The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-30 00:00:00

atTSPAPER

4i 7'
TILE "SAN jUA *74
•
Or •
It is but a short time sine*
country, now concentrated oneYeepcli tne-atiO, and
Italian struggles, were directer'avith"!'no
sight
solicitude to a remote spot on the shores of the
Pacific. The " San Yuan Difficulty," thanks to
the forbearance and moderation of the two Go-
vernments concerned, was successfully escaped, but
the question itself is pending still, and it will not
be uninteresting to the public to learn the position
in which it's ands. Certain features of the case
render it one of the most curious, perhaps, which
even the oversights of diplomacy ever produced.
When, after a long altercation, it was finally
decided that the 49th parallel should constitute
the boundary bete em the possessions of Great
Britain and the United States on North-American
territory, litigation might have been fairly supposed
at an end, and excepting, indeed, for a particular
and unforeseen embarrassment, such would, doubt-
less, have been the result. No sooner, however,
had the commissioners charged with the duty of
cutting the boundary line by land and defining it
by water proceeded to the despatch of business
than they encountered a serious obstacle. Exactly
opposite the point at which the 49th parallel strikca
the coast lies Vancouver's Island, a portion of
which, if the boundary line had been prolonged
without deviation, would have been cut off. To
avoid this dismemberment of what was confessedly
British territory it had been agreed the t the line,
after striking the coast, should be deflected in a
southerly direction, and carried through mid-
channel round the coast of Vancouver's Island into
the sea. This was all plain and reasonable; and in
the complete and, as we may almost add, the par-
donable ignorance prevailing at the time respecting
these distant regions, it was probably conceived that
the channel so described could not be mistaken.
When, however, the actual survey came to be made
it was found that the supposed open strait wan
blocked up in the middle by a group of islands,
and that a separate channel was left on each side
of them. That to the west is known as the Haro
Channel—that to the east as the Rosario. If, there-
fore, the boundary line were carried down the for-
mer, it would throw all the islands into the Ame-
rican side ; iflar ere taken through the latter, it
would give t all to the British. That we,
under such circumstances, should stickle for the
Rosario Strait, while the Americans stand out for
the Strait alien), will not be considered surprising.
As far as the letter of the Treaty goes, we believe
it would be simply impossible to execute it accord-
ing to the American proposal. According to the
best information we can obtain, no vessel keeping
on such a course as the terms of the Treaty pre-
scribe could by possibility get into the Haro Chan-
nel, and it is, we believe, also true that, as far as any
channel was known or used at the time of the Con-
vention, it was the Rosario Channel, and no other.
However, fur reasons to be presently mentioned, we
shall not insist on this point any further.
It will appear from what we have said that the
debateable territory is composed not of one island,
but a group of islands, all of which together would
be transferred either to England or America, accord-
ing as the Rosario or Haro Channel were taken as
the channel for the line of delimitation. Accident,
however, has brought one of these islands into
especial notoriety, and attached its name to the
whole dispute. The westernmost of the group is
calved the Isle of San Juan, and on this island,
though it had been recognised as disputed territory,
General Harney last summer landed a body of
American troops. We need not repeat the circum-
stances under which this violation of right was
committed, though we may remark that the sole
explanation offered by General Harney himself
failed absolutely to justify the acts on which he
ventured. He asserted that American citizens,
settled on the island, required the protection of
American troops to defend them against the incur-
sions of the Indians. But, even if this necessity
could have been established, it would certainly not
follow that the island thereby became any more
American territory than it was before. Now,
General Harney not only furnished his countrymen
with a military guard, but he took possession of
San Juan as belonging to the United States, and
proclaimed American laws and authority there,
although it had been distinctly admitted by his
own Government that the title to the territory was in
dispute, and that until it was decided nosuch preten-
sions should be advanced by either of the claimant:it%
These events brought the Isle of San Juan iinto,
notice as the bone of contention, although, i
of fact, the actual claim of the Americans would, it
sustained, have given them a good deal more than
this island, and our claim would have secured us
not only San Juan, but the rest of the group besides.
We have said that we should be indisposed to
rely exclusively on the letter of the treaty, although
we regard it as eminently favourable to ourselves.
Of course, if a rigorous policy is to be pursued, it
is to the letter that we must appeal, and we shall
have no reason to regret the proceeding, but we
should prefer to see the question discussed in a
more practical spirit of amity and conciliation.
For such a course there are obvious reasons, but
there is this reason especially—that we very ranch
doubt whether the framers of the treaty really
knew anything about the channel or course they
were defining, so that we may seek in vain for the
true spirit of the law. But, if there is obscurity
on this point, there is perfect clearness on another.
It was most sensibly presumed, at the time of
the Convention, that the proceedings should be
regalated rather by mutual utility and advan-
tage than by any other consideration, and 0;4
ground we should like to see still retained. Mra
believe that the course actually pursued by
.O,Ak.
Government is in conformity with this prinq4ple.,
We have reason to think that the prop(vials madq
to the Americans are such as may fairly satisfy
both countries. Instead of standing out for the
Rosario Channel and the whole group of islands,
as against the Haro Channel and none of them,
a third channel is proposed for the boundary
line, which will not only evade the two disputed
courses, but will leave the Americans in possession
of the larger share of the debated territory. This
channel runs through the group of islands, and,
though not so broad as either the Hero or Rosario,
Strait, is nevertheless navigable. In its course it
cuts off the Isle of San Juan alone to the west, and
consequently leaves us with this island only, while
the Americans will retain the remainder. So con-
siderable, in fact, is the concession thus made that
it reasonably suggests a little compensation, and we
believe the American Government will be asked to
give us the whole of a certain coast headland which
the 49th parallel now cuts in two. We do sincerely
hope that this reasonable proposal will be accepted.
It appears to us to answer all those purposes of
mutual convenieece which the treaty originally con-
templated. The Americans will secure the Rosario
Channel to themselves, according to their wishes ;
and they will leave us with the Haro Channel
exactly as they desire. We, on the other hand,
though we shall lose three-fourths of the debated
territory, shall retain the Isle of San Juan, and thus
acquire a secure access to our continental posses-
sions. In reality, the mere territory is of little
consequence to either party, while safe navigation
is of material importance to both. By the arrange-
ment now delineated each country will have a chan-
nel of its own, while the territory will be so divided
that the Americans can make no complaint of their
allotment. We really do not see how any adjust-
ment could be more judiciously devised than one
which will not wound the self-love of either State,

