QUEBEC
en; they y Care of es, which ion to fulvay equal a is owing r the sick > French, s many of a pension Ladies of t families they were em, they ; that re-
1e gentry, ‘essed cir-
ontracted k officers my; the sum sufmust be and disale of all arcely be rs.
D00 Livres.
teaching hey take , and go hey are ey posnts, they
had a house in the Lower Town destroyed by our Artillery, one at Pointe au Tremble, and one with a small Farm at St. Famille in the Island of Orleans.
Their number at present in this Government is four.
This Government is divided into fifty Parishes, some of which are small and not thoroughly inhabited as yet; for want of regular Clergy, several of the Recollets serve the Cures, and in some places one Curé serve two, the whole is under the inspection of a Vicar General at present, during the vacancy of the see.
OBSERVATIONS
4. The Canadians are very ignorant and tenacious of their religion, nothing can contribute so much to make them staunch subjects to His Majesty, as the new Government giving them every reason to imagine no alteration is to be attempted in that point.
2. Care was taken under the former Government, to keep up a great part of the Clergy, French, especially the dignified part; to prevent the further importation of these, it would be necessary to encourage the natives to engage in the profession, which cannot br so well done except the see is filed up; as without a Bishop there can be no ordination; no difficulty will attend this, as it is unendowed ; though hereafter means may be found out for making up this defficiency.
3. A like difficulty occurs in relation to the Chapter, their number might be reduced by letting the vacancies lie dormant, if some provision cannot be made for them, as will hereafter be proposed.
4. An expedient to assist the people in rebuilding their great Church, would much ingratiate their new masters with them.
5. The Jesuits are neither loved nor esteemed in general, and this order may be easily removed, whenever the Goverrment shall think proper, without giving
offence out of part of their estate, and a sufficient fund might be made for the Bishoprick aud Chapter, which would ease the Crown of further expence on that head.
6. The Recollets is an order of Mendicants; as they depend upon charity for subsistance, they are careful not to give offence ; probably, should they find the inhabitants upon the present charge, cool towards their order, they will of themselves seek a better living some where else.
7. The Seminary educates the youth and fit them for Orders, it will be necessary to preserve and encourage this house on that account ; and it is to be observed, this was the only religious house or order, that heretofore did not participate in the French King's bounty.
8. As to the Community of women, they are much esteemed and respected by the people; the narrowness of their circumstances will probably prevent their being filled up so easily as in former times. When the Canadians become a little more reconciled to British customs and Government, it may not be amiss, under colour of serving these communities in their distressed situation, to restrict the admission of any under a certain sum; this regulation with another, fixing a certain age, under which, no vows are to be taken, would probably soon reform the worst abuses of such institutions.
9. There are some few French Protestants in this country, who no doubt will be willing to remain. ft would be a great confort to these, if a Church was granted for their use, and some French Clergyman of sound sense and good character, with a tolerable salary, was invited to settle among them; such an establishment may be attended with the further good consequence of enticing many of their brethren in France, to come and
enjoy that religious liberty, after which, they so ardently sigh, amidst a people sprung from the same origin, speaking the same language, and following the same customs ; it may likewise be conducive towards bringing about a reformation by slow degrees, and must at least prove to the Canadians, there is nothing in our Holy Religion repugnant to virtue or morality.
CERLELEEETET RENTE ET EE EEE EE TEE STE LESC EEE LES E TEST TITI