ocean, the North-west an- 
 gle of Nova Scotia and the North-east 
 angle of the United States and this State ; 
 with the intervening boundary can be as- ! 
 ceitained with absolute certainty. The 
 treaty has no reference to any other des- 
 cription or boundary than such as are 
 contained in its own provisions; nor has 
 it any reference to any rules of construc- 
 tion, or points for ascertaining its monu- 
 ments, but' such and such only as it gives. 
 There is no ambiguity in its language, 
 nor can there be any' upon the face of 
 the earth. It describes two classes of 
 rivers,-one emptying themselves into the 
 St. Lawrence, and the other into the At- 
 lantic Ocean. It describes no third class, 
 and all the rivers connected with the des- 
 cription of boundary must, therefore, be 
 embraced in one or the other of the 
 aforesaid classes. Nor does it mention 
 the particular elevation of the highlands 
 dividing the waters which empty them- 
 selves into the St. Lawrence from thos^ 
 which fall into the Atlantic Ocean. And 
 1 their particular elevation is of no conse- 
 quence, whether they be ten thousand or 
 one thousand feet above the level of the 
 sea; it is only necessary the highlands' 
 should be of sufficient elevation to divide 
 the waters. There can be no doubt that 
 there is such a range of highlands which 
 do divide the waters emptying themselves 
 into the St. Lawrence on the one hand' 
 and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. — 
 Lest there should remain any doubt, in, 
 the description of the North-eastern 
 boundary of the United States, it is again 
 recurred to in the latter part of the se- 
 cond article of the treaty from which a 
 quotation has already been made, in the 
 following words: — " East by a line to be 
 drawn along ihc middle of the river St. 
 Croix, from its moiilh in the Bay of Fun-' 
 dy, to its source, and from its source di- 
 rectly JVorth to the aforesaid highlands 
 which divide the rivers that fall into the 
 Atlantic Ocean from those which fall into 
 the St. LaxL'rence." 
 
 fe 
 
. :d ^ 
 
 Here again — but two classes of rivers 
 are recognised as having any connexion 
 with the boundary, in ascertaining its 
 position or iocahty on the face of tlie 
 Earth, nor can we imagine that any oth- 
 er class could have been in the minds of 
 any of the Commissioners. When all 
 the descriptions are so clear and precise; 
 when we can discover nothing to excite 
 doubts, we do not and cannot doubt. 
 The rule for settling the boundary defi- 
 nitively, is clear, plain and explicit. Nor 
 can we Ibrbcar to remark, that if views of 
 national interest did not interfere there 
 would be no difficulty in ascertaining 
 the line. 
 
 The subject is again recurred to in 
 the fifth article of the Treaty of Ghent, 
 hut not in a manner that recognizes the 
 slightest alteration in the rights of the 
 parties. By that instrument all rights 
 in relation to the Northeastern bounda-l 
 ry are recognized as still existing pre-i 
 cisely as they were defined by the trea- 
 ty of 1783: — and as to all the claims 
 made by the British Government, it is a. 
 sufficient answer that the war of the 
 revolution had dissolved their former po- 
 litical connexion, and both, by the force 
 of events had become independent sove- 
 reignties. The principles of justice and 
 national honor imperiously demand of 
 both, a settlement of the boundary, in 
 good faith, and according to the rules 
 they have mutually prescribed. Let the 
 boundary be thus settled, and we ask no 
 more: — For the State neither seeks, nor 
 claims more than her own; but she has 
 a deep interest in preserving and retain- 
 ing all to which she has a right; — and 
 will not be wanting in any proper exer- 
 tion to preserve and maintain the integ- 
 rity of her territory. 
 
 The Government of the United States! 
 have manifested no dispsition to yield' 
 any portion of our territory, under any! 
 circumstances; and from the past we I 
 are inspired with a belief and confidence 
 that she will not, under any circumstan- 
 ces which may hereafter occur. We 
 can anticipate only one class of events 
 which would vest a right in the general 
 govcrmiient to give up any such territo- 
 
 -.JL. 
 
 1 
 
 n 
 
 ry; and those events are such only, 
 which from the application of external 
 force would impair the national compact 
 and destroy the present Union. In any 
 other case, we deny the right of the 
 Government of the United States to 
 yield any portion of our territory to any 
 other independent sovereignty, unless 
 by the consent of the State. Although 
 I more than forty-three years have elaps- 
 ed since the treaty and about thirty 
 years since the designation of the river 
 St. Croix, and the settlement of the 
 boundary from its mouth to its source, 
 yet for some cause the final survey and 
 adjustment of the line has been delayed, 
 not, as we presume from any fault or 
 negligence on the part of the govern- 
 ment of the United States. The gov- 
 ernment have always claimed the coun- 
 try and exercised all the jurisdiction 
 over it which its circumstances and its 
 exigencies required. The territory to 
 which the British Government pretend 
 a claim may even now be considered a 
 mere wilderness, although there may be 
 a few straggling . settlements upon it. 
 The circumstances of the United States, 
 of Massachusetts and of this State have 
 not hitherto required an appropriation of 
 it to actual settlements. W'ild lands sit- 
 uated nearer the sea board, or contain- 
 ing other inducements, have been suffi- 
 cient for the accommodation of emigrants 
 and the natural increase of population. 
 But it is a fact, not to be denied, that 
 the progress of settlement is towards the 
 teriitoryin question; and the interest of 
 the state in the adjustment of the dis- 
 is daily becoming more injportant. 
 
 While we Tannotdoubt that the title 
 ^ from solemn compact is in us, we cannot 
 ;; admit the idea, that any possessory or 
 other act of the British Government, in- 
 consistent with the terms of that com- 
 pact, can ever impair, much less divest, 
 our rights of property and of sovereign- 
 ty. W^e cannot view the acts complain- 
 ed of by the British government, as en- 
 croachments upon thp rights of New 
 Brunswick or Great Britain; for they 
 relate, and only were intended to relate, 
 to the territory within the description of 
 the treaty; nor can we perceive that the 
 British government can complain of 
 those acts, except under a misapprehen- 
 sion of the rights of the respective par- 
 ties. 
 
 By a Resolve of the Legislature of 
 this State, passed January twenty-sixth, 
 eighteen hundred twenty-six, the Gov- 
 ernor of this State was authorised and 
 requested to take such measures as he 
 might think expedient and effectual, to 
 procure for the use of the State certain 
 copies and documents, &c. mentioned 
 in said Resolve. The Governor having 
 done all in his power to procure the in- 
 formation alluded to in said Resolve, but 
 his efforts not having been successful, 
 your Commhtee are of opinion that the 
 interests of the State may be advanced 
 by a renewal of the request to the gov- 
 ernment of the United States; and have 
 the fullest confidence that such request 
 will be answered — And therefore report 
 the subjoined Resolve. 
 
 JOHN G. DEANE, Per Ordej. 
 
 STATE OF MAINE. 
 Resolve respecting the Northeastern 
 boundary of the State. 
 Resolved, That the Governor be, and 
 he hereby is, requested to take all such 
 measures, both in acquiring information 
 and in procuring a speedy adjustment of 
 the dispute, according to the treaty of 
 1783, as he may deem expedient and 
 for the interest of the State. 
 
 The above Resolve was read twice 
 in the House Feb. 20th and past to be 
 
 engrossed. 
 
V 
 
 i 
 
 4.j*f *,\ •* *'y 
 
 4^,*4*^Mf «-«fc .^ 4 .^^^ ^i^ '-*«^ ' •* ♦'•^^ J TS^ D E P E N D E ]^ T COURIER. 
 
 ^ ^ ^r r^ ^ r. TT T> T 17 r. ^^;, 4> -^ 
 
 . FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1827. 
 
 NORHEASTERN BOUNDARY. f 
 
 We commence, to day, the republication of 
 certain numberB originally published in the Inde- ■ 
 pendent Courier, at Ellsworth, under the signa- ! 
 lure of Cato, upon the subject of our Northeast- 
 ern Boundary. The present aspect of this subject 
 still unsettled and under a protracted nesonalion 
 i;ivCF to it an increased interest to the citizens of) 
 l!]i« State. Although we cannot for a moment 
 admit the rigM of sovceignty by a foreign gov- 
 ernment to any portion of territory over whinh 
 we hav*"' exercised jurisdiction, still the pnttina- 
 rity with which Great Britain urges X,cr preten- 
 sions to a very considerable portion of that terri- 
 tory, nVrcarfycrertes great interest to the citizens 
 of tliis statP. Wliatever. therefore, shall serve to 
 fling nay light upon the subject, will be interest- 
 ing to us whose rights are more directly 'affected. 
 The number which we presetit to day is rath- 
 er prefatory to a series of numbers wliicli the au- 
 thor prnmisesthe public. After enumerating the 
 importance of the disputed territory to this State, 
 and the Union, he points out the mode wliich he 
 shall pursue in his future numbers. He writes Jf, 
 with great perspicuity, and from the specimen 
 given of the ability with which he proposes to 
 pursue the subject, we anricipate much satisfac- 
 tion from a perusal of his productions.' 
 
 " The subject of the Northeastern Boundary 
 of this State nnd the United States, seems to be/'-' 
 becoming more and more the object of enquiry, !' 
 and is daily increasing in interest to our citi- 
 zens. The Governor in his late message to both 
 branches of the Legislature, called their attention 
 distinctly to (he subject ; they have deliberated 
 upon it, and the result of their deliberations i? 
 before the public. At present I shall forbear any 
 remarlfs on the Report of the Committee, which 
 seems to have been unanimously adopted by the 
 legislature, but on some future occa.sion may de- 
 vote a little time to the examination of it. 
 
 For the present I have to observe that it ia a 
 subject involving a question of impoitance to the 
 .■!tate for a variety of .considerations which must 
 lie obvious to every reflecting mind. To the ter- 
 ritory which seems to be in dispute between the 
 Governments of Great Britain and the United 
 States, the citizens of this Stale must look with 
 solicitude until the question is definitively settled,' 
 on account of its extent; for it embraces one- 
 fourth at least, if not one-third, of tlie territory 
 of the whole state, — on account of the natural 
 fertility of its soil, for it is not excelled, in thatj 
 respect, by any other equal portion of the state, — 
 on account of its being the place to which the 
 state must look for the residence of the future 
 increase of her population, and for her future 
 power and consequence as one of the United 
 States. In the full and undisturbed possession of I 
 jt, she will he great and powerful, and will take 
 .-in high and important station : dispossessed of 
 it, she will take qnite a subor^nate or secondary 
 lank. 
 
 The interest which the'United States have in 
 the question, can be of no trivial nature. To 
 her it must be important that a state with such 
 an extent of sea-coast, and such a frontier, bound- 
 ed by the territories of a foreign nation, as the 
 state of Maine has, should possess great moral 
 three and resources within herself But with all; 
 such considerations, it will not be pretended that' 
 the questisn ought to be settled on any other] 
 principles than such as are sanctioned by the 
 immutable principles of justice. 
 
 i:"Ji 
 
 The territory is cither embraced within the 
 treaty of 1783, and belongs to the state of Maine, i 
 or is excluded, and belongs to New Brunswick ; 
 and therefore is not a question of policy or im- 
 policy, of bargain or exchange, but is simply and 
 furely a question of right or wrong. As such 
 shall consider it. At future periods, when oth-! 
 cr avocations v;ill permit, I shall notice some of | 
 the prominent historical facts in relation tothej 
 grants and claims of jurisdiction of botli thcj' 
 French and British governments, — to ascertain 
 how far any limits of territory or jurisdiction 
 were ever defined or acknowledged by them, — 
 to ascertain also the situation of the country af- 
 ter the extinction of the power of Frar>ce, and! 
 what it was at the commencement of the Araer- i 
 ican revolution, and also in 1783, when the treaty 
 was made. I shall not consider myself limited 
 by the rule T have stated, bdt as the course will 
 be desultory, other circumstances, having a rela- 
 tion to the subject, will occasionally be noticed." 
 " Yours, CATO." 
 
 ^^■ 
 
 THE FISHERIES, 
 
 ■We well know the value of the Fisheries';, 
 to the northern States and especially to this; 
 State, which sends annually such a- quantity |; 
 of fishing tackle and tonnage and such a vast 
 number of hardy and enterprizing fishermen to ; 
 the Banks and the Labrador. The British gov- ■ 
 ernment has always been jealous o*" our enjov-(, 
 ment of this privilege. It was vi^ith much diffi!- \ 
 culty secured to us by the treaty of Peace in 1783, 
 a,nQ fortunately preserved by the fidelity and skill 
 of our negotiators in the Treaty of Ghent Our 
 vicinity to the fishing grounds, the character of 
 the class employed in this service and other cir- ' 
 cumstances have undoubtedly given us great adf 
 vantages in reff.ird to this branch of marine in-j 
 ■dustry and commercial enterprize. These cir- ' 
 cunistances have aroused an acrimonious temper 
 to ward this subject on the other side of the At- 
 lantic ; and It is complained by writers in the 
 service of the English Government that the '-New- 
 foundland and Labrador fisheries are almost eri- 
 tirely engrossed by the North Americaji Republi- 
 cans. 
 
 There is an example of this in a pamphlet 
 lately published in England against the doctrine 
 of free trade and in favor of a close colonial pol- 
 icy, so far as concerns the United States. It is 
 the production of a Mr. Atkinson and appears in 
 the shape of a letter to one of the English Minis- 
 try. The following is a specimen of the cockney 
 tone in which the writer indulges himself toward 
 " Brother Jonathan." 
 
 " We all of IIS know the character of brother 
 Jonathan. Where once he gets a footing he 
 soon expels every competitor. He has not yet 
 quite driven us from our fisheries, but he sends 
 annually upwards of 400 vessels to Newfoundland 
 and Labrador, and employs 50,000 seamen in this 
 trade ; anti although we are the resident fisher- 
 
 men, we arc out-numbered and bearded on our | 
 own shores by the Americans." ■ ; 
 
 After magnifying to the view of the Ministry 
 the amount'of vessels and number of persons em- 
 ployed in the fisheries by the " American Repub- 
 licans," the author of the publication undertakes 
 to account for our success in this occupation m 
 the following manner : 
 
 How could such a vast rival trade have grown 
 up among our own fisheries .? How did it hap- 
 pen that\he number of men we employed, and 
 the trad? we carried on among these very fishe- 
 ries was comparatively so very trifling .' A very 
 little reflection and research convinced me tliat 
 the cause was neither remote nor obscure. Men 
 do not grow corn which (hey cannot consume 
 nor sell. So neither will they f:equent the freez- 
 ing cold, and dense fogs of the banks of New- 
 foundland to catch fish, unless they haven mar- 
 ket where they can dispose of it. 
 
 " The U. ^-.j from their older connexion with 
 the West Indies, and from their more extensive! 
 establishments, and a variety of facilities arising [ ■ 
 from their looalitv, have always had the main.i 
 supply of the articles wanted by the latter, and, i ' 
 of course, among others, that of fish. Another ' 
 great market for this article is Brazil ; and ot ; i 
 this, also, the U. S. have the almost entire pos-jj 
 session, and for this very plain reason, that notl I 
 being fettered by cuIcniEl regulations, she can.- 
 take in return for her caigoe3,£?ugar, and avane-i 
 ty of other articles, which the British are obliged I 
 to receive from the West Indies." " The citizen : 
 of the U.S. can proceed" with his cargo " either j' 
 to his own country or any other part of the worid; ; ' 
 and in the latter case bartering them away for :• 
 the productions of some other country, finally 
 return to his own— not so the Nova Scotian. 
 Many of the staple productions of Brazil (sugar, 
 lor instance,) are not admissible in the British 
 proviricesof North America. 
 
 " He inay take these productions, it is true, to 
 the ports of foreign Europe witu as much facility 
 as his neighbour ; but then, again, if he procure a 
 loading from these ports, he cannot return home 
 with his cargo, because it is not admissible in his 
 own country, except directly from Great Britain. 
 
 "The United tales have then the supply of 
 South America artd Europe, from the greater 
 part ofwhich we (Great Britain) are excluded. It 
 is no marvel that in such a state of things, our 
 fisheries, ar« in a state of decay and ruin." 
 
 " I think" says this Mr. Atkinson, " I have noxv! 
 pretty well accounted for the extraordinary 
 growth of the fisherie.^of tiie United States," and 
 " I wish" says he.to the English Minister : 
 
 " I wi.sh you, I wish the Pariiament, I wish the 
 country to bear in mind, that fitly thousand A- 
 merican seamen are nursed on the shores of New- 
 founijland and Labrador ; familiar with every 
 rock and quicksjind in that difficult navigation- 
 impenetrable to cold — unwearied by labor^-their 
 muscular arms strong as iron — and their weather 
 beaten skins as hard as leather.— These fifty thou- 
 sand seamen, scattered through the American 
 navy, will present a fearful phalanx in the event 
 of another war — an event neither improbable, 
 nor in all likelihood very distant." 
 
To the Publisher of the Independent Courier. 
 
 April 9th, 1827. 
 Sir, — You have no doubt expected a 
 more seasonable comraunication, on the 
 subject proposed in mme of the 5th ult. 
 My apology, is the want of leisure. As 
 proposed, I shall now proceed to notice 
 some of the historical facts, which have 
 relation to the grants and claims of juris- 
 diction, both of the French and British 
 governments. 
 
 It is a custom with navigators when ' 
 they discover unknown land, to make a 
 formal entry upon it, display their na- 
 tional flag, fire a salute, and enclose and 
 bury in a bottle a brief account of the 
 discovery, in the name and for the ben- 
 efit of the nation to which they belong. 
 But such discovery does not vest the 
 right of soil, and jurisdiction, to the ex- 
 clusion of the right acquired by a na- 
 tion, who become the first occupants. 
 The discovery of America by Columbus 
 under the Spanish flag, has never been 
 considered by the European nations, as 
 vesting the whole property and sovereign- 
 ty of the continent in them — although, 
 in addition to the discovery, Pope Alex- 
 ander VI, granted them such rights. 
 
 The different nations of Europe, have, 
 as interest or policy has dictated, sent 
 their colonies to different parts of Amer- 
 ica, and have taken actual possession; 
 And all rights acquired by such posses- 
 sion have been respected so far as they 
 have had physical force to maintain them. 
 The rights acquired by possession and 
 maintained, are the only rights which 
 are generally acknowledged and respect- 
 ed by the common consent of nations. 
 It is therefore a matter of no importance 
 in the present inquiry, who was the first 
 discoverer of America, or who was the 
 first discoverer of any particular portion 
 of it; whether it was a navigator sailing 
 under the Spanish, Portuguese, English 
 or French flags. 
 
 After the first discovery of North 
 America by John and Sebastian Cabot 
 in the summer of 1497, no attempt was 
 made to settle it until 1587. The at- 
 tempt was rnade by the British to settle 
 a colony in North Carolina or Virginia — 
 but it was soon abandoned. The coast, 
 in the meantime, however, was visited 
 and explored by the different nations of 
 Europe; and as early as 1578, groat 
 numbers of Spanish, Portuguese, French 
 and English vessels were engaged in 
 the fisheries on the coast. 
 
 On the eighth of November, 1G03, 
 Henry the fourth of France, granted 
 Acadie, to wit: all that part of North 
 America, which lies between the fortieth 
 and forty-sixth degrees of North Lati- 
 tude, to Sieur Dc Montes, a gentleman 
 of his bed chamber; constituting him 
 Lieutenant General thereof, and confer- 
 ing on him also the power to subdue the 
 inhabitants, and convert them to the 
 christian faith. The patent was publish- 
 ed in the maritime towns in France. 
 Having equipped vessels for the purpose, 
 he sailed March seventh, 1604, to take 
 possession of, and establish a colony in 
 Acadie. M. Poutrincourt, to gratify his 
 curiosity, and Samuel Charaplain, as a 
 Pilot, accompanied him. The sixth of 
 May following, he arrived in Acadie, at 
 a place now called Liverpool. From 
 thence he coasted along the peninsula, 
 doubled Cape Sable and entered the 
 Bay of Fundy: on the eastern side of 
 which he discovered a narrow strait, 
 which he entered, and soon found him- 
 self in a spacious bason, skirted by fer- 
 tile meadows, and surrounded by hills, 
 through which ffowed a navigable river. 
 So delighted was Poutrincourt with the 
 place, that he determined to take up his 
 residence there, and for that purpose, 
 obtained a grant of it from De Montes, 
 and gave it the name of PortRoyal. It 
 is now called Annapolis. 
 
 De Montes pursued his course up, and 
 round the Bay of Fundy, until he came 
 to the mouth of a large river which he 
 entered and navigated many leagues, 
 and called it St. John. From thence he 
 coasted south-westerly, until he came to 
 an Island in the middle of a river, which 
 Champlain had before visited. The Isl- 
 
 and appearing to be a safe and conven- 
 ient station, and the season being far ad- 
 vanced, he resolved to establish his win- 
 ter quarters there. He gave the name 
 of St. Croix, to the Island, " because 
 about two leagues above there were 
 small streams which came cross-wise to 
 fall within this large branch of the sea." 
 In the spring of 1605, De Montes 
 sailed along the coast to Pehobscot, Ken- 
 nebec. Casco and other places as far as 
 Cape Cod; from which he returned to 
 St. Croix, and thence to Port Royal. 
 In the meantime, Dupont had arrived 
 in a ship from France with supplies of 
 provisions, and a reinforcement of forty 
 men. The stores which had been left 
 at St. Croix were then removed to Port 
 Royal, but the buildings were left stand- 
 ing. They erected buildings at Port 
 Royal, and De Montes, having arranged 
 his affairs, in September, 1605, sailed for 
 France, leaving Dupont as his Lieuten- 
 ant, to perfect the settlement and explore 
 the country They went on e.xploring 
 the coast and clearing the country and 
 extending their settlements for' several 
 years. Two Jesuits disagreeing with 
 the settlers at Port Royal, seceded, and 
 with their companions established them- 
 selves at Mount Desert, and planted gar- 
 dens and continued there until dispos- 
 sessed by Sir Samuel Argall in 1613 or 
 1614. This was the first permanent set- 
 tlement in America, north of Florida. 
 Yours, CATO. 
 
 *>»' 
 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
 
 |G3t«I- -■■JI'i£I'<'R!a?-Ili (.-SfS 
 
 - i?o; 3. 
 
 Tj the Publisher of the Independent Courier. 
 Apria. 16, 1827. 
 Sir — In my last, having given a brief! 
 account of the first permanent settlement [ 
 I in America, north of Florida, made un- j 
 der a grant of Henry IV. King of France \ 
 in i603; it vvfill be the object of this, to ' 
 give a brief history of succeeding per- \ 
 inanent Settlements, made iindeir the au- 
 thority of the British and French Gov- 
 ernments. 
 
 As America was more and more ex- 
 plored, its importance becanie more ap- 
 pajcjii to the nations of Europe. James 
 I. of England impressed with the value, 
 extent, and importance of America to his 
 [.nation, and considering it impolitic, to 
 grant the whole to one company or set 
 of proprietoi's however respectable; he 
 divided all that portion of America which 
 is contained between the thirty-fourth 
 and forty-fifth degrees of north latitude 
 into two parts, which he named North %'^f 
 and South Virginia. April 10, 1806 he ^J' 
 granted South Virginia to sundry gentle- fei 
 hien and merchants chiefly of London, ffii 
 North Virginia, sine.?; called New-Eng- m 
 I land, he granted to sundry knights, gen- '' 
 tlemen, and merchants, of Bristol, Exe-, 
 tor, Plymouth, and oth^r parts in the 
 west of England. 
 
 Those who were inte.'ested - in the 
 northern grant, (New-England) being i 
 dissatisfied, petitioned the King for an M 
 enlargement of it. In 1620, the KingB 
 constituted a council of forty noblemen, s| 
 knights, and gentlemen, by the name and fs 
 style of "The Council established at 
 Plymouth, in the county of Devon, for 
 the planting, ruling and governing New- 
 England in America." He extended 
 their territory from the fortieth to the 
 forty-eighth degree of north latitude. — 
 This patent covers all territory embrac- 
 ed in all the grants which were after- 
 wards made in the country called New- 
 England. 
 
 In 1607 Sir Christopher Newport sail- 
 ed for South Virginia, and commenced a 
 sct'jnment at Jamestown under the grant 
 to tiie knights and gentlemen of London, 
 &c. This settlement became permanent, 
 and was the second one made by any 
 European nation north of Florida. Tlie 
 same year a permanent settlement was 
 attempted under Capt. Popham in Nortli 
 Virginia at the mouth of Kennebec river. 
 Forty-live persons were left to winter 
 there, but-Popham tbe commander, and 
 some others died in the course of the win- 
 ter, and from this, and other causes, the 
 settlement was abandoned in the follow- 
 ing season. 
 
 In 1534, Cartier,.in the service of the 
 King of France, discovered the mouth 
 of the St. Lawrence and ascended it un- 
 til he could see land on both sides. The 
 next year, he returned with larger ves- 
 
 sels, and better provided — and with them 
 ascended the river as far as the Island 
 of Orleans, where finding a convenient 
 harbor, which he named St. Croix, he 
 moored his vessels, and erected some 
 works for their defence. With his boats 
 and a part of his crew, he ascended the 
 river to a large Indian Village called by 
 the niitives Hochelega; after examining 
 it and ascending a hill in the rear of it, 
 he named the hill Montreal, which name 
 it now retains. He returned to his ves- 
 sels, and -wintered in the harbor of St. 
 Croix, and in the spring returned to 
 France. 
 
 In 1540, the French having determin- 
 ed to make a permanent settlement on 
 the St. Lawrence, sent Cartier with sev- 
 eral ships and men, and the necessary 
 articles l"or the sustenance, protection and 
 prosperity of the settlement. He as- 
 cended 'the river a -few leagues above 
 the harbor of St. Croix, moored a part 
 of hi.s vessels and built a fort, and sent 
 the residue of his vessels to France. — 
 lie wintered there, but in the spring, 
 
 
 iiu aiJ\ 
 
 quit the place and returned to France. 
 Roberval, one of the principals in the en- 
 terprise of making the settlement, came 
 with three ships and two hundred men 
 during the summer, and took possession 
 of the fort which Cartier had left in the 
 spring and wintered in it,but in the spring 
 foilojwing, abandoned the settlement. 
 
 There was no other attempt made to 
 effect a permanent settlement on the St. 
 Lawrence until 1607, when, preparatory 
 to such an event, Capt. Champlain, un- 
 der the orders of De Monts, sailed up 
 the river, until he came to a narrow 
 place or strait above the Island of Or- 
 leans, which he called Quebec; and 
 there marked a place for a town. The 
 next year, in July, he returned and com- 
 menced a settlement; cleared away the 
 woods, preparatory to the building of 
 houses and cultivating the soil. This 
 was the second permanent settlement 
 made by the French, and the third made 
 under patents or the patronage of any 
 E^iropean government in America, north 
 of Florida. 
 
 Jmm Guy, with forty men, began a 
 ^olov-jr on the Island of Newfoundland 
 x\\ 1^10: it was recruited in 1612, but 
 for mVny years continued in a languish- 
 ing an! doubtful state, but was not given 
 up. This was the second permanent 
 settleiipnt of the English, and the fourth 
 permajent one in America, north of 
 I Floridl. 
 
 I Aitfeugh the grants made by the 
 ! Freneli and British governments em- 
 bracyti a considerable portion of the 
 .sanW territory, and settlements were 
 ' niarfe under the grants of each, still for 
 many years, there seems to have been 
 a mutual acquiescence in the claims and 
 jjossessions of each, — so far as can be 
 infered from their mutual forbearance. 
 The first hostile act was committed by 
 Sir Samuel Argall, who was sent by the 
 coloiiy of South Virginia, undo the pre- 
 
 tence that the French were encroaching 
 upon their territories, to dislodge them. 
 At Mount Desert, he found two French 
 priests (Jesuits) by the names of Biard 
 and Masse, who having had a disagrce- 
 iinent with Biencourt, who was in com- 
 mand at Port Royal, had seceded and 
 established themselves in that place sores 
 years before, and made a farm, planted 
 gardens, and were pursuing their avoca- 
 fionp. A ship and a bark were lyitig in 
 the harbor, but reposing in conscious 
 security, they were not prepared to resist 
 the attack, and became an easy prey. 
 One of the French priests was killed in 
 the act of leveling one of the ship's guns. 
 Argall landed, and summoned the fort; 
 time for a reply was requested and re- 
 fused. The French abandoned the fort 
 through a private passage, and escaped 
 to the woods; but the ne.\t day returned 
 and surrendered themselves. 
 
 Sir Samuel Argall then sailed for Port ^ 
 Royal, and captured the foi't, which he 
 destroyed, but spared the buildings of 
 he inhabitants. In the course of the 
 jfoyage, he touched at the Island of St. 
 proix, and destroyed the buildings and 
 /orks erected by "De Monts in 1604, 
 nd which had remained until that time, 
 lome'ofthe French went to Canada, 
 lad he carried some, prisoners, to Vir- 
 ginia. In 1 6 1 4, the season following the 
 destruction made by Argall, Poutrincourt 
 'returned from France to Port Royal, 
 /and found the remnant of the colony 
 still remaining. This act appears to 
 have originated entirely in South Virgin- 
 ia, and was not authorised by the British 
 government, nor does it appear to have 
 been resented by the French govern- 
 ment. The act was not followed up 
 and led to no result, but it might po 
 bly have suggested the idea of a spe^ 
 ic grant, as one was made of a count. y 
 named in the gi-ant. Nova Scotia, con- 
 taining a part of Acadie, by James I. in 
 1621 to Sir WiUiam Alexander. 
 
 Yours, CATC. 
 
To the Publisher of the Independent Courier. 
 May 1, 1827. 
 
 Sir, — In November, 1620, a perma- 
 nent settlement was effected at Ply- 
 mouth, by individuals, who for conscience 
 sake, had seceded from the Charch 
 of England, retired to Holland, from 
 whence they removed and sought an asy- 
 lum in the wilds of New England. 
 They did not come out or settle under 
 the authority of the patentees or govern- 
 ment of Great Britain, although they 
 had endeavored to obtain a patent, first 
 of the Virginia company, and secondly 
 of the New England company. They 
 were subsequently adopted and their 
 lights recognised as a colony. • 
 
 In 1621, a fact alluded to in a former 
 letter, James I. of Great Britain, grant- 
 ed to Sir William Alexander, a tract of J 
 country, which he called Nova Scotia,' 
 within the following boundaries, to wit: 
 "All and singular, the lands of the Con- 
 tinent, and the Islands in America with- 
 in Cape SabJe, lying in 43 deg. north 
 lat. or there abouts, thence along the 
 coast to St. Mary's bay, and thence pass- 
 ing Northward by a right line across the 
 gulph or bay called Fundy to the St. 
 Croix and the remotest western spring 
 head of the same, whence by an imag- 
 inary line conceived to run through the 
 land Northward, to the next road of 
 ships river discharging itself into the . 
 great river of Canada, and proceeding' 
 thence Eastward along the shores of the 
 sea of the said river of Canada, to the 
 road, haven, or shore commonly called j 
 Gospick, and thence South-eastward ' 
 [versus euronotum] to the Islands called 
 Baccalaos or Cape Breton, leaving the!, 
 said Islands on the right, and the gulf of • 
 the said great river of Canada, and the 
 lands of Newfoundland with the Islands 
 to those lauds pertaining on the left; 
 thence, &.C. to the place of beginning." 
 Although Sir William Alexander fitted 
 out an expedition for the purpose, it does 
 not appear that he ever took possession 
 of, or made any permanent settlement 
 in the country; but after proceeding as 
 far as Newfoundland, abandoned his 
 design and returned. 
 
 A British fleet in 1G28 captured Port' 
 Royal, and in 1629 captured Quebec. 
 By the treaty of St. Germam, in 1632, 
 both Acadie and Canada were restored 
 to the French. In 1627 the King of 
 France granted to La Tour the lands in 
 Acadie on the river St. John, extending 
 five leagues on each side of it, and ten 
 leagues up the river. The same year 
 the ])eople of Plymouth began trade with : 
 the Indians at Penobscot, and set up a 
 trading house. In 1630 Sir William Al- 
 exander sold all his title to Nova Scotia 
 to La Tour. In 1632, La Tour obtain- , 
 ed a second grant from the King of 
 France, of the Bay and River St. Croix, 
 with the main land extending twelve 
 I leagues on the sea coast and twenty 
 leagues into the main land, with all the 
 adjacent Islands. The same year the 
 French robbed the English trading house 
 at Penobscot. In 1634, La Tour ob- 
 tained several other grants of the King 
 of France, to wit: the Isle of Sables, 
 one at La Heve of 10 leagues on the ' 
 sea coast and 10 leagues into the main ' 
 land; another at Menis, and another at 
 Port Royal, each of the same extent of 
 
 Razilly was at this time commander in 
 chief of the French, and appointed 
 D'Aulney his Lieutenant for Acadie, 
 west of the St. Croix, and La Tour, for 
 Acadie, east of the same river. D'Aul- 
 ney, in 1635, by virtue of his commis- 
 sion, took forcible possession of Penob- 
 scot and drove the English away. The 
 government at Plymouth made an 
 unsuccessful attempt to dislodge the 
 French. Razilly did not survive long, 
 and soon after his death, a contest for 
 power arose between D'Aulney and La 
 Tour, both claiming the chief command. 
 D'Aulney resided at Penobscot, and La 
 Tour at St. John. They made war up- 
 on each other. In 1638 the King of 
 France ordered D'Aulney to confine 
 himself to the coast Elemechius, which 
 was a part of Acadie. During the war- 
 fare between D'Aulney and La Tour, 
 both in their turns applied to the govern- 
 ment of Massachusetts for assistance. 
 No direct assistance was afforded, but ■ 
 individuals were permitted to assist La ' 
 Tour. 
 
 In 1644 the governor of Massachu- 
 setts made an agreement of Amity and 
 Commerce with D'Aulney's Commis- 
 sioner, which was subsequently ratified 
 by both parties. The French not only 
 claimed but #xercised jurisdiction as far 
 west as Pemaquid. The French con- 
 tinued an uninterrupted possession un- 
 til 1654, when a fleet which had been 
 sent by Oliver Cromwell, for the purpose 
 of aiding in reducing the Dutch in New 
 York, but on account of a long passage 
 did not arrive in Boston until after the 
 news of peace, turned their arms against 
 the French in Acadie, and captured Port 
 Royal, St. John, Penobscot, 'and some 
 other places, though no open war exist- 
 ed between the French and English at 
 the time. In 1665 the Enghsh and 
 French concluded a treatv of commerce; 
 
 / 
 
 iiteff' 
 
 but the English interposing a claim to 
 Acadie, the subject was referred to com- 
 missioners: The country, in the mean 
 time, continued in possession of the Eng- 
 lish. In 1667, by the treaty of Breda, 
 Acadie was retroceded to France. In 
 1680, or previous to that lime, Penobscot 
 and St. John were captured by an expe- 
 dition fitted out at Boston; but were, by 
 orders from Great Britain, restored to 
 the French. 
 
 I have, sir, omitted some grants made 
 by the British government, which I shall 
 state hereafter; and shall conclude this 
 letter by a few. general remarks. The 
 i European nations had, for more than a 
 century before the principal grants of 
 both the French and English, been ac- 
 quainted with the eastern coast of Amer- 
 ica. Their adventurers, navigators and 
 fishermen had examined every part of it. 
 and published their discoveries to the^ 
 world. We cannot suppose, that either 
 the French, or British governments were 
 ignorant of the latitude of the rivers, 
 and all the prominent points on the coast. 
 Still we see them granting and regrant- 
 ing the same territory to different pro- 
 prietors. We have seen that in 1606 
 James I. granted all the continent from 
 34 to 45 degrees of north lat.; and in j 
 1620 we have seen the grant extended; 
 to 48 degrees of north lat. In 1621 we 
 have also seen that James I. granted a 
 part of the same territory to Sir William 
 Alexander, who had no connexion with 
 the former patentees. With such a 
 knowledge as the government must have 
 had of the coast, and with such descrip- 
 tions as were contained in their former 
 grants, they can not be supposed to have 
 been ignorant of the fact, that when the 
 grant was made in 1621, the same coun- 
 try had been previously granted. It 
 seems to me, therefore, fair to infer, that 
 the government did not intend to confer 
 peculiar or exclusive rights upoii the 
 patentees to the extent of the limits of 
 the patents, but only as far as they 
 should occupy and improve the country. 
 The government of Great Britain seem 
 to have made grants as lures, or induce- 
 ments to adventurers to settle the coun- 
 try; placing their ultimate dependence, 
 for their right of sovereignty and juris- 
 diction, on actual occupation and their 
 ability to maintain it. 
 
 Although such confusion in grants 
 was calculated to produce difficulty and 
 collision among the different patentees, 
 still those difficulties were of a municip- 
 al character, effecting only individuals 
 and their own government, and were the 
 subjects of compromise or decision in 
 their own tribunals. When the country 
 was peopled, the great end of the gov- 
 ernment was answered; and individual 
 disputes, growing out of the manner of it, 
 could not take from them the right of 
 sovereignty and jurisdiction, and confer 
 it upon any other nation. 
 
 Yours, CATO. 
 
I 
 
 I 
 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
 
 (NO. V.) 
 
 To the- Publisher of the Independent Courier. 
 
 May 7. 
 Sir, — Having traced the history of 
 New England and Nova Scotia or Aca- 
 die to ihe treaty ot" Breda, and a short 
 period subsequent to it, I shall devote 
 this letter to a statement of some of the 
 grants made before that time, and also 
 fovitinve the history to the charter of 
 William and Mary, in 1691, to the Prov- 
 ince of Massachusetts Bay, in Ne-w 
 England, and make some observation 
 on the charter, tending to shew the e.\ ■ ! 
 tent of country it was intended to em-t 
 brace. ^ n 
 
 In 1622, Gorges and Mason received 
 a grant of all the country between the 
 Menimac and Kennebec rivers, extend- 
 ing Irom the sea, back to the Lakes and 
 St. Lav.'rence, — which was called Laco- 
 nia. In 1627, the council at Plymouth, 
 sold to Sir Henry Roswell and others, 
 all of New England, lying between 
 three miles south of Charles river, and 
 three miles north of Menimac river, and 
 from the Atlantic, to the Pacific Oceans. 
 The council at Plymouth also granted to 
 a Bir. Bradford, for the settlers at New 
 Plymouth, in 1629, all the territory be- 
 tween the south line of the grant to Ros- 
 well and others, the sea, and Rhode Isl- 
 and and Providence Plantations. The 
 grant of the council at Plymouth of the 
 soil conferred no powers of government, I 
 and for that purpose a Poyal charter was 
 obtained March 4th, 1628, by Roswellt 
 and others and Matthew Craddock was 
 appointed governor. These grants cov- 
 ered all the sea coast from Rhode Island 
 to the mtuth of the Sagadahoc, as it was 
 then called. During this period, how- 
 ever, sundry grants were made within 
 the same territories, which it will be un- 
 necessary particularly to notice, for the 
 purposes of the present enquiry. Sev- 
 eral of the grants were to Mason and 
 Gorges, and Mason. 
 
 Many difficulties arose in managing 
 the afl'airs of New England, and to 
 a''oid, or remedy them, the council at 
 Plymouth, surrendered their charter to 
 the crown, and petitioned at the same 
 4ime, for a confirmation of all the propri- 
 etory grants they had made to individu- 
 als, and also for the establishment of a 
 general government for New England. 
 Before the surrender of the charter by 
 the council at Plymouth, Gorges had 
 iirrendered his gr ants to them , and in 
 1639, in lieu thereof, received a grant of 
 the territory between the Piscataqua or 
 Newichwannock, and the Sagadahock 
 pr Knybecky rivers, extending back 
 nto the country, in a north-westward di- 
 rection, one hundred and twenty miles 
 from the sea, by the nijhie and style of 
 the Province of Maine. At this time, it 
 was not supposed that the lakes and 
 great river of Canada were, in a right 
 e, at ST great a distance from the sea. 
 The government within the Province of 
 Maine being badly conducted, the in- 
 habitants combined for their own securi- 
 ty, and in 1652, put themselves under 
 the protection of the government of the 
 
 Gi.rges, (lie rjrandteon of the ovijTiaa! 
 propnelor, on tiie restoration of Charles 
 II. complained of Massachusetts, for an 
 usurpation of his rights, and in 1664, 
 commissioners were appointed by the 
 crov.n, and sent over to this country to 
 settle the dispute. In . 1667, Gorges 
 sold the whole territory for Z1260 ster- 
 ling, and received his money; and it was 
 ever afterwards, and until the late di- 
 vision, a part of Massachusetts. 
 
 In 1684, the lirst charter, conferrino- 
 powers of government to Massachusetts" 
 was vacated by a suit and decree in the 
 Court of Chancery. In 1689, the gov- 
 ernment of Massachusetts, probably with 
 the double object of chastising the 
 French and Indians for their incursions 
 and barbarities, and of recommending 
 themselves to the British government, 
 made some preparations for an expedi- 
 tion against Port Royal and Quebec. In 
 the summer of the same year. Sir "Wil- 
 liam Phips returned, and the command 
 of the expedition was conferred on him. 
 The next year, he captured Port Royal, 
 and, as he reported, took possession of 
 the whole sea coast, from Port Royal to 
 Penobscot, and the New England settle- 
 ments. 
 
