Nova Scotia Archives

Acadian Heartland

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

186

NOVA SCOTIA DOCUMENTS.

their sovereign, and of their nation to lead you to your ruin. You know that certain officers and missionaries, who came from Canada to Chinecto last autumn, have been the cause of all our troubles during the winter. Their entrance into this province and their stay here are directly contrary to the treaties which exist between the two crowns: Their conduct has been horrible, without honor, probity, or conscience, and such as they dare not acknowledge themselves. They are doing every thing by underhand dealings, and by means of the savages, whom they will disown in the end. It was these, Gentlemen, who induced the savages of the river St. John to unite with the Micmacs, the day after a solemn treaty. They induced the Micmacs to commence their outrages, and furnished them with every thing necessary for their war. Finally, since the peace they have been engaged in intrigues and enterprises for which an honest man would have blushed even during the war. These same Gentlemen are doing their best to cause you to leave the country, and to transfer yourselves to French territory. They have endeavoured to give you very false ideas which you will not fail to declare to us.

Their aim is to embroil you with the government. They have told you that you will always have the privilege of the year stipulated by the treaty of Utrecht for the evacuation of the country. Perhaps they have made you believe that you would have the liberty of selling your effects or of carrying them with you.

You do not expect that we are to reply to all their insolence. Before commmunicating my sentiments to you with reference to your request, I must inform you of my astonishment that french officers and missionaries have had the audacity to meddle with the affairs of this province. I will not believe that they are authorized to do so by the Court of France, that being quite contrary to the good faith and the friendship established between the two crowns. And you understand very well that Kings and States, as well as private persons, are to regulate themselves by the laws of honor, arid the dictates of conscience.

But I am still more surprised that inhahitants like you have been weak enough to listen to the speeches and messages of those persons, and that you have allowed yourselves to be led astray by their counsels.

It is not for subaltern officers and missionaries to explain the treaties of Kings, and to meddle with the politics and the affairs of government. If their counsels and the propositions