Le Canada-français /, 1 juillet 1889, Documents inédits (Sur l'Acadie - Suite). LXXXVI. - Judge Morris's Paper on the Causes of the war in 1755: and the History of the Acadians

DOCUMENTS SUR l’ACÀDIE 107 An Account of Quit Rents paid to Captain Matthew Floyer by the Inhabitants of Pisiquid, Mines, and River Canard.Livres Sous P.—Pierre Tibedo.P.— Breauxs & Babin .P.— Herbert or Trahan.P.— Abra : Landry.C.—Claude Granger.D°—Jean Dupuy.P.— Jos.Vincent.D°—Ant.Aucoin.D°—John le Blanc.M.— John Jacque le Blanc P.— Pierre Landry.P.— Family of Rivett.P.—Claude Broussard.P.— Pierre Boudrot.P.m.Melanson.M.— John Doucet.C.— Emanuel Herbert., 5 7 .3 10 , 4 10 .3 2} .1 10 2 2 .2 10 .1 5 .4 10 (idocument déchiré) ! 6 10 .3 15 , 4 6 12 102 Fort Edward 20th June 1754 M.Floyer 14} N.B.The Ps Ms and Cs stand for the.the Inhabitants liv’d who.(document déchiré) N.B.The Ps are Piziquid.LXXXVI Judge Morris’s Paper on the Causes of the War in 1755: and the History of the Acadians.1 A Memorandum not to be forgot (Morris No.1) 2 3 “ Statement of the causes of the war of 1756.3 That the settlement of the French on the North shore of the bay of Fundy not only 1.British Museum.Dr Brown’s MSS.Add.19,072, fol.39.Le titre ci-dessus est de la main de M.A.-B.Grosart.2.Le Dr Brown fait précéder ce titre des mots suivants : “ Causes of the war 1755-6.All this most important.Early in the papers.1752 or 3.” De plus il ajoute en marge la note suivante : “ The main force of the narrative ought to rest on the Intrigues and operations of the French.They form the exculpation of the Govt .of N.Scotia.” 3.Le Dr Brown a ajouté à ce sous-titre les mots suivants : “ French settled in Beausejr Ist excite the Indians to war.—Plans of French aggrandisement in America.To Pemaquid and Pentagoet 1750-1.” 108 LE CANADA-FRANÇAIS has been the cause of the last war with the Indians, but will, if they should be permitted to fortify there, be the means of their continuing the war ; and will finally, in case of a French war, not only destroy the English settlements in this province, but be the means of wresting the province of Main out of the hands of the English, which at present, is but thinly settled, and thereby acquire a country full of mast timber and pines, and an inexhaustible fund of oak timber for ship building, with the whole fishery of Cape Sable shore.1753.\_i749\- 1 Before the detachment of the French troops came into this province, the Indians of the Cape Sable shore were [lived at large] among the first settlers in a friendly and peasable manner ; [in Aug 1743] the S1 Johns Indians sent a deputation of their chiefs and entered into a treaty of peace and subjection to His Majesty.But soon after the arrival of their troops [under La Corne'] with Le Lutre the Indian missionary, the Indians drew off, and that which soon followed was an insolent letter [mentioned in the Chief I.notes, Le Lieu ow.] sent to Governor Cornwallis in the name of the Mickmacks and Isle Royal and hostilities soon after commenced ; from which it is evident they were the fomentors and cause of it.That it [t/iis Indnwar] still continues, is owing to the supplys of ammunition, cloathing and provisions supplied [afforded] them by this detachment, as is evident from the papers taken in the Sloop London, and Brigantine S‘ Francis, and their paying a premium for scalps and prisoners, and there is little hope of ever engaging them on the side of the English, or even to a peace, whilst it is not in our power even to have a conference with them.The unhappy fate of Cap1 Howe is an instance of the hellish policy of the French to prevent such attempts.[2dlr.Debauch the Acadians] That which is still of more dangerous consequence to the English in this Colony is their drawing over the French inhabitants to their interest, by which means every one of them, whom they persuade to take the oath of allegiance to the French King become our inveterate enemy, and it is not improbable that within a little while all the French inhabitants will desert their settlements on the peninsula, and join them: all the inhabitants on the north shore having already done it.1.Les italiques entre crochets [ ] dans ce mémoire sont des mots, com- mentaires ou corrections, de la main du Dr Brown. DOCUMENTS SUE L’ACADIE 109 [Conduct of those of Chignecto.] The Inhabitants of Chignecto, and those villages on the bason, within the peninsula, have burnt their villages and retired to the North shore, as have several of the inhabitants of Cobequid, last summer and this spring [early in 1754], the whole with many from Pisaquid, Minas, and the other settlements.[Force of the Acadns, of the Canada Regulars & Indians.] So that from the inhabitants alone, the French are able to raise more than 1000 men.Their own troops scarcely exceed 200, yet by means of these, and the Indians in their interest, they are able to raise above 1500 fighting men at present, and should all the inhabitants retire to them, of which there is great danger, with the Indians and them, they might muster near 3000 fighting men, a dangerous body for the settlers, and more so from their education, who being brought' up near the water, which they use much in summer, and near the woods, which they traverse for game in the winter, they are naturally both seamen and rangers.