The Express.
London, England, 1852-08-03 00:00:00

THE AUSTRALIAN GOLD DIGGINGS.

The following letter from a gentleman connected
with %Vert Lothian, now in Australia, appears in the Scots.
man:—

Kangatong, near Port Fairie,
I'urt Phillip, March 2, 1852.
" I wrote you a long letter a month back, giving you an
amount of our progress. In Deceniber last we clipt our
flocks of sheep, and rant to Port Fairie about ten thou-
sand pounds of wool, which has gone by the Helen for
London. We have now upwards of 4,000 sheep, and
espeet 1,000 to 1,200 lambs shortly. Our sheep are
doing as wall as foot-rot will allow in this district, but
not to compere with the open plains, where the soil is
poor awl mid. awl foot-rot almost unknown; however,
we cannot complain, and am glad we got the sheep.
We have now sumo idea of dispo•ing of them and
replacing them with lean cattle, which the present great
scarcity of !abeam renders neerasary, cattle being wore
manageable. Shepherd's wages bare risen from 20/. to
3.51., and likely sham to be .50(., and men lint to be had,
even at that. We have only one white shepherd. Our
dock, are tended by black., and capital shepherds they
are; unfortunately, they live in constant dread of their
enemies (other trdreal However, we have them well
armed, Our tribe—a branch of the main one—consists of
eight m, n, 'women, awl children, all as benefit as steel; they
live at less espt rise than white men, and all knit while
herding—thus they are much more valuable to us than the
whites, and in a few months we will be able to manage
entirely with the blacks. We of mime keep them in
elntliiiig. Our cattle are at present doing well, and ore in
flee condition. Tho market in Melbourne is just now over-
stocked and prices low, while lean cattle are ►carce
from want of hands to bring them to market. The
last lot of 7011 I went to Melbourne for, coat 120. a-head
there ; lbs. to lii. is now the price, and difficult to get
your eupply at that, unless you go to the breeders 300 to
1 400 miles off.

" 1 em sorry to say that in consequence of this cursed gold
discovery stations and forming are now at a discount fur
want of handle and no one know, what prices will go to, as
there are no buyers where the returns are dependent on
labour. Stations have fallen twenty per cent. since the
geld discovery. For iny run (station) I would not be in-
clined to take lees than a,OOO/., and that only with a view
to invest it in town property, which is rising with amazing
rapidity. Such a prexligious importation of emigrants from
the neighbouring colonies is now going on that it is diffi-
cult to guess at the probable pnce of butcher meat in
another year, as you cannot import that commodity so
easily as flour, &c. Some people predict 10!. a head fur
bullocks and 20s. for sheep very shortly. At prescut prices
are so low as still to admit of meltirg, but there is no
saying how soon such a mates of consumer, may be with
us from all points, as will soon make disappear our
supplies of beef, at present so wastefully consumed.
Prices of grain, flour, &c., fluctuate very much ; an arrival
or two of flour cau'es an immediate fall, or an absence of
import sometimes a very considerable advance. Labour
also fluctuates much—the crop farmers were in despair, and
in many eases gave 255. with grog and meat per acre for
cutting, while others, at the distance of a few data, got the
same done for 175., &c. Wheat last season rose from ss. to
10s. per bushel—now it is 51. fid. to 6s.
" As soon es the wet weather commence.. so as to enable
the digger. to wash the gold earth, there will not be a M4ll
left to do a band's turn, either an farm or station. Such has
been the genet al success, that no one will engage at 30/. to
601. yearly, when they may turn up 20s. worth of gold daily
to a certainty, almost.
"Doubtless you:will have seen many:extracte in the papers
relative to the wonderful gold fields of Victoria. The
statements can hardly be ezeggerated ; end millions of
gold have already been shipped at Pest l'hillip, besides
what has gone to Sydney, Adelaide, and Van Dies
men'. Land—some guess at 50,000, some at 35,04:10 diggers.
