MISCELLANEOUS. 1215 



In March, 1840, the Assembly of Nova Scotia passed another 

 address to the Queen, in which her Majesty was again reminded of the 

 grievances of her subjects of that colony. Our government in the 

 following month, and, as now appears, for the first time, communi- 

 cated with our minister at the Court of St. James on the subject of the 

 fisheries, but yet without instructions to make a statement of our 

 wrongs to the government to which he was accredited. 



The early part of the year 1841 is fruitful of events which show the 

 progress of the controversy, and the development of colonial plans and 



Eretensions. On the 20th of February, Mr. Forsyth, Secretary of 

 tate, addressed Mr. Stevenson, at London, a letter of definitive in- 

 structions, in which he reviewed the points in dispute, and stated that 

 he was directed by the President to convey his desire that a represent- 

 ation should be made to her Majesty's government, immediately on 

 receipt of the despatch, earnestly remonstrating "against the illegal 

 and vexatious proceedings of the authorities of Nova Scotia towards 

 our fishermen," and requesting of the ministry "that measures be 

 forthwith adopted " to remedy "the evils arising out of this misconcep- 

 tion on the part of the provincial" government, "and to prevent the 

 possibility of the recurrence of similar acts." Mr. Stevenson's atten- 

 tion to the representations of Mr. Forsyth was prompt. On the 27th 

 of March he wrote to Lord Palmerston as follows: 



"The undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoten- 

 tiary from the United States, has the honor to acquaint Lord Viscount 

 Palmerston, her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign 

 Affairs, that he has been instructed to bring to the notice of her 

 Majesty's government, without delay, certain proceedings of the 

 colonial authorities of Nova Scotia, in relation to the seizure and 

 interruption of the vessels and citizens of the United States engaged 

 in intercourse with the ports of Nova Scotia and the prosecution of 

 the fisheries on its neighboring coasts, and which, in the opinion of 

 the American government, demand the prompt interposition of her 

 Majesty's government. For this purpose tne undersigned takes 

 leave to submit to Lord Palmerston the following representation: 



"By the first article of the convention between Great Britain and 

 the United States, signed at London on the 20th October, 1818, it 

 is provided: 



"1st. That the inhabitants of the United States shall have forever, 

 in common with the subjects of Great Britain, the libertv to take 

 fish of every kind on that part of the southern coast of Newfoundland 

 which extends from Cape Ray to the Rameau islands, on the western 

 and northern coast of Newfoundland, from the said Cape Kay to the 

 Quirpon islands, on the shores of the Magdalene islands; and also on 

 the coasts, bays, harbors, and creeks, from Mount Joly, on the southern 

 coast of Labrador, to and through the Straits of Bellisle, and thence 

 northwardly indefinitely along the coast, without prejudice, however, 

 to the exclusive rights of the Hudson Bay Company. 



" 2d. That the Americans shall also have liberty, forever, to dry and 

 cure fish in any part of the unsettled bays, harbors, and creeks, of the 

 southern portion of the coast of Newfoundland before described, and 

 of the coast of Labrador, the United States renouncing any liberty 

 before enjoyed by their citizens to take the fish within three miles 

 of any coasts, bays, creeks, or harbors of the British dominions in 



