DESPATCHES, REPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 109 



thus secured, is as much a right as if it had been stipulated by any 

 other term. Being to be enjoyed by one, adjoining the territory allot- 

 ted by the partition to the other party, it seemed to be the appro- 

 priate term. I have made these remarks to show the solid ground 

 on which this right is deemed to rest by this Government, relying on 

 your thorough knowledge of the subject to illustrate and support it 

 in the most suitable manner. 



It can scarcely be presumed that the British Government, after the 

 result of the late experiment, in the present state of Europe, and 

 under its other engagements, can seriously contemplate a renewal of 

 hostilities. But it oiten happens with nations, as well as with indi- 

 viduals, that a just estimate of its interests and duties is not an 

 infallible criterion of its conduct. We ought to be prepared at every 

 point to guard against such an event. You will be attentive to cir- 

 cumstances, and give us timely notice of any danger which may be 

 menaced. 



No. 16. 181 5 , September 7 : Letter from Lord Bathurst to Mr. Baker. 



FOREIGN OFFICE, September 7, 1815. 



SIR : Your several despatches to No. 25 inclusive have been received 

 and laid before the Prince Regent. 



The necessity of immediately dispatching this messenger with my 

 preceding numbers prevents my replying to the various topics which 

 your more recent communications embrace. I shall therefore confine 

 myself to conveying to you the sentiments of His Majesty's Govern- 

 ment on the one requiring the most immediate explanation with the 

 Government of the United States, namely, the fisheries, premising the 

 instructions I have to give to you on the subject, with informing you 

 that the line which you have taken in the discussion on that point, as 

 explained in your No. 24, has met with the approbation of His Maj- 

 esty's Government. 



You will take an early opportunity of assuring Mr. Monroe that, 

 as, on the one hand, the British Government cannot acknowledge the 

 right of the United States to use the British territory for the purpose 

 connected with the fishery, and that their fishing vessels will be ex- 

 cluded from the bays, harbours, rivers, creeks, and inlets of all His 

 Majesty's possessions : so, on the other hand, the British Government 

 does not pretend to interfere with the fishery in which the subjects 

 of the United States may be engaged, either on the Grand Bank of 

 Newfoundland, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, or other places in the sea, 

 without the jurisdiction of the maritime league from the coasts under 

 the dominion of Great Britain. 



Upon these principles, therefore, the case against which the Ameri- 

 can Government has remonstrated, if well founded, was not author- 

 ized by His Majesty's Government. 



I am, &c. (Signed) BATHURST. 



