the
benefits of population and agriculture, and improve the fishery of that
coast, which might be rendered a new source of wealth and commerce to
Old England. The particulars of the plan being duly considered, it was
laid before his majesty, who approved of the design, and referred the
execution of it to the board of trade and plantations, over which
the earl of Halifax presided. This nobleman, endued by nature with
an excellent capacity, which had been diligently and judiciously
cultivated, animated with liberal sentiments, and fired with an eager
spirit of patriotism, adopted the plan with the most generous
ardour, and cherished the infant colony with paternal affection. The
commissioners for trade and plantations immediately advertised, under
the sanction of his majesty's authority, that proper encouragement would
be given to such of the officers and private men, lately dismissed from
the land and sea service, as were willing to settle, with or without
families, in the province of Nova Scotia; that the fee simple, or
perpetual property, of fifty acres of land should be granted to every
private soldier or seaman, free from the payment of any quit-rents or
taxes, for the term of ten years; at the expiration of which no person
should pay more than one shilling per annum for every fifty acres so
granted; that, over and above these fifty, each person should receive a
grant of ten acres for every individual, including women and children,
of which his family should consist; that further grants should be made
to them as the number should increase, and in proportion as they should
manifest their abilities in agriculture; that every officer, under the
rank of ensign in the land service, or lieutenant in the navy, should be
gratified with fourscore acres on the same conditions; that two hundred
acres should be bestowed upon ensigns, three hundred upon lieutenants,
four hundred upon captains, and six hundred on every officer above that
degree, with proportionable considerations for the number and increase
of every family; that the lands should be parcelled out as soon as
possible after the arrival of the colonists, and a civil government
established; by virtue of which they should enjoy all the liberties and
privileges of British subjects, with proper security and protection;
that the settlers, with their families, should be conveyed to Nova
Scotia, and maintained for twelve months after their arrival, at the
expense of the gover