PERIOD FROM 1818 TO 1836. 373 



The declarants further say, that during said cruise they did not 

 fish within from twelve to fifteen miles of Grand Menan, nor run in 

 near the land, unless to get water, purchase wood, and from stress 

 of weather. 



The said Jones Wass, for himself, saith : That on the seventh day 

 of September, now current, he left the city of St. John's, where he 

 had been to solicit the liberation of the said schooner Rebecca, but 

 that said schooner had not then been libelled for trial, and that he 

 was told by Charles J. Peters, the judge of the Vice Admiralty courts 

 for the province of New Brunswick, it was uncertain when she 

 would be. 



Wherefore, they do protest, and I, the said notary, in their behalf, 

 do solemnly protest against said armed boat; against pirates, and the 

 wanton abuse of power by armed boats on the high seas under pre- 

 tence of authority; against being deprived of rights confirmed to 

 American fishermen by the convention of Great Britain of 1818; and 

 against winds, seas, and tides, and whatsoever else may have caused 

 the capture and wanton detention of the said schooner Rebecca, of 

 Addison. 



Jones Wass. 

 John Wright. 



In faith whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal and subscribed 

 my name, the ninth day of September, anno Domini eighteen hundred 

 and twenty-four. 



[seal.] Solomon Thayer, Notary Public. 



Mr. Addington to Mr. Adams. 



Washington, February 19, 1825. 



Sir: On the Sih and L'lsi of September last I had the honor of re- 

 ceiving, from the Department of State, two letters, in which my 

 good offices were requested in behalf of certain individuals, of the 

 State of Maine, engaged in the fishing trade, who desired redress 

 and reparation for injury done them by the seizure of their vessels, by 

 his Majesty's sloop Dott< n ■/. while employed in cruising on the coasts 

 of his Majesty's North American possessions. 



I in forme. I you, sir. in reply to these communications, that I should 

 forthwith address au application to tlio British naval commander- 

 in-chief on the North American station, recommending that a full 

 :m<l impartial investigation should be instituted into the various 

 cases which formed the grounds of complaint on the part of the 

 American Government . 



I have tli'' honor to transmit to yon, herewith, copies of'a corre- 

 spondence which took- place, in consequence of my application, between 

 Captain lloare. comma ml \w<j his Majesty's sloop Dotterel, ami Rear 

 Admiral Lake, in reference to the ca e et forth in your letters above 



mentioned. The depositions <>f the officer and men concerned in tlio 



capture of the Rebecca, Ruby, Reindeer, William, Galeon, Pilgrim, 

 ami Hero vessels therein enumerated are also annexed. 



By a perusal of these documents it will. I trust, sir. most con- 

 clusively appear to you that the complainants have no jusl ground 



