DEFEATED

quantity of Dollars in the Earth — & other matters in Wells which were afterwards found by the English -- no argument or persuasion would prevail with them to believe that Govern" DARE send them away. On the day appointed for their Embarkation, many heads of

families were missing notwithstanding the great Care to prevent any of the émprisond men from

! Judge Deschamps examined... 2900 stand of arms; too many by far. (Note de la main du Dr Brown.)

* T'have th advertisemt a new outrage. (Note de la main du Dr Brown.)

* Language of a Count tho’ poor Gray is not of that order. (Note de la main du Dr Brown.)

‘ J'am uncertain whether Admiral Boscawen was there that year or not but I think it was Admiral Boscawen who advised in Council to the measure of sending the Neutrals out of the Province & agreed to take all blame on himself. (Note du manuscrit.)

* The Oath of Neutrality Required of the French is among the Records in M’ Bulkeleys Oflice. (Note du manuscrit).

5 Mr Bulkely can furnish you with an Exact List of allthe Transports wh carried these People away and the number of Neutrals as the Returns was made to him. (Note du manuscrit.)

making their Escape — however great was the trouble and vexation which they gave the Commanding Officer yet every oflicer of the Currison ( ‘ommiserating their situation — perseverd with great Patience to collect and have family connections Embark together — but the utmost Etforts could not prevent thoir separating for after they were Embarked — seventeen of the men made their Escape in one night from on bourd of one vessel — and more or less from all the vesxels during the whole time between Émbarkinig and suiling — some of them would come on bourd again some duys after of themselves &crowd in where others had Embarked to fill up the vacancys of the deserted that it was absolutelÿ impossible to keep fumilys together, and being then late in the season that every days delay renderd it dangerous and from the cause above mentioned — Such as was taken before the Sailing of the Transports were put on board of such vessels where desertion made Vacancies for them and was the cause and the only cause why families were sepurated — or any Branch of the Families separated,

On the 29 Oct 1755 the Fleet saild from the Rendezvoux in the Bason of Mines under the Convoy OÙ ITS Majestys Ship the Nightingale Captain Diggs—the Snow Halifax Captain Taggart — the amd Sehooner Warron Captain Adams — with the Transports as follows —

Lrom whom

sn bar Lol Tons Men

{ Sloop Rang r Copt Prercy o1 182

Pret } Sloop Dolphin Capt FARNAM 87 174

| Pissiquid Échdonee Niue Capt Davis 90 180 | | Schooner Three Friend Capt CaRuiLE 69 | 158 | | | | Embarked Sloop Seafloucr Capt DONNELL 81 | 180 | | Sloop Hannah Capt Apans TO | 140 |

Mary DEXXY | 90! 181

& | Prosperous BRAGDON 75 | 150

Endeavour JN STONE S3 | 166

Canari { Industry Goopwix 86 | 172

PUDDINGTON SO | 160

(N.B. L'have made some Blunder by the loss of the Principal List of those who Embarked — but the number of Souls that Embarked on board of these Transports were 2921— how many embarked afterwards F know not).

The remainder of the Neutrals remaind untill more Transports arrived Thirty days Provisions was Ship! on board for Each Soul at the rate of 11 Beef | p week with Cabbages Turnips Potatoes &e as much as they choose to carry with apples 51b flower, | & other matters. 21h Bread

These Neutrals had awrecd among themselves that in case they should be sent away — that when they were under sail in the Bay Fundy that they were to rise on the navigators — throw them over board and carry all the Transports into the River S' John where they were to Land and defend themselves with the assistance of all the Tribes of Indians — but Providence orderd it otherways At the time of weighing anchor the wind being at East South East — soon blew à Gale of Wind —it overtook them immediately after they passed Cape Porcupine or Blowme down — both men & women became sick unable to move which together with the Darkness of the night prevented their design — and they remained sick untill they were so far in the Ocean as to be ont of their knowledge what course to steer when the Storm was over it Blew excessive hard at North West and Winter coming on, that many of the Transports were obliged to send before the wind —untill they made the Land of

England and France where some of the Transports did arrive and landed thoir passengers.

Others went to the southern parts of America & some to the Northwards,

What Instructions the masters of these Transports had in respect to Landing the Noeutruls I know not neither do L know what number were sent from Beau Bussine and Annapolis & other Parts where they wore,

LAWRENCE'S CIARACTER, !

