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(Translated from the French.)
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AT HALIFAX, May 12th, 1764.
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To His Excellency
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The Governor at Halifax, —
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The Acadian french prisoners had the honor, on the 29th of April last, to represent to His Excellency, that, acknowledging no other sovereign than the King of France, the suppliants most earnestly requested the government to provide vessels and provisions necessary for their transportation. Maintaining still the same sentiments, in every respect, they beg His Excellency to listen to their petition, and to grant them the just demands which they have already made in this case, since peace is made, and since all prisoners, from what ever place they may be, are given up; and particularly as the Acadians who were in England, are now in France, and those of Carolina, at French Cape. In this case, the Government will not refuse vessels to convey them to France, in order that the suppliants may prove to their prince how devoted they are to his service, and how ready they are to sacrifice, not only their own lives, but the lives of their women and children, to testify their zeal and love for their country. Besides, the religion which they profess causes them to persist earnestly in the matter, even at the peril of their lives, and of their property, if they had any, which they have already proved to the Government.
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Thus, His Excellency, seeing the unanimous sentiment of the Acadians, as good citizens of the King of France, will deign to order that vessels and provisions be provided for the purpose of removing them to some French place, should the government be unwilling to convey them to France. Doing this, the suppliants will never cease to address their prayers to heaven for your preservation and prosperity.
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BELONIS ROY,
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And 75 more heads of families.
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Lord Halifax to Governor Wilmot.
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ST. JAMES'S, 9 June, 1764.
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SIR, —
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Your Letters of the 10th December and 18th of January last have been received and laid before The King.
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