IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) V // :/. f/u 1.0 I.I !!.25 ■f:IIIM IIM »^ I— 1112.2 !i: li£ III 10 1.4 1.6 V] <^ //y. /a 7 W Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 145R0 (716) 872-4503 f^y MP., CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. 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Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes lors d'une restauration apparais^tent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6t6 filmdes. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppl6mentaires: The to th L'Institut a microfilm^ le meiileur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6X6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mdthode normale de filmnge sont indiquis ci-dessous. D ■/ D This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checl()(>, a paucity of numbers, which rendered llieni incapable of cultivating that narrow strip of land, already clear- ed along the Banks of the St. Lawrence imd its tri- butary streams. An increase of population v/as thus imperiously called for, to enable the C'olony to re- cover from its present degradation, as well as to se- cure and render it useful to that Empire, of which it now formed a part. Thus true Policy dictated the Proclamation issued in 17(33, by his present Majesty in Council, which (in compliance with the opinions of the highest legal authorities of those times) declared in the most so- lemn manner, that all the rights and privileges se- cured to Britons, by their Laws and Constitution, should be extended as quickly as possible to the new Settlers, particularly specifying, that, for tlie better security of the liberties and properties of those who were or might become inhabitants thereof, a General Assembly should be called as soon as the state of the Province would permit.* In consequence of this public guarantee, and of the gratuitous offers of land to the Officer:^ and Sol- diers, disbanded in America, considerable sellle- ments w^ere formed, which have tended much to Improve and strengthen tlie Colony. It tluis appears that the Inhabitants of Canada, particularly the new- Settlers, had their future Constitution secured to them by the strongest sanction, which, in tlieir situ- ation they could expect. But the fulfilment of these promises was indirectlv * See Appendix, No, t.'. ! I am! •h ot iicrgy yraii- riseii, mains il ihiif • )(>, a ipabic clear- its tri- .s thus to rc- {o se- ■which issuctl which ,t Icral OSt SO' ^cs sc- tution, he new lirMtcr so who }encr.il ; of the and oi nd Soh settle-- luch to api)ear;; ihe new Lircd to ell" silu- Ldivectlv relardcd, and Indeed ri'ndered far less useful after- wards, liy the fatal change of Clolonial Policy, t- tenipted by the British iVIinisttrs, soon after the cession of C'anada. The arbitrary conduct of Ministers and of their majority in Parliament, resented both at home and in America, procured friends to tlie Clolonisls in every quarter. The vicdation of the privileges of fellow- subjects abroad was justly considered as tlie forerun- ner of tyranny at home ; and when Ministers, loo vain and conceited to retract, were on the eve of coercion, they clearly perceived that every priviK-gc i\nd iidlucnce of the Crown must be exerted, in order to support thdr pretensions. It was doubtless this conviction, which, very near the close of t!ie last Session of the Thirteenth Parha- ment of Great Britain, in 1774, induced them lo introduce with umisual haste, when most of th-.j Members had left Town, the notorious Quebec Bill ; a Statute expressly calculated to keep this Provnice as distinct and as different as possible from the other Colonies, with respect to the essentials of Govern- ment, Laws, Religion, Manners and Language.! J To accompHsh this object, every inclination of the Roman CathoHc Clergy and Noblesse, with respect to feudal and ecclesiastical immunities, ri'jhts and privileges was indulged, as far as the Ministry darecf to do in the face of the opposition of the bulk of the British Nation. By this Statute, the common People of C'anada were left entirely at the mercy of those lugher orders : for tho* the previoUvS adoption of the ICnglish Criminal Law, now confirmed, might he called a general benefit j yet the re-establishment of the French Civil Lav/ produced collisions between the two Codes and gave rise to such perplexities as are yet hardly unravelled, hi a word, it rivetted on llie necks of the lower classes the chains of ignor- f By this Act the payment of Tythes to the Clergy was enforced ,- '.\ J.ioh by Iht Capitulation, h;vd been k-ft to the pleasure qi the Kir^' t See Appendij;, No, ?. \, fa<" 10 M? fs?S?