74 L'ABBÉ H.-E. CASGRAIN 



Beleive us S' We are not Captious. We are not that Turbulent People wo have been i-epresented 

 our Interest obliges us to be otherwise we desire nothing inconsistent with the Prerogatives of the 

 Crown we desire none other than the Liberties Enjoyed by the other Colonies which liis Majesty has 

 graciously been pleased to promise by his Eoyal Proclamation. 



Our distresses have arisen from the Malevolent disposition of our Gov' & his Creatures. Were 

 they removed and a Gov' of humanity appointed and acquainted with the Constitution of English 

 Men and an Assembly settled you would soon have the Pleasure of hearing of the increase of and 

 success of this settlement for wo are well assured 500 families would remove from the Massachusetts 

 and settle immediately here and we know the Offer has been made to Gov' and rejected upon their 

 requiring an Assembly to be first settled that they might have proper Laws for their Regulation & 

 Security of their Property. 



As for the Evidences of Peoples leaving the Colony for want of an Assembly those that are 

 already gone, it will take time to collect them as they are dispersed in the Colonies and tho' an 

 hundred Families more are upon the Point of removing thoy are Extreme fearfuU least if they should 

 be found out to have Given such Evidence they should b denied passes, for you must know the 

 Gov' obliges every master of a vessel to enter into Bond under the Penalty of fifty pounds forfeiture 

 for every Person they carry away without Licence first obtained under his Hand and this is imposed, 

 without the least Shadow of Law or Order in Council, nor can any Inhabitant go three miles from 

 Town without a Certificate from a Justice of Peace so that Halifax is really a Prison to all Intents & 

 purposes. 



As for what you mention of the Depositions not coming under the Seal of the Province We beg 

 leave to inform you That it has never been allow'd to be fix'd to any Papers but their own instead 

 whereof the Gov' fixes his Private Seal and must see all the Evidences or his Secretary therefore to 

 Such kind of Evidence it would be impossible to procure that and for want of the Province Seal 

 many have suffered in their Law Suits in the neighbouring Colonies or obliged to be at tho Expence 

 of sending Witnesses where their Suits have been depending which are some among the many Rights 

 we are debard of. 



But we hope before this Time many Complaints have reached the Ear of the minister and that 

 it will shortly evidently appear if it is not already manifest That whilst this Gov' has the least 

 influence in American Affairs so long will ruin and confusion attend fJic/n and this Truth General Shirley 

 at Home & Lord Charles Hay when he comes Home will as Wo are inform'd make Evident to 

 Demonstration for it is generally believed that what ever Specious Crime may be alleged against 

 Lord Charles Hay his Confinement was solely owing to the Governors insinuations to my Lord L. . 

 d. .n upon a private disgust to that Lord for Examining too freely into the Expences of Batteries 

 &c and sjjeaking to Contemptibly of what had been done for the mighty sums Expended in Nova 

 Scotia. 



We had not touchd upon those matters but as we think Piovidence more immediately seems to 

 concern itself in discovering the Yillianous Arts of the Authors of our Calamities and hope will direct 

 its measures in jiouring Vengeance on the man whose sole aim seems to have been to blast the good 

 Intentions of his Country and to make all Subordinate to him miserable. 



It is with pleasure we hear that the Acct' of Nova Scotia will be strictly enquired into as we 

 are very sure if they were sifted to the Bottom it will be found That not less than ten thousand 

 Pounds, of Rum, Molasses (of which there was not less than 30,000 Gallons which alone was worth 

 £3,000) Beef Pork &c of Provisions and much merchandize for the Supply of the Indians & french 

 Inhab" were taken in Beau Séjour neither distributed as a Reward to the Captors nor accounted for 

 except some small Quantity of Beef & Pork sold to the Commissary M' Saul on M' Bakers Supply 

 which was extreme bad & decay'd and certify'd by the Gov' for Provisions sent by Gov' Shirley. 



That the Transports were kejJt near three months after the French Neutrals were ready for 

 Embarkation at an immense Expence and the New Engl* Troops kept 6 months after the service was 



