387 



Now, these arc American official documents, which certify as to the trciitinent that tiic 

 American fishermen had received at the iiands of the eruizers up to tiiat time. In order to 

 show further what tliis treatment was, 1 will mention the case of the " Charles," which 

 was seized by the Captain Arabin, of the " Argus," at Shelburne on the 9th May, 18-'.S. 

 Although this happened a long time ago, I cite it to show how the British Government 

 treated these matters then and ever afterwards. The " Charles " was actually seized in the 

 very act of fishing ; and there could be no doubt about the right to condenm her. But 

 the midshipman who was put in charge of her, while in the course of his passage from 

 Shelburne to St. John, according to the instructions of (Captain Arabin, stopped some other 

 vessels which were fishing, and, 1 think, brought one or two of them into St. John. The 

 " Charles " was then ])ut in the Admiralty Court and condemned ; but when the British 

 Government learned what had been done, inasmuch as Captain Arabin had exceeded his 

 instructions by using the vessel as a cruizcr while en route from Shelburne to St. John, 

 before her condemnation, not only gave her up, but also paid the costs of the prosecution, 

 and the other two vessels which had been so taken — whether they were liable to condem- 

 nation or not I do not know — were also given up. This was the treatment which American 

 fishermen received at the hands of the British Government. 



Again, at Grand Manan, two vessels were taken by cru'zers in 1851 or 1852 — I think 

 they were called the " Reindeer " and " Ruby " — or before that, because the account of 

 this affair is found in the Sessional Papers of 1851 and 1852. They were actually taken 

 in one of the inner harbours of Grand Maiian; a prize crew was put on board, and they 

 were sent to St. Andrew's ; but on their way up, as the.se two schooners passed Eastpoi't, 

 as th.ey necessarily had to do, an armed force came out from Kastport, headed by a Captain 

 of Militia, overpowered the crew, and took possession of them. Correspoiulence ensued 

 on this subject — to which I call your attention- — between the liritisli Ambassador and the 

 American Secretary of State, in whicli it was pointed out by the former that this outrage 

 had been committed on the British tlag; but through the whole ot this correspondence, I 

 cannot find any apolouy was ever made, or that the British Ambassador's rotnonstranees on 

 that subject were even answered. 



I only see, in looking over the correspondence — also as given in the American Sessional 

 Papers — that a demand by the British Govermnent for reparation was made ; they did not 

 demand the punishment of these men, or even the restoration of the vessel ; but simply 

 demanded some acknowledgment tor the outrage which had been committed on the British 

 flag ; and yet that was never made. 



This conduct, I think, may be contrasted pretty fairly with the treatment which the 

 Americans received at the hands of Great Britain, when Great Britain could have enforced 

 the laws against thcni. The official list of the vessels that were seized was put in 

 evidence. I think. 1 now call your attention to it ; you will fin<l, in looking over it, that 

 in every instance where condenmation took place, there was no doubt that a breach of the 

 law by American fishermen had been connnitted. There is one matter in this connection 

 to which I desire to call your attention ; it is to be found in the official correspondence, 

 No. 17, and it throws some little light, I thinii, upon the extraordinary charges which 

 Mr. Dana, 1 consider, has somewhat too hastily made. It is No. 17 of the official 

 correspondence put in ; it is a return of American vessels detained and prosecuted in the 

 Registered Court of \ ice-Admiralty at Charlottetown : — 



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