L'EXPULSION DES ACADIENS

.… Cette guerre n’étoit pas encore terminée (contre les Indiens Mikmaks, au moment de la fondation d'Halifax), lorsqu'on s’aperçut (les Anglais) de l'agitation parmi les François neutres. Ces hommes simples et libres avoient déjà senti qu'on ne pouvoit s’occuper sérieusement des contrées qu’ils habitoient, sans qu'ils y perdissent leur indépendance A cette crainte, se joignit celle de voir leur religion en péril. Des pasteurs échauffés par leur propre enthousiasme, ou par les insinuations des administrateurs du Canada, leur persuadèrent tout ce qu'ils voulurent

contre les Anglois, qu'ils appeloient hérétiques, Ce mot qui fut toujours si puissant pour faire entrer la haine dans les âmes séduites, détermina la plus heureuse peuplade de l'Amérique à quitter ses habitations, pour se transplanter dans la Nouvelle- France, où on lui offroit des terres. La plupart exécutèrent cette résolution du moment, sans prendre aucune précaution pour l'avenir. Le reste se disposoit à les suivre, quand il auroit pris ses sûretés. Le gouvernement Anglois, soit humeur ou politique, voulut prévenir cette désertion, par une sorte de trahison, ‘toujours lâche et cruelle dans ceux à qui l'autorité donne les moyens de la douceur et dela modération. Les François neutres, qui n’étoient pas encore partis, furent rassemblés, sous prétexte de renouveller le serment qu'ils avoient fait autrefois au nouveau maître de l’Acadie. Dès qu’on les eut réunis, on les embarqua sur des navires, qui les transportèrent dans d’autres colonies Angloises, où le plus grand nombre périt de chagrin encore plus que de misère.

Tel est le fruit des jalousies nationales, de cette cupidité des gouvernements qui dévore les terres et les hommes... Les François ont livré la Louisiane aux Espagnols, de peur qu'elle ne tombât aux mains des Anglois. L'Angleterre fit périr les François neutres de l'Acadie, pour qu'ils ne retournassent pas à la France. Et l’on dit ensuite que la police et la société sont faites pour le bonheur de l’homme ! Oui, de l’homme puissant ; oui, de l’homme méchant.

B. — Extraits do Thomas Ghandler Haliburton : An Historical and Statistical account of Nova Scotia (2 vol., Halifax, 1829), vol. I.

Haliburton commence par traduire ou à peu près le passage de l'abbé Raynal que nous venons de citer :

Hunting and fishing, which had formerly been the delight of the Colony, and might have still supplied it with subsistence, had no further attraction for a simple and quiet people, and gave way to agriculture, which had been established in the marshes and low lands, by repelling with dikes the sea and rivers which covered these plains. These grounds yielded fifty for one at first, and afterwards fifteen or twenty for one at least ; wheat and oats succeeded best in them, but they likewise produced rye, barley and maize. There were also potatoes in great plenty, the use of which was become common. At the same time these immense meadows were covered with numerous flocks. They computed as many as sixty thousand head of horned cattle ; and most fami-

lies had several horses, though the tillage was carried on by oxen. Their habitations, which were constructed of wood, were extremely convenient, and furnished as neatly as substantial farmer’s houses of Europe. They reared a great deal of poultry .ofall kinds, which made a variety in their food, at once wholesome and plentiful. Their ordinary drink was beer and cyder, to which they sometimes added rum. Their clothing was in general the produce of their own flax, or the fleeces of their own sheep:; with these they made common linens and coarse cloths. If any of them had a desire for articles of greater luxury, they procured them from Annapolis or Louisburg, and gave in exchange corn, cattle or furs The neutral French had nothing else to give their neighbours, and made still fewer exchanges among themselves ; because each separate family was able, and had ben accustomed, to provide for its own wants. They therefore knew nothing ot paper currency, which was so common throughout the rest of North America. Even the small quantity of gold and silver which had been introduced into the Colony, did not inspire that activity in which consists its real value. Their manners were of course extremely simple. There was seldom a cause, either civil or criminal, of importance enough to be carried before the Court of Judication established at Annapolis. Whatever little differences arose from time to time among them were amicably adjusted by their elders. All their public acts were drawn by their Pastors, who had likewise the keeping of their Wills ; for which, and their religious services, the inabitants paid a twentyseventh part of their harvest, which was always sufficient to afford more means than there were objects of generosity.

