60 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
Government, awaiting the opportunity of a rupture between the two 
Crowns to re-establish their former Government, and in the mean time 
are daily in secret inciting the Indians to robbery and murder, to the 
destruction of trade and hinderance of settling the Country.”'! 
Philipps, nevertheless, desired to retain the Acadians within the 
province, although he admits in his letter to Secretary of State Craggs, 
of the 26th May, 1720, that the task is beyond him, for “once joined 
in a body, with the help of the Indians to favour their retreat, they can 
march off at their leisure by the way of the Bay of Verte, with their 
effects, and distroy what they leave behind without danger of being 
‘molested by his Garrison, which scarce suffices to secure the Fort in 
its present condition.’’? 
He thought it probable, however, that they would be obedient 
to Government so long as the two crowns should continue in alliance 
but in case of a rupture “they will be,” he says, “so many enemyes in 
our bosom, and I cannot see any hopes or likelyhood of making them 
English, unless it were possible to procure their Priests to be recalled, 
who are tooth and nayle against the regent, not sticking to say openly 
that ’tis his day now, but will be their’s anon.” In the same letter 
he displays his lack of confidence in the Acadians in the words follow- 
ing: “You will please to observe that the lands at Minas, which afford 
great quantitys of wheat yearly and are the best farms as yet in the 
country, are lyable to be all drown’d by cutting a dyke, which the 
Inhabitants at going off will not want ill nature to do. It would be 
great pity those farms should want Inhabitants when vacated by the 
French and great inconveniency to the Garrison which they supply 
with plenty of fresh provisions.” 
In July, 1720, Philipps tells of the efforts of the French governors 
to strengthen Isle Royale by persuading the Acadians to migrate 
thither. “Among other things,” he says, “they are told that the 
promise made them (by the English), of enjoying their Religion is but 
a Chimera, which they must not depend upon, for they will quickly 
be reduced to the same state with his Majesty’s Popish subjects in Ire- 
land and their Priests deny’d them. I endeavour all I can to undeceive 
them, but scarce hope to find more credit with them than their Priests. 
If these prevaile there will be a great many fine possessions become 
vacant. I believe it would not be difficult to draw as many people 
almost from New England as would supply their room, if it were not 
robbing a neighbouring Colony, without gaining much by the exchange, 
therefore hope there are schemes forming at home to settle this Country 

! Nova Scotia Published Archives, p. 19. 
? Nova Scotia Published Archives, pp. 31, 34. 
