|
200 |
NOVA SCOTIA DOCUMENTS. |
|
|
|
|
I have not at present a detachment to spare from hence even upon the most urgent occasion. In fact what we call an Indian War here is no other than a pretence for the French to commit Hostilities upon his Majesty's subjects.
|
|
|
|
Your Ldships may judge how greatly I am mortified in not having it in my power to chastise such insolence and breach of Public faith, and at the same time how happy I should be If Icould with success assert and maintain his Majesty's rights iu this province, for I am now fully convinced that very little progress can be made in the service I have the honor to he employed in, until the French Flag is removed out of this Province by some means or other; when that happens I have hopes that the Indians when their allies are withdrawn will no more he able to disturb us, and that they will then make proper submission to His Majesty's Government, and live under it in Peace and quietness; that the French inhabitants will take the Oaths, and, giving over all hopes of any change, enjoy the benefit of English laws and Liberty, and that Agriculture will flourish and enable us not only to maintain ourselves, but to carry on a very large and advantageous fishery at a reasonable rate. * * * *
|
|
|
|
They have a strong fort at Beausejour and are every day adding new works to it; of this, indeed, I can speak with some certainty as their fort is in sight of ours. At the Fort they have on the River Gasparo, near Bay Verte, and about fifteen miles from the Fort at Beausejour, they never had above 12 or 14 men at most. No certain account of the number of the Inhabitants could ever be procured. On their Festivals upwards of 300 have been seen about the Mass House who were supposed to be the Inhabitants of about six or seven miles in circumference, they have all arms and ammunition and orders to repair to the Fort upon any alarm. The original Inhabitants on that side are pretty well settled having good houses gardens and other ground which those who went from our side have not, but are kept in hopes by promises from time to time of being settled in some other place.
|
|
|
|
Your Lordships may imagine how disagreeable it is to me to see his Majesty's rights encroached on and these encroachments openly abetted avowed and supported by the Governors of Canada and Louisbourg, when it is not in my power to prevent it, as I have barely a sufficient force to protect the settlers from the Insults of an Indian war under a pretence of which the French take an opportunity to commit Hostilitys
|
|