42 CASE OF THE UNITED STATES. 



In answer to this note Mr. Rush, the Acting Secretary of State, 

 wrote to Mr. Bagot on May 30, 1817 : 



I had the honor to receive, and have laid before the President, 

 your note of the 27th of tliis month. In answer to it, I have the honor 

 to state that this Government is not yet prepared to malve known, in 

 any definite and final shape, the nature and extent of the accommo- 

 dation desired by its citizens engaged in the fisheries along the coast 

 of His Britannic Majesty's dominions, according to the invitation 

 held out, by order of the Prince Regent, in your note. At the same 

 time, I am directed by the President to inform you that he recognizes, 

 in the terms of this invitation, not less than in the general scope of 

 your note, a spirit of friendly accommodation, which this Govern- 

 ment, not foregoing rights which it feels itself bound to look to, will 

 nevertheless be desirous, in the fullest extent, to reciprocate. 



On the return of the President from a tour through part of the 

 United States, which he is now upon the eve of commencing, it is 

 expected that this Department will be enabled to offer such proposi- 

 tions as taking for their basis the principles stated in your note, it 

 is confidently hoped may end in an adjustment of this important 

 interest, upon terms reconcilable with the views of both nations, 

 and serve to strengthen the harmony and good understanding which 

 it is so desirable to cultivate and preserve between them.<* 



SEIZURES IN 1817. 



"Within two months after the date of Mr. Rush's note, above quoted, 

 and before he had been able to submit to Mr. Bagot the prop- 

 osition for the adjustment of the question under consideration upon 

 terms reconcilable with the views of both nations, as proposed in 

 his note, these negotiations were interrupted by a discussion be- 

 tween the two Governments concerning the seizure of a number of 

 American fishing vessels by the British sloop-of-war Dee in the 

 month of June preceding, and the negotiations thus interrupted were 

 not resumed again at Washington. 



An examination of the correspondence and proceedings had with 

 reference to these seizures will show that they were all made within 

 less than three marine miles from the shore, and that the offense 

 charged was resorting to such inshore waters for the purpose of 

 fishing or of procuring bait there. It appears from the official 



"Appendix, p. 297. 



