164 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



for the more eftectual settling and employing said inhabitants, it was 

 enacted that the overseers of the poor of the several townships of Lan- 

 caster county were required and enjoined to accept of, provide for, and 

 receive into their respeclave townships such of the Nova Scotians as were 

 to be allotted, and sent into their townships, by an order under the hands 

 and seals of at least two of the above named persons ; provided, that not 

 more than one family was allotted to the care of the overseers of the 

 poor of any one township. They were to secure them employment, as 

 was most suitable to the circumstances of the families and persons allotted, 

 and appointed for their respective townships, as directed. The overseers 

 were directed to keep just and true accounts of all such unavoidable 

 charges and expenses as might have accrued; which accounts were di- 

 rected to be transmitted under oath, or affirmed, to the persons nomi- 

 nated. 



"Those who had been bred to farming, farms at a reasonable rate were 

 to be rented for them, and some small assistance was to be afforded them 

 toward settlement thereof. The commissioners were authorized to pur- 

 chase or procure such stock or utensils of husbandry for making settle- 

 ments, provided the supplies allotted to any single family did not exceed 

 in the whole ten pounds. The expenses incurred were to be defrayed 

 and paid out of the money given to the King's use by an Act of Assembly. 



"Their condition was such as to make it necessary for the Assembly 

 to pass another Act, January 18, 1757 : Whereas, it has been found by 

 experience that the Act of March 4, 1756, has not answered the good 

 intentions of the Legislature of uniting them with his Majesty's loyal 

 subjects by granting the said inhabitants of Nova Scotia equal privileges 

 and immunities with the inhabitants and settlers of the Province, and the 

 grievous burdens of maintaining them in the manner hitherto used is 

 greater than the good people of this province, under their present dis- 

 tressed circumstances, are well able to bear, and for as much as there 

 are numbers of children among them whose real advantage and interest 

 it would undoubtedly prove to be brought up in industry and frugality, 

 and bound out to learn husbandry, or some other profitable art, whereby 

 they might become reputable inhabitants, entitled to the rights of the 

 British subjects, and their parents thereby eased of the charge of their 

 maintenance as well as the public, which by proper care may be in a 

 good degree relieved from the present heavy expenses." 



The overseers of the poor were required to bind out the children of 

 indigent Nova Scotians to kind masters and mistresses, on condition that 

 they were taught to read and write the English language and such repu- 

 table and profitable occupations as would enable them at the expiration 

 of the term of their apprenticeship to support themselves; males were 

 bound out till twenty-one, females till eighteen. 



