NEGOTIATIONS FOR A NEW TREATY. 35 



interests of the people of the United States than the exclusive enjoy- 

 ment of them can be to the interests of Great Britain. The real, 

 l^eneral, and ultimate interests of both the nations on this object, he 

 is fully convinced, are the same. The collision of particular inter- 

 ests which heretofore may have pi'oduced altercations between the 

 fishermen of the two nations, and the clandestine introduction of 

 prohibited goods by means of American fishing vessels, may be ob- 

 viated by arrangements duly concerted between the two Govern- 

 ments. That of the United States, he is persuaded, will readily 

 cooperate in any measure to secure those ends compatible with the 

 enjoyment by the people of the United States of the liberties to which 

 they consider their title as unimpaired, inasmuch as it has never 

 been renounced by themselves.* 



Meanwhile Mr. Adams had reported to the Secretary of State the 

 position taken by Lord Bathurst and Lord Bathurst's proposal that 

 negotiations for a new arrangement be undertaken, and on February 

 27, 1816, the Secretary of State wrote to Mr. Adams in reph'' as 

 follows : 



It appears by these communications that, although the British Gov- 

 ernment denies our right of taking, curing and drying fish within 

 their jurisdiction, and on the coast of the British provinces in North 

 America, it is willing to secure to our citizens the liberty stipulated 

 b}^ the treaty of 1783, under such regulations as will secure the benefit 

 to both parties, and will likewise prevent the smuggling of goods into 

 the British provinces by our vessels engaged in the fisheries. 



It is hoped that the reph^ which you intimate you intended giving to 

 Lord Bathurst's note may have produced some change in the senti- 

 ments of the British Government on this interesting subject; it is 

 nevertheless, thought proper to enclose you an instruction, to be 

 shown to the British Government, authorizing you to negotiate a 

 convention providing for the objects contemplated. 



It is very important that this trust should be executed in a manner 

 not to weaken our right, which, it is presumed, may be done with the 

 concurrence of the British Government, either by the reservation of 

 mutual rights, or making the instrument a remedy for abuses.* 



The instructions enclosed are as follows: 



Department of State, Februmnj 27, 1816. 

 Sir : It being represented, by your letter of the 8th of November, 

 that the British Government was disposed to regulate, in concert with 

 the United States, the taking of fish on the coasts, bays and creeks 

 of all His Britannic Majesty's dominions in America, and the curing 

 and drying of fish by their citizens on the unsettled bays, harbors, 

 and creeks of Nova Scotia, Magdalen islands, and Labrador, in such 

 manner as to promote the interest of both nations, you will consider 



"Appendix, p. 2S6. * Appendix, p. 287. 



