eciphering them afterwards was both difficult
and tedious, still the satisfaction of having rescued from decay and
destruction, what seems so interesting, is satisfaction sufficient for
the writer.

That portion of the documents relating the events in connection with the
first and second settlement of an English officer and his family, during
the last century, in a district which is now said to be one of the most
beautiful portions of Canada, is most instructive and interesting,
although at times, while deciphering it, the writer felt his blood
quicken in its pulsations, and tears forcing their way to the surface.

A few years previous to this English officers first attempt at
settlement in Nova Scotia, he came out to Quebec with his regiment. The
remaining portion of this introductory chapter will narrate some events
in connection with the early life of the officer, his coming to Quebec
with his regiment, his short stay there, and his return to his native
country:--

On board the transport _Pitt_, in the year 1765, at Cork, embarked
Captain Godfrey with his regiment, the 52nd foot, for Quebec, North
America.

On the passage the _Pitt_ was wrecked in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where
Captain Godfrey with his regiment suffered many hardships.

The ship ran ashore in a dense fog, which had prevailed for several
days. The Captain remaining by the wreck for eleven days, assisted in
saving the lives of the soldiers wives and children, and in landing the
King's stores. The transport struck well up the gulf on the Nova Scotian
coast (now New Brunswick). The exact locality is not stated. The night
of the disaster was densely dark, and soon after striking the ship
began to pound and leak badly. Had the wind sprung up during the hours
of darkness not a soul on board would have lived to record the tale.
Very early the next morning, as Captain Godfrey was standing on the
quarter deck, conversing with the officer in charge of the ship, the
rain began suddenly to descend in torrents and the wind to freshen. The
mist that had enshrouded the ship for so many days, began to lift, and
the sun shone through by instalments. Soon it was seen that the _Pitt_
was hemmed in by rocks, almost wedged in among them. Fortunately the
storm soon abated, and the situation of the vessel kept her in an
upright position. The fog settled down again, and for the next ten days
all on board were kept busy in saving their effects and the King's
stores.