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to settle the matter, were ceded to Great Britain,

in 1713.

Acadie was inhabited by an excellent French population. When these good people found their country yielded to England, and themselves no longer subjects of the French king, they were grieved to be forced to acknowledge another master. They knew that the French and English were hostile to each other, and they dreaded to be compelled, some time or other, to take up arms against Frenchmen; they, therefore, entreated the English that they might never be forced to so painful a service, and might be excused from taking the oath of allegiance.

This request received no special attention, but, for a time, a kind forbearance was exercised towards them. After a period of forty years, the English government came to the conclusion that these neutral French, as they were called, might become dangerous to their interests by taking part with the Canadian French, their active enemies. On account of this presumed danger, without the least alleged provocation, or the least show of justice, they took upon themselves to drive out of

their possessions this peaceable, prosperous, and unoffending people.

The Acadians had no warning of their fate. At harvest-time they were ordered to assemble in a certain district, and being collected, were informed they were prisoners,---that their lands, cattle, and moveables were no longer their own, but were confiscated by government,---that they might take what they could convey away, but must immediately quit the province.

In one single district, two hundred and fiftyfive houses, as many barns, eleven mills, and one church, were destroyed. Ships were in readiness to convey the persecuted Acadians to different parts of the Continent,---to Louisiana, to French Guiana in South America, and to distant places in the then British Provinces on the Atlantic.

These people had been remarkable for their industry, their skilful husbandry, their pure morals, and their exemplary piety. Their lands produced wheat and corn, potatoes, and flax, abundantly. Their houses were convenient, and furnished with all things necessary to comfort. Their numerous flocks afforded the wool which

was manufactured in the family for their clothing: they had no paper money, and little silver or gold, and lived by simple exchange of commodities. So little contention arose among them, that courts and lawyers were needless: the wise and experienced decided their small differences. They were Catholics; the priests drew up their public acts, wrote their wills, and kept possession of the documents, until death called for the execution of them. To requite these services, the inhabitants allowed them one twenty-seventh of the harvest for their subsistence.

At the time of the dispersion, the Acadians were 18,000 in number. No want existed among them the poor were few, and the prosperous cheerfully supported those. These unfortunate people were the victims of their own integrity. Had they taken the oath which demanded of them to violate their best affections, they might have retained their houses, their fields, and their flocks their good feelings demanded only the innocent liberty of neutrality.

In September, 1755, Colonel Winslow, an officer usually resident at Marshfield, Plymouth County,

Massachussetts, was sent with the King's Commission to demolish the property of the neutrals, and to expel them, without exception, from the province. Colonel Winslow deeply regretted that he should be employed in this cruel service. He knew, so he said, that they were of "the same species" with himself, and "it was disagreeable to his make and temper" to inflict pain. His first measure, on landing at Grand Pre, was to make prisoners of several hundreds of the most considerable of the men of the settlement. "In consequence of their earnest entreaties, the prisoners were permitted, ten at once, to return to visit their wretched families, and to look, for the last time, upon their beautiful fields, and their loved and lost homes."

These unhappy men bore their misfortune with firmness, until they were ordered on board the transport ship, many to be dispersed among people in the British provinces, whose customs, language, and religion, were opposed to all they held dear and sacred.

On the 16th of September, the prisoners we re drawn up six deep; and the young men, one

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hundred and sixty in number, were ordered to go on board the vessels. They refused to do this, unless their families might be permitted to accompany them: this was denied, and the soldiers were ordered to do their duty. The wretched Acadians no longer resisted, but marched from the chapel of Grand Pre to the ships.

The road from the chapel to the shore, just one mile in length, was crowded with women and children, who, on their knees, and with eyes and hands raised to heaven, entreated blessings on their young friends, so unmercifully torn from them. Some of the latter broke out into bitter lamentations; others prayed aloud; and another portion sang mournful hymns, as they took their way to the ships. The seniors formed another detachment, and their departure occasioned a similar scene of distress. Other vessels arrived, and their wives and children followed. Their dwellings were burnt before their eyes, and the work of destruction was complete. Eighteen thousand souls were cast forth upon the pitiless world. Desolate and depopulated was the beautiful tract they had occupied: their homes lay

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