UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Another of the many disputes concerning territory, or rights, perpetually occurring between Great Britain and the United States, took place in 1852. The contest regarded the fisheries off the American coasts; the citizens of the United States claiming the right, in virtue of a certain convention dated 1818, to fish off the coasts, and dry fish on the coasts, of an extensive area of British territory. The British colonial minister, Sir J. Pakington, conceded nearly all that the Americans demanded, to the mortification of the colonial subjects of Great Britain. Discussions concerning Central America, and the formation of a ship-canal between the Atlantic and the Pacific, also engaged the diplomatic abilities of British and American ministers. Ostensible agreements were entered into, but neither nation heartily acquiesced, and no expectation was entertained in England that the people of the United States regarded the settlement as final.
EFFORTS AGAINST THE SLAVE TRADE, AND TO SUPPRESS PIRACY.
The energy put forth by the British government to destroy the traffic in slaves by an armed naval force off the coasts of Africa were this year unremitting and successful. Several vessels trading in slaves were taken, and though the British squadron was not sufficient to suppress, it was a powerful check upon the slave trade.
Naval operations off the Chinese coasts, within the Straits of Malacca and on the coasts of Labuan, were also crowned with success. Through the instrumentality of Rajah Brooke, the Malay pirates were defeated and ultimately extirpated from the bays and creeks of Labuan. The position of the rajah at Sarawak afforded him facilities for directing these enterprises, which his indomitable courage and energy enabled him to make available. His country did not appreciate his deeds as highly as they deserved, and certain cliques in England decried his labours and aspersed his motives. He rendered commerce and his country great and disinterested services.
DEATHS OF EMINENT PERSONS.
During the year 1852, death was as usual busy in the circles of eminent persons: the fame and talents of some of the deceased render it desirable and necessary to record their names upon the page of history.