Mr. Webster to the Maine Commissioners. PRESIDENT'S SQUARE, June 12, 1842. Mr. Webster has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the note of the commissioners of Maine announcing their arrival, and their readiness to enter on the business of their appointment.

Mr. W. will have great pleasure in receiving the commissioners at the Department of State on Monday at one o'clock.

Commissioners of Massachusetts to Mr. Webster.

WASHINGTON, June 13, 1842.

SIR, The undersigned, commissioners appointed by the State of Massachusetts to confer with the government of the United States upon a conventional line to be established on our northeastern boundary, are ready to proceed in the execution of their commission whenever the secretary my signify his wish to meet them. Our colleague (Mr. Allen) will probably be here to-morrow.

We have the honor to remain, with the highest respect, your obedient servants,

Hon. DANIEL WEBSTER, Secretary of State.

ABBOTT LAWRence,
JOHN MILLS.

Mr. Webster to the Commissioners of Massachusetts. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, June 13, 1842. The undersigned has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the communication addressed to him this day by Messrs. Lawrence and Mills, commissioners of the commonwealth of Massachusetts. He will be happy to see these gentlemen at this department at half past one o'clock P.M. to-day.

Messrs. LAWRENCE and MILLS,

DANIEL WEBSter.

Commissioners of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Mr. Webster to Lord Ashburton.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, June 17, 1842. Lord Ashburton having been charged by the queen's government with full powers to negotiate and settle all matters in discussion between the United States and England, and having, on his arrival at Washington, announced that, in relation to the question of the northeastern boundary of the United States, he was authorized to treat for a conventional line, or line by agreement, on such terms and conditions and with such mutual considerations and equivalents as might be thought just and equitable, and that he was ready to enter upon a negotia

tion for such conventional line so soon as this government should say that it was authorized and ready on its part to commence such negotiation, the undersigned, Secretary of State of the United States, has now the honor to acquaint his lordship, by direction of the President, that the undersigned is ready, on behalf of the government of the United States, and duly authorized to proceed to the consideration of such conventional line, or line by agreement, and will be happy to have an interview on that subject at his lordship's convenience.

The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to tender to Lord Ashburton assurances of his distinguished consideration. DANIEL WEBster.

Lord ASHBURTON, &c., &c., &c.

Lord Ashburton to Mr. Webster.

WASHINGTON, June 17, 1842.

The undersigned, plenipotentiary of her Britannic majesty on an extraordinary and special mission to the United States of America, has the honor of acknowledging, with much satisfaction, the communication received this day from Mr. Webster, Secretary of State of the United States, that he is ready, on behalf of the United States, and duly authorized, in relation to the question of the northeastern boundary of the United States, to proceed to the consideration of a conventional line, or line by agreement, on such terms and conditions, and with such mutual considerations and equivalents as might be thought just and equitable. And in reply to Mr. Webster's invitation to the undersigned to fix some time for their first conference upon this subject, he begs to propose to call on Mr. Webster at the Department of State to-morrow at 12 o'clock for this purpose, should that time be perfectly convenient to Mr. Webster. The undersigned avails himself of this opportunity to assure Mr. Webster of his distinguished consideration.

Hon. DANIEL WEBSTER, &c., &c., &c.

ASHBURTON.

Two or three letters between Mr. Webster and Lord Ashburton respecting the new line of the northeastern boundary are omitted, as being principally confined to questions local in their nature, and not now of public interest.

For the same reason, a letter from the Governor of Maine to Mr. Webster, of the 29th of June, is omitted.

Mr. Webster to the Maine Commissioners.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, July 15, 1842. GENTLEMEN,-You have had an opportunity of reading Lord Ashburton's note to me of the 11th of July. Since that date I

have had full and frequent conferences with him respecting the eastern boundary, and believe I understand what is practicable to be done on that subject, so far as he is concerned. In these conferences he has made no positive or binding proposition, thinking, perhaps, it would be more desirable, under present circumstances, that such proposition should proceed from the side of the United States. I have reason to believe, however, that he would agree to a line of boundary between the United States and the British provinces of Canada and New Brunswick, such as is described in a paper accompanying this (marked B), and identified by my signature.

In establishing the line between the monument and the St. John, it is thought necessary to adhere to that run and marked by the surveyors of the two governments in 1817 and 1818. There is no doubt that the line recently run by Major Graham is more entirely accurate; but, being an exparte line, there would be objections to agreeing to it without examination, and thus another survey would become necessary. Grants and settlements, also, have been made in conformity with the former line, and its errors are so inconsiderable that it is not thought that their correction is a sufficient object to disturb these settlements. Similar considerations have had great weight in adjusting the line in other parts of it.

The territory in dispute between the two countries contains 12,027 square miles, equal to 7,697,280 acres.

By the line described in the accompanying paper, there will be assigned to the United States 7015 square miles, equal to 4,489,600 acres; and to England 5012 square miles, equal to 3,207,680 acres.

