275 



There is now but lilllo in add to compl(>tc a record of the more im- 

 portant events connected with the history of this controversy. 



The Queen of England, in licr speech at the opening of Parliament, 



8. Rcsokcd, That the cession of the Aroostook terntory, and the free'navltration of the St, 

 Joha, the rijjht of registry in colonial ports, and the free ndniission of the productions of the 

 United States into IJritish America at revenue duties only, have been followed by no cor- 

 respontling roljuvaiion of tiie cuniniercial Bysteui of the United States which would justify a 

 further sacrifice of C(donial interests. 



9, IxcsoUcd, That while more than one half of the seacoast of the republic, bounds slave 

 States, whose laboring population cannot b»' trusted upon the sea, the coasts of J'ritish America 

 include a frontage upon the ocean greater than the whole Atlantic 8(;aboard of the United 

 States. The richest fisheries in th<> world surround these coasts. Coal, which the Americans 

 innst bring with them, should they i>rovokc hostilities, abounds at the most convenient point*. 

 Two millions of adventurous and indnstriiius people aln-ady iuhnbit these provinces, and the 

 citizuns of Halifox would indeed deplore the deliberate sacrifice of thi'ir interests, by any 

 weak concession to a power wbich ever sccouds tiie efforts of astute diplomac} by appeals to 

 the angry passions — tlie full force of which has been twice on liritisii America within the 

 memory of this generation, and, iu a just cause, with the aid of the mother country, could be 

 broken agaiu. 



ADDRESS. 



To his ErcrUcncy Colonel StR J. Gasparo Lf.marcha?jt, Knight, and Knight Commander 

 of the Orders of St. Ferdinand and of Charles the Third of S])ain, Lieutenant Governor 

 and Commander in-chief in and over her Majesty's province of iSiova Scotia and its depend- 

 encies, Chancellor of the same, &c. 



May it please your Excellency: We, her Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, the mayor 

 and aldennen of t)ie city, and representatives of the city and comity of Halifax, respectfully 

 request that your excellency will be pleased to transmit, by this night's mail, to the right h(m- 

 orable the Secretary of State f(»r the Colonies, to be laid at the foot of the throne, a dutiful 

 and loyaJ petition, unanimously adopted this day by a very large and influential meeting of our 

 fellow-citizens, held iu the Province Hall. 



We aiso i)ray that the resolutions, a copy of which is annexed, and which were passed with, 

 equal unanimity, may be also forwarded to the right honorable the Colonial Secretary. 



This petition, and these resolutions, have been adopted in conse(|Mence of the alarming in- 

 telligence having been received that negotiations are pending between the British government , 

 and the American minister in Lcuidon, for surrendering to the citizens of the United StateB-; 

 the risrlit of fishing on the coasts and within the bays of the British North American colonies, . 

 from which they are now excluded by tlie convention of ISIS. We entreat your excellency,, 

 as the Queen's representative in this province, to convey to her Majesty's government a strong., 

 remonstrance against any such concessicm of the fishing rights as appears to be contempltgbed. 



The (itimediate departure of this mail will not permit our detailing all the disastrous results 

 to be apprehended from the concessions now reipiired by the .'Vmiirican government, but we 

 must beg that you will assure her Majesty's ministers that the information just received.has. 

 occasicmed the most intense anxiety tliroughout the community, it behig evident that our- 

 rights, once c(»nceded, om never be regained. 



By the terms of the convention of ]h]h the United States expressly renounced any right of 

 fishing within three marine- miles from the coasts and shores of these cohuiies, or of tutering. 

 their bays, creeks, and harbors, except for shelter, or for wood and water. 



If this restriction be removed, it must be obvious to your excellemjy that it will he impos- 

 sible to prevent the Americans from using our fishing irrounds as fre(dy as our own Eshermen. 

 Thev will be pennitted to enter our bays and harbors, where, at all times, »/«/(.« armed re$- 

 scls are present in every lit/rhor, they «ill not only fish in eommon with our own fishermen, but 

 they will bring with them contraliand goods to exi-hau'.'e with tlie iniialiitiints for tisli. to tho 

 great injury of coloiiial traders and loss to the pulilic. n-veuue. 'i'he tish obtaiin-d by t 'jis il- 

 licit tratlic will then be taken to the United Slaii'n, where they will bo entered as the |u-i.ulnce- 

 of the American fisheries, while those exporte.l I'roui liie eolonies in a legal maimer are sub- 

 ject to oppressive duties. 



We need not remind your excellency that ih luivaii'nl said to have been jiroposed— that 



of aUowing our vessels to fish in tlie waters of tin- liniied Stales — is utterly valueless, and un- 

 worthy of a moment's consiileration. 



We wo'ild fain hope that the reprtrts wliieli have appeared in the public press respecting: 

 tho pending negotiations between tho two go\eninieuts are without any good foumlutiou. 



