The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-09-07
NO. 4Ol.

on their account, and therefore desire his e1
} cellency will give orders for defraying al sue
charges; and, further, to acquaint him that
any more should be sent hither, he would at tn
same time give the ike orders respecting
them" This was the first, though not the onI,
appeal made to the Nova Scotan Government
forindemnity for the numberless expenses cur
red by MASSACHUSETTS, in supporting the Neu
trails; and it was only after many years, wheI
the charges had amounted to many thousand
pounds, that even a small portion of the amount
was recovered.
The towns were directed to look to the Pro
vlncial treasury for remuneration for the ex
penses which they incurred and on December
23i an act passed authorizing the town eff.
GERS justices of the peace, and the Judges Of
superior courts, "to employ, bind out or sup
port, said inhabitants of Nova Scotia. in Ike
manner as by law they would have been EN-
powered to do, were they (the NeutraIsl the
inhabitants of this Province" and exact ac-
counts of their expenses were to be sent to the
Secretary Of State, Gin order to ascertain the
sum advanced by this Government for the ser
vice and safety Of the Province of Nova SEQ
| tian
On the 26th more of the Neutrals arrived.
| Some reluctance was exhibited about receiving
these; but finally, because "they are without
any provision for their support and in great
danger OF suffering during this rigorous sea-
son." committee was appointed to take
charge of them but only until advice NAV
be had from Governor Lawrence, and his or
ders concerning them, or until there NAV he
an opportunity of applying 70 his excellcncy
| General Shirley, for his directions They
were eventually distributed among the towns.
being like the others, subject to this condition,
which was inserted in the order-that their
being so received and entertained in eny
| town shall not be construed or understood to
be an admission of them as town inhabitants :
the Court THAT is the Legislature) relying upon
1t that some other provision will be made for
them, without any expense to this Govern
mentn
In general, the Neutrals were permitted un-
disturbed private practice of the rites of their
religion, but any public religious exercises of
their church would on no account have been
tolerated. Notwithstanding the severe law
against the entrance Of AIRY Roman Catholic
priest into the Province, it was suspected that
| some were present in disguise and although
Hutchinson thought any such suspicion un-
| founded, it is now certain that few enthusi
astic men risked detection in their desire to
keep warm in the hearts of the exiIes their
devotion to the church of Rome.
Houses were provided for the aged and sick,
at the expense Of the Province, and, go far as
concerns the Provincial Government more was
done for the support and even for the comfort
of the Neutrals, than was to be expected, when
such an intense hatred of the French uniyer-
sally prevailed, and when it is considered that
they were thrown upon the public charity by
no act or request Of the Government.
Nowhere did those who were transported to
the other Colonies fare 20 well The Southern
Provinces, having little intercourse or interest
10 common with the Nova Scotan settlements
and DESTROYS to rid themselves of euch an un-
expected and ungratoful burden. recretly en-
couraged them in their efforts to return again
to Acadia. The Government of Pennsylvania
proposed to those who were sent there, that. as
slavery would be on improvement upon their
wretched condition. they should permit them.
selves to be cold. But this proposition was in
Giguantly rejected. Two hundred and f(ty. of
the four hundred and fifteen who formed the
was among them. He had been landed at
New York, with his wife, and two only out Of
his twenty children and hundred and fifty
grandchildren. From there he found his way
to Philadelphia, and soon died.
Thus the year 1855 closed upon the Neu-
trails; and, on looking back, how m0urnful
must have been their reflections Only year
before, in their own land, on their own farms,
surrounded by all their rimplo comforts the
broad meadows, which they had redeemed
from the sea, stretching cut bsfore them, coat
cd with snow; the great dykes, which they
had built, shutting them il, and tho ocean be- |
yond; their s!orehouseg filed with the aptumn's
fruits, their thousands Of cattle fly sheltered
By the great barns; and within the cid farm
houses, by the blazing bearths, all the quiet
homo pleasures Of Northern winter. Il was
the ho!ydsy time, when Christmas, the dear
Lords festival" returns, aad all their simple
chapes were beautfed with pines and frs and
evergreens, and the bells sounded on the frosty
air, and their own priests taught them 10 the
old religious faith-the faith of their fathers,
in France, over the sea.
On January 3Otb, 1856, Shirley returned to
Massachusetts,, and on the 4th Of February
committee was appointed "to prepare 4 mes
sage to his excellency the Governor, respecting
the French persons, commonly called French
Neutrals, lately inhabitants Of Nova Scotia,
and sent htber by order OF his Msicssy's Gov
ernor of that Province" Among the members
of this committee were Thomas Hutchinson.
James Bowdoin, and Josiah Quincy. They
reported an address, which was read and &C
cepted and presented TO Shirley On February
7th. Il commences with an appeal to give to
the subjects Of which it treats an earnest con-
sderati0n, and with an explanation of the rea
sops which led to its presentation. Ii contains
G recital Of she condition Of the New England
troops who followed Winslow to Nova Scotia,
and recommends the immediate recall Of those
who were sent from Massachusetts,. The re-
moval and the disposition made Of the Neutral
French is then spoken Of at length, as follows:
awe bog leave further to represent TO Your
excellency, that about three months ago vcs-
sci arrived at Boston, from Nova Scotia, full
freighted with French persons, inhabitants of
that Province, whom the Governor and Coun-
Gil there in concert with the Admirsls of his
Msjesty's squadron, then at Halifax, judged
necessary to be removed and distributed
through his Majcsty's several Colonies upon
the continent
"His honor the Lieutenant Governor, coon
after the arrival of this vessel, with the advice
Of the Council, sc ut to MIR. Greene, one Of the
Council of Nova Scotia, then at Boston, and also
to tho agents employed in hiring and paying
the charge of the vessels in which the said in-
habitants were transported, to inquire whether
any provision was made for their subsistence
bus the said Mr. Greene had received no orders
for that purpose, and the agents declined to
continue the subsistence after the passengers
landed; 80 that, unless provision had been
made by this Government, these unhappy
people must nave perlSneu Anu, upon LhH-
nation given that several other vessels were
designed hither, the Lieutenant Governor &C
qualnted Governor Lawrence, By letter, with
the desire of the two Houses that no more OF
said inhabitants should be sent to this Prov
ince; bat it does not appear that the said letter
arrived seasonably, and the other vessels came
in soon after, and about one thousand persons,
In the whole, have besn landed here.
Application could not be made to your
exoellency during your absence, and therefore
orders were given TO distribute the whole num-