438 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Cyr, Firmin Cyr, Alexandre Ayotte, Robert Fournier, Louis Saus- 

 façon, Joseph Cyr, François Martin. Of the number sixteen were 

 Acadians and eight Canadians. 



The co-operation of Louis Mercure, an Acadian, and Pierre 

 Duperré, a Canadian, was well conceived. Both were men of good 

 natural ability and of fair education and together they were able to 

 negotiate equally well with the authorities of Quebec or with those 

 of New Brunswick. As the latter province claimed jurisdiction on 

 the Upper Saint John an application was submitted to the New 

 Brunswick authorities by Joseph Daigle in behalf of the same twenty- 

 four Acadians. This was considered by Carleton and his council, 

 June 21, 1785, and the decision endorsed on the memorial reads: 

 "They will be allowed to sell their present improvements to the 

 best advantage, together with the lands reserved for them, and titles 

 will be given to the purchasers. Mercure has permission to settle 

 the Petitioners on the lands they may chuse at the Madawaski and 

 a grant will pass in due time for 200 acres to each head of a family 

 with the usual front of 60 rods." The names of the applicants are 

 identical with those in the application made at Quebec. 



Carleton and his council agreed " that the lands between the 

 Madawaska and rivière blanche, or White River 1 should be reserved 

 for the proposed French settlement.'' A second step in the establish- 

 ment of the settlement is referred to in Mercure's letter to Governor 

 Carleton which follows: 



Madawaska, 15th September, 1786. 

 May it please your Excellency,— As it appears that there are here several 

 young people from the age of 16 to 25 years who desire to have lands at this 

 place, I pray your Excellency to give me leave to assign lands to them in like 

 manner as to fathers of families on condition that they improve them. Also 

 to be informed by your Excellency if I am permitted to assign lands to those 

 who desire to settle here who are coming from Canada. In favouring me with 

 a reply as soon as convenient you will much oblige one who has the honour to be, 

 Your Excellency's very humble 



and very obedient servant, 



LOUIS MERCURE. 



In reply the Governor and Council state that any French inhabi- 

 tants who desire farms at Madawaska must send in their applications 

 in the usual manner. This was done and the applications having been 

 approved an order of survey was issued. Lots were laid out on both 

 sides of the Saint John from the mouth of the Madawaska to Green 

 River, a distance of nine or ten miles. Before the lots were surveyed 

 the Acadians had entered into possession and marked the fronts of 

 their lands in their own crude fashion. This suffices to explain the 

 H'his should read "rivière verte or Green River." 



