SESSIONAL PAPER No. 30

and that doubts and jealousies should have found their way, and have established themselves in the minds of deluded Persons.

To these, if any such there be, and indeed to the public in general, I would recall the history of the whole period during when they have been under His Majesty's Government. Let them remember the state they were in when they became British Subjects; and let them bear in their recollection the progressive advances they have made to the wealth, happiness, security and unbounded liberty which they now enjoy. During fifty years that they have been under the English dominion, has one act of oppression-has one instance of arbitrary imprisonment-or of violation of property, occurred? Have you in any one instance, or under any one circumstance, been disturbed in the free and uncontrouled enjoyment of your Religion-and lastly, while all Europe has been deluged in blood, and while various of His Majesty's other colonies and possessions have at times experienced the horrors of war, and some even under the vicissitudes of that state, have undergone a deprivation of the inestimable happiness of living under British Laws and British Government, by becoming a prey to temporary conquest, have you not enjoyed the most perfect security and tranquillity under the powerful protection of that same Government, whose fostering and paternal care has been equally employed in promoting your internal welfare.

What then can be the means used by these evil-disposed and wicked persons, by which they can hope to bring about their traitorous and ambitious designs-by what arguments can they expect that a people, in the enjoyment of every blessing that can contribute to happiness in this world, shall renounce that happiness, to embrace their views? By what argument can they expect that a brave and loyal people, hitherto impressed with the warmest and sincerest attachment to the best of Kings whose whole reign has been one series of benefits bestowed on them, shall abandon that loyalty and become monsters of ingratitude, fit to be held up to the detestation of the world, to promote their projects? It is true, the most base and diabolical falsehoods are insidiously promulgated and disseminated. In one part, it is announced as my intention to embody and make soldiers of you, and that having applied to the late House of Representatives to enable me to assemble twelve thousand of you for that purpose, and they having declined to do so, I had therefore dissolved them. This is not only directly false, such an idea never having entered into my mind, nor the slightest mention having ever been made of it; but it is doubly wicked and atrocious, because it has been advanced by persons, who must have been supposed to speak with certainty on the subject, and was therefore the more calculated to impose upon you. In another part you are told that I wanted to tax your lands, and that the late House of Assembly would consent only to tax wine, and upon that account, I had dissolved the House. Inhabitants of St. Denis! this is also directly false, I never had the most distant idea of taxing you at all, such had never even been for a moment the subject of my deliberations, and when the late House offered to pay the Civil List, I could not have taken any step in a matter of such importance without the King's instructions, and therefore it was still long before we came to the consideration of how it was to be paid. In truth not one word was ever to my knowledge mentioned on the subject. In other parts, despairing of producing instances from what I have done, recourse is had to what I intend to do, and it is boldly told you, that I mean to oppress you. Base and daring fabricators of falsehood, on what part or what act of my life do you found such an assertion? What do you know of me or my intentions? Canadians, ask of those to whom you formerly looked with attention and respect, ask the heads of your Church who have opportunities of knowing me; these are men of honor and knowledge, these are men from whom you ought to seek for information and advice; the leaders of faction, the demagogues of a party, associate not with me; they cannot know me.

For what purpose should I oppress you? Is it to serve the King? Will that Monarch, who during fifty years has never issued one order that had you for its

12 GEORGE V, A. 1922 object, that was not for your benefit and happiness-will he now, beloved, honored, adored by his subjects covered with glory, descending into the vale of years, accompanied with the prayers and blessings of a grateful people, will he, contrary to the whole tenor of life of honor and virtue, now give orders to his Servants to oppress His Canadian Subjects? It is impossible that you can for a moment believe it. You will spurn from you, with just indignation, the miscreant who will suggest such a thought to you.

Is it for myself, then, that I should oppress you? For what should I oppress you? Is it from ambition? What can you give me?-Is it for power? Alas! my good friends! with a life ebbing not slowly to its period, under the pressure of disease acquired in the service of my country, I look only to pass, what it may please God to suffer to remain of it, in the comfort of retirement among my friends. I remain among you only in obedience to the commands of my King. What power can I wish for? Is it then for wealth that I would oppress you? Enquire of those who know me, whether I regard wealth: I never did, when I could enjoy it, it is now no use to me; to the value of your country laid at my feet, I would prefer the consciousness of having, in a single instance, contributed to your happiness and prosperity.

These personal allusions to myself-These details, in any other case might be unbecoming, and beneath me; but nothing can be unbecoming or beneath me that can tend to save you from the gulf of Crime and Calamity, into which guilty men would plunge you.

