DESPATCHES, REPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 97 



however, at this time, and without a respectful and friendly com- 

 munication with the Powers interested in this navigation, to fix on 

 the distance to which we may ultimately insist on the right of protec- 

 tion, the President gives instructions to the officers, acting under his 

 authority, to consider those heretofore given them as restrained for 

 the present to the distance of one sea-league, or three geographical 

 miles from the sea shores. This distance can admit of no opposi- 

 tion, as it is recognised by treaties between some of the powers with 

 whom we are connected in commerce and navigation, and is as little 

 or less than is claimed by any of them on their own coasts. 



Future occasions will be taken to enter into explanations with them, 

 as to the ulterior extent to which we may reasonably carry our juris- 

 diction. For that of the rivers and bays of the United States, the 

 laws of the several States are understood to have made provision, 

 and they are, moreover, as being landlocked, within the body of the 

 United States. 



Examining, by this rule, the case of the British brig Fanny, taken 



on the 8th of May last, it appears from the evidence, that the capture 



was made four or five miles from the land, and consequently without 



the line provisionally adopted by the President, as before mentioned. 



I have the honour to be, &c. 



TH: JEFFERSON. 



57 No. 6. 1793, Novembers: Letter from Mr. Jefferson (United 

 States Secretary of State) to Mr. Hammond (British Minis- 

 ter at Philadelphia). 



GERMAN-TOWN, Nov. 5, 1793. 



SIR: The President of the United States thinking that before it 

 shall be finally decided to what distance from our sea shores the ter- 

 ritorial protection of the United States shall be exercised, it will be 

 proper to enter into friendly conferences and explanations with the 

 powers chiefly interested in the navigation of the seas on our coasts, 

 and relying that convenient occasions may be taken for these here- 

 after, finds it necessary in the mean time, to fix provisionally on some 

 distance for the present government of these questions. You are 

 sensible that very different opinions and claims have been heretofore 

 advanced on this subject. The greatest distance to which any re- 

 spectable assent among nations has been at any time given, has been 

 the extent of the human sight, estimated at upwards of 20 miles, and 

 the smallest distance I believe, claimed by any nation whatever is the 

 utmost range of a cannon ball, usually stated at one sea league. Some 

 intermediate distances have also been insisted on, and that of three 

 sea leagues has some authority in its favor. The character of our 

 coast, remarkable in considerable parts of it for admitting no vessels 

 of size to pass near the shores, would entitle us in reason to as broad 

 a margin of protected navigation as any nation whatever. Reserving 

 however the ultimate extent of this for future deliberation the Presi- 

 dent gives instructions to the officers acting under his authority to 

 consider those heretofore given them as restrained for the present to 

 the distance of one sea league or three geographical miles from the 

 sea shores. This distance can admit of no opposition as it is recog- 

 92909 S. Doc. 870, 61-3, vol. 4 17 