>^;> H. nnce, superstition and vassalage. The celibacy of i* Clergy, and the support of Nunneries \\ere sanc- ti(3ned, and the rights and ceremonies of Popery were surrounded and supported with the pomp of pres- criptive power. The more this Statute appeared indulgent to the Roman Catholics, the more shameful appeared its neglect and violation of the rights of the IVoiestant and British Settlers. The King's Proclamation had produced at least a reasonable expectation, that as much as possible of the laws and liberties of Britain would be ingrafied on the Establishments and introduced into the Go- vei'nment of Canada ; but it was now evident tliat such an expectation \vas, by this Statute, completely done away. Thos'^ deluded men now clearly per- ceived, that the British Legislature b.ad imprudently,, and without any cause sufficiently ostensible for a free Government, confirmed and even strengthened es- tablishments, which must tend to keep up a lasting division between the Inhabitants of the Province. They had the mortification to see that, while the Roman Catholic Clergy had such provision for their support settled b} ia\\', as rendered them respectable and independent, the Protestant Clergy were left entirely at the mercy of the Crown. They found that instead of being settled in a Colony, in which the Laws, Government, Language, Manners and CusToms of tlieir Mother Country were encouraged and likely to prevail, they should now feel as if in a foreign land and under an arbitrary power. For, lastly, they found that seventeen persons, or even the mnjority alone of that number, Roman CatholiCvS and Protestants, called the Legislative Council, com- pletely dependent upon the Crown, were, in con- junction with the Governor, entrusted with the very important business of making ordinances for the peace, welfare and good government of the Province. These liad the power of altering and amending the i-av.-? • and tho' they could not imprison for longei* 11 ibacy of ire sar.c- jry were of pres- t to the -ared its *otestant t loast a ssible of ngrafLcd the Go- Cilt that npleiely rly per- udently,, or a free med es- L lasting roviiice. Iiile the ^or their pectable ere left y found n which ers and ouraged as if ill '. For, or even 'athoHcs :il, com- in con- :he very for the rovince. ling the r longev than three months, they were unrestrained in the power of fining delinquents. Thus did the Ministry take advantage of the ab- sence of the greater number of the most independent Members of the British Legislature, in order to pass an Act, which has done more harm to Canada, than any provisional Government, in the spirit of His Majesty's Proclamation, could have caused, up to the present time. Something to counteract the bad effects of the French Government in Canada was wanting ; the opinions and prejudices of the French Clergy and Noblesse ought not to have swayed so entirely the framers of this Act ; who should never have lost sight of the future condition of a Country, destined to receive a British population. But the only appearance of regard, which we find for their Countrymen on this occasion was the insertion of a Proviso, that the Civil Law of England should pn vail in all those parts of the Province, in which the lands had been or should be granted in free and common soccage, after the conquest. It appeared proper to be thus diffuse in giving an account of the above fatal Act ; because to its in- fluence should be ascribed the subsequent measure of dividing the Province, upon granting the present Constitution. Government seem to have thought that they had conceded too much to Popery, preju- tlice and feudal pride, to be able now to stop with a good grace ; and they finally abandoned the Lower Province to divisions, parties imd rivalships, the end of which it is hard to conjecture. After Canada had been long fettered by such im- politic measures, the increasing importunity of the English part of the community, at length prevail. ^d upon the British Legislature to think seriously of forming a free Constitution for that extensive colo- ny, t On this occasion, the division of the Province was decided upon, and defended by Mr. Pitt and the majority, against the well founded objections to such t See Append. No. i. J s m III ^t i %i I I j p' 12 a measure, made by Mr. Fox, with his usual acute* ness and energy. In many respects it was allowed that the Bill was framed with great ability : it was said that particular pains had been taken by Minis- try, to gain information respecting the state of the country, from which they were induced to leave the rehgion and laws of the Lower Province in the same state in which they had been placed by the Quebec Bill. What has been mentioned above as well as the following remarks, chiefly regards the Lower Pro- vince ; we may however observe in general, that the division of Canada is daily introducing into both Provinces a separation of policy and of interest, which must soon have a bad effect upon the good undar- standing and perfect concord, which Britain's inter- est requires among ihat part of her Colonial subjects, whose attachments and partialities, whose language and manners point them out as the chief supports of her power in this quarter of the globe. But it is now time to speak more particularly of the new Constitution, and to consider, 1st. ivhcllicr that Comtitution xcas Jormed in such a ir.annsr as complete/// secured its suhordinaiion to that of the Mother Coimtri/, and precluded the possibility of its producing any effects prejudicial to the generalinie' rests of the British Empire. In proportion as an Empire enlarges, the difficulty of ruling its distant parts with energy, will increase. 