 In tracing the history of Massachu- 
 setts, Maine and Nova Scotia, to this 
 period, I have omitted one grant of some 
 importaace to be stated before the char- 
 tei- of William and Mary. I allude to 
 the grant of Charles II. in 1763, to his 
 brother Jar-ies, then Duke of York, and | 
 his heirs and assigns. The description!'' 
 of territory in the grant, is as follows — '. 
 " All that ,jart of the main land of Newi ; 
 England, beginning at a certain place, fca 
 called orknown by the name of St. Croix, 
 next adjoining New Scotland, in Ameri- 
 ca; and from thence extending along 
 the sea coast, unto a certain place call- >:^ 
 ed Pemaquee or Pemaquid, and so up 'x^ 
 the river thereof to the furthest head of' 
 
 p North-ca: 
 t Sagadahoc 
 
 tward along 
 and lip //it 
 
 the sea coast to 
 rivrr thereof to i 
 
 ri 
 
 the same, as it tendeth northward; and j;| the territory originally 
 extending from thence to the river Kim- |J 
 bequin, and so upwards, by the shortest [V 
 course, to the river of Canada, north- 
 ward." 
 
 The river Kimbequin must be either 
 the present Kennebec or Androscoggin. 
 From an examination of the phraseolo- 
 gy of the grant, connected with the his- 
 tory of the country at that period, there 
 is good cause to suppose, that it meant 
 the Androscoggin. The part to which I 
 allude, does not say Pemaquid point, but 
 " a certain place called Pemaquid"; ev- 
 idently not meaning a single point, but 
 a considerable tract of territory. " And 
 so up the river thereof, as it tenoeth 
 northward." At this period none ot the 
 small rivers or streams in the neighbor- 
 hood of Pemaquid, had been so far ex- 
 plored and the account thereot publisii- 
 cd, or v.'ere thJy uf sufficient mag) itude 
 to become on object in the description in 
 the j^raiit, and further, the Sagadahoc 
 was a grtat river in that neighborhood, 
 and, probably intended by the river off 
 Pemaquid. 
 
 There can be no doubt, that it was 
 the intention of the crown, to convey all 
 the lands not before that time granted, 
 between the St. Croix, and the Province 
 of Blaine, granted to Gorges in 1639, 
 and the rivei and gulf of St. Lawrence. 
 By a recurrence to the grant to Gorges, 
 it will be found to be limited at the east- 
 
 Knybcchy rivej-, and through the samel 
 to the head thereof, and unto the land' 
 north-westward, until one hundred and 
 twenty miles be ended, being accounted 
 from the mouth of Sagadahoc." The 
 Kimbeqidn, in ihe Duke of York's grant, 
 and the Knybecky, in Gorges grant, are 
 probably the same rivers. The Kn}'- 
 becky seems from the phraseology " and 
 up the river thereof to Sagadahoc," to 
 be a branch of the Sagadahoc or a river 
 discharging itself into it. The Andros- 
 coggin is the only river that answers the 
 description or was of sufficient magnitude 
 to be noticed in such a grant. Upon the 
 succession of James, Duke of York, to 
 the throne of Great Britrin, the grant 
 aforesaid to him, merged in the crown. 
 I have thus, omitting many minor grants 
 within the same limits, many of which 
 seem not to have been regarded by the 
 grantees, or giantors, traced the grants, 
 such as they were, covering all the terri- 
 tory embraced within the charter of Wil- 
 liam and Mary, of Massachusetts bay, in 
 New England. 
 
 The charter of William and Mary, 
 dated Oct. 7th, 1691, erects, unites and 
 incorporates, "the territories and colo- 
 nies commonly called or known by the 
 ,,name of Massachusetts bay and colony of 
 ^cw Plymouth, the province of Maine, 
 
 the territory called Acadie or Nova Sco- 
 tia, and all that tract of laud lying be- 
 tween the said territories of Nova S cotia 
 and the said province of Maine, into one 
 real province, by the name of the prov- 
 ince of Massachusetts bay, in New Eng- 
 land." After a description of the terri- 
 tories of Massachusetts bay and New 
 Plymouth, according to the grants to 
 Roswell and others, and to Badford, fol- 
 lows a description of the province of 
 Maine; probably intending to describe 
 granted to Gor- 
 ges, by the same name. " All that parti 
 or portion of main land, beginning at the I 
 entrance into Piscataqua harbor, and sol 
 to pass up through the same into the riv- 
 er Newichwannock, and through the I 
 same into the furthest head thereof, andl 
 from thence north-westward, till one hun-l 
 dred and twenty miles be finished; andl 
 from Piscataqua harbor mouth aforesaid,! 
 north-eastward, along the sea coast to I 
 Sagadahoc, and from the period of one! 
 hundred and'twenty miles aforesaid, to 
 cross over land, to the one hundred and 
 twenty miles, before reckoned, up into 
 the land from Piscataqua harbor, through I 
 the Newichwannock river." In this de- 1 
 scription, there is evidently an omission! 
 after the word Sagadahoc, for there is I 
 nothing for the word aforesaid, following | 
 one hundred and twenty miles, to refer | 
 to. The omission in this part of the de- 
 I scription, no doubt, is the following, con^ 
 f taineu in the grant to Gorges; " to Sag- 
 i adahoc and up the river thereof to Kny-I 
 becky river and through the same to the I 
 I head thereof, and into the land north- 
 ^ westward, until one hundred and twenty I 
 T miles be ended, being accounted from' 
 :he mouth of Sagadahoc." 
 
Ithough there is this difference in the 
 descriptions in the charter of ^\illiam 
 and Mary and iu the grant to Gorges, 
 they do not necessarily define different 
 territories. The use of the terms, prov- 
 ince of Maine, and said province of 
 Maine, necessarily implies a territory of 
 certain delinite limits, which was well 
 known to have existence before that 
 lime. It is not mentioned as a new, but 
 recognised as an old territory. Then it 
 cannot be supposed that it was the in- 
 tention to limit the province of Blaine to 
 a mere point at the eastward, leaving a 
 large extent of territory approaching the 
 sea at a single point, and widening, as it 
 was distant from it. " And from the pe- 
 riod of one hundred and twenty miles 
 aforesaid," must mean something more 
 than a mere point; it clearly, from the 
 words which follow, was designed to es-j. 
 tablish a corner from which the line " to 
 crossover land, to tbs one hundred and 
 twenty miles, before reckoned, up into 
 the land from Piscataqua harbor," was 
 to commence; and that the point was 
 one hundred and twenty miles from the >■ 
 mouth of the Sagadahoc. The eastern 
 frontier must then be one hundred and 
 twenty miles in extent, — measuring from 
 the mouth of Sagadahoc, back into the 
 land. 
 
 The course of the line to the north- 
 ern or nortli-western corner is not given ; 
 but that seems capable of an easy and 
 natural solution. The courses of all 
 the lines seem to have been suggested 
 by the general course of the coast and^ 
 the rivers; and it further seems to have|: 
 been dcsigiied to describe a territory, p 
 the opposite lines of which should be '' 
 generally parallel: hence from the head p 
 o; the jN'ewichwannock, the line is north- vj 
 westward; and the line, forming the in- 
 land boundary, starts at a point, one hun- 
 dred and twenty miles from the sea, and 
 ends at the terminatior of another line 
 at the distance of one hund»ed and twen- 
 ty miles also from the sea, and must 
 therefore be parallel to the general line 
 of the coast. It must theretbre neces- 
 sarily follow that the course of the east- 
 ern line is north-westward; which will 
 be the same line that is described in the 
 grant to Gorges. This construction is 
 further supported by the use of the 
 words, province of Maine; designating 
 a territory as constituting an integral 
 part of the new government, as much so 
 ' as the colonies of Massachusetts bay and 
 New Plymouth, or JSova Scotia. And 
 also by other parts of the same charter; 
 " and all those lands and hereditaments: 
 lying and extending between the country 
 or territory of Nova Scotia, and the riv- 
 er of Sagadahoc, or any pQ,rt thereof.'''' 
 If the description had terminated with 
 the word Sagadahoc, then it might have 
 been sau' that the main river, and that 
 alone, constituted the boundary: but the 
 words following, or any part thereof, were 
 undoubtedly designed to extend the 
 boundary to all the waters flowing into 
 the main river, as each tributary stream 
 constitutes a part of it. It seems, fur- 
 ther, (roln all the descriptions of lines 
 connected with rivers in the eastern pait 
 of the nev," government, to have been 
 designed to embrace them from their 
 mouths to their extremest sources, and 
 even to extend the lines further inland. 
 
 ¥{ 
 
 te' 
 
 m 
 
 IS before sialcd, there is no nver" 
 fhich answers the description of Kny- 
 
 feecky river, in the grant to Gorges, ex- 
 |ept the Androscoggin; and that river, 
 leretore, must have constituted the 
 sastern boundary of the province of 
 "laine. The same province, according j,, 
 
 Ito those limits, being intended, as far as j' "; 
 
 lean be infered from the charter itself; I ;. 
 
 laud the river, being a branch of the Sag- , 
 
 |adahoc; and the general course of it be- *£ 
 ing north-westerly, it must be considered 
 as the eastern boundary of the province 
 of Maine, described in the charter; at 
 least, for the distance of one hundred 
 and twenty miles from the sea. 
 
 After the description of the province 
 of Maine, in the charter, follows — " and 
 also the lands and hereditaments lying 
 and being in the country or territory 
 ;;« commonly called A cadie or Nova Scotia, 
 and all those lands and hereditaments 
 lying and extending between the said 
 country of Nova Scotia and the river ot 
 Sagadahoc or any part thereof." This } 
 territory is undetined in the charter, ex- j 
 cept so far as its limits are to be collect- ■ 
 ed from the names used. Acadie is the 
 name given by the French to the coun- 
 try, and they had claimed and exercised 
 jurisdiction, for many years, over the 
 whole extent of it, from the river and 
 gulf of St. Lawrence thence on the sea 
 coast to Pemaquid or Sagadahoc, except 
 when intercepted for short periods by the 
 military and naval forces of Great Brit- 
 ain and her provinces. We have already 
 seen this country twice restored by trea- 
 ties; once by the treaty of St. Germain, 
 and again by the treaty of Breda. 
 
 Nova Scotia is the name given tp the 
 eastern part ot the country, iu the grant 
 to Sir William Alexander; but the Brit- 
 ish had never, before this time, had any 
 thing more than a temporary or military 
 possession of it, of which they were dis- 
 possessed by the French, or yielded by 
 the treaties which terminated their wars. 
 The western boundary of the territory, :• 
 therelbre, being indefinite, and intend- 
 ing, no doubt, unde* the description, to 
 annex the whole territory bounded by 
 the province of Maine, the sea, the gulf 
 and river St. Lawrence and line drawn 
 from thence to the northern extremity of 
 the province of Maine, to the new gov- 
 ernment of Massachusetts; and lest un- 
 der the general descriptive names of 
 Acadie or Nova Scotia, the whole terri- 
 tory should not be embraced, a Juither 
 and more general clause is introduced; 
 "and all those lands and hereditaments 
 lying and extending between the said 
 country of Nova Scotia and the river oi 
 Sagadahoc, or any part thereof." This 
 construction, as to the extent to which [ 
 jurisdiction was intended to be given, de- | 
 rives some force from another clause in 
 the charter: the main design of which 
 is a limitation or lestrictioK on the power 
 of making grants — " and it is our will 
 and pleasure, that no grant or grants of 
 lands lying or extending from the river 
 of Sagadahoc to the gulf of St. Law- 
 rence and Canada rivers, and to the 
 main sea northward and eastward, to be 
 made or passed by the governor or gen- 
 eral assembly of our said province, be 
 of any force or effect, until we, our heirs 
 or successors, shall have signified our or 
 their annrobation of the same." 
 
 P 
 
 When the state of the country at this|5 
 period, is considered, populated as it 
 was, with only a few inhabitants, settled 
 at favorable points on the the sea-board, 
 or on some of the large rivers, and the 
 residue a mere wilderness, scarcely e.K- 
 plored by civilized man, and that the 
 British were constantly endeavoring to 
 extend their jurisdiction, and to exclude 
 the French, both by their grants, and 
 their arms, it is reasonable to suppose 
 that it was their intention, in incorpo- 
 rating the one real province of Massa- 
 chusetts bay, in New-England, to ex- 
 tend it so far as to embrace all the coun- 
 try and the rivers from their mouths to 
 their sources, between the Piscataqua 
 river, and the river and gulf of St. Law- 
 rence. 
 
 There were no circumstances existing 
 at the time of the charter, which can 
 render a strict construction of the 
 boundary necessary, but so far from it 
 they seem to require the application of 
 liberal principles as they tend equally to 
 promote the views and the interests of 
 all parties concerned. 
 
 I will now, sir, give a short and 
 connected description of the eastern part 
 of the Province of Massachusetts bay, 
 in New-England, by uniting the Prov- 
 ince of Maine, Acadie or Nova Scotia, 
 and the intervening country, according 
 to the charter of William and Blary, in 
 one general territory, according to the^ 
 principles of construction, which I have 
 adopted. — Beginning at the mouth of 
 Piscataqua harbor, thence up the same, 
 and Piscataqua river (Newichwanock) 
 to the head thereof — thejice nonh-west- 
 jward, until one hundred and twenty 
 miles from Piscataqua harbor be finish- 
 ed; and let it be remarked that the only 
 sensible meaning of north-westward is 
 north-west; for if that point is departed 
 from, there is as much reason in say- 
 ing it means north 88 degrees west, as 
 there is in saying, it means north 2 de- 
 grees west, or any other number of de- 
 grees. Thence from the termination ol 
 the line running from the head of Pis- 
 cataqua river, as aforesaid, to the head 
 of Adroscoggin river, thence to the riv- 
 er St. Lawrence at a point above the Isl- 
 and of Orleans — thence by the river 
 and gulf of St. Lawrence — and the 
 sea, round to Piscataqua harbor, afore- i 
 said, with all the Islands on the sea coast 
 except a part of the Isle of Shoals. 
 
 Upon examination it will be found, 
 that the territory of the state of Maine is 
 embraced within the territory above de-. 
 scribed and limited only by the princi- 
 ples and description contained in thetrea- 
 
 I ty of 178.3. I am aware^, that I have 
 ' trespassed on the limits which I had 
 j prescribed to myself, but have done it 
 with a view of closing the historical part 
 of the discussion as soon as possible, 
 I which I hope to finish in two more let- 
 Iters. Yours, CATO. 
 
 I ..._ . ^.M.fii^A«dM - 
 
m 
 
 ^ TO CATO. 
 
 May 15, 1827. 
 Sir, — In youra of the 7th inst. de- 
 scribing the province of MassacTiusetts 
 bay, in New England, under the charter 
 of Williano and Mary, it appears that 
 the province of Maine extended over a 
 large portion of territory now claimed 
 by New Hampshire. Your ultimate ob- 
 ject appearing to be a consideration of 
 the facts as they have relation to the 
 north-eastern boundary of the state of 
 Maine, it is presumed your attention will 
 not be diverted from that object, for the 
 purpose of considering the facts particu- 
 larly, which have relation to the bounda- 
 ry line between the states of Mains and 
 New Hampshire ; — I shall therelbre take 
 the liberty of addressing to you, for 
 your consideration, a tew remarks on 
 that subject. 
 
 The council at Plymouth, in 1621, 
 (granted to Mason all the land from the 
 ftiver Naumkeag round Cape Ann to 
 Merrimao river, which district was call- 
 ed Manana; and in lei-J made another 
 grant to Gorges, and Mason of all the 
 country between Merrimac and Sagada- 
 hoc rivers, which district was called La- 
 couia. Nov. 7, 1629, Mason procured 
 another grant of a part of the same ter- 
 ritory which had been granted to Gorges 
 [and Mason, for what purpose does not 
 appear; but it must be considered ihat 
 his prior rights, by his acceptance oi the 
 jnew grant, were merged in it. There 
 '.seems to have been an acquiescence on 
 'the part of Gorges, and afterwards by 
 '.his surrender of his grant to uie council 
 at Plymouth and by his acceptance,oi' a 
 grant from the crown in 16.39, of the 
 district of Blaine, bounded by the line 
 of the last grant to Mason, a total relin- 
 quishment of his title. The last graa 
 to Mason was of a tract of territory call 
 ed New Hampshire, " bounded from the 
 middle of Piscataqua river and up the \^t^A: 
 same to the I'arthest head thereof, and 'JmI 
 from thence north-westward until sixty 
 miles from the mouth of the harbor were 
 finished, &.c." This boundary line cor- 
 responds precisely in its course from the 
 mouth oi' Piscataqua harbor to its ter- 
 mination with the boundaiy line in the 
 grant of the province of Maine to Gor- 
 ges: The only ditierence is the length 
 of line; the line of the province of 
 Maine on that course being one hundred 
 and twenty miles 
 
 It has been supposed that Mason pro- 
 cured a confirmation of his title, with 
 powers of government from the crown, 
 after the council at Plymouth surrender- 
 ed their charter, in 1635, but the evi- 
 dence of the fact is incomplete. It is 
 however certain that the fee was con- 
 firmed to his grandson. May 17, 1675. 
 New Hampshire was made a Royal prov- 
 ince in 1667, and separated from the ju- 
 risdiction of Massachusetts; and in 1669 
 a commission passed the great seal, Sept. 
 18th, for the government of New Hamp- 
 shire over a territory extending from 
 three miles north of Merrimac river, &c. 
 to the province of Maine. The eastern 
 boundary of New Hampshire theretore 
 remained unaltered as the line establish- 
 ed in the previous grant to Gorges in 
 1 639 of the province of Maine is recog- 
 
 You seein to have considered the i 
 course from the Head of Piscataqua alias ] 
 Newichwannock alias Salmon Falls riv- 
 er, indicated by the wcjrd uorih-^L'esiicard, 
 to be north-west. Upon reflection and 
 examination that must be the true con- 
 structiop, or the course must be wholly 
 conjectural and uncertain. Kings how- 
 ever, in ibose days, were in the habit ot 
 exercising their power, for some cause 
 or other, in an arbitrary manner. You 
 have, by the way of noticing the inter- 
 ference of the differfent grants of the 
 crown with each other, already noticed 
 the grant to the council at Plymouth 
 from the fortieth to the furty-eighth de- 
 gree of north latitude, and the grant to 
 Sir William Alexander. The latter of 
 which being a direct infringement on the 
 rights conferred by the iirst. Permit 
 me to call your attention to other grants 
 of the crown producing similar results. 
 
 The second charter to Virginia, dated 
 twenty-second of May, 1609, embraced 
 all the territory extending 200 milet north 
 and 200 miles south of Point Comfort, 
 and " up into the land throughout from 
 sea to sea, west and north-west, &c." 
 The grant to the council at Plymouth 
 was an infringement on this grant, so 
 were also the grants to Lord Baltimore 
 of Maryland, the grant to Connecticut, 
 and the grant to William Penn, and 
 ma.ny of the last mentioned grants inter- 
 fered with each other, — which time will 
 not permit me particularly to notice, but 
 which can be easily seen by a recurrence 
 to the grants and the maps of the coun- 
 try. There were also similar infringe- 
 ments in other grants, in the charter to 
 North Carolina and also in the charter , 
 to Georgia. 
 
 If only a few instances had occurred, 
 and they had not been important, theYJj-; 
 might have been excused on the groun.'i t 
 that they arose from the imperfect knowl- 
 edge which the crown possessed of the" 
 geography of the country at the time; 
 but when it is considered that it must 
 have appeared from the grants them- 
 selves, more especially when they em- 
 brace territories within the same lati- 
 tude, and the same boundaries, the ex- 
 cuse altogether fails, and such a course 
 must be accounted for on different prin- 
 ciples. You seem to consider the grant- 
 ing power exercised by the crown, ex- 
 ercised for the purpose of inducing ad- 
 venturers to come and settle the coun- 
 try, and not as conferring exclusive pow- 
 ers and privileges beyond actual occupa- 
 tion. I am inclined to the same opinion; 
 because first, the crown never treated 
 such grants as having a permanent char- 
 acter, but revoked, altered or modified 
 them at its pleasure. And second, be- 
 cause the French had acquired a per- 
 manent foot hold by having preceded 
 them in making a permanent settlement, 
 and they saw if they could not induce 
 their own subjects to come and settle 
 the country, the whole country must be- 
 come a province of France; hence it 
 became an object with them to limit the 
 power of the French in the new world; 
 and they resorted to every inducement 
 and measure of policy to establish a 
 power and force sufficient to dispossess 
 the French. Although the crown treat- 
 ed t'leir grants to their own subjects as 
 1 nullities, still they had their effect in 
 
 iTUe French had no concern with the 
 municipal concerns of the British, they 
 were the subject of adjustment aniong 
 [themselves when they pleased to adjust 
 ,l,em: it was sufficient for the nation 
 *hat they accomplished the national ob- 
 
 ■''''I'have been digressing, sir, from my 
 main object, to which I will return. 
 1 The crown, it is said, (frem such an ai- 
 'bitra.- exercise of power as I have de- 
 .-inbed) in 1740, determined that the 
 \ "dividing line betweenjhe provinces ot 
 Maine and New Hampshire was to run 
 ' north two degrees west." I say such an 
 arbitrary exercise of power because 
 long before this time the fee had been 
 vested by grant in Gorges and by a reg- 
 ular title in Massachusetts bay, and had j 
 been recognised and confirmed by the 
 crown with powers of government. 
 
 In 1741, New Hampshire began to 
 survey the line from the head of Piscat- 
 aqua river, and the surveyor was direct- 
 ed to allow ten degrees for the westerly 
 variation of the needle. It has been 
 supposed, the westerly variation did not, 
 at that time and place, exceed eight de- 
 grees, and at any rate was less than ten 
 The line was not finished, and in 1768 
 the survey was renewed, and run with 
 the same 'allowance for variation; and 
 in 1789 the survey, continuing the same 
 course by compass, was completed. 
 During the whole period, however, from 
 1741 to 1789, the westerly variation of 
 the needle had been constantly decreas- 
 ing; which in each renewed or continu- 
 ed survev, inclined or curved the line 
 more and more to the right or east, and 
 of course on to the province of Maine. 
 
 I am aware Dr. Belknap, in his history ■ 
 of New Hampshire, from the same prem- | 
 ises, has come to an opposite conclusion. ' 
 He supposes ten degrees were too great 
 an allowance for the westerly variation 
 of the needle— and that by allowmg too 
 much, and the variation being westerly, 
 the line was run too much on to ^ew 
 Hampshire; but had the variation been 
 easterly the conclusion would have been 
 correct. To run a line north two de- 
 grees west, allowing ten degrees for the 
 westerly variation, the course by the 
 noecile is north eight degrees east. And 
 to run the same line, allowing eight de- 
 o-rees for the westerly variation, the 
 course by the needle is north eight de- 
 giees east. The course run is said to 
 be north eight degrees east by the nee- 
 'dle, and that the westerly variation was 
 constantly decreasing; we will suppose 
 between the first and second survey the 
 variation had decreased half a degree, 
 and that the decrease was the same be- 
 tween the second and third surveys; 
 then to have run a right line, the farst 
 course being north eight degrees eas 
 I by the needle, the second surveyor ought 
 to have run north seven and a half de- 
 crees cast, and the third surveyor, north 
 seven degrees east; but not doing that, 
 the line has a curvature or inchnatioa to 
 the right or east. The case is so plain 
 and obvious to my mind that I should 
 have deemed the foregoing remarks en- 
 tirely useless had not Dr. Belknap com- 
 mitted the error— and that what he has 
 «aid, being in general very correct, may 
 be taken as an authority by many. 
 
rHOJI THE INDEPENDENT (EllsWOltk) COUEIEK. 
 
 NORT'l EASTERN BOUNDARY. 
 
 Third Letter. 
 Sir.— Ill my lust, liavin? oivena brief accoun; 
 of the first permanent settlement in Aiiieviea 
 north of Florida, made under a grant of Henry 
 ,.iV. Ivins of France in 1603; it will be the ob- 
 ject ot this, to -five a brief history of succeeding 
 permanent settlements, made under the authovi" 
 ty of the Biilislrand French Governments. 
 
 As America was more and more e.\|j|ored, its 
 importance bernme more apparent lo the nations 
 of prope. James I. of England impressed 
 with the value, extent, and importance of \nier- 
 ica to his nation, and considering -l impolitic to 
 ■grant the whole to one company or set of propri- 
 l.etors, however respectable ; he .jivided all that 
 fSrtion of America which is contained between 
 the thirty-fourth and forty fifth degrees of north 
 latitude, ^nlo two parts, which he named North' 
 %nd South Virginia. April 10, 1608, he granted ' 
 South Virginia to sundry gentlemen and mer f 
 Hchiiiits, chiefly of London. North Virginia, since A 
 called New England, he granted to sundry*'' 
 (knighfs, gentlemen and merchants of Bristol 
 
 I Exeter, Plymouth, and other parts in the west ot 
 England, 
 Those who were interested in the northern 
 grant (New-England) being diss.aiislied, petition 
 ed to the King for aa enlargement of it. In 1620, 
 the King constituted a council of forty noblemen^ 
 kniglils and gentlemen, by the name and style' 
 I of " The Council established at Plymouth, in the' 
 county of Devon, for the planting, ruling and 
 Igoverning New-England in America." He ex- 
 j tended their territory from the fortieth So the! 
 Iforty-eighlh degree of north latitude. This patent | 
 covers all lerrtory embraced in all the grants 
 which were afterwards made in the country I 
 called New-England 
 
 ^ in 1607, Sir Cliristopher Newport sailed forji 
 South Virginia, and commenced a settlement at 
 Jamestown under the grant to the knights and 
 gentlemen oi London/&c, This settlement be- 
 came permanent and was the second one DQadel| 
 
 jby an European nation north of Elorida. The|| 
 ■ ils.imc vrar a permanent setllement was attenTpt-| 
 
 ed under Capt. Popham in North Viminia, at the j 
 month of Kennebec River. Forty five persons! 
 
 were loft !o winter ihere, but Pnpham the com- 
 jinander, and some others died in the course ofll 
 
 the winter, and from this and other causes, the |[ 
 
 settlement was about dead in the following sea- 
 
 Tal.')34, Cortier, in the service of the King of] 
 France, discovered the mouth of the" St, Law- 
 rence and ascended it until he could see ISnd on 
 both sides. The next year he returned with 
 laiger vessels, and better provided -and with[. 
 ihem ascended the river as far as the island of i,: 
 Orleans, where finding a convenient harbour,! 
 which he named St. Croix, ho moored his ves-l 
 iiels. and erei'ted some works for the^r defence. 
 With his boats and a part of his crew, he as- J 
 cended the rivorto alar£e Indian Village called; 
 by the natives Hochelega, after examining it and 
 .ascending a hill Montreal which name it now 
 jretains. He returned to his vessels, and winter- 
 d - in the harbour of St. Croix, and in the 
 sprins returned to France. 
 
 In 1607, the French having determined to 
 make a permanent settlement on the St. Law- 
 rence, sent Cortier with several ships and men, 
 and the necessary articles for sustenance, pro- 
 tection and prosperity of the settlement. He 
 ascended the river a few leagues above the har-i 
 bor ot St Croixjinoored a part of his vessels and 
 built a fort, and sent the residue of his vessels to 
 France He wintered there, but in the spring, 
 quit the place and returned to France, Rober-' 
 val, one of the principals in the enterprise of 
 making the settlement, came with three ships 
 and two hundred men, during the summer, and 
 j took possession of the Fort which Cortier had 
 left in the sluing, and wintered in it, but in the 
 Isprins foMowinc, abandoned the seulement. | 
 
 _'here was nn oiher attempt made to effect a| 
 permanent settlement nn ihe St. Lawrence until, 
 U'07, when preparatory to such an event, Capt. 
 Champlain, under the orders of De Monies, 
 sailed up the riier, until he carpe to a narrow 
 place or strait above the Island ot Orleans, which 
 he called Quebec, and there marked a place for 
 a town. The next year in July, he returned and 
 commenced a settlement; (;leared away liio 
 woods, preparatory to the building of houses 
 and cultivating the soil. This was the second 
 permanent settlement made by the French, and 
 Ilio third made und^r patents or the patronage 
 of any European Governments, in Amcr.ca, 
 north of Florida. 
 
 John Guy, wilh forty nietij bi?g;iin a colony on 
 the Island of Newfoundland in 1610 ; it was re- 
 cruited in 1613, but fur many years continued in 
 lalangnishingan^ doubtful slate, but was ii.jt 
 given up. i'liis was the second permanent set- 
 tleminit of the English, and the fourth permanent 
 one in America, north of Florida, 
 
 Although the grants madfe by the French and 
 British Guvornrnents embraced a considerable 
 portion of the same territory, and settlements 
 were made under the grants of each, still for 
 many years, there seems to have been a mutual 
 acquiescence in the claims and possessions of 
 e:ich — so far as can be inferred from their mutu- 
 al tarbearance. The first hostile act was coin- 
 tnitted by Sir Samuel Argall, who was sent by 
 the colony of South Virginia, under the pretence 
 that the French were encroaching upon their ter- 
 ritories, to dislodge thein. At Mount Desert he | 
 found two Flench priests (.lesuits) by the names , 
 of Bicard and Masse, who having had a disagree- 'i 
 raent, with Bienconrt, who was in command at'' 
 Port Royal, had seceded and established them- , 
 selves in that place some years before, and made 
 a firm, planted gardens and w.to pursuing heir i 
 avocijtions. A ship and a bark were lying in , 
 the harbor, but reposing in conscious security,! 
 they were not prepared to resist the attack, and ' 
 became an easy prey. One of the French priests 
 was killed in Ilie act of leveling one of the ship's 
 guns. Argall landed, and summnned the fort;' 
 time for a reply was requested and lefusod. The 
 French abandoned the f ot through a private 
 passage, and escaped to the woods; but the next 
 day returned and surrendered themselves. 
 
 Sir Samuel Argall then sailed f"r Port Royal, 
 and captured the fort, which he destroyed, but 
 spared the buildings of the inhfibitants. In tijo 
 coarse of the vnyage, he touched at the Island ofj 
 St. Croix, and destroyed the buildings and works 
 erected by De Mimtesin 1604, and which had 
 remained until that time. Siome of the Frcnc h 
 went to Canada, c he carried sonie prisoners to 
 Virginia. In 1614, the season fiillowing the de- 
 ,slruction made by Argall, Poutrincourt returned 
 j fiom France to Port Royal, i^nd found therein-' 
 n:int of the colony still reiilaining. This act 
 appears to have originated entirely in South 
 1 \'irginia- and was not authorized by the British 
 ';o\ernmeiit nor does it appear to have been 
 j risentcd liy the French Government. The act 
 was not followed "ip, and led to no resiillj but it 
 iiiig t possibly have suggested the idea of a 
 soocific grant, as one was made of a country na- 
 ioed in tbe grant. Nova Scotia, containing a part, 
 ol'Acadie, by James I. in 1021, to Sir William 
 Alexander. Yours. CATO. 
 
FROM THE INDEPENDENT (EUswOrth) COUPIER.,' 
 
 NORTH EASTERN BOUNDARY. i 
 
 Fourth Letter. i 
 
 Sir,— In November, 1C90, a permanent settle-! 
 raeiit was effected at Plymoutl), by individuals,;; 
 :wlio foi consfience sake, had seceded from the!; 
 ; Church of England, retired to Holland, from! 
 whence they removed and sought an asylum in I 
 llie wilds of New Enghmd. they did not come ' 
 out or settle underthe authority of the patentee: 
 oriovernmen: of jreat Britain, although they 
 had endeavoured to obtain a patent, first of the 
 |Xir?inia company, and secondly of the New 
 I England company. Tliey were subsequently 
 j adopted and their rights reco.^nised as a colony. 
 j In 1621, a fact alluded to in a former letter, 
 IJames I. of Great Britain, granted to Sir William ...v, 
 j Alexander, a tract of country, wh^ch he called « 
 I Nova Scotia, within the following boundaries, tof'i 
 vyit : " All and singular, the lands of the Con-ji? 
 I linent, and the Islands in America within CapeG 
 Sable, lying in 43 deg, north lat. or there abouts,!* 
 thence along the coast of St. Mary's bay, andl| 
 thence passing Northward by a right line across* 
 the gulph or bay called Fundy to the St. Croix"" 
 and the remotest western spring head of the 
 same, whence by an imaginary line conceived to 
 run through the land Northward, to the next 
 road of ships river discharging itself into the 
 great river of Canada, and proceeding thence 
 Lastward along the shores ofthe sea of the said 
 river of Canada, to the road, haven, or shore! 
 commonly called Gospick, and thence South- 1 
 eastward [versus euronotum] to the Islands call-| 
 ed Baccalaos or Cape Breton, leaving the saidi 
 Islands on the right, and the gulf of the saidj' 
 great river of Canada, and the lands of New-' 
 loundland with the Islands to those lands per- 
 taining on the left ; thence, &c. to the place of! 
 beginning." Although Sir William Alexander' 
 ntted out an expedition for the purpose, 't does 
 not appear that he ever took possession of, or 
 made ally permanent settlement in the country; 
 but after proceeding as far as Newfoundland, a- 
 bandoned his design and returned. 
 
 A British fleet in 1628 captured Pott Royal, 
 and in J629 captured Quebec. By the treaty of 
 St. Germain, in 1632, both Acadie and Canada 
 were restored to the French. In 1627 the King 
 of France granted to La Tour the lands in Aca- 
 die on the river St. John, extending five leagues 
 on each side of it, and ten leagues up the river. 
 The same year the people of Plymouth began 
 trade with the Indians at Penobscot, and set up a 
 trading house. In 1630 'ir William Alexander 
 sold all his title to Nova Scotia to La Tour. In 
 1G32, La Tour obtained a second grant from the 
 King of Fran ce, of the Bay and River St. Croix, 
 with the main land extending twelve leagues on 
 the sea coast. and twenty leagues into the main 
 land, with all the adjacent Islands. The same 
 year the French robbed the Endish trading house 
 at Penobscot. In 1634, La Tour obtained sever- 
 al other grants ofthe King of France, to wit : || 
 the Isle of Sabhes, one at La Heve of 10 leagues ' 
 on the sea coast and 10 leagues into the main 
 .and ; another it Menis, and another at Port Roy . 
 al,p.ach of the same extent of sea coast and main 
 land, with all the adjacent Islands. 
 
 Razilly was at this time commander in chief ,. 
 of the French,' aid appointed D'Aulney his^ 
 Lieutenant for Acadie, west ofthe St Croix, and 
 La Tour, foi Acadie, east of the same river.— 
 O Aulney, in 16.35, by virtue of his commission, 
 took forcible possession of Penobscot and drove 
 the- English away. The government at Ply- 
 mouth made an unsuccessful attempt to dislodge 
 the French. Razilly did not survive long, and 
 soon after his death, a content foi* power "arose 
 between D'Aulney and La Tour, i»otii claiming 
 the chief command. D'Aulney resided at Pe- 
 nobscot, and La Tour at St. John. They made 
 war upon each other. In 1638 the King of 
 France ordered D'Aulney to confine himself to 
 the coast Eli^mechius, which was a part of Aca- 
 die. During the warfare between D'Aulney and 
 La Tour, both in their turns applied to the gov- 
 ernment of Mas.sachusetts for assistance. No 
 direct assLstance was afforded, but individuals 
 mitted to as ' 
 
 In lh44 the governor of Massachusetts made 
 a^i a.greemem of Amity and 'Commerce with 
 i;,: ,, *"> ^P°«"»'ss'oner, which was subse- 
 quently ratified by both parties. The French 
 not onlv^laimed but exercised jurisdiction as far 
 westas Pemaquid. The French continued an 
 w^ ; 1 r*? f P°«^=<=5sion until 16.54, when a fleet 
 which had been sent by Oliver Cromwell, for 
 the propose of aiding in reducing the Dutch in 
 Nevv -^ork, but on account nf a long passage did 
 
 m1 T.r !" '^°''"" ""'" ^"^ 'he nevvs of paace, 
 turned their arms against the French in Acadie, 
 and captured Port Royal, St. John. Penobscot 
 and some other places, though no open war exist- 
 ed between the French and'English at the time. 
 tre-„v f English and French concluded a 
 
 reaty of commerce; but the English interpos- 
 ng d claim to Acadie, the subject was referred 
 .commissioners: The countrv, in the mean 
 667 r",?"*"^ '" P°^««S-'^ioBof the English. In 
 ce^elt^'^''"'^"^,"'^'^''"''^' Acadie was retro-' 
 ceded to France. In 1680, or previous to that 
 time, Penob.scot and St. John were captured by 
 or^leff'^'^V^""^ o„t at Boston; but were, fay 
 French ■"'■" "'"'"' '"^'"""^ '° *>>« 
 
 I have, sir, omitted some grants made by the 
 Tn 7 ^r'""?'?'' '^^'"^ I^hall state hereafter; 
 
 itlT /lie European nations had, for more 
 t ana century before the principal grants of both 
 he French and English, been acquainted with 
 the eastern coast of America. Their adven- 
 turers, navigators and fishermen had examined 
 ilV^ '^'''M "i,","'' published their dikWeries 
 to the world. We cannot suppose, that either 
 the French, or British governments were ignorant 
 ofthe latitude of the rivers, and all the promi- 
 nent points on the coast. Still wo see them 
 granting and legranting the same territory to dif- 
 ferent proprietors. We have seen that in 1606 
 James I. granted all the continent from 34 to 45 
 degrees of north lat. ; and in 1620 we have seen 
 the grant extended to 48 degrees of norft lat In 
 I vve have also seen that .lames t. granted a 
 of the same territory to Sir William Ale.x- 
 ..^. anrter, who had no connexion with the former 
 ■t patentees. With such a knowledge as the gov- 
 ernment must have had of the coast, and with 
 sucli descriptions as were contained \i, their for- 
 mer grants, they can not be supposed to have 
 been Ignorant of the fact, that when the grant 
 wasmadeinl621, the same country had 'been 
 previously granted. It seems to me, therefore, 
 fairto infer, that the government did not intend 
 to confer peculiar or exclusive rights upon the 
 patentees to the extent of (he limits of the pa 
 tents, but only as far as they should occupy and 
 improve the country. The government of Great 
 , Britain seem to have made grants as lures, or in- 
 ducements to adventurers to settle the .country ■ 
 placing their ultimate dependence, for their ri4t 
 1ofsoverei,£;nty and jurisdiction, on actual oocupa- 
 ijtion and their ability to maintain it. 
 I Although such confusion in grants was calcula- 
 I ted to produce difficulty and collision among the 
 'different patentees, still those difficulties were of 
 la municipal character, effecting only individuals 
 land their own government, and were the subjects 
 of compramise or decision in their own tribunals 
 ! When the country was peopled, the sreat end of 
 llhe government was answa-ed ; and individual 
 disputes, growing out of the manner of it, could 
 not take from them the right of sovereignty and 
 junsdiction, and confer it upon any other nation' 
 1 ^o"'^=. CATC. 
 
New Bnu!ts-\vrcK. — J'lie Council and House 
 o*" Assembly of tlie pi-ovince of New Bruns- 
 wick, have agreed to a joint address to the kinjj, 
 complaining' bitterly of the attempts made by 
 the governments cf Massachusetts and Maine, to 
 disturb the possession of his majesty, and the 
 jurisdiction of the province in the tract of 
 country on the St. John, and Madawaska riv- 
 ers. 
 
 The address represents that the inhabitants 
 of the tract of territory in question are mostly 
 j'rench Acadians and their descendants, the 
 first of whom removed there from the lower 
 parts of the country soon after the treaty of 
 1733, in the full faith that they were planting' 
 j themselves on British territory ; that militia 
 companies were organized there under the Gov- 
 || crnment of the Province, in 1786 ; that the 
 || process of the Courts of the Province has uni- 
 I formly run there ; that the inhabitants have 
 i; voted in the elections of the province ; and 
 !| that the jurisdiction of the Province has been 
 • in all respects exercised over the territory with- 
 r out any disturbance, up to the period of the 
 treaty of Ghent in 1814, and till the encroach- 
 ments by agent's of Maine and Massachusetts, 
 i afterwards specified, in 1820, 1821, and 1825. 
 This tract of territory is included in the claim 
 made by both governments before the Com- 
 mission appointed under the Ghent Treaty to 
 determine the boundary ; and the address rep- 
 resents that if the British claim is confirmed 
 the territory in question tloes not de jure from 
 a part of Maine, and de facto it is not and nev- 
 er has been in the possession or under the ju- 
 risdiction of Maine or Massachusetts. 
 
 The Legislature in their address maintain, 
 that the possession and actual exercise of ju- 
 risdiction, which existed at the time of making 
 the treaty of Ghent, the instrument which pro- 
 vides for a decision of any conflicting claiais 
 between the two nations m that quarter, should 
 have remained sacred and inviolate until the 
 decision was made. They say that the govern- 
 ment of the province has done no more than 
 to exercise the ordinary powers of sovereign- 
 ty and jurisdiction, to which it succeeded on 
 tiie first erection of the province in 1784 In 
 the exercise of these powers, the licenses to 
 cut pine timber so much complained of by 
 Maine and Massachusetts, had b«en granted ; 
 but on complaint being made of the granting 
 of these licenses, the British government, from 
 a spirit of conciliation, had directed the gov- 
 ernment of the province to abstain from the 
 granting of licenses to cut timber on the terri- 
 tory claimed by the U. States. They say that 
 from the disposition thus evinced, by the gov- 
 ernment of Great Britain, to remove causes of 
 collision, they feel imperatively called on to 
 represent the doings of the agents of Maine 
 and Massachusetts of late years within the ter- 
 ritory in question. They then proceed to re- 
 late the measures pursued by the agents of 
 Massachusetts and Maine, with some strong 
 coloring, and to protest against the exchange 
 of territory, suggested by the agents in their 
 report. They express tlje hope that the Brit- 
 ish government will maintain the principle in 
 relation to the boundary, which will leave with- 
 in the territories of the respective powers, the 
 whole course of thoscrivers, quite up to their 
 sources, which have their mouths within the 
 same territories. — Bos. D. Mv. 
 
