1 to the Secretary of State of the United States the as-urance of his distinguished consideration. H. S. FOX. Governor of Maine. The alleged points of variance, after deducting what is fanciful and conjectural in the reports now produced, and after comparing what is there stated in contradiction to other The following is the report of the Agent of the State of reports before produced from the same quarters, do not appear Maine, referred to in Mr. Forsyth's letter. to the undersigned to be by any means so material as they seem to have been considered by the Government of the United, To his Excellency JOHN FAIRFIELD, States. The British military detachment stationed at Lake Temiscouta, which the agents employed by the State of Maine had, in the first instance, with singular exaggeration, represented as amounting to two regiments, is now discovered by the same parties to amount to 175 men, which, instead of two regiments, is something less than two companies. It is in- ! deed true, should such a point be considered worth discussing, that the undersigned might have used a more technically correct expression in his note of the 26th of January, if he had stated the detachment in question to consist of from one to two companies, instead of stating it to consist of one company. But a detachment of her Majesty's troops has been stationed at the Lake Temiscouta, from time to time, ever since the winter of 1837 and '38, when the necessity arose from marching reinforcements by that route from New Brunswick to Canada; and it will be remembered that a temporary right of using that route for the same purpose, was expressly reserved to Great Britain in the provisional agreement entered into at the commencement of last year. It is not therefore true that the stationing a military force at the lake Temiscouta is a new measure on the part of her Majesty's authorities. Neither is it true that that measure has been adopted for other purposes than to maintain the security of the customary line of communication, and to protect the buildings, stores, and accommodations provided for the use of her Majesty's troops when on a march by that route; and it was with a view to correct misapprehensions which appeared to exist upon these points, and thus to do away with one needless occasion of dispute, that the undersigned conveyed to the United States Government the information contained in his note of the 26th of January. With regard again to the construction of barracks and other buildings, and the preserving them in an efficient state of repair and defence, a similar degree of error and misapprehension appears still to prevail in the minds of the American authorities. The erection of those buildings within the portion of the disputed territory now referred to, for the shelter of her Majesty's troops while on their march, and for the safe lodgment of the stores, is no new act on the part of her Majesty's authorities. The buildings in question have been in the course of construction from a period antecedent to the provisional agreements of last year, and they are now maintained and occupied along the line of march, with a view to the same objects above specified, for which the small detachments of troops also referred to, are in like manner there stationed. The undersigned will not refrain from here remarking upon one point of comparison exhibited in the present controversy. It is admitted by the United States authorities that the armed bands stationed by the Government of Maine in the neighbourhood of the Aroostook river, have fortified those stations with artillery; and it is now objected as a matter of complaint against the British authorities, with reference to the buildings at Lake Temiscouta, not that these buildings are furnished with artillery, but only that they are defended by palisades capable of resisting artillery. It would be difficult to adduce stronger evidence of the acts on the one side being those of aggression, and on the other of defence. The fact, shortly, is, and this is the essential point of the argument, that her Majesty's authorities have not as yet altered their state of preparation, or strengthened their military means within the disputed territory, with a view to settling the question of the boundary, although the attitude assumed by the State of Maine with reference to that question, would be a clear justification of such measures; and it is much to be apprehended that the adoption of such measures will sooner or later become indispensable, if the people of Maine be not compelled to desist from the extensive system of armed aggression which they are continuing to carry on in other parts of the same disputed territory. The undersigned avails himself of this occasion to renew The undersigned has the honour to report that, in accordance with your commission of the 6th inst, he proceeded immediately to the St. John's river, Temiscouta lake, &c. and ascertained by actual observation the following facts: That twenty-two miles below the mouth of Fish river, on the south side of the St. John, and nearly opposite the Madawaska river, a house has been fitted up for barracks, and is rented by the British Government for that purpose, though no troops are there at present. It is built of hewn timber, two stories high, about sixty feet long and thirty wide. It has bunks prepared for over one hundred men. It is now in charge of one man only. From thence he followed up the Madawaska river, observing