290 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., PRIOR TO TREATY OF 1818 



the subject, which Mr. Bagot did not then feci himself authorized to 

 take, ad refi n ndum, but which he has since been instructed to receive, 

 and transmit for the opinion of his court. 



Mr. Adams is requested to assure the President of the United States 

 that the Prince Regent has been desirous of seizing this, the earliest 

 occasion, since his Elevation to the Presidency, of evincing to Him 

 and to the United States His Royal Highness's Disposition to culti- 

 vate a good understanding, in the confidence that the President will 

 meet this sentiment with a corresponding Feeling. 



The undersigned begs Mr. Adams will accept the assurances of his 

 high Consideration. 



(Signed) Castlereagh. 



Mr. Bagot to Mr. Rush, Acting Secretary of State. 



Washington, May 27, 1817. 



Sir, In laying before my Government the correspondence which 

 passed last year between the Secretary of the Department of State 

 and myself, upon the subject of the accommodation which His Royal 

 Highness the Prince Regent was willing to afford to the Citizens of 

 the United States for the purposes of their Fishery, I did not fail 

 to represent, that, in the Conversations which had taken place upon 

 the propositions which I had been authorized to make, and which 

 were finally declined, the Secretary of the Department of State had 

 intimated a wish to communicate to me some particular arrange- 

 ment which would be satisfactory upon the subject to the American 

 Government. 



I have now received the Commands of His Royal Highness to 

 acquaint you, that, whilst His Royal Highness regrets, that the very 

 liberal accommodation which I was instructed to offer should not have 

 been thought to afford the advantages which the American Govern- 

 ment desired, His Royal Highness still cherishes the same disposition 

 to admit the Citizens of the United States to such participation of 

 the conveniences afforded to their Fishery by the neighbouring 

 Coasts of His Majesty's Dominions, as may justly consist with His 

 Majesty's rights, and the interests of His own Subjects. 



His Royal Highness is willing to receive in a sincere spirit of 

 friendly accommodation whatever suggestion the American Govern- 

 ment may have to offer which they may conceive to be reconcilable 

 with these primary considerations — His Royal Highness feels assured, 

 that the Government of the United States must know so well the 

 nature and value of those interests of His Majesty's subjects which it 

 is the first object of His Royal Highness to protect and preserve, 

 that they will not fail to frame any proposition which they may be 

 desirous of making in such a spirit of moderation as will not impose 

 upon His Royal Highness the necessity of declining to entertain it. 

 J lis Royal Highness has therefore commanded me to ascertain from 

 the American Government the extent of the accommodation which 

 they seek to obtain, and at the same time to give the assurance of His 

 Royal Highness that it will be considered with the sincere and earnest 

 hope that it may not be found irreconcilable with those important 

 objects to which I have adverted. 



