PERIOD FROM 1836 TO 1854. 517 



to fish in the Bay of Fundy, were fully recognized by the present 

 government, and would not be withdrawn; that an armed force was 

 sent there at this time to keep the American fishermen three miles 

 from the British shores, in accordance with the provisions of the con- 

 vention of 1818 ; that the orders were the same, both with respect to 

 the French and the American fishermen; and finally, that her 

 Majesty's government did not intend, by sending an armed force into 

 those waters, to give offence either to the government or to the people 

 of the United States; the sole object being to maintain the neglected 

 rights of the colonists. 



He then requested me to assure you of the friendly feeling enter- 

 tained by the present government towards the United States, and 

 their strong desire to continue the cordial relations now so happily 

 existing. 



I asked, then, whether, when the instructions of the 24th of 

 May were sent to the colonial governors, her Majesty's government 

 were aware of the existence of Lord Aberdeen's note to Mr. Everett, 

 yielding the liberty to American fishermen to fish in the Ba}^ of 

 Fundy. He said they were. I then asked whether notice of the 

 intentions of her Majesty's Government had been given to the gov- 

 ernment of the United States. He said notice was sent to Mr. 

 Crampton, on or about the 16th of June, to be communicated to you 

 officially. 



After Lord Malmesbury had finished, I stated that, having received 

 no communication from the government of the United States, I 

 could of course only express my own opinion upon the question; 

 that the right of her Majesty's government to keep the American 

 fishermen at a distance of three marine miles from the shore, seemed 

 to me clear under the treaty; that we should probably differ in the 

 application of that instrument to the bays and harbors on the coast, 

 as I could not agree to the British interpretation — but we would 

 not discuss that point now: and that I would proceed to express 

 my own views frankly on the present condition of the question. I 

 said that I deeply regretted the course taken by her Majesty's gov- 

 ernment; that the sending of nineteen armed vessels, without notice, 

 to those water-, (as stated in the provincial journals,) appeared to 

 be a hostile movement, and one that could not but produce unpleasant 

 result-;; that courtesy demanded that after the right of fishing had 

 been claimed and exercised for thirty years, (whether rightfully or 

 wrongfully,) such notice should be given t<> the government 01 the 

 United States as would enable it to seasonably proclaim to all con- 

 cerned the intention- of the British government. I further stated 

 thai ilii measure taken al this time, when the whole American 

 fishing-fleet was upon the provincial coast, would appear to have 

 been intended (whether really so <>r not) to coerce the United States 

 into a ; tem of trade whicn, it is well known, the provinces have 

 long sough! for. I further stated that I was personally in favor of a 

 comprehensive and reciprocal system of trade between the United 

 States and the Briti h North Ajnerican provinces; bu< that a measure 

 of so much importance, involving so various interests, could not bo 



matured and executed without allowing time. I said that this whole 

 question was at presenl receiving much attention, not. only in the 

 provinces, but in all the Stale ..f the Union; that a committee of 

 the House of Repre entatives had it under consideration, and that I 



