Memramcoop, (Note de la main du Dr Brown

DOCUMENTS SUR l'ACADIE 135

leagues. At this post there live a f ew Inhabitants & hère they land And distribute their Guns, Stores &c* to the Indians. There is a constant intercourse between this Post & the inhabitants of Gaspé. At Gaspé, which makes the South entrance into the river S' Lawrence, the French hâve a fort & town, & carry on a considérable fishery, hère they hâve Ships & other Vessels, which could with ease carry them from Chediac to Gaspé & from thence to Canada by every Vessel bound thither, for the Vessels bound to Canada frequently touch at that Port, if they should attempt to pass that way His Majesty's Ship cruising in the bay Vert by stretching above the port of Chédiac would stand a fair chance to intercept them. — ^As thèse Inhabitants i are so far out of the way of the English troops it will be difficult to apprehend them, but by some stratagem. But they are at ail adventures to be rooted out, ^ and the most effectuai way is to destroy ail thèse settlements by burning down ail the houses, cutting the dikes, and destroy» ail the «Grain now growing, for it will be impossible to save any of their grain, except that growing near the fort, without great loss of men unless there be a firm peace with the Indians ^ which is not likely while the French continue there, and the Indians will be always induced to listen to them, because their dependence for provision will be on them ^ a manifest advantage will arise therefrom ^ for ail the Indians on the North shore will then be obliged to dépend on the English for subsistence, & we shall find them after this not only in a disposition to make peace but to continue it, especially if a Truck house were established at Cheignecto to supply them with ail necessarys, & another at S' John's for that tribe. And I cant help remarking that the most lucky conjuncture has hap* pened to put in exécution such a project: the fort the French bave forsaken ^ is not so damaged but it may be repaired in a few days, & when made defensible 40 men would be sufficient to guard it, for it would not be in the power of the French ever to bring cannon or other stores of war to retake it, for tho' S^ John's river is navigable for Canoës almost to its head, yet it is

1. Difficulties front the situation of the inhabt^. (Note en marge de la main du Dr Brown. )

2. And ad vice folio wed (note en marge de la main du Dr Brown).

3. NeceAsity of an Ind peace to reap and save the Acad^i harvest. (Note en marge de la main du Dr Brown.)

4. Le Dr Brown met ici un point (.) après them et ajoute en interligne les mots : Besides, a c(yiiaeq'iientiaL

6. from this measure (mots ajoutes en interligne par le Dr Brown). 6. ou the river S John (mots ajoutés en interligne par le Dr Brown).

full of falls, & they can only use birch Canoës, which can be carried on men's Shoulders till they pass a fall : that the carrying place between the two rivers is ten miles over very steep mountains and impassible but on foot, and therefore they never can bring warlike Stores that way to annoy that Gamson» & a few men would be able to défend it. against any musquetry & could soon be relieved if ^ attacked from the other Post in the bay : this would be a great curb on that tribe ^ and the advantages of plenty of provisions and other supplys wili soon gain them to our interest, & this, in time, would become a trade of considérable ^ profit to this Colony.

If this were done before the Inhabitants were removed it would eut oflF ail hopes of escaping there especially to those of Ânnapolis, and from the circumstances that fort is in at présent as I am informed, one Sloop load of Picquets with some plank for Gâte * , would eflfectually repair it, <fe for the présent till barracks or two or three of the houses of the inhabitants could be sent, the Soldiers might lodge in tents with one large one or a few boards to cover their stores.

NuMBEBR OF TB00P8 The numbcr of men necessary to NECESSARY TO EFFECT rcmovc the Inhabitants, and the places THE MEAs»" ^ to post them * will dépend much on the

behavior of theFrench & it will much facilitate their readiness ^ to ^0 if a persuasion could obtain among them that they are to be removed to Canada ^ — could it be propogated by common report for 'tis natural to think they will be unwilling to quit ^heir possessions, & to offer themselves wiUingly ^ to be transported they know not whither. I apprehend such a persuasion would greatly facilitate the enterprize. If they can possibly be persuaded to surrender themselves wiUingly i^ or ^^ be apprehended by any stratagem, the others ^^ might submit wiUingly but if they prove obstinate & take to the woods, & take up arms,