The Virginia Gazette

The Importance of Cape Breton to Great-Britain further manifested, by the Answer of the French King to the Articles proposed in May 1712, by Mr. Secretary St. John, relating to North America. Extracted from the Report (dated 9 June 1715) of the Committee of Secrecy, appointed to examine into the late Negotiations of Peace and Commerce, &c.

ARTICLE III. That his most Christian Majesty's Subjects may enjoy in common with the Queen's, the Island of Cape Breton.

ANSWER. As the perfect good Understanding that the King proposes to establish between his Subjects, and those of the Queen of Great-Britain, will, if it please God be one of the principal Advantages of the Peace, we must remove all Propositions capable of disturbing this happy Union: Experience has made it too visible, that it was impossible to preserve it in the Places possessed in common by the French and English Nations; so this Reason alone will suffice to hinder his Majesty from consenting to the Proposition of leaving the English to possess the Isle of Cape Breton in common with the French. But there is still a stronger Reason against this Proposition; as it is but too often seen, that the most amicable Nations many Times become Enemies, it is Prudence in the King to reserve to himself the Possession of the only Isle, which will hereafter open an Entrance into the River of St. Lawrence: It would be absolutely Shut to the Ships of his Majesty, if the English, Masters of Acadia and Newfoundland, still possessed the Isle of Cape Breton in common with the French; and Canada would be lost to France, as soon as the War should be renewed between the two Nations.