The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-02-06
captured from the French the strongly

captured from the FRENCH the SCIoHGiy
garrisoned fort of Port Royal; and then
by the treaty of Utrecht France coded
Nova Scotia to England. And in 1713
the name Port Royal-the capital of
the province-was changed to Annapo-
lis, in honor of Queen Ann. Polls is
the Greek word for city. Thus Annapo-
! lis means the City of Ann. The French
were then given the alternative of tax
ing the oath of allegiance to Great
Britain, or leaving the province within
two years. At length they took the
oath, but were often troublesome tt
| the sparsely settled English settle
ments. Cape Breton still belonged to
the French, who, at great expense, built
strong Notifications at Louisburg in
1920. This stronghold became center
of daring assaults upon the English set
tiers; the French being aided by the
Indians. Fishing vessels were captured
and the crews murdered.
But in 1745 force of a, 900 men and
small fleet, under the command OF Col
Pepperal of Massachusetts, came down
and captured Loulsburg. But in 174s
it was again captured by the French
| and again retaken by the English III
175S.
n174s Edward CORVALLIS was made
Governor of Nova Scotia and came to
Chebucto Harbor, changed the name
to Halifax, in honor of the Earl OF
Halifax, and made it the capital of the
Province.
During the next few years barbarous
outrages were committed by the French
and Indians upon the English settle
ments. In 1855 an expedition came
from Massachusetts and dislodged some
of the French settlements. The French
were then demanded to take an un
qualified oath of allegiance to the
British Government This they refus-
ed to do. Accordingly Governor Law.
renee and his Council decided to re-
move them all from the province. This
act is known in history as the Expul-
sion of the Acadians, which Longfel.
low immortalized in song, and gave
the event highly poetic colorlng.
The Acadians, about 1000 in number,
were compelled to assemble in theiI
churches, and were told they would
there be informed of the kings pleasure
concerning them They were then told
that all their property, except money
and household goods, were forfeited to
the crown Lest they should escape to
! the woods they were placed on board
vessels provided for the purpose, and
! then scattered here and there among all
| the British colonies from New Hamp-
shire to Georgia. Before sailing, their
/ houses and barns were burned in their
sight to let them see that they would
! have nothing to return to should they
| have such a plan in view. In after
| years, however, many of them found
! their way back. In 1853 Gov. Law
renee called together the first leglsla-
-
representatives. He offered induce
ments to people to come from New
England, and large numbers OF thrifty
farmers came and settled upon the
fertile lands vacated by the French. In
1868 France relinquished all claim to
Canada. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and
newfoundland.
And during the next ten years 1t IS
estimated that some 10000 or more
people came from Massachusetts, and
Connecticut and made permanent
homes in Nova Scotia. One colony
came down in % vessels, with all their
household effects, attended by brig
mounting 1G guns, and landed near
Wolfville, June 4, 1860 And during the
early stage of the Revolutionary war,
some 10000 "RoyalisCs' '-as they were
called-removed from the revolving
colonies, and settled ill the western
part of the province. IN no part OF
North America is the original New
England type and blood and habits SO
well preserved as in the western coun-
ties of Nova Scotia. The eastern part
was largely settled by the Scotch.
GEO. E. TUFTS.
Wolfvlle, n. s., Jan. rs, 1905.