an inch of land that belongs to the king. It is time the
limits should be settled and that we should know positively what we
are to hold, so as to put an end to all hostilities and to avoid the
immense expense that is occasioned."

La Jonquiere, in the month of February, sent on the ice a detachment
of fifty Canadians to strengthen the garrison at the mouth of the
River St. John, and as the services of Boishebert were required
elsewhere, the Sieur de Gaspe,[26] lieutenant of infantry, was sent to
replace him and remained two years and a half in command.

[26] Ignace Philippe Aubert, Sieur de Gaspe, was born at St. Antoine
de Tilly near Quebec in 1714. He was an ensign in Acadia under
de Ramezay in 1745 and was with Colombier de Villiers in the
attack on Minas the following winter. He died at St. Jean,
Port Joly, in 1787. He was grandfather of the author of the
"Anciens Canadiens."

The situation of the Acadians on the St. John at this time was a very
unenviable one. Fort Boishebert, at the Nerepis, was a frail
defence, and they were beginning to be straitened for supplies on
account of the vigilance of the English cruisers. Father Germain
wrote to the commandant at Annapolis Royal for leave to buy
provisions there for the French living on the river, but the
governor and council objected on the ground that French troops
occupied the place and the Indians there were hostile. We gather
some interesting information from a letter written at this time to
the French minister by the Sieur de Gaspe, who was in command of
the fort at the mouth of the Nerepis.[27]

[27] I am indebted to Placide P. Gaudet for a copy of the original
letter of which a translation is given on next page. It is one
of the many interesting documents that have never yet been
published.--W. O. R.

Fort de Nerepice, 16th June, 1751.

Monseigneur: On my arrival at this post on the River St. John, to
which I am sent by my general, the Marquis de la Jonquiere, to
relieve M. de Boishebert, the commandant of the place, I found at
anchor the frigate "Fidele," commanded by M. Maccarti, who was
landing the provisions and other supplies sent for this post. The
coming of this ship, Monseigneur, convinces me that you wish to
hold possession of this post.

I have only just arrived here. I learn that the English threaten
to come and build a fort at the mouth of the river