68 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
the Acadians in 1755 would never have occurred. Time and again the 
Lords of Trade commended Shirley’s proposals but hesitated to take 
action because of the expense involved. 
Unhappy Situation of the Acadians. 
The situation of the Acadians was now really pitiable. France 
claimed them on the one hand and England on the other, and both 
demanded their obedience without regard either to their feelings or 
their interest. Le Loutre terrified them with his savages, in order to 
make them renounce the English allegiance and support the French. 
The English governors threatened to banish them if they were not 
faithful to King George. There can be little doubt that their oath of 
allegiance to the British Crown had been taken, in the first instance, 
upon the understanding that they would not be forced to bear arms 
against the French or their old Indian allies. They were now commonly 
known as the “ Neutral French.” This term served but to add to their 
perplexity, and in their ignorance and simplicity they hardly knew to 
which side they owed allegiance. They were the humblest and simplest 
of peasants and their illiteracy was such that only a few could even 
read or write. The most potent influence employed to turn them against 
the English was not their natural affection for France or their race sym- 
pathy, but the power of their religion. They were taught to look to 
their priests for guidance both in temporal and spiritual matters, and 
as nearly all of these, like the Abbé le Loutre, were ardent patriots, it 
is little wonder that their influence was inimical to the sovereignty of 
King George. 
“Tt was the duty of the British ministry,” says Parkman, “to 
occupy the province with a force sufficient to protect the inhabitants 
against French terrorism, and leave no doubt that the King of England 
was master of Acadia in fact as well as in name. This alone could have 
averted the danger of Acadian revolt and the harsh measures to which 
it afterwards gave rise. The ministry sent no aid, but left to Shirley 
and Massachusetts the task of keeping the province for King George. 
Shirley and Massachusetts did what they could, but they could not 
do all that the emergency demanded.’’! 
Shirley told the Duke of Newcastle plainly in 1747 that New Eng- 
land had furnished for years the only succor and support the Garrison 
at Annapolis Royal had received, and that the General Assembly of 
Massachusetts were growing tired of having the burden of defence 
thrown upon them, and desired his Majesty’s more immediate inter- 
position for the protection of Nova Scotia. 
! Parkman’s “Half Century of Conflict,” Vol. II, p. 220. 
