Nova Scotia Archives

Acadian Heartland

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

ACADIAN FRENCH.

I therefore sent a summons to the people that were in this neighborhood to signe one of the papers inclosed, which if they complied with, I promised them they should have the same Protection and Liberty as the other of his Majesty's subjects had here, if not I could by no means lett their vessels pass this Fort, to trade or fish on the coast, upon which they drew up the other paper enclosed which I could have been glad to have sent you in a cleaner manner, but the ship that brought the provisions being ready to sail, I had not time to get another signed, I find abundance inclinable to sign rather than lose the profitt they make in the fishing season, and I do veryly believe all would become subjects to His Majesty were it not for the Priests that are amongst them, who have, from the misserry that I and our poor Soldiers have been reduced to for want of money and all sorts of necessary's, and seeing the Fort so much run to ruin, for the same reasons they have taken it as a means to inculcate a notion amongst the french inhabitants, that the Pretender will be soon settled in England and that this country will again fall into the hands of the french King; which sentiments they not dareing to own, they turn their disobedience to His Majesty to a dread of the Indians which is impossible, for the Indians here are intirely ruled by the french, and are used by them in no other manner but like slaves, so that with submission Sir, if orders could be procured to be sent from France to the Governors of Canada and Cape Breton to ...... and severely punish any Indians or others, the french who shall insult the people of Nova Scotia or Lacadie who live under the protection of his majesty, and that a copy of such order be sent to this Garrison and others dispersed amongst the french Inhabitants, that now live in Nova Scotia and Lacadie, it would certainly be a mean's far the inhabitants to become Subjects to his Majesty, and convince them of one error amongst the millions their Priests dayly lead them into, after which we might hope that the country about us which has been neglected (ever since the reduction of this Place) would be again improved so far that we might not longer want grain, cattle and other necessarys as wee do at present. * * * * *

Your honors

Most obedient and most

humble servant to command,

* J. DOUCETTE.

* John Doucette succeeded Thos. Caulfield as Lt. Governor of the Fort of Annapolis, under Nicholson, in 1717, and continued to hold office under his successor, General Philipps, until the year 1726. On the21st September of