426 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



there. 1 As the lands were fertile they excited the cupidity both of 

 the old English speaking settlers and of the newly arrived Loyalists. 

 In considering the trouble that speedily developed, we must bear in 

 mind that in all countries old soldiers are not disposed to be very 

 considerate where their personal interests are concerned, and more 

 particularly so when they think that they are denied their rights. We 

 must bear in mind too the vexatious delays in allocating the lands 

 that had been promised them before they sailed from New York. The 

 hardships of the first winter under canvas at Parr-town and Saint 

 Anne had left its mark upon them. Winslow described their situation 

 at the time of their arrival, in the following words in a letter to his 

 friend Chipman : — 



"I saw all those Provincial Regiments which we have so frequently mus- 

 tered landing in this inhospitable climate in the month of October without 

 shelter and not knowing where to find a place to reside. The chagrin of the 

 officers was not to me so truly affecting as the poignant distress of the men." 



This was only the beginning of their anxiety and distress. After 

 a wearisome delay they proceeded to their locations only to find, in 

 some instances, that the lands promised them in the King's name 

 were in possession of "squatters." It need not be a matter of wonder 

 that they did not regard those in possession with favour, whether 

 they were Acadians or old English settlers. Many of the old soldiers 

 doubtless treated in supercilious fashion the primitive people who, 

 out of sheer necessity, hunted, trapped and fished in true Indian 

 fashion, and whose language they could not understand. But the 

 disbanded troops are hardly to be regarded as fair representatives of 

 the general body of Loyalists. Among the latter were persons of kindly 

 heart and of the highest culture and refinement. In our investigation 

 of the points raised by the Abbé Casgrain it is better to rely upon 

 documentary evidence than upon tradition. 



Like his illustrious brother Lord Dorchester, Governor Carleton 

 was a man of humane and generous disposition, and in the perform- 

 ance of his public duties anxious to act with impartiality. From the 

 first he was disposed to deal considerately with the Acadians. Even 

 before his arrival some attention had been given to their condition 

 by the authorities of Nova Scotia. Major Studholme was instructed 

 by Governor Parr to investigate the claims of all the settlers on the 

 Saint John to the lands in their possession. He accordingly appointed 

 a committee of four persons to make a tour of exploration and collect 

 the required information. Those chosen for the task were Ebenezer 

 Foster and Fyler Dibblee, who were Loyalists, and James White and 

 Gervas Say who were old inhabitants of the County; all were men of 



1 Raymond, History of the River Saint John, 1010, pp. 362- 415. 



