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Governor Philipps to Board of Trade.
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CANSO
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September 19th 1722.
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My LORDS, —
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* * * * I have determined to wait on Your Lordships in person this fall, and the rather as the face of affairs are something changed and a new scene opened which has drawn me into an Indian War, notwithstanding all my endeavours to avoid it.
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It is certain that nothing could be more unexpected, for I never had a better prospect of peace and friendship with them then at the time of their breaking out. Their Chiefs having been with me but a month before, whom I feasted and gave them part of the King's presents on their solem promises of good behaviour toward all His Majesty's Subjects, and therefore could hardly credit the first reports of their taken the Trading Vessels in the Bay of Fundy, which were soon after confirmed with the farther accounts of their having taken 18 vessels more in the Harbors on this Coast, among which was a Sloop I had despatched with Bread for the Garrison of Annapolis Royal. From this success they began to flatter themselves with the hopes of reducing that Fort by Blockade, but the Provisions from Europe arriving here in the mean time, I armed the Vessels that were to proceed with part thereof to that Garrison, who getting safe thither, and Mr. Dowcett having an opportunity of making about twenty of the Indians (who lay encamped in the Woods) prisoners, about two thirds being Women and children, that great design blew up.
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By this time we were in the middle of the Fishery and the Harbour full of Ships waiting their loading, when fresh advices came that the Indians were cruizing upon the Banks with the Sloops they had taken assisted by the Prisoners whom they compelled to serve as Mariners, and gave out that they were to attack this place with all their strength, which alarmed the people to that degree, bringing to mind their sufferings two years ago, and being very much disheartened to find that no measures had been taken this year for the security of the place, from whom they judged my representations to have no weight with the Government at home, and their misfortunes to proceed from my want of interest, They were upon breaking up and every man to shift for himself. To prevent which and having just then received an express
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