The New York Herald Newspaper, December 10, 1845, Page 1

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"The Oregon Correspondence. All of the correspondence that took place be- tween the American and British governments, on this troublesome question, aecompanies*the Presi- dent’s Message that was lately delivered to Cons gress. It commences in 1842, and ends in 1845. We give a condensed sketch of the preliminary | correspondence, but publish in full two most | important communications which passed between the representatives of the respective governments, viz:—Mr. Calhoun’s, of the 3d Sept. 1844, and Mr. Pakenham’s of the 12th of the same month. Mr. Fox to Mr. Webster, Nov. 15, 1842—Mr. Fox writes to Mr. Webster a letter, under this date, | which; contains an enclosed despatch from Lord | Aberdeen, stating that he had exchanged ratifica- | tions of the treaty of the 9th August, with the | United States Minister; also, requesting Mr. Fox to propose to the American government to empow- er the American Minister at London to enter upon negotiations with regard to the Oregon boundary. Mr. Webster to Mr. Fox, Nov. 25, 1842—Mr. Webster, in apswer to the note of the 15th, states he had referred Mr. Fox’s note and the Earl ot Aberdeen’s despatch to the President, and he was directed to say that the President concurred in the expediency of negotiating on the Oregon boundary, and that at no distant day a communication would be sent to the American Minister on the subject. Mr. Pakenham to Mr. Upshur, Feb. 24, 1844—Mr, Pakenham expresses the anxious desire of his go- vernment to come to a satisfactory arrangement with the government of the United States on the subject of Oregon, and acquaints Mr. Upshur that in fulfilment of his commands, he is ready to con- fer with Mr. Upshur on the subject, at Mr. Upshur’s convenience, Mr. Upshur to Mr. Pakenham, Feb. 26, 1844— Mr. Upshur appoints Feb. 27, (the next day,) at 11 o'clock, to receive Mr. Pakenham. Mr. Pakenham to Mr. Calhoun, July 22, 1814.— Mr. Pakenham alludes to the death of Mr. Upshur, and referring to his note of the 24th February, re- peats the desire of his government to make a satis- factory arrangement of the question. Mr. Calhoun to Mr. Pakenham, Aug. 22, 1844.— Mr. Calhoun was unable to appoint a time to confer with Mr. Pakenham before, but now appoints the next day at 1 P. M., if convenient for Mr. Paken- ham. Mr, Pakenham to Mr. Calhoun, Aug. 22, 1844.— Mr. Pakenham says he will have great pleasure in waiting on Mr. Calhoun at the hour proposed. PROTOCOLS. On the 23d August, 1844, a conference was held | by the respective ministers. After some prelimina. | ry assurances by each minister, on the part of his government, as to its desire to approach the question in a spirit of compromise, &c., &c., Mr. Calhoun desired to receive any fresh proposal which Mr- Pakenham might be instructed to make. Mr. Pak- enham, in reply, stated that he would be ready at the next conference to make such proposal, and hoped that Mr. Calhoun would be ready at the same time with a proposal from the American government. Adjourned to 26th August. Conference ot August 26.—Mr. Pakenham offered a proposal which Mr. Calhoun declined. The re- spective ministers agree in submitting written state ments of their views. The proposal offered at this conference by Mr. Pakenham,was, in addition to the proposals already made, to make free to the United States any ports they might desire on the main land or on Vancouver’s Island, south of latitude 49°. Conaterence of September 2, 1844.—Mr. Calhoun presented a statement of the claims of the United States, marked A. Conference of 12th September, 1844.—Mr. Pak- enham presented his statement, marked D, counter to that of Mr. Calhoun’s. Conference of 20th September.—Mr. Calhoun de- livered to Mr. Pakenhain a statement, marked B., in rejoinder to Mr. Pakenharn’s, marked A. 4 Conference of 24th September.—At this conference Mr. Pakenham stated, that he had read with care Mr. Calhoun’s statement, marked B. ; that it did not at all weaken his views, and declared that he did not feel authorized to enter into a discussion respecting territory north of 49°. Uonterence of 16th July, 1845, between Mr. Bu- chanan and Mr. Pakenham.—The negotiation was resumed at this conference. Mr. Buchanan present- eda statement, (marked J. B.) made in compliance with the request of Mr. Pakenham, in his statement | (marked D.) ey ‘ASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 1844, The undersigned, American plenipotentiary, declines the proposal of the British plenipotenti that it would have the effect of restricting the pos sions of the United States to limits far more circu: scribed than their claims clourly entitle them to. It pro- oses to limit their aorthern boundary by a line drawn Rom the Rocky Mountains along the 49th parallel of la- titude to the northessternmost branch of the Columbia river, aud thence down tho middle of that river to the sea—giving to Great Britain all the country north, and to the United States all south of that line, excepta de- tached territory extending ou the Pacific nnd the straits of Fuca, from Bulfinch’s hnrbor to Hood’s canal. ‘To which it is proposed, in addition, to make free to the United States any port which the United States govern. meut might desire, either on the main land or on Vancou- ver’s Island, south of latitude 49 de; By turning to the map heretofore annexed, and on which the proposed boundary is marked in pencil, it will be seen that it assigns to Great Britain almost the entire region (on its north side) drained by the Colum- bia river, Jying on its northern bank. [tis not deemed necessary to state at large the claims of the United Sates to this territory, and the grounds on which they rest, in order to make good the assertion that it restricts the ‘possessions of the United States within narrower bounds than they are clearly entitled to. It will be sul- ficient for this purpose to show that they are fairly on- titled to the entire region drained by the river, and to the establishment of this point, the undersigned propo: accordingly to limit his remarks at present. Our claims to the portion of the territory drained by the Columbia river may be divided into those we have in ourown proper right, and thoso we have derived {rom France snd Spain. We ground the former, as against Great Britain, on priority of discovery and priority of exploration and settlement We rest our claim to dis- covery, a8 against her, on that of Captain Gray, acitizen of the United States, who, in the ship Columbia, of Bos- ton, pasted its bar and anchored in tho river, ten miles above its mouth, on the 11th of May, 1792; and who af- terwards sailed up the river twelve or fifteen miles, and left it on the 20th of the same month, calling it * Colum. bia,” after his ship, which name it still retai: a these facts, our claim to the discovery and entrance into the rivor rests. They are too well attested to t controverted. But the; been opposed by th ed diseoveries of Meares and Vancouver. It ia true that the former explored a portion of the coast through which the Columbia flows into the ocean, in 1788, (five years before Capt. Gray crossed the bar and anchored in the river,) in ord to ascertain whether the river,as laid down in the Spanish charts, and called the St. Roc, ex- isted,or not; but it is equally true that he did not even dis- cover it. On the contrary, he expressly declares, in his account of the voyage, os the result of his obs that “we can now satel: rt that there is no Fiver as that of the St. Roc, as laid down in the Spanish charts;” and, as if to. perpetuate his disappoint. ment, he called the promontory lying north of the inlet ‘where he oxpected to discover it, Cape Disappointm and the inlet itself, Deception «Ibis also true that Vancouver, in April, 1792, explored the same coast; but it is no Jess so that he failed to discover the river-—ot which bis own journal furnishes the most conclusive evi- | deuce, 8 well as the strong conviction that no such river existed. So strong wes it, indend, that when he fell in with Capt. Greg, shortly afterwards, and was informed by him that be had been off the mouth of a river, in lat, | 46 degrees 10 minutes, whose outlet was so strong as to provont bis entering, he remained incredulous, and | strongly expressed himself to that effect i It was shortly after this interview thal visited its mouth, cross bar, and as has been stated, After he loft it Sound, Whore he communicated his discove dra, the Spanish commandant at that place, and gave him a chart and description of the mouth of the river. After his doparture, Vancouver arrived there, in September; when ho was informed of the discoveries of Captain Gray, and obtained from Quadra copies of the chart he | had left with him. In consequence of the information thos obtained, he was induced to visit again that part of | the coast, It'was during this visit that he entered the river, on the 20th of October, and made his survey, | From these facts it is manifest that the alleged discov. | eries of Meares and Vancouver cannot, in lightest _gegree, shake the claims of Ci Gray to priority of | discovery. Indeed, so conclu is the evidence in his favor, that it hi n attempted to evade our claim on | | the great northern branch, which they called C: | west of the Mississippi, ex! the novel and wholly ry was made, not in a and so incontestible, is the against Great Britain—from priority of discovery, as to the mouth of the river, crossing its bar, entering it, and sailing up its. stream, on tho voyage of Captain Gray untenabli onal, but private ver | alone; without taking into consideration the prior dis- | France, should assert the same cloim, and take m sures immediately after to explore it, witha view to occupation and settlement. But since thea we have nion of President Jefferson, under whose auspices the mountains—thus uniting the present eastern strengthened our title, by adding to our own proper | claims, and those of France, the claims also of Spain, by the Treaty of Florida, as has been stated | ‘The claims which we have acquired from her between | Rocky Mountains. Such appears to ha acquisition of Louisiana was accomplished. Ine letter written by him in August, 1803, are to be found the tollowing words : “The boundaries (of Louisiana) which I deem not ad- covery of the be a ge navigator, Heceta—which will | the Rocky Mountains and the Pacifie rest on her priori- | mitting question, are the high lands on the western side be more particularly referred to hereafter. Nor is the evidence of the priority of our discove: the head branches of the ri its exploration le: conel| acquired Louisiana, in 1903, an expedition was plenned —at the head of which were placed Meriwether Lewis | and William Clarke—to explore the river Missouri and | to their sources, and then to seek ionin the Pacific, some stream, “whether the Columbia, the Oregon, the Colorado, or any other which might offer the most direct or practica- ble water communication across the continent, for the purpose of commerce.” The party boganto axcend the Missouri in May, 1804, and in the summer of 1805, reach ed the head waters of the Columbia river. After cross- ing matty of the streams falling into it, they reached the Kooskooskee, in latitude 43 degrees 34 minutes—de- ecended that to the [omg southern branch, which they called Lewis’s—followed that to f= junction with of | | rke— and thence descended to the mouth of the river, where they landed, and encamped on the north side, on Cape ointment, and wintered. The next spring they commenced their return, and continued their explora- tion up the river, noting its various branches, and trac- ing some of the prince and finally arrived at St. Louis in September, 1 ran absence of two years and four months. It was this important expedition which brought to the knowledge of the world this great river—the greatest by-far on the western side of this continent—with its numerous branches, and ¢| st regions through which it flows, above the points to which Gray and Vancouver had ascended. It took place many years before it was d by any subject of Great Britain, or of any other civilized nation, so far as we are informed. It as Clearly entitles us to the claim of priority of dis. | covery, as to its head branches, and the exploration of | the river and region through which it passes, as the voy- | ages of Captain Gray and the Spanish navigator, Heceta, entitled us to priority in reference to its mouth, and the | entrance into its channel. Nor is onr priority of settlement le: lishments were formed by Ame! lumbia as early as 1809 and 1810. company was formed in New York, at the head of which was Jolin Jacob Astor, a wealthy merchant of that city, the object of which was to form a regular chain of estab- lishments on the Columbia contiguous coasts of the Pacific, for comme} Early in the spring of 1311, they made their first establishment on the south side of the river, a few miles above Point se; where they were visited in July following by Mr. Thompson, a surveyor and astronomer of the North- west Company, and his party. They had been sent out by that company to forestall the American company in occupying the mouth of the river, but found themselves defeated in their object. ‘The American compar edtwo other connected establishments highe river: one at the confluence of the Okane; north brancp of the Columbia, about six hun above its mouth; and the other onthe Spokan, « stream falling into the north branen, some fifty miles above These posts passed into the possession of Great Britain during the war which was declared the next year; but it was provided by the first article of the treaty of Ghent, which terminated it, that “all territories, places, and possessions whatever taken by either party from the other during the war, or which may be taken after the signing of the treaty, excepting the islands hereafter mentioned (in the Bay of Fundy) shull be restored with- out delay.” Under this provision, which ombraces all the establishments of the American company on the Co- lumbia, Astoria was formally restored, on the 6th Octo- ber, 1818, by agents duly authorized on the part of the British government to restore the possession, and to an agent duly authorized on the part of the government of the United States to receive it—which placed our pos- | session where it was before it passed into the hands of British subjects. Such are the facts on which we rest our claims to pri- ority of discovery and priority of exploration and settle- ment, as against Great Britain, to the region drained by the Columbia river. So much for the claims we have, in our own proper right, to that region. To these we have added tho claims of France and Spain. ‘I'he former we obtained by tho treaty of Loui- riana, ratified in 1803: and the latter by the treaty of Florida, ratified in 1819. By the former, we acquired all the rights which France had to Louisiana “to the ex- | tent it now has (1803) in the hands of Spain, and that it had when France possessed it, and such as it should be after the treaties subsequently entered into by Spain and other States.” By the latter, his Catholic Majesty “ceded to the United States all his rights, claims, and pretensions” to the country lying west of the Rocky Mountains, and north ef a line drawn on the 42d parallel of lutitude, from @ point on the south bank of the Arkan- sas, in that parallel, to the South Sea; thut is, to the whole region claimed by Spain west of those mountains, and north of that line. The cession of Louisiana gave us undisputed title ding to the summit of the ins, and stretching south between that mountains to the possessions of Spain, the line between which and ours w: erwards deter- mined by the treaty of Florida, It also added much to the strength of ovff title to the region beyond the Rocky mountains, by restoring to us the important link of con- tiauity westward to the Pacific, which had been sur- rendered by the treaty of 1763—as will be hereafter shown. ‘That continuity furnishes a just foundation for a claim of territory, in connexion with those of discovery and oc- cupation, and would seem unquestionable. It is admitted by ail that neither of them is limited by the precise spot discovered or occupied. It is evident that, in order to make either available, it must extend at least some dis- tance beyond that actually discovered or occupied ; but how far, 88 an abstract question, is a matter of uncer- tainty. It is subject in each case to be influenced by a variety of considerations. In the case of anisland it has been usually