§ Sir Robert PeelWould the noble Lord inform the House how the question stood with respect to the disputed boundary question—he meant generally. He understood a commission had been appointed for a survey of the disputed territory. Had the American government appointed any corresponding commission, and acting in concert with the British Government?
§ Viscount Palmerstonsaid, the American government had proposed a commission to survey the whole of the disputed territory, to which her Majesty's Government had consented, with some modifications, which that Government had also agreed to. The Government thought the commission could not act with satisfaction without a previous convention between the two countries, and accordingly, in spring, he had sent a draught of a convention to our minister at Washington, for the purpose of its being laid before the American government. It was laid before them, but as yet they had returned no answer, they being under the necessity of consulting the state of Maine upon the question. By the constitution of the United States, it was also necessary that the convention should be ratified by Congress, which could not be obtained till the end of the present year, and therefore her Majesty's Government thought that in that state of things it would be extremely desirable to take advantage of the present summer, for the purpose of acquiring more correct information as to the nature of the country in dispute, than they had yet possessed; and had sent out two persons acting entirely under the orders of, and responsible to the British Government, solely for the purpose of procuring local and topographical information for the use of the Government, thinking that if the matter should lead to any greater length of negotiation, it would be of essential importance that they should have a correct knowledge of the conformation of the country in dispute.