Every ono that I have seen and know to have been there
seem determined to return au soon as the rain makes the
ground soft. At present ophthalmia and dysentery prevail,
and a want of clean water there has sent many home for
but a short time. It would be impossible to give you an
idea of what men make generally. I have seen sem:who,
in one hour, made 1,000/. up to 1,7001., others wo d sink
(dig) for • month and barely pay expenses, when, sinking
in despair, they would come on a bucketful of gtaina of pure
gold. One splendid lump, about the size and shape of a
man's foot, was exhibited in Melbourne, 27 lbs. in weight,
of pure gold; this is the finest as yet discovered in the Port
l'hillip district, and, in proportion to its weight, is more va-
luable than 103 Abs. bit sent home from Sydney some nine
months since. One sf our men writes to his wife here that
• party next to him lifted in a few days 1,4001. each
man, while he only had 201. worth. It is an extraordinary
elate of matters altogether, when • mere labourer, who
could barely subsist at home, can here make his 20s. a-day
—and there seems to be no end to it—fresh diggings are
being discovered every ..ay. I have seen a letter from
Mount Alexander. There, it appears, from want of water,
the diggers are leaving by hundreds fur elsewhere ; it is
quite common for parties to work fur weeks and not cover
their expenses—this is owing to want of water ; but the
moment the floods come again, there will be a general rush
to the rich part of the creek.
" It is difficult to describe the state of the colony now,
and should La '1 robe, the present Lieutenant-Governor,
be continued in office, it is impossible to ace the result
of such a concourse of all nations without a force to
control them. At Mount Alexander there are only,
they say, thirty policemen, which is quite absurd.
Lynch.law iv talked of, and has already been acted 0.,
in cases where thieves are caught in the act. They go about
like hawks, and perch themselves on the mouth of the hole,
and if any gold is found the finder runs every chance of
losing it, or his life, if io a quiet corner. For safety, cum-
panics of respectable parties league together for protection.
Some rogues were caught in a diggine, some weeks ago,
with candle light, and it is reported were with general con-
sent lynched. It is reported that four or five thousand sol-
diers arc to be sent out. I am afraid the
_y will do little good
without a new governor. It will be • difficult matter to keep
them in order without very largo pay, which our stingy
masters will not assent to readily. Ily to-day's paper, a ton
of gold left Mount Alexander last week, and the increase is
weekly. Why, when we have 200,000 or 300,000 dig-
gers, which we will see by next year as sure as fate, we will
bre ballasting our wool ships with the filthy lucre. Such is
the abundance and general dillusiou of gold throughout the
Port Philip and Sydney districts, and so many new dis-
coveries are being brought to light, there is little doubt but
that California will sink into utter insignificance, and the
metal must sink in value. Large sales were made lately
for shipment to England at 655. per ounce at Port Fairie.
" We intend to start in a few days, having now got our
sheep shorn, and our station in working order, for the dig-
gings, leaving behind • sufficient force to manage our flocks.
J-21 and I go, with two of our own men ; and in
the event of success, we will form an establishment. After
• menth's digging, I will write home the result of our
operations.
" Some parties I bare seen since writing the foregoing.
They tell me it is curious how and where the gold is some-
times found. It is got often sticking to the roots of gram,
and strewed over the surface for some inches down. It is
found imbedded in slate, pipe-clay,iond quarts, and sticking
in clay like currants in plum-pudding. A new place called
Lake Omeo diggings has come to light lately, said to ex-
ceed all former discoveries. It is somewhere near the
boundary between Sydney and Victoria districts ; and
should it become true, gold will become quite disgusting.
"Jobs that could not stand prevented me finishing
this letter at the time I began it. Since then, a piece
of gold 63Ibs. weight has been dug up at Mount
Alexander, and instead of the dry weather diminishing the
quantity, it is increasing. A poor settler near us sent his
two boys, aged 14 and 15, and at the end of one month re-
turned wi'h 4501.
