HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN WHALE FISHERY. 71 



head, was the steady and persistent champion of the claims of New 

 England, and who, in the prolonged discussions, always came to the 

 front in defense of those rights. Entirely unexpectedly, Gerry, avoid- 

 ing "a breach of the rules of Congress by a change in form, moved 

 resolutions, that the United States have a common right with the Eng- 

 lish to the fisheries on the banks of Newfoundland, and the other fish- 

 ing-banks and seas of North America. The demand was for no more 

 than Vergennes confessed to belong to them by the law of nations ; and 

 Gerry insisted that unless the right received the guarantee of France, 

 on the consent of Great Britain, the American minister should not sign 

 any treaty of peace without first consulting Congress."* A most stormy T 

 and bitter debate ensued. The friends of France resisted strenuously. 

 Four States declared if the resolution was adopted they should secede. 

 The matter, however, was somewhat compromised and the common right 

 of fishing on the Grand Banks affirmed ; Congress asking for that right 

 the guarantee of Franco by means of a supplementary article explana- 

 tory of former treaties. 



The French minister became alarmed, and sought an interview with 

 the President of Congress and two other members known to be equally 

 favorably disposed to the policy he represented. The vigor and zeal 

 with which New England had pressed the matter had disposed them to 

 concede to the desires of this section. He assured them " that disunion 

 from the side of New England was not to be feared, for its people car- 

 ried their love of independence even to delirium," and continued : 

 " There would seem to be a wish to break the connection of France with 

 Spain ; but I think I can say that, if the Americans should have the 

 audacity to force the King of France to choose between the two alliances, 

 his decision would not be in favor of the United States ; he will not cer- 

 tainly expose himself to consume the remaining resources of his king- 

 dom for many years, only to secure an increase of fortune to a few ship- 

 masters of New England. I shall greatly regret on account of the 

 Americans, should Spain enter into war without a convention with 

 them." Five hours of discussion failed to induce the members to under- 

 take to change the views of Congress, and a new interview was held on 

 the 12th of July, between Gerard and Congress, in a committee of the 

 whole. As a final result the question was left to be settled, when a 

 treaty of peace was formally arranged with Great Britain.f 



In the mean time how fared it with the whale-fishery % The people 

 of Nantucket, with whom alone it was still encouraged, though in the 

 face of the most terrible discouragements, were reduced to the severest 

 straits. To live, they must eat ; to eat, they must have provisions ; to 

 obtain provisions, they must give in exchange money or its equivalent; 

 to obtain the exchangeable commodity, some business must be pursued. 

 The whale-fishery was the only business available to them. Long prac- 



* Bancroft's U. S., x, pp. 21G to 219. 

 t Bancroft's U. S., x, p. 219. 



