Glimpses of the Past: History of the River St. John, A.D. 1604-1784Raymond, W. O. (William Odber)
History
Glimpses of the Past: History of the River St. John, A.D. 1604-1784
Raymond, W. O. (William Odber)
New Brunswick -- History; Saint John River Valley (Me. and N.B.)
When the "Albany" arrived no one was found at the old fort and for
some time no inhabitants, either French or Indian, were seen. At last
a French schooner entered the harbor, laden with provisions. Captain
Rous took her, but offered to release her provided the master would go
up the river and bring down the French officers. The master
accordingly went up the river in a canoe, and the next day a French
officer with thirty men and 150 Indians came down and took position,
with their colors flying, at a point on the shore within musket shot
of the "Albany." The commander of the French was Pierre Boishebert. He
had fixed his headquarters ten miles up the river at the place now
known as Woodman's Point, just above the mouth of the Nerepis, where
in Governor Villebon's time there had been an Indian fortress.
Captain Rous ordered the French to strike their colors; their
commander demurred, and asked to be allowed to march back with his
colors flying, promising to return the next day without them. Rous
ordered the colors to be struck immediately, which being done, the
officers were invited on board the "Albany." They showed their
instructions from the governor of Canada, Count de la Galissonniere,
by which it appeared they had at first been ordered to establish a
fortified post, but afterwards the order had been countermanded and
they were required merely to prevent the English from establishing
themselves till the right of possession should be settled between the
two crowns.
The letter of Captain Rous to Boishebert, upon the arrival of the
former at St. John harbor, is rather quaint reading. The original is
in French.
From the River St. John, 3 July, 1749.
Sir,--I am directed by the King, my master, to look into and
examine the various ports, harbors and rivers of His Majesty's
province of Nova Scotia, and am now here for that intent. Being
informed that you are upon this river with a detachment of
soldiers of the King of France. I should be pleased to know by
what authority and with what intention your are engaged in a
similar procedure. It would afford me much pleasure if I could
have the honor of a personal interview in order to convince you of
the rights of the King, my master.
I shall be delighted to see some of the Indian chiefs in order to
inform them of the peace and of the harmony that prevails between
the two crowns, also to confer with them.
Until I shall have the honor, as I hope, of seeing you,
I am very truly, etc.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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