opposed the execution of these laws, on account of their religion ; many of these children, when in health, require no assistance from the public ; but in time of sickness, from the poverty of their parents, become objects of charity, and must perish wihout it.
« Your Committee called together a number of their chief men, and acquainted them with the dissatisfaction of the House on finding the public expense so much increased by their opposition to those laws, which were framed with a compassionate regard to them, and tending immediately to their ease and benefit, and assured them that, unless they could propose a method more agreable to themselves for lightening the public burden, their children would be taken from them, and placed in such families as could maintain them, and some effectual method taken to prevent the ill effects of idleness in their young people.
« They answered with appearance of great concern, that they were very sorry to find themselves so expensive to the good people of this Province ; reminded us of the late general sickness as the principal cause of it, which they hoped might not happen again during their continuance here ; that in expectation of lessening this expense, and of obtaining some restitution for the loss of their estates, they had petitioned the Court of Great Britain, and humbly remonstrated to his Majesty the state of their peculiar sufferings, and as the Governor had been so kind as to transmit and recommend their and petition and remonstrance, they doubted not but the King would be so gracious to grant a part of their country, sufficient for their families to resettle on, where they flatter themselves they shall enjoy more health, and be free from the apprehensions of their children being educated in families whose religious sentiments are so different from theirs. In the mean time they pray the indulgence of the government in suffering them to retain their children, as they find, by experience, that those few who are in Protestant families soon become estranged and alienated from their parents ; and, though anxious to return to Nova Scotia, they beg to be sent to old France, or any where, rather than part with their children ; and they promise to excite and encourage all their young people, to be industrious in acquiring a competency for their own and their parents subsistence, that they may not give occasion for complaints hereafter. How far they may succeed in this, or their application to the Crown, is very uncertain. We are of opinion that nothing short of putting inexecution the law, which directs the Overseers of the Poor to bind out their children, will so effectally lessen this expense, unless the Governor, with the concurrence of the Commander-in-Chief of the King’s forces, shall think fit to comply with their request and transport them out of the Province.
« Nevertheless, your Committee being moved with compassion for these unhappy people, do recommend them to the consideration of the House, as we hope that no great inconvenience can arise from the continuance of the public charity towards them for a few months longer and think it just to observe,
