342 APPENDIX TO BRITISH CASE. 



repeat that the orders under which Her Majesty's ships act .ire of the 

 most moderate character: and Mr. Crampton has my permission to 

 describe them more particularly, if he finds it desirable to do so. 



8. At the same time there can be no doubt that the circumstances 

 are of a grave nature, and that the presence of a foreign squadron to 

 protect fishing-vessels, among which a disposition to offer forcible 

 resistance to our small cruizers exists, involves contingencies which 

 demand the earliest attention of Her Majesty's Government. 



9. The " Princeton," " Fulton," and " Rescue," steamers, under the 

 orders of Commodore Shubrick, were some days since on the point 

 of leaving Portsmouth, in New Hampshire, for the fishing-grounds, 

 and the " Decatur " corvette left Boston for the same destination on 

 the 15th instant. 



10. I have therefore deemed it necessary to make an addition to the 

 vessels in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which only consisted, at the time 

 the American Government ordered this demonstration of force, of 

 the " Basilisk " steam-sloop and two tenders ; and as the " Leander " 

 was at Quebec during Lord Ellesmere's absence at New York. I or- 

 dered Captain King down the river to Chaleur by electric telegraph 

 on the 14th instant, and the " Devastation " will sail from Pieton 

 [Pictou] to join Captain King on the 23rd. 



11. I am very desirous to withdraw the " Leander " from this serv- 

 ice, to replace her at Lord Ellesmere's disposal. I have not 



203 hitherto deemed it expedient to move the " Cumberland," as the 

 measure would indicate my thinking force indispensable; and 

 160 men are absent in tenders. 



12. In considering the reply I should address to Mr. Marcy's pro- 

 posal, I have had the advantage of unreserved communications with 

 Mr. Crampton, who in no degree differed from the view I entertained, 

 that any agreement to it required the concurrence of Her Majesty's 

 Government; and as Mr. Crampton communicated his conversation 

 with Mr. Marcy of the 2nd instant, to Her Majesty's Secretary of 

 State for Foreign Affairs, by the mail which left Halifax on the 9th 

 instant, I am in hopes that I may receive, early in August, any direc- 

 tions for my conduct which Her Majesty's Government may deem 

 necessary; and in the interim I shall continue to use my best en- 

 deavours to prevent the affairs assuming additional difficulty. 



I have, &c. 



(Signed) G. F. SEYMOUR. 



P. S. 9 A. M. Since writing the above, I have received a telegraphic 

 despatch from Mr. Crampton at Washington, to the effect that both 

 the President and Mr, Marcy disclaim all idea of menace, and that 

 Commodore Shubrick is especially enjoined to come to see me before 

 going to the fishing-ground, which I hope ma^ lessen the difficulties 

 I anticipated from United States ships of war proceeding to the Gulf 

 of St. Lawrence. The message is dated this cTay. 



G. F. S. 



No. 119. 1854, February 6: Letter from Mr. Crampton to the Earl 

 of Clarendon (British Foreign Secretary). 



(No. 29.) WASHINGTON, February 6, 1854. 



MY LORD, I have the honour to enclose the copy of a message from 

 the President to the House of Representatives of the United States, 



