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Commanded by the Sieur Marin, who forbid them to come on pain of corporal punishment. *
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After several questions on the time of the arrival of said Sieur Marin, of his stay amongst them, and that when the inhabitants sent to fetch some grain at Mines, they did not send advice that the enemy was amongst them, it was enjoined by His Honor (with the advice and consent of the Council) to the said inhabitants of Chignecto by means of their said Deputies Jean Terriot and Jean Potier, to discover those amongst the inhabitants of the said place, who, contrary to the fidelity they owe to the Government, have favoured and assisted the enemy in their undertakings, that those who are innocent may be acquitted; that the effects appertaining to His Majesty’s British subjects seized by the enemy and left amongst the said inhabitants, be returned; not to suffer any person to reside amongst them, but such as by the Oath of fidelity, taken by them or their fathers, are become subjects to the King of Great Britain; to make use of all the means in their power, to make Monsieur Dugay speedily to quit the country, and to send here within a month two Deputies to give notice of the state in which the said place of Chignecto shall be at that time, and to bring the wife of one of the carpenters of the Garrison taken by the enemy, who is now in the hands of one of the inhabitants there.
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P. MASCARENE.
* From a letter of Messrs. DeBeauharnois and Hocquart to Count DeMaurepas, dated at Quebec, 12th September, 1745. N. York Col. Documents, Vol. x.
As regards the disposition of the inhabitants towards us, all, with the exception of a very small portion, are desirous of returning under the French Dominion. Sieur Marin and the officers of his detachment as well as the Missionaries have assured us of this; they will not hesitate to take up arms as soon as they are themselves at liberty to do so; that is, as soon as we shall become masters of Port Royal, or they have powder, and other munitions of war, and will be backed by some sedentary troops for their protection against the resentment of the English. If, notwithstanding this preliminary, any settlers should still be found to hesitate declaring themselves, all difficulties would be overcome by the employment of menaces and force. The reduction of Louisburg has, meanwhile, disconcerted them. M. Marin has reported to us that the day he left Port Royal all the inhabitants were overpowered with grief; this arose only from the apprehension of remaining at the disposition of the enemy; of losing their property, and of being deprived of their missionaries. The English might probably have recourse to such policy, or at least adopt measures to keep them in a strict and severe subjection.
* * * * We have just explained the conduct the English will probably observe towards the Acadians. We cannot imagine that they could entertain
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