Nova Scotia. Lieutenant-Governor's Office : The administration of Nova Scotia was led by a Governor from 1749 to 1786, when the rank was altered to Lieutenant Governor. New Brunswick and Cape Breton were made separate jurisdictions in 1784, under a Lieutenant Governor; Cape Breton was reunited to Nova Scotia in 1820. From 1786 until Confederation, the Governor-in-Chief of Quebec or Lower Canada held a Commission as Governor-in-Chief for each of these provinces in British North America. While the Royal Instructions were addressed to the Governor-in-Chief, they were carried out by the respective Lieutenant Governors.
The Governor or Lieutenant Governor of each colony in British North America may be seen to have maintained three levels of communication, which are reflected in the structure of the record-keeping systems in their offices. At the first level were despatches exchanged with the Colonial Office (for which see the description of despatches in the Correspondence with the Colonial Office series, elsewhere within this fonds). At the second level were despatches exchanged with fellow governors and senior officials who might be categorized as colleagues. The entry books demonstrate substantial variations in place and time as to who was considered a colleague. At both levels, the despatches were prepared for the governor's signature (though rarely in his own hand). At the third level were letters addressed to and received from subordinates (for which see the description of the Secretaries' correspondence, in the Civil Secretary's correspondence received sub-series in the Office of the Governor-in-Chief of the Province of Canada series, elsewhere within this fonds). Responsibility for preparing and signing correspondence at this level was delegated to the Private, Civil or Military Secretaries. Great consistency is evident in the segregation of despatches prepared in the Governor's name (first and second levels) from letters prepared at his orders but signed by his Secretaries (third level).
As a representative of the Crown in and for the colonies of British North America, each Governor or Lieutenant Governor undertook certain responsibilities for external relations and was obliged to maintain a close degree of co-operation with the British Minister at Washington. Filing practices demonstrate that the despatches were considered as communications with colleagues. The same may be said of correspondence with the Commander of the Forces.
Governors, lieutenant-governors and administrators in Nova Scotia between 1749 and 1867 include: Edward Cornwallis, Governor, 14 July, 1749-2 August 1752; Peregrine Thomas Hopson, Governor, 3 August, 1762; returned to England 1 November, 1753; Charles Lawrence, Lieutenant-Governor, 1 November 1753; Governor, 23 July, 1756; died 19 October, 1760; Jonathan Belcher, Lieutenant-Governor, Administrator, 19 October, 1760-25 September, 1763; Montague Wilmot, Lieutenant-Governor, 26 September, 1763; Governor, 31 May, 1764; died 23 May, 1766; Benjamin Green, Administrator, 23 May-22 August, 1766; Michael Francklin, Lieutenant-Governor, 23 August-26 November, 1766; William Campbell, Governor, 27 November, 1766-7 October, 1773; went to England on leave 1 October, 1767-10 September, 1768, and to Boston 4 November-4 December, 1768, during his absence Michael Francklin was Administrator. During Campbell's second visit to Boston 17 October, 1771-10 July, 1772, Benjamin Green was Administrator until 2 June, 1772, when Francklin, who had been in England, returned and took over the administration; Francis Legge, Governor, 8 October, 1773; recalled and sailed for England 12 May, 1776; Marriot Arbuthnot, Leutenant-Governor, 13 May, 1776-17 August, 1778; Richard Hughes (knighted in April, 1870), Lieutenant-Governor, 17 August, 1778-30 July, 1781; Sir Andrew Snape Hammond, Lieutenant-Governor, 31 July, 1781-8 October, 1782; John Parr, Governor, 9 October, 1782; Lieutenant-Governor, 20 May, 1786; died 25 November, 1791; Richard Bulkeley, Administrator, 25 November, 1791-13 May, 1792; John Wentworth (created baronet in 1795), Lieutenant-Governor, 14 May, 1792-22 April, 1808; Sir George Prevost, Lieutenant-Governor, 23 April, 1808-25 August, 1811; absent on military duty 6 December, 1808-15 April, 1809 during which time Alexander Croke was Administrator; Alexander Croke, Administrator, 26 August-16 October, 1811; Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, Lieutenant-Governor, 16 October, 1811-27 June, 1816. During his absence at Castine, 26 August-21 September, 1814, Duncan Darrock was Administrator. George Strachey Smyth, Administrator, 27 June-24 October, 1816; Lord Dalhousie, Lieutenant-Governor, 24 October, 1816-1 June, 1820; Sir James Kempt, Lieutenant-Governor, 1 June, 1820-23 August, 1828. During Kempt's absence in England from about 1 May, 1824 to 6 August, 1825 and also during his visit to Quebec, 3 July-18 July, 1828, Michael Wallace was Administrator. Michael Wallace, Administrator, 23 August-28 November, 1828; Sir Peregrine Maitland, Lieutenant-Governor, 29 November, 1828; went to West Indies on leave 15 October, 1829-1 June, 1830, leaving Michael Wallace as Administrator; went to England on leave 8 October, 1832 and did not return. Thomas N. Jeffery, Administrator, 9 October, 1832-1 July, 1834; Sir Colin Campbell, Lieutenant-Governor, 2 July, 1834-29 September, 1840; Lord Falkland, Lieutenant-Governor, 30 September, 1840-2 August, 1846; Sir Jeremiah Dickson, Administrator, 3 August-28 August, 1846; Sir John Harvey, Lieutenant-Governor, 29 August, 1846; died 22 March, 1852. During Harvey's visit to England (29 May-19 September, 1851) John Bazalgette was Administrator. John Bazalgette, Administrator, 12 March-5 August, 1852; Sir John Gaspard Le Marchant, Lieutenant-Governor, 5 August, 1852-5 February, 1858; Lord Mulgrave (afterwards Marquis of Normanby), Lieutenant-Governor, 5 February, 1858-17 September, 1863; Charles Hastings Doyle, Administrator, 18 September, 1863-21 June, 1864; Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell, Lieutenant-Governor, 22 June, 1864-28 September, 1865; Charles Hastings Doyle, Administrator, 28 September-7 November, 1865; Sir William Fenwick Williams, Lieutenant-Governor, 8 November, 1865-30 June, 1867. RG7 General Inventory