the tow path on its east bank, which has been made and repaired by the English Government, under contracts given out by James A. Mc Laughlan, Esq., of New Brunswick, the gentleman who has heretofore assumed to act as Warden of the disputed territory. This work was accomplished the past season; the length corresponds with that of the cast side of the Madawaska river, which is about twenty-six miles long. Two miles and a half below the foot of the Temiscouta lake, on the west bank of the Madawaska river, the English erected, early last summer, a barrack, about eighty feet long and thirty wide, and two small out buildings. At this post, there are now stationed one sergeant, one corporal, and five private soldiers of company No. 3, 11th regiment in the English service, where they have been since about the first of January last. Near this point commences a road, connecting it with the English works next described, built the past season under contracts given out by said McLaughlin, for the distance of sixteen miles, ten of which are fully completed, and the remaining six nearly. That fifteen miles from the foot of Temiscouta lake, on its west side, the English have erected eight buildings as barracks for soldiers, officers' quarters, a hospital, a magazine, a store-house, and a commissary's house, all of which are surrounded by ditches, breastworks, and stockades on three sides; the fourth is not fully completed. An accurate plan of all these works accompanies this report, and is here particularly referred to. From Major Chambri, the commander at this fort, who was first informed of the object and cause of the inquiries, and from his officers, the following facts were ascertained.— That he was there stationed by the Government of the Canadas, under his command, one company of grenadier soldiers, numbering about eighty-five men, of the 11th regiment, and one light company, the third of the same regiment, numbering about ninety men, in all one hundred and seventy-five, not including officers commissioned, or servants. The names of the officers are Major Chambri, Capt. Wallington, Lieuts. Bloss and Gould, and Ensign Tolun. That the barracks were commenced last spring, and were stationed here in June last, comprising a sergeant, corporal, and ten men of 24th regiment; and in November following, said company of grenadiers were ordered to take their place, and that about the first of January last they were reinforced by said third company. That the road from these barracks to the river Des Loup, has been made and repaired the past season, distance about thirty-six miles. In addition, the undersigned ascertained that the English have built, at Lake Temiscouta, a number of large flat-bottom boats, and also keel boats, each of which will serve to carry fifty men, and the flat-bottom boats would transport, safely, heavy ordnance.-Outside the defences the English have a boat and store-house. The works at this fort are calculated to be a sure defence against artillery and light-arms, as will more fully appear from plan annexed. All of which is most respectfully submitted. BENJAMIN WIGGIN. Augusta, Me. Feb. 27, 1840. COMMERCIAL & STATISTICAL REGISTER. VOL. II. EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD. PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1840. Operations of the Mint of the United States, 1839. MINT OF THE UNITED STATES, Philadelphia, January 30, 1840. SIR: In compliance with the law, which requires that "in the month of January of every year the director shall make report to the President of the United States of the operations of the mint and its branches for the year preceding," I have the honour to submit to you the following statements: The coinage executed at this mint, in 1839, amounted to $3,021,170 11, comprising $1,040,747 50 in gold, $1,949,136 in silver, and $31,286 61 in copper, and composed of 9,26,345 pieces. (Statement A.) The deposits of gold within the year amounted to $1,042,500, of which $138,500 was derived from the mines of the United States. (Statements B and C.) The deposits of silver amounted to $1,851,500, and consisted principally of Mexican dollars. (Statement E.) At the close of the year, the public funds in our vaults, under the laws authorizing deposits with the mint for the purchase of metals for coinage, and for securing prompt payments to depositors, amounted to $516,697 04 in gold and silver. The amount withdrawn during the year, on Treasury drafts, was $648,730 58, and the amount added $33,000. The coinage at the New Orleans branch mint, up to the 17th of August, when operations were suspended, amounted to $227,160 in silver, composed of 2,401,600 pieces of coin. (Statement D.) The deposits for coinage during the same period amounted to $85,159 in gold, and $173,901 in silver. (Statement F.) I have to regret that, after keeping back this annual report to the last day allowed by the law, in the expectation of obtaining from the New Orleans mint the information necessary to enable me to include its operations to the close of the year, this information has not been received; and that my report, so far as it regards this branch, is, therefore, necessarily incomplete. I may state, however, that the amount of deposites and coinage thus left unreported must be inconsiderable. The efficiency of this branch of the mint has been greatly reduced during the year by causes which are deeply to be deplored. First, disagreements arose among the