inion of
the king of Great Britain, when the English experienced, from both the
Acadians and savages, a most thorough reluctance to the recognition of
their new sovereign, which has continued to this day.

As to the savages it is certain, that the governors for the English
acted entirely against the interest of their nation, in their procedure
with them. They had been long under the French government, so far as
their nature allows them to be under any government at all; and besides
almost all the Micmakis, and great numbers of the Maricheets, or
Abenaquis, were converted to our faith, and were consequently under the
influence of the priests. It could not then be expected, naturally
speaking, that these people could all of a sudden shake off their
attachment to, and connexions with our nation; so that, even after the
cession of Acadia, they continued, with a savage sulleness, to give
marks of their preference of our government. This could not fail of
giving the English umbrage; and their impatience not brooking either
delays, or soothing them into a temper and opinion more favorable to
them: they let it very early be seen, and penetrated by the savages,
that they intended to clear the country of them. Nor would this
exterminating plan, however not over-humane, have been perhaps wholly an
impolitical one, if they had not had the French for neighbors, who, ever
watchful and alert in concerning themselves with what past in those
parts, took care underhand, by their priests and emissaries, to inflame
them, and to offer them not only the kindest refuge, but to provide them
with all necessaries of life, sure of being doubly repaid by the service
they would do them, if but in the mischief they would do the English, to
whom it was a great point with our government to make Acadia as
uncomfortable, and as untenable as possible. It was no wonder then, that
the savages, ill-used by the English, and still dreading worse from
them, being constantly plied by our caresses, presents, and promises,
should prefer our nation to that. I have before said, that religion has
no great hold of these savages, but it could not be but of some weight
in the scale, where their minds were already so exulcerated against
those of a different one, whom they now considered as their capital
enemies. You may be sure like-wise, our priests did not neglect making
the most of this advantage, which the English themselves furnished them
by their indiscreet manage