Northern Advance (Barrie, ON), April 26, 1865

The propeller Georgian was recently seized at Collingwood under the clauses of the Alien Act which relate to vessels suspected of being engaged in an illegal enterprise. It is the duty of our government to all proper efforts to prevent raiders leaving our shores; but it is aimed inevitable that seizures should sometimes be made when there is no real ground for it. Such a case, it is already pretty evident in that the Georgian. The seizure was made on an affidavit of a fellow of the name of Hyams. The character of this man may be judged by his own admission, on oath that he carried to the States shirts which were intended to kill those who wore them; and that he went to several places in the States to kill Yankees. Four respectable witnesses by whom the fellow is known have made affidavit that they would not believe him on earth; and his opinion of his credibility is by no means uncommon. When the case rests on the evidence of such a man, we ought to be slow to believe that a Canadian barrister of unsoiled reputation has agreed to engage in a principal expedition against the States.

The fellow Hyams does not in his affidavit, implicate Mr Denison; but that does not prevent the Globe assuming that Mr. Dension is guilty of intending to employ the Georgian for illegal purpose. He meets this charge in affidavits which will be found elsewhere. From the date of the purchase, it will be seen that Mr. Denison did not obtain the Georgian till the 17th January, and Hyams swears that preparations for fitting her out as a raider were going on in December last. If this had been true it would not implicate the present owner of the vessel; but in any case Hyams is utterly unworthy of belief. Captain Whitby swears that he is unacquainted with McDonald, and that he had been instructed to engage his own crew, and to select men on whom he could rely in case any spies were to attempt to put munitions on board, . No arms were found on the vessel when she was seized; and there is not the least reason to believe from all that can be learnt of the matter, that Mr Denison would risk the penalties of engaging in any such illegal enterprise as that charged. We have no doubt that he will be able to make out his case when the matter comes before the Court - Leader