maintained in practice to extend the claim of discovery or occupancy to the whole. So, likewise, in the case of a river, it has been usual to extend them to the entire region drained by it—more especially im cases of a discovery and settlement at the mouth ; and emphatically so when accompanied by exploration of the river and region through which it flows. Such, it is believed, may be affirmed to be the opinion and practice in such cases since the discovery of this continent. How far the claim o1 continuity may extend in other cases, is less perfectly defined, and can be rottled only by reference to the circumstances attending When this continent was first discovered, Spain ed the whole, in virtue of the grant of the Pope ; but a claim so extravagant and unreasonable was not ac: quiesced in by other countries, and could not be lon; maintained. Other nations, especially England ani France, atan early period, contested herclaim. They fitted out voyages of discovery, and made settlements on the eastern’ coasts of North America. They claimed for their settlements, usually, specific limits along the coasts or bays on which they were formed, and, gener- ally a region of corresponding width, extending across the entire continent to the Pacific Ocean. Such was the character of the limits a id tera which she granted to her former colonies, now the United States, when there was no special reason for vary ing from it ifow strong she regarded her claim to the region con veyed by these charters, and extending westward of b seitlements, the war between her and France, which wi terminated by the treaty of Paris, 1763, furnishes a strik- ing illustration. That great contest which ended so glo- riously for England, and effected so great and durable a change on this continent, commenced ina conflict be- tween her claims and those of France, resting on her side | on this very right of continuity, extending westward from ber settlements to the Pacific Ocean, and on the part of France on the same right, but oxtending to the region drained by the Mississippi and ite waters, on the ground of settlement and exploration. ‘Their respective claims, which Jed to the war, first clashed on the Ohio River, the waters of which the colonial charters, in their western extension, covered, but which France bad been unques- tionably the first to settle and explore. If the relative strength of these different claims may be tested by the result of that remarkable contest, that of continuity westward must be pronounced to be the stronger of the two. England has had at least the advantage of the re- sult, and would seem to be foreclosed against contesting the principle—particularly as against us, who contri- buted so much to that result, and on whom that contes and her examples and pretonsions, from the first settl ment of our country, have contributed to impress it #0 deeply and indelibly. e But the treaty of 1763, which terminated that memora- ble and eventful struggle, yielded.as has been stated, the claims and all the chartered rights of the colonies be- | yond the Mississippi. ‘The seventh article establishes | that river as the permanent boundary between the pos- | sessions ot Great Britain and France on this continent. | So much as relates to the subject is inthe following | wordsj—“The confines between the dominions of his | Britanhic Majesty in_ that p nent of America) shall be drawn along the middle of the river Missi source to the river Iberville; and from thence, by a line aft ¢ Estab- oa on the In the latter year, a | isso great, and the pass so smooth, that loaded wagons | the di mencing with that of Maldonado in 1628, and ending with that under Galiano and Valdes in 1792, were undertaken by her authority, along the northwestern coast of North Ameri That reas discovered and explored not only the entire coast of what is now called the Oregon Terri- tory, still further north is a ‘act too well established | to be controverted at this day. The voyages which they performed will accordingly be passed over at present without being particularly alluded to, with the exception ofthat of Heceta. His discovery of the mouth of the Co- lumbia river has been already referred to. It was made on the 1éth of August, 1775 - many years anterior to the voyages of Meares and Vancouver, and was prior to Cook's, who did not reach the northwestern coast until | 1778. The claims it gave to Spain of priority of discovery were transferred to us, with all others belonging to her, | by the treaty of Florida; which, added to the discoveries of Captain Gray, places our right to the discovery of the mouth and entrance into the inlet and river beyond all | controversy. It bas beeu vbjected that we claim under various and conflicting titles, which mutually destroy each other.— Such might indeed be the fact, while they were held by | different parties; but since we have rightfully acquired both those of Spain and France, and concentrated the whole in our hands, they mutually blend with each oth- er, and form one strong and connected chain of title against the opposing claims of ail others, including Great Britain. In order to present more full grounds on which our claims to the region in question rest, it will now be necessary to turn back to the time when Astoria was restored to us, under the provisions of the treaty of Ghent, and to trace what has since occur- red between the two countries in reterence to the terri- tory, and inquire whether their respective claims have been affected by the settlements since made in the terri- tory by Great Britain, or the occurrences which have since taken place. ‘The restoration of Astoria took place, under the pro” visions of the treaty of Ghent, on the 6th day of October, 1818—the effect of which was to put Mr. Prevost, th agent authorized by our government to receive it, in possession of the establishment, with the right at all | times to be reinstated and considered the party in pos- | session, as was explicitly admitted by Lord Castlereagh | in the first negotiation between the two governments in reference to the treaty. The words of Mr. Rush, our plenipotentiary on that occasion, in his letter to Mr. Adams, then Secretary of State, of the 14th of February, 1818, reporting what ‘passed between him and his lor?: ship, are, “that Lord Castlereagh admitted jn the most ample extent our nt to be re-instated, and to be the party in possession, while treating of the title.” ‘That neg rminated in’ theconyention of the 20th of ( , ISis—the third artifle of which is in | fe words | that any country that may be claimed | ho horthwest coast of America, west- Ward of the S: mountains, shall, together with its | harbors, bays aud creeks, andthe navigation of all rivers | Within the same, be free and open, for the term of ten | ars from the date of the signature of thy present con- and perfectly the y either par signature of the convention, were nearly contempora- neous—the latter taking place but fourteen days subse quently to the former: We were then, as admitted by Lord Castlereagh, entitled to be considered as the party in possession; and tue convention which. stipulated that years from the date of its signature, to the vessels, citi- zens, and subjects of the two countries, without pre} dice to any claim which either party may have to any part of the same, preserved and perpetuated our claims to the territory, including the acknowledged right to be considered the party in possession, as perfectly during the period of its continuance as they were the day the convention was signed. Of this there can be no doubt. After an abortive attempt to a the claims of the two parties to the territory, in 1824, another negotiation was commenced, in 1826—which terminated in renewing on the 6th of August, 1827, the third article of the con- | vention of 1818, prior to its expiration. It provided for the indefinite extension of al! the provisions of the third | article of that convention; and also that either party | might terminate it at any time it might think fit, by giv- ing one year’s notice, after the 20th of October, 1833. It | took, however, the precaution of providing expressly | that “nothing contained in this convention, or in the 3d article of the convention of the 20th October, 1818, hero- by continued in force, shall be construed to