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NOVA SCOTIA DOCUMENTS. |
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their Sovereign; and of the underhand support assistance and encouragement which they gave to the Savages to distress and annoy the new settlers with the most frightful and bloody cruelties.
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That notwithstanding their expulsion in the year 1755, great numbers returned and joined the French parties and were headed by French partizans in defence of Canada, in Piratical depredations upon the coast of Nova Scotia, and with small parties scouring the internal parts of the province, destroying the inhabitants and driving off their Cattle in spite of the Troops sent against them, which they could easily evade from their thorough knowledge of the Country.
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That since the capitulation of Canada, in which they were not included, many of them finding it impossible to subsist, came out of the woods and surrendered with their families; others have been surprised and ferreted out of their lurking places, by parties sent on purpose, and many yet remain who subsist upon hunting and fishing, in and about the Bay Chaleur, Gaspe, Merimichi and other Rivers upon the coast of the Gulph of St. Lawrence and in the River St. John.
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That the lenity with which these people have been treated by the Government, since they have been prisoners, in allowing them the liberty of working at high wages, furnishing them with provisions and retaining them so long in the province, we conceive has been done on a presumption: that these measures would shew them the sweets of the English Government and incline them to become real good subjects; but we had reason to be convinced that this can never be effected, at least while they remain in the province; for no sooner was the Spanish war declared, and the junction of Spain with France known, than they assumed fresh courage, and began to be insolent to the Settlers in the Townships where they were at work, telling them that they should soon regain possession of their lands and cut everyone of their throats. And the numerous appearance of savages, this summer from the most distant parts of the province, joined with their insolence, and the invasion of Newfoundland has had such an effect upon the minds of the new Settlers, who by the necessity of their situation, are considerably detached from one another in the country, that great numbers have been induced thereby to quit their habitations, and retire to the Continent for safety; and there is much reason to apprehend that if this panic should spread itself further among them, most part of the rest will follow the same example.
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