BRITISH, COLONIAL AND OTHER CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 225 



men on the coasts of Newfoundland, the said proposal was read at 

 this morning's conference, a minute of the proceedings of which I 

 have the honor to enclose. 



The French Government offers to admit the right of British sub- 

 jects to inhabit the Bay of St. George, or, in other terms, to give up 

 the exclusive right of fishery in that Bay, to which they consider 

 themselves entitled by the treaty of 1783. 



In return for this concession they demand, 



1st. The right to purchase and fish for Herrings and Caplin on 

 the South Coast of Newfoundland without any hindrance or retribu- 

 tion. 



2. The right to fish during two months of the year (without curing 

 or drying on shore) on that part of the coast of Labrador between 

 the "Isles Vertes" and the " Isle St. Modeste", both included. 



3. The right of fishing at Belle Isle in the Straits, which they en- 

 joyed (according to their assertion) up to 1841, without any demur on 

 the part of Great Britain. 



Having stated to M. de Bon my desire not to enter into any dis- 

 cussion on this proposal until I shall have communicated it to H. M. 

 Government, he said that being charged with an urgent mission along 

 the Coasts of France, he could not await in Paris the result of my 

 communication and therefore that our meetings had better be sus- 

 pended until his return, of which he will give me timely notice. 



Monsieur de Bon's mission is to inspect all the French fisheries 

 between Dunkerque and Bayonne. He is to leave Paris to-morrow 

 to commence from Havre, having already visited the Fisheries be- 

 tween that Port and Dunkerque. 



Under these circumstances I shall proceed to London at the end 

 of this week, unless I receive instructions from your Lordship to do 

 otherwise. 



I have, etc. 



(Signed) ANTHONY PERKIER. 



The EARL OF MALMESBURY, etc., etc., etc. 



Sir A. Perrier to the Earl of Malmesbury. 



9, CUMBERLAND TKRRACE, 



Regent's Park, July 26, 1852. 



MY LORD: In compliance with your Lordship's verbal instructions, 

 I placed myself in communication with the Colonial Office on the 

 subject of the late French proposal for the settlement of the New- 

 foundland Fishery question, and I now have the honor to report to 

 your Lordship that after several interviews with Mr. Strachey, the 

 gentleman to whom I was referred, and our joint examination of the 

 various points connected with this affair, we agreed upon the fol- 

 lowing propositions, which I beg leave to submit to your Lordship's 

 consideration. 



It is evident that in order to negotiate, with any prospect of suc- 

 cess, for an advantageous settlement of this affair, it will be necessary 

 to be prepared to offer to the French other advantages than those 



