gment of the Chiefs, the adventurers were a little
relieved from the shock they received at first, and said, they were
unwilling to dispute, and would in a few days, remove their camps
towards Grimross. This answer did not appear fully to satisfy the
Indians, yet they made no reply. The surveying party removed their
camp, according to their promise almost as far down as the lower end of
the Oromocto Island on the east side of the river, whence they finished
the survey, twelve miles below the first mentioned bounds: and returned
to Fort Frederick, 20, 8, 15, where there was a vessel bound direct to
Halifax, and took passage in her, with an account of all their
discoveries, and surveys, and with a plan of their Township, they had
laid out into lots: but they were so unfortunate as to arrive at that
place just at that time accounts were received, that the French had
sent out a large fleet and a body of land forces, and had taken Saint
Johns, Newfoundland, and were almost hourly expected to attack Halifax,
where at that time was only one man of war, the Northumberland, and
very few troops. The militia called out; public offices shut, and
nothing to be seen but bustle and preparation for the defence of the
town, that being the situation of Government, the agents and surveyors,
for the adventurers were obliged to return without giving any account
of their proceedings, or obtaining any confirmation of their former
order for surveying a township, or any instructions to govern their
conduct in carrying on the intended settlements. This disappointment
was, in the autumn of the same year, followed by one still greater.
Commissioners were sent to Fort Frederick, to inform the former
applicants for grants of lands, that the space they had surveyed would
not be granted to them. On receiving this distressing information they
sent a petition to the King, stating the expence they had been at, in
full confidence, that all the promises and encouragements, they had
received from Government, would be confirmed. This petition was sent
under cover addressed to the then agent for the Province, most
earnestly soliciting his influence in obtaining a speedy answer for
their petition. He took a lively interest in their cause, and in a
short time, obtained an order to the Governor to grant all such shares
in the tract they had laid out, as should from time to time be settled;
and the same gentleman advanced a considerable sum for the proprietors,
to