Subjection, in the most Speedy Manner, to prevent their Revolt, which Cannot be done without his Majesty’s Special directions for that purpose; for the procuring of which, I find Mr. Mascarene, and his whole Council have a dependance upon me; the Language of their Several Letters being that they _Commit themselves to my Care_; and will take no step without my Advice or approbation, which has been the Case for above these last two years, And I mention to your Grace in Excuse for my being So importunate in the Affairs of another Government, which the Gentlemen of the Garrison lay me Under a Necessity of being; And I am further Urg’d to this by the late Accounts, w^{ch}. Mr. Mascarene and the other Gentlemen have sent me of the Appearance of four hundred Indians well Cloathed, Arm’d, and Supply’d with Stores 316 from Canada near St. Johns River, Seventeen French Officers being Seen among ’em, and another Body of French in the Neighbourhood of the Province, and Reports that Mr. Duvivier in the Parfaite Man of Warr, and another Ship of Force were at Qubec with Stores, and another was seen to put into St. Johns Island; That the Priests who went to Canada for Instructions are returned with Supplies and large promises to the Indians (before well dispos’d and upon the point of putting themselves under Our protection on the taking of Louisbourg) and Encouragements for the Inhabitants to depend upon a powerfull force against the Fort at Annapolis Royal this Spring. These alarms indeed have been Something Allay’d by Letters from the Deputies of Minas and other Districts to Mr. Mascarene, which for my own part I have no great dependance upon. “But it seems plain upon the whole, that the French are making the Utmost Efforts to retain the Indians of those parts in their Interest, and gaining over the Inhabitants of Nova Scotia, So that the Taking of Speedy measures for Securing these last and gaining over the former which will depend upon that, as the preservation of Nova Scotia does upon both, is a Matter of the Highest Consequence. “Upon this Occasion it seems necessary for me to apprise your Grace, that Mr. Mascarene and his Council have not So good an harmony Subsisting between them as could be wish’d, and that all the Officers have of late differ’d in Sentiments with him particularly upon the Behaviour of the French Inhabitants, Concerning whom he indeed has himself alter’d his Opinion in Some measure; But I think there may be Still danger of too much tenderness towards ’em on his part, and perhaps rigour on theirs in carrying any Orders of his Majesty’s into Execution; So that by their Jarring, the Execution of the Orders may possibly be Obstructed, if they are left to themselves;