Nova Scotia Archives

Acadian Heartland

The Records of British Government at Annapolis Royal, 1713-1749


  106  Nova Scotia Archives.
1736.

opposition thereunto Set up an Independant Jurisdiction of their own and as the Minute of Council will Inform You of their audacious Insolence on this Occasion I hope you will not only approve of My Conduct in having sent them Conformable to ye Said minute out of this province" but give further instructions "to direct Us to Manage and treat Such Priests the Refractory Inhabitants & Lawless Savages, Who for some time past have been so Elated as Seemingly to have no Manner of Regard to any of their Treatys; which is not only evident from former Acts and their Behaviour in respect of this Brigantine, but also from the Insolence of those of St. John's River in opposing a Vessel sent by the Storekeeper of ye Board of Ordnance to load With Lime Stone for His majesty's Service, their Robbing ye people of their Cloaths & provisions, pretending that the Land &c. belonged to them, and that therefore they Would be paid; as the Sailors of that Vessel have reported."

Unless other methods are taken to bring them over to H.

Audacious & Disrespectfull manner, Saying that absolutely that they would not go & that they would have nothing to do in the Affair. [437]
And being asked if they would not Obey the Just & Iawfull Orders of his Majesty's Government to which Mr. Chevereaux Answering contemptuously with an Unbecoming Air and unmannerly gestures Saying Que Je Suis ici de la part du Roy de France & Mr St Poncy most affrontingly affirming the Same also in words to the Same Effect.
His Hon'r thereupon told them that he had a great mind, seeing they had so Said, for their Contempt of this his Majesty of Great Brittain's Goverment to send them to France.
They replied with a Laugh & a most haughty Insolent Air, With all their Hearts, then turned their Backs & went out of the Room Seemingly in a very great Passion, Slaming and throwing the Doors in a most Rude & insulting Manner, & without his Hon’rs leave they left the Board where they were desired to Attend for an answer to the above said Petition.
When Mr Dentremont being called before the Board & told that the priests had refused to go, He said he was sorry for it, for it was his Opinion that the most Expedient method to bring these Indians to reason & to get Restitution would be to send a Priest which was the reason of his proposing it to his Honour, a Priest being also much wanted at their Village to Baptize Be. administer the Sacraments.
The Board having taken their Behavour & Comportment into Consideration came unanimously to this Resolution that they should be dismissed & ordered to retire to the Presbytere & there to remain 'till an Opportunity Offered to send them out of the Province.
Agreed that they the two priests should be Again Sent for to hear the Opinion & Determination of the Board that they may prepare to be gone when ever an Opportunity Should Offer.
Whereupon the said two Priests Appearing before the Board & the Sentence being read; they reasumed their former Insolence. Called for Chairs to sitt Down, Saying that they did not Appear as Criminals &c that they had no business with things Temporal, & further expressed themselves in these words "Que Nous N'avons point D'ordres a Recvoir ici. and as their [438] whole Behaviour & Discourse to the Govr. was as above Recited & tending to a Jurisdiction of their own Independant of his Majesty's Authority & the Civil power of this his Goverment they Were Ordered to Depart Immediately to the Presbytere & there to Remain as aforesaid & also Ordered that the 14th Artl. of the treaty of Utretch should be sent them.


               

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