192 The French in Prince Edward Island 
     
    
   
   
    
     would have been impossible: Miramichi which was the 
     
     most easily accessible, was without provisions: some of 
     
     those who went there from here have been obliged to 
     
     return, preferring rather to abandon everything than 
     
     to die of hunger. 
     
    

    
     A request was presented by the inhabitants to Colo- 
     
     nel Rollo, who came to take possession of the island, 
     
     in the name of his Britannic Majesty, asking permission 
     
     to remain on their lands. Colonel Rollo even permitted 
     
     them to send Messrs. Biscara and Castier to present the 
     
     request to the Generals at Louisbourg, but the English 
     
     generals did not consent, apparently wishing to effect 
     
     the complete evacuation of the habitans. I do not think, 
     
     My Lord, that they can succeed this autumn, for, al- 
     
     though M. Rollo has had embarked along with me, 
     
     about 700 persons, who are actually in the roadstead, 
     
     there remain on the island about 4000 souls. No one is 
     
     to blame, My Lord, that a greater number have not. 
     
     embarked or that more did not surrender at Louis- 
     
     bourg, for the treatment of the English does not make 
     
     one wish to be under their rule, nor is the treatment of 
     
     the officers more gracious. 
     
    

    
     In short, My Lord, all these wretched people will re- 
     
     turn to France, and I would take the liberty of repre- 
     
     senting their sad condition to you. It is three years since 
     
     the last refugees arrived on the island. They had to 
     
     endure heavy losses and much hardship in getting here, 
     
     and on arrival, they found themselves so to speak desti- 
     
     tute. Want of provisions and clothing were their com- 
     
     panions on the island. I had very little to distribute. My 
     
     distributions have been meagre, and it was only by mak- 
     
     ing them often that I was saved from seeing anyone 
     
     actually die of want. On their return to France, My