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concerned. I have telegraphed articles to Ottawa for approval. The moment I hear from them I am to see Mr. Fish, and he is to call a cabinet council to have it approved and sent to the senate. If it goes as we have it, it will be perfectly satisfactory to us and our people; but we may find it broken up in the senate, or before it reaches there. That will not, however, prevent our going at it again as long as the government endorses it.

WASHINGTON, May 30, 1874.

There is a hitch at Ottawa. The articles sought to be introduced into the free list exceed the amount Mr. Mackenzie sees his way to relieve from paying duty. I am going on to try and put the matter right, and I hope to accomplish it.

There seems to be no doubt that the treaty will go through if this difficulty at Ottawa is overcome.

WASHINGTON, June 7, 1874.

We had a long interview with Mr. Fish yesterday morning, when I made the suggestion necessary to meet the views of the Ottawa government. The interview was, on the whole, pleasant, but he fought hard against any amendment. Finally, he conceded all demands subject to three concessions by us: 1st, That we surrender for ever to the United States the right of passage through the Gut of Canso; 2nd, That we make our canals 14 feet deep; and 3rd, That the tolls on the Welland and St. Lawrence canals shall not discriminate by lighter charges on through vessels than on vessels going only part of the way down. The second and third conditions, I suppose, can be arranged, but the first is a serious affair-in feeling. There is no reason why we should not concede perpetual passage through the Gut of Canso. The United States have always been allowed to use it, but not the right to fish therein; and they will always have it in fact, though not in name. It would, however, be a serious diplomatic concession. I thought the matter over after we left, and hit on a plan for meeting his demand. Sir Edward Thornton is enthusiastic about the suggestion. It is to propose to-morrow, as a counter demand, the opening to Britain in perpetuity of the Rosario and Douglas channels on the Pacific coast, lately declared by the Emperor of Germany, as arbitrator under the Washington treaty, to be United States waters.

If I hear from Ottawa in time, the draft treaty is to go to the senate to-morrow; appearances indicate a chance of success. I saw yesterday Messrs. Butler, Boutwell, Dawes, Garfield, and others; they are all willing to push it through this session. The President speaks openly and strongly for it.

WASHINGTON, June 10, 1874.

I heard from Ottawa, two days ago, the difficulty there was arranged; but three days are absolutely lost, because Lord Derby has not signified his assent to the draft treaty. Sir Edward has in vain endeavoured to obtain from him an answer of yes or no!

Congress will certainly break up on the 22nd. We have hardly a moment to spare, still we cannot move. It is very provoking, but there is no remedy. We have ascertained pretty accurately that if the treaty were now sent to the senate it would be carried. Yesterday I saw Cameron, of Pennsylvania, our supposed great enemy, and had a long conversation with him. I found him extremely friendly; he told me he had read my pamphlet, and was much pleased with it. He said he agreed with its reasoning, and if he opposed our measure, it would only be because he was attached to the protectionist party. He thought I had made out an excellent case, and admitted the position of Canada was different from other countries.

WASHINGTON, June 12, 1874.

Lord Derby was "graciously pleased" yesterday to cable his approval, and that we might proceed; so at it we went with Mr. Fish. Would you believe it? he was showing his timidity nearly as much as ever. "The difficulties were immense;" the senate would certainly throw the draft treaty out. In short, there was no hope unless we made concessions now proposed for the first time. All this within ten days of the adjournment. We kept cool, made a memo. of his proposals, and retired to consider the situation. Sir Edward was downcast and angry; my bump of hope, as usual, kept me up, and determined me to make one more attempt to bring Mr. Fish back to reason; so it was determined I should go last night to see him at his house. I went, but found he was at the White House; I therefore went to the state department this morning to see him. I expressed to him my regret that it was my painful duty to say that his propositions were entirely out of the question; that I would, if he desired, communicate them to the Canadian government, and Sir Edward would to the Imperial government; but that, if they determined to accept them, they must find somebody else to act for them, for I would never sign a treaty that was not entirely reciprocal. I pointed out that the treaty he proposed would be entirely one-sided; that it would miss the end for which it was devised, and leave a strong feeling of dissatisfaction behind it. He seemed impressed by the argument. The people would not sustain his propositions. He asked me, after looking over his paper, "What I objected to so much." I told him—“The denial of the free navigation of Lake Michigan ;" demand of fishery rights on the Pacific coast;" "The postponement of the free entry for lumber to the United States for three and a half years;" "The striking out of ochres, seal oil, and salt;" "The demand for 14 feet of water in our canals, that would cost millions ;""The demand for free perpetual navigation of the Gut of Canso, without the accompanying concession of the same right to us in the Rosario channel :" and "The construction of the Caughnawaga canal, without any compensating advantage.' These were the things I decidedly protested against, and would not assent to without equivalent. After a long tussle he agreed to give up all but one or two of the demands. I compromised for twenty-one years of Lake Michigan, and agreed to the construction of the Caughnawaga canal. last he hesitatingly accepted that arrangement, because he felt certain if salt were left in, the treaty would be lost. He suggested that if salt was struck out of the free list by us, he would strike out something as an offset, and no doubt it would be all right, and he would see me again this afternoon. Some hours have elapsed, but yet no sign; but I feel pretty certain it is all right, and if so, the bargain will be a good one for Canada.

