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Extract from letter of Lords of Trade to Governor Lawrence, dated Whitehall, March 4th, 1754.
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We are sorry to find that the French Inhabitants, tho' in other respects quiet, are so much engaged in Litigation andControversy amongst themselves, and We are the rather concerned for it, because, as you rightly observe, it will be impossible to come to any judicial Determination upon these Disputes without admitting a legal Right in them to the Lands, concerning which the Disputes have arisen, and to which by Law, by the Treaty of Utrecht, and by His Majesty's Instructions, they have in fact no Right but upon condition of taking the Oath of Allegiance absolute and unqualified with any Reservation whatever; such a state of Suspence and Indecision is certainly an Obstacle to the Industry and Quiet of these People, but We cannot see how their Disputes can be decided for the Welfare of the Province without an entire compliance on their parts; and therefore it would be proper to represent to them, whatever Inconvenience they feel from a delay of that Decision arises from their own Obstinacy in refusing to accept this Condition.
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We have no Objection to the Method you propose of sending proper Persons amongst these People, to endeavour to quiet them by examining into and hearing their Complaints; but We apprehend it will be impossible for them to enter into a judicial Course of proceeding, since great Care must be Observed, that they do not take any Step, which may in any degree seem to admit a right in these People to their Lands before they have accepted the Condition of the Oath of Allegiance.
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The more We consider this Point the more nice and difficult it appears to us; for, as on the one hand great Caution ought to be used to avoid giving any Alarm, and creating such a Diffidence in their Minds as might induce them to quit the Province, and by their Numbers add Strength to the French Settlements, so on the other hand We should be equally cautious of creating an improper and false Confidence in them, that by a Perseverance in refusing to take the Oath of Allegiance, they may gradually work out in their own way a Right to their Lands, and to the Benefit & Protection of the Law, which they are not entitled to but on that condition.
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It gives Us great Satisfaction to find, that you seem to be of the same opinion with Us with respect to this delicate and important Question, by refusing to admit the deserted French Inhabitants to return to their Lands, Unless they take the
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