A letter from a correspon...
The Times, 1824-11-02T00:00:00

A letter f'roin a correspondent, dated Jersey, is not tll- I worthy of attention. Bearing directly upon the subject of the British fisheries, it embraces of necessity that of our MaXitime power; and, from the pecaliar circumstances of the case, that of our national honour likcewise. That a dis- cussion-in other words, an altercation-has been for some tirue golng forward between this Government and the P'rench, uponi a question relating to the continuance of a right of fishing long and peaceably enjoyed by England, many of our readers were, perhaps, very little aware. It is, nevertheless, represented by oar correspondent, that since theyear 1797, our countrymen have fished upon an oyster- bank then discovered, about five or six miles from the coast of Brittanjy; that the fishery so increised ad(i prospered, as in i618, seven years after the conclusion of peace, to rouse the jealousy of the French Government, w;hich sent men of war to chase away our fishing vessels-to chase them from their owit lawful scene and employment. We are further informed, that after much parley with a Conmmis- sioner appointed bh our Ministers, France consented to forego provisionally her encroaching claim, anfd to leave our seamen unmolested, beyond the jurisdiction of her own sovereignty-viz. one league from her shore. However, this, it seems, was too equitable an arrange- muent to be long concurred in. A new negotiation is said to have been opened by the French Ambassador, who, much to the astonishment of our fellow-subjects con- cerned in the fishery, is f trthier said to have already wrung from Mlinisters a total transfer ol' the above pro- visional benefit, by substituting two leagues from Cape Carteret and another headland, as the limits within which the boatmen of this country should not be allowed to earn their livelihood, instead of one league along the general line of coast. Thus, as England untler the former agree. ment was, until a definitive treaty, to continue in the prac- tical exercise of the right, so now Frauce has the posi- tive and( practical good ; an(d this conltry is left to the chancec of what a commercial treaty, at the end of a dozeni years, or after perhaps as many wars, may do for haer. Hlow happenis it, that wben we fight we always succeedl, and that as ofteii as we negotiate we are defeated ? The last war with the United States, howv- ever ill conducted, left Great Britain in possession of advantages which she had only to itnsist upon at Ghent, and she would have been easily confirmed in them: but her negotiators were just or the proper kind to neutralize all the victories of the most triumphant war, andl to surrender all those fragments (3f power which sometimes escape the most vigorous and successful enemy. MNfortifying as the peace of Ghent was considlered throughout this empire, its terms were aggravated by subsequent and mean con cersions. The Americans, without even a colour of justice, extorted from our patriotic Foreignt Mlinister, a share in the invalu- able fisheries of Newfbundland; and there the citizens of _%- J .... t-W- %-_, ;.. --s8r.- witl, .tx- -bj-bo Or CIIAPLES X., fixed themselves upon the life-springs of British capital, indlustry, and enterprise-oustinwusfrom *he vary cradle in wlicii our new maritime genera- tioII hadl been reposing, and dIrawing from the vitals of England the arms wherewith to inflict on her a nortal woun(l. *Vas not this warning enough against 'utirity IVas not this hundred-and-first feat of Lord CAS rLEREAGH like "breaksrs a-head" for .\Ir. CAN'- NiN(., ?It will be substantial injury, deepenio( and black- cned by wvilful disgrace, if a point so near the heart of oiur navy and our glory, should be thus abandoned to their com- non rival. What says the practice of the law of nations ? rhat the exclusive domnain of any Governmeut extends a " cannoni-shot" from the coast. France has hitherto construed the caanon-shot to carry " one league" from her NAV. coast: this was acquiesced in, and she was never i1isturbed within the bOUn)dS which she had so prescribed toher dominion, But she now c.ntea.ts tfor two leagues- for much inere than two, because the two leagues are measured outwards from two promelntories. The regular line of coast willon thiiprinciple recedeperhapNIbur leagues from t hefishing limit; and,indeed, asour corrcspondent affirms, the whole oyster-fishery, until now enjoyed by our country- inen, actually falls imdithin the prohibited space. This muust not be tolerated. France and Amnerica must not hiave it all their owIn way. Admission to a share of British wealth must not be for ever granted to their importunity, an(d exclusion from her own lawful felds of industry be the sole reward obtaitned for such kindlnes3 by Great Britain. Our correspondent disclaims the wish to go to war for a fishery ; and yet it should be borne in mind, that if one right be surronilered, another and another will sooni be wrenched awaY. The first inch of a nation's territory is that for nhich she cm mi*ost successfully arm : for a fishery, er even a bed of oysters, if appended to tho dignity and sovercignty of England, we would go to war with the same prompt resolution as Lord Lrvainpoor. declared he would for the safe-keeping of an individtual alien. But ire trust it will n ot come to this.