Mr. Fish to General Scheuck
My Dear General: Shortly after your acceptance of the appointment of envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to Great Britain certain overtures were made by the British government to this Government looking to the appointment of a joint high commission, to sit in Washington, for the adjustment of several of the questions existing between the two governments. It was not thought proper to enter upon the consideration of the questions suggested, unless the same high commission should also be charged with the negotiation of a settlement of the “Alabama claims,” so called. As your selection for the [Page 433] mission to London had been made in full confidence of your ability to treat this class of questions, the President, before giving any answer to the overtures that were made, desired me to confer with you and ascertain your views and wishes on the subject. This was done on the 11th of January last, and you gave a decided expression of opinion that the proposal contemplated by the overtures then made ought not, in the interests of the country, to be rejected, and you generously disclaimed any desire to retain in your own hands the negotiations on those important subjects which had already been intrusted to you, and on which you were then receiving the views of this Government, in view of what you thought the greater opportunity of a satisfactory settlement by means of the joint commission proposed to be held in Washington.
You were then requested to delay your arrangements for sailing for your post of duty until the result of the pending overtures should be ascertained, and I promised to give you the earliest notice of the conclusion of the arrangements then under discussion. I have now the pleasure to inform you that notes have passed between Sir Edward Thornton and myself contemplating and agreeing to a joint high commission to meet shortly in this city for the consideration of the various important questions between the two countries, including those of the fisheries, the northwestern water boundary, the Alabama claims, &c. The official or public announcement of this arrangement is delayed for sufficient reasons until some time next week. Until announced by authority you will be pleased to consider the communication now made as confidential.
In conclusion, I have to request that you will farther postpone your arrangements for departure, as the President will desire your able services as one of the high commissioners on the part of the United States.
Very faithfully, yours,