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[Translated from the French.]
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My FRIENDS, —
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We promised to give a precise reply to the inhabitants, with respect to the permission they ask to leave the province when they shall have sown their lands; and as it appears that you have obeyed our orders in that particular, we will explain to you our sentiments on that very important affair, with the same sincerity that we have always made use of toward you.
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As to the petition of the inhabItants of the Annapolis Royal river, it should have been presented to us by the deputies of the department whom we approved of.
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The sentiments declared in that petition hardly agree with the idea that we had formed of their feelings.
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There are things in it that we do not understand. It is presented to us by persons who do not understand it, and who do not know when, by whom, or how it was written.
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My friends, the moment that you declared your desire to leave and submit yourselves to another government, our determination was to hinder nobody from following what he imagined to be his interest. We know that a forced service is worth nothing and that a subject compelled to be so against his will, is not very far from being all enemy.
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We frankly confess, however, that your determination to leave gives us pain.
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We are well aware of your industry and your temperance, and that you are not addicted to any vice or debauchery. This province is your country; you or your fathers have cultivated it; naturally you ought yourselves to enjoy the fruits of your labour. Such was the design of the King our master. You know that we have followed his orders. You know that we have done everything to secure to you not only the occupation of your lands, but the ownership of them forever.
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We have given you also every possible assurance of the enjoyment of your religion, and the free and public exercise of the Roman Catholic religion. When we arrived here, we expected that nothing would give you so much pleasure as the determination of his majesty to settle this province. Certainly nothing more advantageous to you could take place. You possess the only cultivated lands in the province; they produce grain and nourish cattle sufficient for the whole colony. It is you who would have had all the advantages for a long time. In short we flattered ourselves that we would make you the happiest people in the world. We are very
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