The Acadian Exiles | Page 9

Ile Royale, and 'they expect
ships to convey themselves and effects accordingly.' Nicholson, who
had now arrived as governor, took the position that he must refer the
question to England for the consideration of Her Majesty.
When the demand of the governor of Ile Royale reached England,
Vetch was in London; and Vetch had financial interests in Nova Scotia.
He at once appealed to the Lords of Trade, who in due course protested
to the sovereign 'that this would strip Nova Scotia and greatly
strengthen Cape Breton.' Time passed, however, and the government
made no pronouncement on the question. Meanwhile Queen Anne had
died. Matters drifted. The Acadians wished to leave, but were not
allowed to employ British vessels. In despair they began to construct
small boats on their own account, to carry their families and effects to
Ile Royale. These boats, however, were seized by order of Nicholson,
and the Acadians were explicitly forbidden to remove or to dispose of
their possessions until a decision with regard to the question should
arrive from England.
In January 1715 the accession of George I was proclaimed throughout
Acadia. But when the Acadians were required to swear allegiance to
the new monarch, they proved obdurate. They agreed not to do
anything against His Britannic Majesty as long as they remained in
Acadia; but they refused to take the oath on the plea that they had
already pledged their word to migrate to Ile Royale. John Doucette,
who arrived in the colony in October 1717 as lieutenant-governor, was
informed by the Acadians that 'the French inhabitants had never own'd
His Majesty as Possessor of this His Continent of Nova Scotia and
L'Acadie.' When Doucette presented a paper for them to sign,
promising them the same protection and liberty as the rest of His
Majesty's subjects in Acadia, they brought forward a document of their
own, which evidently bore the marks of honest toil, since Doucette
'would have been glad to have sent' it to the secretary of state 'in a
cleaner manner.' In it they declared, 'We shall be ready to carry into
effect the demand proposed to us, as soon as His Majesty shall have

done us the favour of providing some means of sheltering us from the
savage tribes, who are always ready to do all kinds of mischief... In
case other means cannot be found, we are ready to take an oath, that we
will take up arms neither against His Britannic Majesty, nor against
France, nor against any of their subjects or allies.' [Footnote: Public
Archives, Canada. Nova Scotia A, vol. viii, p. 181 et seq.]
The attitude of both France and England towards the unfortunate
Acadians was thoroughly selfish. The French at Louisbourg, after their
first attempt to bring the Acadians to Ile Royale, relapsed into inaction.
They still hoped doubtless that Acadia would be restored to France, and
while they would have been glad to welcome the Acadians, they
perceived the advantage of keeping them under French influence in
British territory. In order to do this they had at their hand convenient
means. The guarantee to the Acadians of the freedom of their religion
had entailed the presence in Acadia of French priests not British
subjects, who were paid by the French government and were under the
direction of the bishop of Quebec. These priests were, of course, loyal
to France and inimical to Great Britain. Another source of influence
possessed by the French lay in their alliance with the Indian tribes, an
alliance which the missionary priests helped to hold firm. The fear of
an Indian attack was destined on more than one occasion to keep the
Acadians loyal to France. On the other hand, the British, while loth to
let the Acadians depart, did little to improve their lot. It was a period of
great economy in English colonial administration. Walpole, in his
desire to reduce taxation, devoted very little money to colonial
development; and funds were doled out to the authorities at Annapolis
in the most parsimonious manner. 'It is a pity,' wrote Newton, the
collector of the customs at Annapolis and Canso, in 1719, that 'so fine a
province as Nova Scotia should lie so long neglected. As for furs,
feathers, and a fishery, we may challenge any province in America to
produce the like, and beside that here is a good grainery; masting and
naval stores might be provided hence. And was here a good
establishment fixt our returns would be very advantageous to the
Crown and Great Britain.' As it was, the British ministers were content
to send out elaborate instructions for the preservation of forests, the
encouragement of fisheries and the prevention of foreign trade, without

providing either means for carrying out the schemes, or troops for the
protection of the country.