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Minutes of H. M. Council, 1736-1749. |
29 |
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PRESENT His Honor the President
John Adams Esq
William Skene
William Shirreff Esq
Erasmus James Philipps Esq
John Handfield Esq
Edward Amhurst Esq |
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His Honor The President Acquainted the Board that the cause of calling them together at this time was his being informed that Mr. Vauxlin Romish Missionary Priest had incroached upon the privilege granted the French inhabitants for the exercise of their religion by the Treaty of Utrecht by presuming to pronounce sentence of excommunication against one Mafils who thereupon complained that he was by virtue thereof deprived of all assistance and necessaries of life which being without any legal process and consequently contrary to the Laws of Great Britain he had therefore drawn up a scrawl proclamation in order to prevent any such arbitrary proceedings of the Romish priests for the future, which being read it was agreed that the said Mr. Vauxlin should be sent for to appear before the Board who being come and interrogated by what authority he had excommunicated the said MafiIs as aforesaid he thereunto replied that it was not he who excommunicated him but that he had received a letter from Mr. Degodaler his superior at Mines signifying to him that the said Mafils was excommunicated and that by virtue of such advice given him he in conscience judged it his duty to acquaint his parishioners thereof but that for the future he would do no such thing without first acquainting the Government.
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Then was again read the aforesaid scrawl and after some amendments it was ordered to be published.
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Then the Board desired His Honor to write a letter in very strong terms to the Deputies of the several districts of this Province when he sent to them the said proclamation to be published enjoying them strictly to observe the same and also that he should write to Mr. Degodaler and other Missionaries on the same subject.
Signed P. Mascarene
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At a Council held at the place aforesaid on Thursday the 31st of July 1740. The same Members present.
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Then was then Read the Petition of several inhabitants of this river praying leave to go and winter and settle at themselves at a place called Tibogue who not being present, it was ordered that they be summoned to attend the Council on Saturday the 2nd of August 1740 till which time the Board adjourned.
Signed P. Mascarene
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