124 The French in Prince Edward Island

trian Succession the British had learned’ the weak- ness of their position and accordingly they decided to take more effective measures to maintain their foothold in Acadia by planting settlers at strategic points to prevent the Acadians from fraternizing with the French. At the same time the power of Louisburg was to be offset by a strongly fortified post in Chebucto Bay whose garrison would afford protection to both the new settlers and the Acadians.

Accordingly, in the summer of 1749 Halifax was founded on Chebucto Bay and Governor Cornwallis was instructed in the interests of colonization and trade to erect storehouses and establish settlements at Chebucto, Minas, La Have, Whitehead, and Bay Verte; and also to encourage settlement “north from the Peninsula to the River St. Lawrence, particu- larly at the River St. Johns on the North Side of the Bay of Fundy, for the better cultivating a friendship with the Indians inhabiting those parts and prevent- ing the designs of the French.” Though the many indulgences of the British had not met with a dutiful return on the part of the Acadians, still in the hope of inducing them to become true and loyal subjects in the future they were to be allowed freedom of reli- gion and the peaceable possession of such lands as were under cultivation, provided that they took the oath of allegiance within three months from the date , of a proclamation to that effect. If any preferred to remove from Nova Scotia rather than take the oath, the Governor was to be careful to see that they did no damage to their houses and plantations before doing