HN

officiers, leurs femmes, enfants et serviteurs, optèrent alors pour la France (1).

(1) Série Q, vol. 2, p. 170, Dès le 23 août 1763, Charest avait chargé quelqu'un de lui acquérir des biens fonds en France, (proc. en blanc greffe J, C. Panet.)

Plusieurs s'étant plaints que Murray ne donnait pas les facilités sutfisantes à ceux qui désiraient émigrer, lord Halifax lui écrivit la lettre suivante, (Série Q. vol. 2, p. 6)

St, Jame’s, jany 14th 1764, Hox, JaAMkS MURRAY

Governor of Quebec, Sir,

The French Ambassador, M, le Comte de Guerchy, having, by order of His Court, presented to me a memorial complaining that the Canadians who were desirous of returning to France, are restrained in their Emigration by the exorbitant Price, which the Captains of English ships exact for their Passage, I, herewith, transmit to you, by the King's command, a copy of that memorial, and of the answer which I returned to it : and I am to signify to you His Majesty’s Pleasure that, in conformity to that answer, you do most strictly forbid, and employ all lawfull means to prevent, the exaction of any greater Price for the Passage of the French than is paid by the English, and that you take all possible care that the treatment of Both be exactiy the same.

This complaint of obstruction of the Emigration of the Canadians, and the consequential demand of liberty to send English or French ships to bring away such of them as are desirous of returniny to France, were received here with the greater Surprize, as none of the letters received either from you, or any other of the King’: Governors ..: that country, nor the Reprets of such of the Natives as have come hither upon différend Accounts, and some very lately, give the least Reason to helieve that there is such a di«position to quit the Province and settle in France, as is representend hy the French Ambassador, And, therefore, there seems great cause to apprzhend that this Demand of sending ships (and especially French ones) to Quebec, is designed as a Temptation to multiply the number of Emigrators, rather than as à Mean to enable these, who have ulready taken their Resolution, to carry it into execution. 1 must, however, desire that you will take the earliest opportunity of informing me, whether there are any great, and what number of the French Inhabitants, who have determined to quit the Province, and whether the Return of Ships trading, thither, does, or does not afford them suflicient opportunities of conveyance, to the end that, if the Court of France should renew the Demand, His Mafesty may be enabled to judge of the Propriety of consenting or refusing to ‘send an English ship or ships, according to the Degree of necessity, on which such Request is founded,

Your letter of 23rd October last has been received, and laid before the King. What you write concerning the mode and Degree of tolerating the Roman Catholick Religion in Canada, together with the addresses on that subject, brought over atthe same time by Monsieur Charest, are under the consideration of His Majesty's Privy Council, and I Hope it will not be long before the Determination, which His Majesty, by their lord ships’ Advice, shall come to in that very important and difficult Matter will be transmitted to you.

l'an &c, Duxk HALIFAX,