"At present rum is selling at 10s. per gallon ; gin, 12a. ;
whisky, 10s. to lbs.: and these getting dearer. rapers
and shopkeepers are doing a splendid trade with the dig-
gers. Nothing but silks and satins will go down, and even
these won't do unless the price is something high.
"Our member gave a grand ball a few evenir gs ago. Wo
attended, and were quite astonished at the gaiety. Our
grape* are now ripe. We make a very palatable wine here
—something betwixt champagne and claret—really nice."

ORANGE MOTS IN CANADA.—The Canadian papers
give an account of a serious riot at Toronto en the 12th of
July. The Hamilton Spectator states that there was a
large Orange procession, with flags and music, to the lake,
accompanied by brethren from Brentford, Ancaster, and
Caledonia. The city authorities, fearing a riot on the ar-
rival of the steamer, swore in a strong b .dy of special
constables, in addition to the city and railroad police.
These men were taken charge of by Alderman Moore, and
marched down to the bay. Upon binding, the party pro-
ceeded in procession, but without colours or music, up
James-street. We regret to have to say, however, that
many of them were armed with guns and pistols. They
had not proceeded more than a couple of blocks before tonic
stoned were thrown, but at this point no disturbance took
place. Proceeding onward, they reached the corner of
Mulberry-street, where a large erend was congre-
gated, a man from which stepped forward, and
kicked the drum that was carried by one of
the party. Some stones were thrown at the lame
time, immediately after which • number of shuts were
fired—from six to eight—and a man n. med Barney
M'l'hillips, a moulder, in the employ of Messrs. M'Questen
and Co , was shot in the groin, the ball passing out at his
back, and ho expired instantaneously; about the same
moment, James Campbell, a cooper, who carried the drum,
received two stabs from a dirk or large knife in the abdo-
men. lle was immediately carried into Minnis's tavern,
and the wounds were dressed by Drs. Bates and Robert
Bunter, but at the time we saw the pool man he was
suffering the most excruciating agony, and the doc-
tors seemed to entertain but little hope of his re-
covery. We believe that ono or two other people were in-
jured in the nuke, which scarcely lasted a minute, but we
have nothing definite. The Orangemen then proceeded to
their quarters in the Court [louse square, after which a
number of them, all of whom seemed to be armed, pro-
ceeded down King-street, we believe to the Victoria Oar-
dem. We need scarcely say that the city is in a state of
excitement, and that great fears are entertained, at the
time of writing, of getting safely through the night. The
authorities hove adopted every precaution to preserve the
peace, and we cannot speak in too high terms of the cool-
ness, courage, and promptitude of Alderman Moore, who
took the direction of the police. But for the exertions of
that gentleman and one or two others, we feel satisfied that
we should have had to record a far more fearful destruction
of hamaa life.

ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS AND RAILWAY TRAINS.—
A proposal is on the lapis for communicating between trains
in motion and stations by means of electricity, so that they
may reciprocate signals in the event of danger at given
distances.

CALI FORNIti
Mont the Mintaga-itOl-the Doily Newry
Advice@ from San Francisco, timid the 114th June,
afford the following piirticulars relative to the pro-
grow of gold mining adventure in the various dis-
tricts. It will (Se WWI hut the contract of the Nou-
veau Month: Mining Company pith the Merced CUM.
puny is referred to in one of the paragraphs:
It is said that sporty of Germans have recently discos, red
a very rich gold placer un the Samaritan° mute to Yr. ke.
