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The Indians have naturally become distrustful
and would not venture to plant or sow on Mr
Cogswells land without some authority to do
As the consequences might have been serious
to them and as they have a considerable extent
of land in excellent order and fit for the seed
I have ventured to give them a written
authority to sow and plant there for this season
and to advise the other Commissioners to sign
it along with me I [?cast] myself on his
Excellencys goodness for thus going beyond
my powers and hope that the peculiarity
of the case will plead my excuse I would
also take the liberty of requesting his Excellency
to confirm this permission as soon as possible
There are now upwards of one hundred and
fifty Indians young and old living on
the land in question and if they should take
it into [?mind] that their security is insufficient
or if any one should persuade them that
it is so the consequences may be [distressing]
Should his Excellency see it proper to recall
Cogswells grant or should Mr Cogswell
[redeed] the land to the crown I would recommend
[it?] to his Excellency to adopt some
plans to encourage industry among these
poor and ill used people by giving each
of them his own spot under certain conditions
I have the honour to be with the
highest respect
Sir Rupert
your very humble
and most Obedient
Servant
Thomas Trotter
Sir Rupert D. George
Prov[incia]l. Sec[reta]ry.
Date: 1824
Retrieval no.: Commissioner of Public Records — Mi'kmaq and Government Relations series Nova Scotia Archives RG 1 volume 430 number 160d
Nova Scotia Archives — https://archives.novascotia.ca/mikmaq/archives/?ID=178
Crown copyright © 2024, Province of Nova Scotia.