PERTAINING TO NEGOTIATION OF TREATY OF 1818. 293 



His Royal Highness is willing to make the utmost concession which 

 these considerations will admit; and, in proof of the sincerity of this 

 disposition, I have received His Royal Highness's instructions to 

 acquaint you that if, upon examination of the local circumstances of 

 the coasts, which I have had the honor to propose, the American Gov- 

 ernment should be of opinion that neither of them, taken separately, 

 would afford, in a satisfactory degree, the conveniences which are 

 deemed requisite, His Royal Highness will be willing that the citi- 

 zens of the United States should have the full benefit of both of them, 

 and that, under the conditions already stated, they should be admitted 

 to each of the shores which I have had the honor to point out. 



In consenting to assign to their use so large a portion of His 

 Majesty's coasts, His Royal Highness is persuaded that he affords an 

 unquestionable testimony of his earnest endeavor to meet, as far as 

 is possible, the wishes of the American Government, and practically 

 to accomplish, in the amplest manner, the objects which they have 

 in view. The free access to each of these tracts cannot fail to offer 

 every variety of convenience which the American fishermen can re- 

 quire in the different branches of their occupation; and it will be 

 observed that an objection which might possibly have been felt to the 

 acceptance of either of the propositions, when separately taken, is 

 wholly removed by the offer of them conjointly; as, from whatever 

 quarter the wind may blow, the American vessels engaged in the 

 fishery will alwaj's have the advantage of a safe port under their lee. 



His Royal Highness conceives that it is not in His Royal High- 

 ness's power to make a larger concession than that which is now pro- 

 posed, without injury to the essential rights of His Majesty's domin- 

 ions, and some of the chief interests of His Majesty's own subjects. 

 But it will be a source of sincere satisfaction to His Royal Highness 

 if. in the arrangement which I have the honor to submit, the citizens 

 of the United States shall find, as His Royal Highness confidently 

 believes that they will find, ample means of continuing to pursue 

 their occupation frith the convenience and advantage which they 

 desire. 



I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, &c. 



Charles Bagot. 



Mr. Monroe to Mr. Bagot. 



Department of State, January 7, 1817. 



Sib: T have had the honor to receive your letter of the 31st of 

 December, proposing an accommodatioi] of the difference between 

 our Governments relative to the fisheries, comprised in the first 

 branch of the fourth article of the treaty of L783, by the allotment of 

 both the coasts compri ed in your former propositions. 



Saving stated, in my letter. ( ,f the 30th of December, that, accord- 

 ing to the best information which I had been able to obtain, neither 

 of tho e coasts had been much frequented by our fishermen, <>r was 

 likely to he ,,, j M future, I am led to believe thai they would not, 

 when taken conjointly, :i- proposed in your las! letter, afford Hie ac- 

 commodation which i- 30 important '" them, mid which it is very 

 satisfactory to find it i.-, the desire of your Government that they 



