fo. 69.
The Secretary laid before their lordships an Order of his Majesty in Council, approving a representation of this Board upon the proceedings of the Governor and Council of Nova Scotia in granting out the lands in that province evacuated by the removal of the French inhabitants, and ordering the said Governor and Council to carry the measure into effectual execution upon the terms proposed.
Ordered, that the said Order in Council be transmitted to Mr. Lawrence by the next packet.
fo. 72.
The draught of a letter to the Governor of Nova Scotia, in answer to several received from him, having been prepared pursuant to order, was agreed to, transcribed and signed; and the Secretary was ordered to send it by the pacquet to the Lieutenant Governor of New York, and desire him to forward it to Halifax by the first safe conveyance.
fo. 78.
The Secretary acquainted the Board with some particulars, relative to the disposition of the cattle and stock belonging to the French inhabitants of Nova Scotia, and left there by them upon their removal in 1755; which particulars had been communicated to him by Mr. Grant, one of the Council of that province and lately arrived from thence.
Their lordships, upon consideration of the said particulars, having reason to apprehend, that the said cattle and stock might not have been duly and properly accounted for to the Crown, ordered the Secretary to give notice to Mr. Grant to attend the Board on Thursday next, the 13th instant.
Ordered that the Secretary do give notice to the agent for the settlement to attend the Board to-morrow morning.
fo. 80.
Their lordships entered into a consideration of the particulars communicated to the Secretary by Mr. Grant, with respect to the cattle and stock left in Nova Scotia by the French inhabitants upon their removal in 1755, and several accounts of moneys received and paid in the years 1756, 1757, and 1758, produced by the agent, were examined.
Thursday, March 13.
Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper, Mr. Bacon.
fo. 81.
Their lordships took into further consideration the subject matter of yesterday’s deliberation, respecting the disposition of the cattle and stock left in Nova Scotia by the French inhabitants upon their removal in 1755; and Mr. Grant, attending pursuant to order, was called in, whose information upon this matter was in substance as follows, viz.
fo. 83.
That he never knew exactly what number of cattle the French inhabitants left behind them; that he had once seen an account of those left in the districts of Menis, Canard, Piziquid and the other adjacent settlements, by which they amounted to 10,000 head of horned cattle, exclusive of those at Annapolis; that he understood from information, that the troops in the out garrisons were victualled with these cattle, they having been caught by persons employed by Mr. Saul, the Commissary and agent for the contractors; that many would be lost by the severity of the winter; that a thousand head were driven to Halifax, some of which were sold; and that he bought of Mr. Saul about 60 or 100 head at about 4 pounds per head; that the Governor gave leave to particular persons to drive some down to Halifax (about two or three hundred) for their own private advantage; that Mr. Mauger, the Agent Victualler for the Fleet, brought down about seven hundred, and brought the publick in debt to him about twenty eight pounds for the expence of catching them; that he did not know what number of cattle there might have been in the whole, but that it was said, there was six thousand head in Annapolis district; that he cannot tell, what number of sheep was left; that a few were brought to Halifax, but not being properly taken care of, were wasted; that a person, who was sometime clerk to Mr. Saul, told him, that Saul had salted four or five thousand hogs at Piziquid; that upon an audit of Saul’s accounts by himself and another of the Council, he well remembers, that Saul had given credit to the publick for about two thousand pounds on account of these cattle and stock.
That the people of Lunenburg had some of the horses; and that many were now in use at Halifax; that he never heard of any cattle sold by others than Mauger and Saul, or those to whom they were given in charity.
fo. 84.
It having appeared from an examination of the publick accounts of the colony, that a large sum was charged in the account of the year 1757 for flour bought of Mr. Saul, the Commissary, at fifteen shillings the hundred weight; Mr. Grant was desired to inform the Board, what the price of flour was in the years 1756, 1757 and 1758, whose information upon that matter was as follows, viz.
fo. 85.
That from July, 1755, to October, 1758, flour at an average never exceeded eight shillings the hundred, or eight shillings and six pence at most; that this cheapness was owing to a large quantity of prize flour brought in; that Philadelphia flour has sold for twelve shillings and six pence to thirteen shillings; but scarce any of that came to market at Halifax within that period, or at least only a small quantity; that prize flour was in common use in the province, and that he had bought some of Mr. Saul for fifteen shillings the barrel, which is two hundred and five pounds; that notice was taken in the Council of the high price charged to the publick for flour; and a proposal was made, that they should have the contract, which would supply the cheapest; upon which Mr. Saul promised, that he would furnish it so cheap, that no fault should be found for the future.
Mr. Grant being withdrawn, their lordships agreed to consider further of this affair on Tuesday next; and the Secretary was ordered to give notice to General Winslow and Mr. Sanderson, late Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nova Scotia, to attend on that day.
fo. 86.
Tuesday, March 18.
Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Eliot.
Their lordships took into further consideration the subject matter under deliberation on the last day of meeting, respecting the disposition of the cattle and stock left in Nova Scotia upon the removal of the French inhabitants in 1755; and General Winslow, attending without pursuant to order, was called in; whose information upon this matter was in substance as follows, viz.
fo. 88.
That the troops under his command in Nova Scotia, whilst at Beausejour, were victualled with salt provisions; that when he was sent with a detachment to Menis, they had only fourteen days’ provisions; that from the 14th of August, 1755, to the 13th of September following, his command at Menis in Nova Scotia, officers included, consisted of 313 men, till the 13th of September, when he received a reinforcement, which made them 363, continued at that number till the 11th of November, when he went with one part to Halifax, Captains Adams and Hobbs with one hundred men to Annapolis, the remains left with Captain Osgood at Menis; and that during the time that the troops were at that place, they were victualled about one half of that time with fresh provisions; that they killed out of the stock that did belong to the French inhabitants, which, together with their lands, was declared forfeited to the Crown; that he settled accounts with the agent for the contractor, in which credit was given to the Crown for the fresh provisions the troops had been supplied with.
