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Date: 1864-09-29
By: Richard Graves Macdonnell
Citation: Despatch from Lieutenant Governor Richard Graves Macdonnell to Right Hon. Edward Cardwell (29 September 1864) in Journal and Proceedings of the House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Appendix No. 3—Union of the Colonies (1865).
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Government House, Halifax, N. S.,
29th September, 1804.

SIR,—

1. In my despatch No. 14, of the 3lst August, I had the honor to inform you of the reasons which induced me to make an Order in Council directing belligerent cruisers to anchor off the Dockyard in this port, or else leave the vicinity of the harbor.

2. I took care to communicate an extract from that despatch to our Minister at Washington, requesting him to call the attention of the Federal authorities to the order, with a view to its being made. more generally known.

3. Nevertheless more than one Federal cruiser appears to have subsequently visited the entrance of the port between the 17th and 19th inst., and afterwards gone to sea, probably in chase of vessels presumed to be blockade runners leaving this harbor.

4. It is difficult to draw any distinction between such proceedings and those of a hostile belligerent power blockading an enemy’s port. Therefore I could not permit their continuance, and requested Vice Admiral Sir James Hope to take the necessary measures for causing my proclamation to be respected.

5. The Admiral immediately stationed the Jason at the mouth of the harbor with orders to communicate copies of the proclamation to all Federal cruisers approaching the vicinity of the port, and insist on compliance with its provisions.

6. I now enclose a communication with which the Admiral has this day favored me, giving information of the latest measures which he has adopted for ensuring respect to the neutrality of this port, and compliance with the Queen’s orders, as well as my own proclamation.

7. I also transmit a copy of a despatch which I have sent to Lord Lyons at Washington, urging the importance of procuring from the Federal Government the immediate issue of such orders, if not already given, as may prevent any future infringement of the directions contained in the proclamation. I have every hope, therefore, that although these measure involve some responsibility and anxiety, I shall be able to carry out the sole object which I have in view, namely, that of observing and causing others to respect a bona fide and strict neutrality in all the waters within my jurisdiction.

I have, &c.,

(Signed) RICHARD G. MACDONNELL,
Lieutenant Governor.

Rt. Hon. EDWARD CARDWELL, M. P.