impair, or in any manner affect the claims which either of the con- tracting parties may have to any part of the country westward of the Stony or Rocky Mountains.” That con- vention is now in force, and has continued to be so since the expiration of that of 1818. By the joint operation of the two, our right to be considered the party in possession | and all the claims we had to the territory while in possess. | ion, are preserved in as full vigor as they were et the | date of its restoration in 1818, without being affected or impaired by the settlements since made by the subjects | of Great Britain. Time, indeed, so far from impairing our claims, has | greatly strengthened them, since that period; ‘or, since | then, the treaty of Florida transferred to us all the | tights, claims, and pretensions of Spain to the whole | territory, as has been stated. In consequence of this, our claims to the portion drained by the Columbia river —the point now the subject of consideration—have been | much strengthened, by giving us the incontestible claim to the discovery of the mouth of the river by Heceta, above stated. But it is not in this particular only, that it has operated in our fayor. Our well founded claim, grounded on continuity, bas greatly strengthened, dur- ing the same period, by the rapid advance of our popula- | tion towards the ‘erritory—its great increase, especially | in the valley of the Mississippi—as well as the greatly increased facility of passing to the territory by more ac: | cessible routes, and the far stronger and rapidly swelling tide of population that has recently commenced flowing into it. When the first convention was concluded, in 1818, our whole population did not exceed nine millions of people. The portion of it inhabiting the States in the great valley of the Mississippi was probably under one million seven hundred thousand—of which not more than two hundred thousand were on the wi f the river. Now, our population may be safely estimated at not less than nine- teen millions—of which at least eight millions inhabit | the States and Territories in the valley of the Mississi vi, and of which upwards of one million are in the States and Territories west of that river. This portion of our population is now increasing far more rapidly than ever, and will, in a short time, fill the whole tier of States on | ity western bank. To this great increase of population, especially in the | volley ofthe Mississippi, may be added the increased fa- | cility of reaching the Oregos territory, in consequence of the discovery of the remarkable pass in the y mountains at the hvad ofthe La Platte. The depression now travel with facility from Missouri to the navigable waters of the Columbia river. These joint causes have had the effect of turning the current of our population to- wards the territory, and an emigration estimated at not | {ess than one thousand during the last, and fifteen hun. | «red the present year has flowed into it. The current | thus commenced will no doubt continue to flow with in- creased volume hereafter. ‘There can then be no doubt now that the operation of the same causes which impell- | ed our population westward from the shores of the At: | intic across the Allegheny to the velley of the Miss: sippi, will impel them onward with accumulating force across the Rocky mountains into the valley of the Co- lumbia, and that the whole region dreined Hy it is destin- ed to be peopled by us. | Such are our claims to that portion of the territory, and the grounds on which they rest. The undersigned believes them to be well founded, and trusts that the Bri- tish plenipotentiary will see in them sufficient reasons why he should decline his propos ‘The undersigned plenipotent: y abstains, for the pre sent, from presenting the claims which the United States | may have to other h to re- | high | J.C, CALHOUN. | R. Paxesnam, Eaq., &e., &e., &e. (D.) Serremnen 12, 1844 ‘The undersigned, British plenipotentiary, has studied, with much interest and attention, the statement (marked A.) presented by the American plenipotentiary, setting forth the grounds on which he declines the proposal of fored by the British plenipotentiary as a compromise of culties of the Oi stion. ‘The arrange- ment contemplated i would, in tue esti- mation of the American plenipotentiary, hayo the effect | | drawn along the middle of this river and the lakes Maurpas and,Ponchartrain, to the sea,” & ‘This important stipulation, which thus establishes the | Mississippi as the line “ fixed irrevocably,” between the | dominions of the two countries on this continent, inef- | fect extinguishes in fayor of France whatever claim | Groat Britain may have had to the region lying west of | the Mississippi. It, of course, could not affect the rights | of Spain—the only other nation which had any pretence | of claim west of that river; but it prevented the right of | continuity previously claimed by Great Britain from ex- | tending beyond it, and transferred it to France. The | troaty of Louisiana restored and vested in the United | States all the claims acqtired by France, and surrender. | ed by Great Britain, under the provisions of that treaty, tothe country west of the Mis eippiy and, among others, the one in question, Certain it is tnat France had | | the sane right of continuity, in virtue of her possession | of Louisiana, and the extinguishment of the right of | England, by the trouty of 1763, to the whole country | west of the Rocky Mountains, and lying west of Louisiana, as against Spain, which England had to the | country westward of the Allegheoy mountains, as against France—with this difference, that Spain hi nothing to oj Love to the claim of France, at the time, but the right of discover: nd even that, England has since denied ;while France had opposed to the right of England, in her case, that of discover: ploration and settle- ment, It is, therefore, not at all surprising that France | hould claim the count: t of the Re | (as may be inferred ‘fron her tmape,) on the sears, prinet: | ple that Great Britain had claimed and dispossessed hor | of the regions west of the Allogheny ; or that the Unit- od States, assoonas they had acquired the nghts of of restricting the possessions of the United States to li- | mits far more circumscribed than their claims clearly | entitle them to. ‘The claims of tho United States to the portion of terri- tory drained by the Columbia river are divided into those adduced by the United States in their own proper right, and those Which they have derived from Franco and Spain. ‘The former, as against G: , they ground on priority of discovery and priority of exploration and set- Uement The claim derived from France originates in the treaty of 1803, by‘which Louisiana was coded to the United States, with all its rights and appurt a in the same manner as they iad been acquired by the French republic ; and the claim derived from Spain is founded on the treaty concluded with that power in the | year 1819, whereby ‘atholic Majesty ceded to the United States all his rights, claims and pretensions to the | territories lying east and north of a certain line ter- minating on the Pacific, in the forty-second degree of north latitude. | Departing from the order in which these three separate claims are presented by the American plenipoten the British plenipotentiary will first beg lenve to 0 verve, sh regard to the claim derived from F\ e, that he has not been able to discover any evidence ing fablish the belief that Louisiana, originally possessed by France, afterwards transterred to Spain, then retroceded by Spain to France, and ultim: coded by the latter power to the United States, extended ina | westerly direction beyond the Rocky Mountains.