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ON, July 22d, 1844. ent of State will Idress, on the 24th hur expressing the conclude with the satisfactory arrange

Oregon or Columbia

pshur, which occurre1

recently addressed to you on the subject by the Earl of Aberdeen, explanatory of the wishes of Her Majesty's Government; both of which I laid before the President a few days afterwards.

He directed me to say, that he concurred entirely in the expediency of making the question respecting the Oregon territory a subject of immediate attention, and negotiation between the two Governments. He had already formed the purpose of expressing this opinion in his message to Congress; and, at no distant day, a communication will be made to the Minister of the United States in London.

I pray you to accept the renewed assurance of my distinguished consideration.

H. S. Fox, Esq., &c.

DANIEL WEBSTER.

Mr. Pakenham to Mr. Upshur.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24th, 1844. SIR:-Among the matters at present under the consideration of the two Governments, there is none respecting which the British Government are more anxious to come to an early and satisfactory arrangement with the Government of the United States, than that relating to the boundaries of the Oregon or Columbia territory.

The undersigned, Her Majesty's envoy and minister plenipotentiary, has, accordingly, been instructed to lose no time in entering into communication with the Secretary of State of the United States, upon this subject.

In fulfilment, then, of the command of his Government, the undersigned has the honor to acquaint Mr. Upshur that he will be ready to confer with him, with a view to ulterior negotiation, on the subject in question, whensoever it shall suit Mr. Upshur's convenience.

The undersigned is happy in taking advantage of this

opportunity to offer to Mr. Upshur the assurance of his

high consideration.

Hon. ABEL P. UPSHUR, &c.

R. PAKENHAM,

Mr. Upshur to Mr. Pakenham.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, Feb. 26th, 1844.

The undersigned, Secretary of State of the United States, has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the note, dated the 24th inst., from Mr. Pakenham, Her Britannic Majesty's envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, in which he states he will be ready to confer with the undersigned, with a view to ulterior negotiations, on the subject of the boundaries of the Oregon or Columbia territory, whensoever it shall suit his convenience.

In reply, the undersigned has the honor to inform Mr. Pakenham that he will receive him for that purpose at the Department of State to-morrow at 11 o'clock A. M.

The undersigned avails himself, with pleasure, of the occasion to offer to Mr. Pakenham assurances of his distinguished consideration.

RICHARD PAKENHAM, Esq., &c.

A. P. UPSHUR.

Mr. Pakenham to Mr. Calhoun.

WASHINGTON, July 22d, 1844.

SIR: In the archives of the Department of State will be found a note which I had the honor to address, on the 24th of February last, to the late Mr. Upshur expressing the desire of Her Majesty's Government to conclude with the Government of the United States, a satisfactory arrangement respecting the boundary of the Oregon or Columbia. territory.

The lamented death of Mr. Upshur, which occurred

within a few days after the date of that note,—the interval which took place between that event and the appointment of a successor,—and the urgency and importance of various matters which offered themselves to your attention immediately after your accession to office, sufficiently explain why it has not, hitherto, been in the power of your Government, sir, to attend to the important matter to which I refer.

But the session of Congress having been brought to a close, and the present being the season of the year when the least public business is usually transacted, it occurs to me that you may now feel at leisure to proceed to the consideration of that subject. At all events, it becomes my duty to recall it to your recollection, and to repeat the earnest desire of Her Majesty's Government, that a question on which so much interest is felt in both countries, should be disposed of at the earliest moment, consistent with the convenience of the Government of the United States.

I have the honor to be with high consideration, sir, your obedient servant,

The Hon. JOHN C. CALHOUN, &c.

R. PAKENHAM.

Mr. Calhoun to Mr. Pakenham.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, Aug. 22d, 1844.

SIR:-The various subjects which necessarily claimed my attention on entering on the duties of my office, have heretofore, as you justly suppose, in your note of the 22d of July last, prevented me from appointing a time to confer with you, and enter on the negotiation in reference to the Oregon territory.

These have, at length, been despatched; and in reply to the note which you did me the honor to address to me, of the date above mentioned, I have to inform you that I am now ready to enter on the negotiation; and, for that pur

pose, propose a conference to-morrow at 1 o'clock P. M., at the Department of State, if perfectly convenient to you; but, if not, at any other which it may suit your convenience to appoint.

The Government of the United States participates in the anxious desire of that of Great Britain, that the subject may be early and satisfactorily arranged.

I have the honor to be, sir, with high consideration, your obedient servant,

The Rt. Hon. R. PAKENHAM, &c.

J. C. CALHOUN,

Mr. Pakenham to Mr. Calhoun.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22d, 1844.

SIR-I have had the honor to receive your note of this morning's date, in which you signify your readiness to enter on the negotiation in reference to the Oregon territory, proposing to me to meet you in conference on that subject tomorrow at 1 o'clock.

In reply, I have the honor to acquaint you that I shall have great pleasure in waiting on you at the Department of State at the hour proposed.

Be pleased to accept the assurance of my distinguished consideration.

Hon. JOHN C. CALHOUN, &c.

PROTOCOL

R. PAKENHAM.

On the 23d of August, 1844, a conference was held, by appointment, at the office of the Secretary of State in the city of Washington, between the Honorable John C. Calhoun, Secretary of State of the United States, and the Right Honorable Richard Pakenham, Her Britannic Majesty's envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary, both duly authorized by their respective Governments to treat of