1 ho* this is partly the case with all governments, it Is more peculiar to the free than to the despotic, and particularly applies to the British Constitution ; \v'hose genius it is to suit all its measures to the va- rious circumstances of its subjects, as ccrrectly as the imperfection of all human institutions will allow. An arbitrary Government is disposed to bend every riling to its own particular system ; but our Consti- tution disclaims such an outrage on the natural rights of nmnkind, founded upon the natural constitution of ■p.ings. llcnce the extensive powers, which it fmd^^ '\ 13 I I neccrsary to grant to subordinate Legislatures ; and hence the necessity of care in securing tlieir depen- :nt. Perhaps there tne ilG( general ^jrovernmc] has never been an instance of more care in forming one Government upon the model of another than ap- pears on comparing the Con?.titution of Canada with that of Britain ; and its subordination seems fully secured, by the circumstance of its being conferred by an act of the British Legislature subject to be amended, altered or repealed by the same power. But when we reflect that the feelings, characters and opinions of the men who compose a majority of the Provinci'cd Legislature are necessarily formed and regulated in a great measure, by Laws and establish- ments, by language, literature, manners and customs entirely foreign and frequently of a tendency contra- ry to those of Britain, w^e may well doubt whether from these combined causes, many inconveniencies will not arise which may eventually prove prejudi- cial to the general interests of the Empire. With respect to the second consideration, namely, fVlieilier the principles of the Constitution (of this Lower Province) xvere alreadif ivcll modified to the local circumstances of the Countrij ; or, at least, xdie- titer it contained and rvas Jormed to preserve in lull vigor all those remedies of grievances and mean:: of self-correction and improvement, Xihich eaist in the British Constttuttun, the following observations may be useful. jVfter making proper allowance for the bad con- sequences of the Quebec Bill, already minutely de- tailed, we must admit that the principles of the pre- sent Constitution are modihed with considerable care. to the local circumstances of the Country ; that the qualifications to vote and to be elected are settled in the only way, wliich the state of Religion, Law, Property and Education would permic ; and th.at the number of Counsellors and Representatives was hd- ly adequate to the popuhilion oi" i.lv; Proviir;'.', at i 'i? period of it: iniJtitution, 14 I I \ il That the representation ought, to a rca?,onable ex- tent, to keep pace with the popuhition of (he Province, v/as acknovvledg'd by the hite Mr. Pitt, upon the discussion of"th<- Bill ; and he then expressed Ins rea- iiinesr,, upon all occasions, to put that principle into practice. Since that period, our numbers have more ih.ari doul»led ; but the coriimunity have never peti- tioned lor any encrcase of the number of their Repre- switaiive.-.. 'Were they to do so, the growing strength of tho i^ngllch part of the Inhabitants might be fully proved ; and until some such step be taken, the lat- ter can never hope to see their interest consulted in the House of iVssembly. A majority there of French Members have endeavoured to carry every thing be- fore them. Never has that branch of the Legislature displayed the liberal views which should characterise a body, intrusted with a large share of the important business of makine: Laws and Ordinances for the peace, welfare and g >od government of this extensive Province : a spirit of party has uniformly prevailed and extended to the minutest formalides. When this dogmatic and illiberal spirit shall be iiubdued by means of a fair representation, it is to be hoped that we shall then have the happiness to find ikat oiir Constitution contained, ami Xi'as Jormed to preserve injuh vigor all tliose remedies of grievances and means of self-correction and inq)rovcmcnt xcJiich cjcist in the British Constitution. At present we must reflect carefully upon the effects of the latter, when least fettered by prejudice and party to guide iiud strengthen our expectations from tlie former. We are thus insensibly conductexl to the last con- sideration, which is certainly the most important and hazardous of the whole, namely, u lie t her, makiyig Aroficr alhtvance for tlie difficulties and obstacles inci- iicnt io new estab'istnncnts, the jircscnt Constitution has begun to justify the CKficctations entertained by the re- Jlectin:- juirt of the Conmiunitrj, in jiromoting the inter- rud fuace and firosfierity of the Colony y and in