The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-10 00:00:00

BRITISH COLUMBIA.

(From the Correspondent of the Times.)
VICTORIA, VANCOUVER'S ISLAND,
AtiGITST 18.

In my last letter I reported the outrage recently
committed by the armed occupation by American
forces of the island of San Juan, close to Vancou-
ver's Island, claimed by Great Britain and long
occupied by British subjects.

So much of my letter was taken up with a review
of the water boundary question, as yet unsettled
between Great Britain and the United States, and
which has given a pretence to this occupation, that
I had not space to describe the proceedings of the
military authorities. I will now do so.
The force first landed on the island was only 66
men and a few officers, two fieldpieces, ammunition,
and stores. This force was soon increased. Guns
and gun-carriages, ammunition, mules, &c., were
added, and quantities of provisions ; lumber for
buildings, and all the material required for a per-
manent military occupation in a hostile country
were brought in United States' Government
steamers, and in hired vessels, and landed. The
camp was shifted to a situation further inland and
more eligible for defence than its first site near the
shore was considered, and arrangements were made
for the reception of a larger body of troops.
From time to time within the last fortnight
bodies of soldiers and additional quantities of am-
munition of war and of stores have been brought to
the island from Oregon and Washington territory,
which has raised the force to 400 men, besides a
" Colonel and his Aids," four captains, three or
more lieutenants, with a battery of eight 32-pounder
guns, six fieldpieces, great quantities of powder and
shot and of stores, and a body of labourers to assist
in erecting barracks.

These forces are now fortifying themselves in a
strong position on elevated ground which commands
the harbour on the east side of the island, called
Griffin Bay, six of the 32 pounders being so placed
as to "command the anchorage, and the other two
turned westward, and commanding the waters be-
yond and in front of the United States' troops."
The orders of the American General who started
this expedition are, to resist all opposition, and to
keep possession of the island at all hazards.
The confidence inspired by the completeness of
these military arrangements seems to have encou-
raged private enterprise into a bit of keen and
prompt speculation. On American authority we
are informed that, " the place already presents quite
an active business like appearance. A beautiful site
has been selected for a town, and several buildings
are being erected."

Land is to be had for the taking, by squatters,
encouraged " to occupy the island" by the military
authorities ; and it is supposed " that all the avail-
able land is already taken up." This is part of the
programme. Covering the island with a squatter
population is expected to increase the difficulty of
retaking it—a view which is presented to the peace-
loving politicians of England. This is quite a mis-
calculation. If Great Britain be firm in asserting,
her rights and in resenting this unprovoked indig-
nity to her honour, the squatters will soon evacuate
—" absquatulate," as they themselves term the re-
storation of stolen lands. A disputed title is unfav-
ourable to profitable land speculation. It won't pay.
At sight of resistance the squatters will fly like
chaff before the wind.

But to resume my detail of the famous military
operations :

From Oregon, the Washington papers, and other
American sources we learn that soldiers are on the
way and about to be despatched, which will swell
the force on the island of San Juan to 2,000 men;
that General Harney, the American Commander-in-
Chief, is also on his way to the same destination ;
that he is speeding the " fiery cross" before him, in
having " given orders to call on the Governor of
Washington territory for volunteers ;" that an over-
land
express had been despatched to California for
still more troops and for two men-of-war, where (in
California) it is significantly added, " there are five
regiments ;" and, finally, and to crown the prepara-
tions, that Capt. Woodruff's company at Semiah-
moo, in British Columbia, will probably be sent to
San Juan. This is the land boundary force acting
under the commission described in my last letter,
which one would suppose only a very pressing
emergency would recall from its peaceful labours.
We are also furnished at this conjuncture for oxr
edification and comfort, with a list of the American
squadron in the Pacific, viz., one steam frigate and
four sloops of war, carrying together 114 guns, 1,193
men, and 95 officers. If the new steamer the Merri-
mac, which was lately at Callao, and which, it was
conjectured, might have been ordered home, is still
on the station, she will add 40 guns, 482 men, and
38 officers to the present force of the squadron, and
which is just about to be reinforced by the steam-
frigateLancaster, the Roanoake, and another vessel,
which have been ordered to this coast.

The American navy can hardly be said to be re-
presented at all in this neighbourhood at present.

There are the three steamers Massachusetts, Active,
and Shubrick, it is true, but the first is an old ship
converted into a sloop of war and quite harmless ;
the second a small surveying vessel, the chief merit
of which is that she carries a gentlemanly and gal-
lant commander most usefully engaged in the coast
survey ; and the third vessel is a little boat in the
lighthouse service. These vessels are very useful,
however, as tran.sp.lrts, as they are now employed,
between the different military stations in the neigh-
bouring American territory and the Island of San
Juan, so frequently mentioned.
These military stations of the United States in the
State of Oregon and in the territory of Washing-
ton, immediately- adjoining the British possessions,
are six in number—namely, in Oregon, one at Fort
Vancouver, one at Walla Walla, and one at Col-
ville, all on the Columbia rive-. In Washington,
one at Stalacoorn, and another at Port Townsend,
both on Puget Sound ; and the last at Point Fran-
cis, in Bellingham Bay.

These military posts are always kept supplied
with soldiers, and within the last year they have
been reinforced. They were included in the same
command as California till very lately. The Ame-
rican Government considered them of sufficient im-
portance to assign them a separate commander-in-
chief, the redoubtable General Harney, whose late
exploit in our neighbourhood I have been criticis-
ing with so much indulgence.

So many posts were originally established to
keep the Indians in check—a duty so inefficiently
performed, that the Hudson's Bay Company had to
assist the Americans in quelling Indian outbreaks.
But there is no doubt the attention of American
politicians has been directed, with sinister views,
to our possessions alongside of their own since the
discovery of gold in British Columbia, and that
the military posts have shared the attention of the
Government to a greater degree since that event
than they had done previously.
Most persona who have read my last letter, as
well as those who may read what I have just writ-
ten of this one, will feel sorely perplexed to guess
the motive and object of all these hostile and
war-
like proceedings on the part of America against
Great Britain at a time when the mutual relations of
the two countries are unusually friendly. Such pro-
ceedings on the part of any othernation would be in-
scrutable. We are at peace with America. The island
which her forces have suddenly taken rude military
possession of without a reason assigned or a provoca-
tion given, under circumstances which, as I shall
presently show, brands the act with treachery, is
not American territory. Its sovereignty is claimed
by both nations, although it has been occupied by
British subjects for several years, and the question
of title is under adjustment by American and Eng-
lish Commissioners, to whom it has b een submitted
for ad j udicatiop, but who have as yet neither arrived
at atlecision nor made an award.

In 1855, even before this commission was named,
the American Government itself, in a spirit of conci-
liation whieli was never suspected, invited the co-
operation of the British Government to establish a
course (or position) of mutual forbearance and neu-
trality, by the citizens of the one and the subjects of
the other nation " abstaining from all acts calcu-
lated to provoke conflicts," for the very cogent rea-
son urged by the President himself at the time—
amely, that « the title must be settled before either
Part)" should exclude the other by force, or exercise

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