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Phips,* and his answer to me, with the advertisement for your Grace's Perusal.
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The French Inhabitants who returned here to work about the middle of Feby, told me that there bad been all winter a Party of thirty Indians at Cobequid. I had sent a Courier there, a month before, with a letter to the Priest, one Gerard, who had not returned.
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I sent a Detachment under Capt. Bartelo's command, to try to surprise those Indians and to bring Gerard and the deputies, to answer for their conduct. Gorham has declared that it was impracticable to march there in Winter. Gorham is no officer at all; Capt. Bartelo, I can confide in as a good officer, and an honest man; he returned Saturday last, They found no Indians but brought the Priest and Deputies.
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On Monday they were examined before the Council, and the Priest's papers read over. What appears mateerial from these examinations and papers is as follows:
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1. That ever since the suspension of Arms, M. la Galissoniere had resolved, whether of himself or by orders does not appear, to secure the possession of Chinecto, or Beaubassin, at all events;
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That the detachment at St. John's River last summer was sent there, in order to be ready to march to Beaubassin, when required; and that the governor of Louisburg had orders to send men, amunition and provisions to Beaubassin, immediately upon his arrival.
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2. That the Micmacs go every year to Canada, to be clothed to the expense of the French King.
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3. That M. la Corne has made the Inhabitants of Chinecto take the oath of allegiance to the French King.
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This, the priest told me in private, he had it from Loutre.
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4. That Loutre was three or four days at Coboquid, in Janr. last, where he was paying the damage done the Inhabitants by the Savages. That some savages along with him, at the Church door in the presence of both Priests, forbid the Inhabitants to pass the River Chebenacadi upon pain of Death.
* Spencer Phips, Lieut. Governor of Massachusetts. This gentleman's name was originally Bennett. He was the son of Dr. David Bennett of Rowley, Massachusetts; his mother's name was Spencer. Mr. Spencer Bennett on being adopted by his uncle, Governor Sir William Phips, who left no male descendants, took by Statute the latter name. He was elected Councillor of Massachusetts in 1722, and Lieut. Governor in 1733, and continued to hold that office until his death in 1757. — Williamson's Hist. Maine, Vol. 2, page 161, note. Minot's Hist. Mass., Vol. 1.
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