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recommend to the Surveyor to do, as near as Circumstances will permit. These peoples petitions were recommended by Governor Philipps before his departure, to the consideration of the Council, who finding some disputes were amongst them, deferred the same till these differences were accommodated, and for that purpose Governor Philipps by proclamation signified it to them, and appointed them by the 10th of April next, to appear to make out their respective claims. I am so far, my Lords, of opinion, that if grants be given to these new planters, that the others may be thereby induced to renew their old Grants and hold immediately of His Majesty, and not of these Seigniors, who in my opinion have forfeited their rights, through Non-performance of the conditions, but if in this I differ from Your Lordships, I still think it necessary, that these Seigniors, should at least renew their grants, and pay the appointed quit rent &c. to His Majesty, which I think is but just, seeing they receive their rents annually from the other Inhabitants, as to which likewise I beg your Lordships advice. Ever since the reduction of this place, there hath been strange juggling amongst these Seigniors, as well as the other Inhabitants, who, as heirs, pretend a right of posession to the Estates of those who left the country even at the capitulation; and others pretend to have bought of those that went away. By virtue of Her late Majesty's letter, dated the 23rd June 1713, tis true that Her Majesty gives liberty to such of the French as had a mind, to retire into the bounds and dominions of the French King, to sell their estates, but its presumed only, those who had remained in the Province, till that time were entitled to the advantages therein mentioned, and not those who had abandoned and left their Estates, at the reduction of the place, in the year 1710; in relation to which there being several disputes, I must entreat your Lordships' opinion, in order to decide the same. If Her Majesty's letter can be interpreted to all in general, certain it is, that we shall never be without Seigniors, whereas, if only in favor of such as were then in the Country, part of these Seigniors estates how belong to His Majesty, and I have been told, that rents have been remitted from hence to some in the Dominions of France which tho' it may be forbid, cannot be easily prevented here, no more than their clandestine Trade with the people of Cape Breton, whither they transport annually above three or four hundred head of cattle, besides Sheep and other provisions, to the great prejudice of this Province, which can only be prevented by having |
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