fire on them. On boarding them they proved to be the Reindeer, Ruby, Friends and Diligent, American fishing schooners. It being fine weather, and they not in want of wood or water, I detained the Reindeer and Ruby, and by the sanction of the masters of the Diligent and Friends, I put the crews of the Reindeer and Ruby on board of them, with as much provision as they wished to take, and on our passage to St. Andrew's, the said schooners, Reindeer and Ruby, were forcibly taken from me by armed vessels under American colors, as stated in my letter of the 27th July last, I have the honor to be, &c., &c. J. JONES, Master of H. M. sloop Dotterel. RICHARD HOARE, Commander. HIS MAJESTY'S SLOOP DOTTEREL, SIR: In obedience to your orders I herewith add a statement of the Pilgrim and Hero, American fishing schooners: On the 16th of June last I observed these schooners laying off the Grand Menan, and upon approaching them one of the schooners got under weigh and stood in for the shore; 3 30 p. m. observed the schooner under weigh, heave her lines overboard and haul in fish, the schooner then within one and a half mile of the island; 3 40, fired and brought to the schooner; 3 45, boarded the Pilgrim, then about one mile or one mile and a quarter from the shore; she had on board fish alive; took possession of her for a breach of the treaty; I then took to the N. E. and boarded the Hero, who had made sail from in shore, whilst I was on board the Pilgrim, and finding she was in want of nothing, I inquired what she had been doing so near the shore with her sails down; to which I was informed by one of the crew they had been cleaning their fish on shore; in consequence of which, and having seen her within one mile of the land, I took possession of her also; stood in and anchored in Two Island harbors. Thursday, the 17th, being for the most part of the day calm, I remained at anchor. Friday, the 18th, at 7 a. m., weighed and stood for Beaver harbor; from 9 to 12 calm; 3 p. m. observed two schooners under the Eastern Wolf, then about one mile distant; it being calm at the time, I ordered the master of the Pilgrim to send me her small boat, not having one myself-upon receiving which I ordered one of my seamen and one marine armed into her; the boy who brought the boat I told to remain on board until I returned, but on his expressing a wish to go, and knowing he was more acquainted with her than any of my men could be, I agreed that he should pull, and ordered my seamen on board, part of the way I pulled, and part of the way the marine pulled with the boy; when I returned, there being no appearance of wind, I ordered the schooners Pilgrim and Hero to follow me and anchor under the Eastern Wolf for the night. Saturday, the 19th, it being calm, I did not weigh until 11 a. m., then a light breeze; stood for Beaver harbor, where I anchored at 3 p. m., with an intention of waiting the Dotterel; arrived, therefore, unbent sails, and caused the Pilgrim and Hero to do the same. Sunday, the 20th, 11 20 a. m., observed the Dotterel pass in the offing to the eastward, bent sails, and observed the Pilgrim and Hero to do the same; 12 20 p. m. weighed, schooners in company, beat out of the harbor, but finding the Pilgrim and Hero could not, I bore up, stood in and anchored, schooners in company Monday, the 21st, at 7 p. m. weighed, with light airs, schooners in coinpany; beat up and anchored in Mason's bay at 8 30 p. m. Tuesday, the 224, at 2 30 a. m. the sentry reported one of the schooners was gone. Wednesday, the 23d, fresh gales until 10 a. m., then light airs with heavy rain-still at anchor. Thursday, the 24th, at 9 a. m., weighed with light airs, and stood for Point la Pro, Hero in company; but falling calm, was obliged to fall into Dipper harbor. Friday, the 25th, heavy rains with strong breezes from the eastward; remained at anchor. Saturday, the 26th, weighed, but were obliged to put back again. I further beg leave to state that I did detain on board the crews of the Pilgrim and Hero, having no authority for acting otherwise; that Winslow, in Beaver harbor, said he was aware of having fished within the limits, and if I would allow him and crew to go home he would give up his schooner and never again ask for her. Part of the men were at times on board my boat and living the same as my boat's crew, who had the allowance of the British navy excepting spirits, which had been all used, to make up for which I gave from my private stock to those of the schooners who were on board my boat. I never asked them to do any duty on board my boat, nor did I at any time make use of harsh or menacing language; the duty done by the persons taken out of one or either of the schooners was a perfect voluntary act of their own; the arms spoken of were taken from the Pilgrim, through expressions made use of by Winslow, for safety: powder, a quarter of a pound; shot, about one pound; the arms were delivered to the gunner, the papers of each schooner were delivered to the custom-house at St. John's. I have the honor to be, &c., &c., &c., R. HOARE, Commander. S. R. BOTHUS, Mate. Evidence of Mr. Tonzeau, midshipman, and the crew of the yawl boat belonging to her Majesty's sloop Dotterel, relative to the detention of the American fishing schooner William. Mr. TONZEAU, midshipman, examined relative to the detention of the American schooner William. Question. Were you in the yawl when Mr. Jones detained the American schooner William ? Answer. Yes. Q. State the particulars. A. Mr. Jones sent me with James Lloyd, marine, on a point of land to look out. We saw two or three vessels working up; observed one of them anchor in Gull cove. Mr. Jones went out in the small boat to board her; he hailed us