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NOVA SCOTIA DOCUMENTS. |
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viz., Their forever inciting the Salvages to some mischief or other, to hinder their corresponding with the English; their laying all manner of difficulties in the way when any English Settlement is proposed or going on by inciting underhand the Salvages to disturb them, and making these last such a bugbear, as if they (the French) themselves durst not give any help to the English for fear of being massacred by them, when it is well known the Indians are but a handful in this country. And were the French Inhabitants (who are able to appear a thousand men under arms) hearty for the British Government, they could drive away, or utterly destroy the Salvages in a very little time. The French Inhabitants besides are for the generality very little industrious, their lands not improved as might be expected, they living in a manner from hand to mouth, and provided they have a good field of Cabbages and Bread enough for their families with what fodder is sufficient for their cattle they seldom look for much further improvement. *
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It is certain that British Colonists would be far more advantageous to the settling this Province, and would besides the better improvement of it, for which their Industry is far superior to the French who inhabit it at present, lessen considerably the expence in defending of it, not only in regard to fortifications, but also in regard to Garrisons, because the English Inhabitants would be a strength of themselves, whereas the French require a strict watch over them. This would also reconcile the native Indians to the English, which the other as mentioned before, endeavour to keep at a distance.
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The neighbouring Government of the French at Cape Breton is not very desirous of drawing the Inhabitants out of this Country so long as they remain in it under a kind of Allegiance to France, especially if they are not allowed to carry their cattle, effects, grain, &c., which last would be more welcome in the barren country than bare Inhabitants, but is opposing with all its might and by the influence of the Priests residing here, their taking the oaths of Allegiance to Great Britain, and if even that oath was taken by them, the same influence would make it of little or no effect. That Government is also improving by the same means the diffidence of the Indians, and, will make them instruments to disturb the British Settlements on the Eastern Coast of this Government, or any other place, which might check the supplies they have
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* See note to letter from Govr. Mascarene to Govr. Shirley in April, 1748.
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