PERTAINING TO SITUATION IN 1852-1853. 179 



Consul Palmer to Commodore Shubrick. 



CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES, 



PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND AGENCY, 



Charlottetown, August 29, 1853. 



SIR: I have much pleasure in reporting to you that up to the pres- 

 ent time there has been no cause or complaint, on either side, between 

 the British cruisers and the United States fishing vessels off the coast 

 of this island, during the present season. 



There was, however, one vessel captured by her Majesty's steam- 

 sloop Devastation, off the Canada coast, and brought into this port. 

 Copies of the proceedings instituted against her I have the honor to 

 enclose herewith. Doubts existed in my mind whether proceedings 

 could be legally instituted in the vice admiralty court in this colony 

 against a vessel captured in the Canadian waters; and, on drawing 

 the attention of the crown officers to this point, after a long con- 

 sultation, they concluded that, as the matter afforded a doubt, they 

 would not run the risk of prosecuting here; and Captain Campbell 

 informed me that he had no other alternative than to send the vessel 

 to Quebec. However, after some persuasion, he offered that if the 

 Captain of the Starlight would acknowledge his infraction of the 

 law, and promise to be more careful in future, he should, feel dis- 

 posed not to be over-severe with him, particularly as he had subse- 

 quently conducted himself so well, and he was released on payment 

 of the expense of the affidavits, &c. 



In case no arrangements are made between the two governments 

 with regard to the fisheries, which I should much regret, I should 

 respectfully recommend that a small United States war steamer 

 should be sent to this Gulf during the fishing season, for I have strong- 

 suspicions that some of the fishing vessels now come more or less 

 armed; for, in conversation with a number of their masters last 

 autumn, I heard some of them threaten that they would not be taken 

 by a small cutter if they considered they were a match for her ; and 

 one of them did run against one of the small British cruisers last 

 year, and the officer in command told me that he was satisfied it was 

 done intentionally ; and that at another time, one of the fishing ves- 

 sels bore down upon him, and it was not until they observed the cutter 

 prepare one of her guns that they altered their course. 



I have the honor to be, sir, 



Your most obedient and very humble servant, 



HENRY PALMER, 

 Consular Agent for U. S. A. at P. E. Island. 



Com. SHUBRICK, 



United States War-ship Princeton, c&c., &c~. 

 8. Doc. 870, 61-3, voi 6 20 



