94 EliV. GEOEGE PATTEESON ON 



La Tour leaviug Port Royal established himself at Fort Louis, afterward Fort La Tour, 

 where we fiud him soon after. 



In consequence of the success of Kirk several English adventurers were led to seek 

 a share in the profits of the trade of the new colony. In a letter from Mr. William 

 Maxwell of Edinburgh dated 23rd November, 1628, we have a reference to this, with 

 some particulars of the expedition. 



" It is for certaintie that Sir William Alexander is come againe from Nova Scotia, 

 and heath left behind him *70 men and tua weemen, with proA'isioun to serve tham be 

 the space of ane yeir, being placet in a pairt of the countrie quhilk is a naturall strenthe, 

 to gilhir withe some caunoun, muskett, pouder, and bullet, in caice of some suddeut 

 iuvasioun, together withe all thing is necessar for their present use ; and is to goe hither 

 againe in the spring with a new plautatiouu. Bot since he came home the Euglische 

 men ar suiten (petitioning) of his Majestie to plant and possesse quhatsumover lands 

 thairofF quhilk they please, and there to be halden of the Crowne of England." (The 

 Maxwells of Pollok, edited by William, Vol. 11, p. 200.)' 



Sir William the elder immediately applied to the Scottish Privy Council entreating 

 their support in the maintenance of his privileges against English rivals. That body in 

 conseqirence addressed a memorial to the king, setting forth that parties in Scotland had 

 " adventured soums of money for setting furth of a colonie to plant there, and that they 

 understood that by reasouu of a voyage made by ane Captain Kercht, thither this last 

 summer, there are some making sute for a new patent to be hold of the Crown of 

 England," they represent this as derogatory to their ancient kingdom, and discouraging 

 to the undertakers, who had already spent their money, and pray that the original grant 

 to Sir William be maintained. 



The representation was successful, and a royal patent was granted to Sir William, 

 the younger, and others, incorporating them as " sole traders " in the Gulf and River of 

 Canada. They were farther empowered to settle a plantation " within all parts of the 

 gulf and river above those parts which are over against Kobeck (Quebec), on the south 

 side, or above twelve leagues below Todowsack, on the north side," while all others were 

 prohibited from making any voyage into the said gulf or river upon "payne of confiscation." 

 They were also authorized to make "prise of all French or Spanish ships and goods at 

 sea or land, and to displant the French." The patent was accompanied with a special 

 commission to Sir William and others, dated 4th of February, 1629, by which they were 

 empowered " to make a voyage into the Gulf and River of Canada, and the parts adjacent, 

 for the sole trade of beaver wools, beaver skins, furs, hides and skins of wild beasts." 

 (Colonial papers, p. 96.) 



In the meantime we hear little of the settlers left on the shores of Annapolis Basin. 

 We may conclude that during the summer (1628) all would pass pleasantly — the beauties 

 of the scene must have arrested the attention of the most prosaic, and besides erecting the 

 fort they would probably have made their first attempts at cultivation of the soil. But 

 summer passed all too quickly, and they were soon called to face a Nova Scotian winter, 

 of whose severity amid the delights of summer and autumn, they could have formed no 



' We also find in a petition to the King from certain lords, dated 18tli November, 1628, the following : " We 

 ar verie hopefull that as the said Sir William Alexander has sent forth his sonne with a colonie to plant there 

 this last year, so it will be secounded," etc. 



