Nova Scotia Archives

Acadian Heartland

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

206

NOVA SCOTIA DOCUMENTS.

* * * * I come next to the French Inhabitants who are tolerably quiet, as to Government matters, but exceeding litigious amongst themselves. As this spirit of litigation shews the value they set upon their possessions, it is so far a favourable circumstance. But, as there is no regular method of administering Justice amongst them, they grow very uneasy at the decision of their disputes having been so long put off from time to time. To give them a hearing in our Courts of Law would be attended with insuperable difficulties; their not having taken the oath of allegiance is an absolute bar in our La, to their holding any landed possessions, and your Lordships may imagine how difficult it must be for the Courts to give judgment in cases where the proprietors' claims are far from being ascertained, and where the disputes commonly relate to the Bounds of Lands that have never as yet been surveyed that we know of The Council as your Lordships will see by the enclosed copy of their Minutes, have determined some few cases for them in which His Majesty's interest could possibly suffer no detriment, which is all we could do for the present. I shall endeavonr to send some proper persons up the Country in the spring, to adjust, as well as possible, the differences amongst them, relating to their lands; and to enquire into, and ascertain their claims and rights with respect thereto, as well as circumstances will admit.

The french Emissaries still continue to perplex these Inhabitants with difficulties about their taking the Oath of Allegiance; and tho’ they have not been in the least pressed to it of late, yet they seem to think we only wait a convenient opportunity to force it upon them, as they every day magnify to themselves the difficulties they should lie under with the Indians, if they take the Oath; as well as the notion that it would subject them to bear arms. I should think it would be of great advantage, both to them and us, that this matter was, one way or other, cleared up to them as soon as possible, because when they were sure of the situation they were to remain in, it would naturally produce a spirit of improvement amongst them, the advantages of which they would soon be sensible of, and thereby become more attached to an English Government than they have hitherto been. * * * *

I am &c.

CHARLES LAWRENCE.

The Lords Commrs. for Trade & Plantations.