277 



duced me to despatch, for the protection of their interests, a class of 

 vessels better adapted to the service than those which had been pre- 

 viously employed. This step has led to discussion with the govern- 

 ment of the United States ; and while the rights of niy subjects have 

 been firmly maintained, the friendly spirit in which the question ' has 

 been treated induces me to hope that the ultimate result may be a mu- 

 tually beneficial extension and improvement of our commercial inter- 

 course with the great republic." 



The President of the United States, in his message to Congress, in 

 the following month, refers to the subject with less brevity. He said : 

 " In the course of the last summer, considerable anxiety was caused, 

 for a short time, by an official intimation from the government of Great 

 Britain that orders had been given for the protection of the fisheries 

 upon the coasts of the British provinces in North America against the 

 alleged encroachments of the fishing vessels of the United States and 

 France. The shortness of this notice and the season of the year, 

 seemed to make it a matter of urgent importance. It was at first 

 apprehended that an increased naval force had been ordered to the 

 fishing grounds to carry into effect the British interpretation of those 

 provisions in the convention of 1,818 in reference to the true inlent of 

 which the two governments differ. It was soon discovered that such 

 was not the design of Great Britain; and satisfactory explanations of 

 the real objects of the measure have been given, both here and in 

 London. 



The unadjusted difference, however, between the two governments, 

 as to the interpretation of the first article of the convention of 1818, is 

 still a matter of importance. American fishing vessels, within nine or 



nected with their soil by the laws and usages of nature, confirmed to them by solenin compact, 

 and which, practically enjoyed by them peculiarly, and as your other Majesty's subjects cannot 

 enjoy them, can be surrendered only at their extreme injury and great loss. 



Surely, may it please your Majesty, yom' loyal colonial subjects have a right to ask for some 

 better reason for this sacrifice of their peculiar right and interest than the demand of a foreign 

 power — the aggrandizement of a foreign pepple. 



It is reported that the American government, with characteristic diplomatic skill, have of- 

 fered to concede a similar privilege on their own coastiu return for what they seek on the 

 coasts of British North America. 



The proffered boon is valueless to the colonists — they want it not, and would derive no ben- 

 efit from it. The offer may deceive the uninfolTued, or it may afford an excuse to palliate, the 

 sacrifice of your colonial subjects' lights. It may have been made by our sa^jacious neighbors 

 with this object ; but to those who will suffer by the pretext, it is but the addition of insult to 

 wrong. If rights so entirely colonial and so clear as this are to be sacrificed to American in- 

 fluence, the colonists should know it. Let them not, may it please your Majesty, be treated 

 as children or imbeciles by nominally granting them a privilege which they know, and the 

 Americans know, to be worthless as an equivalent for one which both equally know to be of 

 incalculable value ; for let it not be urged upon your Majesty that what the Americans seek 

 is of no value. Their earnestness is certain evidence to the contrary. 



It is, may it please your Majesty, of value, of great value, in itself; of perhaps greater value 

 still, as the best,- the only safeguard against violation of the restriction which prohibits the 

 approach of the American fishermen within three miles of the shore. 



Your memorialists deprecate all negotiations— all compromise on the subject. The Ameri- 

 cans will not, probably they cannot, grant an equivalent for the privileges they seek, and the 

 only security for the colonies is the entire abandonment of the present negotiations. 

 , Your memorialists, most earnestly entreat your Majesty that the existing fishery restrictions 

 will be preserved in their letter, and that your Majesty's power may be put forth to prevent 

 their violation. 



And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will, ever pray, &c. 



