150 THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 



LECTURES. 



Monday, Jan. 4, 1892. Wra. A. Mowry, Esq., of 

 this city lectured on the subject of "United States Bounda- 

 ries, and Boundary Commissions." Mr. Mowry first called 

 attention to the importance of the study of the history of 

 our own country, alluding to its rapid growth, great re- 

 sources and wealth. The original United States, whose 

 boundaries were fixed by the treaty with Great Britain at 

 the close of the Revolutionary War, embraced a territory 

 of 827,844 miles. Its bounds were the Atlantic Ocean on 

 the east, the St. Lawrence River and the Great Ljjkes on the 

 north, the Mississippi River on the west, Florida on the 

 south. The first joint international commission for run- 

 ning a boundary line, was that between the United States 

 and Spain, for making the line between this country 

 and Florida. Andrew Ellicott was our Commissioner; 

 this was in 1798-9. The lecturer described Mr. Ellicott's 

 work. The Florida Treaty of 18 19 and the Oregon Treaty 

 of 1842, were both fully explained, as well as the Com- 

 mission to settle the boundary between this country and 

 Mexico in 1848, after the Mexican War and the Gadsden 

 purchase of 1853 and Alaska in 1867. 



The original territory was (in square miles) 827,844 

 The Louisiana purchase, . . . 877,686 

 " Florida " 65,168 



" Annexation of Texas . . . 376,161 



" Mexican Cession .... 545,783 

 " Gadsden purchase . . . 45,535 



Oregon 288,345 



Alaska . . . 577,390 



Total 3,605,912 

 Our country, the speaker said, included all degrees of 



