North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-05-31
LITERARY NOTICE

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we are surprised that the author of this beautiful
poem did not in OF preface, tell mis- readers the
circumstances which his tale of Acade is founded
To say nothing of its literary merits and poetic beau
y, one of its principal charms is the air of truth which
pervades it. Those who have been fascinated by the
strange sweet melody of its versifcaton, and {" the
mournful tradition of the loves of Eyangeline and
Gabriel, may be interested in the following facts
which We condense partly from Halburton's history
of Nova Scotia:
In l7l3, to end the dispute which had so long ex-
listed between France and England, concerning the
boundary of their respective dominions about Hud-
sons Bay, France ceded England the province of
Acadie called Nova Scotia. 1t was, at the time,
inhabited by excellent French population, who
enthusiastic in their attachment not only their
native, but their mother country. Not wishing to
quit the province when it ceded to their heredi
ary enemy, England, they yet feared if they swore
allegiance to her they might, at some future time, be
called on to take up against their countrymen
on the French territory. Frenchmen on English
ground they asked only the privilege of remaining
neutral. in any quarrel should arise between the
two nations, and for this purpose begged to be ex-
cused from taking the oath of allegiance to the King
of Eng land. Their petition tacitly granted, for
though notice taken of it, the oath was
administered to them.
Longfellow in his poem, gives a very good descrip-
ton of their manners and customs, which were sim
pie in the extreme. They were entirely pastoral
and agricultural people; their lands produced wheat.
corn potatoes, and flax in abundance, and their sheep
supplied them with wool, which they manufactured
themselves into clothes. They had no paper money,
and but little gold and silver. Their wants few
and simple, and they lived by exchange of their COM
modities. They all Catholics, and their Priests
acted the part of Judges; settling any differences
which might arise among them, drawing up their
public acts and writing their wills For forty years
after their province coded to England, they lived
unmoested in peaceable possession of their homes.
In 1755, however, the English Government came to
the conclusion that these neutral French they
then called, who at that time amounted to $4,000
souls, might become dangerous, by taking part with
their enemies; so without shadow of justice, the
least provocation, alleged provocaon, Col. Wins
low sent, with two ships of the line to demolish
| their property and expel them from the province
Without the slightest warning, in the middle of har
vest, he assembled the principal men in the Chapel
of ST. Pre-, and informed them they were prisoners
and their lands and goods confscated to the crown
that they might take with them what they could, but
must Immediately leave the province. In conse-
quence Of their earnest entreaes, the prisoners were
permitted ten at once, 10 return to visit their wretch
ed families, and look for the last time their beau
tiful fields and their loved and lost homes.'' They
then ordered board the ships, but refused to
60 unless their families were permitted to go with
them. This was denied, and their refusal to stir,
the soldiers were ordered to shoot them down. Pris
oners without arms they could do nothing but submit.
| ~ Il: al
conveyed them to Louisiana, French Guiana, in South
America, and distant places in the British domnions
but in the embaTkation,
Wives from their husbands and mothers too
late saw their children
Left the land extending their with widest
treaties"
A melancholy instance of the truth of these lines,
once came under our own eye. There is in Louisi-
ana settlement of the descendants of some of these
oppressed Acadians. Among them very old
woman, upwards of ninety, who was born in Acadie.
At the time they were driven from there, she was
nc. than three years old but the dread
full event made such deep impression on her, that
when questioned about it, she spoke of it with great
clearness. She separated from her parents in
the embakation, and put on board vessel with one
of the children Of Rine La Bana, who is not in
aginary character. She adopted into the family,
married of the sons, and was living few years
ago on the banks of Bayou Chicahula, where there
are many of the descendants of Rine La Blana.
| The fate of the good old notary, we find recorded
in the following words " There among them a
notary public called Rene La Blana. He loved the
English. On one occasion, the Indians would have
persuaded him 10 assist them in attempt upon the
English, but he refused and the Indians, in resent
ment made him prisoner and detained him four years.
At the time of the expulsion he living at an adj
vanced age his fidelity to the English deserved IA
vor but found none. La Blana had twenty children
and about one hundred and fifty grand children.
These we're embarked in different vessels, and scat
tered in different provinces. The unfortunate old man
was sent ashore at New York, with his wife and two
Youngest children. Love for those who were scat
tered led him from strange city to another, until
he reached Philadelphia where he found three of his
children and there desparng to the rest, he
sank into the grave, in penury and sorrow"
Evangeline, the heroine of the poem is betrothed
to Gabriel Her father dies of grief, and is buried
on the sea Shore Just before the embarkation. She
is separated from her lover, and after years OF wan
dering in search of him, finds him, when they are
both old, dying in hospital where she as sister of
charity attended. To mind, not only the concep-
ton but the execution of the poem by far the finest
of any of Professor Longfeow's long poems. Some
of his fugitive pieces may be more brilliant, but none
are so we'll sustained, for length of time, as Evan
geline
re SrNED II HC