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on, and its principles Be adopted, it would
then be necessary to resort 10 the State of
Maine for her assent in all proceedings
relative to the matter, since any arrange
ment under it can only be for a conven-
tional line to which she must be party.


In conclusion, it was intimated to Mr.
Fox, that if negotiation be entertained
by this government at all, upon the unsat-
isfactorv basis afforded by the British
counter proposition or substitute, the Pres
ident will not invite it, unless the authori-
ties of the State of Maine shall think it
more likely to lead to an adjustment ofthe
question of boundary than the General
Government deemed it to be, although pre-
disposed to see it in the most favorable
light. -.


Your exceIcncy viii perceive that, in
the course of these proceedings but with
oul abandoning the attempt to adjust the
treaty line, steps, necessarily, from the
want of power in 'ne Federal Government,
of an informal character, have been taken
to test the disposition Of the respective
Governments upon the subject substituting
a conventional for the treaty line. 1t will
also be seen, from the correspondence,
that the BRUSH Government, despairng OF
a satisfactory adjustment of the line of the
treaty, avows its willingness to enter upon
a direct negotiation for the settlement of a
conventional line, if the assent of the State
of Maine to that course can be obtained.


Whilst the obligations to the Federal
Government to do all in its power to effect
a settlement Of this boundary, are fully re-
cognized onits part, it has, in the event of
its being unable to do so specifically, by
mutual consent, no other means to accom-
plish the objec!, amicabIy, than by another
arbitration, or commission, with an UNI
pire, in the nature of an arbitration. In
the contingency Of all other measures fall
ing, the President will feel il to be his duty
to submit another proposition to the Gov
ernment of Great Britain, to refer the de-
csion Of the question to third party He
would not however, be satisfied in taking
this final step without having first ascer-
tanned the opinion and wishes of the State
of Maine upon the subject ofa negotiation
for the establishment of conventional
line, and he conceives the present the prop
or time to seek it. t.


l am, therefore, directed by the Presi-
dent, to invite your excellency to adopt
such measures, as you may deem necessa-
ry, to ascertain the sense Of the State of
Maine with respectto the expediency of at
tempting to establish conventional line of
boundary between that State. and the Brit
ish possessions, by direct negotiation be-
tween the Governments of the United
States and Great Britain; and whether the
State Of Maine will agree, and upon what
conditions, if she electto prescribe any, to
abide by such settlement, if the same be
made3 Should the State of Maine be of
opinion that additional surveys and explor-
ations might be useful, either in leading to
satisfactory adjustment of the cGntroyer-
sy, according to the terms of the treaty, or
in enabling the parties to decide more un-
derstandngly upon the expediency Of open
ing a negotiation for the establishment of
a line that would suit their mutual conven-
ience, and be reconcilable to their con-
hicting interests; and desire the creation,
for that purpose, Of a commission, upon the
principles and with the limited powers des-
cribed in the letter of Mr. Fox, the Presi-
ent will. without hesitation, open negoci-
alton with Great Britain for the accom-
plshment of that object.


have the honor to be,


With high consideration,


Your exceIlencys ob't servant.


Holm FORSYTH