We are extrenmly obliged to you for your favour of the 3! July last and for your assiduity ir our affairs,

We can assure you N° that we were allmost without hopes of being considered as English Subjects — the Haughty & disdainfull Behaviour of our Gov' to all Remontrances tho’ tenderd with the utmost Submission gave us much renson to think he was countenanced at Home by those whom we had all the Reason in the World heretofore to think were the Patrons and Principal Supporters of this Infant Settlement, and Especially when it was publicly declared by the Governors Creatures That those Gentlemen in Office here who had ever been Koli: itous to forward and Promote the Sottloment and who had in every Point behaved with HHonesty and Integrity Especially the Judges of the Courts of Justice & some of the Council would soon be displaced, The Only men whc have been the means of keeping the Inhabitants from deserting in a Body and Supported the Rights & Libertys of the People.

Your letter has revived the Hopes of the Inhabitants and it has been great comfort to them to find an Euglishman in England who has their anhappy State & Condition at heart and commiserates their Bondage under Oppression and Fyranny.

We are sensible of the difficulties in England & the unsettled State of the bourd of Trade wh' may retard our affairs — but we are not without hopes thro’ your Care and assiduity we shall m with success in having an Assembly our Native inherent Right soon order’ to be Establish'd here, and we cannot help expressing our Extreme Satisfaction to find that it was the Lords of Trade most carnest Intention to have an Assembly nstantly settled as we are very sure it is of all things in the world the most necessary step to strenghten and Establish this settlement and Invite Inhabitants to come & settle among us,

We cannot but express our most hearty sorrow that my good Lord Halifax has at this Critical Conjuneture resignd his Place at that board, We are all to a man perfectiy assurd of that good Lords sincere attachment to the Interest of the Colonies and look upon him truly as the father of this Colony and are fully perswaded that he will use his utmost endeavour to remove from us our oppressor and th° oppressor of all his good Purposes à Person unknown to him and recommend to my Good Lord by Persons on whom he reliel and those whom we are sure were not acquainted with his bad Heurth and mischievous Intentions One of whom is General Hopson who has had sufticient Reason to alter his Opinion, the other is Gen! Cornwallis who is too much à friend to this People if he could

British Museum. — Brown MS$, — Papers relating to Nova Scotia, 1743-1757. — Add, MS$, vol, 19072. In-40, fol, 43, No 95.

En tête de ce manuscrit se trouve la note suivante de M. A.-B,. Grosart:

‘A long letter (sixteen closely written pages) addressed to some one in England by the Colonists concerning the State of the Province ...

“This is a high-toned and most vigorous Letter: and lays bare with most withering scorn the character of Governor Lawrence... It reminds one of the complaints of the elder Puritans in the days of Charles .…

“This MS, most important.

“See N° 35, From this I apprehend the present N° 33 was addressed to Paris while in England.”

ee ee mets em eme —— +

be convinced of the Il-treatment and unjust oppressions this Tyrant has been Guilty of ever to Countenance or Support him,

These are all the Friends he has at home, for on this Side the Water ho has none either of the Inhabitants or Cent of the Army — who hold him in the utmost Contempt except those formerly mentioned to you his Agents in oppression — perhaps you will be more Suprizd to heur how this Gentleman who sometime ago was only «à Painters Apprentice in London should have advanced himself to such heights — We are obliged to confess that he has a good address, a grent deul of low cunning, is a most consumate flatterer, has Words full of the Warmest Expressions of an Upright Intention to perform much Good tho' never Intended and with much art most Solicitously Courts all Strangors whom he thinks eau be of any Service to him, by these and such Arts has he risen to be what he is and Elated with his success is outrageously bent upon the destruction of overy One that does not coneur in his measures,

And we beg leuve to make this Remark which we desire you will read at the end of Twelve Months that if he be not removed Nova Scotia will be lost to the Crown of Great Britain and the rest of the Colonies be Endanger't of sharing the same Fate which ought to be the utmost concern of every Englishmun to prevent. |

And that you may in some measure understand the [mport of this, he hus prevaild with my Lord Louden to represent home, the necessity of put£ this Colony under à Military Government, and of suspendé tho Charters and Laws of the other Colonies, the consequence of which we apprehend, will be a Struggle in the Colonies for Liberty, and a consequence too fatal to name ; and while the Contentions subsist there, the French will penetrute into this Province: indeed they have no feazible Conquest left them but this Colony at present & if this Colony be lost and the others loose their Liberties it is difficult to say what the Effect will be, but the worst is to be feurd,

