Nova Scotia Archives

Acadian Heartland

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

196

NOVA SCOTIA DOCUMENTS.

chief in his hand, which was the usual sign for the admittance of the French into the English Fort, having affairs with the commander of the Post. The major of the Fort, a worthy man, and greatly beloved by all the French officers, taking Cope for a French officer, came out with his usual politeness to receive him. But he no sooner appeared than the Indians, in ambush fired at him and killed him. All the French had the greatest horror and indignation at Loutre's, barbarous actions; and I dare say, if the Court of France had known them, they would have been very far from approving them; But he had so ingratiated himself with the Marquis de la Galissoniere, that it became a crime to write against him. It is needless to explain further Abbe Loutre's execrable conduct. Cruelty and inhumanity has ever been sacerdotal from all ages. The English Garrison at length, exasperated, and losing patience, after a long series of such priestly scenes, besieged Beausejour, which, being very weakly defended, they took it in the spring of the year 1755. It would have been, nevertheless, more conformable to equity and justice, if the English had endeavoured to catch Abbe Loutre and hang him as the sole author and actor of these abominations.

Extract from a Letter of the Lords of Trade to Governor Cornwallis, dated March 22d 1750-l.

You judged very right in refusing Leave to the French Inhabitants of the district of Menis and Annapolis to withdraw upo their Application to you, for that purpose; We are extreamly glad to hear, that so few of the better sort of those Inhabitants have withdrawn themselves, and have no doubt but that if you shall be able to prevent their abandoning their Settlements just at this time,. when the ffrench are partticularly industrious to draw them off from their Allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain, and the Province is contending against all the Disadvantages to which a New and disputed settlement can be exposed, You will be able hereafter by a good Correspondence with them and making them feel the Advantages of the Settlement to remove their Prejudices and firmly unite them to the British Interest.