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GOVERNOR'S LETTER-BOOK, ANNAPOLIS.
1719-1742. |
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NOTE: This document is entered thus in the Akins catalogue, p. 6. "14 1719-1742--0riginal Letter Book of the Governors at Annapolis, containing letters to the Board of Trade and Secretary of State, with Letters addressed to the French Deputies &c., &c., from January 2, 1719, to June 8, 1742, bound in Vellum, folio." The document consists of 149 leaves, paged from 1 to 216, unpaged to 264: follows a blank page; and then come six pages (indicated) of papers signed by Philipps, but reversed, beginning at the end of the book. Then come five columns of index (contemporary) carried as far as p. 187. The book though stained in places is in a good state of preservation, except for the pencil marks and scribbling of some ungrammatical transcriber. The handwriting is large and fair, and at first the lines and margins have been ruled, the pages numbered, and the contents of each letter indicated at the side; a great contrast in all these respects to MS. 15. Some part of it has been already printed in the "Nova Scotia Archives"; wherever this has been done, the fact is noted.
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Arrived in October last, but unable to proceed to Annapolis, as navigation is impracticable. Paper enclosed showing practices of priest and Jesuits there; though fathered on the Indians, it is the work of Père Vincent and Père Felix, inveterate enemies of the British. They rule at Minas and Chignecto over 400 families, who acknowledge no other authority and will neither swear allegiance nor leave the country. Garrison at Annapolis too weak to send detachments. Advises removal of two companies from Placentia to A. and improvement of fortifications there. People prolific, and now is the time to take care of them. French fishing at
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1719.
Jan. 2.
Boston. |
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