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* * * * In obedience therefore to what your Lordships require of me, I answer (in respect to Nova Scotia only) that it is my humble opinion, that the Chief encouragement wanting toward the well cultivating, and improvement thereof, is the creating two or three Forts in proper places with an addition of 2 or 300 Men, to Garrison such Forts, this may invite a new set of people, that are Protestants, to venture their lives, and Fortunes, under the protection of that Government, for as to the present Inhabitants, they are rather a pest, and incumbrance than of an advantage to the Country, being a proud, lazy, obstinate and untractable people, unskillful in the methods of Agriculture, nor will be led or drove into a better way of thinking, and (and what is still worse) greatly disaffected to the Government. They raise (tis true) both Corn and Cattle on Marsh lands, that wants no clearing, but they have not in almost a century, cleared the quantity of 300 acres of Woodland. From their Corn and Cattle they have plenty of Dung for manure, which they make no use of, but when it increases so as to become troublesome, then instead of laying it on their Lands they get rid of it by removing their Barns to another spot; this, I take it, proves the first part of my asssertion, and as to their disaffection, their being of the Romish Religion, puts that beyond all doubt. They have, indeed, at last complied with taking the Oath of Allegiance, but discover daily a strong retention of nonjuring principles. * * * * * *
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