PERTAINING TO SITUATION IN 1852-1853. 169 



wanted for a satisfactory agreement between the two governments on 

 all the subjects above alluded to. 



The only part of the proposed arrangement which may be con- 

 sidered as of an urgent nature, is such an adjustment of the fisheries 

 question as would remove all danger of trouble on the fishing grounds 

 during the approaching season. This is an object of great impor- 

 tance, and worthy the immediate attention of Congress.. As belong- 

 ing to a general settlement, the British government is not willing to 

 dispose of it separately; but the Secretary of State is of opinion that, 

 under the circumstances of the case, if Congress should pass an act 

 admitting provincial fish free of duty into the United States, on 

 condition that the fishermen of the United States are admitted to a 

 full participation in the provincial fisheries, the government of Great 

 Britain would give effect to the measure by the requisite legislation 

 on her part; in the expectation on both sides that the question of 

 reciprocity and of the use of the St. Lawrence, and the canals con- 

 nected with it, will be taken up hereafter, with a favorable disposition 

 to come to a mutually advantageous agreement on that part of the 

 subject also. 



Even if such an act should fail to produce the desired result, which 

 is not apprehended, it would relieve the United States of the responsi- 

 bility of the consequences. 



All which is respectfully submitted: 



EDWARD EVERETT. 



To the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Mr. Dobbin to Commodore Shubriclc. 



UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT, 



July 14, 1853. 



SIR : Reposing confidence in your judgment, prudence, and patriot- 

 ism, the Navy Department sends you on a mission involving the 

 discharge of delicate and responsible duties, bearing at once on the 

 protection of rights and the preservation of peace. Information has 

 reached the government of the United States that her Britannic 

 Majesty's government has stationed off New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, 

 in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and at other points along the- coast of 

 British American possessions, a considerable force of war steamers 

 and sailing-vessels, under the command of Sir George Seymour, fully 

 armed and manned; that this array of naval strength is alleged to 

 be designed for service in protecting the rights of British subjects, 

 and preventing the apprehended encroachments of American citizens 

 upon the " fishing grounds," reserved to Great Britain by the conven- 

 tion of 1818, as interpreted by her Majesty's government; that a 

 large class of enterprising and worthy citizens in the New England 

 States have become apprehensive that there is a settled purpose to 

 disturb them in the enjoyment of their fishing privileges; and in 

 the absence of any naval force of the United States in thai region, 

 armed fishing vessels have gone out with crews prepared to take the 

 defence of their rights in their own hands. 



