"United States Boundary Commission,

666

Camp Simiahmoo, August 14, 1858. "SIR,-I have the honour to enclose herewith the copy of a communication from Lieutenant Parke, the Chief Astronomer and Surveyor of the United States Boundary Commission, and for the purpose of carrying out the objects therein specified by him, I propose that a full meeting of the Joint Commission be held at this place to fix definitely the points of the boundary line therein referred to, and to make the necessary arrangements for erecting suitable monuments to mark their position. "With high esteem, I have the honour to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

"ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL,

"United States Commissioner.

"Captain James C. Prevost,

"British Commissioner H.M. Satellite, Simiahmoo Bay.'

"United States Boundary Commission,

666

Camp Simiahmoo, August 14, 1858. "SIR, I have the honour respectfully to report that I have determined, by astronomical observations and survey, so much of the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude as is embraced between the eastern shore of the Gulf of Georgia, on Point Roberts, and the eastern shore line of Simiahmoo Bay. These points of the parallel have been marked by stakes or posts, and I would respectfully recommend that a meeting of the Joint Commission be had for the purpose of ratifying and confirming their determination, and taking the necessary steps towards the erection of proper monuments for permanently marking and defining the line. The points marked are as follows:"1. Where the parallel crosses the western face of Point Roberts.

666 "2. Where it crosses the eastern face of Point Roberts; and,

"3. Where it enters the timber on the eastern shore of Simiahmoo Bay.

666 It may be well to add that these marks are all temporary in their character, and should therefore be speedily replaced by permanent solid structures.

"I have the honour to be, very respectfully, your obedient

servant,

"JNO. G. PARKE,

"Lieut. Corps Topographical Engineers, Chief 666 Astronomer and Surveyor.

“Archibald Campbell, Esq.,

"United States Commissioner, &c. &c.'

Captain Richards having signified his acceptance of the points as determined by Mr. Parke, Captain Prevost expressed his readiness to adopt them, and erect monuments thereat.

"Mr. Campbell thereupon proposed that the first of these points referred to by Mr. Parke be suitably marked by the most conspicuous monument, it being the initial point of the forty-ninth parallel on the continent, and being the point where the forty-ninth parallel strikes the eastern shore of 'the channel which separates the continent from Vancouver's Island.'

into

66

Captain Prevost stated in reply, that he declined entering any discussion as to which was or was not the initial point, but he was prepared simply to agree to the points already determined by the astronomers, as points on the line of boundary.

"Mr. Campbell objected to any determination of the points in question, without the one on the western face of Point Roberts being established as the initial point of the forty-ninth parallel on the continent.

"Commissioners then agreed to adjourn.

“ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL.

"JAMES C. PREVOST."

Subsequently Mr. Campbell wrote to Mr. Cass, as

follows:

"United States North-west Boundary Commission, "Camp Simiahmoo, 49th parallel, September 25th, 1858.(1) "SIR,-In compliance with my instructions to keep the department from time to time advised of the progress of the work entrusted to my charge, I have the honour to report, &c. * *

"The determination of the forty-ninth parallel being a purely scientific operation, it is not probable, in the survey of the land boundary, that any question can arise between the commissioners that will cause serious interruption or delay in the demarcation of the line.

"In reference to the water boundary, however, which depends mainly upon the interpretation of the language of the treaty defining it, I had the honour, on the 10th of February last, to inform you that a question had arisen between Captain Prevost and myself as to the channel' through which the boundary line is to be traced; and to lay before you a copy of a correspondence and proceedings, setting forth our respective views on the subject, and the result of our disagreement. Since that time no further progress has been made in the settlement of this question. Meantime the minute survey of the channels and islands between the continent and Vancouver's Island is progressing. On the part of the United States Commission, the hydrographic work is carried on by Commander Alden, United States Navy, in charge of the Coast Survey steamer Active, and the triangulation and survey of the shore line by Mr. Lawson, assistant of the Coast Survey, in charge of the brig Fauntleroy. On the part of the British Commission, the work is prosecuted by Captain Richards, Second Commissioner and Surveyor, in command of Her Majesty's surveying steamer Plumper.

"The settlement of the question of the 'channel' involves the sovereignty of the group of islands called the Haro Archipelago, between the Canal de Haro and Rosario Straits, embraced in a space of about 400 square miles. The recent emigration to this region has attracted considerable attention to this beautiful and picturesque group of islands, and much

(') American State Papers, p. 51.

greater interest than heretofore is now manifested in the settlement of the boundary question. The uncertainty in regard to their sovereignty prevents them from being occupied by American settlers. The largest and most valuable of these islands are San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez, and upon each of them there is a large portion of land suitable for agricultural and grazing purposes. It is in a military and naval point of view, however, that their importance is to be mainly regarded."

The letter then referred to and quoted the report of General Persifer A. Smith, an extract from which has been already quoted:(1)—

"In 1855 Captain George Stoneman, of the Dragoons, and Lieutenant W. H. C. Whiting, of the Corps of Engineers, by order of General Wool, then commanding the Department of the Pacific, made a military examination of this part of the north-west coast, and in their report they express their opinion in relation to the value of these islands, as a means of defending the approaches to our territories and the inland waters, as follows:

:

"Between the Gulf of Georgia and the Straits of Fuca are two great channels, the Straits of Haro on the west and of Rosario on the east, separated by the Archipelago, a group of small islands, forming a very important feature of the sound. The title to these is in dispute between the English aud American Governments. There can, however, be no reasonable doubt as to the validity of our claim. The natural and direct ship channel, the treaty boundary, is the Straits of Haro. No vessel bound for the Gulf of Georgia would take the longer, narrower, and more intricate passage of Rosario Straits. In considering the subject of the defence of the sound, these islands are important, and we shall again briefly recur to them.

"It is easily seen from the maps of our western coast that the sound and the straits are the only available point

(1) Ante, p. 28.

which can afford an enemy the point d'appui for an attack on San Francisco, or refuge, wood, water, coal, provisions, timber, and spars, for a blockade of our coast. Possessing this, an enemy has every advantage, either for prompt attack, or for continued action. The strong north-west winds which prevail with the regularity of the trades for the greater part of the year make the passage of sailing ships from six to ten days, while steamers may do it in four. Vancouver's Island is naturally the key to this position, and it is greatly to be regretted that it does not belong to us. There are, however, other points which may be improved to be nearly as effective. Of these may be mentioned Port Discovery and Sequin Bay, opposite to the southern end of Vancouver; and also the Archipelago. This group consists of the islands of San Juan, Lopez, Orcas, and Waldron the largest, besides several others not yet named. They are so situated that they form an admirable land-locked harbour of ample size, accessible by six narrow entrances in any wind and weather, and capable of being defended almost by small arms. As a naval station, secured by batteries, this position commands all the interior waters and the approach to the territories.'

"A further evidence of the importance to be attached to the sovereignty of these islands will be found in the steadiness of purpose with which the British Government, from the ratification of the treaty to the present time, have endeavoured to secure and retain possession of them. It is true that in their communications to our Government, when endeavouring to procure the adoption of Rosario Straits as the boundary channel, they have designated them as 'islets of little or no value,' yet, at the same time, Governor Douglas had received the orders of Her Majesty's Ministers to treat these islands as part of the British dominions.'

"By a reference to my report of the 10th of February last, it will be seen that after a full discussion upon the relative claims of the Canal de Haro and Rosario Straits to be considered as 'the channel which separates the continent from Vancouver's Island,' Captain Prevost finally proposed, by way of compromise,