An Event Chronology Based on Louisbourg Accounts Not Available in the Archives of the Fortress of Louisbourg, By Eric Krause, Krause House Info-Research Solutions, 2004

An Event Chronology Based on Louisbourg Accounts Not Available in the Archives of the Fortress of Louisbourg, By Eric Krause, Krause House Info-Research Solutions, 2004 - Present

Captain General and Governor in Chief, in and over his Majesty's province of Nova Scotia, the islands of St. John and cape breton, and their dependencies, Vice Admiral of the same.

"WHEREAS it has been represented to me, that many frauds and impositions have been committed, and a clandestine trade carried on by vessels belonging to the United States of America, under pretence of importing provisions into this province."

I do therefore, with the consent and advice of his Majesty's Council, hereby strictly forbid the importation of all kinds of provisions into this province and its dependencies, after the end of thirty days from the date hereof; except in vessels which shall be the property of his Majesty's subjects, and navigated according to law.

Of course the collectors of his Majesty's customs, all the revenue officers, and others whom it may concern, are to take due notice, and govern themselves accordingly.

GIVEN under my hand and seal, at Halifax, this twenty-fifth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, in the twenty-fifth year of his Majesty's reign.

... Last Wednesday arrived in the ship Brothers, Captain Glann, in fourteen days from Halifax, Nova Scotia, by which we are informed of the arrival there from Dublin, of Thomas Moncrieffe, Esq; lately appointed Town-Major of Louisbourg. ...

"We are to get, or rather to be continued, the full participation of trade with the British colonies in America; that is, with the wretched residue which the American revolt has left to England, as not worth taking from her; what is this wretched residue? Every one, who has leisure to consult the map, may see it consists in a region of ice and snow, from the Cape of God's Mercy, just without the Arctic circle, to the Eskimaux Bay, in lat. 54, and southward of that along the dreary bays of Newfoundland, to the desolate island of cape breton, and the beggerly province of Nova Scotia, a tract that altogether does not contain as many inhabitants as the town of Drogheda, the entire trade to which might be carried on by any one mercantile house of character, nor would that one favored house get rich in haste; and yet we are told of a colonial participation, as an object commensurate with a surrender of our independence, and the adoption of a ruinous code of coercion and taxation. Such an impudent insult on our understandings is not patiently to be borne."

We have been informed by private gentlemen from London, in the late ships, that that Court do not intend to confirm to the Articles of the late Treaty of Peace with America, any farther than they can be insured of its good consequences to their country. - The WESTERN POSTS in America they are determined not to relinquish! -

It is confidently asserted, that the British are fortifying cape breton, where a regiment of troops are stationed; and that large quantities of potatoes, and other necessaries for their support, have lately been shipped from this port. ....

Halifax
12.^th December 1785.

My dear Sir ?

I feel myself so grounded in Your kind friendship, that I made no scruple to be==lieve you will have pleasure in hearing, ' that I am returned to Halifax, not entirely worn out by near seven months pilgrimage, five of which were in the woods, or in open boats, or canoes. Exploring the Country from Quebec to Cape Breton ? but principally On the latter ? exposed to all that Heat ? Cold ? Wet ? Dry ? Fatigue ? Dirt ? Labor ? Hunger Thirst & the other &c. ^as incident to such business [-2-] could impress upon my Constitution, which is now almost recovered from the exercise ?

On the island of Cape Breton, I have found some good timber, but none so large, as in your province ? The soil is in general fertile & easy to cultivate ? On one river, there is a large quantity of intervals equally good as that on Connecticut river ? The Rivers extend almost thro? the island and are navigable to any burthen, quite to the Sea ? Coals & evr'y species of Fishery ? will afford a permanent staple of commerce & currency ? The climate is nearly the same as \ at / this place; and the Harbour unrivalled. It may be advantgeous to these Provinces & to Canada, if this Country shou'd be populous ? it is very strong in itself, & without fortifi==cations, capable of defence, & from its [-3-] Coal situations, & tenable communi= =cations might afford certain, and sudden aids, to its neighbors ? In peopling this island, care shou?d be had, to get settlers from other Countrys, & migrations from these provinces rather discourag?d ? Some progress has been made toward Settling Spanish river ? L.^t G:^r Desbarres is animated & indefatigable ? but I am apt to think the business of settling uncultivated Countrys requires a peculiar cast of Talents, & a certainty of support ? How far they may meet at Cape Breton is yet to be proved ? I ought to wish success ? because I think it important to British America, & personally because of M^r Debarres very great civilty & attentions to me, while in his Government ? [-4-] You must have heard that Comm.^rs of american Claims are arrived here ? Do you intend to come here upon this, or any other occasion? I am a claimant, & shall wish to have your testimony relative to Wolfboro' ? if you mean to come here, I shou?d prefer a viva voce evidence to the Com.^rs, if not, I shall request you to give me a deposition ? M^r. Thomas will, I've no doubt, give me his ? I shall also hope for M.^r. Spoule's & Cap.^t Cochran's ? I will write you the par==ticulars, as soon as they can be ascertained ? I wish to know when you expect to be at the City of S.^t Johns ? possibly I cou?d find
means to step to you for an Evening or two ? Our friend Coll.^o Fanning is return?d delighted with New Brunswic ? it's Governors and
Governed ? M^rs. Wentworth say's I've wrote a Long letter, & yet insists on making it still .... {Remainder missing}

[Source: Letter from Governor Wentworth to Edward Winslow, 12 December 1785, Halifax: electronic edition Author: Wentworth, John Transcribed by: Dorothy Bennett Encoded by: A.J. Yates Distributor: The Electronic Text Centre at UNB Libraries Harriet Irving Library University of New Brunswick Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3 Citation: Governor Wentworth to Edward Winslow, 12 December 1785, Halifax. The Edward Winslow Letters, Atlantic Canada Virtual Archives, no. 4_03_142. University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada. Original: The Winslow Family Papers, MG H2, Volume 4, Part 3, p. 142. Archives and Special Collections, Harriet Irving Library, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick. ]