[207] Shirley says that the indiscriminate removal of the Acadians would be “unjust” and “too rigorous.” Knowles had proposed to put Catholic Jacobites from the Scotch Highlands into their place. Shirley thinks this inexpedient, but believes that Protestants from Germany and Ulster might safely be trusted. The best plan of all, in his opinion, is that of “treating the Acadians as subjects, confining their punishment to the most guilty and dangerous among ’em, and keeping the rest in the country and endeavoring to make them useful members of society under his Majesty’s Government.” _Shirley to Newcastle, 21 November, 1746._ If the Newcastle Government had vigorously carried his recommendations into effect, the removal of the Acadians in 1755 would not have taken place. [208] There was afterwards sharp correspondence between Shirley and the governor of Canada touching the Acadian priests. Thus, Shirley writes: “I can’t avoid now, Sir, expressing great surprise at the other parts of your letter, whereby you take upon you to call Mr. Mascarene to account for expelling the missionary from Minas for being guilty of such treasonable practices within His Majesty’s government as merited a much severer Punishment.” _Shirley à Galissonière, 9 Mai, 1749._ Shirley writes to Newcastle that the Acadians “are greatly under the influence of their priests, who continually receive their directions from the Bishop of Quebec, and are the instruments by which the governor of Canada makes all his attempts for the reduction of the province to the French Crown.” _Shirley to Newcastle, 20 October, 1747._ He proceeds to give facts in proof of his assertion. Compare “Montcalm and Wolfe,” i. 110, 111, 275, _note_. [209] _Shirley to Newcastle, 15 August, 1746._ [210] _Newcastle to Shirley, 30 May, 1747._ Shirley had some time before directed Mascarene to tell the Acadians that while they behave peaceably and do not correspond with the enemy, their property will be safe, but that such as turn traitors will be treated accordingly. _Shirley to Mascarene, 16 September, 1746._ [211] Beaujeu, _Journal de la Campagne du Détachement de Canada à l’Acadie_, in _Le Canada Français_, ii. _Documents_, 16. [212] _Mascarene to Shirley, 8 February, 1746_ (1747, new style). [213] _Goldthwait to Shirley, 2 March, 1746 (1747_). Captain Benjamin Goldthwait was second in command of the English detachment. [214] Beaujeu, _Journal_. [215] The dates are of the new style, which the French had adopted, while the English still clung to the old style.