officers, which ended in mutual denunciations, and rendered an investigation necessary as to the characters of those implicated and the state of the institution generally. The task was committed to the United States District Attorney at New Orleans, and was executed with ability and impartiality. The result showed that, although there was no reason for suspecting the integrity of any of the officers, the condition of things at the mint was such as to require painful measures of reform, which the Government did not hesitate to apply. Scarcely was this investigation ended, before the fatal epidemic, to which New Orleans is subject, made its appearance at the mint, and rendered an entire suspension of its operations absolutely necessary. The melter and refiner, and the coiner, both officers of great merit, fell at their posts, victims to the disease; and four of the workmen also lost their lives, while scarcely one escaped without an attack. See subsequent report, page 212. VOL. II. -27 No. 14. Under these circumstances, it cannot be a matter of surprise that so little has yet been accomplished at the New Orleans mint. The prospects for the future, however, are more cheering. The institution has now an able corps of officers, all of whom are acclimated, as are also nearly all the workmen. There is reason, therefore, to believe that the operations of the mint may go on without further interruption, and that the just expectations of the public with regard to it may be no longer disappointed. The branch mint at Charlotte received, during the year, deposits of gold to the value of $125,836. The amount of its coinage was $162,767 50, composed of 23,467 half-eagles, and 18,173 quarter-eagles. (Statements D and F.) The branch mint at Dahlonega received, during the year, deposits of gold to the value of $113,035; and its coinage amounted to $128,880, composed of 18,939 half-eagles, and 13,674 quarter-eagles. (Statements D and F.) These two mints, established for the exclusive coinage of gold, are in a very satisfactory condition, and are fully able to execute much more work than has yet been required of them. In my last annual report, I took the liberty of calling your attention to the fact that the law of June 28, 1834, gave too high a valuation to foreign gold coins, so as to lead the community into error with regard to them, and to prevent, in a great measure, their recoinage. As the capacity of the mint and its branches is now abundantly sufficient for all the gold coinage necessary for the metallic circulation of the country, the reasons which led to the act making foreign gold coins a legal tender are presumed to be removed; and as, moreover, the conditions of this tender are certainly erroneous, I would again express my hope that the attention of Congress may be directed to the subject, and would respectfully recommend that the act in question be repealed. I have the honor to be sir, with great respect, your faithful servant, R. M. PATTERSON, Statement of the annual amounts of deposits of gold for coinage at the Mint of the United States and its branches, from the mines of the United States. 380,000 38,000 415,000 3,000 898,000 898,000 1835 60,400 300 .... .... 263,500 42,400 319,900 100 12,200 1836 62,000 148,100 55,200 201,400) 1837 52,100 116,900 29,400 83,600 1838 55,000 66,000 13,000 36,000 1,500 1839 57,000 53,500 6,300 20,300 300 $539,600 $2,702,000 $346,800 1,820,200 14,200 13,900 5,436,700 $253,836 $248,735 $7,569 $510,140 $5,946,840 698,500 698,500 467,000 467,000 282,000 282,000 200 171,700 $127,000 $135,700 $700 $263,400 435,100 500 138,500 126,836 113,035 6,869 246,740 385,240 42,406 31,847 74,253 $291,647 50 100,000 1,241,600 1,060,000 2,401,600 $227,160 F. Statement of deposits, for coinage, at the Branch Mints, in the year 1839. $1,851,500 $126,836 113,035 $126,836 113,035 6,869 $58,158 $20,132 85,159 COINAGE. G. Recapitulation of deposits and coinage at the Mint of the United States and branches, in the year 1839. Silver. Deposited at the Charlotte branch mint,..... RECAPITULATION. $126,836 Deposited at the Dahlonega branch mint,. .... Deposited at the New Orleans branch mint,.... 113,035 259,060 $498,931 Pieces. Value. gold. DEPOSITS. .... $138,500 $904,000 $1,042,500 $1,851,500 $2,894,000 183,412 $1,040,747 50 5,948,272 $1,949,136 3,128,661 $31,286 61 9,260,345 $3,021,170 11 126,836 126,836 41,640 113,035 113,035 32,613 85,159 173,901 259,060 126,836 113,035 .... 6,869 78,290 .... 162,767 50 128,880 00 .... .... .... .... 2,401,600 227,160 .... $385,240 $982,290 $1,367,530 $2,025,401 $3,392,931 257,665 $1,332,395 00 8,349,872 $2,176,296 3,128,661 $31,286 61 11,736,198 $3,539,977 61 Recapitulation of the amount of coinage at the Mint of the United States and its branches, from the commencement of operations to December 31, 1839.