[Extract] Tuesday, 11th Aug. [Liverpool, Nova Scotia]—Wind easterly. Capt. Hopkins, Capt. Dean, Herrington, and Atwood,1 all Arrive from Halifax. Capt. Dean has bought a Topsail Schooner. I understand she is for the St. Johns Traid. Harrington has brought back his Schooner that was Seised by the Nova Scotian, and Carried to Halifax. She was given up without a Tryal, and the Captain Gained no Credit by taking her2. . . . As to News, a French war is supposed to be Actually Declared, the French Fleet has been at Sandy Hook, New York. Lay there some days and sailed again. the Gentlemen at Halifax have expected a vessel from thence, but no account of them yet3. . . .
Perkins, Diary, pp. 210–11.
1. Probably Capt. John Hopkins, Capt. Ephraim Dean, Capt. Thomas Harrington, and Capt. Jesse Atwood, all of Liverpool.
2. On 22 July, the Nova Scotia Provincial armed schooner Loyal Nova Scotian, Capt. Edward Rowe, commander, seized Harrington’s schooner. Ibid., p. 208–9. Perkins tried to intervene on behalf of Harrington but was told by Rowe that although he was “Sorry to take” Harrington’s schooner, the Loyal Nova Scotian’s other officers and “Some” of the crew “Insist upon it.” Ibid., p. 209.
3. “The Gentlemen at Halifax” were presumably Gov. John Montagu, Maj. Gen. Eyre Massey, and Capt. Sir George Collier, the British civil and military leaders there.
