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especially is that interest at the present time increased in consequence of the claim asserted by a foreign power to a large portion of the territory considered by us, as justly falling within our jurisdiction. Of the situation of that claim and the progress made towards its adjustment I have received no information of a public nature, other than what has been heretofore communicated to former Legislatures. It is believed to be still under negotiation and entrusted to the care of those who will conduct it with ability and with due regard to the interest of this State. It is known that the American and British Commissioners under the fifth article of the Treaty of Ghent have differed as to the extent of the line forming our eastern boundary running north from the source of the Saint Croix by more than one hundred miles, embracing in its consequences a tract of country of more than ten thousand miles square although we may feel perfectly secure that no encroachment upon our jurisdiction to the extent contended for by the British Commissioners will ever be permitted, or that any proposition, in the course of negotiation, to vary the true boundary as established by the Treaty of 1783, will ever be listened to by the Government of the United States without the concurrence of this State, yet, considering the magnitude and very interesting character of the question it may be proposed to invite your attention particularly to its consideration.- The boundary line between Maine and Lower Canada commences at the