Nathaniel Gunnison, Vice-consul to Sworn at Halifax, this 14th day of December, A. D. 1863, before me. J. JENNINGS, J. P, January 1, 1863

Affidavit of Nathaniel Gunnison.

I, Nathaniel Gunnison, of the city of Halifax, in the county of Halifax, in the province of Nova Scotia, esquire, make oath and say, as follows:

That I am vice-consul to the American government in this port, and as such act in the absence of Mr. M. Jackson, consul for such government.

That, on or about the 7th day of December instant, the steamship Chesapeake, an American registered steamship, plying between the cities of Portland and New York as a freight boat, and having on board, to the best of my knowledge and belief, property belonging to British citizens, was seized by a number of persons who went on board said steamship at New York, representing themselves to be passengers, and when on board said steamship, and while the said steamship was prosecuting her voyage to Portland, and had reached the neighborhood of Cape Cod, rose up against the master and crew of the said steamship, overpowered them, took command of the said steamship, and murdered the chief engineer.

That the persons who committed these acts were in number sixteen; that one of the said number was named John C. Braine, who is now representing himself as the captain thereof, and that the said steamship, commanded by the said John C. Braine, was recently in Shelburne harbor, in the county of Shelburne, and Petit Rivière, in the county of Lunenburg, the province aforesaid, as I have been informed and verily believe such information to be true.

That the facts herein stated were communicated to me as such acting vice-consul, by telegram, and I verily believe the contents and the statements here and therein contained to be true.

That I am desirous, as such acting vice-consul, of obtaining the assistance of the government of this province in taking such steps as will cause the said steamship to be arrested and detained, as I am informed that the said steamship is now at Margaret’s bay, in the county of Halifax, and I verily believe such information to be true.