Q. How was the weather? A. Perfectly clear and fine weather, with a moderate breeze. A. Yes; we sailed in that direction. THOMAS RICHARDSON, examined: Question. Do you remember the circumstances relative to the detention of the American schooner Rebecca? Answer. Yes. Q. Relate all you know about her. A. When we first intended to board her she made sail from us; we then chased her over to the Nova Scotia shore, where we lost sight of her about eleven p. m. About three or four days after we again saw her at the Grand Manan, lying about a mile from the shore, cleaning fish, throwing the garry overboard. Mr. Jones then detained her and carried her to St. John's. Q. Where was she lying? A. In some harbor at the Manan, but cannot recollect the name. Q. What quantity of wood and water do you think she had on board? A. About three or four forty-gallon casks, and about two cords of wood. Q. How was the weather when you boarded her? A. Fine weather and clear, with a moderate breeze. Q. Do you know whether the wind was fair for the fishing grounds? A. Yes; the wind was fair. FELIX SHAW, private marine, examined: Question. Were you in the yawl with Mr. Jones when he detained the American schooner Rebecca? Answer. Yes. Q. Relate what you know about her. A. She came to anchor with another schooner in a small harbor in the Grand Manan. While we were lying there the foretop-sail schooner got under weigh, and we boarded her; while on board of her the other weighed and made sail. We then made sail after her, and chased her across the Bay of Fundy over to the Nova Scotia shore, where we lost her after dark. Some days after we saw her again at anchor within a mile of the shore, near Gull cove, throwing the garry overboard. Mr. Jones seized her and took her to St. John's. Q. What quantity of wood and water had she on board? A. I do not recollect. Q. How was the weather when you detained her? A. The weather was fine and clear, with a light breeze. Q. Was the wind fair for the fishing ground? A. I do not know the position of the fishing ground. Ex.-3 JAMES LLOYD, private marine, examined: Question. Were you in the yawl with Mr. Jones when he seized the American schooner Rebecca ? Answer. Yes; I was. Q. Relate what you know about the detention of her. A. While lying at anchor in the harbor, I believe the Grand Manan, I saw the schooner come in and anchor. While Mr. Jones was boarding another vessel under English colors, observed the master and two men go off to the schooner and immediately get under weigh; when they got around the point of land lost sight of her. Q. Where were you when you lost sight of her? A. On shore, cooking the boat's crew's provisions. His Q. How do you know it was the master who went on board the vessel? A. The people at the store told me so; and said he had been there frequently and had asked them for water, which they had refused him. reply was, if he could not have it by fair play, he would be damned if he would not have it by foul. Q. When did you again see the schooner? A. I never saw her again. Q. When did you rejoin the yawl? A. Next morning. Q. Do you remember the schooner Rebecca being detained? A. I was put on board a vessel and with the rest of the crew carried her to St. Johns; I believe her name was Rebecca, but am not certain. Q. Do you remember when this vessel was detained? A. I do not exactly recollect, but believe it to be a week or more after rejoining the yawl. Q. What quantity of wood and water had she on board? A. I believe there was half a hogshead three parts full, and a considerable quantity of wood. Q. How was the weather? A. Quite fine and clear with moderate breezes. Q. Do you know the position of the fishing ground? A. I do not. JOHN CAMMISH, seaman, examined. Q. Were you in the yawl when Mr. Jones detained the American schooner Rebecca? A. Yes. Q. Relate all you know about her. A. The first time I saw her she was at anchor in a small harbor in the Grand Menan, and when we made after her she got under weigh and we chased her, keeping her in sight till about eleven p. m., when we lost sight of her on the Nova Scotia shore. Q. Did you see her again afterwards? A. Yes, about three days afterwards. Q. Relate where she was then and what she was doing? A. She was lying in a small harbor about four or five miles from Gull cove, cleaning her fish. Q. What quantity of wood and water had she on board? A. She had plenty of both when we detained her. A. Two and a half hogsheads. Q. How was the weather when you boarded her? Q. Do you know how the wind was? A. I am not positive but believe it was from the northwest. RICHARD NEWLAND, seaman, examined : Question. Were you in the yawl when Mr. Jones seized the American schooner Rebecca? A. Yes, I was. Q. Relate the circumstances. A. She came in and anchored while we were lying in the Grand Menan; when going to board her she got under weigh and made sail; we chased her across the Bay of Fundy over to the Nova Scotia shore, when we lost sight of her about 11 p. m. Three days after we again saw her at anchor near Beal's passage cleaning her fish and heaving the gurry overboard; we boarded her and took her to Gull cove. Q. What distance was she from the land when she was taken possession of? A. About a quarter of a mile. Q. Did you hear Mr. Jones ask what they were doing there? A. Yes, and said they came in for water. Q. What quantity of wood and water had they on board? A. About two barrels and a half of water and about a cord or a cord and a half of wood. Q. How was the weather when you boarded her? A. Fine clear weather with little breezes. Q. Do you remember if it was a fair wind for the fishing ground? WILLIAM