|
|
His Majestys Declaration of War against the French
King:
George R:
The unwarrantable proceedings of the French in the West
Indies, and North America since the Conclusion of the
Treaty of Aix la Chapelle and the Usurpations and En-
croachments made by them upon our Territories and the
Settlements of our Subjects in those parts, particularly in our
province of Nova Scotia, have been so notorious and so
frequent, that they cannot but be looked upon as a sufficient
Evidence of a formed Design and Resolution in that Court,
to pursue invariably such Measures, as should most effect-
ually promote their ambitious Views, without any Regard
to the most solemn Treaties and Engagements. We have
not been wanting on our part, to make, from time to time,
the most serious Representations to the ffrench King, upon
these repeated Acts of Violence and to endeavour to obtain
Redress and Satisfaction for the Injuries done to our Sub-
jects; and to prevent the like Causes of Complaint for the
future, But. though frequent Assurances have been given
that eve^thing should be settled agreeable to the Treaties
subsisting between the two Crowns, and particularly that the
Evacuation of the four neutral Islands in the West Indies
should be effected (which was expressly promised to our
Ambassador in France) the Execution of these Assurances,
and of the Treaties on which they were founded, has been
evaded under the most frivolous pretences; and the unjusti-
fiable practices of the French Governours, and of the Officers
acting under their Authority were still carried on 'till at
length in the Month of April One thousand seven hundred
and fifty four they broke out in open Acts of Hostility when
in time of profound peace without any Declaration of War,
and without any previous Notice given, or Application made
a Body of ffrench Troops under the Command of an Officer
bearing the ffrench King's Commission attacked in a hostile
manner and possessed themselves of the english ffort on the
Ohio in North America
But notwithstanding this Act of Hostility which could
not but be looked upon as a Commencement of War yet from
our earnest Desire of Peace, and in Hopes the Court of
|
p. 115
|
|
