456 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 



hired under pretences as slight and untenable as in the present 

 instance. 



I am, etc., 



John I. D'Wolf, 



U. S. Consul. 

 Hon. John Forsyth, 



Secretary of State. 



P. S. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of July 1st 

 with documents. J. I. D'W. 



Consul D^Wolf to Secretary Forsyth. 



Consulate U. S. America, 

 Sydney, C. B., Sept. 7, 18Jfi. 



Sir : I have to acquaint you with the capture of the American fish- 

 ing schooner "Ocean", D. Dixon, Master, owned in Newburyport, 

 by Harrison Johnson, Esq. for an alleged trespass on the fishing 

 ground. 



This vessel was brought into port on 2nd instant by the cruiser 

 "John and Louisa Wallace", Stephens, Commander. I have taken 

 the affidavit of the mate and two of the crew, setting forth the cir- 

 cumstances under which the vessel was seized and enclose a copy of 

 the same. 



I have every reason to believe that the schooner was six or seven 

 miles from the land at time she was taken. The distance to the shore 

 was not measured and the land being very high in that part of the 

 coast, renders it impossible to form a correct judgment. 



In addition to this, Capt. Stephens of the cutter, is known to be 

 a man of intemperate habits and wholly unfit to occupy the re- 

 sponsible situation in which he is placed, and I am well satisfied from 

 the statement of Capt. Dixon and his crew, that he was under the 

 influence of intoxicating drink at the time the seizure was made. His 

 opinion, therefore, as to the distance, would not seem entitled to much 

 weight. 



And further, by an examination of the best charts, I find that 

 soundings on that part of the coast where the vessel was taken are 

 less than 20 fathoms, within six or seven miles of the land. 



Capt. Dixon has, by my direction, proceeded to Halifax to endeavor 

 to effect the release of his vessel. 



The "Pallas", the capture of which vessel was made the subject 

 of a former letter has been released, the Captain, however, having 

 been subjected to heavy expenses. 

 I am, etc., 



John I. D'Wolf, 



U. S. Consul. 



Hon. John Forsyth, 



Secretary of State. 



[Inclosure.] 



Consulate, U. S. America, 



Sidney, C. Breton. 

 On the day and date hereof, before me, John I. D'Wolf, U. S. Con- 

 sul, personally appeared Ebenezer Bray, mate of the American fish- 



