The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-03-22
From the Richmond Enquirer, March 20

MAIL LAND.
We have had before us for several days the re
port of Col. A. w. Mcdonald, relative to his mis-
sion to England, to procure authentic testimonial
of the boundary lines of Virginia AID Maryland.
The question of boundary jurisdictions between
the two States long unsettled and a source oil con
tinuing and increasing embarrassment, has more re
Gently become of greater Importance to our North
ern border, from the mouth of the Potomac up to th
Alleghanies. By recent judicial decision of thu
Courts OF Maryland, that State now claims urisdic
tion over the waters of the Potomac, and up tt
high water line on its Southern banks, from itt
head spring, throughout its entire course to tide
water.
The magnitude of interest to our people involved
in this claim of jurisdiction will be appreciated,
when it is known that it gives up the control of all
the ferries-ot all the landings and wharfs on the
river Potomac above tidewater, to the legislation
and the taxation of the State of MARYLAND. The
conflicting claims of the two States to their true
boundary lines, also involve important territorial
questions that embrace large tract of coal and
mineral lands in the Aleghanies; and at the other
end OF the line binding on Accomac county, is in
yoved claim to territory now under the jurisdic-
tion OF Maryland which contains about 80 square
miles and considerable population.
1t was to collect evidence and to procure the
munlments of title that would establish the right
OF Virginia over these important subjects that the
Legislature, by act passed 10th March, 1860 au-
thorized this mission to England. Col Mcdonald
had previously been commissioned to run this
boundary line, in conjunction with Col. Lee, a
commissioner on the part of Maryland; and he was
ost fity-we will saw, most fortunately for
Nlrglnla-apponted by Governor Letcher to fulfil
this mission. He sailed on the 10th of June and
arrived in London on the 25th, where he addressed
himself to the discharge of his duties with zeal,
ability and untiring ensrgy. After months of ar
duous and unceasing exploration, he has emerged
from the musty archives Of the British colonial
office, and of the British museum, where are de-
posted the authentic materials OF our colonial
history; and he brings, the fruits OF his labors
ma Of n1l Il .EaI,
ever the delicate and important questions of terri
tory and jurisdiction between the two States
Ills labor has been no superficial labor, but, gui-
ded by shrewd discrimination, he has suspected
errors in the transaOns OF the early charters COM
ing down through apparently authentic histories,
and tracing back to the royal grants themselves,
(all in the Latin language) he is thus enabled to
point cut the departures from truth, which have
mistited the respective rights of the two States and
involved our present trouble.
Col. Mcdonald will deposit in the State Depart
ment nine volumes of manuscripts, and one volume
OF ancient maps, well authenticated, taken from
writers OF those early times and matters of c.
tempOraneOus history, showing the intent of the
early charters, and most concusivey settling these
questions of boundary. His researches disclose
some most curious history, among which is the
singular ignorance of our geography that was OBJ
tanned as late even as 1920. 1t was not thsn 14O
years since, known that the Potomac headed be-
yond the Blue Ridgei
We have not space to comment upon the great
value of these labors to the State of Virginia They
have placed in our hands the ample evidences to
estab sh and settle the largest interests of our
border citizens. They give US the northern bank
OF the Potomac, from the bay to the Allegheny, as
our boundary line. They give us additional terri
tory and population on the bay itself. We hope
the Legislature will not let the subject continue to
rest in an unsettled state. We understand that
Maryland has refused to abide by the line as run
by her own recent commission. 1t may be, she will
refuse to adjust these questions by the lights
evolved by the labOrs of COL Mcdonald.
BARK HARVEST QUEEN ASHORE AND SIX LIVES
LosT.-The bark Harvest Queen, Captain James
Wheeler, from Buenos Ayres for Boston, with a
cargo of wool, went ashore, at an early hour yes
terday morning, at Sctuate, at the South end of
the Fourth Cliff, during the thick snow Storm
Fearing that the vessel would break to pieces very
soon, all hands left her for the shore. The boat
containing Captain Wheeler, the two mates, a pas
senger, and two seamen, succeeded in landing
safely; but the other, containing six seamen, was
unfortunately capsized in the surf, and all in it
were drowned. AS soon as the intelligence of the
disaster was known in this city, the steam tug r. b.
Forbes, Captain Baker, left to render assistance,
but, after getting outside the harbor, it was deemed
best to return, as no aid could be given, owing to
the thick snow storm and heavy sea.
At sunset last evening, the Harvest Queen had
been driven higher up on the beach by the tide
and at low water would be high and dry. She has
not thumped very hard as yet, and it is supposed,
will receive no damage by the storm. She lies
broadside on to a hard sand bottom, heading south
ward, and all spars standing. Capt. Parker, the
wreckmaster, thinks that there is good chance
of getting the vessel off when the weather moder-
ates. The bodies of the drowned seamen have not
yet been recovered. Had they remained on board
the vessel, they could have walked ashore at low
water.
The Harvest Queen is new vessel, of 3I5 tons,
and owned in New York by Mr.. w. Ii. Webb. Her
cargo consists 4S7 bales wool to F. Skinner &
Co., and bales hair to Daniel Deshon & Son. The
cargo is fully insured in Boston. .--Bo8ton Courier
March 20.