162 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC., 



than what they would obtain under the Treaty of 1818 if it received 

 the construction for which we contend. If they do, then that will be 

 one additional subject of negotiation; the right of navigating the 

 St. Lawrence and the Welland Canal will of course be another; but 

 the reciprocal trade between us and the British Provinces is one which 

 I greatly prefer should be settled by legislation. If however that 

 cannot be done, it may be best to settle it by a treaty for a limited 

 time. But, as I said before, I will write you more fully upon this 

 subject when I have had more time for reflection. 



I have seen the Secretary of the Navy, who says the Mississippi 

 steam frigate, Captain McCluney is now at New York and could be 

 sent to the Banks of Newfoundland, if desired. She is however, as 

 you are aware intended as the flag-ship of Captain Perry and of 

 course will soon be wanted for that expedition. I thought however 

 I would wait until you and Mr. Crampton had settled upon some- 

 thing definite, from which proper instructions might be drawn before 

 I ordered the vessel to proceed to that destination. Regretting that 

 this unfortunate business compels you to leave the mountains and 

 valleys of your native State, but hoping that it will detain you but 

 a short time 



I remain, truly & sincerely yours 



(Signed) MILLARD FILLMORE 



The Honourable DANIEL WEBSTER, 



Secretary of State, Boston, Masstts. 



Extracts from the Life of Daniel Webster, by G. T. Curtis, published, 



1870. 



On the 12th of July [1852] Mr. Webster went to Franklin, where 

 he remained until the 20th. While there he received information 

 of a step that had been suddenly taken, by the English Government, 

 in regard to the fisheries off the coasts of the British provinces; a 

 step that at once produced much excitement and alarm in this country. 

 Some explanation of the origin of this difficulty is here necessary. 



Before the Revolution, all the British colonies in America had the 

 right, in common, of fishing in and about the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 

 The United States secured a continuance of their share in these priv- 

 ileges by the treaty of 1783; but the British claimed that the War 

 of 1812 put an end to them forever. This was denied on the part of 

 the United States ; and the dispute, which followed, was settled by the 

 Convention of 1818, which granted to American citizens the right to 

 fish along certain portions of the shores of Newfoundland, Labrador, 

 and elsewhere, to within three miles of the coasts, bays, estuaries, etc., 

 of the British provinces. Misunderstandings and collisions soon 

 followed, the Americans claiming that they had a right to enter the 

 wide gulfs and bays, so long as they did not approach within three 

 miles of the shore, and acting accordingly; while the provinces de- 

 clared that they could not come within three miles of a line drawn 

 from headland to headland ; and they attempted to seize such vessels 

 as violated their interpretation of the treaty. Complaints and 

 troubles were continually arising, giving occasion for frequent dip- 



