74 J. G. BOURINOT ON 
upon the contest for supremacy in the new world. Port Royal again rose from its ashes, 
but its history thenceforth affords few episodes of interest except sieges ; for a L’Escarbot 
never again lived within its walls, to enliven its inmates and hand down to future times 
the story of its adventurous career. The fleur-de-lis or the red cross floated from the fort 
according as the French or the English were the victors in the long struggle that ensued 
for the possession of Acadia. In 1710 the English Colonies, which had suffered much 
from the depredations of the French, sent an expedition against Port Royal, under the com- 
mand of Francis Nicholson, who had been governor of several of the provinces. The 
French governor, M. Subercase, endeavoured to defend the fort, but his garrison was in a 
very pitiable condition, and unable to oppose successfully the attacks of the besiegers for 
any length of time ; consequently he capitulated towards the latter part of October. 
The fort had been considerably strengthened, and was on a much larger scale than 
the one erected by de Pontrincourt, but, nevertheless, Port Royal was only an insignificant 
fort compared with Quebee or Louisburg. Considerable settlements, during the past 
century, had grown up in the vicinity of the fort, and throughout the rich country watered 
by the streams that flow into the Bay of Fundy. The details of the surrender prove the 
neglect with which the French government treated Port Royal in common with all other 
posts in America. Not only was the fort in a dilapidated state, but the garrison, 250 
men, were délabrés, all in rags and tatters, and emaciated from hunger. 
From that day Port Royal remained in possession of the English and Acadia may be 
said to have passed away for ever from the French, who had so long gallantly struggled 
to retain it. The name of Port Royal was changed to that of Annapolis, in honour of the 
Queen of England. For many years it was the seat of the government of Nova Scotia, 
until Halifax was founded, towards the middle of the eighteenth century. Then the oldest 
excepting, of course, St. Augustine—was consigned to obscurity, and 

town in America 
was only remembered by the historical antiquary. It is needless to say the people of Anna- 
polis are proud of two facts—that they have an historical past, and that General Williams, of 
Kars, was born within their quiet precincts. Railways now run into the town, but still 
the verdure of antiquity clings to the place, and the old folks will rather take you to some 
relics of the past than talk of the locomotive which snorts and puffs as if in derision of old 
times. Relics of the French occupation have more than once been dug up by the plough 
during the past quarter of a century in the vicinity of the town. The “ Old Mortality ” of 
the settlement will tell you of a large stone, marked in deep rude Arabic figures 1604, and 
also showing masonic emblems roughly chiselled. Like other interesting memorials 
picked up in Nova Scotia, this stone disappeared and its whereabouts are not now known. 
None of the old French buildings remain standing in Annapolis, but we can still see the 
evidences of French occupation in the ruins of the fort, which was long occupied as a 
barrack for the British troops. The tourist who has antiquarian tastes and is a true lover 
of nature will find himself well rewarded by atrip from Windsor through the fertile 
valleys of Kings and Annapolis. Here he will see gardens, and meadows and orchards 
not surpassed in the Niagara district or the most fertile portion of Ontario. Here is the 
country first reclaimed from the sea by the old Acadian farmers, and yielding a most pro- 
ductive crop from year to year. In the township of Clare, and other parts of the western 
counties, we meet with the descendants of the Acadians, a sleepy, thrifty and religious 
people, clinging obstinately to old customs, but nevertheless rapidly merging with the 
