374 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 



of accusation against the officers of the Dotterel, nor are entitled to 

 reparation for the loss they have sustained; that, on the contrary, 

 they rendered themselves, by the wilful irregularity of their own 

 conduct, justly obnoxious to the severity exercised against them, 

 having been taken, some flagrante delicto, and others in such a posi- 

 tion, and under such circumstances, as rendered it absolutely impos- 

 sible that they could have had any other intention than that of pur- 

 suing their avorations as fishermen within the lines laid down by 

 treaty as forming the boundaries within which such pursuit was 

 interdicted to them. 



With regard to the charge preferred against Captain Hoare, of 

 his having converted detained American vessels, prior to their adjud- 

 ication in the courts, into tenders for assisting him in his operations 

 against the vessels of the same country, I have only to observe, that 

 that officer broadly, and in the most explicit terms, denies ever having 

 committed or authorized one such act; and in respect to the other 

 accusation, adduced by the complainants, of maltreatment by the 

 British officers of those persons whose vessels had been detained, I 

 trust that ^ perusal of the inclosed papers will make it equally clear 

 to you that that charge is entirely unfounded. 



I cannot but apprehend, sir, that the acrimony with which the pro- 

 ceedings of Captain Hoare have been viewed by the citizens of the 

 State of Maine, employed in the fishing trade on the British North 

 American coasts, may be justly ascribed to the circumstance of the 

 recent substitution of vigilance, on the part of British cruisers, for 

 the laxity which appears to have prevailed heretofore, in guarding 

 those coasts from the intrusions of foreign fishermen and smugglers; 

 and I doubt not that, if those persons could be prevailed upon to con- 

 fine themselves within the limits prescribed to them by treaty, no 

 cause of dissension or complaint would ever arise between the indi- 

 viduals or vessels of the two nations. 



It remains for me to observe, that, in one case, in which, by the 

 ignorance of the midshipman employed in the service, the territory 

 of the United States had been violated, by the pursuit and seizure of 

 an American vessel within the American boundaries, Captain Hoare 

 made all the reparation in his power for his officer's misconduct, by 

 delivering up to the Americans the boat which had been detained and 

 paying all the expenses incident to her detention. 



I have the honor to be, with distinguished consideration, sir, your 

 most obedient humble servant, 



H. U. Addington. 



ENCLOSURES. 



[Report of Captain Hoare, with accompanying statements of Jones, 

 master, Protheroe, mate, and affidavits of seamen of the British ship 

 Dotterel. — Enclosed.] 



[Inclosure No. 1.] 



His Majesty's Sloop Dotterel, 



Halifax, November 25, 1824. 

 Sir: According to your direction, I have made the strictest inves- 

 tigation, and inclose the reports of Mr. Jones, master, and Mr. Proth- 



