“And if your Grace would allow me the Freedom to offer my Sentiments concerning what appears to me to be farther necessary for putting this important Province of Nova Scotia (I think I may justly call it the most important to the Crown of any upon this Continent) in Security, I sho’d propose one of His Majesty’s Arm’d Sloops (or Snows) with a Tender to be constantly employ’d in the Bay of Fundy for visiting all parts of it upon every occasion, as well as the several Harbours on the Cape Sable Coast; and one of his Majesty’s Frigates to be employ’d for the protection of the Fishery at Canso (as was always usual in time of peace) which together with a Tender would also be of great Service in duly attending the Bay Verte, upon every Occasion, and likewise visiting the Coast of Accadie (or Cape Sables) besides protecting the Fishery. “Since writing the last Paragraph I have heard of some other particular circumstances, which make it very suspicious that several of the Inhabitants at least of Minas knew of the Enemy’s Motions, & I find that it is the general Opinion of the Officers that they did. “I am with the most dutiful Regard, “My Lord Duke, “Your Grace’s most devoted, “& most humble Servant “W. SHIRLEY” SHIRLEY TO NEWCASTLE, BOSTON, APRIL 29^{TH}., 1747. (_Extract._) “MY LORD DUKE, “Since finishing Governour Knowles’s, & my joint Letter to your Grace, I have learn’d from one of the English Prisoners just Arriv’d from 346 Schiegnecto in Exchange for one of the French Prisoners sent by me from Boston, and who was carry’d Captive from Minas, where he was taken by the Enemy in the late Surprize, that when the Canadeans went from Minas to Schiegnecto they march’d out of the Grand Prè about 500, but were reduc’d to about 350 before they reach’d Schiegnecto, by several of their party’s leaving ’em at every great Village in Minas, thro’ which they pass’d which makes it Evident that 150 of the Inhabitants of that District had Join’d the Canadeans in their late Attack upon the English at Grand Prè, and may Serve farther to shew your Grace the imminent Danger of all the Inhabitants of Minas’s still Joining the Enemy, unless speedy measures are taken for driving the Canadeans out of the Country, and Securing the fidelity of the Inhabitants in some better manner than it is at present; and how opportunely the forces sent last Winter from hence to Annapolis, and the Assurances I took the liberty of sending the Nova Scotians that those, who behav’d as good Subjects, sho’d have His Majesty’s protection in their Estates, arriv’d there for saving the whole District of Minas from an open Revolt.