att^ach^ ing it strongly to the Parent State, 13 ricc, the Loi us therefore most vserlously reflect upon this part of the subject, that we may be guarded against that levity of disposition and propensity to novelty which characterise the desolating spirit of modern innovation. Such is the shortness of human life that impatience of the slow and regular progress of human alFairs is found to prevail in most of the warm and active Members of Society. Such men are more apt to ad- mire the feverish cfFons of anarchy, or the rapid march of despotism, than the calm effects of rational Government. May we never be thus unfortunately misled ! but if at any time we should observe symp- toms of decay, let us not readily despair of our Constitution. In very different stages of society, the salutary fonns and solid fabric of the British Consti- tution have resisted corruption and depravity ; and it has often been the chief cause and support of that Religion, Justice, Morality and Order, which now regulate and support its influence. Were any of us desirous to persuade a friend in Britain to emigrate to Canada, how should we best recommend such a step ? Should we not immediately after those most common topics of the cheapness and. variety of land and the extensive field for enterprise and industry which it affords, tell him that we have enjoyed a free Constitution, formed upon the model of that of Britain ; that our lives and our liberties were here equally secure as in that favored Country; that, in fine, tho' to a stranger, it might still have a foreign appearance, it was daily assuming nev/ fea- tures more congenial to tliose oi his native land ? All this, and more of a similar kind, we might say with great truth ; and these are certainly a consider- able part of all the expectations from the present Constitution, which could be reasonably entertained by the reflecting part of the Community. Difficul- ties and obstacles will always occur, in every neu Establishment ; and the first systems which appear in a people long oppressed, receiving only a reasoii- }6 able share of liberty are often rather a}vt to excite alarm. AV^ho is more likely to be hceiiticnis than ii newly emancipated Slave ? Were the liberty and jsccuriry of the Britir-h Settlers entu'ely out of the question, when, could we imagine that Fonie fashion- able and cautious politiciims would think proper to impart freedom to tlie Cianadians? Never: — til'xvi' has liberty been conlt-rred gratuitously : it has been extorted at times and upon occa'^ions as rare as they are precious. }h\d the spirit of freedom, which the new Settlers inherited IVom their Ancestors and brought along with them to Canada not succeeded at the time it did, i' btaining a free Constitution, who among us would be bold enough to say, that by this time even the bulk of the British Sjttlers and iheir descendants would not have become urifit to be reasoned with, and as it has been said of the Cana- dians, ht' (wlu liildng to obcj/, tihen commanded " au nam du Jioi .^" The ignorance and jealousy of the Canadians do certainly cause to us much inconvenience ; but we are now embarked along with them: our interests Tire connected with theirs ; and we ought to labour to promote them conjointly to the utmost of our power. JaH us only have a little patience. Our iniluence is insensibly encreasing : we are daily in- lusing our ireedom of spirit into every class and establishment with which we come in contact ; and in a very few years, by the regular progress of hu- man affairs, it can hardly be doubted, Init the ex- pectations of tlie reasonable part of the Community will be {ulfiiied. We shall tlien see our native laws, liberties, language and manners enjoying all that ruperioriry here, which unshackled commerce, open discussioTi, a free Press and unrestrained Society are calculated to produce. A spirit of enquiry, leading to attention to education, will gradually open the minds of the Canadians, and render them truly worthy of legislating for them;.elv3S, and of contri- r4 17 butlng along with us to the internal peace and prosperity of the Colony. That the present Constitution will serve to attach us more strongly to the Parent State might be readi- ly inferred from what has been already snid respect- ing the general and approved policy of Britain to he!' former Colonies. But besides, if we examine Histo- ry, we shall find that no rule of conduct has so ge- nerally prevailed of late among modern nations, as that of extending to their conquests and Co- lonies their own forms of government, whether free or despotic. Such j olicy is always natural ; and from the present extensive and gcneralli/ unre- strained intercourse between the difterent parts of the world, it has become absolutely necessary. What- ever serves to render the Government, Laws, Lan- guage, Manners and Customs of a conquered coun- try similar to those of the conquering State, must tend to identify both together :— en this account has been here reprobated the Quebec Bill, which so