132 APPENDIX TO BRITISH CASE. 



then, an alternative on the shore of the Island of Newfoundland, to 

 commence at Cape Ray, and extend, east, to the Ramea Islands. Of 

 the value of this coast I am likewise ignorant. The negotiation must, 

 therefore, be again suspended until I obtain the information requisite 

 to enable me to act in it. 



It is probable that the arrangement of these two interests will again 

 rest with you. The advantage of it, as you are already authorised 

 to treat on other important subjects, is obvious. 



At the commencement of our conferences, Mr. Bagot informed me 

 of an order which had been issued by Admiral Griffith to the British 

 cruisers, to remove our fishing vessels from the coasts of those prov- 

 inces, which he would endeavour to have revoked pending the 

 77 negotiation. His attempt succeeded. I shall endeavour to 

 have this revocation extended, so as to afford the accommoda- 

 tion desired until the negotiation is concluded. All the information 

 which has been, or may be, obtained on this subject shall be trans- 

 mitted to you. 



No. 23. 1816, November 27 : Letter from Mr. Bagot (British Min- 

 ister at Washington) to Mr. Monroe (United States Secretary of 

 State). 



WASHINGTON, November %7, 1816. 



SIR: In the conversation which I had with you a few days ago, 

 upon the subject of the negotiation into which the British Govern- 

 ment is willing to enter, for the purpose of affording to the citizens 

 of the United States such accommodation for their fishery, within 

 the British jurisdiction, as may be consistent with the proper admin- 

 istration of His Majesty's dominions, you appeared to apprehend 

 that neither of the propositions which I had had the honour to make 

 to you upon this subject would be considered as affording in a 

 sufficient degree the advantages which were deemed requisite. 



In order that I may not fail to make the exact nature of these prop- 

 ositions clearly understood, and that I may fully explain the con- 

 siderations by which they have been suggested, it may perhaps be 

 desirable that I should bring under one view the substance of what 

 I have already had the honour of stating to you in the several con- 

 ferences which we have held upon this business. 



It is not necessary for me to advert to the discussion which has 

 taken place between Earl Bathurst and Mr. Adams. In the corre- 

 spondence which has passed between them, you will have already 

 seen, in the notes of the former, a full exposition of the grounds upon 

 which the liberty of drying and fishing within the British limits, as 

 granted to the citizens of the United States by the treaty of 1783, 

 was considered to have ceased with the war, and not to have been 

 revived by the late treaty of peace. 



You will also have seen therein detailed the serious considerations 

 affecting not only the prosperity of the British fishery, but the gen- 

 eral interests of the British dominions, in matters of revenue as well 

 as government, which made it incumbent upon His Majesty's Gov- 

 ernment to oppose the renewal of so extensive and injurious a 

 concession, within the British sovereignty, to a foreign State, founded 



