60 ‘The French in Prince Edward Island 
     
    
   
   
    
     and like de Pensens was a veteran in his own way. 
     
     Writing to the Minister on September 8, 1711, he 
     
     had paid a tribute to the humanity of the English 
     
     in their treatment of the Acadians, but concluded 
     
     with the pledge that he would ever keep alive among 
     
     the people their fidelity to the King of France. He 
     
     was sent by St. Ovide to minister to the spiritual 
     
     needs of the island but also “to attract Acadians” 
     
     there,—another aspect of French policy that con- 
     
     tributed to the ultimate ruin of their colony for the 
     
     activities of the priests incurred the resentment of 
     
     the English and did much to account for their exas- 
     
     peration which culminated in the expulsions of 1755 
     
     and 1'758.° 
     
    

    
     That these activities did not escape notice of the 
     
     English may be seen from Governor Armstrong’s 
     
     despatch to the Secretary of State on July 27, 1726, 
     
     in which he says, “I understand that Governor St. 
     
     Ovide, with some troops and his Council, are gone to 
     
     the Island of St. John in order to mark out the lands 
     
     of that island for such people and inhabitants as will 
     
     quit the province and retire under the Government 
     
     of France; this has been managed under the mission- 
     
     ary priests among the Indians and French inhabit- 
     
     ants in the province.” 
     
    

    
     The establishment of the garrison at Port La Joye 
     
     and the advent of the missionary gave considerable 
     
     encouragement to the Acadians who were consider- 
     
     ing migration. In 1727, six families, the advance 
     
    
   
   
    
     6C11 IV, Vol. 9, pp. 17-18. 
     
     7A. & W.I1., Vol. 29, p. 75.