68 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Middleton which he has brought from Washington and which we suppose 

 to relate to this business. To tell you the truth I am not very well content with 

 Mr. Poletica's appointment to discuss this question — not that I object to him, 

 but to his powers, which are nothing, as, according to a note of Nesselrode to me, 

 he is only appointed 'à entamer avec moi (and Mr. Middleton) des pour parlers 

 relatifs aux différends qui se sont élevés' &c — and the note goes on to say that 

 'ces pour parlers auront pour but de préparer les voies à l'ajustement définitif 

 de ces différends.' In other words that he is to employ himself in picking our 

 brains during Nesselrode's absence without having as it should seem, authority 

 to speak in the name of the Government to any point. I have half a mind to 

 exceed my instructions, and to try if I cannot get a degree of longitude instead 

 of latitude for our line of demarcation. It appears to me that if we take a degree of 

 latitude we leave Russia with undefined pretensions to the Eastward, and in the 

 Interior of the Continent whereas a degree of longitude would describe both the 

 boundary on the Coast and within the Continent at the same time. I do not 

 know whether Russia would listen to such a proposition, but it would I think 

 be a great point if we could get somewhere about the 139th degree of West 

 Longitude as the line. This would cut the Coast about Behring's Bay,^ to the 

 South of which Russia has in fact no pretensions whatever, to discovery or any- 

 thing else. This would make the latitude of our boundary about 59| North 

 instead of 57, with which you say you would be contented. If I am to secure 

 57 it may at all events be as well to begin by claiming something more, and I 

 have some notion of bringing forward this idea. Before I can have your answer 

 I shall be deep in the whole business, but I should still like to have your notions 

 upon this point. You may depend upon it that the Americans will try to inter- 

 fere somehow or other in our boundary negotiation as distinguished from the 

 maritime jurisdiction question. Mr Middleton has already told me clearly 

 that he thinks that the United States have an interest in the business — and 

 upon what grounds think you ? because Spain had by treaty the right to trade 

 with our coasts in that quarter, and that the United States by their last treaty 

 with Spain have acquired all the rights in that respect, and stand in her shoes. Is 

 not this preposterous ? Mr. Hughes and the United States put one in mind 

 of your speech at Liverpool. I cannot tell you with what delight I read it and 

 chiefly for a reason which was perhaps not actuating you at the moment. 

 It was the true and only mode of replying to the childish and malignant attack 

 made on the 4th of July last year by Adams against England. A Secretary 

 of State speaking in the manner he did ex cathedra of a Power in amity ! ! ! 

 Yours was the only way of making him ashamed of himself. Had you this 

 speech in your head when you made yours ? I have not yet heard of The Jasper's 

 arrival in England, but I hope that the next post will bring me accounts of her. 

 Our letters from England are to the 19th of last month. I doubt whether 

 I shall have occasion to send you a Messenger before the return of The Emperor 

 or at least of Nesselrode for nothing — absolutely nothing is to be learnt or done 

 in their absence. I may indeed receive news from Lord Strangford which 

 may be worth a Courier, and in that case I shall despatch one forthwith. This 

 is all I have to say at this moment. 



I am, &c., 



CHARLES BAGOT 



^ Just west of present Yakutat bay. 



