, 1860-07-27

depth of 10 fathoms is found, except near
Observatory Rocks, where II exists close
to them. Outside we find from Is to 20,
and inside the bottom is very regular in I
to 10 fathoms up to the head, where it de-
creases evenly to within half mile of the
shore. The eastern side has the least mum.
Der of rocks, and q mid.channel course
clears everything we'll In heavy southerly
weather swell rolls straight in, but by
anchoring well up on either side, vessels
avoid it. The sides are steep, high, and
backed by heavily timbered hills aud noun
tains. The approximate position
of Observatory Rocks is lat. 4S0 81 80 n.
Ion. l240 % l5 w.
EsQUINALT HARBoR.
"Esquimalt harbor is the bay where all
the British men-of-war lie. 1t is in the
deepest part of the large indentation called
Royal Bay. The entrance is a quarter of
mile wide, and has two rocky heads on
either hand, the western having Fishguard
island of it, and the eastern outlying sunk
en- rocks south of it, with several islets
From the entrance the general direction of
the bay is N. n. w, and the extreme
length two miles After passing the heads
the harbor opens to the east, forming a
beautiful small bay, where men-of-war an
chor in an uniform depth of six fathoms.
In the entrance are I and fathoms, and
the approaches for a mile give from 10 to
10 fathoms. The approximate geographi-
cal position of Fishguard island is lat. 4Se
25 80 ~, Ion. 1882 27' 10 W. At the
head of the harbor is Mount Seymour
Five miles west Of the head of Esqumalt
bay is the head of large bay coming from
the north, and opening into the inside
channel to the NaAimo coal mines.
VICTORIA .HARDOR
1.-THE entrance to this harbor is 21 miles
east of Esquimat. As the channel is very
contracted, crooked, and obstructed with II
ten-feet bar, vessels usually anchor outside
in 10 or Is fathoms, taking care to avoid
Brotchy ledge, with only feet water upon
it, lying about half mile S. S. E. of the
eastern head, and S. w. three-fourths W.
from Mount Beacon, upon which was a
range with one on the shore The
channel inside is well marked out by buoys,
but a pilot is necessary to carry vessel in.
The whole length of the harbor is about 8
or miles, with an average width Of one
fifth of mile. 1t is very tortuous, and
the head stretches west nearly to the head
of Esquimalt bay, where portage exists.
The approaches to the harbor are deep
outside Of Brotchy ledge, and from 20 to
10 fathoms are found inside Of it, The ap-
proximate geographical position Of Mount
Beacon is lat. 48o 245 N, Ion. 1921 w.
"The Hudson Bay Company have a
flourishing settlement and trading establish
ment mile and half within the entrance,
and much of the surrounding country is
well cultivated, but the settlement here
about must spread toward Esquimalt, or
upon that harbor, not only on account Of
its superior excellence, but because fresh
water is scarce about Victoria. The shores
are comparatively low, but rocky, and COW
cred in part by trees, reminding one Of the
rocky parts of the coast of Massachusetts
and New Hampshire"
Mr.. Davidson in describing the above
harbors has stepped into English territory.
Vaucouver's Island should never have been
English ground. The geographical posi-
ton Of these harbors as given above, bring
them within the 49th parallel, which, ac-
cording to the original stipulations, was to
have been forever the boundary between
the two nations. But the 49th parallel
continued to mid-ocean, would have cut off
the southern portion Of the island, and left
it within the United States. To avoid OBJ
tanning any portion of this valuable island,
our Government not only compromised the
Democratic party, who went into the po-
liticaI campaign of 1874 with the battle
cry of "540 40 or fight" as afterwards
enunciated in President Folks inaugural
bnt learing eeeH HE 49M pardlleI-to which
it bad ingloriously backed down-on ar
irving at the Gulf of Georgia, took water
circuitousy and by an underlined route into
the Pacific, leaving the matter hanging by
Int gus, " UIcCu IIOuUlc III llc lubuT6, US
has already been the case in the recent
San Juan Island difficulties, which will
doubtless be finally disposed Of by Yielding,
as usual on the part of the United States,
San Juan and Point Roberts to the British,
now demanded by them as their ultimatum.
After1he ratification by the Senate of the
treaty of June, ls46, it was a well known
fact in diplomatic circles in Washington,
that Great Britain would have given up
Vancouver's Island to the United States,
had the latter insisted upon it. This was
we'll known by Mr. Buchanan, then Secre,
tary of State in Mr.. Folks cabinet, to
whom it was revealed by Mr. Packenham,
the British Minister then at Washington,
aud who permitted himself to be merry up
on the yielding Of the United States. Had
the American Administration then had the
courage to insist upon, and stand by the