LETTER FROM GOVERNOUR SHIRLEY TO MR DE BEAUHARNOIS

Baston, March, 18th, 1746.

Sir,

This will be delivered to you by Captain Lagrois whom I have released from being a prisoner of war, and have at his desire permitted to go to Annapolis Royale that he may gain his passage to Quebec trough Accadie, in case there should be an opportunity for his doing it.

I must upon this occasion express my concern at hearing from some New England officers lately returned from Annapolis, that they were informed by some Canadian officers at Minas, soon after the late action there between the party under the command of Captain Coulon and that under the late Lieut. Col. Nobles, that you done me the honour to send me several letters, with proposals for setting a cartel for the general exchange of prisoners between us, none of which (permit me to assure you) ever came to 1:y hands, nor any other letters from you, except one which I had the honour to receive tro’ the late Mr. Duquesnel's hands, in anser tv mine, which I sent you tro’ the same channel, an other sent me since the taking of Louisbourg, wherein you inclos'd two lists one of englis prisonners then with you at Quebec, and another of french prisonners supposed to be with me at Baston, but as I happened to be at Louisbourg when your letters arrived at Baston, and I dit not arrive from Cape Breton till about the middle of December, I utterly lost the opportunity of sending an immediate answer ; but notwithstanding that, I made preparations for exchanging prisoners early in the spring, according to proposal of your letter, when some orders which I received from England occasioned me to put a stop to my proceedings for sending the french prisoners to Canada, as I designed, and took away from me all opportunity of acknowledging my vreceipt of the honour of your last letter which I hope you will be so good as to impute wholly to the circamstances of the King my master’s service and

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not to the least diminution of that perfect regard, which I have long had and still retain for you.

I observe, Sir, that Cant. Lagrois was one of the french prisoners whom you distinguished by a particular notice taken of him in your letter and am sory that he had drawn Mr. Warren’s and mÿ resentment upon him by braking his parol of honour (upon which he was before not only permitted to go at large at Louisbourg but was entertained with all possible civility), By endeavouring to make his escape clandestinely to Canada, which he was so near effecting that he was taken by the party which I sent after him, I think, on board the vessel itself in which he was going off from the back part of the island ; however as Mr. Warren and I afterwards imputed this facture to a natural tho’ too eager desire of returning to his famely, and we fond he was distinguished by your regard, we have both of us shown him marks of our favour at Baston, and of our compassionateing his case ; and I have given particular orders for his being well accomodated during his passage to Annapolis Royale and recommended the same regard for him to Lieut. Governour Mascarene.

I am further to acquaint you, Sir, that since the surrender of Louisbourg, I have sent to France besides the prisoners by capitulation, which it was agreed should be transported thitther with their effects at His Majesty’s expense upwards of three hundred prisoners of war, which belonged to the Virilent lately under the command of the Marquiss de Rew during the siege of Louisbourg, which where not included in the capitulation, among whom most of the Canadeans mentioned in the enclosed list (and which were all that I can learn were brought in here) went to France contrary to my orders, as I had reserved them to be sent to Canada, and some few of him are, I believe scattered in the county by their own choice (instead of being maintained in gaol) which has been indulg’d to all the french prisoners here who desired it. I must add to these about forty french seamen, which I sent to Mr. Duquesnel before the siege of Louisbourg upon his earnest request, and promise to return me a like number of English Sailors, which happened to be brought into the harbour of Louisbourg just before he wrote his letter, but which he after made use of to man the french ships of war, which was to convoy some orsouth sea merchant ships to France, I must not omit likewise to mention

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that very soon after the rupture between the king my master and His most Christian Majesty very near a thousand french prisoners as I am informed by Capt Rouse, taken by himselfand another of His Majesty's ships of war from among the french fishing settlements on the cost of Newfoundland, were sent to France an (sic) Louisbourg by thein, for all which prisoners of war (nul) and those before mentioned {all this to show you, Sir, that] to be sent by myself to France. I dont know that any english prisoners were released in exchange, I will not indeed take upon me to say that none have been, tho’ I beleive few or none have. I have mentioned all this to show you, Sir, that if you was to release the Euglish prisoners now with you, and as I hear in goal, to the number of about 300, there will yet have been a much greater of french prisoners of war (taken in America) released by myself besides those released by the two commanders of His Majesty’s ships, whom I have before named, that will have been by yourself, and the late Mr. Duquesnel which I flatter myself will have its due weight with you, when I propose it as the fondation of a cartel between us for a general release of prisoners now taken or hereafter to be taken on both sides, tho’ I have not at present any number of french prisoners which I can pretend to propose in exchange for what you have at Quebec.

I persuade myself, Sir, that you will think with me that the calamities of war should be lightened by both of us as far as is consistent with our duty to our respective masters and the interests of their dominions ; and that this is fit to be done particularly with regard to traders and mariners, who have the misfortune to be taken prisoners, as they are following their business upon the sea without taking part in the war, and from whose distress and the ruin of their famelies, the Prince whose captives they are can reap no advantage against the power with whom it is at war.

If these should be your sentiments, and you think proper to release the New England prisoners now in Canada and which hereafter may be brought in there, you may depend upon my sending you all the french prisoners belonging to Canada, which shal happen to be brought intc New England during the course of the war, and I will undertake to pay the charge of bringing the prisoners belonging to this province from Canada hither, provided you will bear the charge of carying your prisoners from hence to Canada, and has to the governours af the other colonies in New

England I doubt not but they will be willing to conform to the same condition, and I shall write to them without delay upon this matter,

At the Marquiss de Maisonfort's request [ sent him with one or two of his officers, whom he chose to attend him, by the first opportunity after he was taken in one of the King’s ships to England, and at the desire of Mr. de la Boulanderie, who was made prisoner of war upon the first landing of His Majesty’s troops on Cape Breton, and who informed me that Mr. Bigot late intendant there sent him a letter during nu. siege of Louisbourg, wherein he assured him that he would procure 100 prisoners to be given in exchange for him, if Lieut. General Pepperell would return him into the town. I released him and sent him to France without any terms or conditions, after getting him accomodated with what things he wanted for his passage, I have nothing further to add but that I have this day caused a notification to be published for all french prisoners in this province who are desirous of going to Canada, to come to Boston fur that purpose and that I shall send as many of them as shall appear or I can hear of, to you by way of your fort St Frederick at crown point or by sea in a flag of truce as Soon as Ï conveniently can.

I have the honor to be with all possible regard your most, etc. Signed :

William SHIRLEY.

P.S—Your representation made to me from several parts of our frontiers I must not omit this opportunily of remonstrating to you against the inhumain methods of carrying out the war on your sice by the Indians you employ in it, who not only surprise our people (even our women and children) in their houses and beds kill’em whilst living and mangle their bodies when dead. Ican but hope this merderous practice must be abhorred by all Christian Princes and their sub'ects and that you will discountenance it effectually in your Indians. I shall be obliged to you if you will be so good as to release and send by the first opportunity the three following prisoners which Thear are now in Canada ; John Boydell a youth of about nineteen years of age taken in a vessel comming from Louisbourg, by oùe of the late Duc d'Anville’s Squadron ; ensighn Joseph Lawrence an officer in a regiment of foot under by command, taken by a vessel of the same Squadron, as he was open his passage to Louisbourg ; and one Sote (those Christian name I dont know) late master of à small vessel taken in the... ss... Of Annapolis harbour by Mons. Laronde about two years and à half or three years ago.

Fam as before,