the north by a direct line, crossing the entrance or mouth of that great road of ships which runs into the eastern tract of land between the territories of the Souriquois and the Etchemins, to the river called by the name of St. Croix, and to the most remote spring or fountain from the western part thereof which first mingles itself with the river aforesaid; whence, by an imaginary direct line, which may be conceived to go through or run toward the north, to the nearest road of ships, river, or spring emptying itself into the great river of Canada; and from thence proceeding toward the east by the shores of the sea of the said river of Canada to the river, road of ships, or shore commonly known and called by the name of Gachepe or Gaspe.”

But the translations of the Americans were merely for form’s sake, as the original Latin, in a copy furnished from a British public office, was laid before the King of the Netherlands; and no fear need have been felt that the umpire would not have been able to judge whether the translations were true or not.  It was rather to be inferred that he, in examining a question submitted in a language foreign to him, would have found the Latin quite as intelligible as the English.  This examination, however, is wholly superfluous.

From whatever source the negotiators of the treaty of 1783 derived their view of the boundary, that instrument directs that it shall be a due north line from the source of the river St. Croix.  This expression is too definite to require explanation or illustration, and it is only for those purposes that any other instrument can be permitted to be quoted.

In the passages referred to the words “versus septentrionem” occur three times, and in two of the instances are qualified by the context in such manner as to leave no possible doubt as to the meaning.  The first time they occur the words of the passage are, “prope latitudinem quadraginta trium graduum aut eo circa versus septentrionem.”  The free translation into modern idiom is beyond doubt, “near the forty-third degree of north latitude or thereabout;” and the direction toward the north must be along a meridian line on which latitude is measured, or due north.  Messrs. Mudge and Featherstonhaugh, instead of connecting in their translation the words “versus septentrionem” with the words “prope latitudinem,” etc., with which they stand in juxtaposition in the Latin text which they quote, connect them with the words “ad occidentem tendentem,” which occur in the next clause of the sentence, even according to their own punctuation.  We note this as a false translation, although it does not touch the point in dispute.  They have, indeed, attempted to use it in their argument; but even if the use they make of it had been successful their inferences fall, because drawn from erroneous premises.