Lord Moulton:-

The appellants in the present appeal are David and Alexander Maclaren, the plaintiffs in the original litigation, and the respondent is the Attorney-General of the Province of Quebec, who intervened in the suit under circumstances hereinafter mentioned, and, who, since such intervention, has substantially carried on the litigation on behalf of the Government of the Province. To make clear the points in dispute it will be necessary to set out somewhat in detail the facts of the case and the history of the litigation.

The river Galineau is a river of considerable size but irregular bed, flowing into the river Ottawa on its north bank. Starting from the river Ottawa and proceeding up the river Gatineau one passes through the township of Hull, and then through the township of Wakefield. North of the township of Wakefield the river Gatineau has on its left or eastern bank the township of Denholm and on its right or western bank the township of Low. The documents creating these townships are Letters Patent issued by the Crown, in whom, of course, the property in the soil was originally vested, and such documents specify and define the boundaries of these townships.

By Letter