— | pa ‘There is, on the other hand, strong reason to suppo that, at the time when Louisiana was ceded to the Uni. vention, ‘o the vossels, citizens, and the subjects of the two pow ors: it being’ well understood that this agree- ment is sot to be construed to the prejudice of any claim which either of the two high contracting parties may y of the said country : nor shall it be t aims of any other power or Sta icountry ; the only object of the iuip arties, in that respect, being to prevent differences amongst themselves.” | The two acis, Lo restoration of our possession and the the territory should be free and open, for the term of ten | | claims of Great Britain | bee farted coast onl | while in | counterpoise to the exploration of that | ty ofdiscovery. Numerous voyages of discovery, com- | of the Mississippi, inclosing all its waters—the Missouri, the of course—an nortuwest point of the L f the Mississippi, us 1 terminating inthe line drawn from the oke of the Woods to the nearest i ttled bet! Great Bri te In another and more formal document, dated in July, 1807—that is to say, nearly ayear after the return of Lewis and Clarke from their expedition to the Pacific¢,and fifteen years after Gray ha entered the Columbia river— is recorded Mr. Jefferson's opinion of the impolicy of giving offence to Spain by any intima’ion that the claims of the United States extended to the Pacific ; and we have the anthority of an American historian, distinguish- ed for the attention and research which he has bestowed on the whole subject of the Oregon territory, for con: | cluding that the western boundaries of Louisiana, as it | was ceded by France to the United States, were those in- | dicated by nature —namely, the high lands separating the waters of the Mississippi from those failing into the | Pacific, | From the acquisition, then, of Louisiana, it was r ceived from Franee, it seems clear that the United States can deduce no claim to territory west of the Rocky | mountains. But even if it were otherwise, and if France had even possessed or asserted a claim to territory west ofthe Rocky mountains as appertaining to the territory of Louisiana, that claim, whatever it might be, was ne- | cessarily trausferred to Spain when Louisiana was ce- | ded to that power in 1762, and of course became subject to the provisions of the treaty between Spain and Great Britain of 1790, which effectually abrogated the claim of Spain {to exclusive dominion over thy unoccupied parts of the American continent. : To the observations of th merican plenipotentiary respecting the effect of continuity in furnishing a claim to territory, the undersigned has not failed to pay due attention; but he submits that what is said on this head may mote properly be considered as demonstrating the greater degree of interest which the United States possess by reason of contiguity in acquiring territory in | that direction, than as affecting, inany way, the question of right. The undersigned will endeavor to show hereafter that | in the proposal put in on the part of Great Britain, the | natural expectations of the United States, on the ground of contiguity, have not been disregarded. : Next comes to be examined the claim derived from ‘Spain. Mt must, indeed, be acknowledged, that by the treaty of 1319, Spain did convey to the United States all that she had power to dispose of on the northwest coast of America, north of the 42d parallel of latitude: but she could not, by that transaction, annul or invalidate the rights which she had, by a previous transaction,acknow- ledged to belong to another power. ? By the treaty of 26th October, 1790, Spain acknow- ledged in Great Britain certain mghts with respect to thor parts ‘of the western coast of America not already occupied. This acknowledgment had reference especially to the territory which forms the subject of the present negoti- ation. If Spain could not make good her ownright to exclusive dominion over those regions, stil! could she confer such a right on another power; and hence Great Britain argues that from nothing juced from the treaty of 1819 can the United States assert a valid claim to exclusive dominion over any part of the Ore gon territory. | There remains to be considered the claim advanced by the United States on the ground of prior discovery and prior exploration and settlement. : In that part of the memorandum of the American ple- nipotentiary which speaks of the Spanish title, it is stat- edthat the mouth of the river, afterwards called the Columbia river, was first discovered by the Spanish na. —- Heceta. The admission of this act would appear to be altogether irreconcileable with a claim to priority | of discovery from any thing accomplished by Captain Grey. 'To one, and to one only, of those commanders, can be conceded the merit of first discovery. If Hece- ta’sclaim is acknowledged, then Captain Gray is no longer the discoverer of the Columbia river. If, on the other hand, preference is given to the achievement of | Captain Gray, then Heceta's discovery ceases to be of | any value. But it is argued that the United States now represent both titles—the title of Heceta and the title of Gray; and, therefore, that under one or the other, it matters not which, enough can be shown to establish a case of prior discovery, as against Great Britain. 'T' may be trite as far as relates to the act of the first seeing and first entering the mouth of the Columbia river; but if the Spanish claim of prior discovery is to prevail, whatever rights may thereon be founded, are nece: ly restricted by the stipulations of the treaty of 17 which forbid a claim to exclusive possession. If the act of Captain Gray, in passing the bar and ac- tually entering the river, is to supercede the discovery of the entrance —which is all that is attributed to Hece ta—then, tho principle of progressive or gradual discov- ery being admitted as conveying, in proportion to the extent o overy or exploratioll, superior rights, the operations of Vancouver in entering, surveying, and exploring, toa considerable distance inland, the river | Columbia, would, as a necessary consequence, super- | cede the d tain Gray, to say nothing of the act of ion in the name of his sover- eign—which ceremony was duly performed and authen- tically recorded by Captain Vancouver. a ‘This brings us to an examination of the conflicting d the United States on the ground of discovery, which may be said to form the es- sential point in the discussion; for it has above been shown. that the claim derived trom France must be con- sidered as of little or no weight, while that derived from Spain, in as far as relates to exclusive dominion, is neu- tralised by the stipulations of the Nootka convention. It will be admitted that when the United States became an independentnation, they possessed no claim, direct or indirect, to the Columbia territory. Their western boun- dary in those days was defined by the treaty of 1783 — eat Britain, on the contrary, had at that time already directed her attention to the northwest coast of America; as is sufficiently shown by the voyage and discoveries of Captain Cook, who, 1m 1778, visited and explored a ion of it, from latitude 44 deg. northwards. reat Britain was the first to acquire what may be called a beneficial interest in those regions, by com- mercial intercourse, will not, either, be denie of this fact, we have the voyages of several British sub- jects, who visited the coast and adjacent islands pre- viously to the dispute with Spain; and that her com- merce, actual as well as prospective, in that part of the world, was considered a matter of great national impor- tance, is shown by the resolute measures which she took for its protection when Sp manifested a disposition to interfere with it. The discoveries of Meares, in 1788, and the complete survey of the it and its nds, from about latitude, 40 deg. northwards, which was effected by Captain’ Vancouver, in 1792,’ 1793, and 1794, would ap- pear to give to Great Britain, as nst the United States, as strong a claim, on the ground of discovery and as can well be imagined, limited ly by what was accomplished by Captain Gray, at the mouth’ of the Celumbia—which, as far as discovery is concerned, forms the strong point on the American side of the question. ; In point of accuracy and authenticity, it is believed that the performances of Cook and Vancouver stand pre- eminently superior to those of ny other country whose vessels had in those days visited the northwest coa: int of value and importance, surely the di covery ofa single harbor, although at the mouth of an important river, cannot, as giving a claim to territory, be placed in competition with the vast extent of disco- very and survey accomplished by the British naviga- tors. As regards exploration inland, entire justice must be done to,,the memorable exploit of Messrs. Lewis and Clarke; but those