[EATON] THE SETTLING OF COLCHESTER COUNTY 233 
acquaint him that they find it impossible, by reason of the great load 
of debt due by the public, more than the present funds will in any 
degree answer, to afford these poor people any present supplies. But 
as there may still remain in the Treasury some part of the old duty 
money, the Assembly would humbly request that so much thereof as 
His Honour should think necessary, may be applied towards this 
charitable purpose.” The determination of the Assembly having 
been sent to the Council for its concurrence the latter body replied 
that they could not concur in the Assembly’s request to the Governor, 
as he had expressly declared in his message to both houses that there 
“was no other method of relieving the distress and indigent cireum- 
stances of the inhabitants of the several new townships but from the 
interposition of the Legislature.” 
Not disconcerted by the Council’s action the Assembly resolved 
to send their appeal directly to the Governor, and as a committee to 
convey the petition, appointed Jonathan Binney, member for the town 
of Halifax, and William Neville Wolsely, member for Onslow. These 
gentlemen shortly after reported “that his Excellency would take the 
matter into consideration,” and on the twenty-first of April, 1762, 
Archibald Hinshelwood, member for Lunenburg, by order of the Gover- 
nor laid on the table of the House an abstract of the old duty fund, 
showing a balance of £350. 2s. Sd. remaining in the treasury, and ac- 
quainted the House that “His Honour was willing the same should 
be applied to the help and assistance of such persons in the new settle- 
ments as stood most in need of supplies.”” Thereupon, the House passed 
a unanimous resolution, agreeing with His Honour in the application 
of the fund. Four days later a commission for the relief of the inhabi- 
tants of Truro and Onslow was granted by the Lieutenant Governor, 
instructions being sent to Richard Upham, Esq., of Onslow, to acquaint 
the people of these townships that the Government would deliver corn 
to those in real want, but that not more than one bushel a month would 
be allowed for a person over ten years old, and one bushel for two chil- 
dren under ten years. The corn was to be delivered to Mr. Upham by 
Isaac Deschamps, to whom the following order was sent: 
“By the Hon. Jonathan Belcher, Esq., Lieut.-Governor, etc., etc., 
You are directed to deliver to Richard Upham, Esq., 1,000 bushels 
of corn, to be distributed among the indigent settlers of Onslow and 
Truro, according to the instructions delivered him for that purpose, 
taking his receipt for the same, or the quantity that may be delivered 
him at different times till he shall receive the whole. “J. BencnEr.”’ 
Regarding the circumstances of the Onslow and Truro people in 
the beginning, the Hon. Charles Morris writes in October, 1763: “ With- 