[Nova Scotia exposed.The Eastern Coast of New Engld at the mercy of the Canadians.'] Add to this the proximity of Sl John’s Island and Cape Breton, & Canada with which they have so short a communication by Bay Vert : that they are able on any design to double that number, and that before the English can have any knowledge of it : let it be supposed that such a body of troops should be lodged so near their settlements, a thing not only possible but probable.How easy a prey would this settlement be ! and what could hinder detachments from them from ruining the eastern coast of New England, who are settled only in scattering villages on the sea coast ; and in the extent of 40 leagues, have not 1500 fighting men ; who at no time could be collected together in so speedy a manner as to prevent the destruction of any single village.[Claim of the French to mont desert.The position of that region.The English trade passes near it.] Nor is that the only danger, for the coast from Passamaquody to Mount Desert lies open to the Atlantic, a country they claim, and are now about settling, and by which, within 40 leagues, passes all the English trade, bound to New England, and New York, and very near all the other northern Colonies.This part of the country abounds with a great number of excellent and good harbours, among which is Mount Desert harbour, which for safety and conveniency may vie with any harbour in the world, having such a high range of hills just behind it, will be a sure mark to all navigators ; and 110 LE CANADA-FRANÇAIS may be seen in a clear day, 20 leagues off at sea, and three deep channels, thro’ which the biggest ships may safely pass, and from whence they may put to sea in any wind from the south, west, north to the east, and capacious enough to hold 500 sail at a time.[French policy in fortifying Chignecto.\ The apparent drift therefore of the French is to gain possession of this country, for ¦which they are using the utmost diligence, by fortifying in Cheignecto bason, which will command the communication between our’ troops at Cheignecto, and the other parts of the province and may therefore prevent supplies being carried to them, for our vessels bound there, must pass within musket shot of their present lodgment and [which] has hitherto subjected the Garrison to great inconveniences.[S« Johns.] By fortifying at S‘ John’s river, no vessels can come to Annapolis or Minas, but must pass within a few leagues of that place.[Passamaquoddy.] And as they extend farther westward, which they are aiming at by settling the old deserted settlements of Passamaquody, Mechias and other deserted places even to Penobscut river, they will soon be able to maintain themselves against the force of the English Colonies, from the nature & situation of the country.There are several fair and deep rivers, which run far into these countries, such as Sl John’s navigable 30 leagues, Sl Croix 20 leagues, Penobscut 30 leagues, the borders of which are said to be fertile, so that forts built at the mouth of those rivers will secure them from depredations, and having the Indians always in their interest, they are able to proceed immediately to cultivate their lands,^and the Indians are their security and defence, together with the Canadians, who are settled on the back of them, and can soon reinforce them with numbers sufficient to maintain their ground.[Necessity of prevention.Confirmation of this acc1 by the disposition of the forces of the French and English.] This therefore will be the consequence unless timely removed, which can be effected only with a superior force to that which at present is in the Colony, for the whole troops together do not exceed 1000 men, and they so separated, through the difficulties attending the several parts of the province, while these treators are in it, that they cannot be collected and joined without leaving some or other part exposed [defenceless].4 DOCUMENTS SUR L’ACADIE 111 That whilst it continues in this state, the settlers will be obliged to confine themselves within their town lots and picquets, and thus rendered incapable of cultivating and improving then-lands and will be induced to seek [repair to the] other lots [colonies] where they may more easily obtain the necessaries of life, rather than bring themselves and families to be thus inhumanly butchered.LXXXVII Anthony Casteel’s Journal.1 (Generous Conduct of the Acadian Morrice & apparently sincere.An interesting picture of Indian hostilities as conducted by the French during this period.) Anthony Casteel’s Journal, while prisoner with the Indians in the months of May & June 1753.— Confirmed by oath.Verified upon oath.— An illustration of the disposition to hostilities on both sides.The Indians completely at the disposal of the French executing their orders & acting under their authority.To introduce the following journal, and to do justice to all the parties concerned in it, it is necessary to borrow the following detail from authorities of an earlier date.In a letter which Surveyor Morris wrote to Mr Cornwallis in England, dated the 16th of April 1753, there is a paragraph to this purpose.“ Yesterday (the 15th of April) arrived from the Eastward two men, in an Indian Canoe, who have brought six scalps of Indians.The account they gave of the affair, upon their examination was, that James Grace, John Conner (a one eyed man, formerly one of your bargemen) with two others, sailed from this port about the middle of Febry last in a small Schooner, and on the 21st were attacked in a little harbour to the West- 1.British Museum,.Brown MSS.Add.19073, f.11.N° 23.M.Grosart, de qui le British Museum a acheté les MSS.du Dr Brown, fait précéder ce document de la note suivante : “ 1753.Anthony Casteel’s Journal while prisoner with the Indians in the months of May & June 1753.“ Verified upon oath.From the Council Records by Dr Brown.Introductory Letters prefixed.Disposition to hostilities on both sides.Peculiarly valuable & interesting."