462 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 



seize and confiscate American vessels, and to embezzle, almost indis- 

 criminately, the property of our citizens employed in the fisheries on 

 the coasts of the British possessions. 



In pointing out to her Majesty's government the points in these 

 regulations which have proved or are likely to prove most injurious 

 and oppressive in their practical operation on the interests of the citi- 

 zens of the United States, it will also be proper to notice the assertion 

 of the provincial legislature, that the Strait of Canso is a " narrow 

 strip of water completely within and dividing several counties " of the 

 province, and that our use of it is in violation of the convention of 

 1818. That strait separates Nova Scotia from the island of Cape 

 Breton, which was not annexed to the province until 1820. In 1818, 

 Cape Breton was enjoying a government of its own entirely distinct 

 from Nova Scotia, the strait forming the line of demarcation between 

 them, and being then, as now, a thoroughfare for vessels passing into 

 and out of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The union of the two colonies 

 cannot be admitted as vesting in the province the right to close a 

 passage which has been freely and indisputably used by our citizens 

 since the year 1783, and it is impossible to conceive how the use, on our 

 part, of this right of passage, common it is believed to all other nations, 

 conflicts either with the letter or the spirit of our treaty obligations. 



I transmit to you enclosed a printed House document (No. 186) 

 of last session of Congress, and also a copy of the journal and pro- 

 ceedings of the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia at its session of 

 1839-40, both of which will be useful to you in the examination of 

 the subject to which this letter relates. 

 I am, sir, your obedient servant, 



John Forsyth. 



A. Stevenson, &c, &c, &c. 



Mr. Stevenson to Lord Palmerston. 



32 Upper Grosvenor Street, 



March £7, 181$. 



The undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipo- 

 tentiary from the United States, has the honor to acquaint Lord 

 Viscount Palmerston, her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for 

 Foreign Affairs, that he has been instructed to bring to the notice of 

 her Majesty's government, without delay, certain proceedings of the 

 colonial authorities of Nova Scotia, in relation to the seizure and 

 interruption of the vessels and citizens of the United States engaged 

 in intercourse with the ports of Nova Scotia, and the prosecution 

 of the fisheries on its neighboring coasts, and which, in the opinion 

 of the American government, demand the prompt interposition of 

 her Majesty's government. For this purpose the undersigned takes 

 leave to submit to Lord Palmerston the following representation : 



By the first article of the convention between Great Britain and 

 the United States, signed at London, on the 20th of October, 1818, 

 it is provided : " 1st. That the inhabitants of the United States shall 

 have forever, in common with the subjects of Great Britain, the 

 liberty to take fish of every kind on that part of the southern coast 

 of Newfoundland, from the said Cape Ray to the Rameau islands; 

 on the western and northern coast of Newfoundland, from the said 



