, 1859-08-05
FROM VICTORIA AND SAN JUAN.

oaturuay Win tne uailsi we nave ue"s
from Victoria and San Juan.
We are indebted to Purser LOWELL for
Giles of the Gaseite and Colonist, and for
other favors.
1t will be remembered the steamer Mas
sachRseHs left here some ten days since,
with orders from Gen HARVEY to trans
pert the company under command Of Capt.
PICKETT from Fort Bellingham to the Isl
and of San Juan. This service was prompt
ly performed, and Capt. PICKETT took form
al possession of the Island on the 9th ult
The intelligence reached Victoria, where
it created great excitement. The Jaiia
conveyed several passengers from the lat
ter place to the Island, among them Maj.
De COucY. a stipendiary magistrate, Op-
pointed specially by Gov. DOUGLASS for
the emergency, and to be resident at San
Juan to represent the civil interests of her
majesty the Queen. He was there met by
II. r. CRosBE, Esq, the magistrate Of
Whatcom county, to whom he stated the
government Of Great Britain claimed San
Juan as the territory of the crown, and
politely Informed him he would not permit
any Infringement of the laws. This was
replied to by Mr.. c., stating the same mat
ter in substance, with a change of flags
The military authorities had not met with
any obstacle and were not likely to-
There were at San Juan, the steamers
Sha6riek and Constitution the revenue
cutter JeG Daris TO arrive next day, as
well as the Massachusetts. The Juliq met,
going in, the British steamer Satellite.
We hope to hear further Information be-
fore we go TO press, as the Julia is expect
ed to arrive early this week, intending to
make two trips.
The COlonist, Of the 29th ult., says that
Old Langley on the Spit had been entirely
consumed by FIRE. 1t commenced in w.
Winnard's store. The loss falls heaviest
on Winnard and Mrs. Lawless. The bal
ance of the houses were vacant, the occu-
pants having driven out by the rise in the
river some time ago.
The name of the capital of British Co
lumba has been changed from Quecabor-
ough to New Westminster
AT New Westminster, mosquitoes were
so troublesome that ne rest ight or day
could be had. Quite a number Of ladies
and others had came down to avoid the in
suferable pest.
Forty ax-men were discharged at Chilli
wack from the Boundary Commission, 0w-
ing to the mosquitoes annoying them SO
much that they could not work Two men
went crazy through being bitten by them.
From the Victoria Gazette, of July %,
we clip the following in regard to San
Juan Island. The Gazette is the govern
ment organ:
A TgAPoT TEMPEsr.-Onr community
yesterday cgjoyod the lnxury of new
sensation, in the effect prodprcd by the re-
ceipt OF news that a company Vi United
Suites soldiers had (in the language of the
report taken possession of Bcllcyus Isl
and" Rnmors of wars were at once ahoat.
A British mul-ofwar was asserted to be
under orders ln proceed TO the exlermna-
tion OF the andac.ous party Of men Of war,
who had thus secured the nine points Of
law, which tradition asserts TO be com.
prised II occupancy Of real estate. Hot
discussions were entered into ON street coz
ners aud in other public places-one party
maintaining that Uncle Sam had been too
fast" and another holding with equal per-
tlnacity TO the validity of John Bulls right
TO the territory in dispute. From the gem
eral excitement, it might be supposed that
this had been the first overt act based on
American control of the Island but it is
not such. American settlers occupied
lands on the Island some time since, trust
ing to secure title under the American
pre-emption system, and the landing of a
company OF American soldiers for the pur.
pose of protecting these settlers from the
oN'N6NSi 20 nv uiOIc III NlOlOtlOu Vi OFehL
Brltain's alleged rights in the premises,
than the domesticalon of the settlers
themselves.
In view OF the meagre Information in re-
gard TO this step which has reached Us
any comment upon it would be prcmature.
There can be little doubt that ultimately
the possession OF the Island will be adj
Judged to the United States-such being
clearly the fair Interpretation of the treaty.
Whether the United States Government
has become weary of waiting for q inal
adjustment of the matter by the Boundary
Commission, and cuts the Gordian knot of
red tape by military occupation, or has
taken the action in question for other rea-
sons, are points upon which We can only
indulge in snrmise. At any rate there is
no danger that this proceeding will lead to
any serious disturbance of relations be-
tween Great Britain aud the United States,
unless ii be aggravated by action yet to
be taken.