I required Mr. Greely to show me his instructions for exercising authority in Madawaska, when he handed me a document, a copy of which I beg to inclose your excellency, and after perusing the same I returned it with my opinion that I really thought he (Mr. Greely) had mistaken the intention of his instructions, as no allusion was made either to that settlement or the territory in dispute, and therefore if he would then desist in taking the census I would take no notice of what had passed.  Moreover, in reply to my advice and request, he (Mr. Greely) remonstrated and attempted to make it appear that he would be fully borne out by his government in what he had done, and it was also his intention to complete the census if he was not prevented; this reply I regret having left me no alternative but to make him a prisoner, which I did on Wednesday, the 7th instant.  On Friday evening I arrived in Frederickton, and this morning (Saturday), by the advice of the advocate-generals, I committed him to the gaol of the county of York.

I have the honor to be, your excellency’s most obedient, humble servant,

J.A.  MACLAUCHLAN,

Warden of the Disputed Territory.

STATE OF MAINE, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

JUNE 19, 1837.

His Excellency MARTIN VAN BUREN,

President of the United States.

SIR:  I have the honor to inclose to Your Excellency the copy of a letter which came to hand by the last mail, by which it appears that Ebenezer S. Greely, esq., the agent employed by the county commissioners for the county of Penobscot to take the census of the town of Madawaska, has been arrested by the authorities of the Province of New Brunswick and is now incarcerated in the jail at Frederickton.

In this state of things it becomes my painful duty to make this communication to Your Excellency and to insist that prompt measures be adopted by the Government of the United States to effect the early release of the aforementioned citizen.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant,

ROBERT P. DUNLAP.

FREDERICKTON, PROVINCE OF NEW BRUNSWICK,

June 12, 1837.

ROBERT P. DUNLAP, Esq.,

Governor of Maine.

SIR:  On the 15th of May last I was appointed by the county commissioners of Penobscot County to take the census of Madawaska.  On the 6th of June instant I was arrested by Mr. Maclauchlan, from this place, and committed to jail by him, and there I now remain—­in the prison at Frederickton.  I was committed on the 10th instant.  I addressed a letter to you on the 10th, which has gone by the way of St. Andrews.  Fearing that letter will not arrive soon, I write again to-day by way of Houlton.  I have described my arrest more particularly in my first letter, which you will undoubtedly receive before long; therefore I only give the facts in this, having a chance, by the assistance of Mr. Lombard, of Hallowell, of forwarding this to Houlton privately.  I was employed in business of the State, and do expect my Government will intercede and liberate me from prison in a foreign and adjacent Province.  I shall be pleased to receive a line from you expressing your opinion, direction, etc.