* Whole coin- Whole coinage in $235,499,086 $79,881,835 59 MINT OF THE UNITED STATES, Sir:-In the annual report which I had the honour to send to you on the 30th ultimo, I was under the necessity of leaving the statement imperfect in respect to the operations of the New Orleans mint, from which I had not been able to obtain the necessary information. A communication just received from the superintendent of that mint states, that, from the re-commencement of operations, in November, to the end of the year, they coined $23,490 in gold, consisting of 9,396 quarter-eagles; and $13,000 in silver, composed of 16,000 half dollars, and 50,000 dimes. The deposits, during the same period, amounted to $3,748 09, in gold, and 28,267 69 in silver. The statement of the operations of the New Orleans mint, for the year 1839, may now be presented as follows: Amount of coinage in gold,.. Amount of coinage in silver,. Total coinage,. Amount of deposits in gold,. Amount of deposits in silver,.. Total deposits,. $23,490 Mr. Guyer's Second Venture. We published last summer a brief notice of one of our countrymen, (Mr. L. L. Guyer of Charleston,) having taken a boat load of produce, raised on the Charleston prairie, to St. Louis, and the result of his sales thereof. The venture, it will be recollected, turned out an unlucky one, Mr. L. having sunk about one hundred dollars by it. Nothing discouraged, however, he prepared to undertake another, believing his recent experience, though dearly bought, would in the end be turned to good account. During the month of October last, having purchased two boats, a flat and a keel,-he loaded them with onions from Charleston, to the amount of 2500 bushels, and had in addition a few sacks of beans and 10 or 12 kegs of butter, and on the 18th left our wharf, accompanied by the best wishes of our citizens. To navigate the boats required six hands besides the pilot. The latter was Mr. William Knott, who had through the summer acted as assistant engineer of the steamboat Frontier on the Upper Illinois, and it is from him we have obtained the particulars which follow. The first sales were made at St. Louis, where all the beans were disposed of at $2 per bushel. A few bushels of onions also, were sold at 75 cents. All the butter was retained for a lower market. From St. Louis the boats proceeded down the river, and stopped not till they reached Memphis, Tenn. Here sales of onions were made at 1,25 per bushel, and 2 or 3 kegs of butter at 37 cts. per pound. After making these sales at Memphis the boats resumed their voyage, and continued on to Vicksburg, Miss. where further sales were made at the same prices,-1,25 and 374. By this time half the cargo was disposed of, and of course one boat (the keel) was sufficient for the residue. Half the hands, consequently, were discharged, Mr. Knott remaining with those retained. The next stopping place was Natchez, where the remainder of the onions were sold at $1,50, and the butter at 374. Here Mr. K. parted from Mr. Guyer and returned home, expecting Mr. G. to follow in a few days. Of the two boats, the flat was sold at Vicksburg for about 40 dollars the keel remained unsold, Mr. G. having declin263,650 ed an offer of 60 dollars for it. 291,075 Of the pecuniary results of this venture we cannot speak $88,907 with any correctness. The onions cost here about 50 cents 202,168 per bushel, and brought an average of $1,374. From this are to be deducted the wages of the hands and the loss upon the boats. The belief is that it has proved a very handsome speculation, and we are rejoiced at it. It will greatly revive the spirits of the growing Charleston settlement, one of the most, if not the most promising in our country, and give a new spur to their industry. We have been told that the onion growers there regarded it as deciding the question whether they should continue or abandon the cultivation of this article. We presume they will now go on with hopes more buoyant than ever. Whole number of pieces coined, 2,476,996 servant, The President of the United States. *For a detailed report of the coinage at the mint each year, from its commencement in 1793, sce Vol. I, page 196. N. E. Boundary.-The Legislature of Maine, have adopted a series of resolutions respecting the everlasting Boundary question, one of which is as follows: Resolved, That unless the British Government, during the present session of Congress, make or accept a distinct and satisfactory proposition for the immediate adjustment of the Boundary Question, it will be the duty of the General Government to take military possession of the disputed territory; and in the name of a sovereign State, we call upon the National government to fulfil its constitutional obligations to establish the line which it has solemnly declared to be the true boundary; and to protect this State in extending her jurisdiction to the utmost limits of our territory.-Mer. Jour. Ten millions of pigeons, it is estimated, passed over Buffalo, (N. Y.) one day last week. The heavens were black with them. There is another cause for gratulation at the successful result of this venture, if indeed it has been successful. We published last fall an account of the formation, in Warren county, of an agricultural exporting company, the design of without the intervention of commission houses on the way, which was to export their home products to distant markets unless of their own creation. The novelty of the design led us to make a disparaging remark or two upon it; and we are not sure that our views, if we understand the plan, were not Guyer's plan be imitated, the farmers of Warren county may But we cannot now help thinking that if Mr. derive from it a fair return for their labors.—Peoria Reg. correct. and railroad to Wilmington, N. C.-Several travellers Seven days from Cuba to New York, via Charleston who passed over the line of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad a few days ago, reached New York in 7 days from Cuba. They had 4 days passage from Havana to Charleston; and 3 from Charleston to New York: on the Wilmington and Weldon road.-N. Y Star. |