ed to at least 400,000l., the greater part of which he lavished on a mistress. His bills on the French Treasury, and orders to the amount of 3,333,3331., 6s. 8d. sterling, were protested. When the Canadians became British subjects, an indemnity was obtained for them of only 125,400l. in bonds, and 250,000l. in specie for this immense debt. The bonds afterwards went for nothing. *

The annual expenditure of the government of Canada, in 1729, was 16,666l. 13s. 4d., but it increased, in 1759, to the enormous sum of 1,083,3331. 6s. 8d. sterling.

For some time after the capitulation of Canada, no regard was paid to the French laws or courts. Military tribunals were instituted in the districts, from which appeals might be made to the commanding officer. General Murray carefully guarded against the abuse of power in such absolute courts.

Soon after the peace of 1763, which left to France no part of all her vast territories and power in North America, Governor Murray established new courts of civil and criminal jurisdiction, in which the laws of England were introduced, and continued in force until the year 1775.

The following extracts from a letter written in 1765, by Governor Murray, to the Lords of Trade and Plantations, afford, it is believed, a just account of the state of the province at that period. "It consists," he states, " of 110 parishes, exclusive of the towns of Quebec and Montreal. These parishes contain 9722 houses, and 54,575 Christian souls; they occupy, of arable land, 955,755 arpents. They sowed, in the year 1765, 180,3001⁄2 minots of grain, and that year they possessed 12,546 oxen, 22,724 cows, 15,039 young horned cattle, 27,064 sheep, 28,976 swine, and 13,757 horses, as appears by the annexed recapitulation, taken by his order in the year 1765.

"The towns of Quebec and Montreal contain about 14,700 inhabitants. The savages, who are called Roman Catholics, being within the limits of the province, consist of 7400 souls, so that the whole, exclusive of the king's troops, amount to 76,275 souls; of which, in the parishes are nineteen Protestant families; the rest of that persuasion (a few half-pay officers excepted) are traders, mechanics, and publicans, who reside in the lower towns of Quebec and Montreal. Most of them were followers of the army, of mean education, or soldiers disbanded at the reduction of the troops. All have their fortunes to make, and I fear few are solicitous about the means, when the end can be attained. I report them to be, in general, the most immoral collection of men I ever knew: of course, little calculated to make the new subjects enamoured with our laws, religion, and customs ; and far less adapted to enforce those laws which are to govern them.

"On the other hand, the Canadians, accustomed to arbitrary, and a sort of military government, are a frugal, industrious, and moral race of men, who, from

the just and mild treatment they met with from his Majesty's military officers, who ruled the country for four years, until the establishment of civil government, had greatly got the better of the natural antipathy they had to their conquerors.

"They consist of a noblesse, who are numerous, and who pique themselves much upon the antiquity of their families, their own military glory, and that of their ancestors. These noblesse are seigneurs of the whole country, and, though not rich, are in a situation, in that plentiful part of the world, where money is scarce and luxury still unknown, to support their dignity. Their tenants, who pay only an annual quit-rent of about a dollar for one hundred acres, are at their ease, and comfortable. They have been accustomed to respect and obey their noblesse; their tenures being military, in the feudal manner, they have shared with them the dangers of the field, and natural affection has been increased, in proportion to the calamities which have been common to both from the conquest of this country.

"As they have been taught to respect their superiors, and are not yet intoxicated with the abuse of liberty, they are shocked at the insults which their noblesse and the king's officers have received from the English traders and lawyers, since the civil government took place. It is natural to suppose they are zealous of their religion. They are very ignorant: it was the policy of the French government to keep them so : few or none can read. Printing was never permitted in Canada till we got possession of it. Their veneration for the priesthood is in proportion to their ignorance: it will probably decrease as they become enlightened, for the clergy there are of mean birth and very illiterate; and as they are now debarred from supplies of ecclesiastics from France, that order of men will become more and more contemptible, provided they are not exposed to persecution. *

"Disorders and divisions, from the nature of things, could not be avoided in attempting to establish the civil government in Canada, agreeable to my instructions, while the same troops, who conquered and governed the country for four years, remained in it. They were commanded by an officer, who, by the civil establishment, had been deprived of the government of half the province, and who remained, in every respect, independent of that establishment. Magistrates were to be made, and juries to be composed, out of 450 contemptible settlers and traders. It is easy to conceive how the narrow ideas and ignorance of such men must offend any troops, more especially those who had so long governed them, and knew the means from which they were elevated. It would be very unreasonable to suppose that such men would not be intoxicated with the unexpected power put into their hands; and that they would not be eager to show how amply they possessed it. As there were no barracks in the country, the quartering of the troops furnished perpetual opportunities of displaying their importance and rancour. The Canadian noblesse were hated, because their birth and behaviour entitled them to respect ; and

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red the peasants were abhorred, because they were saved from the oppression they were threatened with. The presentment of the Grand Jury at Quebec puts the truth of these remarks beyond doubt.* The silence of the king's servants to the governor's remonstrances, in consequence of their presentment, though his secretary was sent to them on purpose to expedite an explanation, contributed to encourage the disturbers of the peace.

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"The improper choice and numbers of the civil officers sent out from England increased the inquietude of the colony. Instead of men of genius and untainted morals, the very reverse were appointed to the most important offices; and it was impossible to communicate, through them, those impressions of the dignity of government, by which alone mankind can be held together in society. The judge fixed upon to conciliate the minds of 75,600 foreigners to the laws and government of Great Britain, was taken from a gaol, entirely ignorant of civil law, and of the language of the people. The attorney-general, with regard to the language of the people, was not better qualified.

"The offices of secretary of the province, registrar, clerk of the council, commissary of stores and provisions, provost-martial, &c. were given by patent to men of interest in England, who let them out to the best bidders, and so little did they consider the capacity of their representatives, that not one of them understood the language of the natives. As no sa