225 



them, that there was grotind to behave that violence would be resorted 

 to, unless some understanding should be had before another season."* 



In March, 1S40, the Assembly of Nova Scotia passed another address 

 to the Queen, in which her Majesty was again reminded of the griev- 

 ances of her subjects of that colony. Our government in the followin<y 

 month, and, as now appears, for the first time, communicated with our 

 minister at the Court of St. James on the subject of the fisheries, but 

 yet without instructions to make a statement of our wrongs to the 

 government to which he was accredited. 



The early part of the year 1841 is fruitful of events which show the 

 progress of the controversy, and the development of colonial plans and 

 pretensions. On the 20th of February, Mr. Forsyth, Secretary of 

 State, addressed Mr. Stevenson, at London, a letter of definitive in- 

 structions, in which he reviewed the points in dispute, and stated that 

 he was directed by the President to convey his desire that a represent- 

 ation should be made to her Majesty's government, immediately on 

 receipt of the despatch, earnestly remonstrating "against the illegal 

 and vexatious proceedings of the authorities of Nova Scotia towards 

 our fishermen," and requesting of the ministry "that measures be 

 forthwith adopted" to remedy "the evils arising out of this misconcep- 

 tion on the part of the provincial" government, "and to prevent the 

 possibility of the recurrence of similar acts." Mr. Stevenson's atten- 

 tion to the representations of Mr. Forsyth was prompt. On the 27th 

 of March he wrote to Lord Palmerston as follows :* 



"The undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoten- 

 tiary from the United States, has the honor to acquaint Lord Viscount 

 Palmerston, her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign 

 Affairs, that he has been instructed to bring to the notice of her Ma- 

 jesty's government, without delay, certain proceedings of the colonial 

 authorities of Nova Scotia, in relation to the seizure and interruption of 

 the vessels and citizens of the United States engaged in intercourse 

 with the ports of Nova Scotia and the prosecution of the fisheries on 

 its neighboring coasts, and which, in the opinion of the American gov- 

 ernment, demand the prompt interposition of her Majesty's govern- 

 ment. For this purpose the undersigned takes leave to submit to Lord 

 Palmerston the following representation: 



" By the first article of the convention between Great Britain and the 

 United States, signed at London on the 20th October, 1818, it is pro- 

 vided : 



" 1st. That the inhabitants of the United States shall have forever, 

 in common with the subjects of Great Britain, the liberty to take 

 fish of every kind on that part of the southern coast of Newfoundland 

 which extends from Cape Ray to the Rameau islands, on the western 

 and northern coast of Newfoundland, from the said Cape Ray to the 

 Quirpon islands, on the shores of the Magdalene islands; and also on 

 the coasts, bays, harbors, and creeks, from Mount Joly, on the southern 

 coast of Labrador, to and through the Straits of Bellisle, and thence 



* Executive Document 100, page H3. 

 15 



