THE OREGON TREATY.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 82, 26 December 1846, Page 4

THE OREGON TREATY.

Her Majesty the Queen of theUmtedJ-Cingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the United Slates of America, deeming it to be.desirable for the future welfare of both countries, that the state of doubt and uncei tainty which has hitherto prevailed respecting thesovereignty and government of the territory on the north-west coasts of America, lying westward of the Rocky or Stony Mountains, should be finally terminated by an amicable compromise of the rights mutually asserted by the two parties over the said territory have respectively named plenipotentiaries to tieat and agree concerning the terms of such settlement : that is to say — Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland has, on v her part, appointed the Right honorable Richard Pakenham, a member of her Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council, and her MaJHsty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the- United States j and the President of the United States America has on his part, furnished with full powers, James Buchanan, Secretary of State for the United States; who, after having communicated to each other then respective full powers fcfund in good and clue foitn, have agreed upon and concluded the following articles. Ait. I r- From the point on the forty-ninth parallel of north latitude, where the boundary laid down in existing treaties and conventions between Gieat Britain and the United Slates terminates the line of boundary between the territories of Her Britannic Majesty and those of tlie United States shall be continued west-ward along the said forty-ninth pararel of north latitude to the middle channel which separates the continent from Vancouver's Island ; and thence southerly, through the middle of the said channel, and of I'uca's Straits', to the Pacific Ocean : provided however, that the navigation of the whole of the said channel and straits soutlvof the foity-ninth parallel of north latitude remain free and open to both parlies. Art. ll.— From the point at which the fortyninth parallel of North latitude shall be found to intersect the great northern branch of the Columbia river, the navigation of the said branch shall be free and open to the Hudson's Bay Company and to all British, subjects" trading with the same to the point where the said branch meets the main stream of the Columbia, and thence down the said main stream to the ocean, with free access into and through the said river or rivers j it being understood, that all the usual portages along the line thus described shall in like manuer be free and open. In navigating the said river or rivers, British subjects, with their goods and produce, shall be treated en the surae footing as citizens of the United States? it being, however, always undeistood, that nothing in this article shall be construed as preventing, or intended to prevent, the Government of the United- States from making any regulations respecting the navigation of the said river or rivers not inconsistent with the present treaty. Art. lII.— In the future- appropriation of the territory §outh of the forty-ninth paralleljof north latitude, as provided in the first article -of this treaty, the possessory rights of the Hudson's Bay Company, and of all British subjects who may be already in the occupation of land or other property lawfully acquired within the said territory, shalLbe respected. A,rt. IV.— The farms, lands, and other property -of every description, belonging to the Puget's' Sounds AgricuilurjilvCompanyon _the^north_side .of-the'Columbia river, shall be confirmed to 1 the said Company. In case, however, the -situation • of those farms and lands should be considered by! the United States to be of' public and political ' importance and the United Stales Government should signify a desire to obtain possession of the whole or any part thereof, the property so required shall be transferred to the said .Government at a proper valuation, to be agreed', upon between the parties. „ . • Ait. V.— The present treaty shall be ratified by her Britannic Majesty, and by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof : and the ratification shall be exchanged aVLondon at the expiration of six months from the date hereof, or sooner if possible. In witness, whereof, the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto the seals of their arms. Done at Washington on the 15th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1846. Richard Pa^enham (L.S.) James Buchanan. (L.S.)

Lord Metcali'e — We regret to learn that Lord Metcalfe continues in very precarious health. Several addresses have, within these few days, been presented to his lordship from the inhabitants of Calcutta, expressive of their high esteem lor his public services in India, to which the noble lord has eloquently and feelingly replied. He alludes to the' " infirmities which beset me, and the hopeless state of my .health," and concludes in the following tou hing terms :—" My anxious hope' that prosperity and every other 1 blesing may attend you will accompany me to the grave, \vhivh is open at my feet." The Worlds Temperance Convention. — A convention of delegates fiom almost all parts of the civilised world is at present sitting in London, for the purpose of promoting the caute of total abstinence from intoxicating liquors. , Our space will not allow us to give even an outline of their proceedings, which, it is expected, will be the means of greatly promoting the temperance reformation. Among the delegates from America is Elidu Buritt, the learned blacksmith. A public meeting was held at Covent Garden Theatre, which was crowded to excess. The proceedings were of a very animated desci iption, and the speakers ap - peared to be men full of faith in the triumph of their principles . One of the handles of the coffin of Mary Queen of Scots was sold the other day, among the late Mr. Upcott's collection of curiosities, for two guineas. ' That wonderful old man, John Edwards, who is upwards of 107 years of age, and lives in a cottage in the Wilton lload, near Salisbury, was on Thursday observed at work in a hny field,' near bib residence.