FIN DU TROISIEME VOLUME

Page 474. — Extract of a letter from the Right Honorable Lord Sidney, one of His Majesty's Principal Secrétaires of State, to His Excellency Governor Haldimand, dated Whitehall, the 8th April 1784.

tl I hâve every possible reason to agrée with the lato Secretary of State, in the propriety with vvhich you hâve conducted yourself respecting the two Priests whom Monsr. Montgolfier attempted to introduce from France into the Seminary of St.-Sulpice at Montréal. Monsr. de Montgolfier as well as Monsr. Brassier, seem to hâve acted very imprudently thro* the course of the transaction, and they roust be told that a répétition of such behaviour will induce His Majesty to withold that countenance from the Seminary, which, by their observing a différent line of conduct, he might be inclined to bestow.

" Messrs. Adhémar and Delisle hâve, since their first arrivai in England, paid a visit to the continent, and on their return hâve made application for the admission of three young Eclesiasticks, whom they proposed to take out with them from the Seminary of St.-Sulpice at Paris, but the tame reasons which operated with you, hâve produced a négative to that réquisition. Thèse gentlemen hâve met with very litde countenance hère, and his Majesty, from your représentation of their character, as well as some other reports which hâve corne to my knovvledge of their sentiments, has chosen, rather to receive the Pétition they were charged with thro9 my hands, than that it shouM be preeented to him by them.

" It is proper that it should be known that libcrty has been given to Messrs. Adhémar and Delisle, to engage any number of Eclesiasticks that were necessary for supplying the vacant Parishes in Canada, and such other persons as they might judge proper for the tuition of their children, Jrom any country unconnected with the House of Bourbon, as it is more than probable, that reports of a différent te**

dency will be propagated by them on thoir return to Québec, I am persuaded that the most effectuai way of securing the attachment of the Canadians, is that of preventing by ail possible nieans, every communication or connection with France, or persons wlio are influenced in favor of that country, and therefore it behoves the King's servants to be watchful of their conduct upon every occasion, and to act with great firmness whenever any discovery should be made of even an attempt inconsistent with their entire séparation.

" I am in daily expectation that the four Priests who were applied for sometime ago, from Savoy, will arrive hère, and not a moment's time shall be lost in sending them to Canada. I hâve been particularly 6trenuous in my application, that in the choice of thèse gentlemen, great care may be taken that their characters are fair and that they may possess the advantages of good éducation and talent?, and I trust, that I shall nol be disappoiuted in my expectations respecting them.

" Mr. Powcll, according to your expectation has arrived in England with a Pétition from the Province of Québec praying a repeal of the Québec Act ; the establishment of a House of Aseembly ; the full exercise of the Habeas Corpus ; the décision of Trials by optional Juries, and securing the Indépendance of the Judges, with su n dry oiher réquisitions of less importance. No measures, however, hâve yet been taken in conséquence of this Pétition, nor do I think it probable that the subjects of it will be bastily decided upon by the King's servants. The passing of the Ordinance you propose for the introduction of the Habeas Corpus Act, or 60 me otber mode for personal security, I believe will be very proper; but I am satisfied in my own mind that any further relaxation from the powers of government in the present state of the Province, would be extreraely det ri mental to its true interests, and that thèse propositions hâve been brought forward by designing men, vvhose attachment to this country appears to me very doubtfull."

Page 488.— Extract of a letter to the Right Honorable Lord North, one of His Majesty't Principal Secretariea of

State, dated 27th November 1783, relative to setlling Loyalists near the line 45.

" This leads me, my Lord, to the considération of another part of your Lordship's letter, where you mention the advantages of settling with Royalists the tract of land to the eastward of the River St.-Lawrence and bounded on the North and West by the revolted colonies. Upon this head, I beg leave to observe that in ail probability this Province» when the posta in the upper country «hall be evacuated, will lose much of its importance in a commercial light, and that it will be a matter of great doubt whether it would be right to expend much money for the préservation of it, or at least it would never be worth the while to go to war about it, from hence it appears prudent to shun every thing which might bring on a rupture with the bad neighbours which surround us. For this reason I would rather wish that the tract of country alluded to, should be kept uninhabited aa long as possible, and hâve therefore refused the repeated sollicitations of many of the people of Vermont who call themselves our friends, and of several Loyalists, for granta of lands on that frontier. It is still therefore in His Majesty's power to instruct his Governore to leave that tract of ground on the frontiers unconceeded, at least for some years, when a better judgment may be made lhau at présent of the turn which affaira may take on this continent."

" There is another considération ; the Canadians will encrease much in population, and in a few years, more lands will be wanted for them, and it secms good policy that the frontiers should be settled by people professing différent religions, speaking a différent language, and accustomed to other laws and government from those of our restless and entcrprizing neighbours of New-Engîand. Loyalists and Americans settled near one another could not agrée at least for some years, and the smallest triffle might be productive of oirt rages, from which great mutual mischief would ensue in s pi te of ail efforts on the part of the respective governments to prevent it ; hence, my Lord, appears the great advantage which the land between the River St.- Lawrence and the Ottawa River towards Cataraqui possèdes for making usefull and happy settlements for the Loyalists, and of which I hâve given in former letters an ample description."

Extract of a letter from the Right Honorable Lord Sidnet, one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, to His Excellency Governor Haldimand, dated 8th April 1784», in answer to the foregoing.

" His Majesty approves of the plan you hâve proposed for settling some of lhe Loyal ists at Cataraqui and places adjacent, and is satisfied with the reasons you hâve given for suspend) ng the exécution of the directions contai ned in the late Sécréta ry of State's letter to you with regard to establishments on the tracts of land to the eastward of the River St.-Lawrence, and bounded on the North and West toy the revolted colonies. "