Nova Scotia Archives

Au cœur de l'Acadie

Archives concernant la Déportation et le Grand dérangement, 1714-1768

THE ACADIAN FRENCH.

137

in the middle of the room was the first object that caught Capt. Huston's eye — for that was the gentleman's name — and the old woman was in such a hurry to salute him with the tale of wo, and to pour in upon him the first tide of misfortunes, that she had neither asked nor given him time to sit down. She was just about making a cessation in the thundering lecture of evils, and meant to wind up the whole by depriving the youth of his liberty and to subject him, without his consent, to the lowest of occupations, when Mr. Huston interfered and made some little enquiry into the case — “ at leisure," said the worthy gentleman, “don't be in such a furious haste, give the young man time to draw his breath, and please let me know something of his circumstances;" upon which the old woman told him “this was a nephew or relation of that bankrupt Levens," and meant to resume the whole history of Levens' misfortunes, but Mr. Huston interrupted her and desired her to say no more on that subject, but to pay the youth every possible attention and he would satisfy her before he left the town. In the course of a few days Capt. Huston accomplished his business, and leaving Boston took Watson along with him. He was on his way to this Province, and Watson lived with him rather as a son in the family than as a servant of the house. For he soon found that he had in him much of the great and good, honest and honorable, ever attentive and obliging, apt to learn and to improve, he conceived, therefore, a particular regard for the boy. It was in the year 1750 that Huston, where he tarried, one season — and after a trip to Boston, on business, he accompanied Col. Lawrence, afterwards Gov. Lawrence, on an expedition to Cumberland.

The detachment of troops sent on this expedition consisted of about 400, including officers and attendants. The design of this measure was to keep in awe the neutral French, to secure the British frontiers, and to keep an outlook on the Canadians who practised on the neutrals, and the design in so far accomplished; the French troops were dispersed, Fort Lawrence was built. For some time, however, the French held a place of considerable strength called by them Beausejour, but by the English Fort Cumberland. It is about three miles to the westward of Fort Lawrence, with the River Missaquash (Migagousek) running between them. The enemy, for so they might now be called, after a feeble resistance, gave up Beausejour. This took place in the beginning of these troubles which brought on the