=Source.=--A letter sent by Charles Lawrence, Lieut.-Governor of
Nova Scotia, to the Governors of the Colonies to which the Acadians
were removed: printed in Thomas C. Haliburton's _Historical and
Statistical Account of Nova Scotia_. Halifax, 1829.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, 11th Aug., 1755.
Sir,
The success that has attended his Majesty's arms in driving the
French out from the encroachments they had made in the Province,
furnished me with a favourable opportunity of reducing the
French inhabitants of this colony to a proper obedience to his
Majesty's Government, or of forcing them to quit the country. These
inhabitants were permitted in quiet possession of their lands,
upon condition they should take the oath of allegiance to the King
within one year after the treaty of Utrecht, by which this Province
was ceded to Great Britain; with this condition they have ever
refused to comply without having from the Governor an assurance in
writing that they should not be called upon to bear arms in the
defence of the Province; and with this General Philips did comply,
of which steps his Majesty has disapproved, and the inhabitants
therefrom pretending to be in a state of neutrality between his
Majesty and his enemies, have continually furnished the French and
Indians with intelligence, quarters, provisions and assistance in
annoying the Government; and while one part have abetted the French
encroachments by their treachery, the other have countenanced them
by open rebellion; and three hundred of them were actually found in
arms in the French fort at Beauséjour when it surrendered.
Notwithstanding all their former bad behaviour, as his Majesty was
pleased to allow me to extend still further his royal grace to such
as would return to their duty, I offered such of them as had not
been openly in arms against us a continuance of the possession of
their lands, if they would take the oath of allegiance unqualified
with any reservation whatever. But this they have audaciously
as well as unanimously refused; and if they would presume to do
this when there was a large fleet of ships of war in the harbour
and considerable land forces in the Province, what might not we
expect from them when the approaching winter deprives us of the
former, and when the troops, which are only hired from New England
occasionally and for a short time, have returned home?
As by this behaviour the inhabitants have forfeited all title to
their lands and any further favour from the Government, I called
together his Majesty's Council, at which the Hon. Vice-Admiral
Boscawen and Rear-Admiral Mostyn assisted, to consider by what
means we could with the greatest security and effect rid ourselves
of a set of people who would for ever have been an obstruction to
the intention of settling this colony, and that it was now from
their refusal of the oath absolutely incumbent to remove.
As their numbers amount to near seven thousand persons, the
driving them off, with leave to go whithersoever they pleased,
would have doubtless strengthened Canada with so considerable a
number of French inhabitants; and, as they have no cleared lands
to give them at present, such as are able to bear arms must have
been immediately employed in annoying this and the neighbouring
Colonies. To prevent such an inconveniency, it was judged a
necessary and the only practicable measure, to divide them among
the Colonies, where they may be of some use, as most of them are
healthy strong people, and as they cannot easily collect themselves
together again, it will be out of their power to do any mischief,
and they may become profitable, and it is possible in time faithful
subjects.
As this step was indispensably necessary to the security of
the colony, upon whose preservation from French encroachments
the prosperity of North America is esteemed in a great measure
dependent, I have not the least reason to doubt of your
Excellency's concurrence, and that you will receive the inhabitants
I now send, and dispose of them in such a manner as may best answer
in preventing their re-union....