Mr. Fish to General Schenck
Sir: The Senate having advised and consented thereto, the President has ratified the treaty between the United States and Great Britain for the settlement of pending questions between the two countries signed at Washington on the 8th instant, and I now transmit to you by [Page 447] the hands of Mr. Bancroft C. Davis, of Massachusetts, who goes out as bearer of dispatches, the American ratification to be exchanged against that of Her Britannic Majesty, with full power to enable you to effect that object. You will, accordingly, upon the receipt of this dispatch, inform Her Majesty’s principal secretary of state for foreign affairs that the treaty has been ratified on our part, and that you are authorized to exchange the ratifications with such persons as may be duly empowered for for that purpose on the part of the British government. When the exchange shall have been effected you will execute jointly with the person appointed on behalf of the government of Great Britain duplicate certificates, similar to those which are inclosed, one of which shall be given to the British government, and the other you will forward to this Department.
As soon as the exchange of the ratifications takes place you will please forward the British ratification to the United States by the hands of Mr. Davis.
I am, &c.,