We could say many things concerning the affaires in this Part of the World, which nearly concern us, but we are confident you’il hear them from better hands, for they must needs be public,

We cannot but express our most sincere acknowledgements of Grratitude and Thanks to the Right Hon'e M' Pitt, that great Patron of Liberty, for the Great Condescension he has shown, in taking notice of our affairs ; and so far as is reasonable and just, we doubt not of his Concurrence and assistance to procure us Redress,

In answer to your remarks (hat the Quorum of Sixteen is too large for the proposed number of 22 for the whole Assembly it is so in our opinion, but it was the Resolve of Council,

Our Desire of having all Placemen exeluded the Assembly was from Circunstances of the Colony under the present Governor, The Votors are allmost all dependent, the Oflicers are wholly 80, it would therefore be the Governors Assembly & not the Peoples, and Laws made according te his Pleasure and no grievance will be redressed — but if a Gov' be appointed who has the Interest of the Colony at Heart, and the welfare of the People, this would be an immaterial Point,

The reason why triennial Assemblies was proposed was intended only for the first Assembly in Order to settle the Colony under an English Assembly. Otherwise Foreigners being th° most numerous and the Time near approaching when they will be Naturalizd by a 7 years Residence the future Assemblies may be mostly foreigners, which will be Dangerous to this frontier Settlement,

As to the Article of Judges a Good Grov' will avail more for the Advancement of Justice, and then a Good Judge will be under no concern least he be displaced,

Another of the Governors Acts is to misrepresent & abuse all below him he has publickly calld his Council a Pack of Scoundrills, the Merchants a Parcel of Vilians and Bankrupts, and has represented at home the whole as a People discontented and Rebellious We have authority of his saying & declaring this from his own mouth before many Oflicers both of the Army and Navy — Is it possible S* that People can be easy under such a Gov' We dare appeal to our two former Governors for our behaviour under their Administrations and whose conduct to us was the very reverse of this

Gentlemans.

Sec. I, 1888. 10.

Beleive us S' We are not Captious. We are not that T'urbulent People we have beon represente our Interest obliges us to be otherwise we desire nothing éinconsistent with the Prerogatives of the Croun we desire none other than the Liberties Enjoyed by the other Colonies which his Majesty has graciously been pleased to promise by his Royal Proclamation,

Our distresses have arisen from the Malevolent disposition of our Gov'& his Creatures, Were they removed and a Gov'of humanity appointed and acquainted with the Constitution of English Men and an Assembly settled you would soon have the Pleasure of hearing of the increase of and success of this settlement for we are well assured 500 families would remove from the Massachusetts and settle immediately here and we know the Offer has been made to Gov' and rejected upon their requiring an Assembly to be first settled that they might have proper Laws for their Regulation & Sceurity of their Property,

As for the Evidences of Peoples leaviag the Colony for want of an Assembly those that are alrendy gone, it will take time to collect them as they are dispersed in the Colonies and tho’ an hundred Families more are upon the Point of removing they are Extreme fearfull least if they should be found out to have Given such Evidence they should b: denied passes, for you must know the Gov' obliges every master of a vessel to enter into Bond under the Penalty of fifty pounds forfeiture {or every Person they carry away without Licence first obtained under his Hand and this is imposed, without the least Shadow of” Law or Order in Council, nor ean any Inhabitant go three miles from Town without a Certiticate from a Justice of Peace so that Halifax is really a Prison to all [ntents & purposes.

