List of the districts in which there are vacancies.

Eastern district of Virginia.

Western district of Virginia.

District of North Carolina.
District of South Carolina.
District of Georgia.

Northern district of Florida.

Eastern and western districts of Louisiana.

Northern and southern districts of Mississippi.

Eastern and western districts of Arkansas.

Southern district of California.

The last caused by death, the others by resignation.

Correspondence with the British minister relative to the appointment of a joint commission to inquire concerning practices destructive of the fisheries adjacent to the northeastern coast and islands of North America.

JULY 19, 1861.-Read, referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, and ordered to be printed.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

As the United States have, in common with Great Britain and France, a deep interest in the preservation and development of the fisheries adjacent to the northeastern coast and islands of this continent, it seems proper that we should concert with the governments of those countries such measures as may be conducive to those important objects. With this view, I transmit to Congress a copy of a correspondence between the Secretary of State and the British minister here, in which the latter proposes, on behalf of his government, the appointment of a joint commission to inquire into the matter, in order that such ulterior measures may be adopted as may be advisable for the objects proposed. Such legislation is recommended as may be necessary to enable the Executive to provide for a commissioner on behalf of the United States.

WASHINGTON, July 19, 1861.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

2

CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE BRITISH MINISTER.

Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward.

WASHINGTON, July 17, 1861. SIR: A joint address has been presented to the Queen, from both branches of the legislature of Nova Scotia, praying that the attention of the governments of the United States and France may be called to the injuries inflicted on the fisheries of British North America by the practice of taking fish by means of set lines on the spawning banks off the coasts of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Labrador, and other territories. And her Majesty's government are of opinion that it would be advisable that a joint commission should be appointed by Great Britain, the United States, and France, to inquire into this matter, with a view to framing measures to prevent the practice complained of, if it should be found advisable to do so.

I am accordingly instructed to propose to the government of the United States the establishment of such a commission, and at the same time to point out that the only object which her Majesty's government has in view is the protection of these important fisheries, which it must be equally the desire of the United States and of France to preserve from deterioration.

I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your most obedient humble servant,

Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, &c., &c., &c.

LYONS.

Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, July 18, 1861.

MY LORD: Your lordship's note of the 17th instant, suggesting the appointment of a joint commission by Great Britain, the United States, and France, to inquire concerning practices destructive of the fisheries of North America off the coasts of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Labrador, and other territories, has been received.

The subject is deemed one of sufficient magnitude to deserve early consideration. A law would be necessary to enable the President to act upon the proposition you have submitted. The President will therefore bring the subject to the notice of Congress, whose action upon it will, of course, be conclusive. It will belong to the legis lature also to decide whether the public convenience will allow of its consideration at the present special session of Congress.

I have the honor to be, with high consideration, your lordship's obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

Right Honorable Lord LYONS, &c., &c., &c.

To a resolution of the Senate relative to instructions to the United States ministers abroad, in reference to the rebellion in the southern portion. of the Union.

JULY 31, 1861.—Read, and ordered to lie ou the table and be printed.

To the Senate:

In answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 25th instant, relative to the instructions to the ministers of the United States abroad, in reference to the rebellion now existing in the southern portion of the Union, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State.

WASHINGTON, July 27, 1861.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, July 27, 1861.

The Secretary of State, to whom was referred the resolution of the Senate of the 25th instant, requesting the President to communicate to that body "all instructions issued by the Executive department to our foreign ministers, since the 4th of March last, in reference to the rebellion now existing in the southern portion of the Union, if in his judgment the publication of the same be not incompatible with the public interest," has the honor to report to the President that, at present, it is not deemed expedient to communicate the instructions called for.

Respectfully submitted.

The PRESIDENT.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.