Plate 11.
Plate XII.
174
Prince of Wales Island between longitude 180 and 133 degrees west, it could not go north up the Portland Channel, but must pass eastward for at least 1° 20".
Wheaton, in his work on international law, so far acknowledged that the boundary should start from the southernmost point of Prince of Wales Island that he adds the word "eastward" to enable the boundary to pass up the Portland Channel.
My reasons for alluding to this matter are, that with the boundary-line as at present, Port Simpson, in latitude 54° 34", is the nearest British port to the Stakine River in latitude 56° 45′′, the most direct channel of communication to the Cassiar mines (being 35 miles by river, and 88 miles by land); the only other routes are an Indian trail over 200 miles to the Nasse River, or via the Fraser River to New Westminster, a distance of over 600 miles; a second reason is, that the clearing away of any doubt as to the true position of the boundary would go far to remove the chance of difficulty between the two Powers similar to that which occurred in 1876-77, and therefore would also obviate the necessity for defensive works of a large scale in this locality.
Altering the boundary-line across the Stakine River from the position provi. sionally assigned to that which it should really occupy, according to what is believed to be the true position, would, it is said, greatly improve the commercial facilities of the route, which promise to be of great importance when the country to the north is opened up.
On the accompanying map I have marked out approximately by a red line the position that it seems probable the boundary-line should take, and also the position of provisional boundary.
The accompanying photograph of part of the map in Vancouver's travels shows the mountains, as they were supposed to exist in 1793-94. The Convention of 1825 seems to have been based on a previous agreement between Great Britain and Russia in 1797, and it is probable that the plan used to illustrate the earlier Treaty would have been taken from Vancouver's map, the best extant at the time.
On the photograph will be seen clearly the mountains bordering on the coast from Cape Warde, in latitude 56°, to the extent of coast shown on the photograph. It will also be seen that it was then known that there was no range of mountains that met the head of Portland Inlet.
ど
175
List of Documents accompanying.*
A. Proposed Battery on Sangster's Knoll. B. Proposed Battery on Rodd Hill.
C. Proposed Battery on Signal Hill.
D.
E. Proposed Battery at Cape Saxe.
G.
Proposed Battery at Beacon Hill.
1. Map of British Columbia.
2. Map of Alaska and adjoining territory.
3. Chart of Haro Straits.
4. Map showing Railways through Western
States.
5. Chart of Esquimalt and Victoria Harbours.
6. Chart of Esquimalt Harbour.
7. Chart of Nanaimo Harbour.
8. Chart of Burrard Inlet, &c.
8A. Chart of Nanaimo Harbour.
9. Map showing Proposed Route of Canada
Pacific Railway.
10. Chart, Cape Caution to Port Simpson. 11. Chart, Bute Inlet, &c.
12. Photograph from Vancouver's Map.
No. 178.
Book of Tracings, showing temporary Batteries constructed by Lieut-Colonel Irvine, R.A.
Colonial Office to Captain Palliser.
Sir,
Downing Street, March 18, 1880. IN reply to your letters of the 7th January and of the 12th February. I am, directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you a copy of a lettert from the War Office, which will acquaint you with the orders which have been given to enable you to procure drawings of carriages, &c., for the guns ordered by the Government of Canada.
て
No. 179.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
JOHN BRAMSTON.
Approximate estimates for construction of defences, mainly based on existing records of expenditure incurred on construction of similar works at Halifax, Nova Scotia, are given below.
An addition of 25 per cent. has been made to meet difference of cost of civil labour.
Sangster's Knoll
Rodd Hill
Cape Saxe
Beacon Hill
Signal Hill
Total..
:::::
The Inspector-General of Fortifications, &c., War Office.
£
8,500
7,800
7,000
7,520
1,200
33,020
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. W. LOVELL,
• Not printed.
Governor Major-General Sir W. F. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.B., to the Right Hon. Šir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart.—(Received March 19.) (Confidential.) (Telegraphic.)
March 19, 1880. TELEGRAM 25th February:§ Delegates to Defence Commission should be glad to assist in giving evidence before Commission, but initiative cannot be taken by Ministers. No difficulty here, should you send me expression of your opinion that it is desirable. Would then start at once for England for short absence, leaving family behind.
No. 180.
Colonel, C.R.E.
The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Pope Hennessy, C.M.Ġ.
(General.) Sir,
Downing Street, March 19, 1880.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipts of your despatch No. 1 of the 13th January, inclosing a copy of a correspondence with reference to the advance of 2201. from the Colonial Treasury for the purpose of completing the batteries in Hong Kong.
I approve of the action taken by you in advancing the amount in question from Colonial funds. With regard, however, to the question of repayment referred to in the Colonial Secretary's letter, I would remind you that the proportion in which the cost of defensive works constructed at stations like Hong Kong, of mixed Imperial and Colonial interest, has been left for future decision. In the meantime, the Imperial Government have provided funds for those works which in a great emergency were recommended as absolutely necessary, and when the final apportionment is made, due consideration will be given to any claim made by the Colonial Government on account of sums which they on their part have locally provided for the same object.
The amount therefore which has now been advanced by Hong Kong should remain
§ No. 142.
• Not printed. † Nos. 89 and 124.
No. 169.
No. 182.
19
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO