200 APPENDIX TO BRITISH CASE. 



You will report to me for the information of Her Majesty's Gov- 

 ernment any communications which you may have with the "Govern- 

 ment of the United States upon this subject. 

 I am with great truth and regard, Sir, 

 Your most obedient humble servant 



PALMERSTON 

 HENRY STEPHEN Fox Esqre 



&c &c &c 



No. 66. 1839, July 15: Letter from Mr. James Primrose, United 

 States Consul at Pictou, Nova Scotia, to Sir R. D. George, Pro- 

 vincial Secretary. 



CONSULATE or THE UNITED STATES, 



Pictou, Nova Scotia, July 15, 1839. 

 SIR : I most respectfully beg leave to bring under the notice of the 



overnment the existing practice of collecting light-dues at the 

 trait of Canso. 



American vessels bound to Pictou have this season been frequently 

 fired at and brought to at that place, by an armed boat, and boarded 

 by an officer, armed with a cutlass and a brace of pistols, who has 

 enforced payment of light-dues. As but few of these vessels 

 118 were provided with funds, the masters have been subjected to 

 great inconvenience by being compelled, in many instances, to 

 part with portions of their cargoes or ship's stores, and to pursue 

 other objectionable courses to enable them to meet the demand, which 

 I respectfully submit might be collected here, where the consignees 

 reside, with as much safety to the revenue, and, as you will perceive 

 by the enclosed affidavits, with less danger to strangers, who are led 

 to commit acts seriously affecting the safety of their vessels, through 

 the misrepresentation of an officer claiming to be clothed with 

 authority. 



Will you do me the favour of informing me whether the collectors 

 of light-dues at the Strait of Canso act under the authority of the 

 government of this province, in levying that rate there on American 

 vessels not bound to any port or place within the same ? 



The imposition of any tax by the province of Nova Scotia upon 

 American vessels engaged in the prosecution of the fisheries using that 

 passage in transitu, would appear to deprive it of the character of 

 constituting a portion of the high seas. 



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

 obedient and humble servant, 



JAMES PRIMROSE, 



Consul, U.S.A. 

 To the Honorable Sir RUPERT D. GEORGE, 



Provincial Secretary, &c., Halifax. 



No. 67. 1839, August 14: Extract from Report from United States 

 Acting Secretary of State to the President of the United States. 



DEPARTMENT or STATE, August 14, 1839. 



In obedience to the directions of the President, received at the 

 Department of State on the 9th instant, "to report to him the treaty 



