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Extract from Minutes of a Council holden at the President's House in Halifax on Saturday the 21st March 1761.
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PRESENT —
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The Honble. Jonathan Belcher Esqr. President,
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The Honble. Jno. Collier,
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Chs. Morris, Councilor
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Richd. Bulkeley, Councilor
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Jos. Gerrish, Councilor
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Alexr. Grant, Councilor
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The Council having taken into Consideration the extream ill Behaviour of Mr. Menac* a french Priest in this Province, who had, in a most notorious manner, publickly drank the Pretender's Health, and had endeavoured to create uneasiness among the Indians, and to draw them over to the french Interest, and had also otherwise misbehaved, it was Advised that the said french Priest should be sent to England, as a Prisoner of War, by the first opportunity.
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J. BELCHER.
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JNO. DUPORT, Sec. Con.
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President Belcher to Col. Forster.
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(Govrs. Letter Book.)
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HALIFAX, 18 June, 1761.
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SIR, —
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By representations made to me from the New Settlements in this Province, it appears Extremely necessary that the inhabitants should be assisted by the Acadians in repairing the Dykes for the preservation and recovery of the Marsh Lands, particularly as on the progress of this work, in which the Acadians are the most skilfull people in the Country, the sup-
* The Abbe Miniac, or Menach, came to Acadia in company with Father Gerard in 1742. He brought letters to Governor Mascarene from the Bishop of Quebec. The Bishop represented him as a man of birth, capacity, and experience, who had held the offices of Grand Vicar and Archdeacon. His first cure was at Minas. In 1755 he was stationed at Miramichi in charge of the Indian mission, as successor to M. La Corne the Recollet. After the fall of Louisbourg and Quebec, he went over to the English with several families of Acadians and some Indians — a course which was also pursued by M. Maillard at Cape Breton, and Father Germain, of the Indian missions at St. John's River and Miramichi. He, however, appears to have afterwards shown hostility to the British. — Governor Mascarene's Letter at page 121; N.S. Documents; Murdoch's Hist. N.S., vol. 2.
Father Charles Germain, of the Society of Jesus, above mentioned, was another active emissary of the Canada Government. He was appointed missionary to the
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