No. 219.

Correspondence with the British legation at Washington.

Mr. Fish to Sir Edward Thornton

Sir: Information has reached this Department that the Canadian engineers engaged in constructing a wagon-road from Fort Garry to the Lake of the Woods have located a considerable portion of it, including its termination at a harbor in the Lake of the Woods, within territory belonging to the United States, the monument marking the northwestern limit of the United States above the 49th parallel of latitude being upward of seven miles north of the termination.

I will be obliged by your causing an inquiry to be made as to this alleged encroachment upon the jurisdiction of the United States, with a view, in the event that the statement is correct, that the work may be discontinued.

I have, &c.,

HAMILTON FISH.