 \ 
 
cle of the provisional articles of peace 
 and the first article of the treaty, to wit, 
 the enumeration of the different states, 
 composing the new and independent 
 sovereignty ot the United States — it 
 would be clear that the exterior lines of] 
 those states, such as the/ were by the 
 grants and charters of his Biitannic Maj- 
 esty, would have formed the boundary 
 of the new government. And however 
 indefinite or uncertain they might have 
 been west of the province of Massachu- 
 setts bay, that province, as we have 
 shewn in former letters, contained all the 
 territory for which we now contend — 
 because as it contained, as we have a- 
 bundantly shewn by a reference to proc- 
 laraations, commissions and maps, all I 
 that territory at the commencement ol 
 the revolution, at the time of the ack- 
 nowledgment of the, independence of the 
 United States, and the concluding of the 
 treaty) 
 
 The treaty does not conclude with the 
 aforesaid enumeration of States, but con- 
 tinues a descriptioti of the exterior 
 boundaries of the whole, as constituting 
 one great independent sovereignty, in 
 iantruage which shews that it had been a 
 subject of great research, examination 
 and reflection. — The ministers no doubt 
 carefully and critically examined all the 
 documents and maps which would tend 
 to give them a knowledge of the country, 
 and the subject of their negociation; for 
 they had, as one of the ministers has 
 said, many maps before them, but mark- 
 ed the boundary on Mitchell's map, and 
 drew the line on the first large river west 
 of the river St. John, as the St. Croix 
 of Ifie treaty : that being the only river 
 d St Croix on that part of the map 
 
 That river from its position and 
 place where it discharges itself as it ap- 
 pears on Mitchell's map is evidently the 
 river now called the Maguadavic. That 
 river as is represented on the a- 
 foresaid map discharges itself into apart 
 of the bay of Fundy, which bears no oth- 
 er distinctive name, a little eastward ol 
 the large island called Deer Island. The 
 bay called Passamacadie from which the 
 present name of Passamaquoddy is de- 
 I rived, is a little bay or more properly the 
 mouth of the river of the same name, 
 which discharges itself into the great 
 bay of Fundy, to the north of Deer Isl- 
 and, and through that part of it, into 
 which the St. Croix of the treaty flows. 
 The Passamacadie on Mitchell's map is 
 no doubt the river, which has since 
 been decided to be the St. Croix. By 
 an examination of the map, the lan- 
 guage of the ministers, appears to be 
 plain, and that it might be easily under- 
 stood. What they meant, by the expres- 
 sion " its mouth in the bay of Fundy," | 
 is very obvious; for of all the present 
 bay called Passamaquoddy, only a small 
 excressence of it, at its Northern extrem- 
 ity is called Passamacadie, and the res- 
 idue of it constitutes a part of the great 
 Bay of Fundy. 
 
 If the question had not been settled, 
 there could fie but little doubt how it | 
 ought to be settled. The question was j 
 not, what river was called the St. Croix 
 by the French, or where did De Monts 
 winter: or whether several rivers have 
 been called by that name;— but the 
 question was or ought to have been, 
 what river, had the ministers in view, 
 which they marked and designated as a 
 permanent boundary? — That could be 
 ascertained with great certainty by a 
 reference to Mitchell's map, connected 
 with a survey of the rivers, taking that 
 river which most nearly, from the posi- 
 tion of its mouth, corresponds with the 
 description and appearance on the map. 
 Notwithstanding the great care and 
 caution exercised by Ihe ministers, and 
 the great consideration which they gave 
 the subject, which is further to be infer- 
 red from the language they adopted; for 
 they in a peculiar and emphatic manner, 
 say, "that all disputes whiph might arise 
 in future on the subject of the boundary 
 of the said United States, may be pre- 
 vented, it is hereby agreed and declared 
 that the following ar<and shall be their 
 boundaries;" a dispute a:rose between 
 the governments, as to the river intend- 
 ed by the St, Cvoix, which has been 
 
 justed by the commissioners appointed 
 pursuant to the fifth article of the treaty, 
 commonly called Jay's treaty, conclud- 
 ed at London, the nineteenth day of 
 November, in the year of our Lord one 
 thousand seven hundred and ninety- 
 four. The settlement of this dispute was 
 important to both governments, and al- 
 1 though its settlement has taken a wide 
 tract of territory from the United States, 
 and the State of Maine, it will not now 
 be contended, that all parties in interest, 
 ought not to be bound by it. 
 [To be continued.] 
 
o 
 
 'A 
 
 <A 
 
 The ministers, probabaly had before 
 tliem the proclamation of 1763, estab- 
 lishing the government Quebec be- 
 cause they have described the same line 
 which was between that government and 
 the province of Massacliusetts bay, a- 
 dopting nearly the same language. — •_ 
 
 111 the Pioclimation it In tho Treaty it is 
 is tLiis; thus: 
 
 "Along the high- "Along the said 
 lands which div.de highlands which di- 
 tlie rivers that emp- vide those rivers 
 ty themselves into that empty them- 
 the St. Lawrence selves into the riv- 
 from those which cr St. Lawrence 
 fall into the sea." from those which 
 fall into the Allan- 
 tic Ocean." 
 
 From this comparison can there be a 
 doubt that the ministers intended to a- 
 dopt the line of the government ofQuc- 
 bec as the boundary line of that part ol 
 the United States which is now within 
 the State of Maine .' That line contiuu - 
 ed, also constitutes the line between (hat 
 government and jVova Scotia, the north- 
 west angle of which was upon the line, 
 and north of the St. Croix. 
 
 The line is that range of land, from 
 which the waters flow into the St. Law- 
 rence, not a right line, but a line com- 
 mencing at the pasallel of forty-five de- 
 grees of north latitude, and thence pur- 
 suing a course whether direct of mean- 
 dering, according to the shape of the 
 land which separates the waters which 
 flow into the St. Lawrence from other 
 Waters of the sea. 
 
 The line could not have been sup- 
 posed to be a right line, unless it was 
 supposed, that this portion of the face 
 of the earth was different from other 
 parts of it. — There are few or no larse 
 rivers in the vicinity of each other, 
 whose tributary streams do not inter- 
 lock in such a manner that a right line 
 cannot be run without cutting off" wa- 
 ters of each — Nor is there any need of 
 its being a right line, nr^r would the boun- 
 dary be any more certain. The best 
 mode to guard the interest of both gov- 
 ernments, and prevent disputes was a- 
 dopted. 
 
 With the treaty, and the documents, 
 all which go in support of its natural and 
 plain construction, what ground is there 
 for stopping with the line running north 
 from the St. Croix, at Marshill, or in 
 that neighborhood ? Is there any thing 
 in the language of the treaty which re- 
 quires it, or even affords an argument 
 that favors it? The language of the 
 treaty is not the highest land between 
 the St. Lawrence and the Atlantic 
 Ocean, or between the St. Lawrence 
 and the source of the St. Croi.\, and 
 therefore whether Mars Hill he liinhfiv 
 
 :!i: 
 
 ".^^ 
 
 tain, or the Bior mountain, is very imma- 
 terial. Will it be admitted by Great 
 Britain that the northwestern extremity 
 of New Brunswick, formerly No/a Scotia 
 is at Mars Hill.' No, they 'deny it, and 
 claim the lands on the St. John, and its 
 tributary streams, as a part of the prov- 
 ince, which would make its extreme 
 western, or more properly south west- 
 ern angle instead of northwest angle be- 
 tween the heads of the Metjormette, a 
 tributary of the Chaudier, a river flow- 
 ing into the St. Lawrence, and the south 
 branch of the St. John, and the head of 
 Penobscot river, a point bearing from 
 Mars Hill south,about seventy- sevende- 
 grees west; n point from which on a 
 north course from Mars hill, the distance 
 is constantly increased. The range of 
 highlands dividing the waters of the St. 
 Lawrence and the sea, being a north- 
 eastern and southwestern line, the ex- 
 treme angle formed by such a line, and 
 a line drawn south 77 degrees west, is 
 acute and Nova Scotia, now New-Bruns- 
 wick, has no northwest angle, and cer- 
 tainly none which is on or near any line 
 ofthe United States. 
 
 Again, sir, the United States is bound- 
 ed " east by a line to be drawn along 
 the middle ofthe river St. Croix from its 
 mouth in the Bay of Fundy, to its source, 
 and from its source directly north to the 
 aforesaid highlands which divide the riv- 
 ers that fall into the St. Lawrence." — 
 Here as in all other places where the 
 boundary is described it is described as 
 being a continued strait line from the 
 source ofthe St. Croix to the highlands, 
 at the heads ofthe waters of the St. 
 Lawrence; and not a line terminating at 
 highlands on the right ofthe St. John, 
 and thence pursuing a course west to di- 
 vide the waters which fall into the St. 
 John from those which fall into the more 
 westerly and southerly parts of the At- 
 lantic Ocean, to the highlands which do 
 divide the rivers which empty into the 
 ■St. Lawrence from those which fall into 
 the Atlantic Ocean. The line is no 
 where represented to stop short ofthe 
 northwest angle of Nova Scotia, being 
 the extreme northwestern part of the 
 [province — All east ofthe line is of course 
 ^l ova Scotia, and all west of that line 
 and southwardly ofthe highlands the U. 
 'States and State of Maine — Nova Sco- 
 tia and no part of it is represented as lyr 
 iiig north of any part of the United 
 States but is uniformlj represented as 
 lying east of it. 
 
 The treaty and other documents and 
 I evidence furnish not a shadow of argu- 
 ment which favo)' such pretensions. Why 
 do they stop at Mars hill? There is not 
 [even a plausible pretence in favor ofthe 
 position. If G. Britain would be con- 
 sistent, in what appears to be extrava- 
 gant and unsupported pretensions, she 
 ought not to admit that any of the waters 
 ofthe St. John flow from any part of tho 
 United States and State of Maine; but 
 I she admits by going to Mars hill, that a 
 portion of the waters ofthe St. John are 
 within the United States — She aught in 
 order to frame a plausible argument on 
 the ground she assumes to claim all the 
 waters ofthe St. John, and of course she 
 ought to continue the line north fi-om the 
 monument at the source ofthe St. Croix 
 only a short distance, if any, as a branch 
 ofthe Ell lake river, a tributary ofthe St. 
 John is only about two miles north and 
 northwesterly of it — and not to agree to 
 a line which cuts off the heads of the 
 four branches of Ell lake river, all the 
 branches of the Medusnekeag river, and 
 nearly all the branches of the Presque 
 Isle river, all tributaries also of the St. 
 John. They ought, if they intend to 
 preserve any sort of consistency, either 
 to agree to the plain and natural exposi- 
 tion ofthe treaty, or they ought boldly 
 and fearlessly to deny it — and to insist 
 upon the range of lands which divide the 
 waters ofthe St. John and Penobscot — 
 But they adopt neither course because 
 they admit that aportionof the waters of 
 the St. John flow from the United States. 
 Perhaps they have been lead into the 
 inconsistency in their argument, to avoid 
 another, v/hich frorn their knowledge of 
 the country must have been obvious to 
 them, to wit, i f uiey had endeav c c ' 
 
 embrace all the waters ofthe St. John 
 within Nova Scotia, now New-Bruns- 
 wick, they could not, answer the objec- 
 tion arising under the description in the 
 the treaty that the line was run due 
 north from the source ofthe St. Croix to 
 the highlands, they must stop at the 
 source of the St. Croix itself, as one of 
 the branches ofthe St. John has its 
 source northwesterly ofthe St. Croix in 
 the same highlands. To avoid one difli- 
 culty, they have therefore, adopted an- 
 other, as palpably erroneous and void of 
 support as that. 
 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
 
 NOETH-EASTEKN BOUNDARY.. ..NO. X. 
 
 (Continued.) I 
 
 The agreement of the Commissioners, ' 
 determining the river which should af- 
 terwards be known and considered the 
 St. Croix of the treaty, constituting a 
 permanent and certain boundary be- 
 tween the United States and the provin- 
 ces of Great Britain, was of great im- 
 portance, because that, and not the 
 Northwest angle. of Nova Scotia is the 
 governing point or monument of the 
 eastern line: for the eastern line is to 
 be run from that point and the longi- 
 tude of the said angle depends entirely 
 upon it. 
 
 From a hasty view of the treaty, how- 
 ever, the north-west angle of Nova 
 Scotia may appear to be a fixed monu- 
 ment, whose position or locality was 
 well known; but an examination of the 
 expressions in the treaty warrants no 
 stich conclusion. — The language of the 
 treaty is " from the north-west angle of 
 Nova Scotia," — then follows the monu- 
 ment and the rule for finding that angle, 
 to wit — " that angle which is formed by 
 a liiie drawn due north from the source 
 of the St. Croix river to the highlands; 
 along the snid highlands which divide 
 those rivers which empty themselves in- 
 to the St. Lawrence from those which 
 fall into the Atlantic ocean." It follows ^/t 
 the;i, with a mathematical certainty, that 
 whereever, a line drawn due north from 
 the source of the St. Croix river inter- 
 sects the line, of the range of lands, the 
 rivers from which flow into the St. Law- 
 rence, that point, and, that alone, is the 
 north-west angle of Nova Scotia, and is 
 also the north-east angle of the State of 
 Maine and the United States, and when 
 thus ascertained, it becomes a perma- 
 nent and fixed boundary according to 
 the treaty. If the intention of the par- 
 ties had been different, other words 
 would have been used to shew such in- 
 tent, they would have described the an- 
 gle and started their lines from it, in 
 such a manner as to have left no doubt. 
 There seems to have been an opinion 
 with some, that by the heads of the riv- 
 ers which flow into the St. Lawrence 
 there was a range of mountains running 
 in a northerly and southerly direction, 
 which divide those rivers from such as 
 are discharged into the Atlantic Ocean. 
 
 &V 
 
 The authors and publishers of maps 
 have adopted the error, and have done 
 much to increase and extend it. From 
 ail examination of the treaty, it is diffi- 
 cult to perceive how such an opinion 
 should have originated, as its language 
 does not define the height of lands, but 
 is entirely silent on that point — The 
 language is "the said highlands which 
 divide those rivers which empty them- 
 selves into the St. Lawrence from those 
 which fall int the Atlantic Ocean." The : 
 language of the treaty indicates no par- j 
 ticular height of land, it might be high I 
 
 or low, and it is very obvious that no 
 particular elevation was intended, be- 
 cause th^ term is adopted as descrip- 
 tive of iieight, which equally embraces 
 all heights of land of sufficient elevation 
 to divide the waters. It is very evident 
 from the language used, that no particu- 
 lar elevation was intended, but that the 
 line was to pursue that range of land, 
 which was to be found, which formed 
 the dividing point between the waters 
 which on the one hand, flowed into the 
 St. Lawrence, and on the other, into the 
 Atlantic Ocean. 
 
 There is such a range of land, and 
 had not the streams been surveyed by 
 order of the commissioners under the 
 Treaty of Ghent, and the fact thus clear- 
 ly and incontestibly demonstrated— com- 
 mon sense and common observation 
 must have taught us, as it no doubt did 
 the ministers who negociated the treaty 
 of 1783, that the rivers did not flow 
 equally both ways,into the St. Lawrence, 
 and the St. John and Atlantic Ocean, 
 that the whole country between the St. 
 Lawrence and St. John was not a water 
 level, and the siieums between them 
 mere canals. 
 
 Until the St. Lawrence is ascended 
 to Quebec, there is no large stream 
 which flows into it on its southern shore. 
 This fact was unquestionably ascertain- 
 ed from the first examination of the St. 
 Lawrence, although few if any of the 
 streams were surveyed from their mouths i 
 to their sources. The rivers are thus j 
 represented on all the maps of the coun- I 
 try, former as well as later — Such must i 
 have been the knowledge, and such the I 
 opinion received and adopted by the i 
 ministers. The opinion was correct, as 
 it was founded on facts, which, though ! 
 then not so perfectly known, have since 
 i been more thoroughly investigated, but ;' 
 have not by subsequent information been 
 found to have been merely assumed but 
 have been made certain 
 
 
 The treaty divides all the rivers or 
 streams into two classes — to wit, such 
 as fall into the St. Lawrence, and such 
 as fall into the Atlantic Ocean. — All, of 
 course, so far as they have any connex- 
 ion with the treaty, fall within the one, 
 or the other, of these classes. — If any 
 exception had been intended, in an in- 
 strument so important and drawn with so 
 much care and reflection, it would have 
 been introduced, as it easily might have 
 been,by excepting the rivers and streams 
 which flowed into the bay of Cha- 
 leur, or the the bay of Mirimachi, or | 
 the bay of Fundy, or some definite 
 point might have been adopted on the 
 shores of the Atlantic — No such excep- 
 tion being introduced, it is obvious, 
 those bays, equally with the Penobscot 
 I bay, Massachusetts bay, and other bays, 
 were considered to be parts of the great 
 Atlantic — The language itself admits of 
 no other, natural construction. This 
 construction is, if any additional evi- 
 dence is necessary, supported by Mitch- 
 ell's map: for a line drawn due north 
 upon it from the source of the St. Croix 
 to the highlands, by the heads of the 
 streams, flowing into the St. Lawrence, 
 crosses the St. John and cuts off a por- 
 tion of that river and many of its trib- 
 utary streams; and thus cuts off waters 
 which flow into the bay of Fundy. Such 
 must have been the intention of the 
 ministers, because the map upon which 
 they sketched the boundary shews it, 
 and the language they adopted confirms 
 it. — If any further arguments beyond the 
 terms of the treaty ,were necessary, argu- 
 ments of the same sort might be multipli- 
 ed. We will quote two maps, one pub- 
 lished in 1775 by Thomas Jeffreys, ge- 
 ographer to the king, being a map o: 
 J^ova Scotia and Cape Breton, with the 
 adjacent parts of New-England and Can-j 
 ada, composed from a great number of 
 actual surveys; and the other in 1783 by 
 Bowles, No. 69, St. Paul's C'lurch- 
 Yard, London, being a map of North 
 America and the West-Indies, exhib- 
 iting the British Ejupire therein with 
 the limits and boundaries of the United 
 States, Sfc. — compiled from the best sur- 
 veys and most authentic memoirs which 
 had appeared to that time — These maps 
 represent the west line of Nova-Scotia 
 and the line between Nova Scotia and 
 
the United States as crossing the St. 
 John to the eastward of all its branches 
 on its eastern side above the Tobic. and 
 as terminating at the highlands dividing 
 the waters that fall into the St. Law- 
 rence from these which fall into the sea, 
 being the line of the government of 
 Quebec according to the proclamation 
 of 1763. Upon the first map there is no 
 bay called Passamaquoddy or by any 
 similar name, but upon the second map 
 tliere is a bay into which two small riv- 
 ers flow called Passamacadie, being a 
 Northern or Northwestern e.xcresence of 
 the bay now called Passamaquoddy. — 
 On both maps the rivers which flow into 
 \a part of the large BayofFundy to the 
 eastward of Deer Isle is called the St. 
 Croi.\, answering to the present Magua- 
 davic— On the first map there is a river 
 called the Pessemiquiddi or St. Croi.x,. 
 besides the river called the St. Croix, on 
 the other, there is no river called th& 
 Passamaquoddy or Passamcadie; but 
 the word Passamacabics is printed a- 
 cross the heads so as to embrace two 
 streams— And the great bay, is called 
 the bay of Fundy, or Argals on the one, 
 and the Bay of Fundy on the other; and 
 the part into which the rivers St. Croix 
 on both flow, has no distinctive name to 
 distinguish it from any other part of the 
 Bay of Fundy. 
 
 j The language of the treaty being so 
 j clear and explicit, the resort to facts and 
 j arguments independent of the instrument 
 I itself seems to be almost an useless em- 
 ^ployment of time. The description 
 which they have given and not the argu- 
 ments which they used, are to govern, for 
 they no doubt on both sides used every 
 argument which circumstances or their 
 ingenuity suggested, but in the end made 
 an agreement which they reduced to 
 writing and that agreement thus re- 
 duced to writing being duly ratified by 
 both governments is equally binding on 
 both. Were the parties governed by the 
 same rule of construction, which are ap- 
 plied daily among the citizens of both 
 countries by their respective judicial tri- 
 j bunals, they would admit no evidence in- 
 I dependent of the treaty itself to explain 
 it, unless it was ambiguous— -Now I ask 
 what ambiguity is there in the treaty? 
 There is none, nor does the resort to 
 other facts and documents, which we 
 have quoted, shew any, but on the con- 
 trary, they tend to enforce its plain and 
 palpable meaning. If we continue to pur- 
 sue the same course and resort to other 
 facts the result will be the same. 
 
 NORTH-EASTERN BOUNDARY.L.NO. X. 
 
 Concluded. 
 A few years since, a topographical de- 
 scription of the province of Lower Can- 
 ada, with remarks upon Upper Canada, 
 and on the relative connexion of both 
 provin9es with the United States of A- 
 merica, was published by Joseph Bou- 
 chette, Surveyor General of Lower Can- 
 ada, and Lieut. Col. C. M. This work 
 was accompanied by splendid and ex- 
 pensiN-e maps, and was dedicated to the 
 present King, then Prince Regent. — He 
 was the British engineer attached to the 
 commission under the fiilh article of the 
 treaty of 1794, to settle and determine 
 what river should be established as the 
 St. Croix of the treaty of 1783 and to 
 settle the boundary from its mouth to its 
 source. 
 
 He gives the following description of 
 the line : — " From Connecticut river, the 
 height of land on which the boundary is | 
 (supposed to pass,) runs to the northeast ' 
 , and divides the waters that fall into the 
 St. Lawrence from those flowing into 
 the Atlantic and which height after run- 
 ing some distance upon that course sends 
 off a branch to the eastward that sepa-1 
 rates the head of the Thames falling in- 
 to lake Timiscouata and river St. John, ' 
 and by that channel into the bay of Fun- j 
 dy, from those that descend in a more B&| 
 _^ direct course to the Atlantic." pH 
 
 "The main ridge continuing its north- 
 westerly direction, is intersected by' an 
 imaginary line, prolonged in a course as- 
 tronomically, due north from the head 
 of the river St. Croix, and which ridge is 
 (supposed to be) the boundary between f. 
 Lower Canada and the United States; 
 at least such appears to be the way in 
 which the treaty of 1783 is construed by 
 the American Government, but which 
 ■ ought more fairly to be understood as 
 follow.^, to wit:— That the astronomical 
 line running north from the St. Ci oix 
 should e.\tcnd only to the first easterly 
 ridge, and thence run westerly along the 
 crest of said ridge to Connecticut river. 
 
 I thereby equitably dividing the waters] 
 flowing into the St. Lawrence from those 
 (hat empty into the Atlantic Ocean— I 
 within the limits of the United States, 
 and those that have their streams within 
 the British Province of New-Brunswick. 
 It is important and must have always 
 been had in contemplation, that an unin- 
 terrupted communication, and connex- 
 ion, should exist between all his majes- 
 ties North American possessions; but 
 by the manner in which the treaty is 
 insisted upon by the opposite party, a 
 space of more than eighty-five miles 
 would be placed within the the American 
 limits, and by which the British provin- 
 ces would be completely secured; jt 
 would also prove an inconvenience of 
 having the mail from England to Que- 
 bec, carried over that distance of Amer- 
 j can territory, and which may either be 
 j deemed a matter of indulgence, or com- 
 j plained of as an encroachment according 
 tu the transfer of the times. Within this 
 Hact is also the Madawaska settlement, 
 consisting of nearly two hundred fami- 
 lies, all holding their grants from the 
 British government. England,at all times 
 lugh-minded and generous never shrinks 
 from the fulfilment of her engagements 
 even though from oversight or the want 
 of political acuteness in the persons em- 
 ployed, they may have been formed in a 
 
 manner prejudicial to her true interests 
 But at the same time she has a right to 
 require the interpretation ofthem should 
 not be overstrained or twisted from the 
 obvious meaning and intent, by a grasp- 
 ,, <ng cupidity after a few miles of country i 
 pi] which would be of little advantage tb the 
 ■ 3 opposite party." f 
 
 I This contains the substance of the 
 British pretensions, as it probably was 
 « their origin. A brief examinotion of it 
 may not be amiss although its fallacy is 
 apparent upon the face of it. 
 
First, The force of truth seems to have 
 operated upon the Col's, mind, and he » 
 therefore describes the boundary in sub- 
 stance correctly, using a few saving 
 words, to enable him afterwards to in- 
 troduce a view of it, favorable to his own 
 nation, as that was his inducement forf 
 writing the book. He says, "from the 
 head of Connecticut River, the height of 
 land on tohich the boundary is, (supposed 
 lo pass) rutis to the northeast and divides 
 ihc waters that fall into the St. Lawrence 
 from those flowing into the Atlantic j and 
 uhich height after running some distance 
 upon that course, sends off a branch to the 
 eastward that separates the head of the 
 Thames falling into lakeTimiscouata and 
 river St. John, and by that channel into 
 the bay of Fundyfrom those that descend 
 ill a more direct course to the Atlantic — 
 The main ridge continuing its northeast- 
 i rly direction is intersected by an imagin- 
 ary line prolonged in a course astronomic- 
 ally due north from the head of the river 
 St. Croix, and lohich ridge is (supposed 
 to be) the boundary between Loiver Cana- 
 da and the United Stcttes, at least such ap- 
 pears to be the way in which the treaty of 
 1783 is construed by the American Gov- 
 (.iViiiieJii." 
 
 Here let it be remarked that prior to 
 the Proclamation of 1763, Nova Scotia 
 was bounded west by the river St. Croix 
 and a line due north from its source to 
 the river or gulf of St. Lhwrence, and 
 north by the river and gulf of St. Law- 
 rence, and the province of Massachu- 
 setts bay, from which Nova Scotia was 
 separated, was bouaded west by the riv- 
 er St. Croix and a line due north from 
 its source to the river or gulf of St. Law- 
 rence, and north by the St. Lawrence. 
 The proclamation of 1763 creating the 
 new government of Quebec, alters the 
 northern boundary of Nova Scotia and 
 Massachusetts Bay by transferring it 
 from the shores of the St. Lawrence, 
 more southerly to the range of land 
 which divides the waters falling into the 
 St. Lawrence from those falling into the 
 sea, and thence to the head of the bay 
 De Chaleur. and by the northern coast 
 of the bay to the sea. This line com- 
 mencing on the forty-fifth degree of lati- 
 tude and running northeasterly accord- 
 ing to general range of the highlands, 
 and from their termination to the head of 
 ;he bay De Chuleur, formed the north- 
 
 ern boundary Ime ot the two provmccs, | 
 and made the northwest angle of Nova 
 Scotia, and the northeast angle of3Ias- 
 sachusetts bay at the same point, due 
 north from the source of the St. Croi.v. 
 The northern boundary of Nova Scotia 
 was then the range of land running north \ 
 easterly and dividing the waters flowing 
 into the St. Lawrence from those flowing 
 into the sea, to the head of the bay De 
 Chaleur, and by the bay to the sea, and 
 Massachusetts bay was bounded norther 
 ly by the same line. This is the line, 
 and this the northwest angle of Nova Sco- 
 tia which is described and adopted by 
 the treaty of 1783. This is the line also 
 desciibod by the Colonel — into which he 
 has introduced certain words of caution, 
 such as, " supposed to pass," " suppos- 
 ed to be," " at least such appears to be 
 the way," &.c. — the correctness of which 
 he has not denied, but attempts to argue 
 away. The Colonel was no doubt con- 
 versant with the boundaries* of the se ve- 
 al provinces as established by the 
 [i-own and the boundaries established by 
 ^3 treaty, and therefore felt the force, 
 ip.d knew the truth of it, and had not the 
 ourage to deny it. ' 
 
 But says the Colonel, the lines of the 
 treaty of 1783 "ought more fairly to be i 
 understood, as follow, to wit: — That the i 
 astronomical line running north from the 
 St. Croix should extend only to the first 
 or easterly ridge and thence run wester- 
 ly along the crest of the said ridge to the 
 Connecticut, thereby equitably dividing 
 the ivaters flowing into the St. Lawrence 
 from those that empty into the Atlantic, 
 within the limits of the United States, and 
 those that have their streams within the 
 British province of JVetv Brunswick. The 
 reason assigned by the Colonel, seems 
 to be that it would make a more equita- 
 able division, because it would give them 
 all the territory on the waters ofthe St. 
 John. A singular reason indeed; a 
 nrere notional equity that could not ex- 
 ist in any save a disoruered or interest- 
 ed mind. How is the principle ofequit- 
 ! able division to be introduced to contra- 
 dict, vary, and change an agreement en- 
 tered into with great care, deliberation 
 aiid~ caution, and an agreement too 
 which adopts boundaries which were long 
 before made by the crown itself when it 
 had the full and undisturbed sovereignty i 
 — He does not even say that the St. 
 John does not empty into the Atlantic 
 but with great caution admits it, for he 
 says, in substance, the Lake Timiscouata 
 falls into the St. John and through that 
 channel into^he Atlantic though not so 
 direct as some other rivers. 
 
 He says further, that "It is important 
 and must always have been had in con- 
 templation, that an uuinterrupted com- 
 munication and connexion should exist! 
 between all his Majesty's North Ameri- 
 can possessions." His argument in sup- 
 port ofthe assumed position is in sub- 
 stance—first, that by the fair and literall 
 construction ofthe treaty, the American] 
 Government will gain eighty-five miles I 
 of territory, by which the British provin-| 
 ces will be rendered insecure. Second- 
 ly, that the English mail cannot be I 
 carried by so short a route as it| 
 now is, to Quebec, except by permis- 
 sion ofthe American Government — The I 
 reasons that might b& urged in favor of I 
 extending the United States so as to [ 
 make the St. John from the Grand Falls I 
 southerly to Its mouth the boundary of | 
 the United States is equally cogent — I 
 First, on the Colonel's notion of equity, 1 
 lit would be equitable, for it would give 
 [all the land on the streams flowing into 
 the sea, and secondly, according to his 
 notions of safety and convenience it 
 would answer both purposes completely, 
 because it would form a good line of de- 
 fence, make a certain and permanent I 
 boundary which must continue so long | 
 as waters descend in the channel, and 
 give a free water communication from 
 the interior to the sea which cannot now 
 be enjoyed by the Americans except 
 by the consent or permission of the Brit- 
 ish. With the same propriety and with 
 as good reason it might be urged that 
 the American Government always in 
 tended tfeat their subjects whe should af- 
 terwards be settled on the waters of the 
 
 St. John, should not be interrupted in 
 their water communication with the sea; 
 such pretensions it is admitted, would be 
 contrary to the terms of the treaty; but ^ 
 no more so than the pretensions set up 
 by the British. j 
 
The Colonel further says, that, " with- 
 in this tract is also the Madawaska set- 
 tlement, consisting of nearly two hund- 
 red families, all holding their grants from 
 the British government." Be it so— 
 what right d«es that give? He has not 
 told us that the settlement was made by 
 the French Canadians after the peace of 
 1763, who preferred living in the wilder- 
 ness, with the Indians, beyond the knowl- 
 edge of the British, and where they 
 should exercise no control over them, to 
 living within their immediate control, and 
 under Ih^ir laws — Nor has he given us 
 the dates of the grants. What are they ? 
 To use their official language, in May, 
 1825, they say, " In fact by a reference 
 to documents in the British Colonial de- 
 partment, it appears that the settlement 
 at Madawaska, in the province <of New- 
 Brunswick was made under a grant from 
 the crown upwards of thirty years ago." 
 Giving the expression" upwards of thir- 
 ty years ago," a full ard fair construc- 
 tion, more than ten years had elapsed 
 after the treaty of 1783 before such 
 grants were made — But the statement 
 does not give a correct representation of 
 the fact, because settlements existed. 
 : there long before the time when they 
 state the grants were made — The first 
 settlement was not made under the grant, 
 although they have continued since the 
 grant. Did not the British formerly 
 grant the whole country? And does 
 that give them a right, contrary to the 
 terms of the compact? Suppose they 
 had, since the treaty granted a tract of jp 
 country within any state of the United 
 States, and the citizens had lived under 
 the grant, what right would that give 
 I th^jm to the jurisdiction of the state ? Cer- 
 ' tainly none which would be yielded to, 
 except by the force of arms. — Such acts 
 are violations of national sovereignty — 
 The argument proves too much, it proves 
 if any thing, that by the mere exercise of 
 the granting power a nation may acquire 
 the sovereignty of the territory of anoth- 
 er nation — a principle never acknowl- 
 edged by the British or French even in 
 ihe first settlement of the country, when 
 there were no boundaries established by 
 compact. Such arguments cannot be 
 addressed to our reason, but to bur fears 
 — and are not based on the principles of 
 justice,J)Uton^ physical fofcCj 
 
 The last argument of the Colonel 
 which will be noticed at present, con- 
 tains as much good sense as any which 
 preceded, — He says, " England, at all 
 times high minded and generous, never 
 shrinks from the fulfilment of her engage- 
 ments," — and then in order to give it ad- 
 ditional force by the introduction of a 
 little delicate flattery, proceeds, — "even 
 though fropi oversight or the want of 
 political acuteness in the persons em- 
 ployed, they may have been formed in a 
 manner prejudicial to her true inter- 
 ests." Similar things have often been 
 said by the British, and it is to be hoped 
 by this time that their object and end are 
 fully understood — and that a large tract 
 of territory will never be yielded for a 
 mere compliment, however delicately or 
 well expressed. — And the Colonel furth- 
 er adds, " But has a right to require that 
 the interpretation of her engagements 
 should not be overstrained or twisted 
 from their obvious meaning and in- 
 tent, by a grasping cupidity after a few 
 miles of country." It is presumed with 
 great confidence, that the United States 
 will equally desist from " overstraining 
 or bcisling'" the treaty from Us obvious 
 meaning or intent, or of allowing it to be 
 overstrained or tuisted by others. 
 
 To conclude a letter, which already 
 must have been tedious, a summary of' 
 ^ the British argument seems to be — we 
 admit the territory in dispute is yours by 
 the treaty, but we want it, it will be con- 
 venient for us, and aid us in our views 
 i and our policy, we have endeavoured to 
 I make you yield it to us, we have done 
 !^:-;ithe best we could in granting it away| 
 and e.xercising acts of jurisdiction to ge' 
 
 it from you — and we will have it. The 
 arguments of the British, whether ad- 
 dressed to the rational or physical pow- 
 ers, will no doubt always receive the I 
 appropriate reply. 
 
 Tours, CATO. 
 
 \.s tlio boundaries were described in the proc- 
 I lamations and treaty — for there ia a want of 
 knowledge of the actual state of the country 
 or there is an imperfection in his description. 
 In describing the line as it pursues the range 
 of highlands he describes a ridge which is 
 I sent off from it to the eastward by the head 
 of the Thames which falls into Lake Timis- 
 couata, thence into the St. John on its north- 
 ern side — And in describing the easterly line 
 he says, the astronomical line running north 
 from the St. Croix, should extend only to the 
 first easterly ridge — which must be a ridge 
 on the southerly or westerly side of the St. 
 John. — He seems in both insiances to have 
 intended the same ridge — if he did not, the 
 mention of the first ridge is useless and tends 
 only to produce confusion in his description. 
 
NORTH-EASTERN BOUNDARY....NO. XI. 
 
 To the Editor of tU Independent Courier. 
 August 2, 1827. 
 Sip, — Since the organization of the 
 govevDroent of the State of Maine, the 
 ti.' vi;ory in dispute, has occupied the at- 
 tention of the Executive. The Govern- 
 ors have, on several occasions, by Mes- 
 sage, called the attention of the Legis- 
 lature to the subject. In January, 1825, 
 the depredations committed by British 
 subjects, on the Madawaska and Aroos- 
 took, became the subject of considera- 
 tion, aad the Legislature, among other 
 things, authorised and requested the 
 Governor to correspond with the Gov- 
 ernor of the province of New Bruns- 
 wick, relative to depredations which had 
 been committed by British subjects upon 
 the timber on the public lands of the 
 State, west of the boundary line of this 
 State and the province of New Bruns- 
 wick, as heretofore recognised; and to as- 
 certain whether that government had 
 authorised any person to cut timber up- 
 on those lands, or to settle thereon. The 
 Governor was further requested to com- 
 municate with the Representatives of the 
 State in the National Legislature, and 
 request them to take the necessary meas- 
 ures to procure an early adjustment of 
 our North-eastern boundary: 
 
 Representations, it is understood, were 
 made to the Executive of the United 
 States, and by it to the British Minister, 
 and by him to the Governor of New 
 Brunswick and the British government, 
 and that licences before that time grant- 
 ed, were withdrawn, and all encroach- 
 ments ceased. tWi» 
 At the session of the Legislature of l^f^tf 
 the State of Maine, January, 1826, the 
 subject of the North-eastern boundary 
 was more particularly considered. And 
 by Resolve the Governor was authorised 
 " to procure for the use of the State, 
 copies of all such maps, documents, pub- 
 lications, papers and surveys relating to ^ 
 the North-eastern boundary, and such f 
 other information as he might deem nec- 
 essary and useful for the State." Very 
 little was or could be obtained by the 
 Governor under this resolve, although 
 he made the necessary enquiries and ap- 1 
 plications for that purpose. The subject 1 
 was again presented to the Legislature j 
 at their last winter session, and some fur- 
 ther views were taken of it, which were ) 
 considered and adopted. A Resolve 
 passed, requesting the Governor to take 
 such measures, both in acquiring infor- 
 Biation and procuring an adjustment ol 
 
 the dispute, as he might think for the in- 
 terest of the State. AVhat he kas done 
 is not yet disclosed, but will undoubtedly 
 be communicated whenever it is neces- 
 sary. 
 
 The last Report and Act of the Legis- 
 lature seems to have been more particu- 
 lar in pointing out our claim and the 
 foundation of it; together with the prin- 
 ciples which ought to govern in the de- 
 cision of it. The first position taken in 
 the report seems to be, that the settle- 
 ments in this country, made by the Brit- 
 ish and French respectively, and their 
 several and various grants, charters, 
 proclamations and treaties have nothing 
 to do with the present question of boun- 
 dary. All the reasoning which led to the 
 conclusion, which appears, is brief, yet 
 the act of the Legislature has given as 
 much of it as they deemed necessary; 
 and sufficient in their opinion to lead to 
 a correct conclusion, if not directly from 
 the facts stated, by exciting enquiry and 
 examination. 
 
 In order to see, and to show the cor- 
 rectness or incorrbctnessof the position, 
 some little time has been devoted to the 
 examination of the early history of the 
 country, and brief minutes of that exam- 
 ination have already been published. 
 The early history of the country, shews 
 a continued and almost constant contest 
 
 for power, between the British and 
 French; that each adopted that policy, 
 ard those acts, whether they were acts 
 of hostility, or whether they were acts 
 to induce settlements, by granting lands 
 or provinces, or holding out other in- 
 ducements to their subjects respectively, 
 which appeared to them the best calcu- 
 lated to cause its occupation and settle- 
 ment, and to secure to each their favor- 
 ite object, the sole dominion of it. In 
 1763, the efforts and wishes of the Brit- 
 ish were consummated. 
 
 The second position in substance is, 
 that the American revolution created a 
 new power within the limits of the Brit- 
 ish empire, which power had no territo- 
 ry or boundaries, further than they held 
 them by force, until they were acknowl- 
 edged, described and defined by the 
 treaty. 
 
 And the third position is that the 
 North-eastern boundary being described 
 and defined in the treaty, that is the guide 
 for running and setthng the boundary, 
 and not the acts of the British or French, 
 or the acts'of the British after the ex- 
 tinction of the French power, except they 
 are incorporated into and adopted by the 
 1 treaty. 
 
 The grant upon grant and charter up- 
 on charter, often conveying and recon- 1 
 veying the same territory, and in many 
 instances the sweeping, indefinite and j 
 imperfect descriptions of territory, which I 
 were in no instances regarded longer 
 than it suited the interest and views of 
 the crown, have already been briefly de- 
 scribed; but only a few out of the many 
 have been mentioned; as has also the 
 origin and character of the revolutionary 
 power within this undigested mass of 
 territories and provinces; from all which, 
 it is to be inferred that they have no con- 
 nexion with the boundaries of the United 
 States, but that the boundaries depend 
 upon the treaty and that alone. 
 
 The territory in dispute is both exten- 
 sive and valuable. Its extent, as it was 
 estimated by Col. Bouchette. from whose 
 work an extract was made into a former 
 letter, is in a north and south direction 
 eighty five miles, but according to the 
 measurement made by order of the Com- 
 missioners, its extent is one hundred 
 miles. It in fact contains, between one 
 third and one fourth of the whole surface 
 of Maine. It is valuable for its exten- 
 sive forests of fine timber and for the ex- 
 cellent qualities of its soil. The British 
 as well as all other descriptions of it con- 1 
 cur; and where all agree, doubts cannot 
 exist. Hitherto, ^Massachusetts and 
 Maine have had no occasion for the land | 
 for the purposes of h: >itation and culti- 
 vation; but from the rapid increase of| 
 ' inhabitants on the waters of the Penob- 
 scot, the time is not far distant when I 
 j Maine will need it for her rapidly in- 
 creasing population. They have never 
 seen any necessity for, or use in going 
 
into the wilderness and of exercising pos- 
 sessory acts or acts of jurisdiction and 
 sovereignty, and liius making continual 
 claim to preserve a title which they hold 
 by the faith of a nation, solemnly pledg- 
 ed in the treaty. They have already 
 made such progress in the settlement of| 
 the country generally, and have exercis- 
 ed such acts of jurisdiction and sover-j 
 eignty as the exigencies of the States 
 rcquiied. 
 
