The batteries along the front of the town were completed during the
summer of 1755, and a plan of them sent to England in June of that year.
They were twelve feet in height above high water mark, two hundred and
forty feet in length, and sixty-five in breadth. The parapet raised on
these was seven feet high, and the materials consisted of logs and
timber framed and filled up with gravel, stones, earth and sand. The
material consisted of 9500 logs of 25 feet, 1280 tons of square timber
and 25,000 tons weight of gravel and earth, the whole expense about
£5,300. The work was commenced in January, 1755, and completed late in
the summer. 20 guns were mounted on these three batteries in July of
that year--the other batteries were afterwards added.
An attempt was made this year to involve the Government in a dispute
with the Indian tribes. Paul Laurant, an Indian Chief of the Mic-Mac
tribe, appeared before the Council on 12th February, 1755, and informed
them that he and another Indian Chief named Algamud, had set out from
Beausejour for Halifax in order to treat of peace, but that the Chief
had fallen sick at Cobequid and had intrusted him with the proposals.
They demanded the whole eastern section of the Province, from Cobequid
to Canso, to be set apart for them as feeding and hunting grounds. Being
asked what security he could give that the Indians would keep the peace,
he said he could say nothing to that, being only desired to bring in the
terms. The Council dismissed him with a promise of an answer in writing.
An answer in writing was drawn up and signed by the Governor on 13th
February, 1755, which expressed a willingness on the part of the
Governor and Council to allow them such lands as would be sufficient for
their purposes. It mentioned the perfidious breaches of all former
treaties on the part of the Indians, and where their conduct was
complained of that the Tribes themselves had disallowed all authority on
the part of their Chiefs to make such treaties, and that the Governor
and Council demanded a full attendance of Chiefs before them, with full
power to treat, before any further proceedings could be taken.
On the 3rd and 4th July, the Council was engaged with the French
Deputies, again on 14th, 15th and 28th same month.
The defence of the settlement was the next subject of deliberation and
the protection from the incursions of the French along the Bay of Fundy
and from Louisburg, both nations being at the time arrayed against each
other in open warfare.
On the 18th February, 1755, Mrs. Green, wife of Hon. Benj. Green, and
her family, Captain Horatio Gates and Mrs. Gates, with Captain Hale and
their servants and baggage, were received on board Captain Rogers' sloop
for Boston. Captain Gates had been one of the Aides-de-Camp of Governor
Cornwallis, he was afterwards a General in the American Revolutionary
Army.[34]
[Footnote 34: See Biographical note in the last Chapter.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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