DESPATCHES, REPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC, 213 



indisputably used by our citizens since the year 1783, and it is 

 impossible to conceive how the use, on our part, of this right of pas- 

 sage, common it is believed to all other nations, conflicts either with 

 the letter or the spirit of our treaty obligations. 



I transmit to you enclosed a printed House document (No. 186) 

 of the last session of Congress, and also a copy of the journal and 

 proceedings of the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia at its session 

 of 1839-40, both of which will be useful to you in the examination 

 of the subject to which this letter relates. 

 I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 



JOHN FORSYTE. 

 A. STEVENSON, &c., &c., &c. 



No. 73. 1841 9 March 27: Letter from Mr. Stevenson to Lord Pal- 

 mers ton. 



32 UPPER GROSVENOR STREET, March #7, 1841. 



The undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotenti- 

 ary from the United States, has the honour to acquaint Lord Viscount 

 Palmerston, her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign 

 Affairs, that he has been instructed to bring to the notice of her 

 Majesty's Government, without delay, certain proceedings of the 

 colonial authorities of Nova Scotia, in relation to the seizure and in- 

 terruption of the vessels and citizens of the United States engaged in 

 intercourse with the ports of Nova Scotia, and the presecution of the 

 fisheries on its neighbouring coasts, and which, in the opinion of 

 the American government, demand the prompt interposition of her 

 Majesty's government. For this purpose the undersigned takes leave 

 to submit to Lord Palmerston the following representation : 



By the first article of the convention between Great Britain and the 

 United States, signed at London, on the 20th of October, 1818, it is 

 provided : " 1st. That the inhabitants of the United States shall have 

 forever, in common with the subjects of Great Britain, the liberty to 

 take fish of every kind on that part of the southern coast of New- 

 foundland which extends from Cape Ray to the Rameau islands; on 

 the western and northern coast of Newfoundland, from the said Cape 

 Ray to the Quirpon islands; on the shores of the Magdalen islands; 

 and also on the coasts, bays, harbors and creeks from Mount Joly, on 

 the southern coast of Labrador, to and through the straits of Belleisle, 

 and thence northwardly indefinitely along the coast, without preju- 

 dice, however, to the exclusive rights of the Hudson Bay Company. 

 2dly. That the American fishermen shall also have liberty forever to 

 dry and cure fish in any part of the unsettled bays, harbors and 

 creeks of the southern portion of the coast of Newfoundland before 

 described, and of the coast of Labrador; the United States renouncing 

 any liberty before enjoyed b}^ their citizens to take fish within three 

 marine miles of any coasts, bays, creeks or harbors of the British 

 dominions in America not included within the above limits, i. e. New- 

 foundland and Labrador. And 3dly. That American fishermen shall 

 also be admitted to enter such bays or harbors for the purpose of 

 shelter and of repairing damages therein, and also of purchasing 

 wood and obtaining water, under such restrictions only as might be 



