Underthe French Regime 31

Royale. In 1749, at the end of the British siege, he was replaced by Commandant Claude Denis de Bonnaventure. In 1754, Officer Rous- seau de Villejoin was the last person to fill the position.

The administration of Ile Saint Jean at the local level was not left entirely to the King’s Lieutenant. When the Compagnie de l'Isle Saint Jean was operating, an assistant deputy of the Intendant of New France was sent by the French government to attend to the administration of justice. Subsequently, his duties included the running of the Royal storehouse, census-taking and the distribution of rations to the sol- diers and the inhabitants”>. The first assistant deputy, Robert Poitier Dubuisson, occupied the position from 1722 to 1744. His successor, Francgois-Marie Degoutin, did not take up his functions until 1749 after the Island had been given back to France. He remained in office until 1752.

ACADIAN IMMIGRATION: 1748—1755

By 1748 the population of the Island was still relatively small: approximately 735 inhabitants*®. However, a sudden change in Eng- land’s policy with regard to Nova Scotia triggered a wave of immigra- tion. The question of the oath was becoming increasingly problematic. English authorities still wanted the Acadians to become British sub- jects. This was made clear to the new governor, Edward Cornwallis, who proved to be far less tolerant than his predecessor, the French Protestant, Paul Mascaréne. Cornwallis demanded that the Acadians take the unconditional oath of allegiance or else be deported. They refused.

France, on the other hand, doubled her efforts to attract Acadians to her territory. Authorities in Quebec and Louisbourg, with the dis- interested support of the missionary Jean-Louis Leloutre, urged the Acadians to move to the French territory north of the Missaguash River (on the Isthmus of Chignecto), the supposed border separating the French and English possessions. Acadians were also encouraged to go over to fle Saint Jean and fle Royale.

This is why France hurriedly began the reconstruction of Port LaJoie, which had been reduced to ashes during the English siege. The new governor, Commandant Claude Denis de Bonnaventure, was