 Forty four years have nearly elapsed 
 since the treaty, and about thirty years 
 since the question in relation to the river 
 St. Croix was settled. Although the 
 British obtained an advantage in the set- 
 tlement of that question, still it was set- 
 tled by the mutual agreement of the par- 
 . ties, and all oifght in good fa^ith to abide 
 the result. When that question was set- 
 tled, every real and it may be added 
 plausible or imaginary ground of dispute 
 was removed; and it remained only to 
 survey and mark the line. A surveyor 
 of no more than ordinary knowledge and 
 skill in his profession, could have ascer- 
 tained the line described in the treaty. 
 But the British, notwithstanding the set- 
 tlement and determination as to the riv- 
 er St. Croix and the plain and intelligi- 
 ble description in the treaty, have set up 
 and persist in a claim to all the country 
 north of Mars hill. It is understood that 
 in this case, as plain as it is, the Com- 
 missioners under fifth article of the trea- 
 ty of Ghent, have disagreed on all im- 
 portant points, and have of course made 
 no decision. It is further understood 
 that a course not the most " highminded 
 and generous" was pursued, and by 
 which, important evidence was exclud- 
 ed. If such be the fact, the case can- 
 not be submitted, according to the terms 
 of the treaty of Ghent, to some friendly 
 sovereign with the expectation that his 
 decision would certainly be correct. It 
 cannot, in fact, be submitted according 
 to the fair construction of the treaty it- 
 self. 
 
 If tlie '• British are highminded and 
 generous, and never shrink from the ful- 
 filment of their engagements," in the 
 language of Col. Bouchette, it is asked 
 why she has, and why she does, set up 
 claims so " noloiiously^' contrary to the 
 treaty and persist in them with such ob- 
 stinacy. Her course has furnished any 
 thing rather than a corroboration of the 
 Col's good opinion. Having persisted 
 so long and with such obstinacy, the time 
 cannot be anticipated when she will be- 
 come " highminded and generous, and 
 not shrink from the fulfilment of her en- 
 gagements," on this subject. If from 
 the examination, perfect conviction as to 
 the justice of the claihfis of the United 
 States and the State of Maine, and the 
 injustice of the claims of the Bjitish 
 had been produced, such remarks would 
 have been deemed improper, and would 
 not have been made.' 
 
 Having considered the subject as was 
 proposed, but in a hasty and imperfect 
 manner, it may be permitted in conclu 
 sion to add, that the government of the 
 United States b6ing a government of 
 limited powers, few probably of the many 
 questions which may arise under tlie 
 constitution and treaty making power, 
 have yet arisen and are settled; they 
 must, however, be settled, as they are 
 produced by the exigencies of the times. 
 In the question how in discussion be- 
 tween them and Great Britain, if she 
 compromises by giving up any part of 
 the State of Maine, guaranteed by the 
 treaty, without the consent and approba- 
 tion of the States ibterested, for an 
 equivalent in territory any where else, 
 or for the free navigation of the St. Law- 
 rence, or the St. John, or otherwise, the 
 question wi'l arise, has dlie the right? Is 
 it given by the constitution? The ex- 
 istence of such a powei; in the constitu- 
 tion would be dangerous in the last de- 
 gree to the independence of State sover- 
 i eignties. The most the United States 
 ; have yet done in relation to the bounda- 
 ries of States, or forming new States, 
 I not on their own territories, has been to 
 give their consent to such arrangements 
 ;;nd contracts as have been made by the 
 ' States interested. Even the exercise of 
 such power, has by many been consider- 
 
 ed unconstitutional. If she can impair 
 a State sovereignty, where is the limit 
 of that power, short of the destruction 
 of the State? She may barter away or 
 exchange a State for some equivalent, 
 and thus destroy all its rights under tiie 
 confederation. She is bound to protect, 
 equally, all the States in the free and 
 full exercise of all their rights of sover- 
 eignty and power which have not been 
 delegated. Suppose the British were to 
 cede all their territory south of the St. 
 Lawrence and between that river and 
 the states of New York, Vermont, and 
 New Hampshire to the United States, 
 and the United States should cede to 
 the British, in exchange, all the state of 
 Maryland west of tho Chesapeake bay, 
 j could it be pretended that the govern- 
 ' ment of the United States had done this 
 pursuant to any power arising under the 
 constitution? 
 
 It is not intended now to discuss a con- 
 stitutional question which exists only in 
 mere possibility or imagination. It is 
 vmnecessary, for the government of the 
 United States have manifested no dispo- 
 sition to impair, and it is presumed that 
 they will never consent that the rights of 
 property and sovereignty of the state of 
 Maine shall be impaired, but will pre- 
 serve them to their full extent. 
 
 The subject having occupied the at- 
 tention of the government and people 
 of this State, it is presumed they will 
 pursue it until it is fully understood, and 
 when it is understood, will insist upon all 
 their rights arising under the treaty and 
 constitution, not in boisterous or vocif- 
 erous language, but with a fixed, cool 
 and deliberate determination to hold and 
 preserve them. — I add no more. 
 
 Your's, CATO. 
 

 NAVIGATIOiN or iliE 6T. LAV\"KENCF.. 
 
 Th(! folloiviii;; Mtmorial was prepcntcd by Mr. 
 Van lIoncEchiorin the House of Reprcscnlr.lives, o}i 
 the 16th instant ; 
 Ti) the Honourable Uic Senate nnd House of Re- 
 
 picocritatives of ilie United Stales, in Congress 
 
 Assembled ; 
 
 'I'he Memorial of the underjigred; Cliairmati and 
 Secretary o! c RicoUns of Deleg-ates from the twenty 
 Toivns in tiie county of St. Lawrence, and Stale of 
 ^'e1v-Yluk, assembled in Conveiiiioniji pursuance of 
 previous public notice, to represent i'nd express the 
 T icws and interests of Ihe citizeos of s.iid county ; in 
 puTsuanee of a resolution uraiiiniously adopted :".t 
 said Couvtntion, do hereby, in beliilf of said Con- 
 icntion, and cl' the citizens icpresen:ed in it, beg 
 ,'leavc rcspeclfully to lay Icforc your Honourable 
 'body a brief statement of the ifrieva'nces under « Inch 
 tliey labour, and of the causes v.hicli produce thim : 
 
 yoiu- Monurable body nscd not lobe iufornied , 
 that the Imperial Parli.imcnl of tJreat Britain, in and 
 byitsttvcral acts pa.'scd on tbe 51h August IS!!?, 
 and on the 27ih June 1825, have imposed upon the 
 f introduction into tlitir North American I'rovintc?, 
 [ of Urcadstnlls, Atln s, Lumber, and various other ar- 
 ticles of Aniciican produce, such duties of impost as 
 in most casts practically lo amount to a prohibition 
 of trade and intercourse therein : And that in and by 
 the ln.tteract, it has actu;;lly prohiliitcd, among other 
 things tlicintrtiduction into the said Provineas, ofsall- 
 ed provisions from the United States ; iiicrebv etfeet- 
 uaMy depriving the inhabitants of this e::tti!sive and '. 
 hitherto gro\vlng frontier, of its accustnmcd trade 
 in 'he channels traced out by the Sngerof nature l.-.r- 
 self, and heietofo e freely used under the high 5;uic- 
 tions of the law of nature and natioi's, declared oi:d 
 conhrmed fur a great portion ol the period c|jp.-tu 
 sinoe the ori^anixation of our go^ernnuut, byau;ica-[ 
 bie treaty reputations — measures leiiding in their ef- [ 
 fects, if not seasonably :-iid eHectually counteracted, 
 to iinjjoverish t be natural resources, undci mine the ■ 
 f'rosperity, alarmingly to reduce the population, and: 
 contequcntly to sHp the strength of tliis important , 
 border of the Union : Which acts r.:id all their provi- : 
 sions, whether they have tlieir oii^iiii in the prLd etcr- 
 niined hostility, of the Brrtish^rtnraaT.niTrnTVTTrrn^r-r-,^ 
 tent <cvelopement» in relation to her general Colo- 
 nial policy, i,j ft regards the Uni-ed Slates,, atiords 
 some grounds to fear ; or vvhethcr they are to be at- 
 tributed to a total disreg->rd of our unqucstionab.e 
 rights, ivhen their e.^ercisc may be deemed to come in 
 collision with the interests of Ihut gi.verninent ; — 
 ought to be met by calm, yet determined opposition, 
 and to be counteracted by all the means which either 
 Providence or fortune may have placed within our 
 react-. 
 
 The national lesislulurc is .ilso well advised of the 
 fact, that by tiic final establishment of the bouiidarj 
 line between the United States and Canada, ivhich 
 lies between the point whe;c the 'toUi degree oi north 
 latitude slriUcs the river St. Lawrence, and Lake ,Su- : 
 perior, as settled by Ihe commissioneis ot both go- 
 terninents, under the 6;.h article of ll'.e treaty of 
 Ghent, the sever.-.l islanoG in that livcr, Unown on 
 the-maps or charts thereof, by the n-itnes of Upper 
 Long Sault Island, Lower Long S.iuit L«land, and 
 Barnharl's Island, belong to the United Stales ; 
 whereby, and by the nature of the navigation, the . 
 only practicable route for loadtd boats desceiiding j 
 the said river, is t+irough and upon, exclusively Ame- | 
 rican waters, on the southerly side o! said isl.inds lor : 
 a distance of about fifteen miles ; thereby enabling j 
 this g.ivernment to control the use of those waters, 
 and to impose, by law, such countervailing duties or 
 burthens on loreign vessels and their cargoes, entering 
 tlie san:e, as stund policy, and Ike ends of equal jus- 
 tice may require. 
 
 If iHie undersigned have ajust coneeplion of the in- 
 tended operation ol the late British Older in council 
 jn relation to the Colonial trade, the trade of this ; 
 Frontier with the Frovinees iairnedluU'y adjoining 
 thp United Stales, is not direally prohibited try the 
 terms of that Order. But Ihe undersigned need only 
 1o refer rour.'.onorable body to the provisions e: lie 
 BluremeiitioncU acts of the British Parliament, to 
 briisg to every mind tlie assured conviction that tlie 
 praiiiiea! etltct ol those provisions of exaction and I'l 
 prulnbiiisn, iii and must continue to be, the entire 
 di:.-liuctionof that uade: adcstruc-ion much more' 
 cemplc'.e and absolute than that of the trade between 
 the sea-board of tilt United Stales and the Brilish 
 Wett indie?, by reason of that order ; inasmuch as, \ 
 inthe caseofyonr iHemoriuhsts, nature has furbidden , 
 tacm any resort to circuity of voyage to a market, ! 
 ti.rouL-h anv intermediate neutral r-ort, and the el- 
 forts ol art have nut yjit, b y cterconii og the ujjstacles ' 
 
 ol nature, opeiiLd any internal cuaimunic.alion to any 
 ofour own domestic markets. ' _ 
 
 TheOrderin Council, and Ihe aforesaid restric- 
 tions imjiosed on the articles of trade passing doivn 
 the St. Lawrence, are only diflerent incRnstb at'ain ! 
 the same end, tlie destruction of our iiade with the 
 IJritish West Indies, and vrilh, or ihrough the Cana- 
 dian ports ; and stem to. call for equally strong mea- \ 
 .Hures to countervail their efliicts. ' | 
 
 Your memorialists reposing the most entire confi- ] 
 dence in ihe wisdom of C-ongieiiB to devise the best 
 ^'"■asu.'^s of redress f'u' the unexampled sui'erings 
 Nm-.icIi th^y endure byreuspu 01 their utter exclusion 
 li email foreign or donnsllc markets for the bounti- 
 iiii and rich produciionj of their forests, their ores, 
 their queiriLS. and their feitile soil, inhsbited by 
 siurdy freemen, destined to become, in lime of peril, 
 (lie del'ciulers o^liis exposed frontier, are content to 
 a;.ide ihe decisions, and to support the measures ' 
 iviiich that wisdom shall adopt. Hut they cannot 
 fo'-bear, respectfully to suggest to that bodyi'-hose 
 acknowUdged duly itis to e>:tCid equal protccfion o,'' 
 1.1! — ihat, satisfied, as they mu;t assuredly be, iliat 
 iarlher negotiation atlords no reasonable | rospect of 
 relief, it is the tlelibcrate opinion of your mcmorial- 
 i^ls, that it is the urdouhled right, if not the iii-':uin- 
 'lent duty of the National Lfgislatuie, to impose hy 
 aw, upon Biirish nrcducis pti'siiig through or upon 
 
 le aforesaid An. eiieau waters oJ li.e fet. Lawrence 
 
 ivur, duties of transit, coiiespoi.ding in cniouni 
 villi those imposed by tlie British act of June -27th, 
 '1S26, on Ameiican p-ioducts pas.-ing into the Cana- 
 das, and in every respect counterv.iiling the provi- 
 sions of the said act of Parliament; thereby visitin,^- 
 npuii our commercial rival the evils of her own po- 
 lo y. and making a strong appeal to her interests and 
 convenience. 
 
 Your memorialists therel"ore proy your honour- 
 able body that such law may be parsed ; or that your 
 honcurable body, as well uilh a view to the future 
 jnililftry defence, as to the ftiii-.anent prosjieriiy ol 
 this Fronlier, will adopt such other measures as 
 Khali, by allording an interior conininnicuiion ivilh 
 the markets of the United States, produce the de- 
 sired relief ol this sullering sretion of the Union. 
 Ai.tl your inemoralists as in duty bound, will ever 
 pray. JABEZ Vv'lLLES, Chairman. 
 
 I)avid C. Judson, Seeretari'. - , 
 
»:^ LJ Cj L> ti i^ : 
 
 THURSDAY, lllh JA\WAnY, 1827. 
 
 The New- York papers of the 7,rA iii<itant contain advices from 
 Paris of the ISth November and 16th from London. 
 
 No mention is made vi' the 24'h Novembei* packet ship. The 
 vessels from Europe at New-Yurk have had stormy passajrcs. 
 
 TJle KnirlisI) November mail arrived, via Hahfa.'C, thismornmn;. 
 
 The Legislature of the S:ate of New York met oti the Snd 
 inst. Mr. ( linton's -Message, uhich is gellerallv of some interest 
 here, has not been received 
 
 ' The Halifax papers are not received; but we have New-Bruns- 
 wick papers of ihe '27ih ultimo. These papers stale, upon cerlain 
 information, that the author of the pamphlet on Ihe boundary 
 line is Henry 131iss, Ksquire, the agent of that Province in Lon- 
 don. 
 
 THE BOUND ARY LINE. 
 
 A long extract was given in the last Gazette from the pamphlet 
 n-cently published in England on the IjourMiary line between 
 New-Drunswick, Lower Canada, and the United Slates. After 
 reference to the late Emperor Alexander, under the Treaty o^ 
 Ohent, and no decision had, the question of this boundary has 
 Idtely been agaitl Ihe subj^■ct of negociation. li\ as is alledg'd. 
 this pamphlet is published viith the sanction of Government, the 
 negociattons are not in a promising way. 
 
 The writer of the pamph'et is well informed, and his observa- 
 tions generally correct. lie is wrong, however, in his opinion of 
 the incapacity of the Briti^h negoci itors of the Treaty of 1 7.-t-", 
 arid does too much honor to the Amerie-tn negociators. 'J'lie 
 boundaries, unfavourable, we admit, to Hritish power on this 
 Conlinetlf, were irrevocably decided long before the Peace of 17.^.~. 
 The moment ihat it was settled that the Old Colonies vvere to be 
 iiidepenilent, there could be no dispute about their bound;irie--. 
 They must be -snch as thev had been acknowledged before, by the 
 Mother Country and the Coloni s- For the Hritish Negociators 
 to obtain any thing more, would have been, afier the whole had 
 been granted, to ask to retain a part. It would have been an ut- 
 teily in.'*dmissible proposition. 
 
 The boundaries fixed by the peace of 1785, were in fact the 
 boundaries acknowledged before the tTOiible? by both parties- 
 
 'i"he British Government had always claimed against that of 
 France the middle of the Great Lakes and the River St- Lau- 
 rence, till intersected by latitude ^S, thence the height of land. 
 to that part of Nova, Scotia now New- Brunswick- The IJritish 
 prfctensions had gone further, but they had settled down to th^'se, 
 before th- Cession of Canada by France, and the limits of the 
 diiTcrent Provinces were not considered to have extended any fui'- 
 ther. The extension of the Canada boundaries, by the Quebec 
 Act of 1774, was one of the grievances com|ilained of by Con- 
 gress. The question of boundaries had been a fertile subject of 
 dispute between England and France, and the .'American negoci- 
 ators could alway.s throw in the teeth of the British negociators 
 the pretensions of their own Government. 
 
 Theae pretensions sti-l furnisdi the strongest support of the Ame- 
 rican claims : hut it is only a pretence. The boundary is as well 
 defined by the Treaty of 178.3, as it could be. It i.s the boundary 
 of ITgj, as fixed by the King's Proclamation of 7th October of 
 Ibat yi-.".r, and act]uiesced in by all the Colonies concerned, the 
 same Colonies who were parlies to the Peace of 17So. 
 
 The following are the words ot the Procinmation. " Crossing 
 " the River Saint Lawrence and Lake Champlain in forty-five 
 - fii-gi-ces of T-orth latitude, passes along the high lands which di- 
 
 * vide the Kivers that emptv themselves into the said River St. 
 
 * Lawi'ence from those which fall into the seas; and aho along 
 ' [he North Coo:it of the Baie of CItoleurs and the Coast of the 
 ' Gahih -»/* ?/>jw/ f.nwrence to Cau Hosiers,^' &c, 
 
 Tlic part of the description in Italics Ins nothing to do with ilie 
 mund.ry in question, it wus the north boundar^of Nova Sco- 
 ;ia. out of which New.-Krunswick has since been 'formed. 
 
 'Ihe Treaty of 178.'. adopts the boundary of the Proclamation 
 of 17G3, acknowledged by both parlies. •■ From the north-west 
 " angle ot Nova Scotia, viz, that angle which is formed bv a lint; 
 ■' due north from the souih«f St. Croix to the high lands :' [dear- 
 " ly the height of land where the waters tnrnl" alon"- the 'aid 
 Miigh^ands, which divide these Rivers that empty themselves 
 
 into the River St- Lawrence from those which fall into the At- 
 ■ lantic Ocean, [undoubtidlv the highlands as described in the 
 
 Iroclamaiion of 1765,] to the northnestermosl head of Con- 
 ' neclicttl River, thence down along that River to the forty-sixth 
 
 degree ot n-rih latilude ; from thence by a line due west." &r. 
 
 It IS astonishing that there can be 
 Tl: 
 
 ny dispute on the subject. 
 
 rhe north-" est angle of Nova Scotia is not left undetermined- 
 t IS a tine from the source of ihe St. Croix due norlh to ihe hi"ii- 
 ands : the height of land where the waters turn, and ilience alon.' 
 he said highlands, still following the turn of the waters, ac.ordin" 
 o lire description of the Proclamation of 176.5, the acl-novvledg.U 
 joiindary at lb-; time the Treatv was made. 
 
 Never, at the timetne Treaty was made could there be any in- 
 ;ention ot any olher boundary than that of 176J. of carrvin" the 
 American line, not from ihe " nortli-west angle of -Vova Scu7ia," 
 he norih boundary of which was the Ray of Chaleiirs, but from 
 miles norlh ol that boundary, within three leagues of the li.- 
 'er St. Lawrence. The Bnti,h authorities who solf.-n-d the line 
 
 be prolonged oneinch beyond the turn of the waters duenorih 
 )t the source of the St. Croix, were to blame, not the n-gociaiors. 
 
 1 he source of the St. Croix was determined in the most unf^v,,- 
 ■able manner to ihe Rnlish ; but ooihmg cool,! justifv ihe ad.ni.- 
 ■ lon ol any prcieu-sion to ^o beyond ihe rirst high lands- or where 
 he waters turn. This is ihe point of dep.irlure of ihe b .und.ii ■ 
 o he follow,.,! lo the weMermost head of the Connecticut River, 
 Itid any common man could draw ii. 
 
 Thec|iesii,m is one of strict jusiice, each parly is entifed to 
 he biiuodaries of ihe Irean, let the con^eqnenc' 
 nay. If iheyshould lie inconvenient j that is a 
 j-ilion; an I siiiely two enlightened nations, like Great B 
 md the United Stales, ought to wish nothing but momal convi;- 
 nenee in niiitters of boundary as well as in all olhiis. They 
 lave nolhmg to gam by quarrels; and in this point of view rv'a 
 lepivcale ihe iniemperate language of the i>amphlel, and several 
 it Ihe newspapers, Home as wtll as Provincial. Th 
 vho can be ihe most successful in this w >r ixf w,,,--! 
 
 es be what thev 
 a mailer of negn- 
 "lit lin 
 
 TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1827- 
 
 BRITISH CLAIM TO PART OF .MAINE. 
 We have deferred the publication of 
 the following article ; but we think this 
 is a proper st^.as.on to present it to the 
 public, i,n order that the people of this 
 State — and that the people of this coun- 
 try may know the grounds on which the 
 British Government supports its claims 
 tl about one third part, comprising ten 
 thousand square miles, of the territory 
 of Maine. The following view of the sub- 
 ject is taken from- a pamphlet, published 
 in Loudon last Oct .which by the Brit- 
 ish has been generally considered as ad- 
 vancing the opinions of their govern- 
 ment respecting this territory, and to 
 have been issued under its authority. 
 
 '■First. A tract of Land, highly valuable for- 
 its e.xtetit, quality, anil situation. It comprises; 
 upwards of 10,000 square miles ; is covered with 
 a ifiinkand lofly growth of tlie finest timber (the' 
 native beauty of the country has not escaped the 
 observation and praise of the American Agents ;) 
 it is wi tered by frequent lakes and rivers, tlie St. 
 .folin and its numerous branches, communicating; 
 with the sea, by s.ife and uninterrupted naviga-' 
 tion (with t'le exception of the Grand Falls, wliich 
 may be easily overcome ) and flowing into and 
 through our actual Teiritories, of which tiiey arc 
 naturally a portion. This tract is at present very 
 partially cultivated, and thinly peopled ; but the *' 
 pretensions of the United ■ tales once reiiioved.i 
 it would immediately heoccupied. No part of 
 our foreign possessions offers more encourage- 1 
 ment to the emigrant than this district ; and if| 
 Government will be evei persuaded to take up 
 ^nd ponduci the busine.ss of Emigration, in a 
 manner w.uthy its results to toe Empire and 
 mankind, there is no place where it should soon- ■'■ 
 er be our care to establish a body of loyal and / 
 industrious Settlers, who, ceasing to be a burthen ; 
 liere, would there add strength to our dominions- K- 
 and in a very critical point- !**' 
 
 '• Secondly- An object of higher impt^rtanci^ 
 is a defensibfe line of frontier. To establish an 
 arcinnius Boundary between the two Countries 
 in this quarter was as clearly the intention of the j 
 Treaty as it is indispensably nece-ssary for ours 
 iSecuriij'- If the present claims of the United I 
 State^re conceded, and they pass the River St. 
 John, or even they reach or possess its westernl 
 bank the whole Province of New Brunswick lies! 
 al their mercy. Occupying the upper part of j 
 such astieain, the country below could never bef 
 protected, from contraband trade, in time ofl 
 peace- nor from invasi m in time of war- AllF 
 the difficulties of preparation and transport, fori 
 attitok^will then be overcome with security with- 
 in their own territory, and their descent in ours 
 will only otfer increased facilities in proportion as 
 they ad< ance- The only line of division, which 
 can distinctly separate the two countries, and 
 secure the weaker, as in this (|uarter Great Brit- 
 ain must be consideied to be, against the aggres- 
 sion of the other, is to divide the heads of rivers, iv-- 
 ngreeably to the principle of the Treaty, by thej" 
 high lands from i\Iars Hill Indeed, it is not tool 
 much to affirm, that this is the only practicable I 
 Frontier, which ihe relations of the two Powers,! 
 aiidthn gei.graphy of the Country can admit- — I 
 Tlie bouiijaiy must be either Mars Hill, or the! 
 Isthmus oi' Cumberland, or the Penobscot- Al 
 nietidiaii line over such an extent of territory, 
 intersecting rivers in such a manner, can never 
 P-xist- A (iivision.full of inconveniences fortwo; 
 paiislios, and almost impracticable for counties, 
 in the same kingdom, can hardly answer h 
 tween two nations, having a common language,! 
 opposite maxims of government, incessant inter-! 
 rouse, conflicting interests, and mutual and un-l 
 disgt-Lsed jealousy and rivalry ot each olher,such| 
 a frontier can only produce continued collisionj 
 and endless disputes, and must sooner or later,] 
 end in a strugtil'-', which if iheie be no other Te-j 
 cnnrse, Gre:it Britain had belter anticipate then] 
 defer. 
 
 Americc'm.^, 
 
 It will be in vain that the possession of Gi and 
 Menan has confirmed to us the control of the 
 Bay of Ftiiiday, or that again eizing the mouth 
 of the Penobscot, that conlroul may be secured J 
 and e-xleiided ahmg the adjacent American coas!,' 
 if the United States are thus to acquire in our 
 rear the command of a river which flows through 
 the midst of New Brunswick, and whose variuifs 
 branches communicate, by an easy navigation, 
 with almost every quarter of the province- The 
 immediate consequence to be apprehended must 
 be in the case of a rupture with that Power, the 
 tittack and conquest of this Colony, and it may 
 not be without use to anticipate the remtrter, but 
 no less important, and no less probable consc, 
 queiices. The neighbouring province of Novaj 
 Scotia becomes c-xposed lo almost every point o; 
 attack .n-om llie mouth of the same stream. — The 
 3t, John, by one of the greatest curiosities of na- 
 ture, f;re,seiit3 difficulties at its entrance, which 
 migi'i b". easily so strengthened that no force 
 froi.i ,:e I could peno'rale it. Here then the en- 
 emy ■/.■iMild have every convenience and security 
 forp-'P iriug theit flotilla, and would expect in 
 safety iheir -opportiinity for crossing, by a few 
 hour-i i,,.orsR, lo tile opposite shore. Nor could 
 any na' al superiority prevent the occurrence, or 
 rep.'ir the eft'ects of such oppo'rtun. ties. The na- 
 ture t' ih^' Bay of Funday rendeis the assistance 
 of ships ,:" war uncertain in summ*;-, and in win- 
 ter their very presence inipraclicable Thus the 
 natuial defences of the Isthmus of Cumberland 
 would be turned, taken in the rear, or become 
 useless, and ins ead oYa long, difficult, and cir- 
 cuitous niaich to the strongest- aiid perhaps an 
 impiegiiahie entrance of that province, the ene- 
 iny gain (Ire choice, and access to the weakest; 
 and in ti- e days an American army from the 
 mouth oliii* St- John, might be blockading the 
 forts and snips in Halifax harbor- But it is hard- 
 ly necessi'.ry to inquire how long Nova Scotia 
 could be retained, were New Brunswick lost, or 
 how long Halifax or any olher place defended, 
 were Nova ^';otia overrun, or how long the A- 
 morican coast could be blockaded, or even a su- 
 perior fleet liiaintained in those waters, iviih no 
 harbor f^ir shelter or repair to the northv\'ard of 
 the Bermnda and westward o'Treland(though per- 
 haps one mi^hl reasonably extend the considera- 
 tion of these consequences so far as to question 
 the srifety of our West India commerce, or even 
 the possession of these Islands, and still more the 
 security of Newfoundland, and the fishery on its 
 banks) : it is >utiicient, that »/ithout any preten- 
 sion to military science, it must he obvious to a- 
 ny one, who either has any acquaintance with the 
 country, or even considers its situation on the 
 map, that the acquisition of such an ■advantage by 
 an enemy, and its loss on oiir part, must greatly 
 increase ifieir chances of conquest, and the cost 
 and difijculty of our defence- ■ 
 
 " 3d- The third consequence involved in the 
 feettlenient of this boundary, is the connection to- 
 gether of the British Colonie-s, and their commu- 
 nication with each other- That wedge of terri- 
 tory which the United -tates are endeavouring 
 to drive up between Canada and New Brunswick, 
 will mos' eflcctually separate the upper and low- 
 er divisi,uis of our possessions in America, and 
 expose the frontier of the former province no less 
 than it commands the occupation of the latter.— 
 A Ion;- and narrow strip of land, scarce thirteen 
 miles in width, along the shore at the entrance 
 of the St. Lawrence (which is all thev would hi 
 
 ie 
 
 this quarler, on the right bank.) can- 
 
 no' bo cnnsiilcred n very tenable possession. 
 
 Th 
 
 on of tho river becomes endangered, 
 
 flh! 
 
 and the very passage of ihe mails extremely 
 
 cui'oiis, and extreme 
 
 tion of 
 
 Dm 
 
 y precanoiis- 
 
 The sii 
 
 vick renders it the centre ofj 
 
 our cmpl.e on that conlineni, anil the teiritoryl 
 in question is the very j.'oint of union ; and as a 
 
pru Jeht commander would lescrve his chief forcej- 
 ,ind vigilance fur the protecliun of lliut possession! 
 which secures llio oonnction unci su|)port ofeai;li! 
 i:.\tremc, noless anxiely slioiild hu shewn by U; 
 u'ary Government along the line of its duinin- 
 ions, more especially if so critical a pan lias al- 
 ready attracted the desires, and even the at- 
 lernpls, of out advers^iiy. In a commercial: 
 as well as political view, this coNnexion has now 
 becoino of consequence, and the course of tli- 
 lure events may prove it far more important. — 
 For if the Union of all the Colonies under oneL 
 general government, as is soinc times suggested, a 
 should ever lake place ; or, if by any unfori-| 
 seen exigency, the lies between tliein and the j 
 IWollier Country, should ever become less inti- 
 miiie,or less ettectoal, such a communication and I 
 connexion would become to them an important I 
 'bund of union, and Would create and secure al 
 coniauinity of feeling and interest, and prcvcntl 
 their lalliiig separately, into tlie hands ot tliuti 
 Lneighbournig Kepublic, whose power and com- 
 merce already threaten to rival Great Britain,! 
 and to whose increase, cxcejjt in the present in- 
 stance, we do not linow what other oppoitunity j 
 will be ever found to prescribe a limit. 
 
 '' ^Mh iiiit if these cunsuleraiioi.s apjicar of[ 
 remoter interest, there are others more iniinedi- [ 
 ate, and perhaps moie impurlant. For ills nuti 
 mere y liiu communication bet een the ^ 'oloni'S I 
 thems' ives that is at stako, hut iliu ouininunica- 
 lion between the Cunadiis and the _ ea - between i 
 the Caniidas and fireai liritaiii. During eight] 
 months ofthe year, from the Ist of rfepiomber j 
 to "slhy not even an aiisiver from i-'nglandj 
 to any in;elligence from Quebec can be there! 
 received, except through th. United Stales, url 
 throii^^li the province of >ew Brunswick .'^up 
 posing the Utter communication interrupted (as I 
 it will be most effectually, if any other bounda- 
 ry is accepted, but that claimed by his Ntajesly'sl 
 i'ommissinners,) it may easily hi' conceived [ 
 what advantages an enemy in that counti y would I 
 possess, who di(|pld commence hostilities a littlel 
 iiefore that period, in the month of August orl 
 .July) and liius have nearly a twelve montli loi 
 o\errun those Colonies, buf re they ctjuld 
 ceive the assistance of a single man, or a sr glel 
 musket, from the Alotlicr cuunlrj; whose arma- 
 ment, on arriving, the next June, mighi possi- 
 bly find the enemy encamped on the Heights J 
 of Akram, oi their very Hag on the walls ofll 
 Quebec. Or if the ^ation with whom we iiavel 
 to contend were sucli as would probablv over- 
 look this advantage, still shoulu any isa'ster oc- 
 cur in the, course of the war, low injuriuus must I 
 be so long a delay, and how frequenily musti 
 succour arrive too late. In short, is it iu.possi- 
 ble for Great Uritain to retain and defend a coun 
 try, from which she would not only bo so per- 
 fectly severed, by distance and climate, but -fl 
 the very occurrences in which she must remain f 
 I n u^tei ignorance, during the greater part of! 
 jthe year.' 
 
 I " it IS not merely a route to convey the mails I 
 that is wanted (which t!ie Amr-ic.ns woul. very j 
 spec.ously olFr by a proposed exch .n.e oi ter-l 
 riiory, ieaviiig us the lefi sid ofthe Mudawas-I 
 ka, tor an equivalent on the right ofthe ^t. John, I 
 and which even then would continue at their ( 
 mercy), hut a JMitary Lin- of communicali' i; 
 llie mei.us of transporting lioo|is and siores, from | 
 "it John, or llalitiix, to Quebnc, with c.inven- 
 ience aid .-ecurity. The adva t,g. s of iliis 
 Line has been ilrrndy in some measure percei- 
 ved. Uuringlhe late war, ie,imen!s were mar- 1 
 ched through, and salors transponed, in the I 
 depth ofwinler,with perfeit saiely,toihc jpper^ 
 provinces, where thiir arrival were very sea ■ 
 s nable ; and similar, and lar more extensive, f 
 Ijcannotfail to he rc.cived, regretti.d, in case ofl 
 future conflict. Such is th-f importanci: ofl 
 preserving this c minunicatinn, that the preseatJ 
 BoiMioary question can h.ird^y be conside cd lul 
 any oiher lishl, than as involving the que-.iionl 
 of theexpedi: ncy of retaining or reli; qaishin" 
 ihe whole of the British Colonies in .North of| 
 ■America. 
 
 " li would really apper to be faintly perceived.) 
 or seldom considered, among us, how formida-l 
 hie 11 rival \^e must one da\ havo to contend B 
 with in the Uiiiied Stales ; liow rapidly lliiild.iyl 
 Is approaching . and how ninmenlous must be j 
 ihe is.'iiic. At so great a distance, and lonip; 
 atively of minor inlerest, little is here obscrvodl 
 ofthe iiilri uing, ambitious, and imperious i liar- 
 actei of a fcop'e and Governme t, who consid- 
 er every thing ihey can claim and reach, as al- 
 really iheir own, and every thing Ihey cannot, 
 as an oijtiry to be borne only till ihey have ; 
 quied urdior strength. In the vey terms of al 
 previous concession thiy can lind subject for| 
 fiesh demands U itli reciproci.lv lor evei 
 their mouihs, they can induce i toelaxuurl 
 syslem ol navigaiion, ai d yield tl m commer 
 ciaj advantages, which ihey can i, iseordehi) | 
 to return and seem to th n;. cund ct, vvhith 
 private ile would b-- thought liti.e cnnsisieml 
 with good failh, to bo the poof of policy onl 
 their part or of wealincss upon ours. Yet, to 
 whatever suhtHity ihey may dcsci nd on sonr 
 occasions, the boldneps of their nicagures r»n I 
 others boars no proportion to the imbecility ■ tl 
 their pnsent pov cr bu' seems to assume allT 
 Ithe importance of their fulure expectations; 
 Band as II the vast comltrie^ of the VVest were 
 now too liitlc for their increase, or were alreao}- 
 hu', Ihenieiins of acquiring iiioie. wo en ijicm 
 grasping, with one hand the sliores of the CJiill* 
 of Mexico. «i reaching willi Ihe olhet altho Gull 
 of .St. Lawrence lortily ns the mouth oTiiie 
 Columbia, on that -ido of ilio glole, intriguing 
 and ihrealcn'ng for a port in the Meoitcrrane n 
 upon this i at one time, forbidding any naiiou 
 to colonize iho coasts of the Pacific, and dicta- 
 ting, a' all llier, t the new Kopublics if Ihe 
 South, r.ot to touch the Havana : and now, al 
 last, publiclily proclaiming by tin message of 
 their President, lliat their fiirmer subniission 
 t'l bell gercnt rights can only be remembered 
 with the resolulio ■ of never enduijng it agnin 
 '(** hai is this but to say. ihat if any nation will 
 to war with Cireat Britain, Ihey stand ready 
 to join them .'j Their atlenipt to seize, their u - 
 willingness to relinquish, their vciy dem nd il 
 the teiitory in question, is a striking indi ation 
 ol their presenl airas,an'' future measurer^. Fo. 
 why d" ihey thus covet the po-session of so an- 
 gular an't insulateda tract, as if they had not al- 
 ready morn vacant land than they can people 
 for centuries.'' 
 
 " Why, but for the injury and insult it must 
 inflict upon I'teal Britain.' For surely the in- 
 jury to ihe securily of the F.mpire will not !e 
 greater than the insult iifton its policy, ifthev^ 
 have any argiment, by which we csn be per- 
 suaded, th t the North west angle of Nov.i 
 Scotia, which France once had al the source 
 of the Kennebet , England at the Penobscot, and 
 the Americans themselves in 83, agreed was at 
 the South of ihe --t. John is in point of fact, at 
 the month of the ■-t. Lawrence The secret is 
 that ihe Un.t -d Slates have long found the Bril 
 ish .-Vmerican Province? to be heavily on their 
 flank and r^ar, and overhang and command '.heir 
 coast. To throw offso efFertual a curb, and stili 
 more by the acquisition of their rosses.-ions, to 
 rid themselves ofthe sufteriority. or *■ ven ofthe 
 presence, ofthe British fleets in those waters ; 
 to get al ihcii mines, to monoiiolize the fish and 
 limber of Mnerica ; force themselves iti to he 
 West Indies, and force Grea' Britain out ; tlese 
 have be' n their constant objects, since their 
 first struggle for independence to the presc t 
 hour, ihtir eff"orts have as yft been unavai 
 ling, nor hav" ihey for the future, by arms at 
 least, any prospect of better success. In a few 
 vc'rs, these Tolonies will iiof'^ontaiii less tJian 
 two millions of inhabitants, who, in such a coun- 
 trv as America, are not to be ccmquered ; and in 
 the meantime, experience has shown, that " ilh 
 the protection of Gieat Britain ihey may he de- 
 fended : except indeed their natural barriers are 
 CO! ceded by n.-goiiation. au'l their connexion 
 and communication with each other sep'irated 
 and lost." 
 
 In presenting the foregoing extract] 
 
 I to the British public the London Morn- 1 
 I ing Chronicle introduces it with the fol- 
 I lowing remarl:s : — 
 
 " It hile the question is still pending, the 
 
 States of Massachusetts and .aine havethout'ht 
 
 proper to proceed to exercise acts of ownersh p 
 
 and sovereignty over a valuable district of the 
 
 province ol iN'ew Brunswick, included within the 
 
 line which they claim, but which has always 
 
 [been in the possession of the brilish local au- 
 
 I'thorilies. Upon a representation to the General 
 
 liGovernmenl of the United Slates, tliese agress- 
 
 iions wee directed to lie suspended till June 
 
 inexi.— llie alure of thewepr ceedings. and the 
 
 Jconsequence which would result from the cess 
 
 I'lon of the district in dispute, are well set forth 
 
 Tin a lain Address to the King, from the Coun, il 
 
 rand assembly of New Brunswick ; but th, con 
 
 Bequcnccs alluded to are still more precisely and 
 
 npraprehensively staled in the following extract 
 
 "bm the pamphlet in question." 
 
 COLO.NIAL AFFAIRS 
 
 The following is from the St. John, (S. B ) 
 'Gazette. .\3 further illustrative of ihe disposi- 
 Itions and views ofthe British Colonists relative 
 j to our intercourse we publish it 
 I The Committee ofthe Ch mber ol Commerce 
 in this ciiy we ate informed have lately had 
 several niec'ings, and manifest a zt^al an.j dil- 
 ligence on the subject of our commercial inter- 
 ests which is Iru' ly pr iiseworthy. 
 
 1 he prnsent is an eventful lime to the com- 
 
 meicial world. Great Britain has departed from 
 
 that system of maritime policy, upon whicli her 
 
 present greatness and prosperity has been founTJ 
 
 ded, and has made an experiment upon the 
 
 most exiensi\'e scale, and -^hich involves in it a 
 
 H great var'ety of inti-rests, but in consequence of 
 
 ithe policy adopted by the United .Slates, Ihe full 
 
 I operation ofthe system has been impeded , and 
 
 litis now to us proh'emaiicnl whether, as relates 
 
 I to the latte^ Goveriiineiit. it \v II ever berenew- 
 
 led, or wh'iher she can prevail upon Groat Bri- 
 
 I tain lo accede to her wshes, and thus place the 
 
 I free trade system upon permanent footing. 
 
 Upon a fiirmer occa-ion, we observed that our 
 ICounlry is too young, that our exports are to 
 new, and of too little value and that we caniiot 
 lunder present circumstances, navigate our ves- 
 Isels on suc.fe terms, as would enable us to com- 
 I pete with the Americans, and ensure us a fair 
 I proportion of benefit from the free trade system. 
 I We are still of the same opinion. 
 
