mantically saving the life of the only daughter of the wealthy Monsieur De Vere, who fell in love with the sailor and married him.

No one ever claimed that she had married beneath her station, or that the marriage was not entirely satisfactory to her father. He made Adele a loving, faithful husband who had never been known to smile since her death.

His only child, Jean, was to wed the prettiest maiden in Acadia, which was saying a great deal. The father, who seldom sought to curb the will of his son, heartily approved the marriage, and on this morn, as was his habit, rose before the sun to gaze about the town.

His son came to the piazza, his handsome young face glowing in the fresh light of the new day.

"Jean, did you see the Englishman, Captain Winslow?"

"No."

"There is something peculiarly menacing about him this morning. I think we will sail for Virginia soon after your marriage."

แ

"Will you leave Acadia?"

Yes, my son. "Why?"

Monsieur De Barre pointed toward the fort, over which the English flag was waving, and said:

our own. In a land where all religions are tolerated, we may live happily; but in this there must come at an early day ruin and devastation. Let us flee the wrath which threatens us."

"Have you heard any confirmation of the late rumors?"

"War really exists in the colonies between the French and English, and by those loving peace a neutral ground should be selected."

"Did not Newcastle assure us there would be no war?"

"The French have no faith in Newcastle, and when Keppel sailed with Braddock's troops a few months ago, Baron Dieskau was sent to reinforce the French army on the St. Lawrence.

"There has as yet been no formal declaration of war?"

"No; but there has been fighting all along the frontier, and there is actual war which must in the end bring about a declaration of hostilities. the sea Admiral Boscawen pursued and captured two English ships.'

On

Monsieur De Barre knew that three thousand men had sailed from Boston on the 20th of May, 1755, under command of General John Winslow, a great-grandson of Edward Winslow of the Mayflower, and at this time major-general of the Massachusetts militia. They landed near the head of the

Bay of Fundy, where they were joined by General Monckton with three hundred British regulars and a small train of artillery from a neighboring garrison. The French at Beau-Sejour and other military posts on the peninsula were ignorant of the hostile preparations of the two governments, until the appearance of this armament. Resistance be

ing vain, they yielded, and before June 30th, 1755, the peninsula was in the hands of the British. The French soldiers were sent to Louisburg, and the Acadians, many of whom had been forced into service, were granted an amnesty.

If the poor Acadians thought their troubles over, they were very greatly mistaken. Many went on hoping against hope that the conquerors would not further molest them; but the more thinking citizens seemed to realize that great trials were in store for them. They went on cultivating their lands, took the oath of allegiance, but would not pledge themselves to bear arms against their kindred and nation in religion. The avaricious English coveted their fertile lands, and made their refusal a pretext for possessing them. A question of law was raised as to whether one refusing to take all oaths required could hold lands in the British dominions. other words, having refused to take an oath to bear arms against the French, had they not forfeited their lands? The case was referred to Belcher,

In

chief-justice of Nova Scotia, who, of course, decided against the Acadians.

When the French government was apprised of the scheme to rob the unfortunate Acadians, they asked that they be allowed the privilege of taking their personal effects and choosing themselves a future home.

"No," the English governor answered; "they are too useful subjects to be lost; we must enrich our colonies with them.”

Several days before the day on which Jean Baptiste De Barre was to wed Adrianne Blanc, the Acadians, realizing their danger, addressed a touching memorial to the council at Halifax, which was borne by a deputation of educated men. In this memorial they asked for the restitution of the guns and canoes of the people for domestic use, promising fidelity as a ransom for them. Governor Lawrence, president of the council, treated the document with scorn, declaring it " Highly arrogant, insidious and insulting."

"Why do you want your boats?" he asked. "To carry food to the enemy? and I would remind you that a law of the British realm forbids all Roman Catholics having arms in their houses." He scolded the deputies without mercy, declaring, "It is not the language of British subjects to talk of terms with the crown, or capitulate about their

fidelity and allegiance. What excuse can you make for your presumption in treating this government with such indignity as to expound to them the nature of fidelity? Manifest your obedience by immediately taking the oaths required before the council."

The deputies, astounded and alarmed, answered: "We will do as our people may determine; let us go home and consult with them."

The deputation was dismissed for the day, and, during the night, hearing of the decision of the chief-justices of Nova Scotia, they became alarmed and at early dawn hastened to the governor and offered to take the oath; but the governor stubbornly shook his head and answered:

You cannot be permitted to do so now.

By a law of the realm, Roman Catholics who have once refused to take the oaths cannot be permitted to do so afterward and are considered Popish recusants."

The ambassadors were astounded to learn that they were under arrest, and in twenty minutes they were in irons and cast into prison. The chiefjustice insisted that all the French inhabitants, including hundreds of innocent families, were rebels and Popish recusants; that they stood in the way of English interests in the country; that they had forfeited their possessions to the crown, and advised against the receiving of any French inhabi