rallel; but the Russians effectually bar the exercise of any Mexican authority beyond the Bay of San Francisco, near the 38th degree, by means of their colonies and garrisons in that quarter, established in 1812, and ever since maintained in defiance alike of Spain and her republican successors. By the Convention of 1824, between the United States and Russia, it was agreed that the Russians should make no settlements on the coast of North America or the adjacent islands south of the latitude of 54° 40', and the United States should establish none north of that parallel. By the convention of 1825, between Russia and Great Britain, it was in like manner stipulated that the British should occupy no place on the coasts or islands north of 54° 40', and that the Russians should make no settlement south of the same latitude. Thus Two lines of boundary appear on the map of North-west America, running completely across it. One northward, from the latitude of 54° 40′, to the Arctic Sea, as settled between Great Britain and Russia; and the other, southward, following the course of the 42nd parallel, from the Pacific to the Rocky Mountains, as agreed upon between the United States and Mexico. Of the intermediate region no part has been as yet definitely assigned by convention to any one nation. The Americans claim that portion north from the 42nd parallel; and the British claim that south from the other boundary line-each party to an undefined extent, but so far as to secure for itself the large and valuable country drained by the Columbia River."* It is stoutly denied by American writers that Sir Francis Drake, in his renowned voyage round the world, A. D. 1577-1580, visited or discovered the disputed country, or sailed further north than the 43rd latitude. We join issue with our Transatlantic opponents, and contend, that if the question is to be decided with reference to "priority of discovery, examination, and occupation," (as they allege,) it must inevitably be decided in favour of Great Britain. It It is admitted on all hands that the country of New Albion was discovered by the English Captain Drake, acting under the lawful commission and authority of the Crown. The question is, what were the precise limits of New Albion? Our first authority is that of an unprejudiced foreigner-Humboldt, who places New Albion on the map between 43° and 48° N. lat. Humboldt visited North America about 1798. That the said New Albion comprised the Oregon territory, is tacitly admitted in a standard work of considerable value, published at Philadelphia in the year 1829-"The Encyclopædia Americana :"-" New Albion: This is the name given to an extensive tract of land on the North-west Coast of America. was originally applied by Sir Francis Drake, in 1578, to the whole of California, but is now, by recent geographers, e. g. Humboldt, confined to that part of the coast which extends between 43° and 48° N. lat. Cook discovered it in March 1778. In 1792, Vancouver visited this coast, made a very diligent inspection of all its parts, and gave a most interesting account of them. Vancouver's chart of this region is still the best. The most authentic account of a part of New Albion is to be found in "Lewes's and Clarke's Expedition to the Sources of the Missouri, 2 vols. Philadelphia, 1814.” These travellers visited the Columbia River. * Greenhow. Our next argument is drawn from some maps which can be consulted in the British Museum. In the American Atlas by Thomas Jeffereys, geographer to the king, printed A. D. 1775, and necessarily drawn some years previously, the land designated New Albion is marked and coloured nearly as high as 46° N. lat.; showing the mouth of the "River of the West," which corresponds with the Columbia River.* Captain Cook left Nootka Sound on the 26th of April, 1778, the first time he visited this part of the North-west Coast. Before Cook's time, therefore, Englishmen looked upon the North-west of America, as far as 46° N. lat., as part of New Albion, discovered by Drake, and a British possession. What answer can the Americans make to this fact? Will they venture after this to bring forward the discovery of Gray, in 1792, as a title to the country? Passion, rapacity, and ambition, may render them reckless; our appeal is to matter-of-fact and the unchanging principles of justice! În a map by H. Moll, geographer, 1742, New Albion is marked to the north of California Proper, (which shows that New Albion was not considered identical with California, as American writers state,) and the land is traced indistinctly to the north west. Let us now refer to another authority before the Boundary Question was agitated, the " Model Republic" was in existence, or Cook and Vancouver had sailed into the Pacific. The "Biographia Britannia," A.D. 1747, speaking of the gallant Sir Francis Drake, says, "Thence he continued his voyage along the coasts of Chili and Peru, taking all opportunities of seizing Spanish ships, or of landing and attacking them