to come along side in the yawi, wnicn we did, and found Mr. Jones had detained her. We then took their Esh knives from them, having heard by some people both on shore and on board some English vessels that they would oppose us in boarding. We unbent her sails and took them with us in the yawl; also her boat. Q. Do you know Mr. Jones' reason for taking her boat? A. Yes; to prevent her crew going on shore to exchange fish for rum, knowing that another American fishing vessel had done the like with Mr. Fowler at Gull cove the same day; also to prevent their getting water, as the American fishermen generally make that a pretext for coming in. Q. What quantity of wood and water had she on board? A. I cannot say the exact quantity, but there was sufficient for her crew and ours to carry her to St. Andrew's, at which place we did not arrive tık several days after her detention. Q. How was the weather? A. Very fine with a moderate breeze; but after she anchored it came on foggy. THOMAS RICHARDSON examined. Question. Were you in the yawl with Mr. Jones when he detained the American schooner William ? A. Yes. Q. Relate all you know respecting her. A. I went with Mr. Jones in the small boat to board her; went below and overhauled what quantity of wood and water she had on board. Q. What quantity of wood and water had she? A. About sixty gallons of water below and thirty on deck, and about a cord and a half of wood. Q. How was the weather? A. The weather was moderate and hazy, but after she anchored it came on foggy. JAMES LLOYD, marine, examined: Question. Were you in the yawl when Mr. Jones detained the American schooner Wiiliam? Answer. I cannot recollect the vessel's name, having detained several. FELIX SHAW, marine, examined: Question. Were you in the yawl when Mr. Jones detained the American schooner William ? Answer. Yes. Q. Relate the circumstances you know about her. A. I cannot recollect any of the particulars, as we detained several. JOHN CAMMISH, seaman, examined: Question. Were you in the yaw! when Mr. Jones detained the American schooner William ? Answer. Yes. Q. Relate what you know of the circumstances. A. It is so long since, I cannot recollect the particulars. RICHARD NEWLAND, seaman, examined: Question. Were you in the yawl with Mr. Jones when he detained the American schooner William ? Answer. Yes. Q. Relate what you know respecting her detention. Mr. A. When we fell in with the William she was laying in Gull cove. Jones asked what they were doing there. They said they came in for wood and water. Mr. Jones detained her, unbent her sails, and took them with us on shore in the yawl, and likewise took their small boat with us. A. To prevent her, I believe, from going to sea during the night. A. About three barrels of water and a cord of wood. Q. How was the weather? A. Fine weather with a light breeze. Q. Do you know the position of the fishing-ground? A. I do not know the bearing of it by compass, but I could see the vessels at anchor on the fishing ground. Q. Was the wind fair for going on it? A. Yes, it was. Q. Were you in the small boat when Mr. Jones boarded her? A. Yes, I was. Q. Did you hear the master of the vessel assign any reason for coming in there? A. He said they came in for wood and water. WILLIAM VICKERY, marine, examined : Question. Were you in the yawl when Mr. Jones detained the American schooner William ? Answer. Yes, I was. Q. Relate what you know respecting her detention. A. I observed a schooner come in and anchor within a mile of the shore. Mr. Jones went out to board her, and brought her in the cove and anchored. Q. Were you on board the schooner? A. Yes. Q. What quantity of wood and water had she on board ? A. I know there were two barrels, but cannot say whether there was any more; was not down in the hold, and cannot say what wood there was. Q. How do you know it was the William ? A. I saw the William of Addison on her stern. JOHN LLOYD, seaman, examined: Question. Were you in the yawl when Mr. Jones detained the American schooner William? Answer. Yes, I was. Q. Relate the particulars. A. I was with the greater part of the crew encamped on a point of land ; observed a schooner come in and anchor. She was boarded, but cannot re collect whether it was by Mr. Jones or Mr. Towneau. Q. Were you on board the schooner?* A. Yes, I was. I went off and assisted in unbending the sails. Q. Do you remember what quantity of wood and water she had on board? A. I do not perfectly recollect the quantity, but there was one cask handed up half full which they said they were going to get filled on shore, but were prevented by Mr. Jones. Q. Did you hear any of the crew say their reasons for coming in? Q. How was the weather? A. Fine weather, and a fresh breeze. JOHN CHEESE, seaman, examined : Question. Were you in the yawl with Mr. Jones when he detained the American schooner William ? Answer. Yes, I was. Q. Relate all you know about her. A. I was sick in a tent on shore, and do not know any of the particulars. WILLIAM PAYNE, marine, examined: Question. Were you in the yawl with Mr. Jones when he detained the American schooner, William? Answer. Yes. Q. Relate all you know of the particulars. A. I went on board with Mr. Jones in the small boat to examine her. Mr. Jones detained her; unbent her sails, and took them on shore. Q. Do you know what wood and water she had on board? A. I cannot say. Q. Did you drink any of the water on board of her? A. Yes, I did. Q. How was the weather? A. Fine, with a strong breeze. We, the undersigned, have examined the aforesaid persons, belonging to his Majesty's sloop Dotterel, taking the minutes of their depositions respecting the detention of the American fishing schooner William; and we do |