42 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
discussed with the Governor and Council the conditions under which 
settlements might be made, and received assurances that the vessels 
belonging to the province would be put at their service to bring the 
intending settlers with their stock and other possessions to Nova Scotia; 
that arms would be provided for their defence from marauders; and 
that, as they were the first applicants, the poorer settlers would be 
furnished with provisions by the government. 
In his interesting account of the coming of the New England 
Planters to Kings County, Dr. A. W. H. Eaton writes as follows of the 
exploring voyage of the first Committee from New England:— ! 
“That the agents might satisfy themselves thoroughly regarding 
the Minas lands, ‘the Council sent them in an armed vessel, with an 
officer of artillery and eight soldiers, to visit the places along the Bay of 
Fundy proposed for settlement. Mr. Morris, who was not only a member 
of the Council, but was also the Chief land-surveyor for the province, 
himself from New England, accompanied the party to give information, 
and if necessary to lay out townships. Around the southern coast of 
Nova Scotia the party sailed, and no doubt first calling at Annapolis 
Royal, proceeded up the Bay of Fundy to Grand Pré and Piziquid, at 
each of which places they disembarked and spent some time. It was 
now late in April or early in May, the orchards were in their earliest 
budding, the dykes were beginning to grow green, the rich uplands were 
waiting for the plow, and here and there was still standing some lonely 
barn, or perhaps house, that had escaped burning at the sad time when 
its owner was taken away.” 
The agents returned to Halifax well pleased.- Henceforth Lawrence 
had no hesitation in sending all inquirers for townships upon a similar 
tour of exploration, for, as he says in one of his letters to the Lords of 
Trade, “I perceive already that they have but to see the Lands and to 
be in love with them, so that no temptation or hardship will be sufficient 
to carry them back to an indifferent country.” ? ' 
The four Connecticut agents represented an association of 330 
individuals, and they immediately entered upon an agreement to settle 
a township at Minas “joining on the river Gaspereau and including 
the great marsh (Grand Pré) so called.” The township was to consist 
of 100,000 acres to be settled by 200 families, all of the colony of Con- 
necticut. Each share, or “right,” was to include 500 acres. Each 
grantee to have equal proportion of the cleared and improved lands. 
The lands to be subject to a yearly quit rent of one shilling for every 
fifty acres, to begin ten years from the date of the grant. The grantees 
to plant, cultivate; improve or enclose one-third part in ten years, one- 
de Dr. tons Fe published (1910) “History of Kings County, N.S.,” 
p. 63. 
2 Letter to Lords of Trade of 16th June, 1760. 
