Three of the French Deputies have been here to know what is to be their condition for the future; I gave them copies of His Majesty's Declaration and copies of the Oath of Allegiance which I told them they must take without any condition or reservation, but in the same manner as His Majesty's English subjects;--they pretend their only difficulty is from fear of the Indians in case of a French war. I have ordered all the Deputies to come here and expect them in a few days. I think 'tis necessary to show them that 'tis in our power to master them or to protect them, and therefore I design to send as soon as possible two companies to Minas with orders to build a barrack and stay there the winter. I shall also send an armed sloop into the Bay of Minas to prevent all correspondence with the French by sea; another company I shall send to the head of the bay where the road to Minas begins. I propose, likewise, a blockhouse half way for the conveniency of travellers, and then to employ all the men I can get together, soldiers and inhabitants, to clear the road from hence to Minas; 'tis about 30 miles in a direct line--whether this can be executed before winter I cannot say. Had the garrison of Louisbourg been arrived, they would have been of infinite advantage; at present I have only one company of Hopson's, one of Warburton's and 60 of Gorham's Rangers.[110] [Footnote 110: These Rangers came from Annapolis; they had been enlisted in New England and were chiefly composed of Indians of half blood.] A list of the civil officers I shall be able to send Your Grace by the next ships that sail, with an account of what further progress we shall have made. I am, &c., ED. CORNWALLIS. To His Grace the Duke of Bedford. J. NAMES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SUN FIRE COMPANY OF HALIFAX IN THE YEAR 1819. John W. Pyke. John Tremain. Michael Tobin. Stephen W. DeBlois. Charles Hill. John Owen. Richard Tremain. Henry Taylor. J. E. Butler. David Shaw Clarke. James Grant. James Kerby. William Bowie. Alexander Creighton. John Letson. Alexander Fiddis. William Lawson. Adam DeChezeau, Jr. Andrew Smith. John Liddell. Joseph Dolby. William Milward, Jr. Azor Stephens. Joseph Marchington. Lawrence Hartshorne, Jr. Robert Lyons, Jr. John Howe, Jr. James T. Alport. Henry Austin. John Carroll. Joseph Allison. Lewis E. Piers. W. Bremner. Samuel Story. George N. Russell. James Russell. E. J. Hopson. Samuel Cunard. Enos Collins. James Cogswell. James Dupuy. Lewis DeMolitor. Temple F. Piers. Edward Alport. John Salter. John Moody. George Mitchell. S. Morris. John Ferguson. W. N. Silver. James Bain. William K. Reynolds. Charles Boggs. Miles W. White. A. McDonald. H. Ford. D. McColl. ABSENT MEMBERS.