[RayMonD] PRE-LOYALIST SETTLEMENTS OF NOVA SCOTIA 6) 
be some restriction on the cutting of pine timber of such dimensions.! 
They wished, however, to encourage the colonization of Nova Scotia 
and agreed that it was reasonable that Colonel McNutt should be allowed 
one hundred acres of land for every five hundred acres settled by him at 
his own expense. 
Shortly after, McNutt visited Londonderry, the place of his birth, 
where in April, 1761, he entered into an arrangement with Arthur Vance 
and William Caldwell, merchants, to furnish ships to carry passengers 
to Halifax in accordance with his plans for the settlement of his 
townships. He issued advertisements for the encouragement of settlers, 
and by his indefatigable labours and the assistance of Messrs. Vance 
and Caldwell many persons agreed to immigrate to Nova Scotia. By 
the 28th of August three hundred were embarked on board the ship 
Hopewell, Capt. Rich’d Caldwell, for Halifax. A large number of others 
had sold part of their effects and were disposing of the remainder in 
order to follow their friends in the Spring. The people, though generally 
poor, are described as very industrious and likely to make good settlers. 
Vance and Caldwell were the owners of several large vessels well adapted 
for the passenger trade. They wrote the Lieut. Governor of Nova 
Scotia that they had no doubt of being able to carry over several 
thousands of immigrants, provided those now setting out should meet 
such treatment as would lead them to give encouragement to their 
friends at home. 
The ship Hopewell sailed from Londonderry for Halifax about the 
end of August with upwards of three hundred settlers,? many of them 
1 In their representation to the King in Council of the 15th May, 1766, the Lords 
of Trade recommended that in all grants of townships to McNutt or others care 
should be taken to have in the grant a clause reserving to His Majesty “all White 
or other Pine Trees of the growth of 24 Inches diameter and upwards at 12 inches 
from the earth, and declaring that if such Trees shall be cut or felled without License 
from the Surveyor General of the Woods, or his Deputy, or from the Governor of 
the Province for the time being, the lot or share of land on which they shall be so 
cut shall be forfeited and the lands revert to the King.” This they regarded as a 
condition not only necessary in itself, but conformable to what His Majesty had 
though proper to direct in respect to grants of lands in other colonies, founded upon 
the regulations of several Acts of Parliament for the better preservation of His 
Majesty’s woods in America, and conceived to be a restriction highly expedient until 
some more perfect and effectual plan should be adopted for so national and impor- 
tant an object. 
? The number of settlers who came in the Hopewell is variously stated. McNutt 
in his memorial to the Lords of Trade, March 23, 1763, represents them as “near 
four hundred.” To the Council at Halifax on their arrival he reported them as 
© upwards of three hundred.”’ Lieut. Governor Belcher in his letter of 3d November, 
1761, speaks of them as “upwards of two hundred,’’ and a report of a Committee of 
Council in 1766, gives the number as “about 250 persons.” 
