Nova Scotia Archives

Acadian Heartland

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

160

NOVA SCOTIA DOCUMENTS.

inhabitants, governor Philipps ordered them to choose a certain number amongst them, under the name of deputies, to act in behalf of the people, in publishing his orders, and making applications when their occasions should require; which was accordingly obeyed. This river, divided into eight districts or hamlets, has eight deputies; the other settlements, mostly, four each; in all I reckon twenty-four. They are every year newly chosen on the tenth of October, the anniversary of the King's coronation, and of the taking of this fort. They are invested with no judiciary power, but are appointed often as arbitrators in small cases, where, if any of the parties are not satisfied, appeal is made to the governor or Commander-in-chief and council.

At a Council held at the place aforesaid, on Friday October 25th 1745.

His Honor proposed, that it would be advantageous to this Government, if means could be found to suppress the inhabitants from having any intercourse with the enemy, by supplying them with goods or provisions in lieu of their furs, in order to effect which, proposed that it might in some measure be done by restricting the inhabitants from purchasing more goods than is requisite for their own proper and immediate use; and also prohibit the buying and selling of all furs or skins, but such as have either been purchased before the war, or are killed by the inhabitants, which they should be obliged to declare upon Oath before the Deputy Collector, before they should dispose of the furs in way of truck or otherways; and that these two clauses should be inserted in the intended proclamations; which upon debate was found for several reasons not necessary at this time; but endeavour to prevent as much as possible that no powder, ba1l, strouds or blancoating be disposed of to the French inhabitants, and to enforce former orders prohibiting all trade with the enemy.

P. MASCARENE.

Govr. Mascarene to Deputies of Mines.

(Letter Book.)

ANNAPOLIS ROYAL,

28th Oct., 1745.

GENTLEMEN, —

Being inform'd by several people lately arriv'd from yor. parts that abt. 11 or 12 Indians had the Boldness to stop them