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injustice. As our Titles are well settled, and as we are moreover able by ourselves to defend them, we want no guarantees, and wanting none are without the common motive to guaranty the Titles of others. Perhaps I go beyond you and too far upon this subject. If I could be persuaded to admit an exception to this Policy, it would not be in favor of any Power of Europe.

I have been gratifyd. as all real Americans must be by the firm and imposing attitude assumed by our Government: it has encreased our union and security at home, and as far as I am able to judge, has had the happiest influence in establishing and extending a high and well merited opinion of our wisdom and character abroad.

France has receded as we have advanced, but we shall deceive ourselves if we believe that she has relinquished her views. The fate of Switzerland, the history of which should be read by every American, is a dreadful lesson and should preserve us from the fatal error that hastened and disgraced her Fall.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

R. King to Duke of Portland on the third Article of the Treaty, relative to Fishery Privileges on Magdalen Islands, etc.-His Answer-J. Adams to R. King-Our Country unanimous and firm-R. King to Secretary of StateGeneral Affairs in Europe-Brest Expedition-Conference with Mr. Pitt relative to Sugar, etc., and on commercial Regulations-Sir James Marriot resigned-To Secretary of State-On the Irish State Prisoners, Effect of Nelson's Victory-To Col. Pickering-Miranda Expedition-To A. Hamilton on the same-N. Webster to R. King-Effect of Publication of Envoys' Dispatches-Yellow Fever R. King to Secretary of State-In Case of War with France England will share Muskets-Efforts to buy them in Hamburgh, etc., French Frigates on the Coast of Ireland-Secretary of State to R. King-Talleyrand's Declaration, "United States merited no more Consideration than Genoa or Geneva "-R. King to Hamilton-Continental and English Affairs-Lord Grenville on Affairs of Holland-R. King to Secretary of State-Union with Ireland will be proposed-Extension of Trade in the Mediterranean suggested—Also a Treaty with Russia.

MY LORD:

R. KING TO THE DUKE OF PORTLAND.

GREAT CUMBERLAND PLACE, Oct. 13, 1798.

By the Third Article of the Treaty of Peace between the United States and Great Britain it is provided "that the American fishermen shall have liberty to dry and cure fish in any of the unsettled bays, harbours and creeks of Nova Scotia, Magdalen Islands and Labrador, so long as the same shall remain unsettled; but so soon as the same or either of them shall be settled, it shall not be lawful for the said fishermen to dry or cure fish at such settlement without a previous agreement for that purpose with the inhabitants, proprietors or possessors of the ground."

The plain and amicable intention of this Provision appears to

be that this liberty should without interruption be enjoyed by the American fishermen until it should prove actually prejudicial, by interfering with the cultivation or pursuits of the Settlers and Inhabitants of the places to which according to the said Article the American fishermen have a right to resort.

Hitherto we have met with no impediments, but I am apprehensive that without your Grace's interference, we are likely soon to experience Embarrassments on this subject. A Letter that I have lately received from Isaac Coffin Esq., a copy of which I send enclosed to your Grace, gives us notice that he has or is about to, become, the proprietor of the Magdalen Islands in the Gulph of St. Lawrence, and though I have heard of no change in respect to their settlement, Mr. Coffin expects that our fishermen should apply not at these Islands, but at Halifax for licences to pursue the fishing in this quarter in the manner they have been accustomed to do. I am not acquainted with the soil of these Islands, and therefore cannot form an opinion how far they are valuable for the purposes of cultivation that they have been known and neglected for nearly two centuries, affords a presumption that they are in this respect of little or no value; and their neighbourhood to Newfoundland precludes their being chosen as a new station for the establishment of the Fisheries.

