Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Hunter
Sir: Her Majesty’s principal secretary of state for foreign affairs has for warded to me a copy of a letter which he has received from Mr. J. Howe, stating that, when the fishery commission met last January in Boston, Mr. Hamlin and he arranged the work so as to enable them by March, 1866, (in the event of the termination of the reciprocity treaty at that time,) to finish whatever was in progress, without embarrassment to either government.
Mr. Howe states that he had no doubt that they would be able to do this.
He then quotes a letter which he has received from Mr. Hamlin, who writes as follows, on the 11th March:
“I returned from Washington a short time since. I found that certain persons made representations to the State Department in relation to the delay of the commissioners under the reciprocity treaty in not finishing the work. In an interview with the department this was explained, and I think the department was satisfied.”
Mr. Howe concluded by declaring that there is no fair foundation for the imputation, if such there has been, that there has been unnecessary delay in forwarding the business of the commission; that his movements to the north have been controlled by the short seasons and by the co-operation of the admiral in command, and to the south by the disturbed state of the country in the near neighborhood of some of the rivers to be examined; that the southern coast will now be open, and that Sir James Hope has promised to enable him early in the summer to complete the examination of the coasts of Newfoundland.
I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
Hon. William Hunter, &c., &c., &c.