“Your Grace will be pleas’d to Excuse all
“Incorrectness in this rough Sketch.
“I am with the most Dutifull Regard,
“My Lord Duke,
“Your Grace’s most Devoted &
“Most Obedient Servant
“W. Shirley.”
Shirley to Mascarene, Boston, Septr. 16, 1746.
“Sir,
“Having been inform’d that the french Inhabitants of Nova Scotia entertain some Jealousy of a Design in the English Government to remove them with their Families from their Settlements, & transport them to France or elsewhere; I desire (if you think it may be for his Majesty’s Service) that you would be pleas’d to signify to ’em, that it is probable if his Majesty had declar’d such Intention I might have heard of the same, but that I am perfectly unaquainted with any such Design, and am perswaded there is no just Ground for this Jealousy; And be pleas’d to assure ’em that I shall use my best Endeavours by a proper Representation of their Case to be laid before his Majesty, to obtain the Continuance of his Royal Favour & Protection to such of them, as shall behave dutifully, & refuse to hold any Correspondence with his Enemies; and I doubt not but that all such of ’em will be protected by his Majesty in the Possession of their Estates & Settlements in Nova Scotia.