ALLIÉS DE LA FAMILLE CHAREST

En quittant la colonie pour aller habiter la France, ïsi Etienne Charest n'a laissé aucun héritier de son nom de ce côté-ci de l'océan, il ne manque pas de familles fort distinguées qui peuvent encore se réclamer de lui comme parents ou alliés.

Les de Léry, les Taschereau, les Taché, les Trottier, les Beaubien, les de Boucherville sont autant de clans qui comptent parmi leurs ancêtres, soit des Charest, soit des Bissot. Mais les plus proches alliés des Charest, comme

LVI APPENDICE

les Dufy et les Charly, deux grandes familles de l'époque française, sont complètement éteints au Canada.

M. Dufy, capitaine de milice à Montréal, sous le régime français, avait joué un beau rôle pendant la guerre de la conquête. Le gouvernement, à ce qu'il paraît, voulut lui donner la croix de St. Louis, après que la colonie eût été cédée à l'Angleterre. Il y eut alors échange d'une curieuse correspondance entre le lieutenant-gouverneur de Québec Cramahé et le ministre des colonies en Angleterre. Nous croyons intéressant de citer quelques unes de ces lettres.

Le 10 octobre 1772, M. Cramahé écrit à Lord Hillsborough :

Québec lOth October, 1772.

My Lord,

As the following occurrence carries wilh it an appearance of what Your Lordship mentioned in your secret and separate Dispatch of 9th April last, relative to the attention of the Court of France to the affairs of this country, I think it my Duty to inform your Lordship^ that a M. Dufy of Montréal (before the Conquést. a Captain of Militia of that place, in which he served with crédit and Réputation) lately received from Monsieur Mehegan, a Brigadier in the French service, a letter, acquainting him, that in conséquence of the Duke de Choiseuils Promise to him, of some years standing, Monsieur de Bonnes, the Minister of the Marine, had obtained of the King his nomination to the Order of St. Louis, that as he resided in a foreign Dominion, the Croix could not be sent to him, but he should be invested with it, whenever he repaired to France, the Minister's Officiai Letter upon the Occasion having been caref ully registered for that Purpose in the Bureau des Colonies.

Monsieur Dufy made no scruple to shew me the letter, which he tells me he has answered in gênerai Terms of Thanks, without signifying his acceptance or Refusai of the Order ; He very freely acknowledged, it flattered his.

APPENDICE LVIl

Vanity, but that at his Time of life, being upwards oî sixty, he had no thoughts of going to France for the Pleasure of wearing the Order,

■ Altho in strictness, as a British subject, He is rather liable to censure, for answering in the manner he allèges, yet as he is an honest m an, that he is rather too old to change his Ideas of things or to shake of the Préjudices of his youth^ I judged it most advisable to treat the matter with indifférence, the taking notice of it in any other manner might hâve created Disgust, and added conséquence to the measure, if the Court of France has really acted therein from political considérations only ; for it is hère by many suspected M. Dufy's Relations in France, Knowing him to be in affluent circumstances, hâve pushed it, to entice him over in the Hopes of inheriting more largely in case of his Death.

It was once an Idea of the French Government a very few years before the Conquest, to distribute Croix to the Captains of Militia, and it is to be observed, that thèse of the Country Parishes, the meer Habitans or Peasants, rolled in Duty with those of the towns, chosen out of the Bourgeoisie, according to seniority of Commission, this measure at the time was strongly opposed by the Noblesse, and officers of the Regular Troops, it is not impossible, but it may hâve been again resumed, in the view of alluring this Order of People, who certainiy hâve protited most by the change of Dominion ; ail thèse little arts wonld not avail tliem mucli, if the confusion at présent subsisting in Regard to the laws was thoroughly cleared up, a Point the Canadians earnestly wish for, if the Government of the Province was established upon a firm and solid Basis, and some means could be devised for employing the Noblesse, who at présent are at a loss how to dispose of, or proviMo for, fh'-'^v cliildren.

I hâve lîlic , &c.

H. T. Cramahé.

To the Earl of Hillslwroughl One of His Majesty's Prin- ,cipal oecretaries of State. |

(Archivex du Cadada, série Q. vol. H, p. 217.)