expressed it. Thus. we wish to deep. and the English companies wish to obtain @
Furthermore, there was avother fretor in the negotiations which hed a controlling influence both on Russia wad Great Britain in the tinal determination of the location of the southern line of the fésere. and which in itself interprets the intention of the negotiators on that point. and that was the Russian-American treaty.
Concurrently with the British negotiations, Count Nesselrode had carried on the negotiations with Mr. Middleton, the United States Minister, and within three weeks after the suspension of the British negotiations, the treaty with the United States was concluded.
It appears from Sir C, Bagot’. letter of Apr. 5 17, Is. ta Me, Canning. enclosing a eopy of the convention with the United States, that Mr. Canning was wware of ifs terms prior to sending bis next instructions to Sir C. Bagot on the neyotiations, Mr. Canning’s next instructions, therefore, must be read in the light of this knowledge thut Russia and the United States had agreed updua line at 540 40". The fact that the line was uot a delimitation of possessions but only of settlements does not alter its importance as a recognition by the United States of the Russian authority down to 44° 40 north latituce.
In reporting the sitgation to Count Lieven. with instructions to hey the matter before the Britich Government. Count Nesselrode. in: his letter of Apr. 17, [824. after -howing that by his interpretation of the effects of the trenty of ISIS the tides of the United States to the possession of the territory of the northwest const were as valid as those of England, says:
Nevertbelers, the Cabinet of Washington has aduitted) that oor Ixmudary should
come dewn as far as 54°40", This has teen acdinitted fn a fortiual agrcement that we have just signe with its plenipeentiary, and the strengthening of one arguments is
far frou being the only result of this adtalesion. ¢
The preceding negotiations having been suspended is above shown, because Sir ©. Bayot was not permitted ly bis instructions to carry the boundary below 56° on the mainland, Mr. Canning opened his instructions at that point and authorized Sir Charles Bagot ‘to take as the tine of demarcation. a line drawn from the southernmost point of Prinee of Wales Island from south to north through Porth! Channel. till it strikes the miainhvad in lutitude 45°.
“UL S. G App., 173. eis. CO. App. 1th OB. CL App, Sty aU, s.C. App, 1st.
