Channel entered the ocean in 540 45°". Tt shoult he remembered that thar statement, based on Sir C. Bugeot’s proposul of * February March, 1824." was followed by the two coumunioation= quoted ahove from Count Nesselrode to Count Lieven, dated respectively April 217, 1824. and August 31. 1s24. in both of whieh Russia, combating the British suggestion, insisted upon the line of 44° 40. Notably in the first communication above quoted Count Nesselrode said:
We propose to carry the seutherm frontier of our dominions to latitude 44° 40° and to make it abut apon the continent at the Portland Canal, of which the opening into the oeean ts at the same latitude as Prine of Wales Tetuned
It is hardly newessary to add that the phrase ‘the same hutitude as Prince of Wales Island” necessarily referred to the southern part of that island. Tf that be troe, Russia’s southern line could only enter Portland Channel at the point contended for by the United States, In the light of the foregoing does it not violate all human prota bility to assume that Russia intended to fix ber southern boundary at one point, as to the United States. and at another point. as to Great Britain. leaving between the two a wedee-shaped expe of water forming a triangle with a base of Jess than six miles and a height of ahout seventy
IDENTITY OF PORTLAND CHANNEL AS UNDERSTOOD BY THE Panrries AFTER THE TREATY,
The lease of the /reere to the Tudson’s Bay Company reeited that it included the -* Coust, exclusive of the [skunds. andthe Interior Conntry belonging to Eis Majesty the Euiperor of Russia, situated between Cape Spencer forming the North West Headhuit of the entrance of Cross Sound smd Latitude 44. 40 or therenlouts. sav the whole mainland eoast and Interior country belonging to Rossin” ete.*
It is to be noted that the words “or thereabouts” used to qualify 4- 40° as the location of the southern extremity of the territory leased. do not signify any doubt as to the location of the boundary line at that parallel, but on the contrary show that it wis well understood that the kased territory was not to vxtend fully to the houndary at that point. The lease was limited ex- pressty to the mminland coast and all the ishinds were in terms exetuded,
“B.C. App, 10,
