Nova Scotia Archives

Acadian Heartland

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

ACADIAN FRENCH.

121

the future as you promise in your letter directed to me & the Council. It will be requisite as I mentioned to you before, that those who have lands granted by the late Signiors, but unfortunately have lost their deeds get proofs that may be rely'd upon to be laid before me in Council that they may thereby obtain surety for their possessions till deeds can be given which cannot be till the lands are duly surveyed as I have mentioned before, the same for those who had possessions before His Majesty our King was master of this Province, or before the Inhabitants took the Oaths of Allegiance & no orders were given to the Contrary. But for those who have taken lands cultivated them & settled on them contrary to express orders given & persist in their Unlawfull acquisitions I must tell them they are in an act of Disobedience & ought to expect little or no favour till they return to their duty & relinquish what they wrongfully Possess. Grants that have been made by Mr. De la Valeire since this Province was reducd to ye Crown of great Britain cannot be valid as the said Gentleman had withdrawn out of the Province & thereby relinquished his right-as for those who have disputes on their possessions where the titles are lost & can bring the Proofs as mentioned above they plead before the Council at the usual Sessions which is in answer to the three petitions I have received of some of the Inhabitants. I have nothing to add at present but to exhort you to do your duty as faithfull subjects to his Majesty and to assure you that when you do so you shall always find me

Messieurs, yr. friend & servt.

P. MASCARENE.

To the Deputy's of Chiconecto to be communicated to the Inhabitants.

W. SHIRREFF, Secy.

Letter from the Bishop of Quebec addrcssed to Monsieur Mascarene Annapolis Royal.

(Translated from the French.)

As Mr. De la Goudalie informs me that he is unable alone to perform the duties of Grand Vicar in Acadie, and as it appears to me important that the people whom you protect should have all the assistance they ask for as subjects of his Britannic Majesty, I send you the Abbe Miniac a gentleman of