com- pletely obstructed such an assimilation. A people governed on the plan laid down there, could never assimilate to the Subjects of a free Government : they might have formed a state similar to the heredi- tary dominions of the House of Hanover ; and on some future day, might have added to an ambitious Monarch's means of overawing British freemen. Notwithstanding the appearance of this Country to a stranger ; tho' its outside, the front and drape- rxj of the picture he French., we have the consolation to know that the back ground at least is English ; and tho* to superficial observers, this may give oc- casion for flippant remarks, we ought to despise any theories which they may endeavour to raise on so flimsy a foundation. There is little fear indeed that we ourselves should ever encourage features of des- potism in the Government of this country : — but we must be watchful and ready upon all occasions firm- ly to oppose and counteract the influence in Bri- tain of the insinuations of such forward pretenders |: i 18 lo politics as ii Mr. Gray, who lately fiwored his friends with a bird's-eye view of Canada. He, good man, did not hesitate to advise a return to the arbi- trary measures of 1774 ; and until a reunion of the divided Province, hinted at the propriety of agaiu commanding " Ju Jimn du Roi."^ When men not merely passennrers thro* the Coun- try, or disappointed in recovering bad debts or in making a fortune by a coup cle ?nam, shall imparti- ally view the situation of Canada ; — when to present unprejudiced observation, they add a considerable proportion of past experience, their decision will doubtless be different. Such men will most certainly be of opinion, that making allowance for the difficul- ties and obstacles incident to a new Constitution, resdng as it here does upon old establishments, which had been strengthened and confirmed by previous measures) it has materially tended to promote the internal peace and prosperity of the Colony, and to attach it more strongly to the Parent State. They will only lament that more firmness had not been shown by the framers of the Constitution, and that they had not listened with more confidence to expe- rienced Patriots on both sides of the water. These could only consider the division of the province, as a division of interests among the English Inhabitants of Canada, who alone were able to raise up in that vast Country a Colony, whose eventual importance to Bri- tain might be full consolation for her recent loss. But, to conclude, we have thus considered some approved principles of Colonial Policy, formerly practised by Britain, with the happiest effects on her- self and her Colonies : we have taken a brief view of the situation of Canada at the period of its con- quest, and of the measures for its provisional go- vernment till the new Constitution was finally grant- ed : we have seen that most of the inconveniencies of a political nature, which the English part of the com- munity have experienced, since that period, ought § See Append. No. ,1. 19 in justice to be ascribed to the effects of the Quebec Bill ; which rendered the future division of the Pro- vince apparently necessary for the peace and pros- perity of the Colony : We have found that the Act of the British Parliament, conferring on Canada her present Contitutlon is formed with considerable abili- ty, allowing every power necessary for subordinate Legislatures, consistent with the rights and interests of the general Government of the Empire, and a- dapting the principles of the British Constitution to the existing circumstances of the Country with con- siderable care. From such a view of the subject, we should be justified in deciding that the British Govenwient acted wisely in granting to Canada her present Con^ stitution : but, as there are different degrees of wis- dom, we might be allowed to add, that they would have acted more wisel;i/y had they been less anxious to please all parties, a feature of weakness, too common in the p-'icy prevalent towards the end of the eighteenth Century. At all events, it must be allowed, that no fault ''vas committed on that occasion which might not be amended in a considerable degree, by a new inter- ference of the Imperial Legislature. The division of Canada is now considered the principal cause of complaint. Let us hope, that, as they possess the right, they will not be found deficient in the wis- dom necessary to correct and ameliorate Colonial Policy ; and that they will not fail to ore the in- tegrity of the Province, as soon as the counsel of experienced Patriots shall prove that such a step, while it encreased the peace and prosperity of this Colony would materially promote their own power, and the inseparable interests of the whole Empire. jFINIS. J SI APPENDIX. No. 1 — Extract from the Capitulation between General Am- herst and the Marquis dc Vaudreuil, upon the taking of Montreal and the fnial reduction of Canada, dated at Montreal 8th Sep- tember, 1760. AuT. 27th — The free exercise of the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Ri'ligion shall subsiHt entire, in such a manner that all the States and People of the Towns and Country places and distant posts shall continue to assemble in the Churches, and to frequent the Sacraments as heretofore, without being molested in any manner directly or indirectly The People shall be obh'ged by the English Government to pay to the Priests the tythes, and all the taxes, they were used ^o pay under the Goveniment of his most Christian Majesty. Axs. — " Granted, as to the fne exercise of their Religion, ** The obligation of paying the ti^thes to the Priests will depend ** upon the King's pleasure,^* AiiT. 41st.