given such investigation to the various charges made against him, as to enable me to say how far they are true. The charges for transportation over the isthmus are enormous, and there is but little prospect at present of a diminution. The steamer Orus" navigates the Chagres river only fifteen miles, and passengers and freight are carried from thence to Gorgona, about thirty-five miles, in canoes. The greater portion of my party will remain at Gorgona until all the supplies reach this place. I have with me four months' supplies for the whole party-six months' supplies having been shipped previous to my leaving the United States, from New York to San Diego direct. There is no transportation here now, and from present indications it is exceedingly doubtful whether the party can be gotten to San Diego for months to come, unless a government vessel should touch at this point. I intend, however, to obtain transportation for myself by the first steamer which comes in, so as to comply with the 5th article of the treaty. It is probable I will have to go to San Francisco, and travel by land thence to San Diego. It is important, in my opinion, that the appropriation made by the act of Congress of the 12th of August, 1848, to defray the expenses, &c., of running the boundary, should be placed in a position where my drafts upon it will be duly honored. The employees generally will desire to receive their pay in the United States; and I have to request, if consistent with the views of the department, that the funds may be drawn from the treasury and placed to my credit in New York-say the Bank of America; I will then be enabled to discharge the demands against the commission without difficulty or delay. The amount now in my hands will be wholly inadequate to pay the expenses here, and transportation to San Diego. Major Emory, chief of the topographical engineers, reached this city on yesterday. Mr. Gray, the surveyor, has not yet arrived presence at San Diego previous to the 30th May is indispensable, I may possibly be detained by his movements. At all events, the department may be assured that all in my power will be done to carry out the provisions of the treaty. As his In the meanwhile, I have the honor to be, most respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN B. WELLER, Hon. SECRETARY OF STATE. PANAMA, March 25, 1849. SIR: I have the honor to report to you that I joined the commission for "running and marking the boundary between the United States and Mexico," at this place, on the 17th instant, in charge of all the astronomical apparatus and surveying instruments for the use of the commission, except those sent by the steamers Northerner and Senator via Cape Horn, of which you have been heretofore advised. The commissioner reached here one day before me. I exhibited to him my instructions from the State and War Departments, and informed him of the condition and place of the apparatus confided to my care, and the steps taken, under instructions of the Department of State, in regard to it. It was not possible, as those instructions contemplated, to leave New York before the 1st March; nor was it practicable to carry the instruments overland to New Orleans, to ship on board the steamer Alabama, which sailed from that port for Chagres on the 2d instant; and I was compelled to ship them, and take passage for myself and party, in the steamer Northerner, which sailed direct from New York to Chagres. Everything has arrived here in safety, and in good condition for immediate service, except some of the astronomical books and tables, left with one of my assistants and my servant in New Orleans. The means of getting from this place to San Diego are left to the commissioner. It may be proper, however, to inform you that, being charged, in addition to my other duties, with the command of the military escort intended to protect the commission, I will make the attempt to reach San Diego in time to report the escort in readiness as soon as the commission assembles, so that no delay will happen from that cause. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, Hon. SECRETARY OF STATE. W. H. EMORY, Brevet Major United States Army, &c. STEAMSHIP FALCON, At Sa, March 26, 1849. SIR: Up to the last moment before leaving New Orleans, I waited with anxious expectation a despatch from your department; but, receiving none, I finally sailed, early on the morning of the 21st instant, for Chagres, which latter port we expect to reach in all to-morrow. At Panama I hope to join the commissioner, and to proceed with him to San Diego. I should have waited till hearing from you; but, finding that little reliance is to be placed in the present system of conducting telegraphic communications, and fearing lest no other favorable opportunity would again occur in some time for me to proceed on my mission, I deemed it advisable to take the responsibility of at once embarking. I hope it will have met with your approval, and that of the President. I forward a few papers, which I had withdrawn for the purpose of making copies, and which I beg leave to ask may be filed for reference in your department. They are the originals. I have the honor to remain, very faithfully, your obedient servant, ANDREW G. GRAY, United States Surveyor under treaty with Mexico. Hon. J. M. CLAYTON, PANAMA, May 9, 1849. SIR: The enclosed package, addressed to Mr. Wm. Cranch Bond, director of the observatory at Cambridge, contains a series of astronomical and other observations, intended for review by the A. academy of Boston. These observations, and the object of sending them to the academy, being connected directly with the service on the boundary, with which I have been honored by the Department of State, induces me to request that they may be forwarded under the frank of the department. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, W. H. EMORY, Brev t Major United States Army, Chief Astronomer and Hon. J. M. CLAYTON, Secretary of State. PANAMA, N. G., May 23, 1849. SIR: Being obliged to embark at once upon the steamer Oregon, leaving behind me the assistants who have been employed for service, under Major W. H. Emory, upon the boundary between the United States and Mexico, I deem it a duty to myself and to the government of the United States to transmit to the department at Washington the enclosed correspondence. It will, I hope, in some degree, explain why those most important to the service for which Major Emory and myself have been detailed are obliged to remain in Panama. As I must this moment go on board the steamer, I have no time for explanations which I desire to make. