Nova Scotia Archives

Acadian Heartland

Records of the Deportation and Le Grand Dérangement, 1714-1768


330  NOVA SCOTIA DOCUMENTS.


      Altho' I can't help thinking that these People might have been kept in proper subjection while the Troops remained in Nova Scotia, yet I must own I am glad you have taken the measures for removing them, as they might have become troublesome when the Province was drained of the forces which I have been obliged to employ on a very essential service: I doubt not but you have wrote to Governor Bernard concerning them, but I shall by the return of the Express, desire he be pleased to dispose of the Acadians in such a manner as he judges best, in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, where they must remain for the present, taking care to seperate them as much as possible, to prevent their doing any mischief, as well as Returning to their Old Habitations.

      I could have wished that those who inhabited the back parts of the Province, had been sent to Canada, agreeable to Govr. Murrays request, by which means you would not only have saved the expense of bringing them down the country at this time, but have been eased of any dread from that quarter.

      I am persuaded that neither the Accadians, Canadians or Indians, had any knowledge of the intentions of the Enemy who have been landed at Newfoundland: how far their success at St. John's might have tempted them to establish a Correspondence with the neighbouring Indians & Accadians is uncertain: but I flatter myself they will be effectually provented from carrying any plan of that kind into execution, by the arrival of the ships under Lord Colvill, and the Troops under Lt. Colonel Amherst. *   *   *   *   *

      The protection of the valuable Colony of Nova Scotia certainly cannot be too much attended to, but at this time when we know where the Enemys Force is, and that it is absolutely necessary to have them dislodged before the Winter sets in. I think if any single man of war arrives at Halifax and that you have no certain advice of Lord Covills being superior to the French Fleet the Captain should be ordered immediately to Joyn His Lordship: From the steps that have been taken to send advice to Sir George Peacocke and Admiral Rodney as well as to England of the enemys being at Newfoundland, I am persuaded We shall soon have ships sufficient not only for the protection of the Northern settlements, but for that of the Coast in General.

      I enclose a letter for My Lord Colvill, with one for Lt. Colonel Amherst, which require no particular dispatch; but as I imagine there may be opportunitys from Halifax of for-



Selections NSHS II ~ Brown NSHS III ~ Winslow NSHS IV ~ Winslow
               

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