distinguished travellers were not the first who effected a passage across the Oregon Territo: from the Rocky Mountains to the Paciffe. As far bac as 1793, that feat had been accomplished by Mackenzie, a British subject. In the course of this expedition, Mackenzie explored the upper waters of a river, since | called Fi rs river, which, in process of time, was | traced to its junction with the sea, near the 49th degree | of intitude; thus forming, in point of exploration, a art of the Colum. | ch was first visited by Lewis and Clarke. _ Priority of settlemout is the third plea on which the American claim proper is made to rest. | In 1811, an establishment for the purposes of trade was | formed at the,south side of the Columbia river, near to it mouth, by ain American ciizess. This establish: | ment passed during the war into the hands of British | subjects; but it was restored to the American govern- ment in the year 1818, by an understanding between the | two governments. ,Since then, ithas not, however, be in reality occupied by Americans. This is the case of priority of settlement. The American plenipotentiary lays some stress on the admission attributed to Lord Mey stot then principal Secretary of State for foreign Affairs, that “the American government had the mostample right to be reinstated and) to be considered the party in possession while treating of the title,” The undersigned is not inclined to dispute an assertion resting on such respectable authority. But he must observe, in the first place, that the reservation implied by the words ‘while treating of the title, "excludes any inference which might otherwise be drawn from the preceding words prejudicial to the | title of Great Britain; and further,that when the authority ofthe American minister is thus admitted for an obsor- vation which is pleaded against England, it is but fair that, on the part of the United Statos, credit should be given to England forthe authenticity of despatch from Lori Castlereagh to the British minister at Washington, which was communicated verbally to the government of | the United States, when the restoration of the establish: | ment called Ast or Fort George, was, in contem- | lation,containing a Complete reservation of the rights of Englan! to the territory at the mouth of the Columbia— (Statement of the British plenipotentiaries, Dec. 1826 ) In fine, the present state ofthe question between the | two governments appears to be this: Great Britain | possesses and exercises in commen with the United | tates a right of joint occu; in the Oregon erritory, of which right she can be divested, with re- | spect to any part of that territory, only by an equitable | partition ef the whole between the two powers. | It is, for obvious reasons, desirable t! such a parti tion should take place as soon as possible; and the ditt. culty appears to be in Ceviseee line of demarcation which shall leave to each party that precise portion of | | the territory best suited to its interest and convenience. | The British government entertained the hope that by the proposal Fercly submitted for the consideration of the American government, that object would have been accomplished. According to the ar northern boundary of the United States west of the . | Rocky mountains would fora considerable distance b* | tried gt this term.— Saratoga Sentinel. a | teran ©: ement therein contemplated, , 1845. ried along the same parallel of r noithern boundary of tl latitude which forms eastern side of those boundary | of the Oregon Territory with the western boundary of the United States, from the 49th parallel downward From the point where the 49th degree of latitude in- tersects the northeastern branch of the Columbia river, (called, in that part of its course, MeGillivray’s river,) roposed line of boundary would be slong the middle of that river till it joins the Columbia; then along the middle of the Columbia to the ocean—the navigation of the river remaining perpetually free to both a. In addition, Great Britain offers a separate territory on the Pacific, possessing an excellent harbor, with a fdrther understa: ‘that any port or ports, whether on Vancouvier’s is! or on the continent south of the 49th parallel, to which the Unit i havi Frangement ample justice would be done to the claims of she United States, on | whatever ground advanced, with relation to the Oregon | Territory. Ay regards extent of territory, they would obtain, acre for acre, nearly half of the entire territory | to be divided. As relates to the navigation of the prin- cipal river, they would enjoy a perfect equality of right with Great Britain, and, with respect to harbors, it will | he seen that Great Britain shows every disposition to | consult their convenience in that ular. Onthe | other hand, were Great Britain to abandon thi line of | the Columbia as a frontier, and to surrender her right to | the navigat.on of that river, the prejudice occasioned to her by such an arrangement would,beyond a proportion, exceed thi antage accruing to the United States from the possession of a few more square m erri- tory. It must be obvious to every impartial investigator of ‘the subject, that by adhering to the line of the Columbia, Great Britain is not influenced by motives of ambition with reference to extent of territory, but b considerations of utility, not to say necessity, whic cannot be lost sight of, and for which allowance ought to be made, in an arrangement professing to be basea on considerations of mutual convenience and advantage. ‘The undersigned believes that he has now noticed all the arguments advanced by the American pl. t tiary in order to show that the United States are fairly entitled to the enture region drained by the Columbia river. He sincerely regrets that their views on this sub- Ject should differ in so many essential respects. It remains for him to request that, as the American plenipotentiary declines the proposal offered on the part of Great Br he will have the goodness to_ state what arrangement he is, on the part of the United States, prepared to propose foran equitable adjustment of the question; and more especially that he will have the | goodness to define the nature and extent of the claims | which the United States may have to portions of the | territory, to which allusion is made in the concluding | part of his statement, as it is obvious that no arrangement | can be made with respect to a portion of the territory in | dispute, while a claim is reserved to any portion of the | | remainder. , | The undersigned, British plenipotentiary, has the honorto renew to the American plenipotentiary the | assurance of his high consideration. | R. PAKENHAM. | [To be continued.) Marine—Loss or Live—OctTRaGe Upon ¢ Seamen.—A number of vessels have arrived since | our last, among others the propeller Phenix, Captain Sweet, from St. Joseph and Chicago, from whom we gather farther information of the lake marino. Captain Sweet reports the schooner Pilot, upward bound, with merchandise, ashore at Point Wabisbanks. ‘The fact | was ascertained at Mackinaw, but nothin, of the fate of those cnboard. ‘It isa rock bound and de- solate coast, with scarcely any means of affording assis tance to disabled vessels. Captain Sweet further states our | on Lake Huron! and the only apology offered b: keepers of light houses, was that the quality of the oil furnished by Government was so poor, that it would not withstand the frost. We append the memorandum fur- nished us by the officers of the Phenix :— From Mr. Fox, who returned by the P., we learn that the steamer Lexington was detained at Cleveland, in consequence of having her false sides knocked off by the ice while returning from Detroit. The R. Crooks, Uni- ted States, Webster, Caroline, Scott, Oregon and Mo- hawk, were there bound up. The brig Cobb, together with six schooners also there bound down. They have since come in. ‘The particulars of the loss of the Bolivar, and other versels on lake Michigan, we gather from the Kalamazoo Les — D. Hubbard, of this village, has just arrived in town from the mouth ofthe Kalamazoo river, from whom we learn that on Saturday m ing last, (Nor. 22d) the schr. Mint, Capt. Butterfield, left that harbor under a heavy north west wind, which, soon after she left, in- creased to a perfect hurricane. Captain B, put about and attempted to make the harbor again, At tie same timo the schr. Etna appeared, en- deavoring to run into the harbor, The Mint drifted south of the Etna, and struck on the south bar. Captain B, was the first man to leap into the water, his vessel being about ten rods from the shore, and although urged by the citizens who had run to the beach, to come out of the water, he retused to leave the schooner until all | hands were off and safely ashore. The schooner Jesse Smith ran ashore about six miles north of the mouth ofthe Kalamazoo River. Schooner Mahala was reported ashore ,about 25 miles south of the | mouth—crew all saved. Schooner Niles about two or three miles to the leeward of the Mahala, and another schooner ashore, name not known, The Nile saw the | schooner Bolivar to windward outside in the breakers going ashore. The Conneaut Reporter of Thursday says, “ The scbr. Wolverine struck the pier on entering Black River, yesterday morning, and partly filled with water. We hear of the Wabash being near Huron, with both an- chors out and thumping the bottom.” P.S.