182 APPENDIX TO BRITISH CASE. 



That conciliatory means should be found, which may be consistent 

 with the exercise of its rights, is the earnest desire of the Government 

 of the United States, as well as of that of France. It has already 

 been explicitly stated that the forcible means to which she has re- 

 sorted, are an aggression on those rights, and she will neither com- 

 mit her own or injure the interests of*her subjects, in abstaining with 

 every necessary reservation, from similar proceedings, until a satis- 

 factory arrangement shall have taken place. 



I request your Excellency to accept &c &c. 



(Signed) ALBERT GALLATIN. 



No. 53. 1823, June 4-' Extract from Letter from Mr. Gallatin to 



Mr. J. Q. Adams. 



NEW YORK, 24th June, 1823. 



SIR. I arrived here this morning, after a passage of thirty-four 

 days from Havre. Nothing had taken place at the time of my 

 107 departure which altered our relations with France. In a con- 

 ference with Mr. de Chateaubriand on the 13th ult., I com- 

 plained of the want of disposition evinced by France to arrange the 

 subjects of difference between the two countries, and of the manner 

 in which the question had been treated by her Government, and by 

 him in particular. It is unnecessary to repeat to you what was said 

 on the subject of the American claims; but I dwelt on his last letter 

 to me respecting the fisheries, and told him that if he intended to 

 preserve an amicable understanding with the United States, he must 

 answer the arguments used in support of their claims, instead of 

 simply saying that they did not alter his view of the subject, and, 

 above all, suspend every act of aggression pending the discussion. I 

 also adverted to his not having given any explanation on the subject 

 of the second separate article of the commercial convention, and ob- 

 served generally that that apparent determination on the part of the 

 French Government to avoid every discussion had an unfriendly and 

 offensive aspect, which could not fail ultimately to produce an un- 

 favourable effect on our relations. What I said seemed to produce 

 at least some momentary effect, and Mr. de Chateaubriand sent me, 

 two days after our interview, the enclosed letters for Count de 

 Menou, which may perhaps contain some instructions arising from 

 that conversation. You need not, however, expect anything be^yond 

 words, or that justice shall be done in any respect. With respect to 

 the fisheries, although France may abstain from positive aggression, 

 and of this I have no assurances, she will again act as formerly unless 

 fully satisfied that the Government of the United States will resist. 



No. 54. 1823, June 27: Letter from Mr. Adams (United States Secre- 

 tary of State] to Mr. Rush (Envoy at London}. 



DEPARTMENT or STATE, Washington, June 27, 1823. 

 SIR: Your despatches Nos. 265 and 275, enclosing copies of your 

 correspondence with Mr. Gallatin concerning the question which has 

 arisen with France in regard to the right of fishing on a certain part 

 of the coast of Newfoundland, have been duly received. 



