Rebirth of the French Colony 137 
     
    
   
   
    
     But it was to cost much more before the tale was 
     
     told !*° 
     
    

    
     The year 1750 was destined to be the banner year 
     
     of immigration prior to the expulsion of 1755. The 
     
     village and church of Beaubassin were burned on 
     
     April 25,'° and on April 27 immigration began, via 
     
     Bay Verte. By July, 200 had arrived and by Novem- 
     
     ber, over 800. On July 22 de Bonnaventure writes, 
     
     “the Acadians come with precipitation bringing their 
     
     beasts with them.” Five or six boats were engaged in 
     
     the transport, including two sent from Quebec to 
     
     Shediac with provisions for the Canadians who had 
     
     taken a position on the Isthmus with a view to sub- 
     
     stantiating the claims of France and of assisting the 
     
     migration of Acadians to French soil. The savages 
     
     also were helping with the transportation and the 
     
     whole scene presented picturesque aspects marred, 
     
     however, by the fact that “some of the refugees were 
     
     naked having had to escape with arms in their 
     
     hands.” Bigot was again called upon for clothing 
     
     and provisions and he informs the Minister that as 
     
     all these people retire on French lands only on con- 
     
     dition of support for the first years we must keep our 
     
     word; and His Majesty will be repaid by having the 
     
     island peopled as well as the coast from Canada to 
     
     Acadia.”* 
     
    

    
     The English, who had allowed the migration of 
     
    

    
     15 Can, Arch. Report, 1905, p. 289. 
     
    
   
   
    
     16The church and more than 300 houses were burned by the 
     
    
   
   
    
     Indians at the instigation of Le Loutre, who set fire to the church 
     
     with his own hand. 
     
    
   
   
    
     17 Can. Arch. Report, 1905, p. 814.