The diwor, ry. was made on a creek emptying into the
Sacramento ily. r from the west. This creek is about fifteen
mil's north of H., mountain heights known as Ow back
Lone; and as nu name was known tar it by party
making the divrovery, they called it Back Mmie Creek. The
mining ground is .aid to be extensive, and of unex.oni...di
richntos. The , urth in many places yielded from cto
Ilse dollars to the panful. Many persons who lift Nl4.u.ta
Valley for the mines on Rogue river, •rot said to lay r. turn-
ing. They report the 111/1111Y on Rogue river to be
ingly licit, but they were not of sufficient extent to idtottl
claims to all who were attracted tbitiiir. Those alto host
claims upon the riverarc generally obtaining a great shun.
dance ut gold. The mines un Dead Wood Creek, 1./ or
Yreka, are proving to be tact edingly rich. It is ttourtht
that a very large arnowit of gold will be taken front this
creek during the present sunamem

A corresp7mil.-nt, wrstimt to S n Francisco, from itieh
Bar, says Provisions and clothing ore very circa 1. re
and those who labour by the day get sit do!lars very r, ailee
in fact all who do not wish to try th. it lurk at dig,;r,e errs
their own hook find plenty of npportun ty for sit ncii .rs
per diem. The proapecui of miners in the, region an a„r
flattering, and I mcsurie then, will be mu Is more from the earth this summer than has eVI ri, hee
raised. There are, at present, a large numlar of
doing well in the hills and banks around here."
The :-.Mekeon Journal says:—.• A g. mh-min from M.,,.•
ppooseea cnuttly Worms us that the sph mild work, of
Merced Milting Company, at Mount Ophi-, wi 1,.b e. t . r
100,000 &As., end in which Mr. John L. Moffitt,
King, and others, have 'teen so deeply interest. d, ~,,w
either entirely, or in part, owned by an English inie,e:
company, who are making preparations to work the ,
ledge. This company, we are told, came nut to w-e.,
of the Fremont claims, but coul.i nut succeed in tied,. •
The Welier nod Cuon-Hollow Canal cost 20,0•01 ,
fourteen-and-a-half miles long, and pays monthly 7,1 e,
27 per cent on its first coat. The Gold 11111 Can,: (
9,285 doll., is ten-and a-bolt miles in length, I,,es
monthly 4,442 dolt., or 17 per cent, ou its first
The Bradley, lit Men, and Company Canal, ut oe•I
Springs, cost 12,000.1015., is ten mid a half miles in I.•
and pays monthly 2,197 dots., or 194 per cent. on its
The Rock Crick Caual, at Nevada, to sit milt, lona—east
10,000 dot,., and pays monthly 4,000 dots., el' 40 pr a rte
on its original cost. The Coyote Bitch, at :head,.
miles long—coat 16,000 dots., and pays monthly t;.1,00 ,1„1,
or 371 per cent. on its cost And tartly, 6..• lic. r t
Canal, at Nevada, is eight milts lung—coat 20,41,04.,:t5,
,t pays monthly 5,573 dots., or 27j per cent, on 1111 i,,. OM.
, The mines about Weaverville have, it is said, proud to he
ameng the richest in the State. Water has be. a ramie
fur the last few months through nets varying ham co. t.,
, twelve milt s in length. The party who lull-Wm...1 %ats
into the rich gulch on Cotton Creek are now main, g the:
averaging thirty• five cents. to the bucketfut."
The Nan Joaquin Republican says the uttt a., "I the
miners seems now to be almost entirely devoten eon.
struction of canals. Stupendous works hate lc. u
taken sod brought to a successful issue. The own,-
stock are now realising large fortunes for the investment.
Within two years, there is no doubt, during all the sum-
mer months, the whole mining region, by the 1.3 a,
will Ise constantly supplied with an abundance ut water.
The advices received by the last American steamer
afford some most interesting particulars relative to
the progress of the workings in the great copper
region of Michigan, on the shores of Lake Superior.
A great extent of this territory is now ki,own to be
rich in copper, and the fact that these veins can be
worked with great profit, with all the disadvantages
incident to a new business, in an unsettled couetry,
shot out from the rest of the world during six
months of the year by. the severity of the weather,
is very significant, us it proves cilia so soon as the
requisite mechanical appliances shall hare l'etn
brought to work, the means of communication
improved, and the supply of labour rendered more
abundant and economical, the yield of the wetal will
, be immense, and will exercise a great influence
on the market throughout the world. Copper
mining in this region is distinguished by many
peculiarities, and there appears to be a gnat
want of scientific experience amongst those enga,ed
in it. The produce of the workings is distinguished
into three classes, " mass copper;' barrel work," and
stamp work." Mass copper consists of sheets or
pieces too large to be packed in barrels, and weigh-
ing from a few hundred pounds up to matey tuns.
