160 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., 



into a state of panic, and alarm which may result in the loss of the 

 whole year's business, and deprive those engaged in the business, 

 and the numerous families dependent on them, of their means of 

 living for the year, thus reducing the whole population of the Coasts 

 of New England to distress, want and poverty, all of which evils 

 may fall upon us by a feeling of insecurity and a sense of danger in 

 pursuing our accustomed avocation. Your Memorialists furthe^ 

 represent that there are vast numbers of Meckerelmen yet to sail on 

 their usual voyage, and already prepared with their usual outfits. 

 &c. for the purpose; that their destination cannot be changed with- 

 out the loss of millions of dollars, and the consequent ruin and 

 distress from such losses. 



Your Memorialists further represent that the capital invested in 

 their business is not that of wealthy merchants or citizens of great 

 fortunes, but that these vessels are usually owned in shares by sev- 

 eral persons, that most of the capital belongs to a great many people 

 of very moderate means, and frequently represents the entire wealth 

 of widows and children of farmers, shipmasters and seamen, living 

 along the entire extent of the coast of New England. 



Your Memorialists would therefore request, that an armed force 

 of the Navv of the United States be at once despatched to those 

 waters to give countenance and protection to our Fishermen in their 

 legal rights, and to preserve our property from pillage and our 

 fellow-citizens from foreign dungeons. 



Your Memorialists are aware that negotiations are going on be- 

 tween the two Governments on this subject; but they feel that, unless 

 an armed force of the United States is on hand to protect them, the 

 presence of the British force, and the avowed hostility of their in- 

 tentions will produce immense mischief and loss to our interests. 

 Even a small force would give confidence to our seamen, and show 

 that the powerful arm of our Government is ready and willing to 

 protect them in the rights they have enjoyed ever since the glorious 

 Revolution. 



And your Memorialists will ever pray. 



Names. Residence. 



E. W. Merchant and 68 others Gloucester 



Memorial of the citizens of Gloucester respecting the Fisheries, 

 July, 1852. 



Mr. Fillmore to Mr. Daniel Webster. 



WASHINGTON CITY, July Wth. 1852. 



MY DEAR SIR, Your note of the 17th. dated at Franklin came to 

 hand this morning, inclosing a copy of your's of the same day to 

 Mr. Crampton, and Mr. Hunter has shown me your telegraphic des- 

 patch of yesterday, requesting him to ask me whether it was not best 

 to send one of our naval ships to Newfoundland to look after the 

 disturbances among the fishermen. I have also perused your article 

 in the Boston Courier of yesterday, and sincerely hope that these 

 difficulties will not prove as serious as you ?eem to anticipate. I have 

 seen Mr. Crampton who informs ine that he will leave for Boston to- 



