Rutland Herald

THE NORTH-EASTERN BOUNDARY.

The survey undertaken by our Government of the territory in dispute between this country and Great Britain has been brought to a close the present season, the early approach of winter having put an end to the field operations.

This survey, as our readers may remember, is under the charge of Capt. Talcott, of the U. S. Engineer Corps, and Professor Renwick of N. York, gentlemen well qualified for the important trust, and in whose report the country will place implicit confidence.

We hear indirectly that the explorations thus far have gone to establish the justice of the claim preferred by the United States. The highlands so opportunely discovered by Mr. Featherstonhaugh have not yet met the gaze of the American Commissioners. Of the nature of the service performed by the exploring party in the wild territory through which they passed, the following letter which we copy from the Argus, will convey an accurate notion. — Albany Gazette.

Extract of a letter from one of Capt. Talcott's Assistants, to a gentleman in this city,

Kennebec Road, Oct. 24, 1840.

We arrived here yesterday noon with two assistants and 6 packmen, having, with the exception of a few days on Spider lake, been separated from Capt. Talcott since the 23d ult. last. The duty assigned me, was to run the Ridge round from the head of Ashburton's river to Spider lake, and thence on to Kennebec road (or road from Augusta to Kennebec) where it crosses the boundary line.

From the head of the Connecticut to the point of our first separation is 60 miles, thence to Spider lake 35 miles, and thence to this place 45 miles, all of which my long legs have measured and the Smallder compass coursed.

The route throughout was irregular and circuitous. We took a pilot at Canaan, but he proved of no service; it only requires an active man to climb trees occasionally, and you explore every section of the country.

Our life has been one of excitement; sometimes wet, at others burnt; now frozen and occasionally melting: often stuffed to surfeit then starved down to a skeleton. Everything, however, has gone off successfully.

Capt. Talcott will have accomplished a vast amount of work for the time we have been engaged upon the survey. To this point (the Kennebec road) and 20 miles beyond, the line, as you are aware, is not in dispute, and I should hardly suppose it could be, as for miles and miles the Ridge is composed of high and difficult granite cliffs, as if nature had intended them to be dividing walls between two countries.

Oh! how often have I wished you were with us, to enjoy the fine moose hunting, or trouting, even killing the pheasants that during the day would hardly make room for us to pass.

On Spider lake we came across St. Francis Indians; they killed a bull moose for us, much larger than a horse; his horns, or "armed chair" alone, were 5 feet wide.

The trout have weighed from 1 to 6 lbs.

One of the most delicious dishes I tasted was composed of the nose, heart liver of the moose. I have a small sextant by which I get the latitude from the meridian alt. of the sun and such stars as appear before 10 o'clock at night, as after a day's work I do not feel able to keep my eyes open any longer.

Oct. 25. Violent snow storm, 15 inches deep. Oct. 25, Capt. Talcott joined us. Another snow storm; dangerous to operations in the field. Oct. 27. Have preparations to return to Portland. Oct. 29. Fine sleighing since the night of the 27th. We have all, 15 in number, arrived at Anson. I mail this letter to you on our return.