PERIOD FROM 1854 TO 1871. 635 



Majesty 's Government have proposed that the questions relating to the 

 British possessions in North America should be discussed, provided 

 that all other claims, both of British subjects and citizens of the 

 United States, arising out of acts committed during the recent civil 

 war in this country, are similarly referred to the same Commission. 

 The expressions made use of in the name of the President in your 

 above mentioned note, with regard to the "Alabama " claims, con- 

 vince me that the Government of the United States will consider it of 

 importance that these causes of disputes between the two countries 

 should also, and at the same time, be done away with, and that you 

 will enable me to convey to my Government the assent of the Presi- 

 dent to the addition which they thus propose to the duties of the High 

 Commission, and which cannot fail to make it more certain that the 

 labors will lead to the removal of all differences between the two 

 countries. 



I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your 

 most obedient, humble servant, 



Edward Thornton. 



Hon. Hamilton Fish, &c. 



Mr. Fish to Sir Edward Thornton. 



Department of State, 

 Washington, February 3, 1871. 



Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of 

 the Lert in-iant. in which you inform me that you are authorized by 

 l-l.i rl Granville to state that it would give Her Majesty's Government 

 great satisfaction if the claims commonly known by the name of the 

 "Alabama claims" were submitted to the consideration of the same 

 High Commission by which Her Majesty's Government have pro- 

 posed that the questions relative to the British possessions in North 

 America should be discussed, provided that all other claims, both of 

 British subjects and citizens or the United! Slates, arising out of acts 

 committed during the recent civil war in this country, arc similarly 

 referred to the same ( lommission. 



I have laid your note before ih»> President, and be has directed me 

 to express the satisfaction with which h<- ha* received the intelligence 

 thai Earl Granville bat authorised you to state that Her Majesty's 

 I rovernmenl ha- accepted the \ iem - of ihi < lovernmenl as to the dis- 

 position io be made of the » called "Alabama claim 



II. ■ also direct me to say, with ref< rence to the remainder of voui 

 note, thai if there !>'• other and further claim-, of Briti h subjects, 

 or of American citiax »wing out of acts committed during the 



recent <-i\il war in tin- country, he h ent to the propriety of their 

 reference to the same High Comi on; but he i that the 



High < on i mi -ioiHi- -hall consider only 1 1 • -1 1 claim of this de crip 

 tion a be pr< ented bj the Governments of th< n pective claim 



ant at an early day, to !><• :i •.' r-. . •< I upon by the < "nun ! 



I have the honor to be, with the highe • con ideration, sir, your 

 obedient ei i ant, 



1 I I M II I. '. I'l-II. 



Sir Ki-u ISO 'I HOR] . K < '. I'.. &C. 