Masses have been taken from the celebrated Cliff
Vein estimated to weigh 70 or 80 tons, chiefly of
solid copper, varying in thickness from a few inches
to two or three feet. Such masses the miners are
unable to remove from the level or drift until divided
into pieces of a few tone weight. Accordingly, the
masses arc cut into portable size by the use of a
chisel from one-half to three-fourths of an inch in
width, one man holding the chisel, whilst another
strikes with a heavy sledge. This operation
costs from 6 dole. to 8 dole, per square
foot of surface cut through. Barrel work consists
of such pieces of copper as are too small to be shipped
separately. These small masses are dressed with a
hammer, in order to free them as much as possible
from the adhering vein stone. Stamp work includes
the main portion of the vein-stone, carrying a small
per centage of copper. This stuff is taken from the
vein and calcined ; then put under the stamp heads
and pulverised, after which the fine particles of
are separated from the pulverised rock by wash-
ing, when the copper is barrelled up and sent to
market. The chief mine in this district is the Bos-
ton and Pittsburgh, better known as the " Cliff."
This is one of the Pioneer Companies, having com-
menced operations as early as Ist3. Since then
about 5,000 tons of copper have been taken
from the vein, about one-half of the amount
consisting of masses and barrel work, and
the other half stamp work. The mechanical
arrangements in this mine aro better than those
in operation at the neighbouring adventures. The
company have sunk three shafts to the depth of 410
feet each intersected by drifts or levels at distances
of ten fathoms apart. The aggregate length of these
drifts is nearly 6,000 feet. The greater part of the
ground thus opened has been &toped out—" eloping"
signifying the:removal of the vein-stone after the mine
has been opened, the miners working upward from
the levels. The present force at the Cliff is 201
men, and the produce 70 tons per month. The ma-
nager is now running eleven heads of emirs, which
crush 250 tons of rock per month, and he intends to
add nine more stamps immediately, which will
nearly double his present stamping force,
without adding materially to the expense
of the operation. The stamping, pumping,
raising copper, &c., aro all done by steam
power. There is an extensive system of under-
ground railway at this mine, as well as several
others in this region. Miniature railways, with little
trucks, capable of carrying each four or five tons of
copper or vein-stone, are carried through the va-
rious levels in the mine, and also on the surface.
There aro nearly two miles of this kind of railway ut
the Cliff. The stock of this company is held princi-
pally in Boston and Pittsburgh, and is divided into
6,000 shares, on which ltst dots. per share have been
paid, and tho shareholders have received three
annual dividends of 10 dole. each, and one of 14 dole.
during the last four yeant. In the present year the
company have erected a 6t)-horse engine, which,
with buildings noel fixtures, will cost about
20,000 dole., and they contemplate construct-
ing a railway from the mine to Eagle
River, Lake Superior, a distance of about three
miles, to facilitate the transport of their copper
to market and supplies to the mine. These details
will be regarded with much interest, as although re-
ferring chiefly- to this one mine, which presents the
most remarkable- instance of success, they afford a
view of the general nature of copper mining in this
region, which at sonic future period, and that pos-
sibly an early one, will engage a vast amount of
labour and yield a rich harvest to mining adven-
turers. There aro other companies in the vicinity
which commenced operations as early as the ('lit(
Company, and have not yet been üble to pay
expenses. This, however, is easily explaintsl.
when we consider the serious disadvantages. under
which they at present labour, and it is eon-
fidently believed by those competent to judge of
such matters that they will ultimately pay handsome
dividends. In the early working of the Phenix
mine, another adventure near Eagle River, a large
amount of pure copper in "boulders" was taken out
of the stream at the spot where it passes over the
Pheenix vein. Several thousand dollars worth ea
silver was also taken from the riser, one detached
lump of the pure metal weighing over six pounds.
