98 EEV. GEOEGE PATTEESON ON 



younger La Tour then caused a suitable dwelling-house to be erected for them at some 

 distance from the fort, where he provided for their maintenance. 



The story carries much of the aspect of romance. That La Tour should fear to lose 

 his head by returning to England is absurd. Scarcely less so is the statement of his 

 asking his son's permission to reside in Acadie when the English were in possession of 

 Port Royal, where the Scotch colony had been for two years, and, according to Charlevoix 

 himself,, every other post in Acadia, except Fort La Tour. The two men-of-war spoken of 

 coiUd only have baen private armed vessels of Alexander's company, and it is incredible 

 that they should have returned to England without visiting the settlers at Port Royal. 

 Besides, the story of his residing near his son is contradicted by what we learn of him 

 shortly after. The other story given by Ferlaud is that he joined the colony in Port Royal 

 with one hundred Scottish emigrants that he had brought out. There can be little doubt 

 of the truth of this, as we soon after find him there, though we may doubt his bringing 

 such a number of settlers in addition to those previously on the ground. 



"VVe have scarcely any notice of the infant colony this year (1630). In a royal letter, 

 dated 13th May, 16B0, the king thanks Sir "William, the younger, for his " careful and 

 provident proceeding for planting of a colonie at Port Royall," and desires him to 

 continue as he had begun, that the work might be brought to perfection. He further 

 charges him to appoint a deputy during his absence. (Reg. of Letters.) On the 3rd of 

 July the G-overnor was further informed of the king's desire to maintain the patents 

 granted by himself and his father, while, in reference to French claims, he desires a 

 statement of the right of his own subjects, and of the grounds on which he is called to 

 maintain the patents granted by his father and himself. 



A notice from a French source, however, shows that the colony not only existed, but 

 was in considerable force. Champlain mentions that this year the directors of the 

 Company of New France despatched two vessels under the command of Captain Marot 

 to make a settlement in Acadie. They encountered adverse weather, and the voyage was 

 three months long. They at length reached Cape Sable, where they found young La Tour 

 with some French volunteers under him. The captain delivered him a letter from M. Tufet, 

 by whom the vessels had been fitted out, which urged him to remain steadfast in the 

 King's service, and not to adhere to the English or submit to their wishes, as many 

 worthless Frenchmen had done. This confirms the statement of Sir William Alexander, 

 that the scattered French around Port Royal had submitted to the English or Scotch 

 authorities there. Charles La Tour and Captain Marot, on consultation, deemed it 

 advisable that La Tour (the father) should be informed of what had occurred, and urged 

 to leave the English and come back, so that they might learn the condition of the English 

 (Scotch) and act accordingly. One Lestan was sent with a letter from La Tour to his 

 father, on reading which he set out to go to his sou, having lost reputation with the 

 English, and having in consequence little hope of advancement or wealth from them. 

 Arrived at Cape Sable, he informed his son that it was the intention of the English to 

 take their fort. He also reported that of seventy Scotch who had wintered at Port Royal 

 thirty had died. ' At all events, they were still so strong that the French made no attempt 



'This seems to be the same story as we have given regarding the winter previous. It is much more likely 

 to have happened on that whii-li was their first winter. Beside.s, we know that seventy was the number in 

 the iirst band ; but, if one hundred came the next spring with La Tour, the number must have been considerably 

 greater. 