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June 13th.—I did not hear from Mr. Fish, as I expected, yesterday afternoon; but this forenoon Sir Edward and I went to see him, and had two and a half hours with him. We occupied that long sederunt with a final revision of the treaty, improving the language and making the sense of each sentence as clear as possible. Mr. Fish made no new demands, but made several sensible suggestions for the improvement of the paper, and was most courteous throughout. He hoped to get it completed and ready for the senate on Monday. The thought occurs to me that he means to throw us over the session; I cannot believe it. He evidently had spent much time over the paper, and declared he had been at it till one o'clock this morning; therefore, I think he means to sign the treaty.

WASHINGTON, June 18, 1874.

The treaty did not go to the senate on Tuesday, in consequence of a new demand for canal tolls uniformity. It really looked as if Mr. Fish were willing to throw us over for want of time.

I dined at the White House last night, and remained behind to speak

to the President about the treaty. He spoke out most enthusiastically for it, and congratulated me on the great success that had been accomplished. He assured me he would take every means to have the senate endorse it. The treaty is now confidentially in the hands of the senate. It is being printed, and will be considered by the Foreign Relations Committee tomorrow morning.

WASHINGTON, June 20, 1874.

The President sent a message to the senate with the treaty, urging a decision before the adjournment of congress. I thought the message very good; but it has the defect of not speaking definitely of this particular measure as his own and his government's, and calling on the senate to sustain him. Had he done this the treaty would have been through now. But now, with a majority in its favour, there seems some considerable danger of its being thrown over until December. I told all this to Mr. Fish just as has happened, but he was quite set on having his own way. He may now have to regret it.

The first tussle in the congress was in our favour. Chandler tried to have the treaty sent to his committee. This the senate refused, and sent it to the Foreign Relations Committee. On that committee there are 7 to 2 in favour of a treaty. There were 6 present: 3 said to be for us; 1 against; and 2 for the measure personally, but wanted to hear from the country before acting. The committee adjourned without action. How it will end no one can tell. Had Mr. Fish signed the treaty and sent it down, it would have gone through without a doubt. N'importe; we have done all we could, and the United States Government must be responsible for what comes hereafter. If the senate concludes to throw it over till next session, I will leave soon; should an extra session be called, I may be delayed ten days.

Nothing, however, was done before the adjournment. The letters following have reference to what took place in the autumn of the same year:

WASHINGTON, December 15, 1874.

I found that on coming here Sir Edward's statements as to the treaty being dead and not having "ten supporters," rested wholly on Fish's bluff. The republicans are thoroughly demoralized, and know not what hand to turn to, and it looks as if they would continue not to know until the 5th of March arrives, with nothing done but talk and the democrats get to power. I find the democrats are stronger than ever with us, and will go for the treaty if the republicans propose it. The only grand scheme the republicans have is their transportation scheme, framed by Mr. Windom. The Caughnawaga Canal is its main feature. If they as a party go in for it, they will carry it; but they cannot separate the treaty from it; the two must go together. I did not see Mr. Fish to-day, as he was engaged with the King of the Sandwich Islands. I am to see him to-morrow; but I already know pretty well how the matter stands.

WASHINGTON, December 16, 1874.

I had a long interview with Mr. Fish this morning. He was kind and friendly. We discussed the whole matter in the best spirit, and while declaring his earnest desire that the treaty should pass, and his conviction that a treaty would be agreed to within a year or two, he confessed it seemed hopeless this session. "The money question occupied everyone's thoughts to the exclusion of every other subject. Parties were rent upon it. No one could see his way out of the woods; and what would be done

he could not tell. There was no great hostility to the treaty, but utter apathy. To get a two-third majority was hopeless; to get a majority vote in the senate he did not believe possible. This was sure, that nothing would be done until Congress met after the holidays."

I have now got his views, and will try and learn what the democrats will do.

