The Daily Chronicle of Friday publishes some extracts of documents
received from its special correspondent in America, which, if they are authentic, and not modified by subsequent papers, tend to show that the Schomburgk line between Venezuela and British Guiana is not a completely valid line of demarcation. Lord Aberdeen, it is affirmed, wrote on December 11th to the Venezuelan Minister the following words :—" Much unnecessary inconvenience would result from the removal of the posts fixed by Schomburgk, as they will afford the only tangible means by which her Majesty's Government can be prepared to discuss the question of boundaries with Venezuela. These posts were erected for that express purpose, and not as the Venezuelan Government appears to apprehend, as indications of dominion and Empire on the part of Great Britain." If that despatch is uncancelled it is final, but we are unable to believe that such an oversight has been committed.
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