74 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
as to his soldierly qualities, ability and force of character. He was at 
this time in the prime of life, having been born at Portsmouth, in 
England, in 1709. He was a man of fine physique, standing six feet two 
inches, and was, according to his biographer, “a picture of strength 
and rugged health, of frank and pleasant manner and largely endowed 
with that mysterious element of character we to-day call, for want of 
a better name, magnetism.”’! 
There can be no doubt that Lawrence commanded the confidence 
of the British Government, for the Lords of Trade left matters largely 
to his judgment; but if the Acadians were cognizant of any element 
of magnetism in his character, history has not recorded it. Lawrence 
was undoubtedly more the soldier than the diplomat. He was accus- 
tomed to command and to be obeyed. The attitude of the Acadians 
annoyed him greatly, and he was disposed to deal with them in a 
summary fashion. Accordingly, after consultation with his council 
and the admirals on the station, he determined to give them one more 
opportunity of taking the oath required of them, with the understanding 
that if they failed to do so steps would be taken without further parley 
“to rid the country of such perfidious subjects.” 
The Controversy as to the Acadian Expulsion. 
No attempt will be made in this paper to deal adequately with 
the vexed question of the Acadian expulsion, yet, in any careful con- 
sideration of the measures which Governor Lawrence subsequently 
adopted for the development of the province, the question cannot well 
be passed over in silence. 
A careful study of the documents bearing upon the expulsion will 
satisfy the honest investigator that the last word is not likely soon to 
be spoken concerning it. Even the most impartial writer will find 

! See sketch of Governor Lawrence by James S. McDonald in Collections of 
the Nova Scotia Hist. Society, Vol. XII, p. 19. 
Col. Charles Lawrence was the third son of Lieut.-General John Lawrence, 
who served in Flanders under Marlborough. In his 18th year young Lawrence 
was gazetted an ensign in the 11th Devon regiment. He came to America with 
the Regiment in 1729, and was engaged in outpost service against the Indians. 
In 1733 he accompanied his regiment to the West Indies and returned to England 
in 1738. After three years’ service as a military attaché at the War Office, he 
entered the 54th Regiment, and served as Captain in the Flanders campaign of 
1745. He was slightly wounded at the terrible battle of Fontenoy. After the 
return from Flanders he was gazetted Major in 1747, and sailed to New York with 
his regiment, proceeding not long after to Louisbourg. When the English were 
obliged under the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle to leave that place, he came to Halifax 
and was thenceforth closely identified with the history of Nova Scotia until his 
death in 1760. 
