[Raymond] THE FIRST GOVERNOR OF NEW BRUNSWICK 441 



bedewed with the sweat of an outlawed race." The passage from 

 which these words are taken intimates that the Acadians were robbed 

 of their lands by the Loyalists without receiving any compensation. 

 To this it might be answered that, strictly speaking, the Acadians 

 never owned these lands. Few of them had even a license of occupa- 

 tion. Nevertheless the government of Nova Scotia decided that the 

 Loyalists who had drawn the lots on which the Acadians had made 

 improvements must pay for them before they received their grants. 

 Some of the claims for compensation are filed amongst the government 

 records and are quaintly expressed. The following is a specimen: — 



"Francis Sear's claim on account of damages sustained from John Coombs. 



Upper french Village the 31 July, 1788. 



An accompt of Dammage. 

 To 1 Dwelling house 22 feet long & 20 broad having in it and on it 



150 Boards £37 . 10 . 



To 1 Barn 42 feet Long 24 broad having in it and on it 130 Boards 



& Plank 25. 0. 



To 1000 Rails 1 . 5.0 



To the youse of my 200 feet of Land 1 yeare 2. 10 . 



£65. 5. 

 (Signed) francis Sear 



The lot occupied by François Cyr, in the drawing of lots by 

 officers and men of the 2nd New Jersey Volunteers, fell to Lieutenant 

 John Coombes, who was called upon to pay for the buildings and 

 other improvements made by Cyr. 



As Cyr is reported by Major Studholme's Committee as having 

 been fifteen years on his land and as having a wife and ten children, 

 it would have been a hardship if he had been dispossessed. But he 

 was not. His name occurs in the list of those who in 1785 petitioned 

 the New Brunswick government for lands at Madawaska and he 

 removed there before Lieut. Coombes entered into possession of the 

 lands formerly occupied by him at the Upper French Village eleven 

 miles above St. Anne. Coombes was obliged to pay for the improve- 

 ments made by Cyr. 



Not only did the Acadians receive compensation, but in various 

 instances those who desired to continue on their old locations were 

 included along with the Loyalists in a general grant and thus a clear 

 title was obtained. If in such a case an Acadian found himself placed 

 between two Protestant proprietors, it does not strike the ordinary 

 Canadian of to-day as a very great enormity. Take the case of the 

 lands at French Village on the Kennebecasis. Carleton wrote to 

 Lord Sidney concerning them on July 4, 1787, stating that the Aca- 