 .U hile thi refore measures, pregn ant with ei- 
 llher great and 'asting benefit, or injury, to our 
 Icrimmercial interests are still p-nding, and while 
 I the I rilish iiovernnient, with truely maternal so- 
 I licitude is looking lo every part ofthe widely 
 lexteiidcd dominions lO obtain inforn'.tfition, and 
 1 to know how Iheir interests have been, or will 
 loeaflecledoy .hose measures— the mercantile 
 [community should be.stir themselves. They 
 I should, as far as llieir knowledge and experi- 
 I once' ill en'ble Ihem. lay a-ide prejudice, and 
 [look calmly into the subject, au'l view it in all 
 j its parts and beari s. in all its remote and'pro- 
 I bale consequ' nces - nd vi'hen such r-'presentalion 
 lis made lo his Majesty's Government, as this de- 
 lliberi'le view of the subject will justify, we are 
 Ifnily siitiFlled, that as far as our particular inter- 
 jest can be made to harmoniz' with the general 
 Jinterest ofthe nation, and of all concerned, they 
 ■'will receive their due shire ofxion'sideralion and 
 llittention. 
 
lA'^d-®!^^ 
 
 THURSDAY, IVZARCE, 1, 1827. 
 
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 North Eastern Boukbart. The Select 
 Committee of the State Legislature, to whom had 
 been referred so much of the Governor's Message. 
 as relates to this subject, have made a lengthy and 
 intelligent report, which we shall hereafter pub- 
 lish, in extenso. The committee appear to have 
 gone thoroughly and dispassionately into the in- 
 vestigation before them ; and to have availed 
 themselves, as well of the lights of former treaties 
 involving the boundary in question, as of the 
 terms of the treaty of 1783. By the treaty of 
 Fontainbleau, at the close of what is denominat- 
 ed the French war, in 1756 ; France ceded all her 
 claims to the Canadas and N<rfa -Scotia, or Acadia, 
 as it was called, to the English. In previous trea- 
 ties between those governments, respecting this 
 erritory, and the adjacent province of Maine ; 
 in which England held precisely the same relation 
 to France as the United States now do to England 
 — such recognition of marks and boundaries had . 
 been expected to be found as would furnish plain 
 'indicia for settling the controverted boundary. 
 And s late sensible writer on this subject, in one 
 of the Quebec papers, maintains, that in all nego- 
 ciatious calling in question the dividing lines be- ; 
 tween the two countries, there had been no differ- 
 ence of opinion ; but, that such termini had been 
 fixed upon and were in tlie common knowledge of 
 both parties, as would leave no difficulty in fixing 
 those lines when an actual survey should be order- 
 ed. This was said in vindicatiou of the British 
 Commissioners, whosigned the treaty of 1783 and 
 the treaty of Ghent, against the imputations of 
 ■weakness and want of vigilance cast upoi3 'hem ia 
 the late London Pamphlet on the subject of tliis 
 boundary. The Quebec writer asserts, that the 
 British and American Commissioners treated to- | 
 gether on terms of perfect equality ; and that the 1 
 fixtures and expositions of former treaties and the 
 commonly received demarking monuments of sep- 
 aration were before them, andm?de the basis of 
 the specifications in the treaty of 83. The commit- 
 tee of the Legislature, however, do not place any 
 reliance on any diplomatic acts anterior to that 
 treaty. In the context of if, they seek, and profess 
 to find, a sufEcient explanation of the terms and 
 references therein used. 
 
 Aecordinj to the commilleei the only ambiguity 
 in the treaty of 1783, where the North East boun- 
 dary is attempted to be defined, was, " wliich of 
 the rivers falling into the Bay of Passamaquoddy 
 and ultimately into the Bay of Fundy, was the 
 true St. Croix thereby intended." — The proceed- 
 ings under the treaty of 1794 have, however, set- 
 tled that difficulty ; by establishing the Schoodic 
 as the true river, and defining that river from its 
 mouth to its source, where the Commissioners of 
 both govarnments with due solemnity erected the 
 monument. After the adjustment of thai, which 
 seemed by far the greatest difficulty to be encoun 
 
 tered, the only remaining points of controversy 
 are the North-west angle of Nova-Scotia and the 
 high lands, as described in the treaty. And to 
 solve any doubts respecting them, the language of 
 the treaty is sufficiently explicit, in the minds of 
 the committee ; and we see no way to avade the 
 conclusions they arrive at. — The first part of the 
 second article of the treaty is as follows: — ".^nd 
 that all disputes Which might arise in ftiture.on the 
 Bubject ofth boundaries of the said United States 
 may be prev ited, it is hertby agreeif anddeelar- 
 «dj that th allowing shall be the boundaries, to 
 ■wit : From the North-western angle of Nova- 
 Scotia, to wit, that angh which is formed by a line 
 drawn due Jforlhfrom the St. Croix to (he high 
 lands, along the said high lands, tchieh divide those 
 ' rivers,uliich(v^j,tT/iliimielvei into the St.Ldwrence 
 from those whichfall into the Atlantic ocean, to the 
 North-westernmost head of Connecticut river — 
 thence down the middle of that river to the forty- i 
 fiifth degree of North Latitudf &o." j 
 
 Under the treaty of 1794, as was before remark- 
 ed, the true St. Croix has been established, and a 
 monument erected at its sc-urce. The only dc?bat- 
 able ground now to be passed over is on a line 
 drawn due North from said Monument, to a point 
 in the highlands ivhere the waters turn, that i?, 
 that flow Aitrthwardly into the St. Lawrence, 
 from those that flow Soulhernly into the Atlantic. 
 These are the only two classes of rivers recognis- 
 ed in the language of the treaty. And, to show 
 that no intermediate classes were iatended — or 
 such as might flow into the Bay of Chaleur or 
 elsewhere other than into the St. Lawrence— the 
 same explicit language is again ustedin the latter 
 part of the second Section of the treaty from 
 which we have already quoted. The words, de 
 scriptive of the boundary, there used, are the fol- 
 lowing : " East by a line drawa along the middle, 
 of the river St. Croix, from its mouth in the Bay of 
 Fundy ,to its source,&/rom its source direelly JVorth 
 to the aforesaid highlands, which divide the rivers, 
 thatfall into the Atlantic ocean-from those,iehichfaU 
 into the St. Lawrence." — The subject of this boun- 
 dary is again recurred to in the fifth article of the 
 treaty of Ghent ; and all rigrits relating to it re- 
 cognised as remaining as they were defined by the 
 treaty of '83. Ifthesource qf the St. Croixhad been 
 thought by the English government, before it was 
 established under the treaty of 1794, to be further 
 West than it was then found to be, opportunity for, 
 Degociatiug concerning it was presented when 
 treaty of 1814 was concluded. The expresj 
 guage of the treaty of 1783, twice repeati 
 the subsequent asquiescence in it by 
 more than thirty years, is a full answi 
 
 atruction of that treaty made by tvC,^v- ' 
 /£ Ojr- <i 
 
 Pamphlet. A discrepancy is tK>,'?x-"\, 
 Ije shown between the term? of «y •*/ 
 
 those natural motiaments and indkia, to which we ( 
 contend they have an application. If we recol- , 
 lect the reasoning of the English,writer, he at- ' 
 tempts, by an argument of no small subtlety, to , 
 show, that Mars-hill, the first high ground North ', 
 of the Monument, is the true height of land con- 
 templated in the treaty. This being granted, he 
 finds no difficulty in tracing along the high lands I 
 commencing there, and dividing the waters, that 
 flow South-westernly into the Penobscot, from 
 those, that flow South-easternly into the St. Johns 
 — until he arrives at the highland?, that divide 
 the waters of the Penobscot and Kennebec from 
 those of the Chaudiere. This argument is strength- 
 ened by showing, that those rivers are the first that 
 flow in the respective directions to the places of 
 destination mentioned in the treaty. The writer 
 also winds through an elaborate reduc/io adabsur- 
 dum, to prove that the British could never have 
 intended to grant to the jVmericans the military ad- 
 vantage of commanding the upper waters of the 
 St. Johns, and other rivers flowing into the. Bays 
 of Chaleur and Merrimichi, that would be cut oif 
 by the line set up by the Americans and brought 
 within our territory. — However reluctant thej 
 English government may feel to ooucede this ad- 
 vantage ; with the wide section, contained be- 
 tween a line drawn due north from the monument 
 until it reaches that point in the high lands, where 
 the -waters flowing into the St. Lawrence, divide 
 from those that flow into tlie .Atlantic, ajid a line 
 drawn thence along the hiaMsjid^ to the Connect 
 
 r 
 
 i icut — cutting off as it doe' 
 
 real route of th^ 
 
 r King's Mail between Canifda and Nova-Scotia,-^ 
 { there can remain no doubt, that such is the solemn 
 stipulation of the treaty. Let us not be told, that 
 Mars-hill is the highlands intended by the treaty 
 or that therd are intermediate waters between that 
 eminence and the high grounds near the St. LaW' 
 rence, that could not have been left undescribed! 
 in a treaty intended to convey them away. The 
 British government were a party to the establish- 
 ment of the monument. They, with us, cpai 
 mence at that starting point. The course to be 
 run from thence admits of no dispute. Both agree 
 in it. The only question is as to the length of the 
 line to be run due North. AnA here the-language 
 of the treaty is plain and explicit. It admits of no 
 I ambiguity ; nor is there any upon the face of the 
 j earth, to which it applies. The place where tlie 
 waters divide is designated. That there is such 
 dividing point cannot be duubted. It admits of no\ 
 doubt. No waters flow northwardly from Mars- , 
 hill into the .>t. Lawrence. If so ; let that be es- 
 tabbshed as the North-west angle of Nova-Scotia^ 
 according to the plain letter of the treaty ; which 
 describes but two classes of rivers ; one emptying 
 itself into the St. Lawrence, the o'her into the .At- 
 lantic. All the United States can desire is to have 
 !the boundary established according to the most ob- 
 ivious, natural meant g of the treaty. , . 
 
SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 1826. 
 
 Debateab\e Grov\v\d. 
 
 In aDQther part of our paper irill be fouDd 
 "An Address to His Majeity oq tbe subject 
 3f (be Boundary liae" by tbe Council and 
 House of Assembly of the Province of New- 
 Brunswick, wbich we publish for tbe ''amute- 
 ment of our readers on tbe rivers St. John, 
 Restook, ADi Madawaska." 
 
 Tbe subject is one, says a Correspondent, 
 of great national and local interest, and is 
 daily becoming more known and better un- 
 derstood. 
 
 The "Address" is an interesting paper;! 
 it breathes a spirit of loyalty and devotedness 
 quite becoming in one of "His Majesty's re- 
 inaining North American Colonies," and 
 ■gives a very particular account of the erigin, 
 history and progress of the settlements upon 
 tbe Saint John and Madawaska Rivers ; but 
 it seems to us to have forgoden that the 
 right of soil is not yet decided to be in His 
 Hajesly. 
 
 Tbe prinnipal ground of complaint is that 
 the Governments of Massachusetts Sf Maine 
 have recently attempted to disturb His Maj- 
 esty's possession, and the jurisdiction of the 
 Province in the disputed territory. 
 
 This is, impliedly, begginr Iha question, 
 bacause it does not yet appear that His 
 Majesty is rigJil/uliy in possession, or that 
 the Province of New-Bruriswiek has juris- 
 diction of the territory. This is the great 
 question between the two Governments, and 
 it may bc decided in favour of tks United 
 Stales. The address, however, considers 
 such a decision as im^nssible if due regard 
 be had to tbe rights of their Sovereign ; and, 
 assuming thai His JMajisty will be confirmrd 
 in his claims, thpy remark that "the tract of 
 CooDtry now in question does not and never 
 did </f jure form a part of Massachusetts or 
 ofiVlaioe." It is upon this basis that Iho 
 Council and House of Assembly have framed 
 their Address ; and we do not see why the 
 Legislature of M^ine, assuming that tbe ter- 
 rilovy in question does not and never did, 
 dejure, form a part of the Province of New- 
 Brunswick, misfht not, with equal propriety 
 complain to the President of the United 
 States of the numerous and unwarraatable 
 iittempts of the Go- rnroeut of the Province 
 to disturb the pus'sessinn of t^ie United States 
 and the jurisdiction of Maine and Massachu- 
 setts in the tract in question. In such an 
 address the numerous instances of the exer- 
 cise of jurisdiction enumerated with so much 
 particularity by the Council iod House uf 
 .Assembly might be cited against them, witli 
 as much propriety as the acta of tbe several 
 Agents of the U. S. and of Massachusetts and 
 Jdjiine, are adduced against our Govern- 
 ment, 
 
 Our neighbours should recollect that tbe 
 final adjustment of the Boundary line may 
 »hov* thein to have been aggressors since the 
 treaty of 17!t3, and we hope that such a re- 
 sollociion will restrain them from commit- 
 ting violence upon the Agents of our Govern- 
 ment whenever their official duties shall call 
 
 SATURDAY MOKNl.^G, MARf:H 25, 1826. 
 
 From Halifax.— \^e have received Halifax- 
 papers to the nth inst. At a meeting of the 
 Stockhoklei's of the Shubenacniiie canal, officers 
 for the fust year were chosen, resolutions were 
 passed to ih;ink the legislature for their grant ol 
 fifteen thousand pounds in aid of the canal, an(t 
 to accept the grant, to authorize the committee to 
 send for Mr. Hall the engineer, and directing 
 that subscriptions shall be solicited abroad. The 
 estimirted expense of the canal is £GO,000. 
 
 
 JVcw Brvnswick. — The Council and House of 
 Assembly of the province of New Brunswick, 
 have agreed to a joint address to the king, coin- 
 plaining bitterly of the attempts niKile by the 
 governments of Massachusetts and M?ine, todis- 
 turb the possession of his majesty, ajid the juris- 
 diction of the province in the tract of country on 
 tbe St. John, and Madawaska rivers. 
 
 Tlie address represents that the inhabitants of 
 the tract of territory in question are mostly 
 French Acadians and their descendants, the first 
 of whom removed there from the lower parts of 
 the country soon after the treaty of 1783, in the 
 full faith that they were planting themselves on 
 British territory ; that militia companies were or- 
 ganized there under the Government of the Prov- 
 ince as early as 1736; that the process of tbe 
 Courts of the Province has uniformly run there ; 
 that the inhabitants have voted in the elections of 
 the Province; and that the jurisdiction of the 
 Province has been in all respects exercised over 
 the territory without any disturbance, up to the 
 period of the treaty of Ghent in 1314, and till 
 the encroachments by agents of Maine and Mas- 
 sachusetts, afterwards specitied, in 1820, 1321. 
 and 1225. This tract ^of territory is included in 
 the claim made by both Governments before the j 
 Commission appointed under the Ghent Treaty | 
 to determine the boundaiy; and the address rep- 
 resents that if the British claim is confirme_d, the 
 tenitory in question does not dejure from a part 
 of Maine, anii de facto it is not and never has 
 been in the possessiori or under the jurisdiction of 
 Maine or Massachusetts, 
 
 The Legislature in their address maintain, that 
 the possession and actual exeicise of jurisdiction, 
 which existed at the time ol" making the treaty of 
 Ghent, the instrument which provides for a decis- 
 ion of any conflicting claims between the two na- 
 tions in that quaiter, should have remained sacred 
 and inviolate until that decision was made. They 
 say that the government of the province has done 
 no more than to exercise the ordinary powers of 
 sovereignty and jurisdiction, to which it succeed- 
 ed on the first erectiori of the province in 1784. — 
 In the exeicise of these powers, the licenses to cut 
 pine timber, so much complained of by Maine and 
 Massachusetts, had been granted ; but on com- 
 plaint being made of the granting of these licens- 
 es, the Britith government, from a spirit of con- 
 ciliation, had directed the government of the 
 province to abstain from the granting of licenses 
 to cut timber on the territory claimed by the U. 
 States. They say that from the disposition thus 
 evinced, by the government of Great Biitain, to 
 remove causes of collision, they feel imperatively 
 called on to represent the doings of the agents of 
 Maine and Massachusetts of late years within the 
 territory in question. They then pi'oceed to re- 
 late the measures pursued by the agents of Mas- 
 sachusutts and Maine, with some strong colouring, 
 and to protest against the exchange of territory, 
 suggested by the agents in their report. They ex- 
 press the hope that the British government will, 
 maintain the principle in relation to the boundary, 
 jwhich wilU'ave within ths territories of the re- 
 • spertive powers, the whole course ofthose rivers, 
 quite up to their sources, which have their mouths 
 within the same territories. 
 
I ■■ i --!-.j-_ajii_mi i m 
 LegisldtxiTe of JVew-BrunsivicL 
 
 House of Assembly, 1st March. 
 Mr. Parker, from (lie Committee ap- 
 poiDted to Join IhaCommitse ofCouncil,- 
 to prepare an address to his Majesty^ on 
 the subject of llie Boundary Line, be- 
 tween tlii« Province and the United 
 Slates of America, reported a draft oflbe 
 joint Address, which being read at the 
 Clerk's Table, was agreed to by the 
 House, and is as folloivs ;— 
 
 To THE KlMo's MOST EXCELLENT MiJKSTr, 
 
 The joint Address of Your Majesty's 
 Council and House of Assembly, of the 
 Province of New-Brunswick in Gener- 
 <ii Assembly, 
 
 Must huiiiblij ihe'-jceth, 
 
 "THAT the Council and House of As- 
 sembly view with great surprise and 
 concern the recent attempts made by the 
 Governments of Blassachusetts and Maine 
 to disturb the possesiion of yourMujesly, 
 and the juriadiclion of this Province in 
 a Tract of Country on the St. Jehu and | 
 Wadayvaska Rivers. | 
 
 "They beg leave hurnbly to represent 
 to your Majesty tliat tlie Inhabitants of 
 this Tract of Counlry, so far as it is s,n- 
 led, are, with the exception of a feiv 
 Persons, who have bituly become Settlers, 
 French Acadians, and their (iecuiidanij 
 the first of whom removed thither Irtim 
 the Icwer parts cf the Country, soon af- 
 tfir the Treaty of 1783, and the immeili- 
 ately subsequent erection* of Ibis Prov- 
 ince, under the iull t'iiilh that they were 
 jjlanting- themselves upon British Terri- 
 tory. That grants of their lands iveie 
 at the beginning of the settlement made 
 to the Selllers under the Great Seal of 
 this Province. That Militia Companies 
 were organized in' this setllcment by 
 General Cjihleto.\, the first Governor ol 
 this Province, at so early a period as the 
 year 1786. That Magistrates and Parish 
 Officers have been fvom time to lime ap- 
 pointe<l there undei the laws and institi;- 
 tions of this Province, and t!ie process of 
 Your Majesty's Courts in this Province 
 has uniformly run thither. That tiio In- 
 habitants vote at elections for the Coun- 
 ty of York in this Province, and that -jll 
 the powers of sovereignty and jurisdic- 
 tion iiave in fact been exercised by tiie 
 constituted authorities of this Province, 
 throughout the wiiole of this Tract o( 
 Country bordoriug, ootbe Saint Jobn and 
 Madawaska Rivers, in Ihe^samo manner 
 as in any other part of the Province, 
 without question or disturbaneo quite up 
 to the period of the Treaty of Ghent in 
 the year 1814, and from thence until 
 the recent attempts at interference which i 
 it is the present object of the Co.mcil 
 and House of Assembly to represent to 
 ' your Majesty. 
 
 ^Iris well' known that this Tract of 
 Country is included in a claim to a much 
 larger extent made by the Governnent 
 of the Unittid Slates, before the Cowmis- 
 sion that was establishsd under the iit'th 
 article of the Treaty of Ghent, for set- 
 tling the Boundary in this quarter, and 
 was also claimed on the part ofy our Maj- 
 esty, before the same Gomnsission as be- 
 longing to your Majesty. It would be 
 out of place on the present occasion to 
 enter upon the grounds upon ybicK the 
 claim on the part of your Majesty may 
 be supported, bui a5 in- some official doc- 
 Oments which have emannteil frura the 
 
 Ooi'Cfii'i.eiiU cC i\l,iino and M-,\iSrichu- 
 St^tlfl, it scums to be liuld out that your 
 Majority is claiming a part oi^ the Terri- 
 tory oflhuse St. lies, to the cession ol 
 which their consent must be oKiained it 
 is proper to ri'iimrk Ihat the question of 
 liglit between the two Governments must 
 be determined by the Provisions ef tlie 
 Treaty of naj, which prescribes the 
 line of demarcation, and that if what 
 your .M.ijesty claims as your just and un- 
 do^jblod right according to the (rne on- 
 siruction of tlwit Treaty be finally con- 
 lirnied, the Tract of Country now in 
 qiicslian does not and' never Mililejioi' 
 iwrm a p-irt of MaS'snchusetts oi' of Maine, 
 as J(:_/"i;i;fa it is nut and nerer has bflen 
 ill the possession or umler the jurisdic- 
 tion ol either of those Shites. 
 
 '■The Council and House of .•^'isemlil',' 
 coriCBivo Ihat upon every princjpie oi 
 Jovlica, and from a due regard tp the 
 fiitinJiy under.-'tanclitig happily subsisting 
 between the two Countries, the posses- 
 sion and aGtual exercise of jurisdiction, 
 which c.visled at time of making the 
 treaty of Ghanl, the insltument whicli 
 jjroviih'd for' a decision ';.■' any contlict- 
 ing claiiris bofvyeen the two nations in 
 this quarter, shoiild have reraainod p.i- 
 aied and inviolate uiilil.lli.it deci,-^!)! 
 may take place. The Gcvernmeiit o 
 this Province has dbne no more than t. 
 exercise the ordinary powers of Sove:- 
 eignly and jurisdietion,, to which it sue- ' 
 coeded on the first ej-eclion of the-Prov- | 
 mca in the year 1781, and lo which il j 
 iias ever since been accustomed, and it 
 w.is in this ordinary exerci'ie of ihose 
 p(jwcr3 that the Licences to cut Pine j 
 Tijijber, which have been so much com- [ 
 fimiaed' of by the Governments of Maine 
 and Masf-iichiiseris were issued — upon 
 these complainis being conveyed to your 
 Majesty by the General Government of 
 the United St«te&, your Majesty's Gov- 
 ernment with (hat spirit of conciliation ■ 
 towards the United' States which it has 
 ■uniformly exhibited directed" the Gov- 
 ernment of this Province to abstain from 
 granting Licences to cut Timber on the 
 Territory claimed by that power. This 
 disposition to remove grounds ofcom- 
 jlaiotj and greveat c^iisss of eollisioD. 
 having keen thoi evinced by your Maj- 
 esty, the Council and House of Assembly 
 feel themselves imperatively called up- 
 on to'r«pr««ent to your Majesty the do- 
 ings ot Public Agents of the Governments 
 of tbeUBited States, and ofthe States ef 
 Maine and Massachusetts of late years 
 within this Territory, thus being in the 
 actual possession and nnder the jurisdic- 
 tion and Laws of this Province. 
 
 "Ib the year 1820 the Marshal of the 
 District of Maiec professing to Act un- 
 der a Law of the United States commis- 
 iioned an assistant to go into the above 
 mentioned French Settlement commonly 
 known by the name of the Madawaska 
 Settlement, and there take an enumera- 
 tion of the inhabitants, as being within 
 the said District. This ennmeration was 
 accordingly made,.and the Inhabitants of 
 this Settlement included- in the public 
 returns, as Citizens of the United Stales, 
 and part ofthe inhabitants of Maine. J 
 
 '-In the year "1821 a Senator ofthe] 
 State of Maine, professing to act asanl 
 Agent of the Government of that' State, 
 oame into this Province, and seized and) 
 j marked a quantity of Pine Timber, ly- 
 ' ing in the River St, Jobn, within our.ac- 
 I knowleflged Bonndaries, far below the 
 Line claimed by the United States, as 
 liaving been cut on the River UestooU, 
 in the Territory of the United States; 
 (the pl.ice where this Timber was al- 
 ied^ed to have been out, being part ol 
 ibe Territory in dispute between tln^ 
 two Governments,) and induced the per- 
 sons who had this timber in po session, 
 lo give obligations for/payiog certain 
 suras of money therefor to- the Gov-err;- 
 ment of Maine. 
 
 '■b the last Vfiar^ 1825, the Govern- 
 ments ofthe Sta/es of Massachusetts ami 
 Maine,, appear deliberately to have .i- 
 dopled rne-jsures to subvert your Maj^s- 
 ly'-s actual possession and jurisdiction, in 
 all that partoflhe Tirritory claimed by j 
 iho United' Sjf'ilcs, which lies on the Si. { 
 John and Mudawaska Rivers. By Iv - 
 .solves of th/* LegislatBros of those Sliiii;.^ 
 uliich have been published lo the world 
 Land Agents were authorised to convey 
 lo tlie settlers in this Territory by Gon.l 
 aud suificleot Deeds, one hundred acres 
 each, ofthe Land by them possessed, lo 
 include their improvements on their le- 
 sppctivc Lots, -for a certain suet to. b(N 
 paid for the use of the said' Sisles. — 
 Thasc settlers, let it be remembered. 
 are your Majesty's- subjects,, the Lands 
 thus |iy them -posscsjed, are held bv 
 Grants trom the Crown, and these Lanils ' 
 and tba Inhabitants upon them, wliosi- 
 number now exceeds fifteen hundred 
 souls, have been- under your Majesly's 
 proieclioa and Sovereignty, and been 
 governed in quiet by the Laws of Ibis 
 Province for the last forty years. The 
 Laud .-^genls of the States above men- 
 linned, appear by their own showing, in 
 a Report -.vhich has also been publisbeu 
 to the world, lo have zealously executed 
 their Commission.. Early in the month 
 ofOctobsr last, they proceeded- lo Ihe 
 Ssltlsnient in. question commenced sur- 
 veyi-ng the Settlers Lots, to several ol 
 whom they m:>de deeds in conformity to 
 the above mentioned Resolves of the Le- 
 gislatures of the tv.'o States, and finding 
 there was not then time to complete their 
 Surveys, daemed it suiBeient to make a 
 lew deeds, and then pest up Notices of 
 the disposition of the State -towards the 
 Settlers, at the Catholic Churcb-,- and al 
 the Grist iMilis in the btfure mentioned 
 Settlement, ofyotir MaJL'st3''.s subjects al 
 Madawaska,. now under the jurisciiction 
 and Laws of this Province. They- ac- 
 knowledge ba-ring been informed,, thai 
 the Permits from the Government of this- 
 Province to cut Pine Timber,, tor the 
 approaching winter had been withdrawn, 
 aud reciprocate this Aci of nioderation 
 and forbaarance on the part- of your Maj- 
 esty's Governm<;'nt, ky appointing an A-j 
 gent at Madaw-aska, and another al the! 
 Kestook, with power to grant per-mits tol 
 cut Pine' Timber, on the same disputed! 
 Territor-y, which they alTect to consider 
 their cwn soil, and upon which your Ma- 
 jesty has desired frora exercising this 
 .-iccustotneci right toK S'overeigiily while, 
 the question of Boundary remains unde- 
 cided, ai the express instance of the Gov 
 ernment of the United 'Stales. They 
 
made what ihey ciill JoaHeiliarj. vi«ilii !o 
 rnsDV of the Sstllers, to whom they ex- 
 pliiin the ebjecfs- of their visit to the 
 CouDtiy, whom they state to have ex- 
 pressed great delight at the prospeel o( 
 i>etDg -received into the family o( MMtie, 
 to hrff e little coalidence in the value ol 
 their Grants, and to have made applica- 
 lion to the LegishUures of those States 
 :'or obtdiiiiag deeds of all the Lattds they 
 iiave in po-ssession, these Agents being 
 lutliorised to convey only one huodred 
 ;icres to each Settler, — not contented 
 with these measures in the disputed Ter- 
 rilorj, they proceed doivn- the River St. 
 John, into the iicknoivledjed and' unques- 
 tioned Territory of your Majesty and 
 there sovind the dispos!(i9ns ot yotir Maj- 
 esty's subjects, to become Citizens of the 
 United Slates,, upon a scheme of ex- 
 I'ehttBge of Territory which they profess 
 to set forth, and they report to the Gov- 
 erniaen';* under which they Act, that the 
 greater part of these Inhabitants would 
 be well pleased' with the exehntig-e. On 
 their return to their own country, they 
 recommiiad to the Governor of the Stale 
 ofMaine, and state it to have been ap- 
 proved of by hi.T), that two Justices of 
 Peace be commissioned, that a Deputy 
 Sheriff or Constable be appointed, that 
 oae 0? {go?! iiilitarj' districlj jje formed 
 at Madawaska, and at a saitabFe time he 
 so organized that they may have a Rep- 
 resentative in the Legislature of Maine, 
 that authority be granted to sell to the 
 Madawaska Settlers, the Land they have 
 in pessession more than one hundred A- 
 ores, for a reasonable consideration, and 
 Uhat a bushed winter road be cut from, 
 j the head waters of the Penobscot, in a 
 direction nean the head of the Restock, 
 Und coctinued to Madawaska or Fish Riv- 
 !er, the tract of Country through which 
 this proposed road is to pass, being also 
 a part of the disputed territory before 
 referred to. 
 
 "All- this appears by a document pub- 
 lished in the American Newspapers, pur- 
 porting to be tbe official "Report of the 
 Agent of the Land Office" of Massachu- 
 setts, and dated "Land OtBce, Boston,. 
 November 10, 1825.'" 
 
 "It might have been added, because it 
 is a well known fact, which has been ver— 
 iiied on oath, that these Agents also en- 
 deavoured to persuade the Inhabitants of 
 Madawaska not to attend a Militia train-, 
 ing than about to be heldunderthe Laws 
 of this Proviflce, and offered to some of 
 them if they would not attend, to psy 
 any fine? that might be recovered against 
 ihem for Iheiv delinquency. This at- 
 tempt however was unavailing-, tor the 
 General I^rainiog wiis held on ihp foiirlh 
 ofOctobsr last, in the settlement of Mad- 
 awaska, and upwards of three hundred' 
 meuuHder forty-live years of age were 
 present at it : And the Coimcil and As- 
 sembly ar/3 well per.saaded, that all the 
 other a't-empts- of these Land Agents to 
 seduce your Majesty's subjects, in this 
 quarter., from their allegiance, and to 
 shako their t-aith in their tille& to their 
 Land^, and in your Majesty'.'* support and 
 |pri)lcclioii, were cqi>:\!ly iijertetinril. 
 
 '■>fevertliel''3i the Ci^ir.cil isnd lJ:>iiic' 
 of Assembly cp.iiuot view tlrsu proceed- 
 ings of the Goverments of the Stales of 
 Miissachiiselts Qud Malna and of their au- 
 Uiorisad' Agents without great regret and 
 alarm. They cannot reconcile ihem to 
 those principles o( moderation and equi- 
 ty, which have induced the two natioii-5 
 of late years .so often to rel'or their dif- 
 llorences, as well with regard to disputed 
 pelnls oi Boundary, as to other malteis 
 of high import, to tribunals of their o>vn 
 selection for amicable adjiislmont, noito 
 that spirit of courte?y and conciliation 
 which. OHght: alw-siys to subsist between 
 friendly, pow.ers^ 
 
 "Uad any Peac| Officer of this Prov- 
 ince delected these L:ind Agc.Us in the 
 course of the proceedings above detailed, 
 it would have been their unquestionable 
 duty to have secured their persons, and 
 to have brought Ihem before the proper 
 municipnl tribunal in this province, tor 
 an infraction of your M.tjesty's Sover- 
 eignty in pieces under its actual exercise. 
 Forailhough j/our Majssly has- thought 
 proper to abstain from granting Licenses 
 to ycur Subjects to cut Timber on the 
 'wi'ldernffss Lands claimed by the United 
 States, the Council and House of Assem- 
 bly have not uwderstood that your Majes- 
 ty has abandoned or means to abandon, 
 .under present circumstances, any rights 
 of praolical Sovereignly which your IVia- 
 jt^sly has been accustomed to exercise in 
 any parts of the disputed territory, which 
 have been, and now are in tact occupied 
 and bald as British Setllemeots, and un- 
 'deryour Majesty's- jurisdiction: In con- 
 sequence ol'a remonstrance made by fbe 
 tjieiiie'nacl Go-varuor of this Province to 
 your Maj.?sty's Minis-ter at Washington, 
 'iind.by him conveyed to the Government 
 'of the United State, the Legislature of 
 .'\Iassachuselt,-i apjiears to have su-spanded 
 the exeeuiion of the Resolves above 
 moQiioned until their Session in the 
 month- oi'Jtme- next. But should fhese 
 Resolve-, or the additional measures re- 
 commended by the Land Agents of the 
 two Statep-, be .ullemplGd to be put in 
 force while the question of Boundary re- 
 mains u>.seltled ; it may be confidently 
 asserted that the Government of this 
 Province wjll not tamely surrender the 
 Sovereignty which has been uniformly 
 exercised in the Territory In question, 
 and the most unpleasaut Gollisjouo aiay 
 be expected to ensue. 
 
 "'Vbile the Couccii and Korise of As- 
 [sembly deeply feel the importance of a 
 speedy settlement ot this disputed Inmn- 
 dary, they can by no means accede to 
 the proposition for an iidj.ustn3ent made 
 by the Land Agents of the Staie of M.-ii- 
 I sachr.selts anil Maine, in tiie report above 
 alluded to in what ihay term an exchange 
 of Territory, by leaving to your Majes- 
 ty all the Land.s lying North Eastward of 
 Iho Rivers Saint John and Miuhiwaska, 
 and taking Ibrthe United States a portion 
 of Territory on the ^yest side of' the 
 River St. John as far down as Eel River, 
 far below the line now elaimed by the 
 the United States. This would be to 
 vary both the- Line and the principle of 
 Boundary in this quarter as designated in 
 the Treaty of 1783. There is moreover 
 engrafted on this proposition a right to 
 the ffse navigation and use of the River 
 St. J.ohu to its mouth, und such a cou)- 
 promise it is staled would be for the 
 mutual anvant^ige of the tv^ , Nations. 
 
 "The Council and Mouse of Assembly 
 humbly conceive that the inconvenien- 
 ces and disadvantages to your Majesty's 
 Interests of a River Boundary have been 
 already so much experienced in other 
 part's of your Majosty's North American 
 Dominions, as to render it altogether in- 
 expedient to adopt such a Boundary in 
 this quarter, esjfecii.ily if the consequence 
 
 ue tba.t 9. foreigi'i rial;on is to liava 
 ; right of navigation of a Great- Riv- 
 ing altogether within yoiir.Majesfy's 
 ■itories for a distance of near two 
 red nailes down to its mouth in the 
 of Fundy, and to a coast navigation 
 *m thence along your Majosty's Terri- 
 ries for a distance of sixty miles fui- 
 ner until it meets its own sea board. — 
 The facilities for illicit traiFic, the expo- 
 sure of frontier in. a military view, and 
 the conliol of the communications be- 
 tween your Majesty's provinces, which 
 such an arrangement would' affoi-d to a 
 foreign power, are in addition to the re- 
 linquishment of a large portion ef very 
 valuable Territory, most cogent reasons 
 against adopting it. The Council and 
 House of Assembly on the contrary en- 
 tertain the most sanguine hope, ihatyou.; 
 MAsty's- Government will (nainlain tlm 
 true principle on which the designation 
 of Boundary in this quarter in (he treaty 
 of 1783 was founded, namely to leave 
 within tha territories- of the respective 
 powers, the whole course of those Great 
 Rivers, quite up to their sources^ which 
 h.-ive their mouths within the same ter- 
 ritories. This is a principle in full ac- 
 cordance with that spirit of reciprocal 
 adi-aniago and mutual convenience, which 
 was the deciat^d object of the provision- 
 1 a! article-., of Peace, afterwards framed 
 > loto the treaty of 1783, which ,will make 
 the line of Boundary to be a substantial 
 separation between the two distinct na- 
 tions, will prevent that constant contact 
 between their respective subjects- that 
 inevitably lead.s to dissenliou and difficul- 
 ty, andwill'tend more than any one cir- 
 ; cumstance-lhat can be ntimed to preserve 
 the integrity of your Majesty's r-emain- 
 ii;g North. American Colenies.. 
 
 ■'Tl;e Council and House of Assembly beg 
 
 i leave with great liuciilily to lay this repre- 
 
 j seutali'.jn at llie (out of itio Tlirone. Tliey 
 
 ciieriah sviili iiniiicninlslied confidence llie 
 
 persu-isioo that your Mijesty will oonlinut 
 
 l,j bestow tlial gracious alleDlion and regard 
 
 l.j Ida rijjhts and inleresls of your- Norlli A- 
 
 [ iiienoan UoniiDions for which (liay have 
 
 bitlierlo had so mucti ret-sou to be jratel'ul.' 
 
SI. Joh7is Settlement — There are about two i 
 thousand inhabitants of the State of Maine, who \\ 
 have never been included in any census of the 
 state, and who are unrepresented, both in the 
 state and natiunal legislatures. They are settled 
 upon the part of the St. John's River west of the 
 New Brunswick line, which line however haa not 
 yet been recognized by the British government. - 
 As the access to these settlements is through the 
 Province of New Brunswick, and as that province 
 lias made claim to the territory, the settlers have 
 many of tliem received grants from that govern- 
 ment. There can be no question that tliey come 
 within our limits as defined by treaty, but as the 
 upper part of that territory is in,;/ortant to the 
 provinces of New Brunswick and LowerCanada. 
 as furnishing the only means of diicct communica- 
 tion between them, it is not impossible that some 
 terms of compromise may be acceded to by our 
 government, by which the territory north of the 
 St. John's, or that northeast of the St. John's and 
 Madawascah, through which the line of commoiii. 
 cation between those two provinces now passes, 
 may he ceded to Great Britain, for an equivalent 
 in money, or in other territory. An exchange 
 might perhaps be made, advantageous to both 
 countries, by adopting the course of the St, 
 John's as the boundary line, instead of the due 
 north line from the head of the St. Croix River. 
 Mr. Geo. W. Coffin, the land agent of this stale, 
 and Oen, Irish, the agent for Maine, during the 
 last autumn, visited the disputed territory. Each 
 of them has made an interesting report to their 
 respective governments, containing much useful 
 inlbrmation. The follouing is an e.xtract. 
 
 The Eastern boundary line crosses the St. 
 John's about two miles above the Grand Fahs 
 ,, and from the line to the Madaweska River is a- 
 bout 30 miles; the settlers on each side of the 
 river are situated about 90 or 100 rods apart 
 nearly the whole distance. 
 
 We counted the houses, in all 222, avera»in" 
 8 or 10 peisoiistoeach, making in all about 2^300 
 persons. 
 
 They are intlustrious, civil and hospitable peo- 
 ple, and welldeseive the fostering care of Govern- 
 , nient; many of uliom have patents, or grants of 
 I their lands from the Province of New-Brunswick, 
 but have little confidence in the value of those 
 grants. 
 
 Between the Grand Falls and Eel River, w t 
 undertook to nuinlicr the houses on the west bank, 
 in order to have some means o( estimating the a- 
 nioiml of population, but the smoke came upon us , 
 sc dense ami suffiicating, from surrounding woods, 
 \ that we were frusirated in the attempt. We! 
 however, ohlainefl information upon inquiry, to 
 satisfy us that there are more than 250 families. 
 
 These settlers compo.'ie half pay officers, relu- 
 gecs, and their deseendants ; also many InsH 
 and some Scntch. We conversed with many '- 
 them, to learn their dispositions, for or agains't nn 
 exchange of territory, and we found geneinliy 
 ' that the desreiidaiits of Yankees would be pleased. 
 j with it, but the hatrp.ay officers, and those in tlip' 
 i employ of Government, would be opposed to it ; 
 the first class are much the most numerous. , 
 
 I The land on the west side of the St. Jolm's P,.iv- 
 ' er, generally speaking, is of an excellent q«a)iiy, 
 greatly superior to that nn the east. There .ti:- 
 large tracts of rich interval, and Ijack of the inter- 
 vals tlte land rises beautifully; resembling art 
 more than nature ; this description is, iiowever. i 
 not without exceptions. The settlers raise lar^^e 
 supplies of wheat, oats, barley and hay; and in- 
 deed, every article commonly raised in New-Fni;- j 
 j land they ha^'e in abundance, with the exception j 
 ' of Indian Cora. The land on the Aroostovik Ru'pr | 
 is also of an excellent quality for cultivation ; 
 there are npvards o( 20 families settled on tlie 
 banks of tlie tiver, anfi are all doing someliiin^ in 
 agriculture; and are very anxious to he qnietod 
 in their possessions, but we had no authoritv »f ■ 
 lating to thein. 
 
 On our way to New-Brunswick, we were in- 
 fonried that the Government of that Province bid 
 received instructions from home, not to grant any 
 more peimits lor cutting timber on the Aroostook 
 and I^ladaweska Rivers, until the boundary line 
 should be established. This itiformation has Ijeen 
 confirmed to us by the lumbermen, who likeu-ise 
 informed us th.ii permits, given for the approach- 1 
 j ing winter, have been recalled ; which has disap- 
 pointed a great many who had previously got their I 
 supplies up the river, with a view to carry on the 
 business extensivelv. We thought, under these 
 circumstances, it would he well to make some j 
 provision by which they might obtain timber liom 
 oursoil, and prevent their disappointment, inas- ' 
 much as the supplies thev had of pr<ivisions, i\c. 
 near our lines would und*ubtedly enable them to 1 
 plunder, and would be soused, if not permitieH. — : 
 We therefore a|ipointed an agent at iVIadaweska, 
 and a no the rat the Aroostook, witit power to grant 
 permits on certain conditions. 
 
