DESPATCHES, KEPORTS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 305 



No. 104. 1852, August 13: Letter from Mr. Lawrence (United 

 States Minister at London) to Mr. Webster (United States Secre- 

 tary of State). 



[No. 200.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, 



London, August 13, 



SIR: On the llth instant I again had an interview with Lord 

 Malmesbury, at his request, at the Foreign Office, at which Sir John 

 Packington was present. The conversation was substantially a repe- 

 tition of what had taken place previously between Lord Malmesbury 

 and myself. Nothing new was said to alter the views I have already 

 expressed to you. 



Mr. Crampton will receive by this mail instructions, which he will 

 doubtless read to you. They will contain, I think, the same senti- 

 ments expressed to me by Lord Malmesbury. Copies also, of the 

 instructions sent to the colonial governors and to Admiral Seymour 

 will probablv accompany the instructions. 



Lord Malmesbury will probably propose to leave that part of the 

 treaty about which we disagree, for the present, just where it has 

 been, and will direct the British authorities to confine their exertions 

 to within three marine miles of the shore, to exercise their power 

 with great leniency, and not to make captures except under flagrant 

 circumstances. He wishes to place the question in position to be ad- 

 justed, if possible, when the present excitement has passed away. 

 Whatever may be the views of uhe colonists, the government here 

 has every desire to settle the whole matter. They have committed 

 an error which I think they wish to repair as soon as possible. 



The fishing cannot be abandoned at this time of the year without 

 great loss and suffering. It has occurred to me that if, on investiga- 

 tion, it turns out that our fishermen have been in the habit of "fin- 

 ishing their fares " in waters clearly within three miles of the shores, 

 perhaps Mr. Crampton would consent, if his instructions permit him, 

 to advise the authorities not to ma'ke captures this year. I still 

 think this question can be now finally and satisfactorily settled. 



I have the honor to be, sir, very respecfully, [respectfully] 

 Your obedient servant, 



ABBOTT LAWRENCE. 



181 No. 105. 1852, August 14' Debate in United States Senate 

 on North American Fisheries. Speech of Mr. Seward, of 

 New York. 



The Message of the President of the United States transmitting information in 

 ivtriird to the fisheries on the coasts of the British possessions in North 

 America being under consideration. 



Mr. SEWARD said : 



Mr. President : when this debate was suspended on Thursday last, 

 a question had just arisen whether the Executive Administration had 

 been censured here for its conduct in regard to the subject. 



The honourable Senator from Virginia. [Mr. MASON], Chairman 

 of the Committee on Foreign Relations, when addressing the Senate, 

 remarked that if the President had done his duty, the whole naval 

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