Country Harbour, June 18, ****  (1784?)

Sir,
 I do myself the honour of now writing just to inform you that on the 5th, I
*****-mitted Rolls from Sheet Harbour of the Disbanded Troops and Loyalists
there, sailed on the 6th and arrived here the 8th, having in my passage
docked (?) at Beaver Harbour, St. Marys's, Liscombs Harbour for without
finding any Persons whom I could conceive entitled to the Royal Bounty.  But
in all of them numbers of Vessels from the States carrying on avery
avantageous Fishery.

 The numbers and dispersed situated of the Corps Settled here rendered it
impossible for me to muster them till yesterday - It took me this whole day
and part of this to effect it. -
 The uncertainty how or when this will reach you, as I know (?) or have (?)
it here in case of any (?) opportunity offering for Halifax before I meet
Colonel Winslow.


***** Unreadable line of handwriting****.... With one from any of the places
I am to search (?) or touch (?) at, prevents my enclosing the Rolls, which
shall be transmitted by the very first good conveyance when I shall do
myself the honor of writing more fully.

      I am with perfect esteem, Sir,
      Your most obed. & most humble servant (?)
      Signed,  William Shaw


William Shaw to Colonel Winslow
Canso, June 15th, 1784

Sir
I had the honor of writing you on the 13th, duplicate of which you have here
enclosed.

I arrived here late last night and as opportunity's offer daily from hence
to Halifax, I enclose the Rolls of Country Harbour.

I shall remain here this day in order to muster some Men of different Corps
whom I find variously employed --- They will probably be inserted in the
Rolls, but with the necessary remarks so as to be disposed of in what manner
may be thought fit.

I beg  leave to observe that of  the Persons returned at Musquadaboit said
to be at Country Harbour, none appeared there but a Negro Man, Servant of
Captain Martin named  Tony, tho' I find that Captain Martin got them all on
the ****(unreadable) Return to the **** Commissary and draw Provisions
according to the 19th August next --- Captain Dawkins has got on his Rolls a
Lieutenant Boisseau which he sasys has been consented to at HeadQuarters as
Lieut. Boisseau has taken his Lands with the Corps left servants to improve
them & is gone to Europe on Regimantal Business - Captain Leggit of the
North Carolina Regt. has also Lands under improvement and Servants at Work
tho' personally at Halifax with some more of his Servants  ---- I coceived I
could not with propriety bear him on the Rolls.  He may with approbation be
mustered at Halifax. All this is submitted by the Consideration of the
Commander in Chief.

Country Harbour exhibits instances of Industry and Perseverance that do
honor to the Settlers, but particularly to the officers and Persons having
families - but they stand in need of many incentives to industry which ....
the rest of the paragraph is difficult to read sensibly....

Having formerly mentioned to you the great number of vessels from the
American States fishing on this Coast, and considering it is a matter of
some public concern, I will just beg leave to add for your information that
by a moderate Calculation which I have made, there those cannot be less than
thirty thousand Quintals taken by them this season along the Coast of Nova
Scotia from Canso  Westward what at the very moderate price of Twelve
shillings per Quintal, the lowest it has sold at for some time past amounts
to L18,000 (18,000 pounds) but adding to the price at Foreign Markets and
other attendant Public Considerations of great activity, the object becomes
of importance.


There are also many large  ...unreadable...having eight, some two Boats gone
to Gaspee and along that shore.  As I am on this subject I must add that it
has become a custom for Persons Inhabitants of Nova Scotia to be employed to
cure the Fish taken by the Fishermen from the States, a kind of connivance
by which a conformity with the Treaty of Peace is evaded.  It is visible,
however, that they are under apprehensions of retaliation for some of their
Breaches of Public Faith.

You will perceive some variations between the  ** Commissary's victualing,
Return at Country Harbour, and my muster - Some have since arrived, some
departed, some died, yes, but I have on all occaisions endeavored Strictly
to adhere to the Spirit and intention of the Instructions from the Commander
in Chief.

I have the honor to be,
With perfect esteem,
W. Shaw

N. B. I hope the method I have observed respectiong Servants will be
approved of, I must remark with respect to the Blacks tha I have discovered
many of them are not the Property of the Persons they lived with.

SOURCE: M.G. 23, D 1, Series 1, Volume 25 pages, (1-470)