The weekly Mississippian., 1860-10-17
French POSSESSIONS in North America.

Three rocky, barren islands-St Pierre and
the Grand and Petit Miquelon-which lie Oft
Point May, on the southern coast OF New
foundland, are all that remain of the French
possessions in North America. They were
ceded, or rather retained, by the 9Th article in
the treaty of Paris. 1853, which reads as fol-
lows:
ART. 6. The King of Great Britain codes
the islands of st. Pierre and Miquelon, IN fuil
right, to his Most Christian Majesty, to sers e
as a shelter to the French fishermen; and his
said Most Christian Majesty engages not to
tortify the said islands; to erect no buildings
upon Men but merely for the Convenience OF the
fishery; and to keep upon them guard ofttty
men ontytor the police.
In the treaty of Versailles, 1888, the ccssion
was confirmed:
ART 4. His Majesty the King of Great
Britain is maintained in his right to the island
of Newfoundland, and to the adjacent Islands,
as the whole were assured to him by the thir-
teenth article of the treaty of Utrecht, eTeept-
ing the islands of 81. Pierre and Msq aelon,
which are ceded in full right, By the present
treaty, to his Most Christian Majesty.
+ The treaty of Versailles was accompanied
by Declarations" explanatory of its spirit,
on the part of the British and French Minis
ters, by whom it was negotiated--Lord Man
chester and II. Gravier de Vergennes. The
following is from the Declaration" of the
former:
The King of Great Britain, in ceding the
islands Of ST. Pierre and Miquelon to France,
regards them as ceded for the purpose of sery-
ing as real shelter to the French fishermen,
and in full confidence that these possessions
will not become an object of jealousy between
the two nations; and that the fishery between
the said islands and that Of Newfoundland
shall be limited to the middle Of the channel,
To which N. de Vergennes thus responded:
The King of Great Britain undoubtedly
places too much confidence in the uprightness
of His Majesty's intentions, not to rely upon
his constant attention to prevent the Islands
of st. Pierre and Miquelon from becoming an
object of Jealousy between the two nations.
1t was charged in the House of Commons
by Judge Halliburton, of Sam Slick notoriety,
that Napoleon had erected powerful batteries
on st. Pierre, where he had large military
and naval force stationed, with immense sup
plies of all the munitions of war, including
coal for the use of his ships. The Judge added
that the rising military and naval arsenal at
St Pierre was more especially to be dreaded,
because it would command the entrance to the
Straits of Belle Isle!
A glance at the map shows the absurdity
of this pretence; and as to the formidable arma-
ment Of the island, the editor of the Montreal
Herald (from which we make these citations
from the treaty. gives his personal experience:
We had ample opportunities while in ST.
Johns, Newfoundland, few weeks ago, of
obtaining the most reliable information as to
the state of matters at st. Pierre; and, on our
return voyage, we passed the French islands
within musket range-and, unless in fine
weather, we never wish to do SO again. They
are all three utterly barren and treeless. The
Grand and Petit Miquelon are uninhabited, as
is st. Pierre--a mere rock of some four or five
miles in length, by about two miles in width,
beyond the limits of the small town and port
of the same name. As to Mr.. Haliburton's
warlike munitions, coal depots and military
and naval forces stationed there, they have,
we are assured BY the most Trustworthy wit
mer, no existence, saving in the excited ina
gination of the Ex.Judge As to the bate
ries, they consist of two earthworks, one car
rying eight and the other nine guns. They
were erected at the commencement of the late
Russian war, for the defence of the port and
town against the possible attack of any stray
privateer, bearing Russian letters of marque,
which might venture into those latitudes.
The military force on the island, we are as
sured, consisted, this summer of four inua-
Lidest
We allude to this matter to show by what
contrivances the English panic is kept up. and
how little thing is turned to use in order to
induce the British public to vote supplies for
their immense and costly armament against
the French.