VICKERY, marine, examined: Question. Were you in the yawl when Mr. Jones seized the American schooner Rebecca? Answer. Yes, I was. Q. Relate what you remember respecting her. A. On boarding an English schooner at or near Gull cove, we saw another lying there; while going on board observed another getting under weigh and made sail; we chased her across the Bay of Fundy and lost sight of her between nine and ten o'clock p. m. Q. When did you again see the schooner? A. About three or four days after at anchor within Gull cove, within half a mile of the land, cleaning fish. Mr. Jones boarded her and took possession of her. Q. Did Mr. Jones ask what they were doing there? A. Yes, he did, and they said they came for wood and water. Q. What quantity of wood and water had they on board? A. I believe about a barrel and a half of water and about a cord and a half of wood. Q. How did you know it was the Rebecca? A. I was informed by one of the crew that it was the same vessel which we chased across the bay and that they would have hove to, but did not know we were in chase of them, and that the captain said, had he not returned, but made the best of his way home, he should not have been taken. Q. Did you fire at her to bring her to? A. Yes, I was ordered by Mr. Jones to fire across her bows, and I fired seven times. Q. How was the weather when you detained her? A. Fair weather with a nice breeze. Q. Do you know if it was a fair wind to the fishing ground? JOHN LLOYD, Seaman, examined: Question. Were you in the yawl with Mr. Jones when he seized the American schooner Rebecca? Answer. Yes, I was. Q. Relate what you know of the circumstances. A. When lying in Gull Cove I heard two or three men, who I believe were fishermen belonging to the island of Grand Menan, say that the schooner we had chased across the Bay of Fundy two or three days before, was then at anchor between two islands about a mile and a half round the point. We boarded her and detained her. She was then cleaning fish. Q. Did you hear Mr. Jones ask what they were doing there? A. Yes, they said that they came in for wood, water, and to land their gurry. Q. What quantity of wood and water had they on board? A. They had as much wood as would last them for a fortnight, and had a full cask of water on deck and some below, but cannot say how much, besides beer. Q. How was the weather when you detained her? A. It was fine weather with a moderate breeze. JOHN CHEESE, seaman, examined: Question. Were you in the yawl when Mr. Jones detained the American schooner Rebecca? Answer. Yes, I was. Q. Relate what you recollect relative to the detention of her. A. We were lying alongside a wharf in a harbor in the Menan, and observed two schooners at anchor under the land. We went out and boarded an English schooner, on board of which was a man belonging to the Rebecca, acting as pilot while on board the schooner; got under weigh and ran across the Bay of Fundy. We gave chase to her and fired several shot across her bows to bring her to. At about half past ten p. m. lost sight of her. On the fourth day afterwards we again fell in with her at anchor in a narrow passage in the Menan; boarded her and found them cleaning their fish and throwing the gurry overboard. Mr. Jones asked what they were doing there; they said they had come in for wood and water. Q. What quantity of wood and water had they on board? A. Two quarter casks full on deck and some in the hold, but don't know the quantity, and had about a cord and a half of wood. Q. How was the weather when you detained her? A. Fine weather and a light breeze. Q. Do you know if the wind was fair for going to the fishing ground? A. Yes, it was. We, the undersigned, have examined the aforesaid persons, belonging to his Britannic Majesty's sloop Dotterel, taking the minutes of their depositions respecting the detention of the American fishing schooner Rebecca, and we do declare that their evidence has been taken in a very impartial manner, and the persons aforesaid have not been biassed in any way whatJOHN COOKE, ever. Senior Lieutenant of his Majesty's sloop Dotterel. RICHARD HOARE, Commander. Mr. Brent to Mr. Vaughan. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, February 2, 1826. SIR: I have the honor to refer you to a letter which was written by Mr. Adams to Mr. Stratford Canning on the eve of his departure from this country, (the 25th of June, 1823,) enclosing copies of a complaint and protest which had been just received at this department, in reference to the capture and detention of a fishing vessel belonging to George Moody, of York, in the State of Maine, by a British gun-brig, called the Argus, and soliciting the good offices of that gentleman, in the first instance, to obtain the restitution of the vessel to Mr. Moody, and in the next, to claim indemnity and reparation due to him and others for the capture and interruption of the vessel in question; and likewise to Mr. Canning's letter in reply, under date the 1st July following, which states that he would take an early opportunity of referring the papers to the proper authorities for the purpose of inquiry and attaining the ends of justice. To satisfy the inquiries of Mr. Moody as to the result of Mr. Canning's reference of his case, will you have the goodness, sir, to inform me whether that result is known to you, or, if it be not, to take the necessary steps for procuring a decision upon the case, and to communicate that decision to this department. I pray you, sir, to accept the assurances of my distinguished consideration. DANIEL BRENT. The Right Hon. CHARLES R. VAUGHAN, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from Great Britain. |