 ■A 
 
 the .9.b olt., Ja,„e.V,nes'ch!;™;;:;^„n;t' jud'""'""" °" 
 ta.y — Committees were appointed to ^ S-^Judvon, secrc- 
 
 tbe suiyVct of the eir«-ts ot' he e ,• Ci "e m '"'" c™"""""^" "" 
 goverumeht, U-hc preamble .nd rZlnuZ''"',°^ '^l' ^"'''''' 
 nweung. represent tl..; acts of the Urhisn """''"■■" "^^ '1"^ 
 
 ^2, „s amouotio. ,o a proh.bobn to ht ^''T"' "' '«"- '"" 
 colonics of our bread stuiTs, ashes l,.I?i '""'"l'""'"" ""o their 
 which acts, (,hev addja d^lf h>f;m„^^"'' ""<' °'^'"' ^'"'<^'« J 
 M,eroris,o ''- p.ei, J, nll^SV^^n^o 'Mle"'^;!":;; "^^ ""^ 
 nieni, whit-h recent develooemtnts in Vi.' finish Goverii- 
 
 lottial p„i,oy as it res.Jdrrte Unfed "s.a'" ^!r'"' ^^"- 
 groundstof.ar, or wh,ther they are to be a'^ii .'' i " """" 
 d.sresard of our rights ^h.n ihJv raav be d ', , , H , '° ,* ""^' 
 vernment, to come ,n collision with he^r own i'Z , ''^' '""' 5°" 
 hemet by cahn yet deiermmed oppovitlon a".d t I'.n ■~'"'^''' '° 
 -cC.by all the means which either l'rov,r"'„ '' ';'■"= ™unteract- 
 Pfed within our reach" i,,eV7e™""^°^'^^'"""= may have 
 the-fio.! estabhshmctttof theioulC rnTTh: '"^■'''""^' '' ''>■ 
 -ro,/,,/or loaded boats descending the S, r» "' P'-''""^"l'le 
 
 m.les withii, ,ke .American waters i , i ■L^"'"^'!" is fifieeo 
 ing duties o,-, British v selsor tiSr car, o?"'''™'''' ™"n'ervail- 
 waters. The convention also ex^ e^Ld a Pff "f /''™"gh '"ose 
 the proposed canal fiom the river sTl ""°'''"'''-' "P"""" of 
 end apilointedacotaoiittee todrafr ;^ 7 '° '"" triecinal, 
 
 onilhiVsuhject. " ^ memorial to the legislature 
 
 'St;:^d:\vi:f:'s-;x^^-r^r"> -^ 
 
 liritisb Colonial pioduce com ,g down the S,r:w' """""" 
 Congress talk ot ioierdicti,,;; th?ir trade h, '■,'"""■ "''"''-" 
 late Order in Council. The i-e^^ „nons Jl ™"^'^q^"'"« of iho 
 
 bo,itsco,„iuadowntheSt Lvr",c aeft ' 1-" """" ""' "" 
 "iileson American waiers. '^''" '' "'^^""^^ '"■■ ^ J'^ance of np.oen 
 

 I 
 
 I 
 
POKTLAUr : 
 
 FRIDAY, MAY 'S,, ]897. 
 
 NORTH EASTERN BOUNDARY.] 
 
 A very able and well wiiUo'n nunihci- 
 upon (he subject of our Nuiih-easffc] ii 
 BouDtdary appeared in the National 
 Jounial of tlic 17th instant. It com- 
 mences it.s views of the suhject at that 
 period when we hecanie a ()arty to the 
 disputed territory by the treaty of 17! :, 
 and iiursues in a lucid manner the in- 
 tervening transacti<ms in relation to the 
 question down to il.s present sJate. We 
 do not design at present to pur.sue the 
 subject through all the stages of nego- 
 tiation and embarrassment during this pe- 
 iiod, hut shall reserve those parts of the 
 case for a more convenient season. 
 
 On this question it is an admitted posi- 
 tion on all hands that l)y tlie treaty t ( 
 J 783, we became invested with the sov- 
 ereignty, to all the chartered rights ol' 
 which Great Britain was divested. The 
 only difficulty, then, (if indeed the cas 
 iS susceptible of any) is to ascertain the j 
 true extent and limits of that chartered I 
 territory. With a view to elucidate ,^nd 
 lay before the public, the facts as con- 
 nected with this posture of the case, oV 
 in other words to trace the title from its 
 origin through its various stages of con- 
 flicting claims of sovereignty, down to its 
 present state, all that can be gathered 
 from ancient surveys, grants and chart- 
 ers is daily exhibited , by those who have 
 devoted their labors to the investigation 
 of the question. In this order of inves- 
 tigation what has transpired since '83 
 ivill become a subject of consideration. 
 
 In the question now at issue we claim 
 no augmentation of territory, but the 
 right oi" sovereignty to that ^vhich we ac- 
 quired by the treaty of 1783. The trea- 
 ty of Ghent in this particular is predicat- 
 ed upon the restoration by each party to 
 tJie other of all captured territory, and 
 the recognition of the limits as defined by 
 treaty of 1783. By the fourth article 
 the alleged difficulties and conflicting 
 claims to the Islands in the bay of Pas- 
 samaquoddy, and Grand Men^n, in the 
 Bay of Fundy, were submitted to com- 
 missioners, appointed by the respective 
 governments. On the part of the United 
 States the Hon. John Hohnes, was ap- 
 pointed, and the lion. Thomas Barclay 
 on tiie part of the British government. 
 Under this article, in execution of their 
 commission these two gentlemen met at 
 St. Andrews. ''The commissioners, after| 
 eighteen months of attention to the bus- 
 iness, unexpectedly agreed in opinion, 
 and, by a declaration under their hands, 
 established the lines of the treaty as in 
 fad Ihey had been considered before the 
 war of 1812." So much then'of the dil- 
 iiculty is removed, by the establishment 
 of pre-existing lines. 
 
 The remaining questions of boundary 
 jis to territory were by other articles of| 
 the treaty of Ghent, subject to the same 
 adjustment by commissioners,if practica- 
 ble, as that already settled. In the event 
 of their disagreement some friendly neu- 
 tral power was to be constituted the Ar- 
 biter. Commissioners have been ap- 
 poiiited by their respective governments 
 in execution of this .part of the treaty. 
 They have met, but without any pros- 
 j-.. w -,r-, of agreement, and there the mat- 
 
 t,-| ).-S.^. 
 
 I 
 
 Vi liat (hen is the present state of the 
 qur siion .' By the report of the com- 
 ;mittee to our legislature last session, who, 
 at the, recommendation of the Governor, 
 Jiad this subject under consideration it is 
 said "(he present controve;-sy is as to 
 the length of the line, or in other words, 
 what is meant by the northwest angle of 
 Nova Scotia and the highlands as de- 
 scribed in the treaty of ] 783." We say 
 the lino, angle and highlands are defiri- 
 ed with so much clearness that they can- 
 not be reasonably mistaken, and that the 
 exercise of a long, uninterrupted juris- 
 diction and sovereignty over the territo- 
 ry in dispute, has put a practical con- 
 struction upon the true intent and mean- 
 ing of the treaty limits which cannot be 
 misunderstood. Tlie British pretensions 
 r.ie,'' that an astronomical line, runnin" 
 north from the St. Croix should extend 
 ■ <nly to the first, ox easterly ridge, an( 
 .!icnoe run westerly along the crest o. 
 aid ridge to tlie Connecticut, thereby 
 I'liiilahiij dividing the waters flowing in- 
 'I the St. Lawrence,' from those that 
 eiiipty into the Atlantic, within the limits 
 of (he United Slulcft, and those that have 
 their streams within the British Prov- 
 ince of New Brunswick." That these 
 pretensions if established into a claim, 
 would curtail tliis state of a large and 
 important p'.rtion of territory, is a fact 
 already well Jcnown. But, although 
 Great Britain looks at this lijir heritatje 
 with a very wistful eye, still it was the 
 price of too much toil and sacrifice to be 
 J elided " to a grasping ciipidittj," vith- 
 out a struggle, even were it of much 
 less importmice in point of interest. 
 
 This brief view is merely designed as 
 introductory to the remarks in another 
 ])art of the number in the Journal, at 
 the perusal oi which we must conlcss 
 our regret and astonisliment. Alter] 
 having tully gone through all the diflicul 
 tjes with which the subject is encumber- 
 ed ; the writer adds : — 
 
 " There is an (ibvious remedy for all thi,5.— 
 het the two governments take the business into 
 the'r own hands, and neootiate a new houndaiy 
 more convenient to each party than that intend- 
 ed in the treaty of 1783." 
 
 A middle course between the limits to 
 which we" claim and have exercised ju- 
 risdiction, and those to which Great j 
 Britain pretends, is then proposed as' 
 basis for the negotiation of a new bound- 
 ary by treaty.. " on principles of recip-i 
 
 irocity end for an cquivyleiit value whore 
 i^ any thing is parted with." 
 ^ne-fdj Hero the writer acknowledges he is 
 g;'';i]imet with a constitutional question of I 
 I vast importance. "Can the govern- i 
 ■ ment of the United' States alien tli-e fer-i 
 Iritory, or any part of the; territory' ofj 
 |one of the States of this confederacy.'"' 
 I This is the very point which in our es-l 
 tiraation should repress every thoughts 
 of alienating any portion of the territo- 
 ry of an independent sovereignty, and a 
 member of the conlederation. This is 
 not among the powers delegated to the 
 general government. So far from hav- 
 ing a right to alien, it is their duty to 
 defend and protect the States' sover- 
 eignties inviolate. There is but one 
 conceivable case in which the general 
 government can justify themselves in 
 s«//trmo- an alienation of the territory' 
 of a State, and that is of dire necessi- ' 
 ,Jy — where, by the fortune of war, the 
 victors have the power of prescribing 
 terms to the vanquished. In such a case 
 they would exercise no right of transfer, 
 but yield to the pressure of circumstan- 
 ces beyond tlieir control. 
 
 It is not our intention to go into a 
 consideration of the constitutional pow- 
 ers of the general government in rela- 
 < ion to this subject. That is a matter, 
 ^ye trust, which will not become ' ques- 
 lionable by any course they pursue. — 
 ^^e regret that it should have been 
 broached in any shupe so as to raise the 
 
 possibility of a question in the case. 
 
 A\ c will only observe, that we can see 
 no reasonable distinction, if they may 
 negotiate or bargain away a part, why 
 they may not disfranchise a whole State. 
 There is oiie other suggestion in re- 
 ference to the course pursued by the ' 
 ,^j government of this state relative to this; 
 '" subject of so much interest to us, which ■ 
 will require fiirther remarks. j 
 
I 
 
 m 
 
 Member of Cnnnrress.—\Ve linvc seen rclurngt 
 <i-"m 18 towns in York County fn the rhiiiee ofl 
 J/eriiljQr of Congre's, wliirli f^ncs llie follovvm^f 
 rcsull:~Mr,McImiie, l707_Mr. Holmes, 13f>r.f 
 'I'liero can be very little doubt of Mr. Melntire'sJ 
 election. Wo have sven no returns from SomEri- 
 set and Penohshot Counties. 
 
 NORTH EASTERN BOUNDARV. 
 We. Ii;i\e e.\elude[| much oilier ninlter to aivel 
 place to the tollowy;;; able conimiinic:.lion iiponl 
 ihe intere.<;iinf; subject of ourn.Mlb eastern boiin- 
 d.iry. It sivesdiirerenl vievvsoftlie question than I 
 iboso liereloi;,ret,-ilien,,nnil will bo found of an 
 ulere.slin^charncler to all who appreciate the I 
 importmecoftho subject al isnUB between our 
 ^'overii.nent nnd that of Great Britain. If ih/sl 
 -ubject is properly re ar.led either in refo eneof 
 to its bearing upon the nation or -tate, it appears! 
 MO us lint it cannot but carry with it that dc- 
 I prce of interest ,^vhi(h will render very aecepta-l 
 I every new devnicpeiucnt of /acts, or application I 
 ; of principles which has any material application! 
 ' lo ;he cj^c. 
 
 ; An ar_liclo appeared in the National Journal 
 "I the ]/ih May, on the subject of the Northeas- 
 tern liouudary, wherein the writer >:ives an his- 
 "Uic.il account of the snh|ecf, embra. in" the va- 
 rious difli.'uliies which have arisen, as well as] 
 the chums or prciPulious „f the firitish tonchinc 
 !hat qucsli.m. While the cnmrnunicalion cnutai.is 
 uuich Ihat IS valuable, it at the snuu- lime, see.us 
 to .adujit ground ofdi.spule which do uot.zistl 
 ,,imderihei.oaly._\Vilhont Iravellinz over tire 
 I whole ^r,.„„„d occupied by the wr ter, it is pro- 
 . posed iij this <?oniniunicalion (o eousider and aii- 
 Iswer some of tl:e objectionable parts of it 
 
 Alter recitin- the dc.cripliuu of bound.(rv con- 1 
 tallied in t^ie treaty of I7f3. it .stales that'" the 
 . csig,, expre.s.scd m thein^aly h.as eniirciv -died 
 Ihis propo.^uioii ili„„.|, truu in part. ,s untruef 
 .IS 1, IS made; ihc dcsi^-n of Ihe treaty has not en- ' 
 M-cly (ailcd-Jl has not failed in the achnowl-l 
 cJ^remeur. of independence, or in the line formed 
 i-y the I\Ii.ssissippi to its .conrcn or in its soiuhern 
 .or eastern ine, or in its northern line except be-1 
 w»cn the lakes and the .Mississippi, and llie St 
 r.awreiiceandtlieSt Croi.x-N,. specific reason 
 ■ . laiuire is slated, ho! from whet i.^ ssid in refer- 1 
 .'uce to it is, that ihe faille has arisen from difji- 
 Iroliies inherent m ihc instrument ifsclf, arising? 
 ': ,m the want of el«arne..-9 in its descrintions oH 
 i.-obi.'rmly in itslaniriif^Ce. A car. ful e,xamlnalion I 
 i, tlocin.slrumcutissufficienf toconvince anv onnl 
 I -v, ether there ..s,or is noi difficullv in understand. 
 ):■>.. ,i_l;l,,as ihe. ippearance.A' indeed eariiesevi- 
 j 'nee upon the face of it, of bavins been d.awn 
 up with ^reat delihnralinn and care; and ihe 
 ^'und.arie adopted by the treaty are the s.ime. 
 ". Inch had .been tfie subject of disi nssion v .' 
 ^ '.id been adopted .several months hef.re in ■: .■ 
 pr.ovisional arii, lesof peace.— To find thercf .:e 
 ihe cause of failure, we must travel nut ,.f il,c 
 tr.-.aly and seek ihem in the acts or doings of the 
 .-\aierieao, or British gnvernnu-nts. ~ 
 
 This leads to the enquiry, first what are the 
 claitcs or pretensions made by the American 
 governments. 
 
 ^ And secondly what are the claims or preten- 
 Rf.nsmadeby ih* Piiiish government.? 
 
 First the Amf^imn govprnment finind their 
 chiiinsim the provisions of ihe (reatv. and insist 
 th.U the line is the river t>'t. Croix.from its month 
 to Its smirce, and .1 line extended 'due north 
 '- from Its source to the highlands which divide 
 " the rivers which emiitv into the Sf Lnwrene- 
 "from those which fall into the Atlnnii.- Ocean " 
 and thence pursuing t'le caidhii'hlands as the'v 
 run m a general s..ulh westerly direction to the 
 n rth westernmost head of Conneciicut river 
 because the claim not only accords with the 
 termsof the treaty, but, corresponds also will' 
 linos which were before the treaty established oy 
 t^ie Bntish, to wit the boundarses of Canada and 
 IVova Scotia,and between them and the province ! 
 of Massachusetts .Bay, which the ministers pro ' 
 ably had m view, and adopted them as i-ir 
 
 Jficon<r>,'il)erin,,sh5:,.-e,n„K.„t,.|almaili'.e 
 territory north ofMais Flill. and the ran'-e ofl 
 hind from thence which divirle (he wa'ers flow- 
 ing iiiin the St. John, from those flowin<r into the 
 Penobscot— brca use Ili^V say .»uch a lino would 
 make an equitable division of ibe river and that 
 they, orthe rr„yinee_nf New Brunswick have 
 granled lands, before the American g..rernmci.r 
 on the Madawaska and ■-t. John's rivers, west of 
 the line drawn due noiih from the source of the 
 St.Croiji.io the highland.s—ihat it lies between 
 theprovuices of Canada and New Brunswick, 
 and if the American government are allowed lo 
 hold It. they will bo rendered insecure, and can- 
 not transport their mail ill a direct route from 
 New Brunswick to auebec, e.\cept at the will 
 and by the permission of the local governinont" 
 —and that it could nevei have been their inten- 
 tion to yield that t..rriiorv._Aban,I,-nin<' the 
 true and natural construction of the treaty— they 
 endeavor to fnce upon the American govern- 
 me^it such a construction as fils their own con 
 venieiic or interest. Alcndouingalso the terms 
 of theinstinment, they endeavor to consirne it 
 according to llieir interested views or pretences 
 01 Its cquily and spirit. 
 
 Hiving stated what soeins to be the substance 
 of the ilaiiu rm both sides ; it may i.e pn.per to 
 pursue the consideration of some of the nosi- 
 tlons adopted in the article be/ore us The 
 " [lOint of deuarture" the writer says is " uneer 
 tarn." The mrih west angle .,f ,\„va Scotia, 
 ; was assumed m the treaty as a poi- t notorious 
 but Its e.vistence it it had any, was to be f;,und 
 
 ■ not by iii.irks or monuments hut from deeds or 
 r llslorv. rile disci iptinn „, ,he ai„.|e is ohvious- 
 I ly imperfect. It is the angle formed hy a line 
 
 drawn due north fr..ui the source of the St 
 Croix to the highlaud.s. N„ ..n.|n can be 
 h.r .,ed by a line ; an angle is the inter.section 
 I of two hne.s, and the meaning of this inaccnr 
 ate expression piobably was, the point formed! 
 
 ■ bv ih. u,lei.s..c„r,n ,.f ., Ime drawn north from 
 
 ■ h^s.iKcl lhcs.Yr,„i,. „;,,, ., ,i„^ j^^^^,^ 
 ID luc direction o< iJie highlands." 
 
 I These positions, and the roasonin" Sn ilieir J 
 1 supp,.ri are cpially liable to objection. First it f 
 ^said '• the point of deparlure is uncertain."— I 
 W hat it IS asked 13 the point of departure ' Is I 
 It the north wc.^t angle of Nova Scotia, or is itl 
 the source of the river St. Croix ? The descrip- 1 
 „ Sir"" '",""' "■^'"y '5 " 'l^e north west angle ofl 
 u ^'"'■■^..''"'"•'. <■" "':' llial angle which is foruiedl 
 6y a line drawn due north from the source ofl 
 he river -t. Croix lo the highlands along saidf 
 highlands &c." The line described then was 
 ami now ,s tlumigh a wilderness, and ifmay be I 
 asl-ed il any person weie reouiied to find ihef 
 norl,, west angle of Nova Scotia, whether he 
 ■vould hrst penetrate ihe wilderness lo th. point | 
 "here he supposed the angle to be, or whether! 
 he would not 111 the first place ascend the St I 
 J Uoi.x,.. IIS source, ..nd from tliew run a linel 
 jUoithjoil,,. highlands' In i|,e nne mode hef 
 ijcou d not bnd, but in ihe oilier he cocld find thel 
 , angle. The source of the -t. Croi.x is ihcreforel 
 a certain point of departure and from.«h,ch.pur- 
 sning the rule in the treaty, the norili west anglel 
 of Nova .■ coiia is to he found. f 
 
 ,l», r'r "".".'^f " Pielendod, or ever supposed! 
 timt a line had been run and marked and ilsj 
 monuments established, or that a m.uiumem hadf 
 
 i Ti t' a , " '""■ ""' '■"" '"• b""n'l^ries were ej-l 
 labltshed be,weenCa„ada,Noya Scotia and Mall 
 sachuseHs oiherwise than an paper by -Mms 
 proclmi,aiioi,saud charters, buf the de^scriotionl 
 Qf boundaries were such that thev conhl easW 
 
 c'/afth'ec'f """'"'' ^'''""'■'■" '''" --"n>stan'' 
 CBS of the eolotiies were .iich ,.s to require it - 
 Such vvere the facts when the treaty was made | 
 and It thence f„|lows that the line.i were "o be 
 run and mouuineius established accoiding to thel 
 rules giycii in ilip treaty ' b '" "lei 
 
 fi Mi-.iy l.p s.iul.ilin St. Croix or ilio river desig-| 
 I naled as a boundary was not kiiowu at the time,! 
 I because it has since constituted a subject of dis- ' 
 I pute between the two governments. The reply I 
 I to suih an argument is that ejiiestion has 
 
 [been defiiiilivel' settled, the rivat suiveyed, its! 
 Isouree asi-erlained and the monument erected. — i, 
 I If there weie any real uncertainty befoie, when j 
 [the question was thus settled, all doubts and iiu-i 
 Iceriainty were removed and the point of depar-j 
 Itiiro was absolutely and conclusively fi.iied. — 
 jif'hat questiim wereno.v open, it might be urg- 
 ! that u must ha settled first, olherwi.se ll7e I 
 j North-west angle of .Suva Scotia co'ild not be' 
 Mound —because were it to be settled according' 
 |t<i the argument of ihe one iovcr-rnent it would ! 
 Ibe furtliereast. ifaccording to the aiguiuent nf 
 Itho other g"Verunient. i'urther west, the hui i 
 Itiide of the angle depepdi g ; i.n the longitude 
 I of the source id' ihe ' t Croix, and the latitude of; 
 llhe aiigie upon Ihe 1 ne fr m the simrce of the 
 !&:. Cr-ix inter- ecjing ihe range of liighlands. — 
 lllow llieu i: n it he said fioiii t'.e examination 
 joflhc treaty, iha:-'tluj \or'li-wesi angle of -0 
 IvaScolia Was assumed in the tieaty as a pointy 
 Inotorious.?" Ihetisnotthe true constructnui, 
 [The " t. - roix .ind its source is a-snine ', as the 
 [place known as the point of dtpyrtnro and not 
 Jthe .\or h-wes angle of i\ova Scolia 
 
 It IS fur. her said, llit descri(inoo ofibe an 
 Igle is oli\ lously^imperl' ct "It is the angle 
 I form '! by a lii.e drawn due north to the high- 
 llands." Wherein co sisls thi: imperleclio:i .'— 
 ,1' e r ason isigned is"no angle can ''be formed 
 I by a hue an angle is the intersection cf two 
 limes.' It 13 denied th t angles are formed byi 
 ■he intersection ol lines, nor is it admitted thai 
 |me e mat o niaiical iii.e.s are necessary in ail 
 scs lo form angles. — liii line iiuersecls a riv- 
 ler the line and river lorrn 'iigles ascertain for 
 jail pu piiscs of description or boundary, as the', 
 j intersection oflvvo lines. So if a line intersect- I 
 la range of land of ar. J certain description, an 
 Igles are foimed l.y such luk.rseciion. If wc 
 I wcie to suppose, instciid of liighlands, ihe St. 
 iLawrance -ad been subsiiuited, the dcscriplioni 
 'thenwoi.ld have been by a line due north froui | 
 the source of the ^t. L'nux toihe St. Law-ance 
 along the said ."rt Lawraiice to ihe lakes— could 
 any one doubt, orsay there was iinperliiction iiii 
 the 'tescripiioi..' \\ o.ld any <uie suppose that' 
 the angle could he at any other place tli.in af 
 the piunt where the line intersected ,the rivers ■ 
 -^o ; becau-e the nime used describes an ohjecl 
 or line, exteiTtling each way of the termination 
 of lue other line, hy which tv/o angles are form- 
 ed :ho ii-.r'.hHest angle of Vova .-cotia and the 
 noriheast angle ol the United Slates. 
 
 AVherein is the present description les.» perfect 
 Ihaii iliat .' T le hue runs uorlli from the source 
 of the Croix to tlie highlands — if ihe description 
 had sloped here, it would bale been imperfect 
 because the range of highlands would not have 
 been defined— tlie words wiiicli followed remove 
 all duubi; along ihe said highlands which divide 
 ■' those rners wlikh eroply themselves into the 
 St i awrance, from th.jsc' " which fall into the 
 .Atlantic Ocean;"' What idea does such lan- 
 guage convey to a man of coninnm sense ? Docs 
 it not convey a clear and poitect idea, that the 
 North west angle of Nova Scoiia. is al iho point 
 vi'bere .1 line drawn due noilh from the soutce ol 
 .he St. Croix, intersects the range of lands which 
 limit the Jvateis of toe t. Lawrance on ilssoulh- 
 '•asierlv iside, and running nortlicasterly accord 
 uig lo the general course of the river ? la not, 
 tile descripiioii as perfect as it would have been 
 ithe ri\er St. Laniaiice,or aline drawn from 
 iue headofConneliciitriver to the b-iy ofChaleur 
 lad been subBliiiiied for the highlands .' Tlie 
 nver may be f .und and travelled with more ease 
 than a r.iiige of land in the fiirest, but one is as 
 ccriain and perfect as the other. 
 
 Perhaps the description mighi have been con- 
 sidered [.erfect ift. e words •■ which divide those 
 riveis, lic" had followed the word highlands, in- 
 stead of tbllovvmj the word said highhinds— bi 
 the one mode ofexpression,oqually with the otli. 
 er conveys this clear and perfect idea, that a', 
 the point where the line drawn due north from 
 the source of the St. Criux intersects the range ofi 
 highlauds which divide the v.'aiers lalliu" 111 the 
 St. Lawrance on the one hand, and Allaiilie O- 
 cean on tlie other, there and there eniy is ihe 
 nort h west angle of Nova Scotia. 
 
It IS luriher s.iid " Iho liighlands too had nb 
 
 ""'jexistt^nie tan in llje lieaty." Tli^U is net truB' — 
 
 ^sucii liighlands as iiro dBScribed in llie treaty do 
 
 Jesisl. The wilier uiiglit n"t lirive ohscrvod that 
 
 [the niinislcis adopted the term to dc- cribe iho 
 
 1 1nnd, belter ad!i|ited ibun any oilier, ;o (jcsuril>e 
 
 lail heights, and theref'ure ne\e: inlrndod lo be: 
 
 iindi^fsKKid that thern was a range iif mountains 
 
 generalij' eloiated abi.ve ihete\ri nt' ihe rjt Lhiv- 
 
 re c«, Irnm one tu ten thnas.ind feet, but onlj 
 
 intended tliat elovalioii, which di in (act divide 
 
 the waters, ^iich a range nC land does exist 
 
 &are tliund ; they are the highlands of the treaty. 
 
 Tlie idea uf the writer is preposterous, and ne 
 
 must have derived it from the niaiMinikers, lurlie 
 
 could not have derived it from the treaty, if he had 
 
 examined it earefully. 
 
 Tlie uotnts resp' elivelyinS'Sted upon by the 
 Itwo govt rninenis nave aire dy hten stated , and 
 I we v\'ill ;iow suppose lliat iiisiead ot " highlands 
 I &c. the expressions ol the treaty had been the 
 ' river -•t. Lawrence, thence pursuing the general 
 course of the river, soutliwesterl , &c. Would 
 th« i:!ritisii government have pretanded that the 
 Miorlli west ang e of '•ova _-cotia was foi med oy 
 I the line drawn due norih to the St. Johns and '<>v 
 !its I leiseeting the M. Johns, and nottheSt. l-aA*- 
 Iran^e.'' 'i'liey might have don" so, and their 
 Jar. unienls won d have been as sound and logi- 
 {(■ai, as tiuy now are, in endeavoring to support 
 their position, tli-'it tile hign arids of the treaty 
 jure not between the ?^'t loiinsand :>t. l-awranee, 
 ; but liei een the St. Johns and ' enobscot — tlius 
 making a difference ol more than one nnndred 
 miles in the northerly (nsilion of the easterlv 
 Uixtreinity of the line, and u difference at least 
 eipial to thedifference in the supposed case. 
 
 strange and preposterous as it may seem, the 
 British government do i '• I'x t ' contend th-<l 
 the notherii boundary line lo the V. Mates run 
 iiing, from the source " of the 't. Croix to the 
 highlands is terminated at mars hill.' And the 
 iircMrnt chief mag ■^■r•'te says' that ii hi; 
 assuming the government of fvev? Brunswick 
 
 lie found '• that licenses to cut timber and otlver 
 nets of sovreignity, had k^een exercised on 
 the part of G Britain over cir:ain t:acts of land 
 in which the Bistook" ("on our maps ^^^^^ took) | 
 " and MadawasLa are includes heretofore well 
 ' undei>tood lo belong to New Brunswick, but 
 '• subsequently claimed by the commissioners of| 
 ' the L. States appointed to negotiate with the 
 British commissioners for adjusting the bounda- 
 ■' ry linesof the two countries.'' 
 
 ."uch arguments and pretene' 9, ifurged to en- 
 '^orce any cairn to property in the ordinary bu- 
 siness, transactions, the author of them would be 
 justly 1 unsidered a knave or a (itol. fiere llie 
 liritish government would moke Mars hill -the 
 iiorilieast angle oi extremity of the U "tates.and 
 ' cliiim the country on tlieBislnok and .Vsadawas- 
 i'jl%a Iving west and noriiiwest of JVlars hill, or a 
 II part ot'ihe province ()fNew ::rijriswick VVhete 
 would thev fix tlie northwest angi of i\ov:i Sco- 
 tia. — It wou'd have no siicii angle, it would how- 
 ever, have a soutiiwest point or angle hi Iween 
 the heads of the -t. Johns a branch of the Chau- 
 dier and tiie Penobscot rivers. To come to such 
 aresultihc treaty mii>t be maierially alt»red, 
 words must be expunged, and vvoids mu.-t he 
 supplied. 
 
 Before the treaty, the province ot Neva Scotia 
 was bounded west by a line running north fiom 
 the '• source of tlie St. Croix, to the highlands, 
 which divide the rivers which empty themselves 
 into the St. Lawrence fi >in lioise which fall into 
 tlie sea, and north by ijie^said liighlands and the 
 bay of i'haleur." Thus before ihn treaty, the 
 terriiury was not within tiie limits of tlie prov- 
 ince of Nova Scotia, the treaty does liot extend 
 Its limits ; hov/ then can that territory now be- 
 iong to New Brunswick, -j province since the 
 treaty set offfrom Nova Scotia ? The acts stated 
 by the Biitish, which they say they have exeir 
 lised, such as granting licences and other acts of 
 sovereignty, are iressjtasses on, and violati.n.s of; 
 our national sovereignly and rigliis i;f property- j 
 What claim can be found on such acts ? This isi 
 unlike the case of a new discovered and unin- 
 habited country, wliere riglil arises only from 
 possession and oicupancy, and the principles 
 which apply in such a case do not apply m this.: 
 Hecause llie country lias not all been settled by ^ 
 us, are we lo be told iii violation of ilie compact, 
 as die British told the Indians, you have not per- 
 manently occupied and cultivated ihe country; 
 you will not, you d • not need it, we have enter- 
 ed upon it, we wart it, will make a good use of 
 it, a d est nd and consolidate our power, and 
 therefore will hold it whether you gi\e or with- 
 hold your consent. Such reasoning is effectual 
 only, when accompanied by a compelenl pliys- 
 
 e writer of the article under consideration 
 further says, ■' there are inlrinsie difficulties in 
 Iheway. The country does not jnesent the ap- 
 pearance it was supposed to hear at the treaty of; 
 J'/SJ, when it liiul been part ally explored ; and 
 inisia.cs of geographical position have undoubt- 
 edly been made, winch must be corrected either 
 by coiifining the lines lo the supposed intention 
 of he commissioners who iiegoeiated the treat),; 
 or so runniiig simie oftltciii,as ceitainly lo depart 
 from their meaning by adiitnhg to geographical 
 points. " How do these- reoiaiks of the writer 
 apply lo the north i astern boundary .' The lead- 
 ing niouumenUare the St. (Jroix, and the liigh- 
 lands duiding I he rivers, or from wliich the north- 
 west angle of Nov. Scotia 13 lo be established. 
 Tiie St. (Jrinx is well known and esLabli.-hed, llie 
 highlands soil as do divide the rivets whicli emp- 
 ty m'.u the St. Lawrence from those which liill in 
 tu the Atlantic Oceaiii (not mountains nor dues, 
 the treaty ret^uire mountains, becau.se as has. 
 be.* n Iiotore oliserved, tiio loinisteis used tlie 
 term wliieh eijuall} contaiws all elevations^) aie 
 ascertained and known to uxisi. ; 
 
 'I'ije range ol land lies in a Ncrlh-easterly , 
 and .>outh westerly direct on, exaciiy as anvj 
 jierson would stippiise' by reading llie treaty and 
 casting liii ir eyes over - iicli. ils iV.ap. The! 
 JNo.th West angle ot Nova : co.ia is formed by! 
 an iniersHclion of' '.hi.s range of highlands, by a 
 line drawn asiroiiomically duo north from lhe|, 
 source 111' the .M. < roix. V^ here is the intrinsic'' 
 difficulty, or the evidence of it as it reiatesto this [ 
 part of the bouiidar) .'' <Jr where is there any, 
 mistake in ge igiapiiical position .' Or uhat de- 
 parture will there be from the plain, simple and 
 iitera meaning of the treaty by adhering to ge- 
 ographical | oints .^ Certainly none ihe trea- 
 ty .. opts,so far as < an be iicerred Irom the lan- 
 guage used. Uoundares which had been previ- 
 ously designated by the triush, and were la- 
 miliar to them. 'J'here is no necessity of resort- 
 ing to the supposed iiiiention of the ministers, 
 vVnereby,an adherence to tlietrpiain iescriplion, 
 the uescriptioii and monume ts both correspond 
 tVheii all the line can be ru:i in perfect accord- 'i 
 ance wiili the instl'unient. i'*o good reason can 
 be assigned fbi supposing or admitting Jilhcul- 
 ties where none e.\isis, it is too much like child- 
 ish sp ns in ''Uildin. cas'les, for he pleasure id' 
 proslraiirig Iheni. 1 he dcscriptioji of this part 
 
 the biruiidary islittle, il' any ess certain than 
 III' Western, .-outhern and South eastern part 
 
 of It. 
 
 ■ It would have been wonderful considering the 
 unsettled state of the country if no mislate had 
 been made, aniJ if a misiake «as ma e Iront an 
 imperfection in geog afthich^l know lege, m the 
 North \\ eat boundary of tli U. S. it is no mat 
 ter of surprise, nor does il involve any serious 
 conscquence.i, as all ih leriilory is wi bin the 
 soleju isiiralon and sovereignty oftheU. Stales 
 
 — nor can il have any effect n such parts of the 
 bocridary as are severed from,nnd have no con- 
 nexion Nvith it. 1 hat p;'.rl ol tin boundary was 
 vo y renr te from- any settlements, had never 
 been erected into separate governments, and !iad 1 
 beeo but a short time un er Brush dominion, 
 and had never been the object of the parliculai 
 attention of the British government ; little or 
 nothing was ii fact known abr ut it. — e the 
 facts what thev may as to that portion of boun 
 dary, they have no c nnexion vvilli or applica- 
 tion to ihe Noith Eastern biiundary, they nei 
 ther make it more or I- ss certain. Tie liitlicul 
 lies or obstructions toils adjustment arise not 
 from any intrinsic difficulties i the description 
 in the treaty, or misiakes in geogra[)hical |iosi- 
 tion. but from separate and independent causes 
 
 — the claims set up by the l-'riiish which are 
 contrary to, and in direct violation ol the terms 
 of the instrument itself. 
 
 The wiilcr suggested a compromise by run- 
 ning the line from the Si. Croix mo'e easterly to 
 ih- St. John, and having the light of its free 
 navigjitiiiti secured to both. -V wriier in the No- 
 Vhscotian. a paper pi.blished in Halifax, has re- 
 plied in great wrath, b.jt he had no occasion of- 
 alarro or to hav his nerves discomposed on that 
 subject— for they will be ready and tvillitig lo 
 propose such a conipromise a soon at least as 
 Maine will be ready to . ield, or agree to it -he 
 may be further assured that Maine wll notagree 
 lo It 11 is not a subject which requires oi ad- 
 mitj of a compromise, the I'.ritish have nothing 
 to offer whicli Waino can accept as an equiva- 
 lent for that exco'lent a.-d valuable territory. 
 
 It i> luriher .said in the article under ciDaid- 
 eration, that there is involved in the subject "a 
 constituttonal question of immense importance, 
 and one which may at oine future time be of 
 aeriotis consequences." 
 
 1 It IK asked "can ttie Uovernment of the V. S. 
 j alien the territory or any part of the toiritory of 
 j one of tlie Stales of this confederacy ? (an ii 
 do such an act by its own power or by the con-: 
 sent of the. ^late whose territery is in queslimi ^ ' 
 lia' e not each ol' the S ales such an ii i' re.^l in 
 ihe integrity ol the Empire, that no mu-ilatiou 
 ,can b'- perntited, without the consent of the 
 whole ?'' 
 
 I Noiwiihsfanditig the impression which the 
 [subject seems lo have made and the apparen' 
 inclination and opinion on the eonslitntion-ii 
 {question, a censur-- is bestowed on the Legi-la 
 j tine of the Stale of 'aine. because il is sai' they 
 [r 'at a recent session proposed aW ajipropriati :. 
 I of 1110 ey to c:ih'- '■: a .il!,enlo-i)ie the e^ 
 ;dcnce o.ftitlri snd ai^ked ihecoDCorrenco ofulas-i 
 
 sacliusElts, in wiiuli as) we think riglilly, this] 
 Stale rel'used to join." 
 
 The importance of this territory is represent- 
 ed, as well as the very important interest which 
 Maine and iVassacbuseiis have in il— Btill it is 
 implied that it is itnpioper tor Maine to know 
 iheir title or to collect and preserve the evi- 
 dence of it, and the conduct of ."viassachuseits 
 is cuninicnded Such doi irine may be approv- 
 ed under other governments, where people are 
 not allowed to know their rights, and are coin-j 
 polled lo sul mil to the despotic will ofihe rulers 
 or in the Ronisn t atholic Church where the la- 
 ily are f-rbid the use of Scriptures without note 
 and comment Icsi they should misunderstand 
 theiii Such doctrines are not consistent with 
 our republican inslilutions, or with common 
 sense. Will the States in whom is vested ihe 
 free, and the Stale in which i.s vested the soveT 
 rcigiity also remain in a stale of perfect igno- 
 rance of their rights and sii mit in the most por- 
 lect stale ofacquiesence lo what may be done ' 
 This in the ordinary concerns of life would cer-_ 
 tainly he a most extraordinaiy doctrine 
 
 II the executive or the Legislature of theState 
 of Maine are.liableto any ccn.-urc, it is rather 
 for not doing enough, than attempting too much 
 The pubjecrat dift'erent times has commanded 
 some of their attention, and basal every time 
 acquired an increased ititerest. The spirit -of 
 enquiry is now increasing and pxteniling among 
 all classes of the community, and if ihe subjctl: 
 is not abeady understood, llie time is approach-| 
 ing- when the citizens of .Maine will understandj 
 11, however much indivi(lic,ls,or:he British mayi 
 he dispos d lo keep tllfcm in ignorance. The 
 ' que.sli'ir is a VI ry |dain one, and no man need 
 isk any plainer or belter title to his estate than 
 he reaiy give s— it vvould stand ihe the lest in 
 anv euHahlcned judical liibunal of the U. d. or 
 Great Britain. 
 
 It .s presumed, all the mCnsiires of the fiov- 
 ernmenl of Maine on this su' ject, have had the 
 approbation of the prop e ; and il is hoped they 
 will pursue the snbjeci, let it have the sanction 
 of the wriier oi the article or tint, or let it be 
 sanctioned by the British or those in the Briish 
 interest or not. The claim is cle;-r and indubit- 
 able, founded on a compact deliberately made 
 and expressed in language both even -nd intel-i 
 j,rihle — there are no inherent difficnllies, theyl 
 a're all fonign. and introduced by the ■gnisp- 
 ing cupidity nflkt Biitish lifter a few miles of 
 lerrilorij. The ivriters in support of tiie British 
 claim, endeavor to supply their want of title by 
 heated, intemperate and ihreatcning language, 
 they are entitled to the full benefit of their ar- 
 gument, but at the same tiiiie, may have a pow. 
 er to contend with, which will neither be dis- 
 Uiihed by their zeal, or imtmiilal^d try^ll'-'ir 
 ihicals. 
 
 HQULTO." 
 
NORTHEASTERN BOUNDAHY. 
 
 There will be found in this day's Gaz 
 ette and (lie last Advertiser, a communi- 
 cation reiiitive to lliat part of the territory 
 ofthis ^'tate to which the British govern- 
 moiit makes pntmsio7is ot claims. We 
 arc satisfied that it will he read w th in- 
 terest by all who appreciate the impor- 
 tance of (hat tract of gountry over which 
 a foreign power pretends to the right of 
 |sove. eignty. . The first number under the 
 signature of Taio in relation to the same 
 subject, we gave some weeks since, -nd 
 now present the second number of the 
 same author. The productions under 
 this signature are supposed to be written 
 by the author of the able report which was 
 madetoonr Legisla(urc during the !ns( 
 session, upon (liat part of (he governor's 
 message which related to (he same subject. 
 It will be recollected that that report. 
 j which we have also piiWished, was unan- 
 jimously accepted. The presentnumber 
 [is confined to certain historical facts, rela 
 jlive to ancient grants ani claims of juris- 
 jdirtion, overdiis and o(her (erritory, be- 
 tween the British and French govern- 
 menfs. 
 
