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NOVA SCOTIA DOCUMENTS. |
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Vice Adml. Boscawen and Rear Adml. Mostyn assisted, to consider by what means we could with the greatest security and effect rid ourselves of a set of people who would forever have been an obstruction to the intention of settling this Colony and that it was now from their refusal of the Oath absolutely incumbent upon us to remove.
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As their numbers amount to near 7000 persons the driving them off with leave to go whither they pleased would have doubtless strengthened Canada with so considerable a number of inhabitants; and as they have no cleared land to give them at present, such as are able to bear arms must have been immediately employed in annoying this and the neighbouring Colonies. To prevent such an inconvenience it was judged a necessary and the only practicable measure to divide them among the Colonies where they may be of some use, as most of them are healthy strong people; and as they cannot easily collect themselves together again it will be out of their power to do any mischief and they may become profitable and it is possible, in time, faithful subjects.
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As this step was indispensably necessary to the security of this Colony upon whose preservation from French encroachments the prosperity of North America is esteemed in a great measure dependant, I have not the least reason to doubt of your Excellency's concurrence and that you will receive the inhabitants I now send and dispose of them in such manner as may best answer our design in preventing their reunion.*
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Endorsed — Scroll to Governors on the Continent, 11 Aug., 1755.
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Sir Thomas Robinson to Governor Lawrence.
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WHITEHALL, Augt. 13th 1755.
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SIR, —
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Whatever construction may be put, by the French, upon the Word Pardonné, in the Fourth Article of the Capitulation,
* The French Acadians who were sent to Pennsylvania, petitioned the Governor and Council of that Province, in Sept. 1756, to be treated as prisoners of War, and to be permitted to join their own nation and from the tenor of their petition it would appear they did not wish to become settlers in that Province. The Governor and Council, however, on reference to Governor Lawrence's letters, declined to treat them as prisoners of War and subjects of the French King, but as subjects of the King of Great Britain, and recommended the House of Assembly to "provide for them in such a manner as they should see fit." — Colonial Records, Penn., vol. 7, p. 241. They appear to have received better treatment at the hands of the Government of Philadelphia than was accorded to them in same of the other Provinces.
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