[raymond] THE FIRST GOVERNOR OF NEW BRUNSWICK 419 



and to the'Acadians. In the eyes of the law the latter were in nearly 

 all cases "squatters" having no title to the lands on which they lived 

 save that of possession. 



Carleton was at this time active and energetic in mind and body. 

 During his first winter in the country he visited the principal settle- 

 ments on the Saint John and fixed upon Saint Anne's Point as the 

 most eligible situation for the seat of government. That he was a 

 man of good physique is proved by the fact that in March, 1788, 

 he walked on snowshoes to Quebec to see his brother, Lord Dorchester, 

 who was reported to be alarmingly ill. This was an arduous march 

 for a man in his fifty-third year, but the governor says that the .excur- 

 sion was pleasant, although his party was forced to spend eight 

 nights in the woods. 



The first impressions of all classes with regard to the governor 

 were distinctly favourable. The publications of the day were very 

 pronounced in his praise. A writer in the Royal Gazette, for example, 

 observed that the governor's unexampled zeal for the welfare of the 

 province entitled him to the love and affection of every inhabitant. 

 Another writer described him as a man who had shown a generous 

 contempt of his own private wealth and an exact frugality in the 

 management of that which belonged to the public. He was admired 

 for his integrity, firmness and benevolence. Edward Winslow 

 affirmed that he was "a man whose dignified and correct conduct 

 discountenanced vice and rendered morality fashionable," 



Such was the general verdict regarding Carleton at the time 

 when he was called upon to deal with the situation of the Acadians of 

 the River Saint John. His administration in after years it is not 

 the purpose of this paper to discuss. 



The situation of the Acadians was brought to Carleton's notice 

 almost immediately upon his arrival. This is shown by the memorial 

 which follows: — 



"To his Excellency Thomas Carleton, Esquire, Captain General and 

 Governor in Chief in and oyer His Majesty's Province of New Brunswick and 

 its dependencies, &c, &c, &c. 



The Memorial of the French Inhabitants, subjects of His Majesty King 

 George the third, settlers on the north side of the River St. Johns, 



Most humbly sheweth: — 



That your Memorialists settled on the River St. Johns above St. Ann's 

 point after the conclusion of the war in the year 1762. 



That they have remained peaceably on their Farms ever since and not- 

 withstanding both rewards were offered and afterwards threats made use of by 

 the Americans to prevail on them to join in the late Rebellion, they remained 

 with unshaken Loyalty and rendered every assistance in their power towards 

 the support of his Majesty's Government and Laws. 



