Nova Scotia Archives

Au cœur de l'Acadie

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

ACADIAN FRENCH.

237

taking such Oaths, and whether their refusal to take them, will not operate to invalidate the Titles to their Lands; it is a question, however, which We will not take upon ourselves absolutely to determine, but could wish that you would consult the Chief Justice upon this Point, and take his Opinion, which may serve as a foundation for any future measure it may be thought advisable to pursue with regard to the Inhabitants in general. As to those of the District of Chignecto, who are actually gone over to the French at Beau Sejour, if the Chief Justice should be of opinion that by refusing to take the Oaths without a reserve, or by deserting their Settlements to join the French, they have forfeited their Title to their Lands, We could wish that proper Measures were pursued for carrying such Forfeiture into Execution by legal Process, to the end that you might be enabled to grant them to any persons desirous of settling there, where We apprehend a Settlement would be of great utilitt, if it could, in the present situation of things, be effected; and as Mr. Shirley has hinted in a Letter to the Earl of Halifax that there is a probability of getting a considerable number of People from New England to settle there, you would do well to consult him upon it; but it appears to Us that every Idea of an English Settlement at this place would be absurd but upon a supposition that the French Forts at Beau Sejour, Bay Verte &c are destroyed, the Indians forced from their Settlements, and the French driven to seek such an Asylum as they can find in the barren Island of Cape Breton and St. Johns and in Canada.

Governor Lawrence to Capt. Hussey.

(Letter Book.)

HALIFAX, 8 November 1754.

DEAR SIR, —

* * * * Mr. Le Loutre's Letter Containing his proposals of Peace with the Indians has been thoroughly considered by the Council.

His articles are so extravagant and so much out of our Power to comply with, that the Council don't think it consistent to make any answer to, or take the least notice of them. The terms in which they are drawn up, shews that he is not serious because he asks what he knows to be both insolent and absurd, but this is no more than of a piece with the rest