determined measures than have ever heretofore been adopted, to secure to this State both her property and jurisdiction in her lawful territory; unless the necessity for such a course should be obviated by the action of the General Government. What those measures should be, may properly be left to future consideration. I need not say, that, in all your efforts to secure to Maine her just rights, you may depend upon my hearty co-operation.

In giving you information of the doings of this government, in relation to the disputed territory since the adjournment of the Legislature in March last, permit me to refer to certain Resolves passed the twenty-third of that month. In one of them it is resolved as follows, to wit:-"that, when he [the Governor] shall be satisfied either by the "declarations of the Lieutenant Governor of New "Brunswick or otherwise, that the latter has aban"doned all intention of occupying the territory with "a military force, and of attempting the expulsion "of our party-that, then, the exigency which called "forth the militia having ceased, the Governor be, "and he hereby is authorized to withdraw the same, "leaving the Land Agent with a sufficient posse, "armed or unarmed, as the case may require, to carry said Resolve into effect."

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Soon after the adoption of this resolution I received the written assent of the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick to the following proposition

made to him by Major General Scott, to wit:"that, it is not the intention of the Lieutenant "Governor of Her Britannic Majesty's Province "of New Brunswick, under the expected renewal "of negotiations between the Cabinets of London "and Washington on the subject of the said dis"puted territory, without renewed instructions to "that effect from his government, to seek to take "military possession of that territory, or to seek by "military force to expel the armed civil posse or "the troops of Maine."

It appearing to me that the precise contingency contemplated by the Legislature had occurred, I could not hesitate to recall the troops. Any other course, it seemed to me, would be not only incurring needless expense, but disregarding the express directions of the Legislature. Nor was the step taken with any reluctance, as one, in the slightest degree, derogatory to the honor of the State. We had never attempted or professed to take military possession of the territory. A recurrence to the Resolves of the 24th of January and the 20th of February, will show, that the object was to arrest trespassers and protect our property from devastation; and of the last, particularly, to resist a threat of expulsion from the territory by the Lieutenant Governor of the Province of New Brunswick. The withdrawing the troops, therefore, was, in no sense, an abandonment of any position taken by

this State. The troops maintained their ground, while the exigency which called them out remained -when that ceased they retired. For a more detailed account of military operations, I refer you to the accompanying Report of the Adjutant General. I cannot, however, permit this opportunity to pass without saying that the militia called into service, both officers and privates, with but few exceptions, conducted in a manner, in the highest degree creditable to themselves and to the State.

In further compliance with the Resolve of the 23d of March, the Land Agent, with a sufficient armed posse, remained in the territory after the withdrawal of the troops. For a particular account of his proceedings, I must refer you to his Report herewith transmitted. It seems that during most of the time he has had in the service about two hundred men. That they have not been idle, will appear, I think; by looking at what they have accomplished. In addition to the labor expended in furnishing tolerably substantial fortifications erected upon the Aroostook, with two large block houses and similar buildings at the mouth of Fish river, they have made over one hundred miles of road through the heart of the wilderness-all of it being suitable for travelling with carriages and for the transportation of heavy loads. Booms have also been extended across the Aroostook and Fish

rivers, of the most substantial character, and much valuable timber thereby saved. On the whole, though the expenses have been necessarily great, it is believed that the true interests of the State have been promoted by the course pursued by the Land Agent and those who have been associated with him.

Early in the fall, complaint was made to me that the Land Agent of Massachusetts was granting permits to persons residing in the Province of New Brunswick, and others, to cut timber upon lands contiguous to, and lying upon both sides of the Aroostook river. And it was represented that if such practice was to be persevered in, it would be impossible to execute the laws and resolves of the State in relation to the prevention of trespasses upon the public lands. The evils before experienced from this cause, and those apprehended, were represented as numerous; and among others, that these permits were used by many as a mere cover for depredations upon the lands of this State. Under these circumstances I felt constrained to address the Land Agent of this State, advising that the utmost rightful power should be exerted on his part, to counteract the designs of these persons;-and that he notify them, that if they persevered in their attempts, the Legislature would probably adopt some regulations in regard to the use of our public streams

which would render the lumbering operations of but little avail to those engaged in them. The Land Agent conformed to this advice, and I am happy to state my belief, that no more permits were subsequently granted, and that most of the persons who had previously obtained permits, abandoned the design of operating under them. A few, however, did not, and whether any measures should be adopted in relation to them, carrying out the suggestion before made, it is for you to judge.

The views which I have presented in this communication, upon the subject of the boundary, were those entertained independently of what is now an ascertained fact, to wit: that our territory is actually invaded, and of course are to be modified by that circumstance. Official information of that fact was received by me a few days since, while on my way to this place, in a reply of the Lieutenant Governor of the Province of New Brunswick to a letter of inquiry addressed to him by myself in relation to this subject. It is admitted that one or two companies of British troops have been stationed at Temiscouata lake, but it is alleged by the Lieutenant Governor to have been done, not by his own orders, but by the authorities of Lower Canada. This movement, I cannot but regard, under whatever branch of British authority, or on whatever pretence it may have been made, not only as a