—We have since learned that she ran ashore about eight miles north of the St. Joseph river, and broke in two. Three of the crew were found drowned on the beach, and it was supposed that all on board perished.— Buffalo widv. Dec In Supreme Court—Special Term—Mr. Justipe Jewett presiding—Dec. 6.—Boswell ads. Stark. Motion for judgment as in case of non suit; granted. by default. Dunning ads. Lee. Motion to change venue; granted. Bull vs. Clift. Motion to refer; granted, by de- fault. The People ex rel. Dunham vs. Monroe Common Pleas. Motion for mandamus; granted, by default. Hayes ads. Higham. Motion to set aside in- quest; denied, with Motion for rowler vs. Ganun, do do do. dents of Poor of Putnam county, do do. vs. aby McBurney v: Carter. Motion to refer; granted by consent. Red- dington vs. Brower. Motion to set aside judg. ment; denied, with costs, without _prejudice.— ‘The People ex. rel Hicks vs. the Judges of Warren Com- mon Pleas—Motion for mandamus; denied, with costs. Palmer ads. Butler—Motion to set aside default, &c.; ranted, on terms. Chichester vs. the Agent of the Mount | Pleasant Stato Prison—Mction to amend pleadings, &c., ranted, on terms, Bank of Chenango ys. Peck, Jr— Sfotion for leave to issue new execution in place of one lost; Elsbre et al. vs. The Rector, &e. of | Emanuel , Norwieh—Motion to have service al. ready made on defts. to be deemed good; granted. Han- ds Bostwick, President, &c.—Motion to set aside | granted, on terms, Tooley ads. Page, do. do.— | Kelly ads, Sheridan—Motion to set aside inquest, kc. de- nied, with c Gaullaudett Lawrence—Motion for judgment as in caso of non suit; granted, by default. Halsted ads. Shinerla—-Motion to vacate order to hold to bail, &c.; granted, by default. Myers et al. ads. Duram, Motion for judgment as in case of non suit ; denied, with costs, Rich et al ads Davis, Receiver, &c.—Motion for judgment as in case of non suit ; denied, with costs, with- out prejudice, and former rule vacated. Lansing, imp’d ads the Watervliet Bank, and another cause~Motion to | consolidate ; denied, with costs, and former rule vacated. ds Lawrence—Motion for judgment granted, unless pid: stipulate and Corning ads Leitch, et al, do do do. : al, do do do. “Griswold ads Post et al—Motion for judg- | ment as in case of non suit ; granted, unless pif p costs, $10. Jenkins ads same, dodododo. Bacon ads same, do do do do.—ibany Argus. Ramway Accrpents.—On Saturday afternoon, Mr. Hayden, of South Newmarket, N. H., was ri ding in a sleigh in company with his wife and child, and another Indy. When he came to the railroad crossing Newmarket village, the downward Po: train wi just about to pass, aod he stopped his horse. The ani- mal, however, became frightened, and plunged forward, so that the sleigh came in contact with the engine an: was smashed to atoms. Mrs. Hayden and the child were Killed instantly—the child’s head being cut, completely off, and res in the bonnet, with the strings tied un- der the chin. The other lady was considerably injured, but Mr. Hayden The Newburyport aped unhurt. ferald states that a young man by the name of Horace Banning, who had been employe sometime in the Essex cotton mill, was ran over by the railway train between Rowley and Ipswich and killed. He bought a ticket in Rowley ,for Boston, and must either | have attempted to jump off the cars while they were in motion, oF have gone out on the platform for some pur- ose, and accidentally fallen off. He was a native of lartford, Conn., and about 23 years of age. Mr. J, Connor, one of the Lowell constables, slipped down and fell across the railroad at Wilmington, on Sa- | turday forenoon; the cars passed over him and crushed both in a shocking man: He was not expected to survive. A brakeman on the Norwich road was crushed be- rs at Norwich, Thursday morning, whil shack! ‘were connected. red mortal.— Worcester Spy. On Monday a man accidentally fell between some | failroad cars and a platform, near Bordentown, and the | cars being started, he was rolled around in the contract- ed space until his body was completely crushed. The name of the sufferer is Wallace, and he is supposed to vived only a few minute: SS aaa att Mvrver at Scnvyrervitte.—A brutal case of murder occurred at or neaxy Schuylerville, on day last, the particulars of which aro as follows : | men bythe names of Abraham Wilcox and Samuel Mo | was known | 29) the astounding fact, that nota solitary light was visible | the | ) each other. he Judges of | | signed has thou, bal sie | those implicated. Axpany, Dec. 7, 1845. Effects of the Foreign News on the Markets—Opi- nions on the Message—Guv. Wright’s Message— Love and Lead—Theatricals, §c. The important foreign newsin yesterday’s Herald, brought by the steamship Cambria, has had a tre- mendous effect upon the flour market. Holders are paralyzed. The British ports will not be opened, and the present duty will continue .to be imposed upon American breadstuffs. Thousands of barrels of flour were purchased here by speculators upon the arrival of the Britannia, who would gladly be rid of it at a loss. Flour has actually been purchased here at higher rates than it will bring in Liverpool. Expectancy, of course, induced capitalists to buy at such enormous prices, and any quantity of money will be sunk by them, because the prices are posi tively higher here than in England, and, as a natu- ral consequence, their expectancy will have to bear discomfiture. It will cause @ miniature convulsion in the market here. Mr. Polk’s extraordinary message continues to be the principal topic of conversation and speculation. Some say he is a“ bold bad man,” and that bas assumed a terrible responsibility, altogether usparalleled in the history of any republic under the sun. Others declare that Polk is a most singular man—a remarkable in- stance of political vegetation—that he was a third-rate county court Ieesy ea he is the greatest statesman, the most finished diplomatist, the most polished gentle- man, that ever was heard of. Soma think “ the country is safe,” and some say that there will be war, and famine, and extermination, and a cometical train of innumerable evils, awful to think of, profoundly to be deprecated. At any rate, poets and philosophers, editors and and merchants and doctors, and almost every argue upon one point—to wit: that P ingly demonstrated “who is James. K. Polk?” and he is an able and profound President, who will, b; this fearless and sublime stroke of his genius, astonis! British Premiers aud Cabinets, and amaze the civilized world. The first line of Governor Wright's Message was writ- ten last evening. Though nearly one month will ela before the Legislature assembles,:yet this document is in a degree of preparation. Flagg and Benton and five Senators were closeted with the Governor last evening until a late hour. As near asa line CP esgr) itive infer- ence can be drawn, I believe that Wright will jump over State limitation, and that the document will be rather national in its character. at it will be a singular papers and that xt will abound in originality in all its features; remember, I have a strong inferential evidence for tell - ing you that it will be a most remarkable document; that it will evince a