[136] 



APPENDIX E. 



aOVKllNOR LAWRENCE'S PROCLAMATION OF 1758 TO INDUCE SETTLEMENT 



IN NOVA SCOTIA. 



From Haliburtons ''History of Nova Scotia" Vol. I., p. 219. 



At the same time that His Excellency convened the Legislature (in 1758), 

 he invited people from the old colonies to settle upon the lands which had 

 becx>me vacant by the removal of the Acadians. In addition to the instruc- 

 tions which he gave to the agent, in Boston, he Issued a proclamation in 

 which he declared that he was ready to receive any proposals that might be 

 made to him for settling this valuable tract of country "one hundred thous- 

 and acres of whicli had produced wheat, rye, barley, oats, hemp, flax, &c., 

 without failure for the last century ; and another one hundred thousand 

 had l>een cleared and stocked with English grass, planted with orchards and 

 embellished with gardens, the whole so Intermixed that every Individual 

 farmer might have a proportionable quantity of ploughed land, grass land 

 and wood land." In consequence of this flattering but faithful description, 

 there were several emigrations of agriculturists from New England, and 

 agents were sent to the Province to make terms with the Governor, and 

 report to their employers the encouragement likely to be given to persons 

 desirous of removing thither. 



As this proclamation was silent upon every subject, but that of the quality 

 of the land, His Excellency was required to state in explicit terms, the nature 

 of the constitution, the protection to be afforded to the civil and religious 

 liberties of the subject, and the extent of the elective franchise of the people. 

 Hf Uherefare Issued another, exrilanatory of the terms upon which the Province 

 was to be settled, which, as it contains the solejnn assurances of Govern- 

 ment upon these subjects, Is justly regarded as a most important state paper 

 and has not inaptly been styled the Charter of Nova Scotia :— 



" By His Excellency Charles Lawrence, Esq., Captain General and 

 Govemor-ln-Chlef, In and over His Majesty's Province of Nova Scotia, or 

 Acadia. In America, Vice Admiral of the same, &c., &c. 



" Wherfos, since the issuing of the proclamation dated the 12th day of 

 Oct., 1758, relative to settling the vacant lands in this Province, I have been 

 Informed by Thomas Hanoork, Esci., agent for the affa^irs of Nova Scotia 

 at Boston, that sundry applications have been made to him in consequence 

 thereof, by persons who are d»sIrous of settling the said lands, and of know- 

 ing what particular encouragement the Government will give them, whether 

 any allowance of provisions will be given at their first settlement, what 

 ■quantity of land will be given to each person, what quit-rents they are to 

 pay, what the constitution of the Government is, wlhether any, and what 

 taxes are to be paid, and whether they will be allowed the free exercise of 

 their religion ? I have therefore thought fit. with the advice of His Majesty's 

 Council, to Issue this proclamation, hereby declaring, In answer to the said 

 enquiries, that, by His Majesty's royal instructions I am empowered to make 

 grants on the following proportions : — That townships are to consist of one 

 hundred thousand acres of land, that they do include the best and most 

 profitable land, and also that they do comprehend such rivers as may be at 

 or near such settlement, and do extend as far up Into the country as con- 



