Page:1898 NB Magazine.djvu/229

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AT PORTLAND POINT.
215

represented in the great seal of the province adopted in the year 1784.

The Lieut. Governor of Nova Scotia, Sir Richard Hughes, on the 30th of April, 1781, wrote to Lord Germaine that upwards of 200 sticks for masts, yards and bowsprits, had been cut, squared and approved by the King's purveyor at the River St. John in the course of the last fall and winter, and one of the navy transports was then at Fort Howe loading a cargo of masts. In the autumn of this year, Colonel Francklin met the Indians, to the number of 383, at Oromocto block house.[1] He distributed presents and settled amicably some jealousies that had arisen about the election of chiefs, and the savages then quietly dispersed to their hunting. There was this year a false alarm at Oromocto and the Indians manifested great eagerness to go to the defence of the block house.

In all transactions with the Indians, James White was Col. Francklin's right hand man, and his services and advice were invaluable. The savages were naturally restless and fickle and a source of constant anxiety. James Simonds had some trouble with them at Maugerville, in the autumn of 1782. In a letter to James White he calls them "a set of infamous rascals" and charges them with plotting to destroy him. He adds:

"A spirited resentment on the part of the magistrates and others would now have a good effect, otherwise they design to be hostile to the settlers of new grants upon the small rivers. I am by no means afraid of them if I am upon a proper footing. but cannot content myself to be a mark for them to shoot at upon the main road into the lakes[2] without protection."

After the establishment of Major Studholme's garrison at Fort Howe, letters were frequently sent by way of the River St. John between Halifax and Quebec by the Governors of Nova Scotia and Canada and other

  1. ↑ This post was called Fort Hughes. It was under command of Lieut. Constant Connor of the Royal Fencible Americans. This officer went to Nova Scotia after the war, where he fought a duel and killed his antagonist. He died at Halifax.
  2. ↑ Maquapit and French Lakes in rear of Mr. Simonds residence.
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