448 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 



affidavits relating to the seizure and detention of the American fish- 

 ing vessel Amazon, by Mr. Duncan McMillan; and am directed to 

 acquaint you that copies thereof have been forwarded to McMillan, 

 who is directed to repair to Arichat on Monday next, in order that 

 his conduct on this occasion may undergo a minute investigation 

 before the attorney general, on the receipt of whose report it will 

 become my duty to address 3 7 ou again on the subject. 



I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, 



Rupert D. George. 

 James Primrose, Esq., 



Consul United States, Pictou. 



[Inclosure No. 7.] 



Consul Primrose to Sir Rupert D. George. 



Consulate of the United States of America, 



Pictou, September 28, 1839. 

 Sir: It becomes my duty to call your attention to the enclosed copy 

 of an affidavit of the master of the American brig Emerald. 



The conduct of the collector of light-dues at the Strait of Canso 

 towards vessels of the United States bound to this port, continues to 

 be characterized not only by a total want of courtesy, but very fre- 

 quently assumes the aspect of open and wanton aggression. 



In the hope of receiving your reply to my note of the 15th of July, 

 I have refrained from multiplying complaints; but the nature of the 

 outrage committed on the Emerald requires that I should make the 

 government of this Province acquainted with it. 



With great respect, I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient 

 and humble servant. 



James Primrose, 

 Consul of the United States of America. 

 Hon. Sir R. D. George, 



Provincial Secretary, &c, Halifax. 



[Subin Closure.] 



Roderick McKenzie, master of the brig Emerald, of Salem, in the 

 State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, maketh oath 

 and saith : That, on Sunday morning last, the 22d instant, while the 

 said brig was riding at anchor, wind-bound, at the Strait of Canso, 

 on her passage from Boston to Pictou. she was boarded by Duncan 

 McMillan, who demanded to see the ship's papers, which were shown 

 to him by deponent. The said McMillan then demanded from de- 

 ponent four pence per ton register as light-dues; but deponent in- 

 formed him that he had not the means of discharging the claim there, 

 but would pay it at Pictou. 



McMillan then requested deponent to give him an order on some 

 person at Pictou, which deponent declined to do, saying there was 

 no person there on whom he had any authority to draw. McMillan 

 then left the vessel. About six hours afterwards, when the said 

 vessel was under sail for Pictou, she was boarded by three armed 

 boats, containing about sixteen men, and taken posession of by the 

 said McMillan, but was released on deponent's signing a note-of-hand, 



