LOUIS P. TURCOTTE

Note A.

M. de Mazères dans son volume Âdditional Papers concern ng the Province of Québec, raconte ainsi les difficultés de M. La Corne avec ses censitaires :

'* Mr. La Corne, a young man of about twentj-two years of âge, and nephew to Mr. La Corne de Saint- Luc, was sent by General Carleton to raise the inhabitants of Terrebonne, a village of which be (the j^ounger Mr. de La Corne) is Seignior. He adressed them in a very liigh tone, mentioning the above right, which he had, b}' the tenure of their lands, to command their military service. They answered, " that they were now become subjects of England, and did not look on themselves as Frenchmen in any respect whatever. " Mr. La Corne was imprudent enough to strike some of those who spoke loudest. This provoked the people to such a degree, that Mr. La Corne found it necessary to get away from them, and go back immediately to Montréal, but threaten'd to return speedily amongst them with a party of two hundred soldiers, who would make them dearly pay for their refusai to obey him. The people, hearing this, forthwith armed themselves, some with guns, other with clubs ; and they ail resolved to die rather than submit to be commanded by their seignior. General Carleton, hearing of the disturbance that Mr. LaCorne's behavior had occasioned, instead of complying with his désire of scnding troops to enforce obédience to bis authority, thought it adviseable, to send with him an Eriglish olïicer of merit, Capt. Hamilton, to pacily tho people. Capt. Hamilton asked them, what they mcant by asscmbling in that riotous, disorderly maiincr ?

They aiiBwered, that their intentions were to défend themselves from the soldiers, with whom they wei-e thi-eatened by Mr. La Corne, their seignior. " If gênerai " Carleton, said they, requires our services, let him give " us Englishmen to command us : such a man as you, " for instance we would fellow tothe world's end. " But, replied Mr. liamilton, English military gentlemen are not to be found in sufficient numbers, in the province, to take the command of you. " Then, said they, give U8 common soldiers to lead us rather than those people.

For we will not be commanded by ce petit gars" At

least, upon Capt. Hamilton's promise, that their seignior should come no raoï-e among them, they dispersed. "

Note B.

Lettre adressée aux habitants de la Province de Québec, cidevant le Canada, de la part du Congres Général de l'Amérique Septentrionale, tenu à Philadelphie.