FROM

NOVA-SGOTIA

Le capitaine W. Moorsom a publié à Londres, en 1830, des Lettres fort intéressantes sur la Nouvelle- Ecosse (Acadie).

Il parle des Acadiens à peu près dans les mêmes termes que Diéreville, Raynal, Garneau, Rameau, Guizot, etc.

A la page 256 de son ouvrage, il dit :

" The settlement of Clare, of which the Roman Gatholic chapel is the nucleus^ extends for about thirty miles along the shores of Saint Mary's Bay. The population is almost entirely Acadian-French, and deserves particular mention not only from its origin, but for the district and peculiarlyinteresting features it displays. The number of familles comprising the pastor's immédiate flock is about three hundred and thirty, giving a total of nearly two thousand five hundred soûls ; about thirty familles also réside in the township of Digby ; andatTusket below the town of Yarmouth, are nearly two hundred familles more ; the whole beingincluded in the

cure of L'Abbé Segoigne. Perhaps itis to sojourn in the out-quarters of Ireland that I owe, in common with many others, the uncharitable feeling which leads us to associate a Roman Gatholic priest with imaginaryphantoms of dark-sconlingmortals wrapt in bigotry and black garments, or intent on the means of retaining in slavish ignorance, and moulding into a handle of political anarchy, the quick perceptions and high-wrought passions of a warmhearted peasantry, How pnre, how redeeming an architype in the reverse of this image is the worthy Curé of Montaignan ! Born and educated in France, M. Segoigne emigrated from that country, when revolutionary suspicion threatened the lives of ail whose virtues were inimical to the views of the ruhng democrats, and for the last thirty years has devoted his attention exclusively to the welfare of thèse children of Acadia. Buried in this retreat from ail the thoughts and habits of the polish world, he yet retains the urbanity of the old french school ; or rather, I apprehend, posesses that excellence of disposition, which gives to urbanity its intrinsic value, He is at once the priest, the lawyer, and the judge of his people, he has seen most of them rise up to manhood around him, or accompany his own décline in the vale of years : the unvarying steadiness of his conduct has gained equally their affection and respect : to him, therefore, it is that the apply in their mutual difïicuUies from him they look for

jndgment to décide their little matters of dispute. Eleven years ago, a case between two Acadians belonging to this settlement, came off for trial before the Suprême Court. From some informality, the cause was nonsuited : it was nol again brought forward; and since that time thereis no instance of a lawsuit from Montaigan appearing on the records of the judicial circuit

Their community is in some respects like that of a large family. Should one of their members be left a widow, without any immédiate protector or means of support, her neighbours unité their labours in tilling her land, securing the crops, and cuttingher winter-fuel. Instances of a second marriage are rare among them. Children who may become orphans, are always taken into the familles of their relations or friends, who make no distinction between thenî and their own offspring."