281 



rapidly increasing both in population and im- 

 provement. From the Connecticut River the 

 height of land on which the boundary is sup- 

 posed to pass runs to the north-east, and divides 

 the waters that fall into the Saint Lawrence 

 from those flowing into the Atlantic; and which 

 height, after running some distance upon that 

 course, sends off a branch to the eastward, that 

 separates the heads of the streams falling into 

 Lake Timiscouata and River St. John, and by^ 

 that channel into the Bay of Fundy, from those 

 that descend in a more direct course to the 

 Atlantic. The main ridge, continuing its north- 

 easterly direction, is intersected by an imaginary 

 line, prolonged in a course astronomically due 

 north, from the head of the river St. Croix, and 

 which ridge is supposed to be the boundary 

 between Lower Canada and the United States; 

 at least such appears to be the way in which 

 the treaty of 1783 is construed by the Ame- 

 rican government; but which ought, more fair- 

 ly, to be understood as follows, viz. That the 

 astronomical line running north from the St. 

 Croix should extend only to the first or easterly 

 ridge, and thence run westerly, along the crest 

 of the said ridge, to the Connecticut ; thereby 

 equitably dividing the waters flowing into the 

 St. Lawrence from those that empty into the 

 Atlantic within the limits of the United States; 



