The Shadow of Calamity 179

presence of priests, a fact which gave “inexpressible joy” to Prevost. Prior to 1752 there had been only the chaplain of the garrison at Port La Joye, but henceforth there were to be four additional priests, stationed at Malpeque, St. Peters, Northeast River, and Point Prim. The habitans vied with one another in completing the chapels, and the Minister directed that 2700 livres be diverted from the secret service funds for this purpose.* Those of Pomt Prim, most of whom were from Cobequid, were particularly de- lighted to have with them their former priest Pére Girard. He in turn took a deep interest in their affairs and interceded with the Minister on their behalf. The following extract from one of his letters, dated October 31, 1753, confirms one in the belief that the lot of the refugees in the French stage of the grand dérangement left much to be desired:

Our refugees in general do not lose courage, and hope by working to be able to live; but the nakedness which is almost universal and extreme afflicts them sore; and I can assure you that several will be unable to work this winter for lack of implements. They cannot protect themselves from the cold either by day or by night. Most of the children are so naked that they cannot cover themselves. When I enter their huts and find them sitting in the ashes beside the fire, they try to hide themselves with their hands and take to flight having neither shoes, stockings nor chemises. All are not re- duced to this extremity but almost all are in need.‘

8 President of the Navy Board to Le Normant, March 80, 1753, B, Vol. 98.

411 IV, Vol. 33, p. 329.