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* * * * The third day after my arrival here I was visited by the Priest of this district of Annapolis at the head of one hundred & fifty lusty young men (as if he meant to appear formidable) whom I received as civilly as possible, and after giveing them assurance of his Majesty's favour & protection, caused the Priest to read to them) one of the Proclamations I had prepared according to my Instructions, and will (I hope) be found exactly conformable thereto, Copy of which I have the Honour to enclose No.1. I asked him afterwards if he did not allow that his Majesty's Condescention therein expressed did not exceed even the People's expectation: he answered that his Majesty was very gracious, but that the people were not at liberty to swear Allegiance because that in General Nicholson's time they had sett their hands unanimously to an Obligation of continuing Subjects of France & retireing to Cape Breton, and for another reason, they were sure of haveing their throats cut by the Indians whenever they became Englishmen, he was answered to both very fully, & the true Interest of the People demonstrated; but arguments prevaile little without a power of inforcing: for the case is thus, they find themselves for several yeares the only Inhabitants of a large Country, except the small Garrison of this place, which haveing been so much neglected they make no account of, and began to think they had as much right here as any other: They were indeed very much surprised at the arrival of a Chiefe Gov'r which they never expected, often saying that person was not borne, and therefore are getting out of his way as fast as they can, as you will find by the sequel, that so being once joined in a body, with the help of the Indians to favour their Retreat, they can march off at their leisure, by the way of the Bay of Verte with their effects, and distroy what they leave behind without danger of being molested by this Garrison which scarce suffices, to secure the Fort in its present Condition.
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