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numerous people, and in the highest degree bigotted to France and the Church of Rome. They hold a strong confederacy with the Indians and in proportion to these attachments their Antipathy to the English is very high.
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This place of Settlement would be very advantageous for them to pursue every scheme which could be immediately, or hereafter beneficial to France, and to the detriment of His Majesty's Subjects; for I conceive, My Lords, that the French King would find these people a numerous, active, zealous, and steady body of Subjects, for the employment of whom on future enterprizes, it would be very easy to lodge considerable quantities of Military Stores, and effectually conceal them. In the mean time, their situation for the importation of French commodities would be most inviting, with which whilst they supplied our Colonies, to the great detriment of the English Trade; they would be enabled to make large returns to France, in Furs obtained partly by their own Industry, and their wide extended intercourse with the Indians. * * * * *
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I have, &c.,
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M. WILMOT.
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The Right Honourable
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The Lords Commissioners
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for Trade and Plantations.
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Governor Wilmot to Lord Halifax.
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HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA,
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28th January, 1764.
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My LORD, —
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Since I had the honour of writing to your Lordship the 10th of last month, I have received information that the Acadians in this Province, have transferred a Memorial to be laid before the King of France, setting forth their desire to be moved from hence, and that if their application shall meet with an unfavorable reception, they will then be willing to take the Oaths of Allegiance to the King. In the mean time I beg your Lordships directions, that I may be instructed how to act in such an event, and beg leave to repeat here, what I observed on the same subject in my last letter to your Lordship, that these people would be perhaps most useful, and least mischievous to His Majesty's American Dominions, were they settled on some of the last conquered Islands in the West Indies.
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I have, &c.,
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M. WILMOT.
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The Right Honble.
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The Earl of Halifax, &c., &c., &c.
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