On the " location" of the Copper Falls Company aro
very extensive ancient works, consisting of pits sunk
at intervals along the course of the vein. One or
these pits is 70 feet wide, and more than 27 feet
deep. On the heaps of dirt thrown out by these
ancient miners may be seen growing monster pines
and sturdy oaks, showing that many hundred yea'

have fled since these industrious red men toiled with
their rude stone hammers and copper chisels. In
that pits are found many implements used by the
anc,,r miner*, such as stone.hammers, copper axes
and chin 15, partly decayed, with cedar shovels, cop-
per Afros ch avoid, &c. These pits are ob.
srtittl 511 through the mineral range fur nearly a
hundred miles in extent, though it was not discovered
that they were artificial excavations till it was no-
ticed tlidt they follow the course of the copper veins.

TII I: ANI ERICAN
IC IA FISHER'DESPATCHI ES.-M PORT ANT
OFIVL

-Department af State, Washington, July 6, 1452.
•• I. f,rot:ltion uf an official character has been re-
we .1 A. this di panne tit to the following effect
••'1 he late ministry of England was opposed to the grant-
ing of I...outer. on principle, sad in Cl.lollYquenee it striuhly
• fto give the see.ssary assent to acts of the eol..oial
I,,,i„hitheri. granting bountiee to the fisherns. The colonies
tomplaned ',virally of this iiverference with their local
$11.101.. sad they forth. r complain that the government d. -
&sea to enforce the provisions of the fishery eutorention
.1 N., and thereby permitted Ainericsn fishermen to
ases,a,n upon the hest fishing grounds. from which, under
the legal con,trisetion of the treaty, they ought to be ex-
dinksi
e %kith the event change of ministry in England has
marred an entire emeace of policy. he present Serve-
toy 01 Mate for the C.doniee, thr John Pakineton, his
address• .1 a cir. oder Der to the govern..rs of the several
North AntlfikMl colooies, an extract from which is as
lotidae.
." Downing-street. Alay ai, 1852.
...Among the m Inv p essing eithi,ete which have en-
igged to .0(.1,10,1 of her Majesty'. ministers since their
wimp!, le of *thee, few have ben more important, in
their eeirnati .. than the questions relating to the prate 0-
tor the fisheries on the costs of British
.tmeriea. 'a government have taken
hue their ern us roused-ration the reprenatations upon
this saw,. et CIMIAIYvtI in pear despatches noted in the
nyfese....4 has' not f tiled to observe that while active
hut, lei. it taken by certain colonies for the par-
r* of tee.urnting their inheres..., and of ripening the
tetra., n of toveign sevels, it has been a subject of
conirlont that usipedituente oh .uld have ban offered
by the policy eif the imperial government to the
enactuunt ot bowlines can-faired by the local le-
rwa.... essential for the prottetion of tkis trade.
D.,Nt.jes4)'. ministers are desirous of removing all grounds
of c, sup.a.at on the part of the colonies, in consiquence of
es.rosehm.ats of the fishing vessels of the United States
oNii sie waters from which they are excluded by the
urn, of the c anent...a of 1418, and th. y therefor. intend
,Isputek as vows as euesibie • sma.l naval force of
strata, I.V other small torch, to enforce the observance
of th
'..11 is anaosowetneut is accompanied by the following as
to houniaw
•• • ii ith rested to the question of promoting the fisheries
tithe filitieh toluenes by the 111,..1101 of bonnets', her Ma•
veraineut, though desirous not to sanction any n0a,.,-•uj
a,.,-•uj {ICTI.IIitNI Iron, the policy which r• gulates the
own. nc of this couniry, are still disinclined to present
thin. hy th•• interposition of imperial authority,
saa ,spi.hilly ',coding the negociation with the United
kg,. of Anil ICJ for the eettleineut of the principles on
th. eon... re.• tit the British North American colie
miss is hereafter to be carried on, (ruin adopting the policy
which they may deem must conducive to their own pro-
WPM' awl welfare.'