 /n aaditic.n (o the numbtis of Ca(o, we 
 hope (ha( our friend wlio snb.soribes him- 
 self " Citizen" will continue to favor us 
 and the public with the result ofhis iiJves- 
 tigntions. From the character ofhis first 
 number, we anticipate much pleasure 
 ;is well as profitable information, by a per- 
 usal of his productions. The subject is 
 assuming a character to elicit all the lighi 
 whic!| can be bestowed upon it by (hose 
 who will not for a single moment distrust 
 our right of sovereignty over that part of 
 our territory to which a foreign govern- 
 ment has set up their claims. From our 
 present understanding of;he nature and 
 comple.vion of those foreign claims, we 
 ^ might as fairly be e.xpected to yield- our 
 ijiirisdiction to the whole state, as to that 
 I part which is embraced within the di.pu 
 I ted limits. 
 
 j As,>,,,pu,.ed, /slial! now procoed (o noticel 
 
 --.-.;.:oolthe historical tact., whicl, have rel.- 
 
 , .0,, to ,he ^ram... a,„l clauns of jurisdicion, 
 
 , bo I, of the French and Ornish covermeni ' 
 
 I^.Uisa cmom with navi^.alors, when 'iheyl 
 
 : 01. rover unknown land, i„ ,nake a iorinal ein-vf 
 
 upon 11, disp.uv 11)011- naiiorialfia.r, fire a --af 
 
 ,u.o, and enclose and bury in a"botlle a bri«lf 
 
 . cciunl ofthe di..coverj., in the name, and for 
 
 , Hie t-.enoht 01, he nation to 'which tbev belon' 
 
 ■u .n,:h discovery docs not vest tile ri,.ht Sll 
 
 ,^^■-■1, and jun::-Jicl;on,to the erjciusion ofth"' 
 
 light .ictiuiicd D7.in,vaun, who bstoi.ieihc 
 hist occnpanls The discovery of .America 'iv 
 Coliimuus nnder the l^panish (la?, hajj never 
 been considered by the European nations, as 
 vesting the whole properlv and sovereignty ol 
 llie continent m them- although, in addiUon lo 
 llie niscovery, Pope Ale.\ander VI. granted them 
 s-jch righto. 
 
 The dilVerent nalioniof Europe, have, as in- 
 terest or policy has dictated, sent their colonies 
 to ditTereni pails of America, and have taken 
 aclnai possession ; and all righis acquired oy 
 such posse.-iSion have been .espected so I'lii as 
 lliey have had physical force t-^ maintain them. 
 The righis ac(|nii-ed by possession and in.iin- 
 laincd, lire ihe only righis whicli are gene ally 
 acknowledged and respected bv the common 
 consent of nalions — Ii is Ihereiore a matter of 
 ^110 importance in Ihe present inquiry, who was 
 ,,.|the firS' discoverer of .-^Hierica or who vva« the 
 4|: fiist discoverer of any part cuhn- portion of it ; 
 , i:\yhether It was a navigator sailing under the 
 ■■V:Sj>anish, Portuguese, English or French flags 
 ' ^flei the (list diecovfi-y of 'North Aniericn 
 by .l^ohn and Sebastian Cabot in llie summer of 
 1 '197, no attempt was made tose.'lo it uiilil 1 i87 
 ihe attempt was made by the Ciitisli to scuttle a 
 colony m \orth Carolina or Virginia- hut it 
 was soon abandoned. 'Ihe coast, in th- niean-[ 
 liine, however, was visilcd and e.iplored by the 
 dilTerent nations o( Kumpe ; and as early as 
 In78, great numbers of .S:)anish, Portuguese, 
 French and E- glish vessels woie engaged in the 
 hsherieson the coast. 
 
 OnWio eighiii of November, 1603, Henry the 
 ,,,1'ourth of (•■ ranee granted Acadia, to wit r All 
 ./;„ that part of \orlli America, which lies between 
 • the lorlielh andfo.tv sixth degrees of ■•orth 
 Lalilude to -ieur J)c Rfonles, a gentleman of 
 his bed chamber : constituting him l.lcutenant 
 leneral thereof, and confering on him ah the 
 power to subline the inliabilants, an-' convert 
 lliem to the christian faiili. The palcnt Svas 
 
 ublished 'n the maralime towns in France. 
 Having equipped vc-scis for the purpose, he 
 sailed M.rch 7tli, IGll4,to take p,.sscssion of, 
 and Cbtablish a colony in Acadia. VI. Pourlrin- 
 eonrt, to gratify his curiosity, and -^amuel 
 Champlama^a Pilot, accompanied him- The, 
 fath ol .\iay following, he arrived in Acadia, at a 
 place now calleu Livci-p..ol. From thence he 
 coasted along the peninsula, doubled Ci.pe Sa- 
 ble and entered the Cay of Funday; on the eas- 
 tern side of which he discovered a narrow strait, 
 whicli he entered and soon f.-und himself :n a 
 spacious bason, skirled bv fertile meadows, and 
 surrounded liy hills, through whicli flowed a 
 navigable river So deliiihled was Pouriri"- 
 court with the place, that lie delermine-d to take 
 up h. residence there, r.nd for that purpose^ 
 
 ,° ,? ifib' ^"'''' " :- "■'^'" 0« Mon,es%iKi 
 gav. It the name of l'oi;l Royal, !t is now cal- 
 bd Mini polls, 
 
 Di^vio tes pursued ,„s course up, and round 
 the iKiy ot i uuday, u :JI he came to the mouth 
 ol a large r.ver which he entered and navi-rate .' 
 many leagues, and called it t. John. From 
 thence he co-istej south we.sleriy, until lie came 
 loan Isla.-dinthe middle of a river whi-h 
 ' hampf.in had before visited. ihe Island 
 appearing to tea safe and convenient station, 
 :iiid the .se.ison being far advanced, he lesolved 
 to establish nisw, liter quarteis th re. He gave 
 I 10 name of St. Coix to tlie Island, '• because 
 a lout two leagues above, there were small 
 .-Ireains which c me cross-wise to fall within 
 11115 large braucji f the sea " 
 
 111 llie spring of I6iif., De Monies sailed 
 aloi(5 the coast to Penobscot, Kennebec, i asio 
 and other places as fiir as Cape ..d ; n„m 
 which he relumed to St Croix, and inence lo 
 I orl U.)ya|._ln the meantime, Dupoiii had ar- 
 rived m a ship from Eran.-o wiih supplies of 
 provisions, and a reinf ucemenl of forty men 
 Ihe sl(,res which had been left at i. Cioi.x 
 w.roihenremovcd (o Port t-loval, but the bu.l- 
 -Migs were hit sian iii^. 'i hev eiecied biiil 
 rtiiigs 111 Port R yal. and !>e Monies having ar-l 
 ranged Ins .-ilfnii-s .n -eptember, ]60., sailed i 
 '"I I'-m. e, le.nin Dupont as his Lieutenant, lo * 
 jierlcct ihe sctri-iiiK ni and e.piore the countrv 
 'bey weni. on exp! .ring ihe coast and cle.inn"- 
 tbo country and extending their setikm, oi.-; Ct 
 several years. - 'two Jesuits, disa!,'vcein<r wiili 
 111'-- setilers a; Port Knyal, seceded, and wiin :' 
 ibeir co,,|,,a„joi,3 established themselves at ' 
 ;lenii; Desert, and planted gardens and con- 
 tinued Ihero until disposses-ed bv -^ir -am, el' 
 U.gall in lrtl:i nr lril4. This was ihe first per i 
 msinent senlenient in Ainerica, norih of Flor- 
 ' ', ATO. I 
 
For tlic Advcriiacr. 
 ' " Our counliy, our whole countrj and nothing 
 but ciur countiy." 
 
 I As cilizfins of the United States, we cannot look 
 with indifference un any wanton infringement of 
 undoubted privileges, or any invasion of teriito- 
 rial rights. The' conntiy for which our fathers 
 bled — which gave us birth, and to which we are 
 attac!ied by all those tics vvhicii characterize free 
 citizens, will never need an appeal to our inter- 
 ests, to animate us with sentiments of patriotism, 
 A question of territorial limits, having arisen be- 
 tween the United States and the Colonies of Great 
 Britain, the discussion of this question, impairing 
 so materially our rights of property and state sov- 
 ereignty, cannot be uninteresting to any Ameri- 
 can, much less to a citizen of this State. Tlio 
 present question forms an interesting and impor- 
 tant era in the history of our country. The rights 
 of cil izens to their own estates, and private claims 
 of territorial limits are discussed anci decided in 
 our Courts of law, especially created by the ayi- 
 thoritics of the country to do justice and equity 
 between man and man. But when these litiga- 
 tions of boundary lines are between two indepen- 
 dent and powerful nations, private interests are 
 at once merged in the common weal, and tiic 
 question assumes an attitude of momentous im- 
 portance. The present claim extends over a fair 
 portion of our country — at least one third of the 
 state ; tha tract in controversy is rich and fertile ; 
 its extensive forests — its rich soil capable of the 
 highest cultivation — its well wooded mountains 
 and its fertile vales proclaim to the citizens uf 
 this state its vast political importance. The soil 
 of the state along the sea-coast is generally poor 
 and sterile; — as you advance inland it increases 
 in richness of quality. The interior of the coun- 
 try is but little known; almost the whole of it 
 being at present one continued forest ; — most of 
 it, however has been occasionally explored by 
 difterent individuals, but very few have given to 
 the public the result of their labours : but such 
 parts of it as are known, and the accounts of sucli 
 as have visited the interior of it, exhibit the im- 
 portance and value of it. The part, in which 
 flows the St. John and its numerous branches, 
 forms the largest portion of the interior of tiie 
 state. In a great portion of it, the surface is 
 level, lying generally in broad gentle swells of 
 an excellent soil, with a large growth of fine fo- 
 rest trees, intermingled occasionally with firs and 
 other evergreens. In other parts, there appears 
 lo be a great diversity, in the face of the country 
 and qualities of the soil — a variety of hill and 
 dale. Near the sources of the Aroostook and 
 ^latawascah, the country becomes more moun- 
 tainous. The intermediated space, and that ex- 
 tending west to the boundary of the state, is gen- 
 erally a hilly country, but of excellent soil. — 
 Indeed this tract seems to be better suited to the 
 purposes of agriculture, than the other parts of 
 the state ; while its extensive forests will afford 
 an immediate source of revenue and profit. 'Tis 
 true, it. lies rather remote from the sea, but in- 
 tersected as all this immense tract is, by naviga- 
 ble waters and their branches, it affords a pros- 
 pect of great facility in the conveyance of lumber 
 from its forests to the ocean. The St. John: 
 Matawascah, .'Vristook and their branches, to 
 gctlier with the variotjs lakes which lie in this 
 tract offer, with a little assistance, very extensive 
 inland communication between it and the va- 
 rious parts of the state. On the whole, there are 
 few vacant parts of the United States, which af- 
 ford so many advantages of communication with 
 tlic di.ferent markets, as are to be found in tiiis 
 territory ; and it may be considered as rich in 
 point of soil, and as containing as little waste 
 l.'ind, as any other part of New-England of equal 
 t-jxlent. The ■ facilities of land and water coni- 
 Miunication are great : — the lumber obtained here, 
 with a little assistance from canals, can be easi- 
 ly conveyed to the ocean, and its produce will 
 find a ready market on the sea coast, or it may 
 be conveyed by water-.-,ommunication to the St. 
 Lawrence and St. John, to find a market among 
 our Canadian bretliren. Indeed its importance 
 is already known and appreciated by the British 
 Government, and they are taking strong mea- 
 sures, to obtain the possession of so large and 
 valuable territory. The interior of the state is 
 furnished with every requisitefbr the wantsof an 
 agricultural people, and with superior facilities 
 for manufactures and communication with tlie 
 commercial world, an enlightened policy, and a 
 liberal system of improvement, in making roads 
 into this tract, and assisting, by a little art, the 
 great water facilities nature has given it, will elic- 
 it advantages as yet uususpected by persons un- 
 .Tcoiiainted with its nature. I do not intend here 
 
 to make a dissertation on the value of tliis terri 
 tory, but simply to impressa few leading facts on 
 the minds of my readers, that the subject may not 
 be considered 30 uninteresting to us, as many 
 have seemed disposed to consider it. The im- 
 portance of this tract as a future source of reven- 
 ue — as a foundation on which may be established 
 a vast accession of wealth and strength to the 
 state, ciinQot be too deeply ijnpreseed on the 
 liilnd. T^he citizens of this state narc an object 
 before them demanding their deepest attetrtion ; 
 the future prosperity of our country will be ma- 
 terially affected by this question. 
 
 Having premised thsse few remarks which the 
 importance of the subject seemed to demand we 
 will in our next number proceed to the conside- 
 
 ration of this important question 
 
 A CITIZEN. 
 
 ■^r 
 
 FRIDAY,.. 
 
 ..:i!AY 1I,1S27. 
 
 ■7; 
 
 NORTHEASTERN BOUNDARY. 
 
 We publish to day the second niimbfr 
 ;nder the signature of " A Citizen," in 
 
 olatiiin to the sf.'uj'jft of oar !Xorthcast- 
 ;;rn boundary. Although many of the 
 ■listorical f;icts are the same, as those 
 advance by the author of " Cato," .still 
 that circiiaistance will not, we trust, im- 
 pair the interest with vvhicll they will be 
 yeceiT«d. Itiswith a view to spread alii 
 *he facts and principles of which the case; 
 .5 stisreptible before the public that we} 
 P'lblish the nuinbers of both, that tbe 
 kiiowledge of each fts well as their man- 
 ner of treating the subject may be known. 
 The question presents many tangible 
 poials of a delicate chaiacter, which we 
 have studiously abst lined from noticing. 
 'Vhile Oil iho one hand we are desirous of 
 -lollectiiig and promulgating all those 
 i.icts and principles which will g'ive addi- 
 tional and beneficial light to this subject 
 of increasing importance, on the other, 
 we have prescribed to ourselves that 
 course which will avoiCii finbarassing Ihe 
 question. Believing as we do that the 
 ciaitns of great Brit in rest merely on 
 unfounded pretensions, we are not dis- 
 posed to give even speciousncss to those 
 pretensions. 
 
 Far the Mvertiscr. 
 As the boundary lines of the difTerent United 
 ."twites, vvhicll were recognised by the treaty of 
 ,; 7 -.3, as free and independent, were originally- 
 il.'scribed by various charters from the English 
 Crown, or grants derived from those charters, it 
 '.vill be. proper in order to give a distinct view oi\ 
 ;.')C American claim, to take a cursory survey off 
 J8 history of the territory now in dispute. In 
 •he \ ^^r 14?-t), Henry 8th of England, anxious to 
 nulate his European brethren in the discovery 
 .jf new countries, and desirous of adding new 
 .■l.iondor to ihe English frown, sent oui John, 
 i.Iabot, a Venetian, '^n a voyage of discovery toi 
 iiio new world ; and commissioned him lo dis-i 
 v'over and claim in his name "new countries pos- 
 sessed by heathen nations of tl;,e world." In 
 '"June 1497, land was descried, and narned by Ca- 
 bot Prima Vista. This land wa.; a pari of New- 
 foundland, and is supposed to bo the North Cape 
 in Trinity bay. ' abot sailed along the coast and 
 discovered for his ra.i."ier, all the territory lying 
 between ' ape Florida and 67'^ N. lat. ; after 
 which he returned to England. I am thus par- 
 ticular in mentioning this voyage as the British 
 rjinuled rlieir original cl.-iiin to the greater part t 
 of Xiiriji Ainciica. on the discovcrv of the COUQ' 
 
 ■| 
 
 My at tlii.s time. It early became a law among' 
 Earo|)caii nations, that the countries which each 
 should explore, should be deemed the absolute 
 property of tlie discovercl-s. iVom which allotlicrs, 
 should be excluded. At this period the title to 
 unknown regions, aiising from priority of dis- 
 covery, was unquestionably a proper claim, and 
 Was reaarded as such by all Christendom; and 
 aclua! possession and settlement, under such dis. 
 coverj-, was the moat perfect title which could 
 be given: About liiirty years after this, Francis 
 J.St, of France, sent out Vozzarino, a Florentine, 
 on a voyage of discovery, and gave him a coni- 
 raissinii similar to Cabot's. — VozzavinO coasted 
 along from the Floridasto the mouth of tbe rivoi 
 St. Lawrence, but at'einpted no actual setilc- 
 insnl of the countries he visited. The discovery 
 of the country in these two voyages, and the 
 subsequent settlements, were the foundation o! 
 tlie English and French chiimsto the jurisdiclion 
 of these territories. The country seems to liave 
 been neglected by both kingdoms, for a long pe- 
 riod after tliis: occupied, as they were, by wars 
 ill Europe, they couid find little to devote to the 
 settiemeiit of America. In 1.535 James Caithier, 
 a French adventurer attempted a settlement near 
 iHIoiitreal, but tiio severity of the, climate obliged 
 Lim and his followers to desist, and the sett 
 iueni was abandoned. This was the fii.<t attempt 
 the French made to settle the country. There 
 were no expeditions uf importance fitted out af- 
 ter this for Newfoundland, until the reign of 
 Eilzabeth. JKe gianlod, in the year 1579, to 
 Sir HumiJ^y Gilbert" full license at all Umcs 
 to discuv^, find otK, and view such remote and 
 Ji'eatlieii countries, as were not actually possessed 
 by any Christian prince or people, and to inhabit 
 and remain in the same, «tc." This was the first 
 charier for a colony from Englad. In conse- 
 quence of this charter in 1.533, Sir Humphrey 
 i:ailed for Newfoundland, and in August took 
 possession of the harbor of St. Johns, and of the 
 .^ounlry 900 leagues evei;j way around it for the 
 English crown, in the.presenco of a large assem- 
 Mage of the subjects of divers European piinces 
 tlieu engaged in the fisheries. This fiirmal pos- 
 session, in consequence of the discovery by the 
 C-ibots, is the fiiundation of the right and title of 
 the British to Newfoundland and the fisheries ad 
 jacent. Sir Humphrey, after making various 
 graiiis of land to settlers and others, sailed south- 
 wardly, to make new discoveries ; and leaving 
 the country for Europe, was lost on his home- 
 ward passage. In 1()07, Sir John Gilbert, the 
 heir-at-law of Sir Humphrey, fitted out another 
 nxpedition to make another settlement under tbe 
 charter, and arrived at the Kennebec, where he 
 wiulered. But the sufferings of this party during 
 the v,'inler, and the privations they necessarily 
 endured, obliged them in the Spring to set sail 
 J'lr England. In 1G03, Henry 4th, of France, 
 granted to Fierre dis. Gas', Siour So Monis, all 
 ilie territory lying between the 40tli and 46ili 
 dcg. north hit., under the name ot Acadia or New 
 France, with power to subd.ue the inhabitants to 
 the Christian faith and an exclusive right to the 
 peltry in Acadia and the gulph of St. Lawrence, 
 In pursuance of this grant. Do ,'ijonts arrived at 
 J'ort Royal, in the bay of Fundy, in May lCfl4. 
 From thence, coasting southwetterly about 2j5 
 !ea;;-ues he discovered a large river, and in tbe 
 f eiitre of it .nn island : — landing on the bank ot 
 this river, and erecting a cross, he took posses 
 sion of the country, and named the country and 
 fiver St. Croix — on this isle, Tt. Croix. De Moiits 
 winiered. In the Spring, he coasted southward- 
 ly along the shore, as far as Cajie Cod, taking 
 possession of the counlry as ho [iroceedcd, and 
 'then returned to France, leaving Chaniplain and 
 others at the snttlemciil at Port Royal. This sef- 
 ilemeiit.the first in Acadia, continued forseveral 
 years. AboutlOOO, James 1st, of England, grant- 
 ed to a company at Plymouth in jSevon, lands 
 " from ihe 40th to Ihe 4ritli dog. north lat. and in 
 Uiat breadth from sea to sea," and in pursuance 
 of this royal chartat a settlement was aiteinpted. 
 Ill li'ilS the first hostilities between the English 
 and French colonists were coranienced by Sir 
 Samuel Argal, who under the direction of the 
 government of Virginia, destroyed the settlements 
 at Portlioyal, &e The cause alleged, for this 
 destruction of the French colony, was the en- 
 croachment on the territory of the English, vvhidli 
 they claimed on the ground of discovery by the 
 Cahots. This, as I fiave belbre remarked, was 
 at that time a good title; neither England nor 
 ■iny otiier European nation appear, so early to 
 ■• ive assert'jd or allowed a litlo dciived fronn oc- 
 
onpnncy : lliis ci.iini, liowever, paved the vvny 
 l.r llin si'fint in 1021. The English nation, ;il- 
 lli.iii^ih they liad vory tew selllenienls in tliai ' 
 iriiiirirv, still continued llieir riaim ; and to -i:-- 
 scTt il from lime tu time sent pprlics to phinl a 
 colony. In 1(J15, the lirst English court of ;\d- 
 mirally was lioldon at Newfoundland. I'lVr 
 yeaid "after this, the Plymouth council received a 
 iiow charter from the cidwn, similar to the one 
 hefore granted them. This charter was the 
 foundation of all the •rldots, which were made "I' 
 the country of New EnglaDd. In 1021, Jaim s 
 1st !;raiitnd to Sir William Alexander, under the; 
 scafof Scotland, land^ in North America, bound- 
 eitoiithe north, east, and south by the river St. 
 [.awrence, and the ocean, and on the west by 
 the St. Croix, And thenr.e to the f<irthest source i 
 or spring, which first conies from the west, t" 
 ininjjtle its waters with those of the river .Si. 
 Croix, and from thence runnin» towards the ^ 
 north, ^-c." Of this patent, Sir William justly 
 lemarhs, that while other patents are ima;;in,iri- 
 Iv limited by de;;rces in the heavens, his is llic 
 first natibna'l patent clearly bounded by hiie.v' 
 upon the earth. Indeed this country was so 
 imperfectly known, that the grants made by di- 
 vers princes were very ■vajtue and often incoii- . 
 sistont with each other. Tlie face of the conn-,! 
 Iry being unltnov/n, and the natural landmarlft! 
 bcins; 60 uncertain, the early patents were ncccs-n 
 sarily bounded by degrees in the heavens, and!j 
 this produced some confusion. The European i 
 princes seoni to have supposed, that the conti- 
 nent of North America was bounded by a strait |i 
 line on the ocean, and that the courses of the; 
 ri\-crsuiade right angles with this line." It was | 
 ficjin this uncertainty and interference of llie au-j 
 cientgrants and charters, that so many disputes; 
 arose A CIIIZEN. | 
 
 [To be continued.]' 
 
 Although the British government persist inj 
 nriiing theii claims, still the following circularil 
 from the ^it. governor of New Brunswick will j I 
 discover a disposition to refrain from any actual ^| 
 encroachments, on their part, upon the disputed 
 territory' while the question of jurisdiction is 
 pending. 
 
 Circular to the MagiHrates of the County of York. 
 Secretaiiy's Orricf , Frecekicton, ) 
 9th March, 18-37. S 
 
 Satisfactory assuiances having been conveyed 
 to His Majesty's Government of the earnest wish 
 o''the Government of ihe United -tales to recip- 
 rocate the conciliatory disposition shewn in re- 
 gard to the Disputed 'Territory, at the upper part 
 ofthe River Saint John, it is most desirable, until 
 the question relating thereto shall be finally set- 
 tled that no new settlement shall be made, or any 
 timber or other trees felled, in the wilderness part 
 , of that Territory, nor any act done which may 
 change the state of the question as it existed 
 When the Treaty cfGlient was executed, 
 i I am iheielure commanded by His E.xcdiency 
 ' the Lieut. Governor to desire that ) ou will be 
 vigilant and use your utmost dilligen ;e to discov- 
 cr'any attempts which may he made by any of 
 His Itfajesty's subjects to intrude upon any part 
 of that Territory with a view to make settlements 
 , or to procure timber, and to make immediate re- 
 presentation thereofto His Majesty's Attorney 
 General, that legal steps may be taken to punish 
 such intruders and tresspassers ; and should yon 
 discover similar attempts to be made by any other 
 persons whether unauthorized or appearing to 
 act under colour of authority, that you will us< 
 your best endeavours to ascertain the names ol 
 such persons and report the same to me, with 
 affidavits, to cslablisU the facts, lor His Excellen- 
 cy's consideration. 
 
 I have the honor to be, &c. 
 (Signed) W. F. ODELL. 
 
 To A. B. Esq. one of the Magistrates 
 of York County. 
 
 Fur the Ailcci iiicr. 
 NORTH EASTERN BOUNDARY. 
 
 xro. 3. 
 
 Some years afler this grant to Sir William Al- 
 exander, which I mentioned in ray last, he sold 
 all his interest in Ihe charter to LaTour,a French 
 subject, on condition the settlers should retain 
 th°.ir allegiance to the English crown, and from 
 this period until 17G0, Quebec remained in the 
 hands of the Ficnih. Warm disputes still con- 
 tinued afVer this cession, between the English and 
 French colonists :— the English urging their 
 claims to the territory, of which the French at- 
 tempted to take possession ; and the war did not 
 cease, until a peace was made at Boston in 1044. 
 In lG55,01iver Cromwell granted all Acadia and 
 Nova Scotia, to Col. Temple and others, and ho 
 erected them into a separate pjovernmeiit, indc- 
 pendantofNew England. Thus was introduced 
 that confusion with regard to Acaida and Nova 
 Scotia, which has so perplexed the statesm«n of 
 later tim«, — by considering those as two diiTer- 
 ent countries, which were in reality the same. — 
 Acadia, extended from the gulph and river 5t. 
 Lawrence — along the shore westward, including 
 the bay of Chaleur and the bay of Funday, and 
 so on to the river Kennebec :— it included all 
 Nova Seolia and much more. The St. Croix 
 however was esteemed the boundary line be- 
 tween the two provinces. About 1003, Charles 
 2d granted to his brother, the Duke of York, lands 
 extending from the -t. Croix to Penaquid river, 
 and up that river " to the farthest head of the 
 same as it tendeth northward, and fiom thence 
 extending to the river Kennebec, and so up north- 
 ward the shortest course to Canada" — bounding 
 it on the east by the St. Croix,on the west by the 
 Kennebec, en the nortli by the St Lawrencc,and 
 on I he south by the Atlantic ocean. In 1607 by 
 the treaty of Breda, Charles 2d granted to the 
 French crown, all Nova Scotia and the rest of 
 Acadia ; but the Province of Massachusetts bay, 
 having resumed the government of aine, were 
 unwilling that the French should 'ake possession 
 of tfie territory ceded them. In 10S4,the crown, 
 being dssatislied at tlie number of disaffected 
 persons, who had retired to Hew England, order- 
 ed the Attorney General to bring a suit of que 
 warranto agaiusl the Province of Af assachusetts 
 bay ; and in June, judgment was entered against 
 them and they were deprived then of their char- 
 ter. Meantime the English had obiained pos- 
 session of Port Royal, Mount Desert and other 
 parts of Nova Scotia, and held them for many 
 years. James 2d retained the country, granted 
 to hiin, while'Duke of Yark, until his abdication, 
 when his right tested in the English crown, and 
 so continued until 1092 In this year, a new 
 charter was granted by Will'am and Mary to the 
 province, which erected Old Massachusetts, Ply- 
 mouth Colony, Nova Scotia, and all the land, ly- 
 ing betweed Maine and Nova Spotia, and as lar 
 north as the '-t. Lawrence into the province of 
 Massachusetts bay and vacated the judgement 
 obtained in Chancery against them ih 1694. The 
 province found it very difficult to keep indue 
 subjection, the French neutrals in Nova Scotia 
 and Acadia : — they being Rdinan Catholics and 
 of French origin, and changing their masters ev- 
 ery few yearsj'it was very natural they should 
 prefer the French, as those of their own nation. 
 In 16S5 Massachusett-s petitioned to be fireed from 
 further expense in defending Nova Scotia, 
 
 Tliis, perhaps, might have been deemed a renun- 
 ci.ition of their right, and a refusal to consider 
 that, a part of their province ; and accordingly, 
 after the peace of Utrecht, when possession was 
 relumed to the crown, it wis settled as a distinct 
 province. By the treaty of Pyswick in 1697, all 
 liile to lands as fiir east is the St. Croix, was 
 yielded to the British crown. Notwithstanding 
 this treity, the French did not mean the English 
 should possess any lands east of the Kennebec, 
 but still continued thoir. claims to this portion of 
 the country. The river St. Croix was named in 
 the treaty as the boundary line of the two nations: 
 — the French insisted that the St. Croix was a 
 river called Magadawick— east of St. Andrews ; 
 ! but the Enghsli claimed the -t. Jolins,20 leagues 
 , east of that, as the true St. Croix. In this slate ■ 
 both parties remained until the reduction of Port 
 Royal and the country adjacent, by the English' 
 under Gen. Francis Ni ;holson in 1710. The En- 
 glish held this terrttory until the treaty of Ut- 
 recht in 1713. This treaty ceded to the British 
 crown, Nova Scoti.T and Newfoundland. A dis- 
 pute then arose,as to the limits of Acadia, which 
 lasted many years. This territory had ahvavs 
 been an object of jealousy to She English, as tfie 
 French Were said to excite the Indians agaiiisi 
 Massachusetts bay, and they could ill brook the 
 neighborhood of so restless a people. The En- 
 glish government wanted to e.\tend the limits of 
 Acadia, to the south side of the 't. Lawi-encc, 
 and warmly insisted on the recognition of this 
 title ; but the French as warmly insisted that the 
 highlunds ought to bound Acadia on the inlaud 
 parts, and they were fully determined the English 
 should not pass there. These disputes continued 
 until the war betwifen England and Franco io 
 1744, and in the next year, Louisbourg was cap- 
 lured, and with it all Cape Breton. In 1748 Capo 
 Breton was given up to France, by the treaty of 
 Aix-la-Chapelle, but the situation of the country 
 was still unsettled. The English constantly in- 
 sisting on theirclaim to the ?t. Lawrence, and 
 the French resisting it — The French claiming to 
 the Kennebec, and the English to the St. Cioix. 
 — This dispute continued until 1755 when die 
 French were expelled fpom Acad'H by Col.Mo.nk- 
 ton,and never afler regained possession of it. — 
 In 1763, by the treaty of Fontainbleau, France 
 ceded to Gieat Biitain, all Acadia, Canadaand 
 Cape Breton, and the disputed territory thus be- 
 came a British Province. By the charter oF 
 William and Mary, the province of Massachu- 
 setts bay was created and established. The Bri- 
 tish had a clear and indisputable title to the lands 
 conveyed by this charter, — by the discovery of 
 the Cabots — by occupanc) under such discovery 
 and by pre-emption of the greater portion, of ii 
 from the Indians. The country was possessed 
 by the Indians — " the natives of the soil" — and 
 no more exception can be taken to the legality 
 of this grant, than to all others made at that pe- 
 riod. The right of the Province to the disputed 
 territory was granted to them by the crown, and 
 the conquest by the French only suspended the 
 right. On the reconquest, by Gen. Nicholson, 
 these rights renewed, and were restored jure 
 postliminii. These principles have been repeat- 
 edly acknowledged by the ministry and the law 
 officers of tlie crown. The provincial rights 
 were atlastsolemly settled by the king in coun- 
 cil and this territory remained vested in them by 
 virtue of their charter until the American Revo- 
 lution. Such were the rights of the British prov- 
 ince of Massachusetts bay. A CITIZEN. 
 
 m. 
 
 W. 
 
 mm 
 
 ^6 
 
 
For the Mvcrtiser. 
 NORTH EASTERN BOUNDARY. \ 
 £TC. 5. I 
 
 After the St. Croix was ascertained, a qupstion \ 
 arose as tu the right of the United Slates to certain 1 
 islands in and about the mouth of that river.. 
 This di.Torence remained unadjusted, until warj 
 was declared between the United States & Great j 
 Britain. In August, 1814, Plenipotentiaries from 
 both nations assembled at Ghent, to treat for 
 peace. Anjongthe various articles, treated of as 
 preliminary, w<.s the revision of'the boundary line 
 of the United States. Tlie American Commis- 
 sioners, in maUing this propositi^on, expressly dis- 
 claimed any intention, on tlie part of their gov- 
 ernment, to acquire an increase of territory, and I 
 represented the proposed revision, as intended j 
 merely for the purpose oi preventing uncertainty 
 and dispute. The British Commissioners, how- 
 ever, foreseeing that an intimate union of tlie Brit- 
 ish American provinces would enable them to 
 etfeotually curtail our inland territory, and com- i 
 mand our coast, proposed a cession to Great Biit- i 
 ain of that portion of Blaine, which intervened! 
 and prevented a direct communication between ■ 
 Halifax and (Juebec. This proposal was declin- ' 
 ed as exceeding the instructions of the American 
 government, and in reply to an intimation, which 
 had been made, that the boundary line was still a 
 matter of uncertainty, they said they had never' 
 understood that the British plenipotentiaries; who 
 signed the treaty of 1783, had contemplated a 
 boundary different ffoni that described by the 
 treaty, and which requi.-ed nothing more in or- 
 der to Jjede fiuilj?! y ascertained,jlian to be surv ey- 
 
 ed in conlbimity with iis provisions. Doubts had 
 arisen, they said, which was the trne St. Croi.t 
 contemplated by the treaty; this river and its 
 source having been ascertained by the deci»ion.' 
 of the Commissioners, they were prepared to pro- 
 pose the appointment of other Commissioners, to 
 extend the line to the highlands, agreeable to the 
 treaty. This proposal was acceded' to, and they 
 weie accordingly appointed by the fifth article, 
 to run a line due north from the source of the riv- 
 er St. Cioi.-i to the highland's, which di> i Je those 
 waters that empty themselves into the St. La\y- 
 icnco, from those, svhich lah into the Atlantic o- 
 oean. These Cwnmissioners assembled, and the 
 Whole question was amply discussed by them. Af- 
 ter various raeetingi ^-ooiisultationS|finding among 
 them an ir.-cConcilahle difierence ol' opinior,, ■•. iiii 
 reg;'id to the line, they snparatpd Vvfithout coming 
 to -iny decision on the question, and the subject 
 remained in statu quo. They differed essential-j 
 ly, as to the line forming the northeastern bonnd- 
 ury. This difference involves in its consequen- 
 ces a territory more than ten thousand miles 
 square, and is still more important in its political 
 consequences, leaving us a large e-xtent uf sci- 
 coast and very liitle inland teriitory to snpport it. 
 The question turns entirely on the construction 
 to he given to the second article of the treaty of 
 1783 ; — what is the northwestern angle of Nova 
 Scotia, or in other words, what are the highlands 
 intended by the treaty .'—The highlands"are de 
 signaled as accurately as could be expected, con- 
 sidcfing the circumstances under which the treaty 
 wps formed. They are those, which separate 
 wafers falling into the St. Lawrence from those 
 whii'li fall in the opposite direction. There are 
 said to be two rangesof highlands in this region 
 one which runs south of the.Aristook, and which 
 leaves the St. John, Matawaseak, &c. to the 
 northward of it, and the other running almost 
 parallel with the St. La wience, very nearly those 
 designated as the boundary line on Gre^nleafs 
 map of Maine. There are, in fact, no ehain of 
 mountains or very prominent ranges of highlands 
 in all this region, and it is of no importance to 
 the present question whether there are or not : — 
 it is sufficiently elevated to turn the streams in op- 
 posite directions, and we care not what their ele- 
 vation is above the level of the sea. That the U- 
 nited States succeeded to the rights of Great 
 Britain is a well settled principle, and the charter 
 limits ofMassachusetts should govern in the loca- 
 tiori of the boundary, unless it can be shown that 
 their right was lost, either by abandonment — re- 
 nunciation — agreement to a new boundary line, 
 or by quiescence in the occupation of the lerrito-, 
 ry by the British. Neither of those have takenj 
 place vyith regard to the territory now under conr 
 sideration. The boundary above mentioned was 
 however finally agreed upon : — now if a line run 
 due north from tlie source of the St Croi.t does 
 not strike a range of highlands ill Mars-Hill, it by 
 no means fiillows, tliatthev were those intended ; 
 tlie treaty does not say, tfiat the_/Jrs( or second 
 highlands to be met with in running a line due 
 norili were those they intended, nor does it mean 
 those separating the waters which fall into the 
 hay of Fmidy from thosi! which fall into the At- 
 lantic; but those, separating the waters falling 
 into the St. Lawrencefiom those falling in the op- 
 posite direction. The words of the treaty are j 
 plain and explicit, and need not diplomatic aid to ! 
 ho understood , they require no strained construe- i 
 tion or forced reading, to make them speak the 
 language we contend for, and the British pleni- 
 potentiaries at Ghent seem to have thought so or 
 they never would iiave proposed a cessio?i of: 
 what they already had a right lo, and they are 
 not a natitm very apt to overlook-their own rights 
 and privileges. It is said (and the respectable; 
 source from which I received my information will \ 
 not permit rne to doubt it) that a line run due] 
 north will not strike any- highlands at Mars-Hill, 
 as the British allege; — to do that, the line must' 
 run west ofdue north or"nortiiwest and by crook- 
 ed''— a line drawn agreeable to the treaty,'will 
 run into the valley of the St. John '"n five miles 
 after leaving the source of the St. Troix, and 
 tnuches no liighhiiids, until after it passes the riv- 
 er St. John if this be true, it becomes a ques- ' 
 tion of fact, and it only remains for the American ■ 
 government to e;iuse an accurate survey of the' 
 disputed territory to be made in order to carry the 
 provisions of the treaty into effect. Its language 
 is unambiguous and only those whom considera- 
 tions of interest infiiienced would perceive any 
 doubt or unccrtaintv in the delineation of the 
 boundary line. ' .x CITIZEN. 
 
 vSk 
 
^t V; o liav'-' lius day coiiij'ictcii Jlie publJcaUoii <ii 
 pix numbers with which wo have been favored bj 
 I" A Cilizcn" relative t<i Ihe iriterosting subject ol' 
 lour northeastern bouiidnry. In this number tlie 
 I writer iiitiniaies tliat he shall suspend liis labors 
 I for a season. W'> hope, however, ho will thuik 
 Ibetter oflhematlerandcoirtiniiehisinvcst'ga'ions 
 lor suspend tbi'in only for a short period. Al- 
 I though ho has broupjlit helbre the public many 
 I Valuable facts and principles which liavc an im- 
 Iportanl bearins upon the question at issue, still 
 I there are other parts of the case 'which may bo 
 Iprofilably invcstijrated What has tianspired 
 [since the treaty of 1783 to the present time, be- 
 llween the two nations in reference to this subject' 
 [opens a wide licld for labor qnd research, the 
 I fruits of which may bo profitably laid before ihc 
 [public. 
 
 This subject is every day acquiring additional! 
 [interest. The iniporlance of the disputed territo- 
 [ryto this Slate, find the momentous questional 
 I that may be involved in an adjustment of tliedis- 
 I pute, serve to increase that interest. It becomes 
 I therefore the duty ofthose,who possess the means, 
 [to lay before the public every important fact and 
 [principle which shall serve to elucidate the justice 
 lofour title. 
 
 We sluiuld do injustice to the prodixlions ol 
 "A Citizen" not to express our satisfaction at the 
 lability with which he has punsued this subject. 
 I We trust that that part of the conimunily to whom 
 Itlioy have been extended have been riot only pleas- 
 led, but profiled by a perusal of his numbers. 
 
 For the JidvcTliser. 
 NORTH EASTERN BOUNDARY. 
 
