Nova Scotia Archives

Acadian Heartland

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

148

NOVA SCOTIA DOCUMENTS.

after the Departure of the French, by the arrival of the Massachusetts Galley, Brigantine and Sloop; convoying a Schooner loaded with our Provisions. The tryall between them and the French if they had Stay'd would have been hard, as the Ennemy had a much superior Force, tho' I am sure their Commander could neither in conduct or Courage have equall'd ours. They had notice att Boston of the French sea Armament, butt not a just notion of their Force. Governor Shirley who has so vigourously imploy'd himself for our relief and to whose indefatiguable endeavours this Place in a great measure owes it preservation, had sent this Armament not only to Convey our Provisions; butt also to assist in the means of driving the French wholly out of this Province, judging, on what I wrote to his Excellency, that they might take their winter Quarters att Manis. As by this time I was certain they had remov’d from that Place and gone to Chignicto, it was thought advisable considering the lateness of the Season (November) and the difficulty of navigation for such Shipping in that part of the Bay, to postpone the Expedition, and in the meantime to send a Small Shalloup with my letter to the Inhabitants thereby to know their temper and the situation of the Ennemy, whilst the Shipping Stay'd in our Bassin to give countenance to my proceedings. Before they left us I had the satisfaction to acquaint the Commander Captain Tyng, that I had certain information the French were gone from that Place back to Lewisbourg, and a few days after the Deputies of Chignicto came with a very Submissive letter, representing their case pretty near in the same manner as those of Manis, having resisted the entreaties and threats Monsr. Duvivier made them to oblige them to take up arms, and having by their Representations contributed to make him and his party depart from them.

Thus were the French with their Clanns of Indians oblig'd to leave us att last for this year after making three several attempts in which tho' their measures had been well conserted att first, yet were baffled att last; for we have heard since that the men of Warr mention'd by Monsr. Duvivier had every thing ready to come to reduce us, butt that on some intelligence of an English Squadron bound to these Northern parts they drop't their Enterprise and sent the Shipping above mention’d.

To the Breaking the French measures; the timely Succours receiv’d from the Governor of Massachusetts, and our French Inhabitants refusing to take up arms against us, we owe our