assemble in their different villages, to hear

the king's orders.

"At Grand Pré," says Minot, "where Colonel Winslow had the immediate command, four hundred and eighteen of their best men assembled.

"These being shut into the church (for that had become an arsenal), he placed himself, with his officers in the centre, and addressed them:

"Gentlemen,-I have received from his Excellency, Governor Lawrence, the king's commission, which I have in my hand; and by his orders you are convened together, to manifest to you his Majesty's final resolution. to the French inhabitants of this his province of Nova Scotia; who, for almost half a century, have had more indulgence granted them, than any of his subjects in any part of

his dominions; what use you have made of it, you yourselves best know.

"The part of duty I am now upon, though necessary, is very disagreeable to my natural make and temper, as I know it must be grievous to you, who are of the same species.

"But it is not my business to animadvert, but to obey such orders as I receive; and therefore, without hesitation, shall deliver you his Majesty's orders and instructions, namely:

“That your lands and tenements, cattle of all kinds, and live stock of all sorts, are forfeited to the Crown; with all other your effects, saving your money and household goods, and you yourselves to be removed from this his province.

"Thus it is peremptorily his Majesty's orders, that the whole French inhabitants be

removed; and I am, through his Majesty's goodness, directed to allow you liberty to carry off your money and household goods, as many as you can, without discommoding the vessels you go in. I shall do everything in my power, that all those goods be secured to you, and that you are not molested in carrying them off; also, that whole families shall go in the same vessel; and make this remove, which I am sensible must give you a good deal of trouble, as easy as his Majesty's service will admit; and hope that, in whatever part of the world you may fall, you may be faithful subjects, a peaceable, and happy people.

"I must also inform you that it is his Majesty's pleasure that you remain in security, until the inspection and direction of the troops that I have the honor to command.''

With this most quaint address, Colonel Winslow declared them the King's prisoners. And they were detained in the church for several days.

Minot closes the narrative thus :

"The whole number of persons collected at Grand Pré, finally amounted to four hundred and eighty-three men, and three hundred and thirty-seven women, heads of families; and their sons and daughters, to five hundred and twenty-seven of the former, and five hundred and seventy-six of the latter, making in the whole, one thousand nine hundred and twenty three souls. Their stock was upwards of five thousand horned cattle, four hundred and ninety-three horses, and twelve thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven sheep and swine.

"As some of these wretched inhabitants es

caped to the woods, all possible measures were adopted to force them back to captivity. The

country was laid waste, to prevent their subsistence. In the district of Minas where numbers had fled, they were quickly dispersed, according to the original plan, among the several British Colonies. One thousand arrived in Massachusetts Bay and became a public expense, owing in a great degree to an unchangeable antipathy to their situation, which prompted them to reject the usual beneficiary but humiliating establishment of paupers for their children."

The moment of embarkation is thus described by Mr. Haliburton:

"The preparations having been all completed, the 10th of September was fixed upon as the day of departure. The prisoners were drawn up six deep, and the young men, one