DESPATCHES, EEPOETS, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 319 



The Fulton was at anchor in the inner harbor. A copy of Lieutenant-Com- 

 manding Watson's report of his proceedings, under my orders of the 29th 

 ultimo, is with this. 



Soon after I anchored at Gasp I was informed that the anchorage, which 

 I had taken by advice of my pilot, was unsafe if it should blow a gale from the 

 east of frequent occurrence at this season. No pilot could be found to take 

 so large a ship into the inner harbor, and, as night was approaching, I got 

 under way and put to sea with both vessels. It had now become necessary 

 to replenish our coal, and I determined to go to Sydney, in Cape Breton Island, 

 for that purpose. 



I arrived at Sydney on the 4th, the Fulton in company, and, after taking on 

 board a supply of coal for each vessel, put to sea again on the morning of 

 the 9th. 



After a passage protracted by strong head winds, and a part of the time by 

 thick weather, we anchored at St John, New Brunswick, on the afternoon of 

 the 13th. 



A large number of persons, estimated at fifty thousand, were congregated at 

 this place to witness the ceremony of breaking ground for the European and 

 North American Railway. The occasion had brought the lieutenant-governor 

 of the Province, Sir Edmund Head, to St. John. We received from the 

 192 lieutenant-governor and the authorities of the city the most cordial wel- 

 come, and every hospitality was extended to us, nationally and 

 individually. 



The absence from St. John of the consul for the United States prevented my 

 getting any official information on the subject of the fisheries; but from no 

 source could I learn that there had been any occurrence of an unpleasant 

 nature; and by all persons, official and private, here, as in the other provinces, 

 a most anxious desire was expressed that the rights and privileges of the citi- 

 zens of the United States, and of the inhabitants of the provinces, in relation 

 to the fisheries, might be so distinctly defined, and so authoritatively announced, 

 that there should be no room for misunderstanding, and no possible cause for 

 irritation on either side. 



I left St. John on the morning of the 17th instant, the Fulton in company, and 

 anchored outside of this harbor on the evening of the 18th, in a dense fog. 

 This morning we have succeeded in getting to a good anchorage, off Fort 

 Constitution. 



******* 

 I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 



W. B. SHUBRICK, 

 Commanding Eastern Squadron. 



Hon. J. C. DOBBIN, 



Secretary of the Navy. 



There is not one word in the whole of this report which shows that anything 

 had taken place for which there was cause for any complaint whatever ; and 

 Lieutenant Conlmanding Watson, of the United States Navy, wrote the following 

 dispatch, addressed to Commodore Shubrick : 



UNITED STATES STEAMER FULTON, 

 Gaspc, Lower Canada, September 2, 1853. 



SIB : In accordance with your instructions of the 29th ultimo, I have the 

 honor to report that I received on board at Charlottetown, Prince Edward 

 Island, Major-General Gore, commander-in-chief of Her Britannic Majesty's 

 forces in Nova Scotia, and staff, hoisted the English flag at the fore, and pro- 

 ceeded to Pictou, where I landed them. General Gore expressed himself much 

 gratified at your having placed the Fulton at his disposal. 



After parting from you off the island of Pictou, I proceeded, according to 

 your directions, along the north side of the island, in Miramichi Bay, Chaleur 

 Bay, and to Gaspe, where I was in hopes of meeting you. It was my intention 

 to have gone farther up the bay of Chaleur; but a heavy sea induced me to 

 run for Gasp. While there, Her Britannic Majesty's steam sloop of war 

 Argus, Captain Purvis, came in. Captain Purvis immediately came on board, 

 and an interchange of civilities took place on the most friendly and courteous 

 terms. Captain Purvis states that he has not had the least difficulty with our 

 fishermen with one exception, and that so slight as not to be taken notice of. 



On my way to this place, I passed between five and six hundred fishermen ; 

 and, in my conversation with those I spoke to, there appears to be the greatest 

 harmony existing between them and the inhabitants. 



