518 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 



had understood that they were about to report a bill, or at least to 

 make a report. If wisely arranged, T said that I thought the measure 

 would prove conducive to the interests of both countries; and I 

 could not but regret still more that the apparently hostile attitude 

 of her .Majesty's ministers would retard its adoption. I said that 

 under all the circumstances I could not but think that this apparent 

 measure of coercion was hastily adopted, and without that delibera- 

 tion and forethought which had usually characterized the proceed- 

 ings of British statesmen, and which was becoming a nation acting 

 towards those with whom they were in a state or amicable peace, 

 if not friendship even. I felt, therefore, I added, that under all the 

 circumstances a mistake had been committed in ordering a fleet to 

 those waters, and that I hoped the instructions to the several author- 

 ities in the provinces and to the admiral, would be so far modified 

 as to open the way to a final and equitable settlement of the question. 



With this the interview of the 7th terminated. 



On the 9th I again met Lord Malmesbury at the Foreign Office, 

 at his request. He said that since our last interview he had seen 

 Lord Derby, who said that the idea had never occurred to him to 

 give a formal notice to the United States, as her Majesty's govern- 

 ment did not intend to assert any new principle, but only to maintain 

 those provisions of the treaty of 1818 about which there was no dis- 

 pute, viz : those in regard to fishing within three miles of the British 

 shore. I asked Lord Malmesbury whether despatches were to be sent 

 to Mr. Crampton and to the authorities of the lower provinces: to 

 which he replied that they were now being prepared, and would be 

 sent from here on Friday. I asked what would be their character. He 

 said those in authority would be instructed to confine the efforts of 

 the vessels of war to within three miles of the shore, leaving the 

 other questions open to be considered hereafter, and to use great 

 care and sound discretion in the exercise of the authority intrusted 

 to them even within the three miles. 



This terminated the interview of yesterday. The government, I 

 am satisfied, feel that they committed an error in ordering a large 

 naval force to those waters during the fishing season, and a still 

 greater one in sending it without reasonable notice to the government 

 of the United States, and are now willing to do everything in their 

 power to allay excitement. If a comprehensive plan of reciprocal 

 trade between the British North American colonies and the United 

 States can be adopted, it will supersede the necessity of taking up 

 the fisheries separately. If that cannot be done, I still believe that 

 an arrangement favorable to both countries can be made, which will 

 settle forever the question of the North American fisheries. 



I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



Abbott Lawrence. 



Lord Malmesbury to Mr. Crampton. 



No. 78) Foreign Office, August 10, 1852. 



Sir: I have received and laid before the Queen your despatch, No. 

 105, of the 20th ultimo, respecting the official publication, by the 

 Secretary of State of the United States, of certain information rela- 

 tive to the measures adopted by her Majesty's government for the 



