1052 MISCELLANEOUS. 



tariffs is one which raises very vexatious and harassing impediments 

 to the local trade in agricultural produce along a very extended fron- 

 tier, and encourages the demoralizing practice of smuggling, is not 

 to be denied ; and that the removal of such restrictions would tend to 

 promote a friendly feeling between the inhabitants of the respective 

 frontiers and this is an object, it is not doubted, very desirable to 

 both governments cannot reasonably be questioned. 



Without, therefore, adverting to other measures of great impor- 

 tance to the trade and navigation of both countries, which, should the 

 present proposition meet with the concurrence of the United States 

 government, it is confidently expected may be brought to bear, I ven- 

 ture to submit the above statement to the just and favorable consid- 

 eration of the government of the United States. 



I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to you, sir, the assur- 

 ance of my highest consideration. 



JOHN F. CRAMPTON. 



Sir H. L. Bidwer to Mr. Webster. 



BRITISH LEGATION, 



June 34, 185T. 



SIR: I have already expressed to you at different periods, and 

 especially in my note of 22d March last, the disappointment which 

 was experienced in Canada, when at the close of last session of Con- 

 gress it was known that no progress whatever had been made in the 

 bill which had been brought forward for three years successively for 

 reciprocating to the measure which passed the Canadian legislature 

 in 1847, and which granted to the natural produce of this country 

 an entry free of duty into Canada whensoever the Federal Legisla- 

 ture of the United States should pass a measure similarly admitting 

 into the United States the natural produce of the Canadas. This 

 disappointment was the greater, inasmuch as the Canadian govern- 

 ment has always adopted the most liberal commercial policy with 

 respect to the United States, as well in regard to the transit through 

 its canals, as in regard to the admission of manufactured goods com- 

 ing from this country. 



I have now the honor to enclose to you the copy of an official com- 

 munication which I have received from the governor-general, Lord 

 Elgin, by which you will perceive that unless I can hold out some 

 hopes that a policy will be adopted in the United States similar to 

 that which has been adopted in Canada, and which the Canadian 

 authorities would be willing, if met in a corresponding spirit, to 

 carry out still farther, the Canadian government and legislature are 

 likely forthwith to take certain measures, which, both in themselves 

 and their consequences, will effect a considerable change in the com- 

 mercial intercourse between the Canadas and the United States. 



I should see with great regret the adoption of such measures, and 

 I am induced to hope, from the conversations I have recently had 

 with you, that they will be unnecessary. 



The wish of her Majesty's government indeed would be rather to 

 improve than impair all relations of friendship and good neighbor- 

 hood between her Majesty's American possessions and the United 

 States; and I feel myself authorized to repeat to you now, what I 



