[RAYMOND] A RADICAL AND A LOYALIST 95 



"Inattention, or want of exertion, in the agent of the Refugees has been the 

 cause of extreme distress to those who have landed here. They are at present 

 crowded into one spot without covering, and totally ignorant where they are eventu- 

 ally to settle. Why, Upham, was not some man, or men, of consideration and spirit 

 appointed to take direction of these people ?" 



Those who arrived in the "Fall Fleet" included many who had 

 engaged in the bitter controversy with the "fifty-five petitioners" 

 for lands in Nova Scotia, to which reference has already been made. 

 Owing to their late arrival many of the disbanded soldiers were 

 obliged to hut in the "Lower Cove district," and some of them had 

 to pass the winter in tents thatched with spruce bushes. Naturally, 

 their complaints were emphatic. Governor Parr sent Chief Justice 

 Finucane from Halifax to make investigation. Numerous complaints 

 were submitted by Hardy. The charges were in effect that certain 

 persons, whose names are specified, were believed to possess lots 

 much in excess of their deserts. 



Leonard, the chairman of the Board of Directors, admits that he 

 had a principal share in settling and forming the town, and also that 

 he and the directors were unfriendly to Hardy and the "Lower Cove 

 Party," but he hotly denies that he had been guilty of partiality or 

 improper conduct. He writes to Edward Winslow on April 30th, 

 1784: 



"The Chief Justice has arrived here for the purpose of inquiring into and re- 

 dressing grievances. He has unfortunately thrown the Town into confusion by 

 attending to the illiberal insinuations of that man Hardy. The feelings of the gentle- 

 men are hurt and many undeserving people, who are Hardy's connections, are bene- 

 fited by his partial decisions. 



"Those who have hitherto had the direction of matters here are in an indelicate 

 way sent for and in the presence of that Man charged in the language and tone of a 

 Bashaw with wrong and partial conduct without any regular inquiry into it." 



Major John Coffin, another member of the Board, is equally 

 inimical to Hardy. He writes: 



"The time I hope is not far distant when I expect to see every thing undone, 

 and Mr. Hardy thrown neck and heels with his party into the river. It is infamous 

 and disgraceful to a degree. 



"After all the trouble Studholme has been at for the settlement, to have this 

 Chief with Brother Toady lay violent hands on everything, condemn everybody he 

 thinks proper, and derange all our affairs is too much. Our memorials are going 

 forward with all expedition. I have heard that Mr. Hardy is forming a party against 

 it, and have no doubt he will throw everything in the way. He is, I assure you, a 

 very troublesome fellow, but I hope we shall soon unhorse the Dog." 



We learn from Winslow's correspondence the nature of Coffin's 

 attempt to "unhorse the dog." ^yf^ 



