University of Virginia Library

TO JAMES MONROE.

Dear Sir

I recd. yesterday the 2 letters from Onis herewith
returned, and today copies of the papers transmitted
by Mr. Crowninshield, which as the originals are in
the Dept. I return. The law of nations, and our position
in relation to the contest between Spain & Spanish
America will of course govern the reply to these
representations.

The remarks of Judge Story as to the fisheries
are valuable, and furnish some precise objects for
discussion with the B. Govt. If Mr. B[agot] will
accede to the most favorable arrangements marked
out, it may be well to close with him. Whether
the one next best ought to be accepted, is a more
delicate question; notwithstanding the opinion of
Mr. Crowninshield on the subject. I do not think
in the present temper & situation of G.B. that delay
with a prudent conduct on our part will injure our
prospects. And it appears after all, that the right
to cure fish on the B. shores, the fish cured on them
being the proportion only of 1/5 or 1/6 of those caught
by our vessels in those waters, is of less importance
than was supposed. How far the waters within
the marginal league have been used, and wd. be
prohibited if not stipulated is to be ascertained.
On the whole, I still think unless an arrangement
likely to be satisfactory can be obtained, it will be
better to prolong the negotiation, than to cut it
short from a despondence as to better terms. I
observe that J. Story represents the shores of
Labrador as a good deal settled. If this be the fact
and could appear in an arrangement of our use of
them, we might accept the use of the shores without
any unselfish surrender of our pretensions, which
are limited to unsettled districts. Perhaps Mr. B.
may be willing to make a partial arrangement,
leaving open the negociation for its extension. If
this can be done in a form avoiding implications adverse
to our claims, it wd. be a safe & might be an

eligible course. It might be predicted on the want
of full information, and the purpose of obtaining it.
The sources of further information pointed at by the
Judge may deserve attention.