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NOVA SCOTIA DOCUMENTS. |
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impose upon them, and by the other declarations which he has made, it seems that he wishes to compel them to take up arms against the savages; which is not only against all justice, since the savages have always lived on good terms with them, but it is beyond their power.
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3. By declaring, that the year granted to the inhabitants of Acadie, to withdraw with their personal property, expired in 1714, there appears a design formed for the purpose of ruining those inhabitants who have been lulled to sleep from that time by the tranquillity in which they were allowed to remain up to 1727, and by the conditions appended to the oath, which they have been made to take since. Wherefore the said inhabitants beg His Majesty (not only by his paternal kindness for the french name, and his attachment to religion, but by the right which he has to see the conditions of the treaty of Utrecht executed) to induce the King of Great Britain to revoke the new orders of Mr. Cornwallis, and to maintain the said inhabitants in the free exercise of the catholic religion, and consequently in the right of having French missionaries sent by the Bishop of Quebec, who should obtain as heretofore, the permission of the English governor to perform their ministrations.
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4. To exempt them from the obligations to take up arms.
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5. As they call not doubt, that the intention of the new English government is to embarrass them in their conscience, and as several of them have already been proscribed without any form of justice, they ask that the year for withdrawing with their personal property, shall commence only from the day of the publication of the new treaty that shall intervene, or from the decree which they hope His Britannic Majesty, will issue on this subject. Finally, not being able to know what effect their representations will have, they place entire confidence in the charity of the King, and they ask that he will be kindly pleased to order, that they be furnished with grants of French territory joining Acadia, with the same favours that His majesty granted to the inhabitants of Isle Royale.
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Mr. Cotterell to Capt. Murray.
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(Letter Book.)
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SECRETARY'S OFFICE, 21 October 1754.
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DR. SIR, —
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I received your favour, the Inhabitants have given in a
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