MR. BOWDITCH'S ESTIMATE OF THE HEIGHT OF WHITE HILLS. PLACE OF OBSERVATION. of Arts & Sciences. At the summit of Mount Washington, July 28, July 27, 7 a. m. July 28, 6 to 30 The mean of the twenty-six observations made at Adams, on the 28th of July, gives barometer 29.11 inches, thermometer 76.3. The mean of Dr. Holyoke's observations in the same day is, barometer 30.115 inches, thermometer 76.3. The observations of Mr. Emerson, who was probably situated a little higher above the level of the sea than Dr. Holyoke, did not differ sensibly from these. Computing from these observations the elevation of Adams above Salem, (by the rule given in Dr. Maskelyne's Introduction to Taylor's Logarithms,) it becomes 980 feet. The observation of July 27, calculated in the same way, gave 965 feet. As there were twenty-six observations on the 28th of July, and but one on the 27th July, the mean of all will be nearly 979 No. 45. feet. To this add 34 feet, the height of Dr. Holyoke's barometer above the level of Appendix. the sea, the sum 1,013 feet is the elevation of Mr. Messervey's house in Adams above the level of the sea. Dr. Belknap estimates this height to be nearly 3000 feet, which Extract from the is about three times its real value. By comparing the observations made at the top of Mount Washington, viz: barometer 23.39 inches, and thermometer 54 degrees, with the mean of the observations at Adams, at the same time-barometer 29.13, thermometer 84.8-the result is 6,149 feet, for the difference of elevation of these two places. To this add 1,013 feet, the height of Adams above the level of the sea, and we have the height of Mount Washington above the level 7,162 feet. This estimate may also be made by comparing the observations at Mount Washington with those made at Salem, at the same time, viz: barometer 30.115 inches, and thermometer 82 degrees, which give 7,021 feet; to which add 34 feet, (the elevation of Dr. Holyoke's barometer,) and we have 7,055 feet for the height of the mountain. The mean of this and the former estimate is 7,108 feet; which may be assumed as the elevation of the summit of Mount Washington above the level of the sea. Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. 81* APPENDIX, No. XLVI. EXTRACTS FROM THE PROTOCOLS AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE GHENT COMMISSIONERS.-1814. Appendix. No. 46. Extracts from Protocol of Conference between the American and British "The British Commissioners stated the following subjects, as those upon which, it appeared to them, that the discussions between themselves and the American CommisExtracts from the sioners would be likely to turn." Protocols and Correspondence of the Ghent Commistioners. "A revision of the boundary line between the British and American territories, with a view to prevent future uncertainty and dispute." "The American Commissioners at this meeting stated, that, upon the first and third points proposed by the British Commissioners, they were provided with instructions from their Government; and that the second and fourth of these points were not provided for in their instructions." Extract of a Note from the British to the American Commissioners, dated at GHENT, August 8, 1814. "As the undersigned are desirous of stating every point, in connection with the subject, which may reasonably influence the decision of the American Plenipotentiaries in the exercise of their diseretion, they avail themselves of this opportunity to repeat, what they have already stated, that Great Britain desires the revision of the frontier between her North American dominions and those of the United States, not with any view to an acquisition of territory as such, but for the purpose of securing her possessions, and preventing future disputes. "The British Government consider the Lakes, from Lake Ontario to Lake Supeperior, both inclusive, to be the natural military frontier of the British possessions in North America. As the weaker power, on the North American Continent, the least capable of acting offensively, and the most exposed to sudden invasion, Great Britain considers the military occupation of these Lakes as necessary to the security of her dominions. A boundary line equally dividing these waters, with a right in each nation to arm, both upon the Lakes and upon their shores, is calculated to create a contest for naval ascendency in peace as well as in war. "The power which occupies these Lakes should, as a necessary result, have the military occupation of both shores. In furtherance of this object, the British Government is No. 46. Protocols and Cor prepared to propose a boundary. But as this might be misconstrued as an intention Appendix. to extend their possessions to the southward of the Lakes, (which is by no means the object they have in view,) they are disposed to leave the territorial limits undisturbed; Extracts from the and, as incident to them, the free commercial navigation of the Lakes: Provided, that respondence of the the American Government will stipulate not to maintain or construct any fortifica- sioners. tions upon, or within a limited distance of, the shores, or maintain or construct any armed vessel upon the Lakes in question, or in the rivers which empty themselves into the sames. "If this can be adjusted, there will then remain for discussion the arrangement of the north-western boundary between Lake Superior and the Mississippi; the free navigation of that river, and such a variation of the line of frontier as may secure a direct communication between Quebec and Halifax." Ghent Commis Extract of a Note from the American to the British Commissioners, dated at "The undersigned further perceive, that under the alleged purpose of opening a