6

between the two States was complied with by his principal
assistant, J. de la Camp, who, during that season, surveyed
an area of about 80 square miles, about equally divided
between the two States, along both sides of the line up to the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

In the course of that summer, however, the Commissioner
of Virginia obtained permission to go to England the follow-
ing winter, '50 and '60, in order to hunt for some stronger
evidence as to the description of this line.

In the meanwhile, the amount appropiated by Maryland,
and an equal amount paid by Virginia, for the undertaking,
proving inadequate for the completion of it, were exhausted
in the course of the winter in the construction of the maps,
and the Legislature of Virginia, in its session of 1860, re-
solved not to expend any more money on this line before hav-
ing received the report of Mr. McDonald, who did not return
until after the close of the session.

The Legislature of Maryland, in its session of 1860, appro-
priated an additional amount of f 10,000 for the completion
of the tracing of the line and the survey of reference in a
limited extent, at least, on the Maryland side.

In that winter, Lieut. Michler was ordered away by the U.
S. Government to take charge of the lighthouses on the Pa-
cific coast, and the Commissioner of Maryland entrusted J.
de la Camp with the completion of the surveys, which the
latter did, during that season, assisted by L. Daser.

The map of the survey, drawn by J. de la Camp, contain-
ing 8 large Antiquarian sheets, on the scale of 1-12000, how-
ever, could not be finished, as the amount appropriated was
only sufficient to put the sheets into the condition which I
had the honor to present to the Honorable Delegation of Al-
legany and Washington counties, this morning. They were
submitted to the State authorities of Maryland in the fall of 1862.
It is very likely that Maryland would have passed another
appropriation for the completion of the maps, had not the
war, in the meanwhile, turned the energies of the people of
Maryland in other directions.

I have to add that the maps, in their present state, are not
fit to serve as reference for the boundary line, so that the con-
siderable amount expended by Maryland for the determina-
tion of this line has been disbursed uselessly, unless the small
amount estimated is added to finish them.

About the more or less importance of Mr. McDonald's mis-
sion to England, it would not be proper for me to express any
opinion.

I am, most respectfully,

J. DE LA CAMP,
Late Surveyor in charge of Md. and Va. B'dy Survey.

ANNAPOLIS, January 16th, 1867.