MISCELLANEOUS. 12 03 



There is now but little to add to complete a record of the more im- 

 portant events connected with the history of this controversy. 



The Queen of England, in her speech at the opening of Parliament, 

 November, 1852, remarked that "the present and well-grounded con- 

 plaints on the part of my North American colonies, of the infraction 



the foot of the throne, a dutiful and loyal petition, unanimously adopted this day by 

 a very large and influential meeting of our fellow-citizens, held in the Province Hall. 



.We also pray that the resolutions, a copy of which is annexed, and which were passed 

 with equal unanimity, may be also forwarded to the right honorable the Colonial 

 Secretary. 



This petition, and these resolutions, have been adopted in consequence of the alarm- 

 ing intelligence having been received that negotiations are pending between the 

 British government and the American minister in London, for surrendering to the 

 citizens of the United States the right of fishing on the coasts and within the bays of 

 the British North American colonies, from which they are now excluded by the con- 

 vention of 1818. We entreat your excellency, as the Queen's representative in this 

 province, to convey to her Majesty's government a strong remonstrance against any 

 such concession of the fishing rights as appears to be contemplated. 



The immediate departure of this mail will not permit our detailing all the disastrous 

 results to be apprehended from the concessions now required by the American govern- 

 ment, but we must beg that you will assure her Majesty's ministers that the informa- 

 tion just received has occasioned the most intense anxiety throughout the community, 

 it being evident that our rights, once conceded, can never be regained. 



By the terms of the convention of 1818 the United States expressly renounced any 

 right of fishing within three marine miles from the coasts and shores of these colonies, 

 or of entering their bays, creeks, and harbors, except for shelter, or for wood and water. 



If this restriction be removed, it must be obvious to your excellency that it will be 

 impossible to prevent the Americans from using our fishing grounds as freely as our 

 own fishermen. They will be permitted to enter our bays and harbors, where, at all 

 times, unless armed vessels are present in every harbor, they will not only fish in common 

 with our own fishermen, but they will bring with them contraband goods to exchange 

 with the inhabitants for fish, to the great injury of colonial traders and loss to the public 

 revenue. The fish obtained by this illicit traffic will then be taken to the United 

 States, where they will be entered as the produce of the American fisheries, while those 

 exported from the colonies in a legal manner are subject to oppressive duties. 



We need not remind your excellency that the equivalent said to have been pro- 

 posed that of allowing our vessels to fish in the waters of the United States is utterly 

 valueless, and unworthy of a moment's consideration. 



We would fain hope that the reports which have appeared in the public press respect- 

 ing the pending negotiations between the two governments are without any good 

 foundation. 



We cannot imagine that her Majesty's government, after having taken prompt and 

 decided measures to enforce the true construction of the treaty, will ever consent to 

 such modification of its terms as will render our highly valued rights a mere privilege 

 to be enjoyed in common with foreigners. 



W T e therefore pray your excellency to exert all your influence to induce her Majesty's 

 ministers to stay any further negotiations on this vitally important question until the 

 rights and interests of the inhabitants of this province are more fully inquired into 

 and vindicated. 



HALIFAX, September 2, 1852. 



MEMORIAL. 



To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty. 



The humble memorial of the undersigned, merchants and inhabitants of Halifax 

 and other parts of Nova Scotia, convened at a public meeting held at Halifax on 

 Thursday, the 2d of September, 1852, showeth: 



By the mail recently arrived from England, your memorialists have learned with 

 deep concern that it is in contemplation of your Majesty's ministers to surrender to 

 the United States of America privileges of fishing on the coasts of your Majesty's North 

 American colonies, to which, at present, your Majesty's subjects are alone entitled. 



Time is not afforded to enter at large on this subject, nor is it necessary. Repeatedly 

 have the- vital importance of the^e !i.-h ri< B. and the nccirsity of pit. serving unim- 

 paired the restrictions against encroachment by which they are guarded, been urged 



