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siastics in Canada, were formerly only second to the Jesuits, and seldom troubled their heads about giving more instruction to the people than was comprehended in the service and ceremonials of the church; but their influence and example, although injurious as affecting mental improvement, was certainly beneficial in respect to morals.

The Récollets were the lowest religious order in Canada: they made vows of perpetual poverty, and were, it seems, little esteemed by the Jesuits.

The Canadians had a proverb, - "Pour faire un Récollet il faut une hache, pour un prêtre un ciseau; mais pour faire un Jesuite il faut un pinceau."

To the Catholic priests of the present day in Canada, justice requires us to acknowledge that there is great merit due. Although, generally speaking, their education and attainments do not, perhaps, exhibit the splendid points of acquirement in polite literature, and in the sciences, which distinguished the Jesuits, yet they neither want intelligence, nor are they destitute of useful or classical learning. Many of them are eloquent preachers; and it is worthy of our consideration to know, that since the Catholic clergy have consisted nearly all of Canadians, born in the province, and have themselves received their education in the colleges of Canada, they have directed their special attention to the instruction of youth.

They have been accused of silently opposing the establishing of schools, and the instruction of the Canadian youth, particularly in the English language. No charge can now be more unjust. Disputed points of faith do not belong to my province; and having known many of the Canadian priests, truth and can

dour require me to declare that they are pious and amiable; and not only watch carefully over the morals of their parishioners, but conduct themselves as individuals, and as a body, with praiseworthy correctness. They certainly never give an advice to others that the example of their own conduct does not enforce. Many of the schools have been established by the curés.

Besides the colleges and seminaries enumerated in describing Quebec and Montreal, the Catholics have three other seminaries, which they designate colleges, and in which elementary and classical instruction are taught. These are the seminaries of St. Nicolet, St. Hyacinth, St. Anne's, and Chambly. All these have been instituted and are supported by members of the Canadian clergy.

Schools, under the protection and the partial support of legislative enactments and appropriations, have also been established, principally during the last six years, in every parish and in almost every settlement in the province. These schools are open to all, without any test as to religious creed; and the full benefit of elementary instruction, in English and French, is now to be obtained in Lower Canada.

The whole number of schools is nearly 1200, in which about 65,000 children of both sexes are taught.

CHAP. XXIII.

MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND AMUSEMENTS OF THE INHABITANTS OF LOWER CANADA.

The inhabitants of Lower Canada, exclusive of those of French race, are of nearly the same mixed origin and character as will be found described hereafter, when treating generally of the manners and pursuits of the people of British America.

The Canadian habitans, who form so large and so interesting a portion of British subjects, of whom scarcely any knowledge is possessed by the people of the United Kingdom, deserve at least ordinary attention in giving an account of them.

There is not, probably, in the world, a more happy people than the habitans or peasantry of Lower Canada. They are, with few exceptions, in easy circumstances; and in all the villages, the church forms the point around which the inhabitants born in the parish delight to live; and in no dwelling farther from it than they can hear the ringing of its bell, can any of them feel happy. They are not anxious to become rich, but they possess the necessary comforts, and many of the luxuries of life.

They are frugal, but not enterprising, and will seldom buy what they can make themselves. Their lands yield them grain and vegetables, and food for their horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, and poultry, as well as hemp, flax, and tobacco. They make coarse woollen and linen cloths, straw hats and bonnets rouges et bleus, and their own soap, candles, sugar*, and implements of husbandry. What they manufacture is seldom for sale, but for consumption. They have in fact every article of real utility - every necessary resource within themselves; no penury, no uneasiness, no distress is visible. Their mode of agriculture is clumsy and tardy; yet the soil, with the most negligent culture, yields abundance for domestic consumption, and something over seigniorial dues and the tythes, to sell, for the purchase of articles of convenience and luxury. Their farms are generally small, and often subdivided among a family. The agricultural societies may gradually improve husbandry among the habitans; but hitherto, neither example nor the prospect of interest has been sufficient to induce many to adopt the more approved modes of husbandry, or any of the methods of shortening labour discovered during the last or present century. They have gardens attached to their houses, but the neatness and order which lends such charms to every little English cottage is not to be found in the Canadian parishes; and this is merely the fault of the habitans. The women generally do all garden work, and, like those of Normandy and Picardy, greatly assist in field labour. The occupations of the Canadians are neither severe nor incessant; as moderate industry secures all necessaries and comforts. They however plough a great portion of their lands in autumn, and there is little doubt but they will change

* Maple sugar. The season of manufacturing it is considered a period of pleasure rather than of fatigue, although it is attended with considerable labour. About 2,000,000 lbs. are said to be manufactured in the province.

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their mode of culture gradually. An improvement is, however, apparent.

We discover among the Canadians the customs and manners that prevailed among the peasantry of France during the age of Louis the Fourteenth; and to this day the most rigid adherence to national customs is maintained among them. Contented to tread in the path beaten by their forefathers, they in the same manner till the ground; commit in the like way the same kind of seeds to the earth; and in a similar mode do they gather their harvests, feed their cattle, and prepare and cook their victuals. They rise, eat, and sleep at the same hours; and, under the instruction of their pastors, and the example of their elders, observe the same spirit in their devotions, with as ample a portion of all the forms of the Catholic religion, as their ancestors.

They are fond of soups, which are seldom, even in Lent, of meagre quality. Bread, butter, cheese, with eggs, tea, poultry, fish, and flesh, constitute nearly all the other articles of their food. They have their jours gras, or feasting days, before and after Lent, on which they gormandise vast quantities of pork, and indulge in drinking; but on other occasions they are temperate.

The amusements of former times are also common among them at their weddings, feasts, and dances. Even the noisy tumultuous charivari* is not entirely forgotten. They delight in driving about in calashes and

* The charivari is à noisy assemblage of people who proceed, after bed-time, to the house of a newly married couple, whenever there is a flagrant inconsistence in the match: such as a young girl marrying an old man for his money, or vice versa. Some come on horseback, some blow horns, some beat drums and tin kettles;

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