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NOVA SCOTIA DOCUMENTS. |
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built in some convenient place on this neck capable of containing one hundred and fifty men. This is the more so by reason the French have sent four Ships this Summer, with two hundred families with provisions stores and materials for the erecting a fort and making a settlement on the Island St. Johns*, which lies in the Bay of Verte, part of the Gulph of St. Lawrence, part of which Island (which is near fifty leagues long) is but at three or four leagues distance from the main, and six in all from Chignecto. When this settlement is made by the French, they will from thence command all the Trade and carry a greater sway, over all the Bay of Fundy, than the English, who are the undoubted owners but have only the name of possessors of it, till such measures are taken as are here humbly proposed. For it is to be remembered, that each of these places have a French Popish Missionary, who is the real chief Commander of his flock, and receives and takes his commands from his superiors at Cape Breton.
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The lesser settlements on this Bay, and other parts of this Government shall be referred to another opportunity and at this time, the most material of all shall only be touched upon viz.
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Cansoe is an Island with several other less ones adjoining, lying at a small distance from the Main, and at South East and North West from the Passage which bears the same name and separates the Island of Cape Breton from the main Continent. This place has been found so convenient and advantageous for catching and cureing Cod Fish that of late it has been the resort of numbers of English, as it was of French before the seizure made by Captain Smart in His Majesty's Ship Squirell. This stroke was so grevious to the French, who were concerned in this loss, amongst which were some of the principal Officers of Cape Breton, that seeing they could not obtain the satisfaction they demanded, they have been all at work all this Spring, and incited the Indians to assemble at Canso and to surprise the English who were securely fishing there, (and did not expect such treatment) and having killed and wounded some and drove off the rest to Sea.
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By means of this hurry and confusion whilst the Indians were plundering the dry goods, the French were robbing the fish and transporting of it away, till the English having recovered themselves sent after them, and seized several of their shallops and shareways, laden with English fish and other plunder, and made the robbers prisoners, and pursued
* P.E. Island.
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