Reunion to the Royal Domain 59

woods beautiful, and expressed the opinion that if the King should assume responsibility for the island many Acadians would establish themselves there,— not the fathers of families who would be reluctant to leave their household gods, but select youths from different settlements who obviously would find it more to their advantage to clear new lands there than in Acadia where population in the marshes was be- coming congested. In addition, they would have greater security and repose the further they lived from the English, while at the same time being able to serve the cause of France by supplying subsistence for Louisburg as well as excellent material for ship- building.’ In this summary St. Ovide reveals a two- fold policy of his government: to attract the Aca- dians from Nova Scotia and to utilize their services in the interests of Louisburg. This policy was the source of both the immediate prosperity and the ulti- mate ruin of the colony; but the colony was never an end in itself and never received more than spas- modic and half-hearted assistance, although it was always the object of much meddlesomeness and re- striction which stultified the initiative of the settlers and rendered reasonable success a matter of doubt, even under more favorable conditions.

De Pensens remained in Louisburg during the winter of 1727, leaving his Ensign, de Tonty, in com- mand at Port La Joye. He returned to his post in the spring where he was later joined by Father Félix who had served the Acadians for twenty-five years

5 C11 IV, Vol. 8, p. 70.