I have not yet seen the President, but will call to-morrow, I have an appointment with Carl Schurz to-morrow morning, to get the state of the case from him. To-night I see Allison and Dawes.

EXTRACTS FROM FAMILY CORRESPONDENCE.

The following extracts are wholly from letters addressed by Mr. Brown to members of his family, and are given separately on that account. Most of them contain matter of more or less public interest, while some are wholly of a domestic character, and delineate him in his relations to his family-with whom he had daily correspondence during his absence from home-better than any words of the writer

can.

The first two letters have reference to his canvass for the representation of South Oxford. He was elected by a large majority.

INGERSOLL, February 26, 1863.

Well, I am fairly into it, and I do assure you I wish I were once more quietly at home. I am persuaded that had I stayed out of it for a year longer I would never have returned, and I would have been right. However, I am into it for this struggle, however long I may remain in public life.

NORWICH, February, 1863.

It is very pleasant to find how kind every one is to me-even those who are going strongest against me-not a harsh word, except for coming to drive out Bodwell, and Bodwell himself is compelled to say all sorts of kind things. I got to bed at 2 o'clock in the morning, and am off immediately to speak 8 miles from here at noon, and 8 miles further on at night. No one knows how an election will end. Bodwell is a strong candidate a very strong candidate; but turn and twist it every way, don't think it possible he can beat me. I don't feel the slightest doubt as to the result, but I am fighting for a good majority.

BOTHWELL, April 4, 1863.

We have had fine weather, and I have enjoyed my rambles over the fields immensely-especially going among the sheep and cattle. The flocks of sheep make at present a fine sight, with their heavy fleeces and their lambs skipping around them. The oil wells are a great fact. There seems no doubt that oil in any quantity will be had here. Many people arrive daily from different quarters to inquire into the prospects, and already three or four new companies have been formed to open wells. Every dwelling-house in the village is occupied.

Parliament was afterwards dissolved. Mr. Brown again ran for South Oxford. Mr. Hope Mackenzie was the liberal candidate in the The following five letters have reference to the contest

North Riding.
in these ridings:

INVERKIP, June 4, 1863.

I dropped you a line yesterday morning just before starting for Plattsville. We had a fine drive of 20 miles and a splendid meeting at Plattsville--carried all before us. In the evening we had a meeting in Drumbo, very large but not so favourable, one of our discontented candidates having opened out on us in a very scandalous manner. We got through the meeting at 2 o'clock in the morning, and then had 8 miles to drive. It was very cold, and we did not get to Chesterfield till broad day light. We came here this morning, and have had a grand meeting-swept all before us. I am sitting in the house of a substantial farmer; have just had a good dinner, and am off for Embro immediately (16 miles), where we speak to-night. Mackenzie will carry the election, but not without effort.

EMBRO, June 5, 1863.

A man is just starting for Inverkip, and I seize the opportunity to send a line. We had a glorious meeting in the evening; large hall crowded; good speeches-great enthusiasm. This is the township that turns the tide in all North Riding contests, and Mackenzie is no doubt quite safe now. I am writing at 8 o'clock in the morning, and the horses are standing at the door waiting to carry us to Harrington, a distance of 10 miles, where we speak at 10 o'clock. From there we go to Thamesford, where we hold a meeting at night, which ends my work here. To-morrow is my nomination.

NORWICHVILLE, June 10, 1863.

Here I am in the centre of the Quaker country, and a most beautiful country it is. You could not fancy in a young country more substantial comfort than the people enjoy. After dinner we drove to East Oxford, where my first meeting was held. It was a very good meeting, and went unanimously for me. We left East Oxford about 3 o'clock and came on here, calling on one or two prominent people as we passed. We saw a sheep that weighed 350 lbs.-very interesting to you as a piece of intelligence. We had a splendid meeting at night. I find all my friends stanch, and a great many of my opponents turned into friends. There is literally no contest here, and it is too bad to be compelled to hold meetings.

SPRINGFIELD, June 11, 1863.

Another day gone. We came here in time for our meeting, which passed off very successfully. We went on in the evening from Springfield to Otterville, and there had a splendid meeting; church crowded, and all perfectly unanimous. There was a majority against me in the township last time, but it will be very different indeed now. We came back to Springfield late last night, and I am staying with the principal farmer in this neighbourhood. He has been on this farm no less than 30 years. The country was an utter wilderness when he first settled. I had to get up to breakfast at 7 o'clock. I am writing this immediately after breakfast, and am half asleep now. I am going over the farm and dairy in a few minutes. I speak at Culloden at 10 o'clock, and in the evening at Tilsonburg. After that there will be but three meetings more, and then home.

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