policy altogether modern and without any sort of precedent. Silas Wright i not the man to let a prospect for the Presidency slip through bis fingers carelessly. Every line he writes, every official act he performs, will be one of the moves ina politic game, played with the most consum- | mate tact and ability, fer his ultimate succession to the Presidency. Remember, I say again, this is not prediction, unsustained by evidence, but confident asser- tion, founded upon proper proof. Albany is a most extraordinary city. The prominent characteristics of the people here, are unlike those of other community in America. ‘Money isan agent of infinite power in Albany. Society might be re-mode! —laws violated—life sacrificed—pulpits and presses pro- faned—in fine, anything can be done here with money. This is probably one of the most aristocratic cities in the Union; there is an exclusive aristocracy here which ba- ses its excellence and exaltedness upon the noble attri- butes of birth and wealth; and no man, it is said, can be- come amember of the honorable order, without these indispensable requisites. Out upon such republicanism. Shame on it, and shame upon any system or institution in America, political or social, which is anti-republican, and which does not havea tendency to individualise prosperity all over the Union. There is afemale academy in this city, enjoying a high degree of prosperity. Some two or three hundred | young ladies constantly attend this academy. They come from all parts of the United Stat andsome from the city of Havana, some from Canada and Nova Scotia, | and from other distant points. Their studies are all the languages, music, drawing, histories of countries, philo- | sophy, astronomy, and all the sciences and arts calcula- ted to make alady accomplished anywhere, and to fill any society with grece and female elegance. Such pub- lic institutions are among the redeeming features of a community not eminently distinguished for benevolence | andcharity, or any of thatnoble and philanthropic spi- rit which ensures it honorable mention everywhere.— For communities, as well as individuals, are culpable. A most extraordinary excitement was created here some time ago, in fashionable society. The affair was hushed up for the time being, but it was so rich that the Herald must have it. Two young bloods were mutually paying their addresses to a young lady, of respectable arents and good standing. They were hot-headed feb- lows, and, as a natural consequence, terribly jealous of A challenge was sent by one of the parties and promptly accepted by the other. The preliminaries were arranged, and the combatants met on a cool frosty moraing about'a mile from the city—weapons, pistols— distance, ten paces. ‘The pistols were c with potato bullets, of which the challenged individual was aware, and the challenger not aware—at the first fire the challenged fell mortally wounded, and the chal- lenger, horror struck, fled; but was subsequently in- duced to believe it was all a hoax—whereat he was so chagrined, that he sailed for China and is now on his voyage. The challenged removed to Brooklyn, and the poor girl, who, by the w is an arrant coquette, is, I ear, doomed to perpetual celibacy. The affair occa- sioned an awful excitement among the nobilit; Mrs. H. Hunt commences a new engagement to-mor- row evening, at the Museum. She is good in “ Mri | Haller,” * Lady Macbeth,” “ Juliet,” and Desdemona,” &c., but we have nothing in the shape of a tragedian to sustain her. Warren is a good comedian and will stay the winter out. Major J. B. Douglass delivered the second season lec- ture before the Young Men’s Association—Subject, “ Ni: agara Campaign of 1814.” interesting lecture, and calculated to promote the objects of the association. Prof. Whitney delivered an elocutionary lecture at the chapel of the Female Academy, last evening. His im- nation of Randolph, and Clay, and MeDuthe, wi @.and thrilling. His oratorical powers are very erior. He will visit N York next week. Weatner is cold—river is closed down to Coxsackie. ‘The sleighing is grand, and the beautiful girls are avail- ing themselves of the snow, for any quantity of fun and enjoyment. Conjé. su Affairs of Buenos Ayres. New Yorx. 6th December, 1845. An your paper of this morning, under the head of “Bue- nos Ayres—European intervention in South America,” I find the following paragraph :—“ We now understand for the first time, that the Argentine government despatched an agent to the United States, in the person of Amory Ed- wards, Esq. a highly reapectable man and a citizen of ihe United States, to our government, to solicit the aid and support of the United States in their resisting the improper demands of the French and English—but that Mr. Polk declined acting in the matter, thinking that the United Sta: no business to interfere.” Your paper is so ents tributed, not only among the American public, but in other parts of the world, that orroneous statements which, naturally without your knowledge, might sometimes find themselves in the He- raid, and by their wide circulation might do injury, have need to be, as soon as possible, corrected. Permit me, therefore, to request you to correct the raph, which 1s totally and completely incorrect from the beginning to the end. Permit me also to state that Mr. Amory Edwards, the gentleman spoken of in that paragraph, was formerly the United States Consul at Buenos Ayres—another has been appointed by the Ame rican government ia his place. Mr. Edwards has not, regoing para- | and has not had, any commission from the Argentine go: vernment to solicit the @ and support of the Unit . M dwards has er commission nor Argentine go' soe thia letter in the next Herald a Sir, your most obedient serv’t, CARLOS DE ALVEARY, Al itive Minit to the United St To James Gonnox Buxsett, Esq, Proprietor of the New York Herald. The City Hall Fire. To Tue Eprror or THe Henan: With your permission, I wish to make an expla- nation in referenee to a part of the published pro- ceedings of the Board of Assistant Aldermen, as appeared in the Herald of yesterday, alluding to the reported fire in the office of the Clerk of Common Pieas and County Cleik. Carelessness is attributed to the incumbents of the room occupied by the un. dersigned. It is singular that all the accounts of the fire, which Ihave nouced, are incorrect, though correct information could have been obtained in # few minutes. Now, I wish to deny positively that any blame ought to be attached to either or any of the incumbents of the room occupied by the above clerks. The stove in use is one of new construc- tion, and has only been used a few weeks, and was put up by the manufacturer in a manner that appear- ed perfectly safe in all respects. Yet from its con- struction, producing a strong draft downwards, it re- quires that some substance—a non-conductor of heat—be placed under it. The heat is so strong downwards, that it passed through a sheet iron pan, and a plate of zinc, and communicated to the floor, | be from Boston. His injuries were s0 great, that he sur- | without the stove being in the: least overheated. A | stone platform is now placed under it, which makes Thus much the under- state, in justice to Rn, County Clerk. it perfectly sate in future. ht it his duty to Janes C Fire at Skangareias.—The Drying House at- bout a sister of McKinster’s z “ Kinater, got into a erty merry yeguinet the wishes and | tached to D. Kellogg's woolen factory, at Skaneate, Rivico of her brother, After & Tow angry words, Wile | los, was burnt down, ta, EME This bulding wes & tox took out his jack-knife and stabbed McKinster six- | large stone one, and ekg hh we Bf ipomad hteen timo: i {ee dome from which he died almost instantly. Wil. | mpted to Srey See Bae} bsg bccoaAbse } bdefe cCOM| e lesign. [- mination, he was committed to jail to await | inflicting several fatal wounds in | and tl Woe ‘obabl; ty Wan POLS rf not informed. All of>Mr. Kel- i's property is insured, —Syraeuee Journal, Mexico.—The Mexican ae ninget Teoareon Etats > Te on his trial for this horrible deed. The Oyer and Terminer | arrived yesterday from foal intelli She brought no papers nor ver is now in session, and will be indicted, and perhaps Ua) bg 3 \ Prowpane* Noo. fry | 8

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