No. 18.
Mr. Bancroft to Mr. Fish.
Sir: The importance of the award of the German Emperor is known in England as well as on our own Pacific coast. It establishes us in the equal possession of the Channel of Haro and in the exclusive possession of all the other channels leading north from Fuca Straits and Washington Sound.Importance of the award.
The award was a grievous disappointment to Admiral Prevost, the very amiable high officer of the British Navy, who had for twenty-one years participated in the management of the case. Up to the last moment he confidently expected a decision in his favor.
The conduct of the present British Embassador at this Court, throughout the whole period of the discussions, has been exactly what could have been wished. We have during the whole time preserved intimate friendly relations. This morning he was so good as to call on me, and while it could not be expected of him to be gratified by the award, he did express, and as I believe most sincerely, the greatest satisfaction that all strife between the two Governments, respecting boundaries, had found its end, and that there is no longer an obstacle to the uninterrupted reciprocity of good feeling between the two countries. I met his friendly expressions with perfect cordiality. While a decree could not be on both sides, I pointed out to him that since George III acknowledged our independence in the late summer of 1782 to the present time, the strife about boundaries between the two Governments had known no intermission; now at last there remained no further differences; that therefore the definite friendly settlement effected by the award of the German Emperor opened the way to a new career of reciprocal good feeling between the two countries.Conduct of the Critish Embassador.
I remain, &c.,