Nova Scotia Archives

Acadian Heartland

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

276

NOVA SCOTIA DOCUMENTS.

receive a number signed by me) which you will address to the Governour of the Province, or the Commander in Chief for the time being, where they are to be put on shore, and endorse therein the printed form of the Certificate to be granted to the masters of the vessels, to entitle them to their hire as agreed upon by Charter Party: And with these you will give each of the masters their sailing orders in writing to proceed according to the above destination, and upon their arrival immediately to wait upon the Governors or Commanders in Chief of the Provinces to which they are bound, with the said letters, and to make all possible dispatch in debarking their passengers and obtaining Certificates thereof agreeable to the form aforesaid: and you will in these orders, make it a particular injunction to the said masters to be as careful and watchful as possible during the whole course af the Passage, to prevent the passengers making any attempt to seize upon the Vessels, by allowing only a small number to be upon the decks at a time, and using all other necessary precautions to prevent the bad consequences of such attempts; and that they be particularly careful that the Inhabitants carry no arms nor other offensive weapons on board with them at their Embarkation, as also that they see the provisions regularly issued to the people agreeable to the allowance proportioned in Mr. George Saul's Instructions.

You will use all the means proper and necessary for collecting the people together so as to get them on board: If you find that fair means will not do with them, you must proceed by the most vigorous measures possible, not only in compelling them to embark, but in depriving those who shall escape of all means of shelter or support, by burning their houses and destroying everything that may afford them the means of subsistence in the Country; and if you have not force sufficient to perform this service, Colonel Winslow at Mines or the commanding officer there will upon your application send you a proper reinforcemeet.

You will see by the Charter Partys of the Vessels taken up at Boston, that they are hired by the month, wherefore I am to desire that you will use all possible dispatch to save expence to the publick.

As soon as the people are shipped and the transports are ready, you will acquaint the Commander of His Majesty's ship therewith, that he may take them under his Convoy and put to sea without loss of time.

Indorsed-Scroll. Major Handfield's Instructions, 11th August, 1755.