“Having been inform’d that the french Inhabitants of Nova Scotia entertain some Jealousy of a Design in the English Government to remove them with their Families from their Settlements, & transport them to France or elsewhere; I desire (if you think it may be for his Majesty’s Service) that you would be pleas’d to signify to ’em, that it is probable if his Majesty had declar’d such Intention I might have heard of the same, but that I am perfectly unaquainted with any such Design, and am perswaded there is no just Ground for this Jealousy; And be pleas’d to assure ’em that I shall use my best Endeavours by a proper Representation of their Case to be laid before his Majesty, to obtain the Continuance of his Royal Favour & Protection to such of them, as shall behave dutifully, & refuse to hold any Correspondence with his Enemies; and I doubt not but that all such of ’em will be protected by his Majesty in the Possession of their Estates & Settlements in Nova Scotia. “And I desire you would also be pleas’d to inform them that it is 325 expected from his Maj^{tys} french Subjects in that Province, who have for so long time enjoyed the same Privileges with his natural born Subjects there, & have been under a much easier Government than any of the french King’s Subjects are in the neighbouring Province of Canada & other Parts of the french King’s Dominions, that their Interest as well as their Duty and Gratitude should bind them to a strict Fidelity & Obedience to his Majesty and His Government; But on the contrary if any of the Inhabitants of the said Province shall join with the Enemy (especially those that have been sent from Canada to seduce them from their Duty to his Majesty & Attachment to the English Interest) they must expect to be treated in the same manner as his Majesty’s English Subjects would be under the like Provocations. “I am with great regard “Sir, “Your most obedient “humble servant “W. SHIRLEY.” SHIRLEY TO NEWCASTLE, BOSTON, SEPTEMBER 19, 1746. “MY LORD DUKE, “I express’d some hopes in my last but one to your Grace, that I should not be oblig’d to add to my former Accounts of the imminent danger, his Majesty’s Province of Nova Scotia was in of being surpriz’d by the Enemy; But find my self under a Necessity of doing it from the Advices which I have since receiv’d from M^r. Mascarene, and the Intelligence contain’d in three Declarations upon Oath, Copies of all which are inclos’d.