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"These people [the Acadians] descended from the ancient French settlers, had increased to several thousands, clearing large tracts of land and raising numerous herds of cattle, living many years in the most perfect friendship with the native Indians, amongst whom they not infrequently intermarried. Unfortunately for themselves, by engaging in all the quarrels that were agitated from time to time between Great Britain and France, they became an object of resentment to the former, who having caused them to be assembled together under various pretences caused several thousands to be shipped off and transported to the other colonies, where many of them died of grief and vexation. This action, sufficiently cruel in itself, was rendered still more so from having been perpetrated in consequence of positive orders from a nation commonly regarded by its enemies as magnanimous.

Let us attend to the event. The lands from which the Acadians were thus violently torn became a desert, and every attempt to re-people them failed, until a large body of men, inhabiting those very colonies to which the Acadians had been banished, were driven in like manner from their own country for a similar attachment to Great Britain and compelled to cultivate the lands left by the former, as if it was the express intention of Providence in this particular instance to mark in strong colours the injustice of a great nation, as well as to teach mankind a lesson of moderation and humanity."