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At a Council held at the Governor's on Thursday the 19th of April, 1750.
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His Exccllency being indisposed & obliged to retire into his Chamber ordered the Secretary to read to the Council the Petition of the French Inhabitants delivered by the Deputies of the Districts of La Riviere de Canard; La Grand Pre & Piziquid, desiring His Excellency's Leave to evacuate the Province & carry off their Effects. As likewise the Answer in writing which he proposed to make them, if approved of by the Council. Which being accordingly read, was unanimously approved of and ordered to be minuted in the Council Book.
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(Translated from the French.)
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My FRIENDS, —
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I am not ignorant of the fact, that since my arrival in the province, every means has been employed to alienate the hearts of the French subjects of his Britannic Majesty. I know that great advantages have been promised you elsewhere, and that you have been made to imagine that your religion was in danger. Threats even have been resorted to in order to induce you to remove to French territory. The savages are made use of to molest you. The savages are to cut the throats of all those who persist in remaining in their native country, attached to their own interests, and faithful to the government.
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By the manner in which this scheme has been carried out, you yourselves will judge of the character of the directors and of their designs. You will judge whether those deserve your confidence, who sacrifice their own honor, the honor of
ledge of the Micmac language. He died at Halifax in 1768, and a short time before his death, having sent for Mr. Wood, deposited all his papers with him; and then collecting around him a number of Indians, and several of the French inhabitants, he commended them to the care of Mr. Wood, who, at his request, read to him the office of the sick from the Church of England prayer book. He was buried in the old English burial ground at Halifax. The Governor and Council and the principal inhabitants, both military and civil, attended his funeral. Mr. Wood succeeded M. Maillard in the confidence of the Indians; and from his papers, was enabled to construct a Micmac grammar and prayer book, which he sent to the the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge in London, but which was never published by them. At this period, the Indians frequently attended divine service at St. Paul's, where the Church Liturgy was on several occasions, read to them in their own language. — Reps. Society P.G.; N.S. Col. Documents; N. York Col. Doc., vol. x.
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