No. 253.
Mr. Willard to Mr. Bayard.

[Telegram.]

We have received the following dispatch from Shelburne, Nova Scotia, to-day, viz:

Cushing boarded last night 8 miles from custom-house. Brought here seized to-day. Charge, seeking bait and not reporting at custom-house. Have not bought anything. Wire instructions.

C. B. JEWETT.

She left here last Tuesday with the understanding you had settled the right of our vessels to buy bait. How long are we to be tormented in this kind of style I If it is to continue long we should prefer to haul our vessels up. It seems to us about time the President issued his non-intercourse proclamation and settled this thing one way or the other.

Please instruct us what to do under the circumstances, as she, is a valuable vessel.

E. G. WILLARD.