80 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
carry out such engagements as he had already made, and that the 
Governor of Nova Scotia should be directed by His Majesty’s order 
in Council to make grants to the persons already introduced, and to be 
introduced by him, on lands reserved for settlement in accordance with 
the terms recommended by the Lords of Trade on the 5th of March, 
1761. The King in Council approved of this and on the 20th of May, 
1763, gave directions that lands should be provided and grants be made 
to the settlers introduced by McNutt. 
Lieut. Governor Belcher could no longer refuse grants or interfere 
with the settlement of MeNutt’s people in the way he had shown an 
inclination to do. Unfortunately, however, the Colonel had spent three 
months dancing attendance on the Lords of Trade and in interviews 
with those in power, and before he could give his attention to the matter 
it was too late to bring from Ireland the large number of settlers he 
had intended to transport in the summer of 1762. 
The British Ministry began to view with alarm the prospect of the 
people of the North of Ireland emigrating to Nova Scotia in large num- 
bers, and the committee of the Council on Plantation affairs was asked 
to consider the matter, which they did, and their decision was expressed 
in the following terms:—‘“ The Lords of the Committee, being of opinion 
that however desirable an object the settling of Nova Scotia may be 
yet the migration from Ireland of such great numbers of His Majesty’s 
subjects must be attended with dangerous consequences to that King- 
dom, do therefore hereby order that the Lords Commissioners of Trade 
and Plantations do prepare a draft of an Instruction for His Majesty’s 
Governor or Commander in Chief of Nova Scotia requiring him not to 
grant lands to, or permit any of His Majesty’s subjects from Ireland 
to become settlers in that Province, except such as have been resident 
either in Nova Scotia or some other of His Majesty’s Colonys in America 
for the space of five years.” The Ministry approved of the report of 
the Committee and an effectual barrier to Irish immigration was 
now interposed. 
Colonel McNutt was greatly disappointed. He computed the 
damages sustained by his not being permitted to carry out his design 
at £16,000'. He says, moreover, that he “never meant to people Nova 
Scotia with Irish, but only to direct thither the course of such Irish 
familys as were already going to the Provinces in America.’ 
' See his memorial to the Lords of Trade, March 13, 1763. Among the damages 
were the charges of four vessels detained in order to be ready to carry settlers to Nova 
Scotia from Ireland. 
* In their representation to the King of May 15, 1766, concerning fresh pro- 
posals made by McNutt for the settlement of Nova Scotia, the Lords of Trade make 
the following observation:—‘ Another caution necessary to be attended to in so 
