24 THEISLAND ACADIANS

Acadians they would have to be given financial help for the first few years while they cleared the land. He was convinced that an investment of this kind would be worthwhile to the extent that the island could eventually become the “storehouse” (TR) for fle Royale.

However, the Acadians hesitated to go over to the Island colony, particularly because they were afraid the Compagnie de l’Isle Saint Jean might exercise its rights and demand rent from the colonists. The inhabitants who were already established had similar concerns. De Pensens disclosed the following to the Minister in 1728:

The inhabitants are extremely worried by the fact that | am giving them no guarantee for their lands. They have pressed me several times on this matter. I tried to reassure them as best | could by telling them they had nothing to fear from the Comte de Saint Pierre and that they could be sure that he would never bother them on fle Saint Jean. . .(TR)!°

In order to give greater assurance to the Acadians, de Pensens and the governor of fle Royale, Saint Ovide de Brouillan, demanded that the French government revoke the letters patent of the Comte de Saint Pierre and that the Island become part of the Royal domain. This eventually took place in 1730. There was no large-scale immigration, in spite of the fact that the titles had been revoked. On the contrary, only a few Acadian families resettled and, even then, at a very slow rate.

The Acadians were profoundly attached to the properties which they had been farming for generations. They had succeeded in master- ing their natural surroundings and were leading a relatively comfort- able life. They produced enough not only to feed and clothe them- selves, but also to export to New England and Louisbourg. So long as their life was not in danger, why would they abandon fertile soil to start from scratch in a land of uncertainties? Moreover, the move in itself presented definite problems since the transportation of furniture, personal belongings and often large herds of livestock had to be arranged. Financial help from France was not always available. For their part the English authorities governing Nova Scotia had no interest whatsoever in helping to populate the neighbouring French colonies, especially since the garrison and government located in Annapolis Royal depended on the Acadian farmers for supplies.

There was also a geographical factor that discouraged Acadian emigration to the Island. Unlike Acadia, fle Saint Jean had very few