on shore, till his crew were sated with plunder; and then coasting North America, to the height of 48°, he endeavoured to find a passage back into our seas on that side; which is the strongest proof of his consummate skill and invincible courage; for if ever such passage be found, this, in all probability, will be the method: and we can scarcely conceive a clearer testimony of an undaunted spirit than attempting discoveries after so long and so fatiguing a voyage. Here, being disappointed of what he sought, he landed, and called the country New Albion, taking possession in the name and for the use of Queen Elizabeth." Well might our enthusiastic poet, Thomson, sing, A Drake, who made thee mistress of the deep, Burney, a companion of Captain Cook, states in his voyages, that "The part of the American coast discovered by Drake is to be reckoned as immediately bearing north of Cape Mendicino, and extending to 48° N. lat. ;" consequently, including the Oregon territory. We now come to the consideration of the important and much controverted narrative of the Rev. Francis Fletcher, chaplain on board Drake's ship during his voyage to the North-west Coast of America. We have here the best possible evidence that the nature of the case admits of the testimony of an eye-witness of the events related, who reduced his observations to writing. His manuscript, curiously il In a clever pamphlet by Mr. Thos. Falconer, of Lincoln's Inn, it is stated, that in old French and Spanish maps all the land north of 38° N, lat. is described as New Albion. lustrated, is preserved in the library of the British Museum. Its substance is accurately stated in a work published by Drake's nephew, "The World Encompassed by Sir Francis Drake;"—which nephew had conversed with his uncle on the subject of his voyages, and indeed published a book entitled, "Sir Francis Drake Revived," which had been perused by Drake himself prior to publication. Further, there is the strongest possible presumption that Fletcher's MS. was seen and examined by our hero. Is it credible that the commander did not see the narrative of his own exploits, written on board his own ship,—at least, written from notes made on board? We find that he actually revised the little book already mentioned; and it must require a large amount of American scepticism to doubt that Drake was acquainted with the material facts respecting his own movements recorded in the "World Encompassed." "From Guatulco we departed," says the Rev. Francis Fletcher, "the day following, namely, April the 16th, setting our course directly into the sea; whereupon we sailed five hundred leagues in longitude to get a wind; and between that and June 3rd, one thousand four hundred leagues in all: till we came in 42° N. lat. wherein the night following we found such an alteration of heat into extreme and nipping cold, that our men in general did grievously complain." After dwelling more particularly on the temperature, Mr. Fletcher goes on to say, "The land in that part of America, bearing further out into the west than we before imagined, we were nearer on it than we were aware, and yet, the nearer still we came unto it, the more extremity of cold did seize upon us. The fifth day of June we were forced by contrary winds to run in with the shore, which we then first descried, and to cast anchor in a bad bay, the best road we could for the present meet with, where we were not without some danger by reason of the many gusts and flows that beat upon us; and which, if they ceased and were still, at any time, immediately upon their intermission, there followed most vile, thick, and stinking fogs, against which the sea prevailed nothing till the gusts of wind again removed them, which brought with them such extremity and violence when they came, that there was no dealing or resisting against them. In this place there was no abiding for us, and to go further north, the extremity of the cold (which had now utterly discouraged all our men) would not permit us, and the wind being directly against us, having once gotten us under sail again, commanded us to the south whether we we would or no. From the height of 48°, in which we now were, to 38°, we found the land, by coasting it, to be but low, and reasonably plain; every hill (whereof we saw many, but none very high,) though it were in June, and the sun in the nearest approach, then being covered with snow." Mr. Fletcher here distinctly states that Drake discovered and anchored off the coast as high as 48° N. lat. The Americans labour very hard to shake the credibility of his testimony. He is accused of having made a statement "intentionally untrue." But, to serve what end? No conceivable motive can be assigned to the reverend gentleman for publishing what he must have known to be false. It is contended that it would be difficult, if not impossible, for any vessel in two days to pass through six degrees of north latitude, with the wind from the north and north-west. This is a mere |