By the award of the King of the Netherlands, there was assigned to the United States 7908 square miles, 5,061,120 acres ; to England 4119 square miles, 2,636,160 acres.

The territory proposed to be relinquished to England south of the line of the King of the Netherlands is, as you will see, the mountain range from the upper part of the St. Francis River to the meeting of the two contested lines of boundary, at the Metjarmette Portage, in the highlands, near the source of the St. John. This mountain tract contains 893 square miles, equal to 571,520 acres. It is supposed to be of no value for cultivation or settlement. On this point you will see herewith a letter from Captain Talcott, who has been occupied two summers in exploring the line of the highlands, and is intimately acquainted with the territory. The line leaves to the United States, between the base of the hills and the left bank of the St. John, and lying along upon the river, a territory of 657,280 acres, embracing, without doubt, all the valuable land south of the St. Francis and west of the St. John. Of the gen

eral division of the territory, it is believed it may be safely said, that while the portion remaining with the United States is, in quantity, seven twelfths, in value it is at least four fifths of the whole.

Nor is it supposed that the possession of the mountain region. is of any importance in connection with the defense of the country or any military operations. It lies below all the accustomed practicable passages for troops into and out of Lower Canada; that is to say, the Chaudière, Lake Champlain, and the Richelieu, and the St. Lawrence. If an army, with its materiel, could possibly pass into Canada over these mountains, it would only find itself on the banks of the St. Lawrence below Quebec; and, on the other hand, it is not conceivable that an invading enemy from Lower Canada would attempt a passage in this direction, leaving the Chaudière on one hand and the route by Madawaska on the other.

If this line should be agreed to on the part of the United States, I suppose that the British minister would, as an equiv alent, stipulate, first, for the use of the River St. John, for the conveyance of the timber growing on any of its branches, to tide-water, free from all discriminating tolls, impositions, or inabilities of any kind, the timber enjoying all the privileges of British colonial timber. All opinions concur that this privilege of navigation must greatly enhance the value of the territory and the timber growing thereon, and prove exceedingly useful to the people of Maine. Second. That Rouse's Point, in Lake Champlain, and the lands heretofore supposed to be within the limits of New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York, but which a correct ascertainment of the 45th parallel of latitude shows to be in Canada, should be surrendered to the United States.

It is probable, also, that the disputed line of boundary in Lake Superior might be so adjusted as to leave a disputed island within the United States.

These cessions on the part of England would enure partly to the benefit of the states of New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York, but principally to the United States. The consideration on the part of England, for making them, would be the manner agreed upon for adjusting the eastern boundary. The price of the cession, therefore, whatever it might be, would in fairness belong to the two states interested in the manner of that adjust

ment.

Under the influence of these considerations, I am authorized to say, that if the commissioners of the two states assent to the line as described in the accompanying paper, the United States will undertake to pay to these states the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, to be divided between them in equal moieties; and also to undertake for the settlement and pay

ment of the expenses incurred by those states for the maintenance of the civil posse, and also for a survey which it was found necessary to make.

The line suggested, with the compensations and equivalents which have been stated, is now submitted for your consideration. That it is all which might have been hoped for, looking to the strength of the American claim, can hardly be said. But, as the settlement of a controversy of such duration is a matter of high importance, as equivalents of undoubted value are offered, as longer postponement and delay would lead to further inconvenience, and to the incurring of further expenses, and as no better occasion, or, perhaps, any other occasion, for settling the boundary by agreement, and on the principle of equivalents, is ever likely to present itself, the government of the United States hopes that the commissioners of the two states will find it to be consistent with their duty to assent to the line proposed, and to the terms and conditions attending the proposition.

The President has felt the deepest anxiety for an amicable settlement of the question in a manner honorable to the country, and such as should preserve the rights and interests of the states concerned. From the moment of the announcement of Lord Ashburton's mission, he has sedulously endeavored to • pursue a course the most respectful toward the states, and the most useful to their interests, as well as the most becoming to the character and dignity of the government. He will be happy if the result shall be such as shall satisfy Maine and Massachusetts, as well as the rest of the country. With these sentiments on the part of the President, and with the conviction that no more advantageous arrangement can be made, the subject is now referred to, the grave deliberation of the commissioners. I have the honor to be, with great respect,

Your obedient servant,

The Hon. the COMMISSIONERS OF MAINE.

DANIEL WEBSTER.

Lord Ashburton to Mr. Webster.

WASHINGTON, July 16, 1842. SIR,-There is a further question of disputed boundary between Great Britain and the United States, called the northwest boundary, about which we have had some conferences; and I now proceed to state the terms which I am ready to agree to for the settlement of this difference. As the principal object in dispute is to be given up by Great Britain, I trust, sir, that you will here again recognize the spirit of friendly conciliation which has guided my government in disposing of these questions.