52 CASE OF THE UNITED STATES. 



The present state of the relations between the United States and 

 Great Britain has suggested to the President the expediency of pro- 

 posing to the British Government the negotiation of a treaty of amity 

 and commerce, to embrace the continuance for eight years longer of 

 the commercial convention of July 3, 1815, and to attempt the ad- 

 justment of other objects interesting to the two countries, and upon 

 which the Governments have not yet been able to come to an agree- 

 ment. It is desirable that this negotiation should take place in the 

 course of the ensuing summer, and that its result should be trans- 

 mitted here for the commencement of the next session of Congress, 

 fixed for the third Monday of November; for as the convention, 

 unless continued, will expire in July, 1819, and as it is due to the 

 interests of the merchants on both sides affected by it that early 

 notice should be given whether its provisions are to be continued 

 or to cease, it appears that no time is to be lost in bringing the ques- 

 tion of its renewal or cessation to an immediate issue. As the 

 motives for taking up the subject thus early are operative alike upon 

 both parties, and as, in the event of the expiration of the convention 

 of July, 1815, legislative measures preparatory to that contingency 

 will doubtless be necessary as well in Parliament as in Congress, it 

 is expected that this proposal will be acceded to by the British Gov- 

 ernment, and that plenipotentiaries on their part will be appointed 

 to treat with you and Mr. Rush, to whom jointly the President pro- 

 poses to commit the trust of this negotiation.<* 



In the present examination of these negotiations it is unnecessary 

 to refer to any of the subjects embraced in them other than the 

 fisheries. 



On the subject of the fisheries Mr. Adams says in his letter of 

 instructions to Mr. Gallatin : 



The correspondence between the two Governments on this subject 

 leaves it still in the unsettled state in which it was left at the peace 

 [of Ghent]. Two proposals have been made, on the part of the 

 British Government, neither of which proving acceptable, a counter- 

 proposal from us has been promised, and will be contained in the 

 further detailed instructions which will be prepared and forwarded 

 to Mr. Rush, to assist you in the conduct of the negotiation.'' 



These instructions were supplemented by further instructions sent 

 by Mr. Adams to Messrs. Gallatin and Rush on July 28, 1818, which, 

 so far as they relate to the fisheries, were as follows : 



In the expectation that the Government of Great Britain have 

 accepted the proposal which Mr. Rush was instructed to make for 

 negotiating a treaty of commerce, embracing the continuance of 

 the convention of 3d July, 1815, for an additional term of years, and 

 including other objects of interest to the two nations, I have now 

 the honor of transmitting to you the President's instructions to you 

 for the conduct of the negotiation. 



o Appendix, p. 302. ^Appendix, p. 303. 



