492 CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 



minister of the United States of America at London, complaining of 

 the "seizure of a vessel named the Argus, which was found fishing 

 oil' Cape Breton under similar circumstances to those of the Washing- 

 ton, and stating that the captors had been harsh in their treatment 

 towards the master of the Argus;" and likewise concerning deposi- 

 tions to that effect signed by Edward and Joshua Doughty. 



After the correspondence I have lately had with your lordship 

 as to the true construction to be put on the convention of 1818, on the 

 interpretation of which the legality or illegality of the capture of the 

 Argus as well as of theW ashington, of course depends, I feel it is 

 unnecessary for me to enter again on that branch of the subject; and 

 from the difficulty of communication by post at this season of the 

 year, I am not at present in a position to meet the allegations con- 

 tained in Mr. Everett's representation with respect to the harsh treat- 

 ment of the skipper and crew of the Argus by the captain and crew of 

 the provincial schooner. These charges have, however, taken me by 

 surprise, as William Doughty; the commander of the Argus, (and 

 apparently from the similarity of name, the brother of the other two 

 men who feel themselves aggrieved,) was in Halifax some days, and 

 in communication with the attorney general, to whom he made no 

 complaint of having been ill-treated or harshly dealt with by Mr. 

 Dodd. whose general character, as well as the kindly feeling he 

 evinced towards William Doughty, forbids me readily to give cred- 

 ence to any accusation of such a nature, that may be brought against 

 him, until he shall have had an opportunity of offering a counter 

 statement. I have, in consequence, transmitted to Mr. Dodd a copy 

 of the affidavits of Edward and Joshua Doughty, and required an 

 explanation from him, which I trust to receive in sufficient time to 

 allow of my addressing your lordship satisfactorily on this topic by 

 the next packet. 



I have the honor, &c, 



Falkland. 



Lord Stanley, &c, &c. 



[Inclosure No. 2.] 



Mr. Hope to Viscount Canning. 



Downing Street, January 29, 18^5. 

 My Lord: With reference to my letter of the 9th instant I am di- 

 rected by Lord Stanley to transmit to your lordship, for the informa- 

 tion of the Earl of Aberdeen, the enclosed copy of a further despatch 

 from the lieutenant-governor of Nova Scotia, transmitting the answer 

 of Mr. Dodd (the commander of the provincial revenue-schooner 

 Sylph, at the time the American schooner Argus was captured by 

 the former vessel) to the charge of harsh treatment towards the mas- 

 ter and crew of the Argus, on the part of Mr. Dodd. 

 I have the honor, &c, 



G. W. Hope. 

 Viscount Canning, &c, &c 



