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have to request that you will inform the Council and Assembly 
pt-their address has been laid before the Queen, who was pleased to 
“ive it very graciously, and with respect to the points referred to 
bove, to which particular attention has been called, that you will state 
9 them with regard to point 1, that the instructions given to the naval 
f licers are framed with the view of the proper protection of British 
fishermen in the prosecution of their lawful fishery, but that the 
uestion whether the establishment of lobster factories on shore is 
consistent with the engagements with France is now the subject of 
discussion between the two countries, and that no further instructions 
ean at present be given on this subject; that the Council and Assem- 
HY ly are aware that the British declaration of 1783 declares that in 
‘order that the fishermen of the two nations may not give cause for 
ly eoarel, his Britannic Majesty will take the most positive 
leasures for preventing his subjects from interrupting in any manner 
P Gicie competition the fishery of the French during the temporary 
cercise of it which is granted to them upon the coasts of Newfound- 
a and he will for this purpose cause the fixed settlements which 
hall be formed there to be removed. It is evident, therefore, that the 
i shery of British fishermen, whether lobster or otherwise, must be 
ied on subject to the above restriction as to the non-interruption 
f the French fishery. 
_ You will apprise the Council and Assembly with reference to 
yoints 2 and 3, that the pretensions of the French in regard to the 
obster fishery and the erection of lobster factories on shore are 
disputed by her Majesty's Government, who, however, trust that 
ome understanding may be arrived at with the French Government 
between the present time and the opening of the next year’s fishery 
Season, and that her Majesty’s Government altogether deprecate any 
ction such as is suggested whilst the matter is the subject of 
diplomatic negotiation. With reference to point 4, her Majesty’s 
to yernment can only return an answer to the memorialists similar 
to that given to a recent memorial from the inhabitants of the west 
coast of Newfoundland, which was transmitted in the Governor's 
| Jespatch of the 16th of March last. These memorialists, amongst 
other things, request free access to the coast for the purpose of 
Mnining, shipbuilding, and all other operations, and grants of land 
unhampered by certain conditions which were then referred to. 
_ The reply given to the memorialists as to free access to the coast 
' for mining operations was to the effect that this matter was to a great 
> te nt dealt with in the arrangement of 1885, which, much to the 
egret of her Majesty’s Government, was rejected by the Newfoundland 
esislature; that until some fresh arrangement should have been made 