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. U. S. Top. Eng., and attached to U. S. B. C. Hon. SECRETARY OF STATE of the United States. [Enclosed correspondence.] PANAMA, May 13, 1849. SIR: The cominissioner having informed me that he could obtain passage in the steamer Panama for only a small portion of the force intended to aid me in my duties on the boundary, I leave you in the city of Panama, in charge of that portion which remains. I have this day requested the commissioner to place you in funds for the purpose of defraying the expense of detention in Panama and the transportation to San Diego, where it is desirable, indeed all important, you should be with the whole party as speedily as possible. To effect this, and preserve order, I delegate to you full authority to act according to your judgment. Very respectfully, yours, W. H. EMORY, Brevet Major United States Army, Chief Astronomer and Lieut. A. W. WHIPPLE, Corps Topographical Engineers. PANAMA, May 17, 1849. SIR: Under instructions from Major Emory, I have been left here in charge of that portion of his party which cannot obtain passage to San Diego in the steamer Panama." From the instructions above mentioned, the following is an extract: "I have this day requested the commissioner to place you in funds for the purpose of defraying the expense of detention in Panama and the transportation to San Diego." Having heard that you are to sail this day in the Panama, I take the liberty of asking to be supplied at once with the funds necessary for the subsistence and transportation of my party. I feel assured, that to one with your knowledge of military discipline, I need only call your attention to the fact that I have orders which must be executed, and that, for the pecuniary means necessary to enable me to accomplish that with which I am charged, I can look to no one but the commissioner himself. I have the honor to be, with high respect, your obedient servant, A. W. WHIPPLE. Hon. JNo. B. WELLER, United States Commissioner, &c., &c. PANAMA, N. G., May 17, 1849. SIR: In answer to your note of this date, I have to say that, although I expect to sail to-day on the Panama, I leave a quartermaster behind, whose duty it is to provide subsistence, transportation, &c., for those of the party who may be detained. He will leave, under my instructions, on the Oregon; and up to that time he will see that all the necessary expenses of the party are paid. If you and those placed under your charge are detained beyond that time, funds will be left to defray all the necessary expenses. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. WHIPPLE, U. S. A. JOHN B. WELLER, United States Commissioner. PANAMA, May 17, 1849. DEAR SIR: I send herewith a copy of a letter to Colonel Weller, and his reply, that you may understaud the condition in which I am left by the commissioner. In the first place, several days since, I sent in my accounts for transportation and per diem allowance, according to the expressed desire of the commissioner, which, when presented, he was willing to take and send to the department at home, but refused to pay. At the same time, I presented, at his request, an estimate and requisition for the subsistence of those under my charge. This requisition he never answered. Finding myself about to be left penniless, and absolutely out of the reach of assistance, the correspondence of this date followed. sent to him, also, a message by Mr. Gardner, with a request that he would send to me $400, and take a receipt, such as follows: "Received of the Hon. John B. Weller, United States commissioner, the sum of $400, which sum is designed to pay for subsistence and transportation for myself to San Diego, and is to be refunded to the commissioner or covered by proper vouchers." This he returned without comment. I then wrote, to Major Vinton, desiring to know from what appropriation my transportation should be paid under the circumstances stated. He returned a verbal message, merely referring me to Major McKinstry, who is now on the steamer, out of my reach. Should I, therefore, be left here without funds to pay my expenses here, and obtain transportation for myself and servant to San Diego; and should my communication with you, my commanding officer, be cut off, I shall be compelled to write the circumstances to Colonel Abert, and have the matter brought before the government, that the responsibility may rest where it belongs. In case the person designated by the commissioner as a quartermaster promptly pays the expenses which I may deem necessary, I shall acquiesce. Otherwise, it will be necessary to inquire from higher authority whether an officer of the army must be subject to the control of an irresponsible person, without a commission and unknown to the government of the United States. I am, very respectfully, yours, &c., Major EMORY, A. W. WHIPPLE. Chief Assistant and Top. Eng. Boundary Survey. PANAMA, May 17, 1849. DEAR SIR: In Washington I was detailed for duty upon the boundary between the United States and Mexico. Will you please to inform me from what appropriation I am to receive my mileage or travelling expenses to San Diego? If from the appropriation for the boundary survey, please refer me to the regulation which authorizes it. If from the quartermaster's department, I would be glad to know whether you are prepared to pay it. Necessity is my excuse for troubling you so soon after your illVery truly, yours, &c., ness. Major VINTON, A. W. WHIPPLE, Lieutenant United States Army. Quartermaster United States Army. PANAMA, May 22, 1849. SIR: The enclosed copy of instructions from Major Emory to myself will show you the position I occupy with reference to the United States and to the boundary commission. The plan of operations upon the boundary line, submitted by Major Emory to the Secretary of State, requires immediately, at San Diego, the presence of not only myself, but also the civil assistants who have been assigned to duty in his department. I therefore, as an officer of the army of the United States, feel it my duty to look to you, as consul for the same |