CORRESPONDENCE 411 



perity of the inhabitants of the United States operates with His Majesty's Govern- 

 ment as a forcible motive to concession. Undoubtedly, the participation in the liberties 

 of which their right is now maintained is far more important to the interests of the 

 people of the United States than the exclusive enjoyment of them can be to the interests 

 of Great Britain. The real, general, and ultimate interests of both the nations on 

 this object, he is fully convinced, are the same. The collision of particular interests 

 which heretofore may have produced altercations between the fishermen of the two 

 nations, and the clandestine introduction of prohibited goods by means of American 

 fishing vessels, may be obviated by arrangements duly concerted between the two 

 Governments. That of the United States, he is persuaded, will readily co-operate 

 in any measure to secure those ends compatible with the enjoyment by the people 

 of the United States of the liberties to which they consider their title as unimpaired, 

 inasmuch as it has never been renounced by themselves. 



The imdersigned prays Lord Castlereagh to accept the renewed assurance of his 

 high consideration. 



John Quincy Adams 

 Right Hon. Lord Viscouni Castlereagh, 



Bis Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign AJfairs 



EXTRACT FROM INSTRUCTION, SECRETARY OF STATE ADAMS TO MESSRS. 

 GALLATIN AND RUSH, AMERICAN COMMISSIONERS, JULY 28, ISIS' 



In the expectation that the Government of Great Britain have accepted the pro- 

 posal 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. . . 



5. Fisheries 



The proceedings, deliberations, and communications upon this subject, which took 

 place at the negotiation of Ghent, will be fresh in the remembrance of Mr. Gallatin. 

 Mr. Rush possesses copies of the correspondence with the British Government relat- 

 ing to it after the conclusion of the peace, and of that which has passed here 

 between Mr. Bagot and this Government. Copies of several letters received by 

 members of Congress during the late session, from the parts of the country most 

 deeply interested in the fisheries, are now transmitted. 



The President authorizes you to agree to an article whereby the United States 

 will desist from the liberty of fishing, and curing and drjnng fish, within the British 

 jurisdiction generally, upon condition that it shall be secured as a permanent right, 

 not liable to be impaired by any future war, from Cape Ray to the Ramea Islands, 

 and from Mount Joli, on the Labrador coast, through the strait of Belleisle, indefinitely 

 north, along the coast; the right to extend as well to cimng and drying the fish as 

 to fishing. . . . 



These are the subjects to which the President is willing that your negotiation 

 should be confined. With regard to the others of a general nature, and relating 

 to the respective rights of the two nations in times of maritime war, you are 

 authorized to treat of them, and to conclude concerning them, conformably to the 



' Appendix, U. S. Case, p. 304; Appendix, British Case, p 83. 