Real misery was wholly unknown, and benevolence anticipated the demands of poverty. Every misfortune was relieved as it were before it could be felt, without ostentation on the one hand, and without meanness on the other. It was, in short,a society of brethren ; every individual of which was equally ready to give, and to receive, what he thought the common right of mankind. So perfect a harmony naturally prevented all those connexions of gallantry which are so often fatal to the peace of families. This evil was prevented by early marriages, for no one passed his youth in a state of celibacy. As soon as a young man arrived to the proper age, the community built him a house, brokeup the lands about it, and supplied him with all the necessaries of life for a twelve-month. There he received the partner whom he had chosen, and who brought him her portion in flocks. This new family grew and prospered like the others. In 1755, all together made a population of eighteen thousand souls. Such is the picture

of these people, as drawn by the Abbe Raynal. By many, ït is thought to represent a state of social happiness, totally inconsistent with the frailties and passions of human nature; and thatitis worthy rather of the poet thanthe historian. In describing a scene of rural felicity like this, it is not improbable that his narrative has partaken of the warmth of feeling for which he was remarkable : but it comes much nearer the truth than is generally imagined. Tradition is fresh and positive in the various parts of the United States, where they were located, respecting their guileless, peaceable, and scrupulous character ; and endearing local attachment induced them to return to the land of their nativity, where they still deserve the name of a mild, frugal, and pious people. The allegations against them collectively, and which were undoubtedly just against many of them as individuals, werethese : that, being permitted to hold their lands after the treaty of Utrecht, by which the Province was ceded to Great Britain, upon condition of their taking the oath of allegiance, they refused to comply, except with the qualification that they should not be compelled to bear arms in defence of the Province ; which qualification, though acceded to by General Philipps, was disapproved of by the King. That, from this circumstance, they affected the character of Neutrals ; yet furnished the French and Indians with intelligence, quarter, provisions and assistance, in annoying the Government of the Province ; and that three hundred of them were actually found in arms at the taking of Fort Beau-Sejour. That, notwithstanding an offer was made to such of them as had been openly in arms, to be allowed to continue in possession of their land, if they would take the oath of alle-… giance without any qualification, they unanimously refused. A scrupulous sense of the indissoluble nature of their ancient obligation to their King, was a great cause of their misfortunes. To this we may aëd an unalterable attachment to their religion, a distrust of the right of the English to the territory which they inhabited, and the indemnity promised them at the surrender of Fort Beau-Sejour. Notwithstanding which, there could be no apology for such of them, as, after they had obtained the advantages of neutrality, violated the conditions on which they were granted, and without which, from the nature of the case, there was no just foundation to expect they would be continued. It was finally determined, at this consultation, to remove and disperse this whole people among the British Colonies, where they could not unite in any offensive measures, and where they might be: naturalized to the Government and Country.

The execution of this unusual and general sentence, was allot-

ted chiefly to the New-England Forces, the Comtmander of which, from the humanity and firmness of his character, was well qualified to carry it into effect. It was, without doubt, as he himself declared, disagreeable to his natural make and temper ; and his principles of implicit obedience as a soldier were pat to a severe test by this ungrateful kind ofduty; which required an ungenerous, cunning, and subtle severity, calculated to render the Acadians subservient to the English interests to the latest hour. They were kept entirely ignorant of their destiny, until the moment oftheir captivity, and were overawed, ors“allured, to labour at the gathering in of their harvest, which was secretly alloted to the use of their conquerors.

The orders from Lieutenant-Governor Lawrence to Captain Murray, who was first on the station, with a plagiarism of the language, without the spirit of Scripture, directed that if these people behaved amiss, they should be punished at his discretion, and ifany attempts were made to destroy or molest the troops, he should take and eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, and in short life for life, from the nearest neighbour where the mischief should be performed. To hunt these people into captivity was a measure as impracticable as cruel ; and as it was not to be supposed they would voluntarily surrender themselves as prisoners, their subjugation became a matter of great difficulty. At a consultation, held between Colonel Winslow and Captain Murray, it was agreed that a proclamation should be issued at the different settlements, requiring the attendance of the people, at the respectivé posts on the same day ; which proclamation should be so ambiguous in its nature. that the object for which they were to assemble could not be discerned ; and so peremptory in its terms, as to ensure implicit obedience. This instrument having been drafted and approved, was distributed according to the original plan. That which was addressed to the people inhabiting the Country, was as follows :

« To the inhabitants of the District of Grand Pre, Minas, River Canard, etc. ; as well ancient, as young men and lads :

« Whereas, his Excellency the Governor, has instructed us of his late resolution, respecting the matter proposed to the inhabitants, and has ordered us to communicate the same in person, his Excellency, being desirous that each of them should be fully satisfied of his Majesty’s intentions, which he has also ordered us to communicate to you. such as they have been given to him ; We therefore order and strictly enjoin, by these presents, all of the inhabitants, as well of the above named District, as ofall the other Districts, both old men and young men, as

well as all the lads of ten years of age, to attend at the Church at Grand Pre, on Friday, the fifth instant, at three of the clock in the afternoon, that we may impart to them what we are ordered to communicate to them ; declaring that no excuse will be admitted on any pretence whatever, on pain of forfeiting goods and chattels, in default of real estate.

Given at Grand Pre, 2nd September, 1755, and 29th year of his Majesty’'s Reign.

JoHN WINsLow. :

In obedience to this summons, four hundred and eighteen able bodied men assembled. These being shut into the Church (for that too had become an arsenal), Colonel Winslow placed himself, with his officiers, in the centre, and addressed them this :