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NOVA SCOTIA DOCUMENTS. |
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Extract from a Letter of Governor Paul Mascarene to Governor Shirley.
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ANNAPOLIS ROYAL, 6th April 1748.
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At the reduction of this fort, no capitulation was made but for the Garrison and the inhabitants of the Banlieue (a league round the fort); these had leave to withdraw with their effects, and to dispose of those they could not carry with them, for the space of two years. The rest of the inhabitants all over the Province made terms that winter with the then governor Vetch, who reeeived them on their submission, but no oath was required of them, except of the inhabitants of the banlieue, for the time of the capitulation. In 1714, Mr. Nicholson came over governor and commander-in-chief over the Province, and proposed to the French inhabitants the terms agreed on for them at the treaty of Utrecht, which were to keep their possessions, and enjoy the free exercise of their religion, as far as the laws of Great Britain do allow, on their becoming subjects to the crown, or to dispose of them, if they choose to withdraw, within the space of a twelvemonth. They, to a man, chose the last, having great promises made to them by two officers, sent here for that purpose from Cape Breton, then beginning to be settled by the French. But these not sending vessels to fetch away the inhabitants, they remained, and though often required to take the oaths of fidelity, they constantly refused it.
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Extract from a Letter of Governor Mascarene to Govr. Shirley, Aprill, 1748.
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Governor Philipps having formed the council, issued a proclamation, summoning the French inhabitants to take the
the idea of removing those people, in order to substitute Englishmen in their stead, unless the desertion of the Indians would embolden them to adopt such a course, utterly inhuman as it may be. The Acadians have not extended their plantations since they have come under English dominion; their houses are wretched wooden boxes, without conveniences, and without ornaments, and scarcely containing the most necessary furniture; but they are extremely covetous of specie. Since the settlement of Ile Royale they have drawn from Louisburg by means of their trade in cattle, and all the other provisions, almost all the specie the King annually sent out; it never makes its appearance again, they are particularly careful to conceal it. What object can they have, except to secure for themselves a resource for an evil day? Already many of them have caused inquiries to be made whether they could find lands here to settle on; and whether they would be admitted to enter on them. We have avoided all answer.
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