118 ‘The French in Prince Edward Island

Dilinquents to be immediately deliver’d up to the Gover-

nour or the Hostages to suffer according to the utmost Rigour of War.

Given under my hand and Seal in his Britanick Ma-

jesty’s Garrison of Louisburg this 9th day of June 1746.

CHAS. KNOWLES.

While the destinies of the inhabitants of Isle Saint Jean were being decided thus at Louisburg an expe- dition was being fitted out in Canada for its assist- ance and for the recovery of Acadia. On June 5, 1746, seven vessels set out from Quebec carrying 700 officers and men under command of de Ramezay. Apparently de Ramezay was given a free hand as to the ultimate destination of his forces. He first thought of entering Port La Joye but gave this plan up on being informed by a shallop from Isle Saint Jean that two English men-of-war were in the har- bor. He then directed his course toward Bay Verte, the most strategic point for an attack on any of the conquered territories and for uniting the Micmacs and the Abenaquis. Here he was joined by a party of Indians. Here, too, he learned that the English ships were at Isle Saint Jean merely to procure provisions for the garrison at Louisburg and that they were quite unaware of any danger. However, through fear of complicating the relations of the inhabitants with ! the English, he decided to send only the Indians 7 against Port La Joye, under one of his officers, Lieu- tenant St. Pierre.

As the Abenaquis refused to march with the Mic-