The vessels sr wu mentioned is the above circular di*.
peak san expected t, he on the tout of British North
)artira during the 'intent month (July), when no doubt
''lens will b. gin tu be made of Americas fishing-vessels,
which in the autainn pursue their businees in indents on
the c.a.', from which it I. contended they are excluded by
the cone. tenon of 1418.
t•Meantiose, and within the last ten days, an American
fishing viseel, called the Coral, belonging to Machias, in
has been s. iz• in the Bey of I unity, near Grand
Menu, be the tittirer commanding her Majesty's cutter
Nethy. aliesilv :wised in that bay, for an alleged infrae-
boa of the tishitm convention, and the fishing vessel has
kin ran 4,1 to the port of St. John, N. 8., where proceed-
ings ha.. b en takcu in the Admiralty Court with a view
sober toad nination and absolute forfeiture.
Lk -ides tile small naval force to be sent out by the im-
peri.,l covernment, the colonies ITC la stirring themselves
oleo es the pr..tiction of their fisheries. Canada has fitted
out an armed vessel to be stationed iu the gulf, and this
wise: has proceeded to the fishing ground., having on
board not only a navel commander and crew, with power to
seise v. sole within limit., but also a atipendilry magistrate
end civil police, to make prisoners of all who are found
trahseri 'sing the laws of Canada, in order to their being
CUllillaCtcd to gaol in that colony fur trial. The colony of
tii.wfoundl Ind has fitted out an armed vessel for the pur-
pose of resisting the encroachments of French fishing
ve.sels on the coast of Labrador, but when ready to sail
from her port, the governor of that colony. acting unity
anikrial instructions, refused to give the commander of this
colonial VI Neel the necemery authority fur making prise of
French .easels found trespassing.
This i• an extraordinary circumstance, especially when
taken in conuezion with the fact that the like authority to
seise American fishing vessels under similar circumstances
bat never been refused to the cruisers of any of the North
American colonies. The colony of Nova Scotia has now
four armed evil:sire, well mann.d. on its coasts, ready to
pounce upon any American vessel. that may accidentally or
otherwise be found fishing within the limits defined by the
crown officers of England.
New lirubseiek has agreed with Canada and Nova
Scotia to place • cutter in the Day of Fundy to look alter
Am.ficens fishing the ro and at Prince Edward's Island, and
her Majesty's s•eanefrigete Devaatation has been placed
toter the instructions of the governor of that colony.
The first article of the convention between the United
Slate. and Great Britain, of the 20th October, 1818, is in
these words: . . .

