No. 22.
Major General Doyle to the Duke of Newcastle.
Government House, Halifax, Nova
Scotia,
February 4, 1864.
My Lord Duke: In accordance with the
promise which I have made to your grace to keep you informed of any
further steps which may have been taken in this colony with regard
to the affair of the Chesapeake, I have now the honor to transmit
the copy of a report which I have called upon the advocate general
of the court of vice-admiralty to make to me on certain proceedings
which have transpired in that court with reference to the
above-mentioned vessel.
I have, &c.,
[Enclosure in No. 22.]
Mr. Johnson to Major General Doyle.
Halifax,
February 11,
1864.
Sir: I have to inform your excellency
that yesterday, in the vice-admiralty court, motions were made
upon claims asserted on behalf of owners of British goods, part
of the cargo of the steamer Chesapeake, and as advocate general,
having previously examined and been satisfied with the proofs, I
signed consent to restitution upon payment of any salvage and
costs that might attach. The judge intimated that he would on
Friday (to-morrow) make order respecting salvage, costs, &c.
Motion was also made upon a claim asserted for the ship and also
for all the cargo not specifically claimed. The proofs
sustaining the claim
[Page 534]
for the ship were not free from some objections, but on the
whole I thought they might be considered as sufficient in the
first instance, and consented to restitution upon security being
given to meet latent claims, and upon payment of any salvage and
costs. The claimants’ proctor took time to ascertain his ability
to find security.
The claim asserted for the cargo not specifically claimed by the
party claiming the ship, and as going with her, was not
recognized, and stands over, in case it should be deemed
advisable to move in it hereafter, where, after longer time has
been allowed for specific claims, the objections may be less
effective than at present.
I have, &c.,
