1820  29 Apr  Halifax  

1104. Charles Morris to Gideon White. ''I use this freedom to address you on behalf of a number of hardy Worthy Emigrants who have been and are desirous of Settling in the Interior of Shelburne - on Land long Waste and derelict - and of no intrinsic Value but to the hardy Setler who is content to toil and labour with the Sweat of his Brow - solely for the sake of laying a foundation for his children who from their habits and familiar acquaintance with the Stumps of the trees felld by their Fathers - became attached to the Forest as a home - and lay the foundation of a growing Country - and at length the chearing sound of the Woodmans Axe and the Smoke of his hamlet is heard and seen in Wilds only traversed from the Creation by the Savage or the hunter - With a most anxious desire to see the Town of Shelburne revive - the asylum of Loyalty - and those who made such sacrifices of their Estates and property and commence anew and at length after a lapse of Years see at last a hardy useful sober Race of Men come among them - able and Willing to contend with the Wilderness. I have been useing the best of my poor endeavours to direct the tide of Emigration to your district - in the firm hope that Government will assist the measure by every means in its power and that by Roads of communication thro the good Lands in the interior - and a Settlement of hardy Emigrants Agriculture and Commerce will revive - and to accelerate this measure it was intended that every Person holding Land up the Roseway Clyde or other Rivers - and had not been able to cultivate their Lands as intended and as they were bound by their Grant - should notwithstanding be compensated for any moderate improvement they might have made - by other Lands of larger extent in some other Situation so as to enable Government to preserve an unbroken extended line of Settlement whereby the People - might by the Statute labour and mutual assistance open the Interior and Settle the County to advantage. In a word my dear Sir I have authority to assure you - that if you can be reconciled in Justice to yourself and Family to lend your Aid in the encouragement of the Settlement of these Worthy people I shall never cease in my endeavours to afford you ample compensation - in Lands more Valuable and advantageously Situated. Holograph.

White Family Nova Scotia Archives MG 1 Vol. 954 No. 1104