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I am in hopes the provinces will make no difficulties about receiving them as they may in a short time become useful & beneficial Subjects.
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I have the Honour,
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&c. &c.
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CHAS. LAWRENCE.
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To the Right Hon. the Lords Commrs. of Trade & Plantations.
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Indorsed — Scroll to Board of Trade, 18 Aug. 1755, per Admiral Boscawen.
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Dup: made.
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Govr. Lawrence to Sir Thomas Robinson, Secretary of State.
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HALIFAX,
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30th November, 1755.
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SIR, —
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* * * * In regard to the word Pardonné, in the fourth article of the capitulation of Beausejour, mentioned in your Letter of the 13th of August, I apprehend nothing was further understood by it, either on one part or the other, but that the French Inhabitants found in Arms in the Fort, should not be put to Death, for though Lt. Colonel Monckton was told before he set out, that the Deserted French Inhabitants were to be driven out of the Country, in order to prevent his giving them any pretence or hopes, either by Capitulation or otherwise of being reestablished in their possessions, yet it was never intended to precipitate measures so far as to drive them into Despair, or to cause their flight to Canada; But in this place it will be proper to explain what part of the Inhabitants are included under the denomination of the Deserted French Inhabitants.
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When the French Troops first took post at Beausejour (where they soon after built their Fort) their principal view was to secure to themselves the north side of the Bay of Fundy, to fix the Isthmus of Chignecto for our Boundary, and to cover the retreat of such French Inhabitants, as had an inclination to retire from the English Government and join them. There were indeed originally, some French Inhabitants who lived on that side the Bay, but as the Land is not esteemed very Fertile, and but small quantities of it cleared (in comparison with the other French settlements in the Province,) they were but few in number. When the English Troops in the year 1750 went to take possession of that part of Chignecto, the French admitted it to be ours. The Inhabi-
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