supposed, a strong leverage, by which our Government could
be coerced, as it had been in 1854, into reciprocity of trade upon
other products. It was to be a series of moral coercions, either
accomplished or attempted. Coerced into accepting Mr. Delfosse as
third Commissioner, we were now to be coerced into a commercial treaty
for the benefit of Canada in order to escape the possible award on
the fisheries.

What the British Government desired was substantially a renewal of
the Reciprocity treaty of 1854,--fishery clauses included. That treaty
had expired in 1866; and to aid in securing its renewal a highly
intelligent special Commissioner, Mr. Rothery, was now sent to
Washington to aid the British Legation in negotiating such a
convention. Success was more easily attained with the Executive
department of our Government than with the Legislative. A treaty of
reciprocity was agreed upon between Mr. Fish and Sir Edward Thornton,
and duly transmitted to the Senate. If ratified by that body, it
would still be incomplete until the consent of the House should be
obtained. But it was rejected by the Senate on the 3d of February,
1875; and the two Governments were left to renew the arrangements for
the Fishery Commission, which by agreement had not been affected by
the postponement resulting from the negotiations for reciprocity.

Various delays hindered the agreement between the two Governments upon
an identic note to be addressed to the Austrian Government, requesting
the appointment of the third Commissioner by the representative of
that Government in London; and it was not accomplished until the
winter of 1876-77. Mr. Fish realized by that time that he no longer
had the power to prevent the selection of Mr. Delfosse, and that his
selection, made against open and avowed opposition, might be especially
detrimental to the interests of the United States. Mr. Fish realized
also that Count von Beust, the Austrian Ambassador, might select some
one even more objectionable than Mr. Delfosse, if that were possible;
and he therefore thought it expedient to withdraw his personal
objections to that gentleman, and agree to that which he could not
change or avert. Upon intimations to that effect Count von Beust
named Mr. Delfosse as the third Commissioner. The Canadian Government,
whose interests and influence in the matter had been apparently
consulted by Lord Granville at every step, and which had been
represented as object