DESPATCHES, BEPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 261 



the Convention of 1818 from that adopted by Her Majesty's Govern- 

 ment, in regard to the conditions by which the privilege of fishing 

 is limited by that Treaty; which difference, he thinks, may give rise 

 not only to collision between the British provincial authorities and 

 American citizens, but involve the two Governments in questions of 

 a serious nature. 



With regard to Mr. Webster's, suggestion that I should prevail 

 upon the provincial authorities not to institute what he denominates 

 "hostile proceedings" against American fishing vessels till longer 

 notice be given, I do not of course consider myself competent to 

 recommend to the Governors of Her Majesty's North American 

 Colonies the suspension of measures which have been taken under 

 instructions from Her Majesty's Government, and the adoption of 

 which I had myself duly announced to the Government of the United 

 States. I thought it right however to address a letter, a copy of 

 which I have the honour to inclose, to the Governor General of Can- 

 ada, to the Lieutenant Governors of the other North American Prov- 

 inces, and to Vice Admiral Sir George Seymour, informing them of 

 the view taken of the matter by the United States Government, in 

 order that they might be prepared to take such precautions as, in 

 their judgment, might seem fit, to prevent the occurrence of those 

 collisions and difficulties which the United States Government 

 apprehends. 



The intention expressed by Mr. Webster of recommending to the 

 President that the whole subject of the fisheries and of reciprocity of 

 trade between the United States and the North American Colonies 

 should be taken up with a view to its definitive settlement by negotia- 

 tion, has rendered me still more desirous that none of those difficulties 

 or collisions should occur; for the question of reciprocity of trade 

 the decision of which has so long been desired both by the Imperial 

 and the Provincial Governments, and which is now under the consid- 

 eration of Congress with I fear, very little prospect of being 

 155 speedily decided, might, by such a negotiation, (which the 

 Government of the United States has hitherto declined to 

 enter upon), be now brought to a prompt and satisfactory conclusion. 



I have informed Mr. Webster, in reply to his invitation, that I will 

 immediately repair to Boston, and I propose to leave Washington for 

 that purpose to-morrow morning. 



In the meantime, I have had th-is day, at his own request, a conver- 

 sation upon this subject with the President of the United States. 



Mr. Fillmore urged me strongly to proceed to Boston with a view 

 of devising, with Mr. Webster, some means by which collision be- 

 tween our respective citizens and subjects, or misunderstanding be- 

 tween our Governments might be avoided until such time as the 

 point in regard to which such collisions might arise, should be settled. 



We ha'd been examining the Convention of 1818, he said, and 

 although he contested the construction put by the British Law Officers 

 upon the clause regarding the limits assigned, within which American 

 fishermen could not legally carry on their operations, he nevertheless 

 admitted that the wording of the passage, which he thought somewhat 

 obscure, countenanced to a certain degree that construction. With 

 regard to the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown by which this 

 construction was maintained, he remarked, however, that it seemed 



