64 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
I am sorry should be in such a poor condition, as it really is in, after 
having been so long as upwards of twenty-one years (which may be 
said imaginarily only), under the English Government; for the inhabi- 
tants here, being all French and Roman Catholics, are more subjects 
to our neighbours of Quebec and those of Cape Breton than to his 
Majesty, whose Government by all their proceedings (notwithstanding 
their oath of fidelity), they seem to despise.’’! 
Nor could Paul Mascarene guarantee their loyalty eleven years later, 
for he wrote to the Secretary of State in December, 1743, “The Inhabi- 
tants of this province, except what belongs to the two garrisons of 
Annapolis and Canso, are all French Roman Catholics, who were allowed 
on taking the oaths of allegiance to keep their possessions and enjoy 
their religion. These Inhabitants cannot be depended on for assist- 
ance in case of a rupture with France; it is as much as we can expect 
if we can keep them from joining with the enemy or being stirred up 
by them to rebell. To prevent this I have used the best means I could 
since I have had the administration of the affairs of this province, 
especially by making them sensible of the advantage and ease they 
enjoy under British Government, whereby to wean them from their 
old masters; but to do this effectually a considerable time will be 
required—this province in the meantime is in a worse condition for 
defence than the other American Plantations which have inhabitants 
to defend them, whilst far from having any dependence on ours we are 
obliged to guard against them.” 
Mascarene adopted a policy of conciliation, which proved so far 
successful that when Duvivier, the French commander, besieged the 
English at Annapolis Royal the Acadians declined to take up arms and 
this contributed not a little to the failure of his plans. Still, the idea of 
substituting English settlers in the room of the Acadians was not aban- 
doned, for about this time Mascarene wrote to Shirley, “If new measures 
are to be taken and these inhabitants can be removed and good Pro- 
testant subjects transplanted in their room, nothing can be of greater 
advantage to the Brittish interest in general, and to that of the Northern 
Colonies in particular, and especially to that of this province.” 
The removal of the Acadians, in Mascarene’s opinion, could only 
be brought about by the co-operation of the neighbouring colonies 
and, if projected by them, he suggested that the preparations be carried 
on “without our knowledge, and talkt of even in Boston as little as 
possible.” A copy of Mascarene’s letter was sent to the Duke of New- 
castle in December, 1745, together with a representation from the 
Council of Nova Scotia respecting the conduct of the Acadians since the 

! Nova Scotia Published Archives, p. 101. 