As for what you mention of the Depositions not coming under the Seal of the Province We beg leave to inform you That it has never been allow'd to be tix'd to any Papers bat their own instead whereof the Gov' fixes his Private Seal and must sce all the Evidences or his Secretary therefore to Such kind of Evidence it would be impossible to procure that and for want of the Province Seal many have suffered in their Law Suits in the neighbouring Colonies or obliged to be at tho Expence of sending Witnesses where their Suits have been depending which are some among the many Rights we are debard of,

But we hope before this Time many Complaints have reached the Ear of the minister and that it will shortly evidently appear ifitis not already manifest That whilst this Gov' has the least influence in American Affairs so longuill ruin and confusion attend then and this Truth General Shirley at Home & Lord Charles Hay when he comes Home will as We are inform’d make Evident to Demonstration for it is generally believed that what ever Specious Crime may be alleged against Lord Charles Hay his Continement was solely owing to the Governors insinuations to my Lord L.. d..n upon à private disgust to that Lord for Examining too freely into the Expences of Batteries de and speaking to Contemptibly of what had been done for the mighty sums Expended in Nova Scotia,

We had not touchd upon ‘those inatters but as we think Providence more immediately seems to concern itself in discovering the Villianous Arts of the Authors of our Calamities and hope will direct its measures in pouring Vengeance on the man whose sole aim seems to have been to blast the good Intentions ef his Country and to make all Subordinate to him miserable,

[tis with pleasure we hear that the Acet® of Nova Scotia will be strictly enquired into as we are very sure if they were sifted to the Bottom it will be found That not less than ten thousand Pounds, of Rum, Molasses (of which there was not less than 30,000 Gallons which alone was worth 3,000) Beef Pork &e of Provisions and much merchandize for the Supply of the Indians & french Pnhab® were taken in Beau Sejour neither distributed as a Reward to the Captors nor accounted for except some small Quantity of Beef & Pork sold to the Commissary M! Saul on M' Bakers Supply which was extreme bad & decay'd and certifs"d by the Gov' for Provisions sent by Gov' Shirley.

That the Transports were kept near three months after the French Neutrals were ready for

Embarkation at an immense Expence and the New Engl! Troops kept 6 months after the service wis

over for two special Reasons to oblige them to enlist into the Regulars and to defeat General Shirley in raising a sufficient number of Troops necessary for the Sammers Campaign by which means Oswego was lost and the Expedition to Crown Point was rendered abortive We appeal to Gen! Shirley for the Truth of this,

That the Cattle &e of the french Inhabitants were converted to private uses of which we know 3,600 Hogs & neur 1,000 Head of Cattle was killd & packt at Pisgate only & sent by water to other Places & what at other Forts is yet a secret All unaccounted for to the Amount of a very large sum & ho & his Commissary are now under Great perplexity & contriving to cover this iniquitous Fraud,

That £30,000 has been laid out on Batteries not worth 30 pence for the Defence of this Place in the Judgment of every Person acquainted therewith,

It is possible he may produce Vouchers to Cover all his Frauds for if the true ones should fall short he has those under him who have been used to such kind of work & ean readily supply the deficieney but if a Governor was sent out with Orders to inquire into these or at least to take Depositions we are very sure the whole will bo Clearly made to appear.

ExrRACtS FROM À Desraron ro JuDbDGE BELCITER ON HIS APPOINTMENT TO THE PRESIDENCY OF THE Counciz o6 Nova SCOTIA DATED WUITEHALL Marc 31 1761. !

(Signed) Donk. Hartrax W. G. HamicroN W. SLOPER

# [thas been represented to Us that Gov' Bawrence had encouraged & protected the disorderly part of the military under his Govf, in several outrages on the property, persons, and even the lives of the inhabitants; Sometimes by assuming illegal powers; and at others by abusing those which were lawfully vested in him for better purposes; by frequently interrupting the free course of Justice, in discharging while under prosecution, and in enlarging after convietion, soldiers and oflicers guilty of destroying tences, violent assaults, & many other far greater enormities.”.….

“Several very heavy Charges have likewise been made against Gov! Lawrence with respect to the Contracts which were entred into both on account of the Provisions distributed to the Weak Settie ments ofthe Colony, and the Vessels which have so long been kept upon the establishment, for the service of the Province,

Exrracr From DR Brown's MS. RELATING T0 LAWRENCE’S ABUSES, *

“With New England malice — this exelam" follows,

“low wicked must those men be, who thus dect their country & by that means expose his Majesty's Colony & subj® to the weakest efforts of Louisbourg or Canada, Such persons no doubt would be glad to see this important Colony annexed to the Crown of France that they might never be called to acet for their Abuse of the trust reposed in them & their misapplication of the Nations

money.”

U British Museum. — Add, MSS,, vol, 19073, fol, TL. British Muscum. — Papers of Dr. Andrew Brown designed for a History of Nova Scotia. — Add, MSS,, vol,

19075, fol, S9,