The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-15
Extract from Rev. Mr.. Cyr's Lecture.

Tyr, uellVereo w edheSday evening In hepresen-
tatives Hall The lecturer is speaking of the time
when the Provincial Government determined
to expel the Aoldians and disperse them
through the s)ionies. \ pr anlatlon wss issue
requiring their presence at the respective posts
on the 9Th of Sept, 1855, without telling them
the object Of this meeting.
The lecturer continues
/" This proclamation, drafted as we can see,
with pCrfdious skill, had u full success Four
hundred and eighteen able bodied men obcyed
the orders and assembled on the 9th of Stptem
Der, at Grand Pre-. After shutting them up IN
the church, which had been transformed INTO
an arsenal Col Winsow placed himself in The
centre with his officers, and declared TO them
that they property was confscated, and they
were to be removed from the colony.
Then he declared them prisoners Of war, and
q body of troops, which had remained concealed
until then, came out of their retreat and sur
rounded the church.
The Acadians are appalled, by the trap into
which they discover they have fallen, and, what
ever may be their boldness and courage, they
cannot resist nor deliver themselves. VIVA,
could they do, unarmed, against these soldiers,
sent expressly to lead them into captivity, to
deprive them of their lands and Hocks and es-
pecialIy of their most precious of all possessions,
their Country and their Liberty. In vain
would they try to escape from Their snares of
the enemy. They cannot Withstand their mus
kets nor cut their swords.
Oh ! what sad, what Distressing Thoughts
mnst have filled their mind and weighed heavily
upon their hearts, during the first day of their
captivity. In moment they had passed from
ease into poverty, from liberty into imprson-
ment in word, from their simple and peaceful
domestic happiness, into the most cruel nStor-
| tune.
1t seems to me | can fancy this multitude Of
men, assembled in the chapel where they have
been in the habit OF worehlpplng God On the
| right and on the lett, are stretched out the fer
tile ii Ids, in the midst OF which they were born,
and which promised TO them SO much happiness.
! Behind them rise the hllis, covered win forests
/ Hhuso foliage has the divers, hut SAD shades OF
| OF autumn, while before shem, Is Grand Pre-,
| the imiuepse prairie where pasture their nnmer-
GUS nocks and beyond, the picturesque Basin
! of Minas, hose beauties, however, are now 90
| -cured by the presence OF the eneIny ships,
which have come TO drive them away from their
native soil and their peaceful homes 1t IS the
same scenery they have contemplated from their
| Infancy. 1t is the same scenery on which Their
eyes rested few hours before, and yet how it
has changed, how sad has become the aspect Of
all things the setting sun stll sl.ds with lis
glorious rays, these fertile fields, these fine lax
nriant forests, this magnificent bay but us
effect is only TO cast gloomy and s9mbrc shade
upon every object. A crus, hand has stretched
cut u funeral pail upon the country, and every
heart is oppressed with grief, every soul is filled
with ANGUISH.
IF now we repair to their homes, spectacle
even more distressing is offered to our view.
Ihe intelligence OF Their sal fate, spreads from
house to house land brings terror and agony to
the soul Of the devoted wife, and to the dear
children. They tremble In the expectation OF
what is to take place. They are ignorant of
what is kept 10 reserve for them they only
know that thcr happiness Is blghted forever.
The whole country Is a vast scene of tears and
despair
Little by little, however, calmness ard resig-
nation prevail The excess Of grief, as The excess
of joy, says Hugo is a violent thing which lasts
bus I. little.
The prisoners show lively regret at having
incurred the displeasurc of his majesty, aud 10
petition to Col. Winslow, they beg the favor Of
being allowed TO visit their families to console
tnen in their Distress Offering to leave a certain
plumber Of them rs hostages, TO secure their re-
turn TO heir prison. The Colonel answered that
this could not be granted them, but he would
have no objection that a certain number should
visit their homes. PERMISSION was gwen to them
to choose ten for the District Of Mlnas, and ten
for the District of Canards. to whom leave Of
absence was given Tor one day, and on whose re-
turn, q similar number would have the same
privilege. This was the only favor they could
obtain. How touching, how heart-rendlng
must have been these last interviews in their
homes with their dear families We can fancy
she unfortunate Acadlan, endeavorng 20 con-
sole his wife and children, and m!ngling his bit
ter tears with theirs. What can he say to com
fort them ?
The Acadian has leave of absence for twenty
four hours only, and the time expired. lie
must again return to his prison
Then come the preparations for the exile, an(
in these occupations, they tad respite, thougI
poor it be, TO their anguIshlng feelings. The,
gaCher the objects they are allowed TO take witt
8 them, ana tho tenth OF September, they are
ordered to embark in the Vessels that are DIES
tined to conduct them to forelgn and unknown
shores.
Q They have their confinement, says llallbOreton
e and received their sentence with iurttudc an
resignation, altogether unex pected ; bat whe
the hour OF embarkat arrived, ln which the
were to leave forever, the land OF their natvlt,
: 10 part with their friends and relatives wilhou
# the hope OF ever seeing them again, and 10
:, dispersed among strangers, whose Language
customs and religion, were opposed to thel
own, the weaknesses OF human nature prevailed
and they were overpowered with sense Of the
o miseres. The prisoners were drawn up, 81