" • Whereas di&reneea have arisen respecting the liberty
eliimel by the United States for the inhabitants thereof to
bike, dry, Baal cure fish on certain ens.sts, bays, harbours,
IN creeks of his Britannic Majesty's dominions in America,
it N gored between the high contracting parties that the
iskstet int. of the said United States shall have for ever, in
einiron with the subjects of his Britannic Majesty, the
liberty to take fish of every kind oa that part of the southern
meet Newfoundland which extends from Cape Ray to
the Rawer' Islands, on the western and northern cornets of
mid Newfoundland from the said Cape of Ray to the
ibeirpon Islands, on the shores of the Magdalen Islands,
cad •1.0 on the southern coasts, bays, harbours, and creeks
ben Mount Jolly, on the southern coast of Labrador, to
mod from the Straits of Belle Isle, and thence
nerthwardly lads finitely along the coast, without pre-
however, to any of the exclusive rights of the
▪ moo's Bay Company • and that the Amen an
hinnies shill also have liberty fur ever to dry and
ton k•b in any of the unsettled bays, harbours, and
weeks of the *outliers pert et the roam of Newfoundland
battalion described, and en the tweet of Labrador; but on
Ma MS the same, or any portion thereof shall be settled, it
shall as be lawful for the said fishermen to dry or fish
st men portion en settled, without previous agreement fur
with
alibi /mud. purpose with the inhabitants, proprietors, errowenows
"'And the United States hereby ref:oases for ever any
Ithirty hesetofnee enjoyed or claimed by tho inhabitants
then •.i to take, dry, ur cure fish, oa or within three merino
Mies of say lathe coasts, bajs, creeks, or harbours of his
libitsanie Majesty's dominions in America not included
*Lien the above-mentioned limits. Provided, however, •
hat the American fishermen shall be permitted to enter
sash i..ys and harbours for the purpose of shelter and of
Pipeline, damages therein, of purchasing wood and obtain-
ing ester. and (i.e no other purpose whatever. But they
*eh he under such restrictions as may be necessary to pre-
lim for takwv, &mg, or coring fish therein, or in any
other manner whatever abusing the privileges hereby re-
tuned to them.'

` It would appear that, by a striet and rigid construction
flail article, fishing vessels of the United States are pre-
dation from entering into bays and harbours of the British
pogiates except for the purposes of shelter, repairing da-
ngles, end obtaining wood aod water. A bay, as is eau-
* understood, is an arm or recess of the sea mitering
isms the ocean between capes and headlands, and the term
equally to small sad large tracts of water thus
direr el It is cosmos to speak of Hudson's Bay or the
Bay ,4 Biscay, although they are very large tracts of water.
The Itenisk sathoritiee insist that England hes a right to
fine • lime from headland to headland, and to capture all
Amman h.hermen wbo may follow their pursuits inside
ilot !the It was undoubtedly an oversight in the conven-
tion et Hill to make ss large a conceseion to England, since
the I' sited States had usually considered that those vast
Pets or rete.es of the ocean ought to be open to American
Mermen u freely as the sea iWlf to within three marine
mho the shore.
"In I'lll, the legislature foe Nova Scotia prepared louse
Ihr lb, emisideratimi of the Advocate-O,mM and Attorney-
illsorral of Ragland, upon the true construction of this
Nark of the convention.
" fhe opinion delivered by these only?. of the crown was
'flat hl the terms of the convention American citizens
flan eV hided from any right of fishing, within three miles
ma the roast of British America, and that the prescribed
air ce of three miles is to be measured from the heed-
haes, car extreme pilots of laud nest the sea, of the coast,
Graf the entrance of hays or indents of the coast, and con-
ga," utti the no riaht exists on the part of American cili-
um to entir the hays of Nova Scotia, there to take fish,
Illithnerh the fi.h:ng, being within the hay, may be at a
11,....an,r than three miles from the shore of the bay,
owe are of that the term headland is used In the
Ilittly 4o taprl Pi the part of the lend we hove before sin-
Sim d, includ,rig the interior of the bays and the indents of
M mast.'

" h i. this construction of the intent and meaning of the
11""tin of hilt Inc which the colon's.* have contended
""' I'M, end which they have desired should be en•
listed This the English government has now, it would
99" r town nted to do, and the immediate effect will be
me Iwo of the valuable fall fishing to American fishermen
a tomplete interruption of the extensive business of New
attended by constant collisitn of the most unples•
net mad exciting character, which may end in the destrue-
I" it human life, in the involvement of the government in
tinittiont of a very serious nature, threatening the peace of
the too countries. Not agreeing that the construction thus
Put aeon the treaty is conformable to the intentions of the
sisstriseti.i, parties, this information is, however made pub-
ht. to the • nil that those concerned in the Amiriesn Rebo-
oks nia• is retire how the case at present stands, and be
vim thu or voloirti. The whole subject will envie the is-
virdiate attention of the government.
" DANIEL WRIST'S, Rec. of hump."