[GANONG ] BOUNDARIES OF NEW BRUNSWICK 397 
It is one of the most interesting documents in all of our volumin- 
ous boundary literature. It is written with remarkable literary skill, 
clearness and logic, and is no doubt the work of that accomplished 
lawyer, Johnstone. After a general introduction it takes up the first 
question before the commission, viz., whether a line can be drawn 
for the demarcation of the two provinces which would satisfy the 
strict legal claims of each. With the most satisfactory clearness and 
fullness the legal foundations for the boundaries are discussed, and 
the conclusion is reached that New Brunswick is entirely in the right 
in her claim for the St. Lawrence watershed as her northern bound- 
ary, but that she had no legal claim whatever to any territory west 
of the due north line. On the other hand they conclude that Quebec 
had no claim whatever to any territory south of the northern water- 
shed, and hence they conclude also that the territory west of the due 
north line and south of the highlands, although a possession of Great 
Britain by virtue of the treaty of 1842, belongs to neither province, 
but formed part of the ancient territory of Sagadahock. It is only 
in their treatment of Quebec’s claim,—that the British position in the 
international controversy sustains her contention for the central high- 
lands, that the commissioners’ report departs from definiteness and 
clearness ; they appear to deny that the two are necessarily connected. 
They conclude that a line can be drawn between the provinces which 
will satisfy the strict legal requirements of each, namely, the line 
following the highlands from the intersection of them with the north 
line to their termination at Tracadiegash, as shown on the accom- 
panying map (Map No. 30). But this legal line they consider at 
variance with both the actual possessions of both provinces and with 
mutual convenience. They find that each province has settled for 
some distance on its side of the Restigouche River, and propose that 
that river should remain the boundary for some distance above its 
mouth. As to the territory west of the north line and south of the 
highlands, belonging to neither province, they say :— 
A considerable portion of the country that lies to the west of the due 
north line, between the north highlands and the newly-settled United States 
line, the Commissioners believe would be beneficially and properly assigned 
to New Brunswick, whether as regards the comparative benefit to the two 
provinces, or their meritorious claims, or the interests and convenience of 
the inhabitants. 
The inhabitants of this portion of the country have chiefly settled under 
the authority of New Brunswick, and are familiar with the administration 
of its laws and usages ; and the St. John and its tributaries, the Madawaska, 
and the St. Francis, offer to them, through New Brunswick, the most eligible 
mode of transport to market for their timber and other products of the 
country. 