which will give both States what is really neces-
sary for their convenience, and which will thus ter-
minate a protracted dispute by a sensible compro-

mise.--limes.

THE CITT OF PARlS.—According to the Awful: 6w
du Bureau des Longitudes the number of births in Paris in
1855 was - legitimate, 37,451; illegitimate, 11,757; of
deaths, 32,362 ; and of marriages, 12,016. According to
official returns the city of Paris, within the old boundaries,
is lighted by 15,160 gas lamps and 437 oil ; the zone be-
tween the old and new boundaries contains 2,943 of the for-
mer and 1,633 of the latter. The number of gas-burners
in private establishments in old Paris is 302,006, and in the
new districts 56,000.

relates the following anecdote
ANOTHER MOSES.— A
:___F,l,oArernoocre
girlco rirneitshpeosnedrvoileat
ce l her
a shame, threw herself
impossible any longer to con
it
of Dr. Paulini, who had beenNia sdeodu7seleadrtaendi. foArssaiseenv,erfianldpienrg.
' act, an alarm was raised,
11'
'lie is
soldiers of the national guard descended
and two young
into the well, and succeeded in saving the unfortunate
desperatesinontosandadeev.piwtneellsneeadtrhtihse
who, abifrelv minutes naut
healthyes after sheo yN.vas up froth
woman,
one exclaimed. All the national guards pre-
segomarveesecue, taking great interest
s3,tehinoetsweitiiih,
in the little stranger,
formed a committee to collect subscriptions, and the 2d
battalion of the national guard of Florence resolved to adopt
the child and have him baptised on the following day by
the name of Victor Emmanuel. I was present when the
baptism took place in the magnificent chapel of St John,
which was crowded. Just as the priest was about to per •
form the sacred rite, the captain of the battalion, who had
been present when the mother was saved, stepped forward,
and said,---' Allow me, sir first to baptise him in my way ;'
and so saying, he produced a handsome tri-coloured scarf,
and, putting it on the child, named him Victor Emmanuel.
Now, sir, it is your turn,' said ho to the priest, ' I have
made him an Italian, do you make him a Chri,tian.' The
captain here mentioned is Count Moretti, who wee charged
with the mission of communicating to the Courts of Berlin
and St. Petersburg the votes of tho Tuscan Assembly for
deposing the Grand Duke and annexinr,. Tuscany to Sar-
dinia. The conduct of the national guard on this occasion
has excited great interest.

THE BUILDERS' STRlKE.—According to the
statement made at the wekly meeting of delegates held on
Tuesday evening last, 2,300 skilled workmen are still out
of work, and last week, the twenty-sixth of this unhappy
struggle, they received a dividend of 4s. each. Tho " con-
ference" have issued a new appeal to the working elastics,
signed by their secretary, calling for further support, to
enable the men on strike to continuo their resistance, to the
" document."