the belligerent powers," and he based this dictum on the practice of Great Britain herself. At the time when the proviso should be in force, it would, on this view, become ipso facto void. The straits leading from the Pacific to the extreme north of Queen Charlotte Sound would in such case be in fact a mare clausum," so far as Great Britain is concerned.

Such a condition of affairs must inevitably force British Columbia into the United States federation; and the valuable district of the Saskatchewan, which has been described by Hinde, Palliser, Dr. Rae, and by Dr. Cheadle and myself, must, ex necessitati rei, follow the fortunes of British Columbia. Canada, excluded from the Pacific, and shut in on two sides by United States territory, must eventually follow the

same course.

I have lately heard from Vancouver's Island that Mr. Seward has recently landed there on his way to and from Alaska. He openly, I am informed, expressed his belief that not only Vancouver's Island, but also British Columbia, would, ere long, become part of the Union. I may add that General Thomas, United States army, in his official report upon Alaska, states that its only value is to be found in the fact that its possession tends to hasten the annexation of the above-mentioned territories to the United States.

“ἀλλ ̓ οὐκ εὐθέως το τέλος.”

PRINTED BY CASSELL, PETTER, AND GALIIN, BELLE SAUVAGE WORKS, LONDON, L.C.

The North-West Passage by Land.

By VISCOUNT MILTON, M.P., F.R.G.S., F.G.S., &c., and W. B. CHEADLE, B.A., M.D. Cantab., F.R.G.S. 8vo, cloth, with Twenty-two Full Page Illustrations and Two Maps. Sixth Edition, 21s. Ditto, ditto, Smaller Edition, complete, with Eight Illustrations, crown 8vo, cloth, 6s.

CASSELL, PETTER, AND GALPIN, LA BELLE SAUVAGE YARD, LUDGATE HILL, E.C.

Preparing for Publication, and will be shortly ready.

Topographical Section of the Continent of North America.

Showing the Boundary Line between the British Possessions and the United States Territories, the Route of Viscount Milton and Dr. Cheadle across the Continent; also a Proposed Line of Railway from Ottawa to New Westminster and Bute Inlet, with the Line of the Central and Union Pacific Railways, from Omaha to San Francisco, as executed by the Citizens of the United States; together with Comparative Sections of these Lines as far as surveyed. Compiled from the most Authentic Documents extant, as well as from the recent Surveys of Mr. Waddington in British Columbia, and Mr. Dawson in Canada. Drawn under the Superintendence of VISCOUNT MILTON, by W. E. GAINE, Topographical Engineer.