— The French Canadians and Acadians of what state or condition soever, who shall remain in the Colony, shall not be forced to take arms against his Most Christain Majesty or his allies, directly or indirectly, on any occasion whatsoever. The British GGvernnaent shall only require of them an exact neutrality. Ans. — " They become Subjects of the King.** Art. 42d. — The French and Canadians shall continue to be governed according to the Custom of Paris, and the Laws and Usages established for this Country ; and they shall not be sub- ject to any other imposts than those which were established under the French dominion. " Answered by the preceding articles, and particularly by the last.'* Extract from Article 4th of the Definitive Treaty of Peace, between France, Great Britain and Spain, signed at Paris, 10th February, 1763. His Britannic Majesty on his side agrees to grant the liberty of the Catholic Religion to tlie Inhabitants of Canada ; he will corsequently give the most effectual orders, that his new Roman Catholic Subjects may profess the worship of their Religion, according to the rites of the Romish Church, as far as the Laws of Great Britain permit. No. 2. — Extract from his Majesty's Proclamation, issued in fhe year 1763, which indiscriminately regards Quebec, Edet 'n Florida and Grenada, annexed to the Brlti*h Etrpire by tHC" Di-liiiitive Treaty of that yp;n. «« And wherrany it tvlll ^rentlff rnntr'thutf to the sperdy seii/inar " nf'jur said ncxo Gnvrrtiments, that our lovin^\r Stthjtcts should be •• informed f)f our paternal care for the securitt/ of the ItheHien *' and hrnpcrtit'S of those who are nr shall become inhnhitantit «♦ thereof Wl- have thought fit to pubhsh and declare by this •• our Proclamation, that wc have in our Letters Patent under *' our Great Seal of Great Britain, by which the said Govern- «* ments arc constituted, given express power and direction to *• our Governors of our said Colonies respectively, that so sooa *' as the state and circumstances of the said Colonics will admit '* thereof, they shall, with the advice and consent of the Mem- *• hers of our Council, summon and call General Assemblies, *• within the said Governments respectively, in such manner and •• form as is used and directed in those Colonies and Provinces in *' America, which are under our immediate government : and ** xue have also given power to the said Governors, tvit/i the *' consent of our said Council, and the Refirescntatives of the •' People, so to be summoned as aforesaid, to make, constitute ami ordain Laws, Statutes and Ordinances, for the public peace. Welfare and good guvermncn' of our said Colonies, and of the People and Inhabitants thereof, as near as mflXf be agreeable to the Laws of England ; and under such regulations and resti'ic- •« tions as are used in other Colonies. And in the mean time, •* and until such Assemblies can be called as aforesaid, all Per- ** sons inhabiting in or resorting to our said Colonies, mat/ con- •* fde in our royal Protection for the enjoyment of the benefit « of the Lnxvs of Our realm of England, l^c. isfc.^* No. 3. — It was a fatorite project of Governor Carlelon's, to carry an army of Canadians into the revolted Colonies ; notwilh- fctanding their whole population was hardly sufficient then to cul- tivate their cleared land ; and tho* they could certainly have beea much more usefully employed in raising provisions for the British troops. His opinion seems to have had considerable weight with the British Ministry ; for they sent out at least 20,000 stand of arms for the express purpose of arming the Canadians for offensive operations ; and in restoring the old Laws and Customs of Canada, by means of the Quebec Bill, they re-instated the Seigniors in their right to call upon the Habitans or Freeholders as their vassals, for military service. Tl)e latter however, after enjoying the Laws of England during eleven years were not now disposed to comply with such a requisition ; and they expressed at once a firm resolution not to march beyond the limits of the Province. Jt is very well understood that the common People of Canada expressed the greatest sorrow at the re-establishment of the French Laws and Customs ; and that they trembled at the tliought of the Noblesse being again re-inststed in the ipagistracy. 4( <• 41 «< I iHi 2'J > '