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inerly used by the inhabitants of the United States, 

 may be very conducive to their national and individual 

 prosperity, though they should be placed under some 

 modification ; and this feeling operated most forcibly 

 in favour of concession. 



He then complains of the pre-occupation of the 

 British waters, by the American fishermen, and the 

 introduction of prohibited goods into the British territo 

 ries, from American vessels, to the injury of the reve 

 nue, and concludes by professing that the British gov 

 ernment, were willing to enter into negotiations for the 

 modified renewal of the liberties. 



&quot; On the 8th of November, Mr. Adams informs his 

 government of this offer to negotiate, and by a despatch 

 from Secretary Monroe, dated February 27, 1816, he 

 is authorized to commence the negotiation. 



Mr. Monroe, in a letter to Mr. Adams, dated May 

 24, 1816, expresses a hope that the negotiation re 

 specting the fisheries, might have been concluded. 



From another letter, dated on the 8th of July follow 

 ing, it appears, that Mr. Bagot was authorized to con 

 clude the negotiation at Washington. 



An order had been issued, by the British govern 

 ment to Admiral Griffith, commanding on the American 

 station, to remove the American fishing vessels from 

 the British waters, which order however was revoked, 

 during the pendency of the negotiation, upon the appli 

 cation of Mr. Bagot. 



Mr. Bagot and Mr. Monroe proceeded in the nego 

 tiation. Mr. Bagot disclaimed in the most absolute and 

 positive terms all claim which was founded on any sup 

 posed right on the part of America, and represented 

 his offer as arising solely from a feeling both friendly 

 and humane on the part of the British nation. He offer 

 ed the continuance of the right to fish on that part of 

 the coast of Labrador which commences at Mount Joli 

 to the Bay of Esquimeaux, and to be confined to the 

 unsettled parts of that coast in the curing and drying of 

 their fish. That offer was rejected by the American 

 government. Mr. Bagot then offered that part of the 



