"SIR,--It appearing by the report of the Local Authorities at Amherst that the prompt arrest of the supposed perpetrator of the atrocious murders recently committed in the County of Cumberland is mainly attributable to your zealous exertions, I have it in command to request you to believe that His Excellency the Lieut.-Governor and H.M.Council highly appreciate the important services which, at much personal risk, you rendered in pursuing, for upwards of 100 miles, and apprehending the Prisoner; and it is my pleasing duty to request you to accept of the best thanks of His Excellency and the Council for your admirable conduct on that occasion.I have the honor to be"Sir, "Your most obedient "Humble Servant, "RUPERT D.GEORGE.
"JOSEPH AVARD, Esq., J.P., "Westmoreland."Mr.Avard's reply.
"WESTMORELAND CO., WESTMORELAND, "N.B., July 18th, 1838.
"SIR,--I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 10th instant conveying to me in a most gratifying manner the approbation of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor and Her Majesty's Council of my conduct in pursuing and apprehending Doyle, the supposed perpetrator of the murder in the County of Cumberland, and beg leave through you to acquaint His Excellency and Her Majesty's Council that were it possible for me to possess any stronger sense of my duty (as a magistrate) to Her Majesty and the Government than I formerly felt, Imust do so from the very handsome manner in which they have been pleased to appreciate and acknowledge my services on that occasion.
"I have the honor to be "Your obedient "Humble Servant, "JOSEPH AVARD.
"THE HONORABLE
"RUPERT D.GEORGE, "Provincial Secretary, Halifax, N.S."DIXON.
Charles Dixon was one of the first of the Yorkshire settlers to arrive in Nova Scotia.He sailed from Liverpool on the 16th March, on board the DUKE OF YORK, and after a voyage of six weeks and four days arrived safely at the port of Halifax.Mr.Dixon says of himself: "I, Charles Dixon, was born March 8th, old style, in the year 1730, at Kirleavington, near Yarm, in the east riding of Yorkshire, in Old England.I was brought up to the bricklayer's trade with my father until I was about nineteen years of age, and followed that calling till the twenty-ninth year of my age.I then engaged in a paper manufactory at Hutton Rudby, and followed that business for the space of about twelve years with success.At the age of thirty-one I married Susanna Coates, by whom have had one son and four daughters." Three more children were added to Mr.Dixon's family, and in 1891 his descendants in America numbered 2,807, of whom 2,067 were living and 740 had died.