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Jish 9 on or within three marine miles of any of the 

 coasts, bays, creeks, or harbours of his Britannic Majes 

 ty s dominions in America, not included in the above 

 -mentioned limits: Provided, however, that the Ame 

 rican fishermen shall be admitted to enter such bays or 

 harbours, for the purpose of shelter and of repairing 

 damage therein, of purchasing wood, and of obtaining 

 water, and for no other purpose whatever. But they 

 shall be under such restrictions as may be necessary to 

 prevent their taking, drying, or curing, fish therein, or 

 in any other manner whatever abusing the privileges 

 hereby reserved to them.&quot; 



At the close of the despatch in which Mr. Rush com 

 municates the news of the signing of the convention to 

 Mr. Adams, he says, &quot; From the instructions of the 

 28th of July, I infer that government contemplated 

 becoming instrumental to the solemn argument of the 

 great question of right, under the treaty of ? b3 only 

 in the event of no article respecting the fisheries being 

 agreed upon ; and then states his supposition that the 

 signing of the treaty precluded the necessity of this 

 course he further says, &quot; I mention this, perceiving 

 from the newspapers, that there have been fresh cap 

 tures of our fishing vessels during the last season, fol 

 lowed by sentences of condemnation, from which ap 

 peals, on the part of the claimants, may, I take it for 

 granted be anticipated.&quot; 



Such was &quot; the most lame and impotent conclusion&quot; 

 of the celebrated negotiation respecting the fisheries. 

 This subject may be viewed in a variety of lights. 



Admit the doctrines assumed by Mr. Adams, to have 

 been correct, and his argument on the question of right 

 to have been incontrovertible, was it wise to leave a 

 question of such vital importance as he chose to consider 

 this, unsettled ? 



When the British government had explicitly avowed 

 their sentiments in a formal communication, when he 

 had a full knowledge of their views, was it wise in him 

 to sign a treaty of peace, leaving this most important 

 national interest insecure, and a right as sacred as the 

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