direct communication between two of the British Provinces in America, the British Government require a cession of territory, forming a part of one of the States of the American Union, and that they propose, without purpose specifically alleged, to draw the boundary line westward, not from the Lake of the Woods, as it now is, but from Lake Superior. It must be perfectly immaterial to the United States, whether the object of the British Government, in demanding the dismemberment of the United States is to acquire territory, as such, or for purposes less liable, in the eyes of the world, to be ascribed to the desire of aggrandizement. Whatever the motive may be, and with whatever consistency views of conquest may be disclaimed, while demanding for herself, or for the Indians, a cession of territory more extensive that the whole Island of Great Britian, the duty marked out for the Undersigned is the same: They have no authority to cede any part of the territory of the United States; and to no stipulation to that effect will they subscribe." Extract of a Note from the British to the American Commissioners, dated at "With respect to the boundary of the District of Maine, and that of the northwestern frontier of the United States, the undersigned were not prepared to anticipate the objections contained in the note of the American Plenipotentiaries, that they were instructed to treat for the revision of their boundary lines,' with the statement which they have subsequently made, that they have no authority to cede any part, however insignificant, of the territories of the United States, although the proposal left it open to them to demand an equivalent for such cession either in frontier or otherwise. "The American Plenipotentiaries must be aware that the boundary of the District of Maine has never been correctly ascertained; that the one asserted, at present, by the American Government, by which the direct communication between Halifax and Quebec becomes interrupted, was not in contemplation of the British Plenipotentiaries who concluded the treaty of 1783, and that the greater part of the territory in question is actually unoccupied. "The undersigned are persuaded that an arrangement on this point might be easily made, if entered into with the spirit of conciliation, without any prejudice to the interests of the district in question." Appendix. No. 46. Extracts from the respondence of the Extract of a Note from the American to the British Commissioners, dated at GHENT, September 9, 1814. "With regard to the cession of a part of the District of Maine, as to which the British Plenipotentiaries are unable to reconcile the objections made by the undersigned with their previous declaration, they have the honor to observe, that at the conference of the 8th ult. the British Plenipotentiaries stated, as one of the subjects suitable for discussion, a revision of the boundary line between the British and American territories, with a view to prevent uncertainty and dispute; and that it was on the point, thus stated, that the undersigned declared that they were provided with instructions from their Government, a declaration which did not imply that they were instructed to make any cession of territory, in any quarter, or to agree to a revision of the line, or to any exchange of territory, where no uncertainty or dispute existed. The undersigned perceive no uncertainty or matter of doubt in the treaty of 1783, with respect to that part of the boundary of the District of Maine which would be affected by the proposal of Great Britain on that subject. They never have understood that the British Plenipotentiaries, who signed that treaty, had contemplated a boundary different from that fixed by the treaty, and which requires nothing more, in order to be definitely ascertained, than to be surveyed in conformity with its provisions. This subject not having been a matter of uncertainty or dispute, the undersigned are not instructed upon it; and they can have no authority to cede any part of the State of Massachusetts, even for what the British Government might consider a fair equivalent." Extract of a Note from the British to the American Commissioners, dated ut "With respect to the boundary of the District of Maine, the undesigned observe, with regret, that although the American Plenipotentiaries have acknowledged themselves to be instructed to discuss a revision of the boundary line, with a view to prevent uncertainty and dispute; yet, by assuming an exclusive right at once to decide what is or is not a subject of uncertainty and dispute, they have rendered their powers nugatory, or inadmissibly partial in their operation." Extract of a Note from the American to the British Commissioners, dated at "The undersigned are far from assuming the exclusive right to decide what is, or is not, a subject of uncertainty and dispute, with regard to the boundary of the District of Maine. But until the British Plenipotentiaries shall have shewn in what respect the part of that boundary, which would be affected by their proposal, is such a subject, the undersigned may be permited to assert that it is not. "The treaty of 1783 described the boundary as a line to be drawn along the middle of the river St. Croix, from its mouth, in the Bay of Fundy, to its source, and from its source directly north to the highlands which divide the rivers that fall into the Atlantic Ocean, from those which fall into the river St. Lawrence; and thence along the said highlands to the north-westernmost head of Connecticut river.' Doubts having arisen as to the St. Croix, designated in the treaty of 1783, a provision was made by that of 1794, for ascertaining it; and it may be fairly inferred from the limi |