|
256 |
NOVA SCOTIA DOCUMENTS. |
|
|
|
|
The Council being met according to Adjournment, the french Deputies who were yesterday Ordered to Attend the Council, were brought in and, upon being asked what Resolution they were come to in regard to the Oath, They declared they could not consent to Take the Oath in the Form required without consulting the Body. They were then informed that as they had now for their Own particulars, refused to Take the Oath as directed by Law, and thereby sufficiently evinced the Sincerity of their Inclination towards the Government, The Council could no longer look on them as Subjects to His Britannick Majesty, but as Subjects of the King of France, and as such they must hereafter be Treated; and they were Ordered to withdraw.
|
|
|
|
The Counil after Consideration, Were of Opinion That directions should be given to Captain Murray to Order the French Inhabitants forthwith to Choose and send to Halifax, new Deputies with the General Resolution of the said Inhabitants in regard to taking the Oath, and that none of them should for the future be admitted to Take it after having once refused so to do, but that effectual Measures ought to be taken tn remove all such Recusants out of the Province.
|
|
|
|
The Deputies were then called in again, and having been informed of this Resolution, and finding they could no longer avail themselves of the Disposition of the Government to ingage them to a Dutifull Behaviour by Lenity and perswasion, Offered to take the Oath, but were informed that as there was no reason to hope their proposed Compliance proceeded from an honest Mind, and could be esteemed only the Effect or Compulsion and Forcel and is contrary to a clause in an Act or Parliament, 1. Geo. 2. c 13. whereby Persons who have once refused to Take the Oath cannot be afterwards permitted to Take them, but are considered as Popish Recusants; Therefore they would not now be indulged with such Permission, And they were thereupon ordered into Confinement.
|
|
|
|
At a Council holden at the Governor’s House in Halifax on Monday the 14th July 1755.
was also a captain of militia. One of the divisions of the town of Halifax bears his name. These divisions were named after the captains of the five companies of militia into which the settlers were formed. Mr. Collier was appointed a member of Council on 27th January, 1762. He died at Halifax in 1769. His wife accompanied him from England. It is uncertain whether there are any of his descendanits now in Nova Scotia. — Council Books. N.S. Documents.
|
|