[raymond] THE FIRST GOVERNOR OF NEW BRUNSWICK 439 



comment made by Surveyor General Sproul in the plan of the settle- 

 ment in the Crown Land Office in Fredericton: — "The tracts repre- 

 sented on this plan being subdivided into lots by the Settlers and 

 considerably improved before an actual survey was made, the irregu- 

 larity of the measurement of the fronts of the lots could not be altered 

 without great injury to the settlement." 



That the government followed the fortunes of the Acadians with 

 interest and was desirous of doing justice to all concerned is clearly 

 shown in a letter of the Provincial Secretary written at this time. 



Fredericton, 14th July, 1787. 

 Dear Sir, — When I met you on your way to the Upper regions I forgot to 

 mention the settlement forming at Madawaska by a number of French people, 

 partly from this neighbourhood and partly from Canada. They have in general 

 terms been directed to settle themselves in the most convenient manner, so as 

 net to interfere with improvements made prior to their respective settlements. 

 A license of occupation was given to a number of these people, whose 

 beginning of cultivation and allotment were reported by Lewis Mercure — 

 and these had a promise of a grant as soon as a regular survey could be obtained 

 of the Lands. At the same time I apprehend that those who have made or are 

 making settlements in that District, though not named in the License of Occu- 

 pation, are not the less entitled to the protection of the government. 



I take this opportunity (as I have not the means at present to get an order 

 in Council on the subject) to recommend it to you, while you are on the spot, 

 to direct your deputy, or if necessary to authorize some disinterested person 

 in whom you can confide, to make such a survey as you may find equitable 

 and such as you can return to be laid before the Governor in Council, in order 

 to prepare the way fcr confirming each man by a grant of the land to which 

 he may be found fairly intitled. 



I the rather take this liberty, which I am sure you will forgive, because 

 I find reason to suspect there has been some little maneuvring on the part of my 

 friend Louis Mercure, and others among the settlers, to obtain allotments 

 fronting on the River in such direction as to take in ground actually in possession 

 and in some degree improved by earlier adventurers in that quarter. 



You will perceive that I write in haste, but your own observation on the 

 spot will enable you to fix everything properly and with impartial precision. 

 I am dear Sir, &c, &c. 



JONATHAN ODELL. 

 George Sproul, Esq., Surveyor-general. 



The survey of the settlement must have been completed soon 

 after this, and the names of those who had applied for lots were duly 

 registered in conformity with the plan of settlement prepared by the 

 surveyor-general . 



Carleton's continued interest in the settlement is evident. He 

 wrote Lord Grenville, under date October 1st, 1790: — 



"Many settlers within the last three or four years have made flourishing 

 settlements upon lands lying on the upper parts of the River Saint John, and 

 which till then had remained altogether in a wilderness state. The uppermost 



