Francklin, Michael (1768) Letters to Isaac Deschamps, 17 and 20 May 1768 (enclosed in a letter of 29 
     
     May 1768 to the Secretary of State, Lord Hillsborough). [17 May letter: Centres d’Etudes Acadiennes: 
     
     typescript in the J.-H. Blanchard Papers: 22.1-20, citing: Col. Corr. N. 8., Vol. 3, p. 143; 20 May letter: 
     
     CO 217, Vol. 22, pp. 218-220v.] 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     A brief reference to forest clearance at a specific location — the site of the future Charlottetown — occurs in a letter 
     
     of instruction from Michael Franck/in (b. 7733, d. 7782/, Lieutenant—Governor of Nova Scotia (which at that time 
     
     also had control over the Island of St. John) to Isaac Deschamps, whom Franck/in had just appointed to oversee the 
     
     establishment of a new administration on the island, as well as to serve as the island’s first justice. Franck/in, acting 
     
     as governor during the long—term absence of Governor Campbell, had misinterpreted - perhaps wilful/y — an 
     
     ambiguous dispatch from the Secretary of State seeking suggestions for a civic establishment for St. John ’8 Island. 
     
     In the process he managed to spend the entire Nova Scotia contingency fund of several thousand pounds. 
     
     Deschamps was accompanied to the site of the future Charlottetown by Charles Morris, the chief surveyor of Nova 
     
     Scotia, among others. In a letter of 37 July to the Secretary of State Franck/in reported that the job had been 
     
     completed and that Charlottetown was now laid out. However within a year, on instructions from the British 
     
     government, the new civic establishment was withdrawn and the site appears to have been temporarily abandoned. 
     
     Pollard I 7898) gives an extended imaginary account of the clearing of the forests on the site of Charlottetown 
     
     including a list of the trees felled. 
     
    
   
   
    
     REFERENCES: 
     
    

    
     Pollard, J. B. (1898) Historical Sketch of the Eastern Regions of New France . Also Prince Edward Island: Military 
     
     and Civil. John Coombs, Charlottetown. pp. 31—34. 
     
    

    
     Fischer, L. R. (1979) Francklin, Michael. Dictionary of Canadian Biography, IV: 273—76. 
     
    

    
     Tratt, G. M. (1983) Deschamps, Isaac. Dictionary of Canadian Biography, V: 250-52. 
     
    

    
     Bumsted, J. M. (1987) Land, Settlement, and Politics in Eighteenth—Century Prince Edward Island. McGill—Oueen’s 
     
     University Press. pp. 28—29. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     From a letter dated 7 7 May from Franck/in to Deschamps: 
     
    
   
   
    
     I am to desire you will immediately proceed from hence to Charlottetown on the 
     
     Island of St. John with the officers of Government, Artificers &c. ordered there. 
     
    
   
   
    
     On your arrival you will deliver the letter herewith to Captain Williams or officer 
     
     commanding at Fort Amherst, who is hereby desired to aid and assist you with the 
     
     Troops under his Command 
     
    
   
   
    
     As soon as you have examined the Situation of the Ground of Charlottetown & 
     
     The streets 0’ determined on the Spot, upon which the Town plot or house lots are to be laid out 
     
    
   
   
    
     Char/Otteww” you will cause the timber in the whole of the streets to be entirely out down, for 
     
     to be cleared . . . . . . . . 
     
     of trees. which purpose the Officer Commanding at the Fort erl furnish you With a sufficrent 
     
    
   
   
    
     Number of Men 
     
     [J.—H. Blanchard Papers: 22.1-20) 
     
    
   
   
    
     From a letter dated 20 May from Franck/in to Deschamps: 
     
    
   
   
    
     Acadians as 
     
    
   
   
    
     axemen. And as there are a number of Accadians on the Island they may be Employed as 
     
    
   
   
    
     Axmen to clear the Streets of wood, etc. 
     
     [C0 217, Vol. 22, 219v.] 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     19