277 



duced me to (lr?|)nt('li, for the protoction of their in1(To?ts, n clriss of 

 vessels beticr adapted to the service than those which had been pre- 

 viously employed. This step has led to discussion with the govern- 

 ment of" the United States; and while the riirhis of my su})jects have 

 been firmly maintained, the friendly spirit in whicli tlie (juestion has 

 been treated induces me to hope that the idiimate result may be a mu- 

 tually beneficial extension and impro^•ement of our commercial inter- 

 course with the great republic/' 



The President of the United States, in his message to Congress, in 

 the following month, refers to the sul)ject with less brevity. He said: 

 " la the course of the last summer, considerable anxiety was caused, 

 for a short time, by an official intimation from the government of Great 

 Britain that orders had been given f()r the protection of the fisheries 

 upon the coasts of the British provinces in North America against the 

 alleged encroachments of the fishing vessels of the United States and 

 France. The shortness of this notice and the season of the year, 

 seemed to make it a matter of urgent importance. It was at first 

 apprehended that an increased naval force had been ordered to the 

 fishing grounds to carry into effect the British interpretation of those 

 provisions in the convention of 1818 in refi^rencc to the true intent of 

 which the two governments diffi'r. It was soon discovered that such 

 was not the design of Great Britain; and satisfactory explanations of 

 the real objects of the measure have been given, both here and in 

 London. 



The unadjusted difference, however, between the two governments, 

 as to the interpretation of the first article of the convention of 1818, is 

 still a matter of importance. American fishing vessels, within nine or 



nested with their soil by the laws juid usages of riatiire, confirmed to them by solemu compact, 

 and which, practically eujoyt'd by rhcni peculiarly, and as jour oflici' Majesty's subjects cannot 

 enjoy them, can i)e surrendered only at their extreme injury and i,'reat loss. 



Surely, may it please your Majesty, your loyal colonial subjects have a rijiht to ask for some 

 better reason for this sacrifice of their peculiar right and interest than the demand ol'a foreign 

 power — the aj,'f,'raudizenn'nt of a foreii^n people. 



It is rej)orted that the American government, with cliaracterisfic diplonudic skill, have of- 

 fered to concede a similar privilege on their own coast in return for what they seek on the 

 coasts of IJritish North America. 



The prolfered boon is valueless to the ecdonlsis — they want it not, and would derive no ben- 

 efit from it . Tlie oiler may deceive the uninfornu'd, or it may allbrd an excuse to palliate the 

 sacrifice of your colonial subjects' rights. It may have been made by our sagacious neighbors 

 with this object; but to those who will suffer by the pretext, it is but the addition of insult to 

 wrong. If rights so entirely cidonial and so clear as this are to be sacrificed to American in- 

 fluence, the cohmists should know it. Let tlnMii not. may it jdease your Majesty, be treated 

 as children or imbeciles by nominally granting them a privilege whicii they know, and the 

 Americans know, to be worthh^ss as au eipiivaleut for one whicli both eipially know to be of 

 incalculable value; for let it not be urged upon your Majesty that what the Americans seek 

 is of no value. Thi-ir esrnestni'S.s is cei-taiu evidi-iice fo the contrary. 



It is, may it please your Majesty, of value, of great value, in itself; of i)erhaps greater value 

 Btill, as the best, the only safeiruard against vi(dation of the restriction which prohibits (he 

 approach of the American tishernu'ii within three miles (d' the shore. 



Your memorialists de])recate all negotiation — all compromise on the subject. 'I'he Ameri- 

 cans will not, ])ndiably tlw^y cannot, gi'ant an equivalent for the privileges they seek, and the 

 only security for the cidonios is tiie (uitirt; abandoiinn'iit of tlie present negotiations. 



Your memorialists most <!arnestly entreat your .Majesty that the existing lisliery restrii-tions 

 will be presiMved in their letter, and that your Majesty's power may be put fitrth to prevent 

 their vicdation. 



And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c. 