The only motive then that seems likely to have influenced Mr. Coffin to become their proprietor, instead of being permitted to remain public property of use to the Fishermen of both nations, must have been the expectation of obtaining a revenue from the American fishermen, who shall continue to frequent them

How far these views will be found to correspond with the provisions that I have cited, is a question of considerable importance, and one that I can with great confidence submit to your Grace's consideration. If, as I flatter myself must be the case, your Grace shall agree with me in the construction to be given to the third article of the Treaty of Peace, I could hope that your Grace will deem it expedient to give such instructions upon the subject to his Majesty's Governor within whose jurisdiction these Islands may be situated, as shall prevent the misunderstanding that otherwise may be apprehended.

With perfect consideration &c

RUFUS KING.

J. ADAMS TO R. KING.

QUINCY, Oct. 16, 1798.

DEAR SIR:

The inclosed Letter from the Sec. of State I pray you to con. vey in safety and as soon as may be to Berlin.

I ought not to omit the opportunity to thank you for the Pamphlets you have sent me from time to time. They not only entertain and amuse me but I flatter myself are Useful. Our Country seems to be, as we used to say in 1775, unanimous & firm. They are much more so now than they were then. N. York and Pennsylvania, were always a little chancellants. But they will be kept tolerably steady. There are strong Pillars in both.

But, Watchman, what of the Night? Where is all tending? I am weary of conjectures. Will Princes ever be more wise, or People more temperate or United? or Aristocrats more willing to acknowledge a Superior?

With great Regard I have the Honor to be, sir, your most obedient

JOHN ADAMS.

R. KING TO SECRETARY OF STATE. No. 5.

LONDON, Oct. 16, 1798.

DEAR SIR: We are impatient to receive the Hamburgh Mail; two are due, and according to the last I have, we may expect the result of the Congress at Rastadt. If the reports in the French papers are correct, the Empire is likely to make its peace and the Emperor to be again involved in the war. But the Cabinet of Vienna is so wavering and undecided that it is not easy to predict its final determination; on the one hand, its preparations for war are increasing, and the movements of the French, particularly in Italy, such as indicate the greatest probability that Naples will speedily be attacked; on the other the recent refusal of Austria to ratify the Convention lately signed by its minister at this Court for the reimbursement of the monies advanced by England before the Treaty of Campo Formio, pretending that its ratification at this moment might have a sinister influence upon its negotiation with France, added to the important circumstance of the Emperor's

having remained a quiet spectator of the overthrow of Switzerland, which opens his dominions to France, would incline me to conclude that Austria at least believes that she shall avoid the war and dispense with the future succours of England.

Russia is in the most zealous manner employing her influence to engage Austria in a new coalition, and has certainly come forward in the most liberal and decided manner to support the Porte. The revolution in the politicks of St. Petersburgh is among the unexampled events of these extraordinary times. England is of course gratified and as usual has engaged an eventual subsidy to Russia, of twelve hundred thousand pounds sterling. But unless Austria confederates, the Russians and Turks can do nothing against the Body of France.

Perhaps among conjectures this is as probable as any, the Emperor will continue to temporise, when France will either march against Naples, or without reserve attack Austria on the side of Switzerland. War abroad can alone prevent war at Home.

Portugal has again failed in an attempt to treat with France, through the mediation of Spain; the Directory consented to receive another minister; this was at first refused and at last agreed to, only upon the assurance of D'Azara, the Spanish Ambassador, that on the conclusion of the Treaty the customary and liberal presents should be made by Portugal. Noranha the new Portuguese Envoy had scarcely arrived at Paris before he received Passports and an order to leave the territories of the Republic. The real cause of the change may be conjectured but not known. The published one is that the Directory declined a Treaty on the former basis, and that Noranha had no powers to accede to the enlarged demands for money and territory in Guiana.

We have as yet no certain intelligence of the destination of the Brest expedition; another small Squadron with troops is reported to have put to sea within a few days from Dunkirk, and the French papers mention the sailing of two or three frigates from Brest for the Windward Islands. They are said to have on board two agents of the Directory, one for Guadaloupe and the other for Cayenne. Several of the counties in Ireland continue to be infested with a daring banditti, who, from the fastnesses of the mountains, lay waste the neighbouring plains. The plan of uniting Ireland with Great Britain which was in agitation in the year 1792,

VOL. 11.-29

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