546 OOBRESPONDENOB, ETC. 



view to place them upon a more liberal footing of reciprocal privilege. 

 A willingness lo meet us in some arrangement of this kind is under- 

 stood to exist, on the part, of Great Britain, with a desire on her part 

 to include in one comprehensive settlement as well this subject as the 

 commercial intercourse between the United States and the British 

 provinces. I have thought that, whatever arrangements may be made 

 on these two subjects, it is expedient that they should be embraced in 

 separate conventions. The illness and death of the late Secretary of 

 State prevented the commencement of the contemplated negotiation. 

 Pains have been taken to collect the information required for the de- 

 tails of such an arrangement. The subject is attended with consider- 

 able difficulty. If it is found practicable to come to an agreement 

 mutually acceptable to the two parties, conventions may be concluded 

 in the course of the present winter. The control of Congress over all 

 the provisions of such an arrangement, affecting the revenue, will of 



course be reserved. 



******* 



Consul Fraser to Mr. Marcy. 



No. 2] United States Consulate, 



Halifax, N. £., May 23d, 1853. 



Sir: My last despatch was under date of 30" April (No. 1) advis- 

 ing that I had entered on the duties of this Consulate as " Commer- 

 cial Agent," &c. 



I have now to inform you that His Excellency Vice Admiral Sir 

 G. Seymour arrived here on the 15" inst. in the Cumberland (70) 

 Capt. Seymour, and he is making active preparations for protect- 

 ing the Fisheries of this, and the Neighbouring Provinces. Since his 

 arrival he has despatched the Cutter Netley (8) Lieut. Newport, 

 and a smaller cutter to the Bay of Fundy, and during the past week 

 H. M. paddle wheel, Steam Ships, Argus (6) 300 H. P. Comr. 

 Purvis and Basillish (6) 400 H. P. Comr. Egerton with the Brig 

 (Sloop) Espiegle (12) Commander Hancock, have reached this 

 from England; these with other Steam Vessels, expected to arrive 

 from same quarter, and some hired sailing vessel, are to be specially 

 employed in the Fishery Service. 



The Frigate Vestal (26) Capt. Hamilton is also here refitting, 

 and will probably go to the Newfoundland Coast for the summer. 



H. M. Steam Ship Devastation (6) Com. Campbell has gone to 

 Quebec for some slight repairs, and when completed will take her 

 Station in the Gulf St. Lawrence same as last year. 



The Provincial Government of Nova Scotia, are also again stir- 

 ring in this matter, having advertised for two vessels of 00 to 80 

 tons, each with 25 men, besides the master, to be employed during 

 the fishing season from 18th June next. * * * 



* * * I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obt. svt. 



Robert W. Fraser. 



To the Honorable Wm. L. Marcy, 



Secretary of State, W ashington. 



