Nova Scotia Archives

Acadian Heartland

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

252

NOVA SCOTIA DOCUMENTS.

disposition to Assist His Majesty's Enemies, and to distress his Subjects. That they had not only furnished the Enemy with Provisions and Ammunition, but had refused to supply the Inhabitants, or Government, with Provisions, and when they did Supply, they have exacted three times the Price for which they were sold at other Markets. That they had been indolent and Idle on their Lands, had neglected Husbandry, and the Cultivation of the Soil, and had been of no use to the Province either in Husbandry, Trade or Fishery, but had been rather an Obstruction to the King's Intentions in the Settlement.

They were then asked whether they could mention a single Instance of Service to the Government. To which they were incapable of making any Reply.

Upon reading this Paragraph,

" It seems that your Excellency is doubtfull of
" the Sincerity of those who have promised fidelity,
" That they had been so far from breaking their
" Oath, that they had kept it in spight of terrifying
" Menaces from another Power"

They were asked What gave them Occasion to suppose that the Government was doubtfull of their Sincerity? and were told, that it argued a Consciousness in them of insincerity and want of Attachment to the Interests of His Majesty and his Government. That as to taking their Arms, They had often urged that the Indians would annoy them if they did not Assist them, and that by taking their Arms by Act of Government, it was put out of the Power of the Indians to threaten or force them to their Assistance. That they had assisted the King’s Enemies, and appeared too ready to Join with another Power, contrary to the Allegiance they were bound by their Oath to yield to, His Majesty.

In Answer to this Paragraph,

" We are now in the same disposition, the purest
" and sincerest, to prove in every Circumstance
" Fidelity to His Majesty in the same manner as we
" have done, Provided that His Majesty will leave
" us the same Liberties which he has granted us"

They were told that it was hoped, they would hereafter give Proofs of more sincere and pure dispositions of Mind, in the Practice of Fidelity to His Majesty, and that they would forbear to Act in the manner they have done, in obstructing the