302 HISTORY OF 



proved successful, and the French forces in Nova Scotia 

 were vanquished. "A question then arose how the 

 French inhabitants should be disposed of. They had 

 qalled themselves neutrals; but some of them were 

 found in arms, and they had, as appeared, supplied the 

 French with arms, and thus seven thousand of them 

 Avere distressed in consequence of a few taking up arms. 

 The rest were peaceable, industrious, pious and frugal 

 people. A proposal was made to such of them as had 

 not borne arms, to remain in possession of their lands, 

 upon condition that they would take the oath of alle- 

 giance to the British Government, without qualification ; 

 this they refused; for they might then have been com- 

 pelled to take up arms against their own kindred and 

 Indian neighbors, which they deemed a flagrant abuse of 

 a former right : for by the treaty of Utrecht, 1713, they 

 were permitted to retain their lands, on taking the oath 

 of allegiance to their new sovereign. Queen Anne, with 

 the gratification that they should not be compelled to 

 bear arms against their Indian neighbors, or their 

 countrymen, the French; and this immunity was, at 

 subsequent periods, assured to their children. On 

 refusing to take the proposed oath of allegiance, their 

 property Avas destroyed, and they were transported and 

 distributed among the several British Colonies. Some of 

 them were thrown on the public charge of this county.^^ 

 Their condition was unenviable — deplorable indeed. — 

 From a pathetic address, drawn up by themselves, to his 

 most excellent Majesty, King of Great Britain, we leani 

 that the miseries they endured were great. ''The 

 miseries," said they, "we have endured since our depar- 

 ture from Nova Scotia, cannot be sufficiently expressed, 

 being reduced for a livelihood to toil and labor in a 

 southern climate, so disagreeable to our constitutions, 



