DESPATCHES, REPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 289 



Britain and the United States; namely, that the relaxation as to bays 

 applied, as is stated in Lord Aberdeen's note to Mr. Everett of the 

 21st of April 1845, " to the Bay of Fundy alone," any further discus- 

 sion of that question being a matter of negotiation between the two 

 Governments. 



I cannot however conclude without adverting to the fact that the 

 proceedings of Her Majesty's Government which have called forth 

 so much animadversion on the part of the United States were adopted, 

 not merely with reference to the protection of British fisheries against 

 American encroachments, but also against similar encroachments on 

 the part of French fishermen; and that a considerable proportion of 

 the armed craft employed for protecting the British fisheries in 

 North America were placed there in order to use means equally used 

 by the French Government to protect French rights. 



v Xow with regard to such species of protection the Governments of 

 Great Britain and France have not been in the habit of evincing any 

 national jealousy, or of considering that offence was thereby intended. 

 On the contrary, both Governments have found that the surest mode 

 of preventing misunderstanding was to join in effectually protecting 

 their respective lines of demarcation. 



Such protection, or rather guard, is constantly maintained by both 

 Governments in the British channel, where the fishery is regulated by 

 a Convention between Great Britain and France, whereby the lines 

 are clearly laid down, and where, notwithstanding the mutual pre- 

 caution adopted by the cruizers of both nations, the fishermen of both 

 countries are repeatedly found encroaching. But such encroachments 

 are not countenanced by either Government. The cruisers of each 

 Government are instructed to warn their own countrymen whenever 

 they observe them disposed to cross the line of demarcation; and the 

 fishermen who trespass pay the penalty of their improper proceedings. 



In like manner, trespasses have been committed by French and 

 British fishermen respectively on the coast of Newfoundland ; and, in 

 order to avoid disputes, the two Governments resolved to endeavour 

 by negotiation to establish rules for the mutual regulation of the fish- 

 eries; but, pending the conclusion of such negotiations, Her Majesty's 

 Government and the Government of France have placed a force off 

 the coast of Newfoundland to watch the proceedings respectively of 

 the fishermen of the two countries. 



You will read this despatch to Mr. Webster, and, in leaving a copy 

 of it with him, you will not fail to assure him, and to request him to 

 assure the President of the United States, that Her Majesty's Gov- 

 ernment continue to feel the same anxiety that has long been felt in 

 this country for the maintenance of the best relations between the two 

 Governments: and it w T ill be to them a source of sincere satisfaction 

 if the attention which has thus been drawn to the subject of the 

 fisheries should lead to an adjustment, by amicable negotiations, upon 

 a more satisfactory footing than at present, of the system of commer- 

 cial intercourse between the United States and Her Majesty's North 

 American Colonial Possessions. 



I am with great truth and regard, Sir, 



your most obedient humble servant 



MALMESBURY 



JOHN F. CRAMPTON, Esq. 



92909 S. Doc. 870, 61-3, vol 4 29 



