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tract of land at and near St. Peters. This gentleman served with me at the siege of Louisburg and was an old acquaintance of his.” He mentions also that, “Mr. Higgins, agent for Messrs. Geo. Spence & Co., is just arrived here from Three Rivers. He gives me a favourable description of that harbour, and its situation for trade, but he thinks that Malpeck is a good harbour, and much the best place on the Island to carry on the fishery. This gentleman has been able to do but little for his employers, as they were much deceived in regard to the salmon fishery. There is no such thing on the Island.” The letter was to go “by the brig Nellie, Robert Salmon, master, who belongs to Messrs. Spence 8: Co.”

In November Lieutenants Haldimand and Robinson visited St. Peter’s, which they describe as one of the most valuable spots on the Island, as well for fishing as for the produce of the land, the land being for a great part clear about' it and is now only settled by a few Acadians, mostly fishermen, which, with those of Fortune Bay, are about thirty families, but in great misery, though they have about one hundred head of cattle among them. These poor people were left on the Island after the surrender of Louisburg, when the other inhabitants were trans- ported to France, as they lived in a distant place in the woods—but surrendering themselves afterwards, and were indulged by some of the commanding officers of Fort Amherst to live on their fishery and gardening. Captain Holland says: ”Some of them have been to me for protection, as the present commanding officer lays claim to everything they have. Captain Hill says they refused the oath of allegiance, but they told me they would do anything required, and become good subjects here, or they would be glad to be transported to Canada. I applied to Captain Hill for leave to buy one or two oxen from them for our own use during the winter, as I fear for the scurvy by eating too much salt provisions, but he told me that all the cattle on the Island belonged to him, that the people were prisoners of war, nor would allow them to sell any of the produce of their gardens. The little live stock we have brought with us we were forced to kill for want of feeding and a place to put them in. The frost and snow has been here for this fortnight very strong.” (Letter dated 28th November, 1764.)

Captain Hill, however, frequently made them (Captain Holland and party) a present of beef, etc., and was always ready to supply them when in want. They exchanged also their salt provisions for horses and partridges, killed by the poor Acadians, which helped to support the party till spring.

Describing the inhabitants of the Island at this time, he says, “The poor wretches, who still remain on St. John, are as indolent as they are poor, which, to a great degree, I never experienced the knowledge of. Their habitations are worse than Indian wigwams; their provisions (as they have no bread) they substitute dry fish in its place, this, with now and then a little salt meat, which they get in exchange for game of different kinds, is their chief support; and frequently are in great distress and want even of these. Their poverty, however, sometimes obliges them to get the better of their idleness and forces them out upon the chase, in which for the most part they are very capable, making use of great skill in their deception to seduce wild fowls, who though here in great plenty are very shy and difficult of access. They are also very alert in the chase of bears, wild cats, martins and others,” which are the only beasts in the Island