That some of the cattle was drove over to Halifax by order of Mr. Mauger, the Agent Victualler for the Fleet, as he understood for the use of the fleet; that a great part was left upon the spot; many of which probably perished in the winter for want of fodder; that he never heard, that any cattle was disposed of by sale, not being fit for slaughter.
fo. 89.
That the live stock that belonged to the French inhabitants that were removed by him from the districts of Menis, Canard Rivers, Habiton and Gaspereau, and places adjacent, were General Winslow being withdrawn, Mr. Sanderson, who also attended pursuant to order, was called in; whose information upon this matter was in substance as follows, viz.
Oxen 1,269
Cows 1,557
Young cattle 2,181
5,007
Sheep 8,690
Hogs 4,197
Horses 493
fo. 91.
That the general opinion at Halifax was, that there were large quantities of cattle left by the French inhabitants; it was said, twenty thousand head of horned cattle and ten thousand hogs; that they were not disposed of to the people; that they were taken by the Commissary, and that Mauger, the Agent Victualler, had a part; that he never heard, that any vessels went into the Bay of Fundy to purchase these cattle; that the people at Halifax were altogether ignorant of what passed or was done in that part of the province; that petitions were presented by the settlers for leave to catch some of these cattle, and that some few particular persons had been; and afterwards the cattle they caught were taken away from them; that he supposed the troops were victualled with these cattle, Mr. Saul having packed many thousand barrels of pork; and it was reported, that vessels had carried off salted provisions; that there was a proposal for victualling the people at Lunenburg with these cattle; but it did not take effect; for that cattle were brought for that purpose at a great expence from New England; that he supposes, if the cattle and stock had been sold, it would have produced twenty thousand pounds and upwards; that Mr. Saul, the agent for the contractor, had often spoke of the savings made to the contractor by supplying the troops with these provisions; and it was known, that the contractor had made Mr. Saul a present of three hundred pounds on that score.
That he thinks there must have been ten thousand head of these cattle taken by the Commissary and Agent Victualler; and that he is of opinion, there was a collusion between the Governor and Mr. Saul in this business.
fo. 92.
That these and many other abuses may be discovered and detected by empowering proper persons from home to examine the officers and the persons employed by them, and to inspect the publick accounts.
Mr. Sanderson being asked as to the price of flour at Halifax in 1757, he said that he very well remembers, that it was said, that Mr. Saul had sold prize flour to the publick for fifteen shillings the hundred, for which he only gave fourteen shillings a barrel.
fo. 94.
Mr. Sanderson being withdrawn, their lordships upon further consideration had of this matter, ordered, that the agent for the settlement should carefully examine the accounts of money received and expended for the service of Nova Scotia in the years 1756, 1757 and 1758, and state to their lordships, whether any or what credit has been given by the Commissary or any other officer or officers on account of the cattle and stock left in Nova Scotia upon the removal of the French inhabitants in 1755; and that the Secretary should write to the Secretary to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury to acquaint him with the information which this Board has received upon this matter, and to desire he would move the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury to give orders to the proper officers to examine, whether any or what credit has been given to the publick by the Contractor for supplying the troops in that province with provisions on account of any part of the said cattle and stock supplied to the use of the said troops.
Friday, March 21.
Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon.
Read a memorial of the executors of the late John Gorham, Captain of the Independent Company of Rangers employed in the service of Nova Scotia, stating an account of pay and arrears due to the said Captain between the 25th August, 1749, and 15th December, 1751, and praying payment thereof out of such funds as shall be appropriated to the service of the said colony.
fo. 98.
Ordered, that the agent for the affairs of the settlement of the said colony do examine the accounts of the said colony for the years 1749, 1750 and 1751, and state to their lordships what sums appear to have been paid to the said Captain Gorham on account of his subsistence and arrears between the 25th of August, 1749, and the 15th of December, 1751.
Wednesday, March 26.
Present:—Earl of Halifax, Mr. Jenyns, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Sloper, Mr. Eliot, Mr. Bacon.
Read a letter from Richard Cumberland, Esquire, agent for the colony of Nova Scotia, to the Secretary, dated 24th March, 1760, acquainting him, that no credit appears, from the accounts of that colony, to have been given by the Commissary or other officers, on account of the cattle or stock left there upon the removal of the French inhabitants in 1755.
Read Sir Matthew Lamb’s report, dated March 15th, 1760, upon the minutes of the proceedings of the Governor, Council and House of Representatives of the province of Nova Scotia, in the first session of the General Assembly of that province.
Ordered, that a copy of the said report be transmitted to Mr. Lawrence, with the Board’s next letter to him.
Read a letter from William Adair, Esquire, to Mr. Pownall, dated March 27th, 1760, in behalf of the executors of the late Major General Hopson, praying him to move the Board to give orders, that Mr. Green, Treasurer of Nova Scotia, be permitted to come to England to pass some accounts of the said late General Hopson; and inclosing
fo. 103.
Copy of Major General Hopson’s Memorial to the Lords of the Treasury.
Copy of the Treasury minute relating to Major General Hopson’s Memorial.
Ordered, that the Secretary do transmit a copy of the said Memorial to the Governor of Nova Scotia, and signify to him their lordships’ desire, that he will give leave to Mr. Green to come to England, appointing a proper person to officiate in his stead during his absence.
“Journal, March 1760: Volume 67.” Journals of the Board of Trade and Plantations: Volume 11, January 1759 – December 1763. Ed. K H Ledward. London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1935. 91-101. British History Online. Web. 2 April 2020. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/jrnl-trade-plantations/vol11/pp91-101.