Foreign languages likewise received no official recognition elsewhere as they did in Canada; while the Roman Catholic religion wherever existent was proscribed as a religion of state: tolerated in Maryland persecuted in Ireland, but established in Canada!

Wherefore the concessions to Canada? Wherefore so radical a change from precedent? Was it the reflex of that little spark struck at Boston in 1773 by which the torch of republicanism was set burning, and which the British Government feared might extend to so close a neighbor as Canada, were they to meet the wishes of the English popula tion by establishing a House of Assembly at Quebec, the political and fiscal policy of which might not be any more in accord with British ideas, than those of the neighboring colonies which were now occasioning so much trouble and in open revolt? Between the two stools Britain fell; the Quebec Bill was as obnoxious to the provincials as the stamp act, and was as injurious to the British interests in Canada as the latter was to its sovereignty in the American colonies. Whatever was the cause the result has not been beneficial to Canada or England, for instead of the homogeneous unity expected by the conquest, from which unity in language, laws and customs, there would be strength; a very disunited and complex dominion has ensued by the growth of a "nation within a nation" solely attributable to the mistaken policy of the Quebec Act.

APPENDIX.

1. List of Signatures attached to the French Petition to the King, asking for the Quebeck Bill p......... 22

2. Letter of the period, unpublished, from Mr. Joseph Howard, a prominent merchant at Montreal, to George Allsopp, Esq., at Quebec, then Dep. Commissary General, afterwards Member Legislative Council, Judge Court of Appeals, etc., etc. p.......

23

3. Extracts from the Debate in the House of Commons at time of passing the Quebeck Bill, by Lord North the Prime Minister, Mr. Edmund Burke Leader of the Opposition, the Solicitor-General, Mr. Townshend, Col. Barré, etc., etc. p... 25

[Extract from Petition of French Residents.]

Nous esperons d'autant mieux cette grace que nous pos sédons plus de dix douzièmes des seigneuries et presque

toutes les terres en rotures.

being come

The Joyfull news of a recall of the G

here confirm'd through so many channells, there now cannot be the least doubt. our worthy Agients advice ought to be wrought on our minds viz: not to exult too much, this I understand, to be while in suspence I mean the stroke of the recall, but after that is sure we certainly sho'd not conseal by our faces the real sentiments of our

hearts rejoiced and thankful that our Soverign has at last heard the complaints of an oppressed people.

I observe from your accounts as well as from others, our agient wishes for and wants matter, why sh'd it be wanting-let us now joyne hearts and hands to furnish him with what we abound in here, begin with what you think, proper, we will Joyne you to a man I mean when it comes properly prepar'd & propos'd from you, you can always depend on any little influence I have, let it then begin with, or come first to your other friends with whom you have a great deal to say and who tho' we differ in some triffling affairs yet abhore equally Tyrany and Opression.

I say let it begin with them and I will Joyne, we now ought to redouble our strokes and activity to Insure what scems to be in so good a way! Dont you think it might be urg'd with great propriety the situation we are in here with our Court of C―――n P――s, can a man not only a Stranger to our Constitution, but to our Language be a proper Judge, a man bred up in France tho' he assumes the name of a native of Great Brittain be a Judge to Englishmen, a man who even serv'd the French King, consequently must have taken oaths to him--think of a Subject doing this, a man who is asteem'd & thought at present, by many to be a Roman Catholick, who really was once of the order of J——s, and who has been seen and known as such and wearing their habbitts or dress at Doucy in France, but we suppose discharg'd for want of capacitya man who in fact begun every disturbance, in this unhappy country, and in whom the G——r places his greatest confidence and adds Power to Power, to make Cyphers of our Magistrates (were they weak enough to submit) and to command the Country, but men of such education, with such principles are the proper instruments and Tools for Tyrants.

I hope Dear Alsopp you'l excuse my warmth on this point, but is occurs to me now, and I see dayly the inconveniences from Cap-- F. being a Judge would it

not be better to have an honest Englishman if we co'd not obtain one bred to the Law for one of our Judges, but this I submit to you.--has our friends at Quebec forgot the iligall Rum Tax? our pocketts keep us in mind, here, have you forgott the attempt to Tax-- The arbritary appropriating to his own Private ends the Kings Posts, the Influence he has over an ill chosen Councill who I am sorry to say attempts too much to be our Legislature and forgets by their ordinances that they are subject to the Law of England. What ever faults they may have I am sure they have not heads nor hearts to amend, have we not just cause to complain against that Toole of his and Sycophant the Col--r muster up all you can, be asured his fall is certain, and we can make him fall with more rapidity.

I sh'd be glad you wo'd send me an account of our adventure. I hope we shall gain by that trade. I had a girl born last Friday week. My wife and the little one are likely to do well. I am very sorry for Death of Mrs. Gridly, my wife is daily asking after her, but does not know that she is dead.

If you can change my Butter for Dry Goods, do it as I have more here of the same. I cannot give you more Information in regard to your Port Wine, then I am sure that Mr. Finlay had the odd one.

My Ribb Joynes in complem's with

Sr. Yr. Most obed't &

Very hble servt,

JOSEPH HOWard.

P.S.-Pray let us have none of your Insignificant nodds,

as you live so near Justice Fielden, he'l certainly take

notice of you.

То

MR. GEO. ALSOPP,

Merch't in

Quebec.