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concerned it was believed that the sympathy of the majority with the Revolution was assured by their action at the general meeting held at Maugerville the previous year.^[1]

Unfortunately for John Allan, the nature of the proceedings at the Maugerville meeting, as well as the conduct of some of the settlers in going with Jonathan Eddy against Fort Cumberland, had come to the ears of the Governor of Nova Scotia, who now sent Colonel Arthur Goold with an armed party to the River St. John. Col. Goold crossed the Bay from Annapolis in the war sloop Vulture, and on May 9th wrote to the inhabitants of the townships up the river that the tenure of their present possessions was due to the indulgence of the most just, generous, and best of princes, who, notwithstanding their misconduct, was still willing to shelter them under the Royal protection, and that he would esteem himself happy in effecting a reconciliation. The inhabitants promptly replied, expressing readiness "to attend to any conditions of lenity and oblivion that may be held up to them, and their hope that they shal be able to conduct therein as becomes reasonable men." At this juncture, John Allan, William Howe and John Preble arrived at Manawagonish in a whale boat with the design of further seducing the settlers from their allegiance. Captain Featus, of the Vulture, learning of their arrival, promptly dispatched a boat to the cove where they had landed and took their whale boat. The party were dispersed in the woods, but succeeded in getting back to Machias. Two schooners, laden with supplies for the Indian "Truck House," were also intercepted by Captain Featus.

On May 14th, Colonel Goold wrote again to the inhabitants on the St. John river, telling them that he