are, or heretofore have been, within the "limits of the said province of Nova "Scotia."

Doubts arose as to the true river St. Croix, and commissioners were applied to by both governments to ascertain it, which was done accordingly. The report is dated 25th of October, 1798.

The river St. Croix discharges itself into. Passamaquoddy bay, in the bay of Fundy, latitude 45 degrees, 5 minutes, 5 seconds, north-longitude 67 degrees, 12 minutes, 30 seconds, west.

There are several islands in the bay of Passamaquoddy, which have been claimed by the Americans, but to which they have no right, as they have ever been considered within the limits of the province of Nova Scotia; and it is to be hoped, that government will not yield a point which seems to be thought of considerable importance to New Brunswick, frequent representations having been made from New Brunswick on the subject, to which we trust proper attention will now be paid *.

* See Appendix, in which some of these representations are inserted.

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In the late treaty with America (nego ciated with Lord Holland), which was rejected by the president, very little alteration was made in those articles of the former treaty, which were most found fault with. It appears very extraordinary, that the Americans should see cause to, reject the treaty, and that we should see cause to rejoice that they had done so; yet, I will venture to affirm, that no one, who is acquainted with the commercial relations between the United States and our American provinces, will hesitate to say, that he conceives it fortunate that the late treaty was rejected.

On the termination of the American war, it appears to have been the intention of government to make the river Ponobscot, in the district of Main, the boundary line of the two countries. At that time, there were no settlements to the eastward of that river. Unfortunately, the English commissioners (probably from not being -personally acquainted with the country, and not being sufficiently instructed on the point, or, from being over persuaded by the Americans), abandoned that line of

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boundary which was clear and well defined, and adopted the river St. Croix, which has produced so much dissension and discussion. The map clearly shews, that the Ponobscot was the preferable boundary, in every sense of the word; and we have only now to regret the passiveness, and neglect of British interests, which our commissioner displayed on that point. It is equally conspicuous in his consenting that a line, drawn due north from the source of the river St. Croix, to the highlands, should be the boundary; without ascertaining how far that line would be convenient and proper in its whole course. In fact, it has turned out quite the reverse; because the communication between Canada and New Brunswick is completely cut off by it-the route for many miles passing through American territory. This ought to have been looked into, and the line, instead of going directly north to the Mountains, ought to have turned to the westward, so as to allow a free communication between New Brunswick and Canada, along the only route practicable and convenient, viz. by the river St. John, and the lake Timiskuata.

This circumstance is not generally known; but ministers ought to attend to it, and remedy it, if possible; for, in case of any disturbance with the Americans, it may be

of

very great consequence to preserve a communication between New Brunswick and Canada. Even now, the regular post for the conveyance of mails and dispatches from Nova Scotia to Canada, passing through a part of the American territory, is liable to be stopped by that government, either from political motives, or from any other cause.

The route, at present, from New Bruns wick to Canada, is up the river St. John, in the bay of Fundy, through the woods towards the river St. Lawrence. From St. John's to Frederic Town, the distance is 90 miles; from thence, to the grand falls, 180 miles; from thence, to the settlement of Madawaska, 45 miles; from thence, to the source of the river St. John, the lake Timiskuata, 45 miles; from thence, cross a portage, or tract, in a very rugged country, to the Riviere des Caps, in the St. Lawrence, 36 miles. This last part of the journey must be performed on foot, there be

ing no regular formed road; the previous part of the journey can be performed in canoes. From the Riviere des Caps to Quebec, the distance is 121 miles; there is a good carriage road, and you can travel post.

In many cases, the making a ridge of mountains a boundary betwixt two countries, may be very distinct and well defined; such as the Pyrenees, for instance, where the course of the mountains is continued in one undivided chain; the ground, the water of which runs into France, belongs to France; and the ground, the water of which runs into Spain, belongs to Spain but the highlands, mentioned in the American treaty, are, from every thing I can learn, neither so boldly marked, nor continued in that undivided manner, so as to make them a boundary sufficiently distinct. Such as they are, however, we must abide by them; and it is ever to be regretted, that, since that principle was adopted in one part of the line, it should not have been adopted in another, viz. the borders of Lake Champlain, which discharges itself into the river St. Lawrence, and naturally belongs to Canada.