Document : 1763-01-04

Références / localisation du document

Dorothy Vinter, "The Acadian Exiles in England, 1756-1763", The Dalhousie Review (Halifax), 36, 4 (1957) : pp. 344-53. # 77 : Admiralty, F 24 // Naomi E. S. Griffiths, "Acadians in Exile: the Experiences of the Acadians in the British Seaports", Acadiensis, IV, 1 (1974) . # 1177 //

Date(s)

1763-01-04

Auteur ou organisme producteur

L.G. et J.B. lettre de deux rapporteurs de l'Amirauté // (acadiens)

Destinataire

John Cleveland [chercher éventuellement qui c'est dans l'article de Griffiths]

Résumé et contenu

Opinion des Acadiens sur ce qu'ils veulent faire plus tard. Plusieurs groupes demandent à être "rapatriés" (retour en Acadie). Différents groupes (Bristol, Southampton, veulent retourner en Acadie ; Liverpool veut aussi retourner en Acadie, mais une lettre - non signée - est envoyée pour demander d'être sous le régime français" ; Penryn : demandent du temps)

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extrait de Griffiths # 1244 :
En Angleterre, les Acadiens demandent le retour en Acadie. : "A la fin des hostilités en 1763, invités à exprimer leurs souhaits quant à leur destination ultérieure, les Acadiens demeurant à Bristol exigèrent le retour en Acadie. "Nous souhaitons être rapatriés, et que nos biens, dont nous avons été dépouillés (malgré la stricte neutralité que nous avons toujours maintenue), nous soient restaurés." [pas de suite]

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notes d'après Griffiths # 1177 :
En fait, il faut distinguer entre les différents groupes :
- Bristol, fait la réponse ci-dessous (veulent retourner en Acadie ; texte intégral)
- Southampton et Liverpool : sont du même avis que Bristol, mais une lettre de Liverpool atteste de quelque chose d'autre. Griffiths # 1177, p. 74 note : "The admiralty noted that "the neutrals at Southampton and at Liverpool desire to be on the same footing as those at Bristol, but that those at Penryn asked for time to form their address." This summary concludes with the remark that "A letter from Liverpool from some of the Neutral French, but which is not signed, desires that they may be under the French government again, and that they may have what has been taken from them returned again if possible".
- Penryn : see above : demandent du temps

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Vinter # 77 : p. 405 :
"When asked where they wished to go at the end of hostilities, the Bristol group took the lead and replied that they wished to return to Nova Scotia, to have their possessions restored and indemnities paid for their losses, and to be allowed the free exercice of religion". (p. 405) etc... (elle résume en partie le texte et précise : "the original was in French but the above is taken from the contemporary translation provided for the Admiralty)

----

Griffiths # 1177, p. 74 : in 1763, an enquiry was made of the Acadians as to "what manners they would chuse to be disposed of" when hostilities ceased. The summary of the replies from the Neutral French at Bristol made by the Admiralty reads as follows :

1. ... We hope we shall be sent into our own countries and that our effects etc..., which we have been dispossessed of (not withstanding the faithful neutrality which we have always observed) will be restored to us.
2. ... If the first article is allowed us, it draws with it the free exercise of our religion, which we shall not think we enjoy if the priests that may be permitted to instruct us are not sent by way of France
3. We humbly beg His Majesty will grant us all our Ancient Rights and Privileges which we enjoyed before (...) and as a proof of our integrity we will bind ourselves by an Oath of fidelity and neutrality, not to bear arms against any warlike nation whatsoever.
4. After His Majesty may have been pleased to indemnify us for our losses, we hope from his Goodness that he will please to provide us with the necessary provisions.
5. We earnestly desire that in case any fault would be laid to our charge or that the commander should complain of us to the court, that we may be permitted to choose among us some persons whom we may depute to justify us before those who are to judge.
6. If we could be exempted from having any fort among our habitations we should look upon that as an essential point of happiness.
7. If another war should happen, we desire, in case we should be forced to declare ourselves, that we may be permitted to retire where we may think proper.

[en tout, 7 articles]

Notes

Griffiths # 1244 renvoie à Acadian in Exile # 1177, p. 74 ;

à noter la divergence de la référence mentionnée par Vinter et Griffiths.
en fait la référence de Griffiths : L.G. and J.B. to John Cleveland, 4 January 1763, : Admiralty Records 98/9 n'est pas la référence du document lui même, apparemment (enfin, ce n'est pas très clair).

Mots-clés

// repartir : Acadie
// repartir : French Government
// religion
// neutralité
// députés
// divisions
// nation = pays (en général)
// UK

Numéro de document

000816