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XXXV. Treaty of Paris, 1783

XXXVI. Haldimand to Lord North, November 6, 1783

Hears rumours that the "ancient subjects" intend to
plead the arrival of the Loyalists in the Province as a
strong support to their claim for a House of Assem-
bly. Habeas Corpus to be put on a secure and clear-
cut foundation.

XXXVII. Postmaster-General Finlay to Sir Evan Nepean, October
22, 1784

A House of Assembly not understood by the gener-
ality of the Canadians. Education very backward. A
foundation must be laid by education. It is therefore
necessary to establish free parochial schools, and to
disseminate information about the functions of repre-
sentative institutions before constituting them in the
Province. Habeas Corpus and juries discussed.

XXXVIII. Petition for a House of Assembly, 1784

From the British and some of the Canadians. The old

claims are set forth, but, in addition, a detailed plan of

a new written constitution is outlined.

XXXIX. Plan for a House of Assembly, 1784

This plan is supplementary to No. XXXVIII.

A reply, section by section, on the part of the major-
ity of Canadians, to No. XXXVIII.

XL. Objections to a House of Assembly, &c., 1784

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Discusses further an Assembly. Growing demand for

popular power to tax as a "spur to trade," and as

"England holds her colonies for the sole purpose of

extending her commerce." He believes any form of
government will satisfy the Canadians, provided taxa-
tion and religion are left alone.

L. Grenville to Dorchester, October 20, 1789

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These Rules deal with the questions of language and
supply.

LX. Dorchester's Suggestions for the Government of Canada,

February 19, 1793

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Is about to appoint County Lieutenants in imitation
of England and to incorporate certain towns. En-
closes copy of his proposed letter to the new Lieuten-

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LXXIV. Observations of Chief Justice Sewell on the Union of

the Provinces, 1810 .

Assigns the difficulties of Government in Lower Can-

ada chiefly to the preponderance of French ideas and

to the weakness of the Executive. The whole policy

of the British Government has been to perpetuate the

differences of religion, laws and language, which are

the great connecting links between a Government and

its subjects. The result has been to keep the people

French and to accentuate the antipathy between them

and the English. The Canadian population must be

"overwhelmed and sunk" by English Protestants-i.e.

settlers from the United States, of whose capacities

for becoming loyal subjects he has no fear. The

United States never liked a nation of Frenchmen to

their north and the introduction of such settlers would

tend to satisfy their ideas and to promote commercial

activities. At any rate, they would be of English

descent and the risk in attempting to assimilate them

would not be as great as the present risks in Lower

Canada. All tenures ought to be changed into free

and common soccage. No hopes of counteracting

French ideas can be entertained from an ignorant,

priest-guided Assembly. The future may contain a

better system, but the needs are immediate. For these

needs an "incorporate union" of the two Provinces

seems advisable. It would increase the English in the
Assembly, and the number of members from Lower
Canada might be reduced, and thus the influence of
the clergy diminished. Commerce would increase, and
inter-provincial jealousies tend to disappear. The
Governor must exercise ecclesiastical patronage in
Roman Catholic parishes. Reasons given for the legal-
ity of such an exercise. Education must be rescued
from clerical influences and placed under the Govern-
ment, and the public press must be regulated and
controlled.

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