Nova Scotia Archives

Acadian Heartland

Records of the Deportation and Le Grand Dérangement, 1714-1768

ACADIAN FRENCH.

117

their ill gotten Establishments, and others who have even gone beyond that, and have seated themselves on the lands, marked by those who had desisted according to the foresaid orders. If His Majesty therefore will extend his good will towards the Inhabitants of this Province, in granting them new portions of land besides what they were in possession of at their taking the Oath of Allegiance, which confirmed them in that possession, 'tis consonant to justice that those who have conformed themselves to the orders of his Government, may have the preference; and that those who have disobeyed thereto may be treated as their disobedience deserves; and in the mean time it is certain that whatever annual rents they may have taxed themselves to, and paid to the King cannot give them a just title to an ill gotten possession. It would be necessary in order to prepare to remove the difficulties in case His Majesty will extend his good will as has been said above, it would I say be necessary, that the Deputies with the assistance of the Receiver, should send exact lists of the Inhabitants who are in the forementioned cases, distinguishing them who have grants or deeds of concession that are valid; those who may have lost their deeds and can make it appear that they have been in possession of their lands in the time of the French Government; those who have had leave from the Government to mark out lands and have conformed to the orders given to wait for His Majesty’s consent before they made improvements on the Lands thus marked; Those who have not conformed to those orders; and those who have gone and seated themselves on lands marked by others, wherein must be included those who are on the Rivers of Chipody.* If the lists are drawn with exactness and faithfulness and sent here, they may be a means in time to remove a great many difficulties. Give a due attention to what is expressed in this letter, for, on this depends the Peace and the good or ill state in which the Inhabitants may find themselves in time to come. I endeavour in the best manner I can possibly do to make you sensible of what may contribute to the peace and good order amongst the Inhabitants; if you do not make that account of it you ought you may in time have reason to repent of it. Give your assistance to the receiver, that he may receive the rights accruing to the King without trouble and communicate this letter to him. It may be easily believed that those who have deeds of concession

* Cumberland County.