PERIOD FROM 1836 TO 1854. 495 



consul stationed at the port of Sydney, and yet, with all this assist- 

 ance at hand. I was most desirous of doing all in my power to make 

 their situation as comfortable as the circumstances of their case 

 would permit; and after their remaining on board the "Argus" 

 full thirty hours from their arrival in Sydney, thus giving them every 

 opportunity to collect their private property and be prepared to quit 

 the vessel ; still, at the expiration of that time, I called with Doughty, 

 the master, upon the collector of the customs, and requested him to 

 permit their remaining a further time on board, but which he de- 

 clined, for the reasons stated in his letter before referred to. I have 

 every reason for believing that no part of their clothing or private 

 property was detained from them; for if such had been the case I 

 am convinced Doughty would have mentioned the subject to me; 

 and as to my being privy to such an act, I am satisfied never once 

 came across the master's mind until instigated to make this base 

 charge long after leaving Cape Breton, for up to the period of his 

 parting with me in Halifax, he repeatedly, in the presence of others, 

 thanked me for my kind treatment of himself and crew, and the same 

 sentiments he must have expressed to his consul at Sydney, wdio also 

 thanked me for what he was pleased to call my generous conduct 

 towards them. Several days after the "Argus" had been in charge 

 of the collector of the customs, and I was preparing to leave with 

 the "Sylph" for Halifax, I discovered that Doughty, with two of his 

 crew who were witnesses for him, were anxious to proceed there, with 

 the hope of obtaining a release of the "Argus." Upon representing 

 this to his Excellency, the Lieutenant Governor, and there being no 

 other vessel in port at the time in which they could obtain a passage 

 to Mali fax. I. without a request on their part, offered them a passage 

 in the "Sylph" and actually took them there without their being 

 at any expense whatever. From the affidavit of Doughty being so 

 completely at variance with truth I cannot help thinking he never 

 could have supposed I would be called upon to answer it, for he 

 knew full well how readily and perfectly his charge could be dis- 

 proved; and were the consul of the United States still in Sydney, 

 I would have no hesitation in being bound by a representation of the 

 case as given to him by Doughty and his crew, together with what 

 he himself witnessed of my conduct towards them; but that gentle- 

 man i- now in Newfoundland, and I am therefore unable to obtain 

 from him any corroboration of what I have now stated, but which, 

 on hi- return to Cape Breton, I am quite satisfied can, if required, 

 he procured. After the gross misrepresentation of Doughty, every 



line of Ins affidavit being marked with falsehood, it would almost 



induce me. should I again he honored with the command of one of 

 the provincial revenue vessels not to go out of my way for the mere 

 purpose of extending to the class of per ons to which Mi-. Doughty 

 belongs those ad of kindness ami courtesy with which he was 

 favored, but which have been returned by the blackest ingratitude. 



I have, &c., 



Sir Ki pert D. George, 



/;*///., <(■'., ( (v., dec. 



V. S. I>M|)|>. 