 . WO. 6. I 
 
 If any light whatever can le derived from an-;| 
 cieni grants and treaties, and from the history ol 
 the country, they show plainly to my mind, that 
 the highlands intended by the treaty of peace, 
 vvere those running nearly parallel svilh the St. 
 Lawrence t — especially as by the charter of Mas- 
 •sachusetls-bay, all south of the St. Lawn one be- 
 long^:d to that province. Tiie commissioners, in 
 drawing the boundary line, had regard, as I have 
 Ijcfure roiiiarkcd, to the ancient limits of the col- 
 ony ; but deemed it best however to bound it on 
 the nortli by the highlands nearest the St. Law- 
 rence. Content with these limits, this State only 
 wishes such an adjustment as Vvfitl preseive her ter- ' 
 riiorinl rights from infringement. Not being po,s- 
 ■iCised of the restless, grasping disposition her 
 Billisii neighbors attribute to her, she wishes the 
 liillerence may be terminated so amicably and' 
 satisfactorily, that each nation may preserve their 
 respective rights. Siie might, with some degree 
 of truth, retort on iho British nation, ihe language 
 v.-anloiily thrust upon her that " they are a people 
 " and government, who consider every thing they 
 ■• can claim or reach as already their own, and 
 " every thing they cannot, as an injury lobe borne 
 ■' till they have acquired farther strength : in the 
 ■' very terms of a prerious concession, they can 
 " find subject for fresh demands." The above 
 language is a pretty fair specimen of the spirit 
 and" conciliating temper, with which the British i 
 urge their pretensions. The rights of our State to 
 t!ie controverted tract are I think indisputable — 
 both from the grants and charters froui the En- 
 glish crown— from the vi'ords of the treaty of 
 peace, and from the long acquiescence of the 
 British in our possession of it. The British have 
 long wished to obtain the jurisdiction of the north- 
 ern parts of this State, that they might strength- 
 i^n themselves, and secure a direct eommunica- 
 on between Canada and New Brunswick; and 
 what they could not years ago ob'.ain by a ces- 
 sion,thcy now endeavor to win by diplomatic arts. 
 Our government, I trust, will not sutler them- 
 selves to be wheedled out of their indubitable 
 rights, nor sacrifice a valuable and important ter- 
 itory, to conciliate the jeabus temper of our 
 
 Crltish neighbors. IMassachiisctts, since Ihe rev-j 
 uliition. and Maine from lH20,liave exercised the] 
 'urisdiction of this territory, and after a quiet pos- 
 session of more than forty yHars,wo are now dis- 
 turbed by this new and strange claim. AVe do 
 not antic'ijiate. that the Excculive of the United 
 States will ever yield to so barefaced a pretension, 
 or that they feel any disposition so to do ; but if 
 tliey should, we contend they have no right to 
 yield by negotiation, without our consent, a terri- 
 lory, the possession of which afl'.cts so material- 
 ly our rights of property and State sovereignty 
 Our own commercial and political importance, as 
 a frontier State, renders cverv measure of the gen- 
 eral government doubly interesting to us; but an 
 extravagant claim to a large portion of our Stale, 
 seriously made by a foreign pown-, reducing us 
 thereby from a State of the first importance to a 
 mere secondary stat:on, will, I trust, never be pa- 
 tiently listened toby any American, much lessj 
 by a citizen of this State. Neither the sovereign-|j 
 ty nor the soil of any State are at the disposal ofj 
 the national government: — as to all matters af-| 
 feeling our territorial jurisdiction, we are free, 
 sovereign, and independent — attached to the fed- 
 eral body only by our compact. In the lang^iatre 
 ofthe •Articles of Confederation — " each State 
 retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independ- 
 ence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, 
 which is not expressly delegated to the United 
 Slates in Congress as.sembled " We have rights 
 afii privileges, which it is not in the power of the 
 general government to take away, and we trust, 
 that the Executive will never suffer so large a por- 
 tion of our State to be ceded to any foreign pow- 
 j«r, upon so groundless and extravagant a preten- 
 sion. I deem it unnecessary to treat any farther 
 of the terms Ofthe delineation ofthe boundary ; 
 the woidsof the treaty are plain enough, and easy 
 to be understood — let them speak for themselves. 
 My object was simply, to lay before the public 
 the few facts in relation to this claim, which 1 
 was able to collect, and to bring the subject be- 
 fore thi-m, that they may see upon what sort of a 
 loiindation our claim rests. After n quiet, unin- 
 terrupted possession of this territory for so many j 
 years, we ought not to be disturbed by a flimsy pre- 
 tence got up to harr^jss us 'i'he British agents 
 have long been on the alert to obtain evidence to 
 support their ihiini. and to catch " at any peg 
 whereon to hang a doubt." It behooves ns to be 
 mindlul of our rii:)its. and to be prepared manful- 
 ly to assert them, and not to be bullied out of them 
 by any language of theirs, Iiowever severe and 
 threatening. If J have aided in any measure, by 
 bringing a few facts belore the public, in awaken- 
 ing their attention to this subject, I shall not think 
 I have labored in vain, while I leave tb.e farther 
 discussion of it to abler pens than mine The 
 vast political importance of this tract to us, as a 
 future source of revenue, as a foundation of an ac- 
 cession of wealth and strength to us, cannot be 
 too often brought into bold relief The future 
 prosperity ol our State is deeply involved in the 
 decision of this question, and an awful responsi- 
 bility rests on those, to whose care is confided the 
 protection and security to us and our posterity of 
 so large and so valuable a portion of our country. 
 A CITIZEN. 
 
__ , disposed to disturb any thing which was thuB 
 
 "There ffnot to out Unowiedge, any controversy 
 as to Ihe point where the unsettled boundary com - 
 I niei.ces, nor as to the course ot tlie hne,-lor a 1 
 \ parlies commerce their surveys at the same point, 
 to wit, at the monument, and run tlie same course. , 
 The controversy is as to the length oi the hne, or 
 in other words, what is meant by tl.o North-wosv 
 angle of Nova Scotia and the highlands, as descr.b- v 
 ed in the treaty. The boundaries ot tne Uu> ed 
 States ate described in the provisional articles be- 
 tween the United States and Great Uritain, and 
 ore incorporated into the definitive treaty of peace, ; 
 I with a preface which gives them an increased so- ; 
 leinnity and eSTect. ,. ■ . ... 
 
 The first part of the second article of the treatj 
 is as follows ;— •■ And that all disputes which might 
 1 arise in future, on tTie subject ol the boundaries ol 
 i the said United Slates may be prevented, it is here- 
 by agreed and declared, that the following are and 
 shall be their boundaries, to wit : From the North- 
 western angle of Nova Scotia, to nit, that snglc 
 which is formed by a line drawn due North from the 
 source of the St Croix river to the highlands, a ong 
 the said highlands which divide those rivers which 
 empty themselves into the St. Lawrence, trom 
 those which fall into the Atlantic Ocean, to the. ■ 
 North-western-most head of Connecticut river,— ; 
 thence down along the middle of that river to the 
 forty-fifth degree of north latitude,'' &c. 
 
 We have hsretolbre observed that the only point i 
 which admitted of doubt in the description ot the ! 
 North-eastern boundary, was the Iqf ality ol the riv- . . 
 er St. Croijc, that being the point of commencing ] 
 the line defined by the treaty. Until that was set- ;. 
 tied, the guide for finding the Northwest angle ol | 
 Nova Scotia could hot bo reduced to mathematical 
 certainty. But, when settled, it became a certain 
 and definite point, from which connected with the V'.. 
 other part ot tho descnpLion, towlt, il-.e highlands f;:A, 
 which divide the waters which empty themselves [,; ^, 
 i-ito the St. Lawrence from those which fall into ia-i/ 
 the Atlantic Ocean the Northwest angle of Nova °4'i 
 Scotia and the Northeast angle of the United |g'^ 
 States and this State with the intervening bounda- fe ', 
 rycan be ascertained with absolute certainty. The ^ki'. 
 treatr has no reference to any other description or 'J' ' 
 boundary than such as are contained in its own '' . 
 provisions ; nor has it any reference to any rules of , 
 construction, or points for ascertaining its monu- 
 inerfts, but such and such only as it gives. There 
 is no ambiguity in its language, nor can there be 
 any upon the face of the earth. It describes two 
 classes of rivers, — one emptying themselves into . 
 the St. Lawrence, and the other into the Atlantic 
 Ocean. It describes no third class, and all the riv- 
 ers connected with the description of boundary 
 I must, therefore, be embraced in one or the other of 
 the aforesaid classes. INor does it mention the 
 particular elevation of the highlands dividing the 
 waters which empty themselves into the St. Law- 
 rence liom those which fall into the Atlantic O- 
 icean. And their particular elevation is of no con- 
 lequnce, whether they be ten thousand or one 
 housand feet above the level of the sea 5 it is only 
 ecessary the highlands should beof sufficient ele- 
 .ition to divide the waters. There can be no doubt 
 lat there is such a range of highlands which do di- 
 ide the waters emptying themselves into the St. 
 ^awrence on the one hand and the Atlantic Ocean , 
 n the oth&r. Lest there should remain any doubt, 
 n the description of the Northeastern boundary of 
 he United States, it is again recurred to in the 
 alter part of the second article of the treaty from 
 hich a quotation has already been made, in the ■ 
 Mowing words : — '* East by a line to be drawn a- 
 on^ ihe middle of the river St. Croix, from its 
 'louth in the Bay of Fundy.to its source, and from 
 ts source directly north to the aforesaid Itighlands 
 ^hich divide the rivers that fall into' the Atlantic 
 ')cean from those which fall into the St. Law 
 ence." 
 
 Here again — but two classes of rivers are recog- 
 iizod as having any connexion with the boundary, 
 n ascertaining its position or locality on the face 
 if the earth, nor can we imagine that any other 
 ;tas8could have been in the minds of any of the 
 I^ommissioners. When all the descriptions are so 
 :iear and precise ; when we can discover nothing 
 to excite doubts, we do not, an 1 cannot doubt. 
 The rule for settling the boundary definitively, is 
 clear and plain and explicit. Nor can we forbear 
 10 remark, that if views of national interest did net 
 >,it:>-ferRt.hp(e woald he no dilBculty in ascertaiitir 
 
 You. committee have examined the subject, w, I 
 all the care a-d deliberation in their power, ana 
 a e not aware that much, ifany light can be deriv- 
 ed from the ancient grants, P'-"'^!'-""''",""^ ""f, 
 treaties of the governments ol France and Grea^ 
 Britain, because there seems almost always to 
 have b^en conflicting claims "f J""=dict,o.., and 
 few or no certain boundaries established. I he war 
 of 1755 terminated the power off ranee in Canaoa 
 :„dlcadie, and by the treaty of Fomambleau, 
 which terminated that war, she ceded those prov 
 inces to Great Britain. G.eal B""iy'„'''^"< „ 
 came as much possessed of Canada and N"V'' J'™: ' 
 tia, or Acadie. as she was of her other colonies m 
 North America, which she had settled and protect- 
 ed ; and had over them the same political po-ver 
 and the same rights of changing, altering or mod- 
 ifvini^ their jurisdictions, boundaries and goveri - 
 ment°s. Such continued to he her rights over all 
 her North American colonies until the Kevolution 
 had consnm'raated the treaty of 1783. 
 
 The revolution brought Into existence a new 
 power, which Great Britain reluctantly acknowl- 
 edsed but when she consented to treat with that 
 power it was comoetent for the great contracting 1 
 parties to make compacts, to prescribe such limits, 
 and to establish and define such boundaries, as they 
 nleased. This they have done in the treaty. \V lier- 
 everthe descriptions in the treaty are clear and 
 not perplexed with ambiguity, there seems to be no 
 necessitv for resorting to any thing beyond its own 
 provisioiis to settle its meaning, more especially 
 when the instrument itself contains no such reler- 
 
 ^"tiIc treaty of 1733 contains a very cleat descrip- i 
 tion of the line constituting the North Lastern 
 Boundarv of the Untied States. The description is 
 so accurite and well defined, that it could never 
 have bfen doubtful, except at one pomt, to wit,- 
 wbich of the rivers falling into the Kay of Passama- 
 quoddy, and ultimately into the Bay of Fundy, was 
 the true St. Croix thereby intended. 1 lie Commis- 
 sioners appointed uuder the treatj of 1794 have 
 settled that question ; and although there was much 
 reason for fixing on the first river west of the St. 
 John, as the true St. Croix of the treaty, still the 
 Commissioners finallv fixed upon the Schoodic as 
 the true river, and ascertained its direction trom 
 the mouth to its source, and settled the line to the 
 m'.nument which they erected. Honever hard the 
 bargain was for us, we were bound-in good faith to 
 a-on-'i^ce in th" re?-iU. and stHl do,.T,d aiero: 
 
t^ 
 
I ! •'"^- ■ aL'EBEC, MARCH 8 
 
 I Yesterday, His Excellency, Governor Dal- 
 lioUEie,addre93ed tlie Legislature with the follow- 
 ing speech : 
 " Crf.ntlemen of the Legislative Couneil; 
 
 " Gentlemen of the ^sscmHy — 
 " I come to close this Session of the Provincial 
 farliamonl, convinced, by the state of your pro- 
 ceedings, that nothing liUely to promote the pub- 
 he interest can be now expected from your de- 
 liberations. 
 
 " To you, Gentlemen of the legislative Coun- 
 cil, who have attended your duties in this Ses- 
 sion, I offer my thanks on the part of His Majes- 
 ty, asanacknuwledgcment of the regard which, 
 by your presence, you have shewn to the wel- 
 fare of your Country, and also of that proper re- 
 spect which you have manifested for the Sover- 
 eign from whom your honors ars derived. 
 
 "Gentlemen of the jlsaembly— I 
 
 " I( IS painful to me, that 1 cannot tjlaak my 
 scntim(;nts to you in terms of approbation and 
 thanks. The proceedings of this Session impose 
 upon me a duty, of which however unpleasant, 
 I will acquit myself as a faithful servent to my 
 King, and a sincere friend to the Province. 
 
 " Many years of continued discussion on forms 
 and accoimts have proved unavailing to clear up 
 and set at rest a dispute, which moderation and 
 reason^ might have speedly terminated It is 
 lamentable to see, that no efforts or concessions 
 of His .Majesty's Government have succeed in 
 reconciling those differences of opinion in the 
 Legislature : but it is infinitely more so, that dif- 
 ferences on one subject sbuuld cause a rejection 
 of every other measure which His Majesty's 
 Governmont recommends to your consideratien. 
 " The duties expected of you in this Session 
 were not difficult ; among the first was an ex- 
 amination of the Public Accounts of last year, 
 ind a report upon them, whethei of approval or 
 otherwise ; has that duty been done so that your 
 country can know the result .' 
 
 'Have you ssnsidered the Estioiated Esper.di- 
 tiire tor the current year, and granted the supply 
 required in His Majesty's name.' or have rea.^ons 
 been assigned for the refusal of tbein, that can 
 be know n and understsod by the country.' 
 
 " Have the Messages from His lajesty's 
 Representative been duly acknowledged, and an- 
 swered according to the rules and forms of Par- 
 liament, or according with the respect which is 
 due by each branch of Legislature to the others.' 
 " Have the Rules or Orders of proceedings in 
 ! the House of Assembly been duly attended to, 
 ill so far as they effect and recognize the Prero- 
 gative Rights ofthe Crowni" 
 
 " These are questions; Gentlemen, which you 
 are now to ask yourselves individually, and an- 
 swer to your constituents on your return to 
 ihem. 
 
 " These are questions which you are to an- 
 swer to your own consciences, aa men who are 
 I bound by oaths of fidelity to your countryand to 
 'your King. 
 
 '' In my admini.stration of this government, I 
 have seen seven years pass away without any 
 conclusive adjustment ofthe public accounts; 
 thus accumulating a mass for future investigation, 
 I which must lead to confusion and misunderstand 
 ling. In the same years I have seen the meas- 
 I ures of government directly applicable to the 
 ; wants ofthe Province, thrown aside without at- 
 (ention and without any reason assigned. I have 
 seen the foruis ofParli^iment utterly disregarded ; 
 ' and in this Session a postivo assumption ot Exe- 
 I cutive authority instead of that of Legislative, 
 ' which last is alone your share in the constitu- 
 tion ofthe state. 
 
 '■ The results of your proceedings in this Ses- 
 sion have been, the refusal ofthe supplies neces- 
 sary for the ordinary e.xpenses of Government. 
 ' tlie loss of the Militia Bill, the failure of all pro- 
 visions for the maintenance of prisoners in vour 
 Gaols itod Houses of Corrcriio n, for the s upport 
 
 of Insane and Fijiiodli 
 ments of Education and 
 
 nd for thn establish- 
 Charity, and a tota 
 
 obstruction of local and public improvement 
 
 " In this stale of things), and with this experi- 
 ence of past years it is now no longer consistent 
 iwith a proper disch.irge of the high trust com- 
 mitted to me, to entertain hopes of a return to 
 belter reason in the representative branch of 
 this Parliament ; but it is still my duty to call 
 upon you ag public men, and to call upon the 
 country, as deeply interested in the result, to 
 consider seriously the consequences of persever- 
 ance in such a course. : 
 " I shall conduct the Government with the 
 means in t-iy power, with an undiminished de 
 sire to do good ; but while I must submit myself 
 to the interruption of all improvement, undei' 
 the authority ofthe Civil Government, I will de ^ 
 dare my deep regret at such a state of things ,' 
 I think it right to convey to the country, a free ' 
 and unreserved expression of my sentiments upon I 
 tlie public misfortunes ; and I will leave no 
 doubt on the public mind ofiny determination 
 i.> perseveie firmly in the path of my duty, with 
 a laitht'u'l regard to the rights of my Sovereign, 
 with which aie also combined the best interests 
 ofthe Province, 
 
 " It only remains for me now, compelled by 
 existing circumstances, to prorogue this Farlia- 
 inent, whatever may be the inconvenience re- 
 sulting to the Province from such a measure.'' 
 
 We copy the following remarks from the Can 
 adapapeis. in relation to the foregoing speech of 
 his Excellency. 
 
 Loicer Canada.— The Speech of His Excellen- 
 cy the Governor in Chief, on proroguing the 
 "riivincial Parliament of Lower Canada, will be 
 found on the fij"st page of our paper. This Doc- 
 ument, which appears to have been penned un- 
 der the influence of highly excited feelings, can- 
 no- fail to be read with deep interest, not only 
 on account ofthe peculiarty of its style, but be'- 
 qiuse it heaps upon" a co-ordinate branch of" the 
 Legislature' the most unmerited obloquy, merely 
 for adhering strictly to Constitutional principles. 
 Upper Canada Herald 
 
 Bkockville, (V. C.) March 19th 
 The.Lowcr Canada papers of Wendesday last 
 brought us the unexpected intelligence- of the 
 Priirogation ofthe Legislatiire of the Province. — 
 Tne Money matters, ao long in dispute have 
 been the cause. The assembly w ere dismissed 
 with no flattering compliments, and his Lord- 
 ship's Speech has the appearance of having been 
 I imposed under the dictates ofa heated imagi- 
 nation. It is however to be hoped that the As- 
 sembly will not give up the rights"of their Con- 
 stituents either through pusillianimity or mer- 
 cenary motives — Rtcorrter. 
 
POMLAOT: 
 
 -TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1827. 
 
 HALE'S MAP OF NEW-ENGLAND. 
 
 Messrs. Ehitors: 
 
 By publishing llie foUowing abstract of a pa- 
 per (liawn up for another purpose, you will oblige 
 several subscribers, 
 
 Yours, A. B. 
 
 The .Map of the New England States by Na- 
 than Hale, Esq. is a work in which he has 
 bfiStowed very eossiderablo pains and e.vpense, 
 with a view to render it as perfect as was m his 
 pi'wer. It is therefore considered deserving of a 
 discriminating patronage ; and is entitled to a 
 iibc-al consideration of the circumstances under 
 wl.ich it has been executed. 
 
 The growing impoitancc of this section of the 
 union, the increasing intercourse of its inhabi- 
 tants, and the increasing travel into it from other 
 parts of the fonntry, unite to interest us as well 
 ,ns our ne'gliboring states, in the having ol a good 
 ■rmeral map of JVew England. Our own 7-c?/x- 
 !'>e c.'tcnl also, and laudable objects of local 
 iiiiprnvement, which iritorost' us in such a map, j 
 give some claims on us for patrona-.'O. j 
 
 Fro.ni the form, of New England, extending , 
 from the 41st to the 4!Hh degrees of latitude.and 
 spreading over a space of six degrees of longi- 
 tude, lying ajong in an oblique direction, upon 
 the .Atlantic, it becomes difficult to comprehend 
 the wholS in a map of conijenient size and 
 .sliape, — or to extend it without inore'than propor- 
 ;,ionate cost. ^ - ' 
 
 Hence an apology arises foi the. neGe.?sity, 
 whicii the arbor of the ihap has been under|to 
 ' exhibit a section of our territory separately, in 
 ^•iib a manner ns to HII up an otherivise vacant 
 ■ iiid useless part of the field ot the cngravitig.^- 
 I This portion of it appears to bc'exKcuted in a 
 I very beautiful stile. And when it is ieitifim ber- 
 j ed, that Maine is nearly half of New Englapd, 
 j and that the northern division xjf this State re^ 
 I mains principally in an unsettled and aucultiva- 
 ted situation, less objection may exist. 
 ' The supplcmentay section is elegantly engrav- 
 i ed, and presents a view of the wliole of our dis- 
 ! putfid territory, with a large portion of the ad- 
 I joining province of New Bninswick. The map 
 j also contains an accurate sketch of the contiguous 
 : territory of Lower Canada :' and shews at one 
 ' glance the course of the streams that fall into llie 
 ; St. Lawrence, together with all the great branch- 
 es of the St. Johns. 
 
 Although this map is not confined to a gio- 
 j grau.'iical survey of the mere face of Maine, it is 
 nevertheless the best existing map of the Slate ; 
 and its value can scarcely be considered as di- 
 i •minis/led In/ its appendages ; but, on the other 
 hand any disadvantage in regard to form,may bo 
 • recci\ed as at least compensated by these exter- 
 ior and extra improvements. It exhibits all the 
 new locations, alterations and improvisments, 
 since the publication of .Mr. Greenleaf's valuable 
 miip ; and has been compiled, as the author ob- 
 serves, from all the plans, charts, surveys and 
 other d.::cument5 that have been published or 
 wliich he eould piocure from public or private 
 sources, wiili whatever could be attained by ac- 
 tual observation of many parts of the country. 
 
The question relative to our North East- i 
 erti Boundary is fast di-awins' to a crisis. — ' 
 The outrages reeently [jcrpctrated by the 
 Britiah uutliorities of New-Brunswick, are 
 such as caiuKit be loiifrcr wiukodout of sijrlit. , 
 It is tiiiifi for tlie people of this State to know 
 that ihey are in danjiei" of bein-!: stripped of | 
 one third of their territory. If this subject 
 has hitiierto excited but little interest among 
 the people of this Slate, it is because the na- 
 ture and extent of the British claim has not 
 until lately been generally understood, and 
 \'. e appreVend is not nosv understood so gen- 
 l; ;illy as it deserves ta be. The British 
 ihiini by 11 lino drawn from Mars Hill to the 
 K;:tahdin: and from the Katahdin by a line 
 drawn along between the heads of the 
 streams which empty in the Penobscot and 
 those wliic.1i empty into the St. Johns, until 
 
 ' it strikes the dividing line between Maine 
 and Lower Cniiadu. If the reader will look 
 at the Map, lie will see that it cuts off from 
 
 i,Wni')ie a ierrUory/ equal io the ivhole ofMassa- 
 chusitti. The land itself, it is said, e.'sceeds 
 in fertility any traet of efjiial size within- N 
 Eliglar.d. Here t''£i) i^ a. territory capabli 
 
 of sustaining a jiopulation of half r. million, 
 within the rightful jurisdiction of Maine, 
 which we are in danger of having Vvrcsled 
 from us forever. 
 
 Our title to this countr}', we say, is as clear 
 and indisputable as it is to any other part of 
 the State. The JJritish may extend their 
 claims to the Kennebec en the same grounds 
 |)recisely that they claim to the Penobscot ; 
 and if we yield to this we caniiot know what 
 pretences will be set up afterwards. The 
 treaty of 1783 establishes our hoiuidary too 
 clearly to be misunderstood, except by those 
 who are determined not to imdersiand it. — 
 The treaty is so explicit that the ))co]i!e of 
 this State have never supposed that it could 
 he brought into doubt, and it is with as much 
 surprise as indignation, that they liave seen 
 the nature and extent of the British claim. 
 
 But if the attention of the |ieople has 
 been less directed to this subject than its im- 
 portance deserves, their feelings will be a- | 
 roused, by an event that has recently occur- ' 
 red, in such a manner that they will not be \ 
 easily quieted. 
 
 Mr. John Baker, a peaceable citizen of this i 
 State, occupying a farin which he holds un- i 
 der a joint grant from Massachusetts and ■ 
 Maine, has been arrested within our own 
 territorial jurisdiction by the officers of the 
 pro\iti(e of New-Brunswick, accompanied, 
 as we have understood, by an armed force, 
 'and carried to t'redoricton, to answer to the 
 iBritish King. We have recently learnt that 
 he has been tried, eonvicted and sentenced 
 to pay a fine of £130, or iJGOO, and to be iin- 
 prit-oned ibr six njouths, a;id that he is now 
 dually incarccrateil under the sentence in 
 Frede.i'ickton jail. What measures will be 
 adopted by those to wliom it properly be- 
 longs to uphold the dignity of ^le country, 
 and protect the violated rights of the citizens, 
 We of course cannot know. That all will be 
 done, wljich can be with propriety by the 
 government of this State, we feel the most 
 l)erfect assurance. In the mean time we 
 should consider ourselves negligent of our 
 duty, if we diil not call the attention of the 
 people to this fiaar.-int vir.lation of their dig- 
 nity and their rights. Biit we forbear for 
 the present fi-om expressing those feelings 
 which this subject so forcibly excites. 
 
 ^rgus. 
 
V-'.-* 
 
 ■m w^^^ 
 
 ZQ&TON, FRIDAY, NOV. 9, X«'27.- 
 
 S 
 
 i 
 
 IMPGRTAI'i-T. 
 
 N. E. BOUNDARY. 
 
 The Counliesof Hertford, Devon, and Corii- 
 • allis, in lower Canada, have, at separate 
 -T.eelings, passed fhe' following 
 
 REfiOLUTIo'jYS. 
 
 ■?. Resolved, That the establishmentEto the South 
 
 .^t the St. Lawrence, fiom opposite Quebec to Metis, 
 
 T;e bouiuied by heights, at the distance of from 2 to 12 
 
 ieigues from the bs^nk of the river. 
 
 2. That this part of the country is surcharg^eci ^'ith. j 
 -■^iiabitiints, vvho have no means of establishing them- 
 t(ves in the neighbcrhood of their friends and fanii- 
 i^-;sj where tiiey could the more oasily receive the 
 .id and assiatance indispeusible at the commencement 
 .w ao cstabhshment. 
 
 S. That froin beyond those heights, run the waters of 
 the river St. Juhn^ upon the borders of which there is 
 :^M extent of land of about 15 leagues in siiperfice, al- 
 .'^L'ether prr.per for the (ormation of a new establish- 
 i at, and otforing an opening, near and convenier.t 
 --■r the superabundant populatior: of the antient estab- j 
 I.^unlent5. 
 
 4. Tint the opening of these lands bcintr 
 ■'■nee commenced, this part . of the Province 
 ■•ill becojne, in .a little time, one of the most 
 ;,.onrishiiiir portioiii? of tlie domains of His Ma- 
 js.sfy, as wsll hy i'.3 nafiu'al fertility af by the 
 multiplied communications of the dill'erent 
 b.a.'icaes of the river St. John. 
 
 D. Tliat onr neighbour? of the Uniled States 
 .■ America, could not see, without covetting", 
 !'.c line plains of this p.irt of North America, 
 ■ v iiioh oiier to the industry of man a theatre the 
 
 f'st vast mid advantageous; • 
 
 '?■. That the rneasures for the establishment 
 :r this part of tfie Province are unhappily ar- 
 rested by the pretensions of the government of 
 ■he Utiited States, raised in tiie course of their 
 i.egoliations with the government of His Ma- 
 jesty, upon-all the lerritoty situated from the 
 source's offlie river St. John to the distance of 
 2 to 12 leagues from the banks oi' the St. Law- 
 rence. 
 
 7. That ii is for tire greatest interest of Lo-a- 
 er Canada, generally, and particularly for tli:'.l 
 part South of the St. Lawrence, containing a 
 jjopulalion of about 80,000 souls, that the ju.-t 
 :;ghtsofHi3 ]\'!ajesty upon this extensive couti- 
 "T, be promptly recognized and established. 
 
 Sj. That they are convinced of the injustice nf 
 the pretensions of the American Government, 
 and that they will not regard any sacrilice on 
 their part, as too considerable, to second the 
 vie-,\5 of His Majesty's Government in the pre- 
 servation of the land claimed. 
 
 9. That the safety and future grnvvth of the 
 -J ver part of Lower Canada depend upon the 
 
 'jnstai:t firmness of His Majesty to maintain 
 .-s just rights; and the hopes of the rising 
 feneration repose upon his promptitude to 
 cause to cease all doubt in this respect. 
 
 10. That the inliabitants see, with alarm an'' ' 
 regret, that this intere.sting part of the pos- 
 ses'-ions of His Majesty is despoiled of its wood, 
 to the great detriment of the subjects nf His 
 Majesty, who ntay eatabiish themselves there ; 
 and that nothitjg is more proper to discourage 
 1he injurious depredations, than to form some 
 sstahiishraents there. 
 
 11. That a Committee be appointed to pre- 
 T>3ie sn humble petition to His Majesty, em- 
 bi'-acitig tlio-sentinients and views of these meet- 
 ii.'gs ; and .supplicating hun to give to the .sub- 
 ject .'ill tlie attention it merits. 
 
 Of the meeting in Hertford County, Colonel 
 Frazer was President, Capt. Girard, Vice Pre- 
 sident, ^nd Capt. Louis Biais, Secretary. 
 
 Ofthe meetini; i'l lie Cnnn'v ul' Devon, Mr. 
 
 •"ft :n, w -s '':e.^i.'!Ent, and Mr. 'Lefourneaij, 
 Secretary. Both Jlembersof the Provincial 
 Parfiament. 
 
 Of the meeting in the County of C"rnwal!is, 
 Hon. Mr. Tache was President^ and Mr. 1. Ij. 
 Tache, Secret.ar^^ 
 
 Committees of Correspondonesvycre appoint. 
 ^d, ' 
 
 The QiiobecOId Gazette says, "It has been 
 observed that t\\e fixture importst-n-.^ — C J^„-«..»r 1 
 Canada depends eulii'ely upon the decisiori o{ 
 ihis .question; that it will no longer be dry 
 thing if they take fi'om it 1500 leagues of its 
 t(;rntory, in one of its most fertile parts,' and 
 ihat it is for the interest of England, /of 'the 
 Province, and of the inhabitants, that' this im- 
 mense e.xtent of land he not disriicmhercd from 
 Lower Canada. The King la to be petitioned 
 :o grant lots of 100 acres to each individuii! 
 "who will settle on it. 
 
 The above Resolutions are published 'in 
 French in the Quebec Gazette of the 25th ult. 
 — and not with an English translation, as is 
 'lyual. 
 
 It v.'iil he among the greale.=t subjects of re- 
 gret in this unpleasant alfair, if it shall be sup- 
 posed to interfere with the interests of ouj- 
 Canadian frieiids, and that they should yield to 
 ;ii;y excitement on the subject. 
 
 FROM THE POKTL.VND ARGUS. 
 
 TVe have been furnisljed with the following, i 
 v.iiithw'ere anrong the Toasts, drank at the 
 darner givetr Maj. Enooics, menlioned in our j 
 last. I 
 
 _ Ey the President oftiiedav — Our Country. 1 
 
 By John MussEY, Esq. Vice Presitient — I 
 The President ofthe United States. ] 
 
 By Judge Ware — The Slate of Maine— may i 
 ■iha stand for her rights, and he contenli. with \ 
 vio'.hing short of her whole right. 
 
 Eiy the Hon. iMr. Williams — John Eai;ek. 
 Tvlio holds under Massachusetts and Maine — 
 If ejected, may he vouch in his warrantors to 
 iiiaintain his title. 
 
 By Dr. Rose. The territory and rights of 
 fi-.e State — The General Government, by their 
 oidigation to defend the latter, do not acquire 
 the right to barter the former. 
 
 3y Dr. V/eed — .The memory of Gree?,-, 
 K^'oy, LiscoLN and Brooks. 
 
 By the I-Ion. Mr. PARRis.-The memory of 
 ■ToHiv Brooks, — the man who evinced his pat- 
 rintisin by devoting himself and all his sons to 
 tie service ofhis country, ■ 
 
 -Major BsooKs exnrpssejl, in very handsome 
 terms, his sense of the attention and regard 
 sliewn him Oii tiris occasion, and gave 
 
 The town of Portland — accoinpanietl with the 
 sentiment of Robert Burns : 
 
 .4^ 
 
w 
 
/ 
 
 ^f 
 
 COLONIAL QUESTION. 
 
 Tlie question substantially at issue between 
 tlie United Stalbsand Grerit Britain, is, whether 
 '!/■ ports shall be open to all her shipping, while 
 those of her depeiidt^jicies are closed against 
 ours. We ar6 in the same hemisphere with her 
 American possessions. Before the revolution, wc 
 were parts of the same empire. We then enjoy- 
 ed an intercourse with our sister colonies in the 
 West Indies, and on this continent as well as 
 equal freedom of the fisheries. Our common and 
 rightful privilege of the last description, was se- 
 cured to us after the division of the sovereignty 
 by a perpetual compact. But the British gov- [ 
 cniment has appeared disposed to make us pay | 
 the penalties of our successful rebellion, by inter- i 
 dieting us from commercial intercourse with her! 
 West India Islands, — while other nations upon a 
 more just and liberal policy have opened theirs ; 
 to us. Shut up, as it were, by her insular estab- 
 lishments in the Tropics at one extremity of the 
 union, and sustaining a severe and heavy pros- 1 
 sure upon our northern and eastern frontier, wo 
 seem to be deprived by England of the advan-j.: 
 tages wc were destined to enjoy by nature. — 
 The truth is, that Great Britain is still attempt- 
 ing to impose the shackles of her Coloni:iI Policy 
 upon us. Her system has always been a narrow 
 one of close seas, strict navigation laws, mercan- 
 tile monopolies, and <:ommercial restrictions ; 
 and she sets up lier offensive pretensions in our 
 immediate neighborhood, with a sordid and cal- 
 lous indifference to the interests and happiness of 
 whole communities and the rights of independent [ 
 republics. 
 
 Against this persevering attempt to deprive us' 
 of the privilege of a free commerce on the whole j 
 American side of the Atlantic ocean, it is our dn- i 
 ty to assert what we may consider our natural! 
 rights, and to oppose all the means of defence in 
 our power. We have succeeded in maintaining! 
 our right to the navigation of the Mississippi, and 
 obtained a better security than the right of de-| 
 posit at New Orleans ; and John Bull has got to 
 learn the nature of Brother Jonathan, if he imag-| 
 ines that these " North American Republicans" 
 are to become the vassals of Liverpool and Shef- 
 field, or our rights are to be sacrificed to the in- 
 terests of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. 
 
 The true foundations ef our commercial policy 
 on this subject arc acknowledged to be laid down 
 ill Mr. Jefferson's CommerciaJ Report in 1793, 
 vvlien he was Secretary to Washington. And it 
 is represented as a fundamental article in our 
 system, from the earliest operation of ourgovern- 
 ment — to regulate our commercial intercourse 
 witli all nations upon terms of equality, to be 
 governed by an exact scale of justice, and adopt 
 a perfect rule of reciprocity in our relative inter- 
 coLrse with foreign nations. Mr. Johnson of; 
 Louisiana, states in his speech in the Senate, in 
 reply to Gen. Smith, that the principles of Mr. 
 Jefferson's Report agree essentially with those of j 
 Mr. Madison's resolutions. These, he says, 
 " contain the true republican doctrines of that 
 day, and on whith our commerce and navigation . 
 have been founded. They have been confirmed 
 by time and pra ctic e, and ha ve b ecome the settled 
 
 polRv ul'iho coiuiiry, iiom ivhicii wc cannot cic- 
 part without an abandonment of our principles, 
 They will be found a sure and safe guide in ai: 
 times. We grant that Mr; Jefferson was fre 
 qucntly successful in laying down the'soundesi 
 maxims of political liberty and economy ; and 
 shall therefore borrow from this Report the fol- 
 lowing passages, to which the attention of the 
 Senate was recently invited, 
 
 " But should any nation, contrary to our 
 wishes, suppose it may better find its advantage 
 by continuing its system of prohibitions, duties, 
 and regulations, it behooves us to protect our 
 citizens, their commerce, and navlgatin, by coun- 
 ter prohibitions, duties, and regulations, also. 
 Free commerce and navigation are not to be 
 given in exchange for restrictions and vexations: 
 nor are they likely ti produce a relaxation of 
 them." 
 
 " Were the ocean, which is the common 
 projjerty of all, opentothe industry of all, so 
 that every person and vessel should be free to 
 take employment wherever it could be found, 
 the Uniied States would certainly not set the 
 example of appropriating to themselves, exclu- 
 sively, any portion of the common stock of oc- 
 cupation. They would rely on the enterprise 
 and activity of their citizens, for a due partici-L 
 pation of the benefits of the seafaring business, 
 and for keeping the marine class of citzens 
 equal to their object. But, if particular nations 
 grasp at undue shares, and, more especially, if 
 they seize on the means of the United States, to 
 convert them into aliment for their own streno th 
 and withdraw them entirely from the support of 
 those to whom tkiy belong, defensive and pro- 
 tecting measures become necessary on the part 
 of the nation whose marine resources are thus 
 invaded." 
 
 " Where a nation imposes high duties on our 
 productions, or prohibits thein altogether, it may 
 be proper for us to do the sauie by theirs." 
 
 " Where a nation refuses to receive in our ves- 
 sels any productions but our own, we may refuse 
 to receive, in theirs, any but their own produc- 
 tions. 
 
 " Where a nation refuses to consider any 
 vessel as ours which has not been built within 
 our Territories, we should fefuse to consider as 
 theirs, any vessel not built within their Territo- 
 ries. 
 
 " Where a nation refuses to' our vessels the 
 carriage even of our own productions, to certain 
 countries under their domination, we might 
 refuse to theirs of every description, the carriage 
 of the same productions to the same countries 
 
 " The establishment of some of these princi 
 pies by Great Britain alone, has already lost us 
 in oui commerce with that country and its pos- 
 sessions, between eight and nine hundred vessels, 
 of nearly forty thousand tons burthen, according 
 to statements from official materials, in which,,,,.. 
 they have confidence. This involves a propor- \i 
 tional loss of seamen, shipwrights, and ship- •«[>!<. 
 building, and is too serious a loss to admit Sor-^J>/ 
 bearance of some effectual remedy." hij'^ 
 
 " It is not to the moderation and justice ofii-'' 
 others we are to trust for fair and equal access tO| 
 market with our productions, or for our due share 
 in the transportation of them ; but to our own 
 means of independence, and the firm will to use 
 them:" 
 
 In farther illustration and enforeement of this 
 cardinal principle of our commercial policy, we 
 select the following portion of Mr. Webster's 
 speech on tliis subject delivered in the house of 
 Representatives on the question of amendment to 
 the Senate's Bill, which was amended according 
 to this principle by the house and rejected by the 
 senate. ' ' 
 
 "Mr. Webster said, he thouglit the House 
 could not be too prompt in repeating the declar- j 
 avion which this Government had ever maintain- ■ 
 ed, that we would have no commerce with coun- 
 tries or places where our oicn .•'hips were not 
 
 I 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 <(. 
 
 permitted to go. To gi', e up (his principle, 
 would be, in his judgment, to abandon one of the 
 highest interests of the cuuntry ; to doubt about 
 it, was to hesitate on that interest. While he' 
 would propose ijie most reasonable terms to the! 
 English Government, and while ho would give! 
 the most ample time for a deliberate cunsidera-, 
 tion of those terms, he would, at the same time, 
 express thc^ettled resolution of this Government,! 
 in the form of law, rbat if r easotiabU terms wire, 
 not acceded to, the intercourse must cease. OiV 
 this point he would leave our great commercial 
 rivals nothing to hope. It was the more neces 
 sary, he thought, to incorporate this provisioi' 
 into the bill itself, since the Eiii'Iisli Govi-rnmeiU, 
 he must confess much to his surprise, had recent 
 ly manifested a disposition to decline negoiiatiur 
 on the subject. 
 
 For one, he held the opinion fjfmly, that, look 
 ing to the great objectof naval respectability ihk 
 naval power, and looking, also, to the severe am 
 arduous competition which the shipping inttres 
 of this country teas now obliged to sustain, al 
 commercial regulations ought to be adopted will 
 a careful and constant regard to that interest, A 
 betvvrocn commerce and navigation, if, under tin 
 pressureof circumstances, either must yield sout--^ 
 thing of its conveniencies, he had no hesitation tty 
 say on which side that concession should bt 
 made. He would never consent, under any cirj 
 cumstances, that any branch of the commerce Oj 
 the country should be exclusively carried on 
 the ships of foreign nations. 
 
 If others could doubt on that point, he coul' 
 not ; and he should strenuously resist any af 
 proach towards yielding it. He believed nothiil 
 was to be gained by that excessive landor whicl. 
 borders on weakness. He thought our true poll 
 cy viasto maintain the ■principles which toe er\ 
 had maintained ; to insist on all the just interests 
 of ov.r shipping arid navigation; to say at oncel 
 that if we cannot go to others, others shall not; 
 come to us ; to propose fair and equal terms, and I 
 to say at the same time, and by the same ict, 
 that, if those terms be not accepted, the inter- 
 course mutt terminate. Thus making known 
 our moderation, our reasonable forliearance ,Tndi 
 delay, but making known, also, at the same time, j 
 our firm determination to insist on eqiuihtii of 
 right, in a matter interesting not only to' lie 
 prosperity and. wealth of the nation, but to lis 
 power and its glory." i 
 
 Among tiiu observations of Mr. Johnson ,i 
 Louisiana, in his able defence of the roeasiiic 
 founded on this principle in the Senate of :iio 
 United States, he expressed himself in the follow- 
 Ibrcible manner. 
 
 I have consulted these principles in the 
 present case. I have taken them fur my guide. 
 I bcleive in the imperious duty of those who di- 
 rect tlie councils of this nation to preserve the 
 rights, the character, and the dignity, of the n.-i- 
 tion, by an adhearence-to known and approved 
 principles, and by following out to their resuiis 
 the maxims and truths of political science, whii h 
 time and opinion hitve sanctioned. I be" tire 
 gentleman from Maryland to look to great prin- 
 ciples, not to temporary e.xpedients : to meet 
 Great Britain in the true spirit of the nation ; not 
 by humiliating his country before her. Let' him 
 remember that submissioa never set bounds !.■ 
 encroachment ; that free trade is not to be given 
 for restriction and prohibition ; and acquiescence 
 will not obtain a relaxation of them. He will 
 remember that these principles were violently 
 opposed in their day and by arguments not un- 
 like those he has employed on this occasion. 
 
 We have heretofore acted on these principles 
 We have met her exclusion by non-intercourse 
 and if we now relax, if we fail to meet the cr 
 sis, if we do not now act ou our known princi. 
 pies— we abandon our rights, and trust to .'avo' 
 and conciliation to obtain what vas never gran, 
 ted to moderation. You will sacrifice the princi' 
 ^ples of our policy, degrade the country, yield ug 
 the trade, and with it the power of controlling and 
 coercing it — in the vain hope of operating on 
 British masnanimity. 
 
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