444 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 



[Inclosure No. 3.] 



Nathan Briggs, master of the American schooner, Alatamaha, of 



New Bedford, maketh oath and saith: That on the 19th day of June 

 last past, while said vessel was passing through the Gut of Canso, 

 bound to Pictou for a cargo of coal, Duncan McMillan, collector 

 of light-dues, came on board and demanded to see the Alatamaha's 

 papers, and required payment of light-dues. Deponent said he had 

 no money, but would give an order on Pictou. McMillan looking 

 at the clearance said, " You have no means of paying me on board," 

 and requested deponent to give him a barrel of flour for light-dues. 

 Deponent made answer that he could not break bulk without sub- 

 jecting himself to a penalty; on which McMillan replied that there 

 was no duty payable on any article delivered to him in payment of 

 light-dues. Deponent believing from the circumstance of a British 

 flag flying in McMillan's boat, that he was an officer of government, 

 and had a right to make such demand, gave him a barrel of flour, and 

 took a receipt therefor, of which the following is a copy, viz : 



"June 19, 1839. 



u Mr. Nathan Briggs, master of the schooner Alatahama, To the f rovince of 



Nova Scotia, Dr. 



" To light-dues for the above vessel, now under your command, for 

 the present voyage from New Bedford, 120 tons. 

 " Received payment in one barrel of flour. 



" Duncan McMillan, 

 " Collector of Light-dues, Gut of Canso" 



Nathan Briggs. 

 Sworn to at Pictou, the 6th July, 1839, before me, 



James Primrose, Consul, U. S. A. 



[Inclosure No. 4.] 



Sir Rupert D. George to Consul Primrose. 



Halifax, August 21, 1839. 

 Sir Rupert D. George presents his compliments to Mr. Primrose, 

 and regrets not being yet able to reply to his communication relative 

 to the mode of collecting light-dues from American vessels passing 

 through the Gut of Canso. Immediately on its receipt, it was laid 

 before the lieutenant governor and her Majesty's council, and re- 

 ferred to a committee to inquire into the circumstances; and the 

 committee have not yet made their report. 



[Inclosure No. 5.] 



Consul Primrose to Sir Rupert D. George. 



Consulate or the United States of America. 



Pictou, August 26th, 1839. 



Sir: I beg leave to enclose to you two copies of two affidavits of 

 the master and crew of the American fishing schooner Amazon, re- 

 lating to her seizure and detention by an officer of the provincial 

 government at the Strait of Canso. 