It is now my duty, more particularly to advert to the intent and purpose for which this Proclamation is issued; I do, therefore, by and with the advice of His Majesty's Executive Council, hereby warn, and earnestly exhort all His Majesty's Subjects, to be on their guard against, and to be cautious how they listen to the artful suggestions of designing and wicked men, who, by the spreading of false reports, and by seditious and traitorous writings; ascribe to His Majesty's Government evil and malevolent purposes, seeking only thereby to alienate their affections, and lead them into acts of Treason and Rebellion, calling upon all well disposed Persons, and particularly upon all Curates and Ministers of God's Holy Religion, to use their best endeavours to prevent the evil effects of such incendiary and traiterous doings, to undeceive, to set aright, such as may have been misled by them, and to inculcate in all, the true principles of Loyalty to the King, and obedience to the Laws. And I do hereby further strictly charge and command all Magistrates, in and throughout this Province, all Captains of Militia, Peace Officers, and others, His Majesty's good Subjects, that they do severally make diligent enquiry and search, to discover as well the authors as the publishers and dispersers of all such wicked, seditious and traiterous writings as aforesaid, and of false news in any way derogatory to His Majesty's Government, or in any manner tending to inflame the Public Mind, and to disturb the public peace and tranquility; to the end, that by a vigorous execution of the laws, all offenders in the premises may be brought to such punishment as may deter all persons from the practice of any acts whatever which may in any way affect the safety, peace or happiness of His Majesty's Loyal and faithful Subjects in this Province.

Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms, at the Castle of Saint Lewis, in the City of Quebec, in the said Province of Lower Canada, this Twenty-first day of March, in the Year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and ten and in the Fiftieth Year of His Majesty's Reign.

By His Excellency's Command,

Jno. TAYLOR, Depy. Secy.

J. H. CRAIG, Govr.

GOD SAVE THE KING.

Quebec Gazette, March 22, 1810.

SESSIONAL PAPER No. 30

Province of 1

Lower Canada

By His Excellency Sir JAMES HENRY CRAIG, Knight of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over the Provinces of Lower Canada, Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and their several Dependencies, Vice Admiral of the same, General and Commander of all His Majesty's Forces in the said Provinces of Lower Canada, Upper Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and their several Dependencies, and in the island of Newfoundland, &c. &c. &c.

A PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS on the Fourteenth day of April, which was in the Year of our Lord Christ, one thousand eight hundred and eight, a Bill passed by the Legislative Council and by the House of Assembly in the said Province of Lower Canada, was to me presented, for His Majesty's assent, which said Bill is entitled, an Act for Erecting Common Gaols with Court Halls, in the Inferior District of Gaspé. And Whereas the said Bill, being so presented as aforesaid, then was by me reserved for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure thereon.

And Whereas, on the Fifteenth day of November, now last past, His Majesty was pleased, with the advice of his Privy Council, to declare his approbation of the said Bill; and pursuant to His Majesty's Royal pleasure thereon.

And Whereas, on the Fifteenth day of November, now last past, His Majesty was pleased, with the advice of his Privy Council, to declare his approbation of the said Bill; and pursuant to His Majesty's Royal Pleasure thereupon expressed, the said Bill then was confirmed, finally enacted, and ratified accordingly.

Therefore, according to the Statute in such case made and provided, by this Proclamation, I do signify and make known to all His Majesty's Subjects, and to all other persons whom it may concern, that the said Bill hath been laid before His Majesty in Council, and that His Majesty has been pleased to assent to the same.

Wherefore all Judges, Justices, and other Officers and Persons whom it may concern, are hereby required to take notice, and govern themselves accordingly. Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms, at the Castle of Saint Lewis, in the City of Quebec, in the said Province of Lower Canada, the Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand eight hundred and ten, and in the Fiftieth Year of His Majesty's Reign.

By His Excellency's Command,

Jno. TAYLOR, Dep. Secy. Quebec Gazette, April 19, 1810.

J. H. CRAIG, Govr.

J. H. CRAIG, Govr.

GEORGE THE THIRD by the Grace of GOD of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith; to our much beloved and faithful Legislative Counsellors of our Province of Lower Canada, and to our faithful and well beloved the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of our said Province, to an Assembly at our City of Quebec on the Twenty-first day of April instant, to have been commenced and held, called and elected, and to every of you Greeting; Whereas for divers urgent, and arduous affairs, us the state and defence of our said Province concerning, our Assembly at the day and place aforesaid to be present, we did command, to treat, consent and conclude upon, those things which in our Assembly, should then and there be proposed and deliberated upon, and for certain causes and

12 GEORGE V, A. 1922 considerations, us to this specially moving, we have thought fit further to prorogue our said Assembly, so that you, nor any of you on the said Twenty-first day of April, at our said City to appear, are to be held or constrained, for we do will therefore, that you and each of you be as to us in this matter entirely exonerated. Commanding and by the tenor of these presents firmly enjoining you and every of you, and all others in this behalf interested, that on the Thirtieth day of June next at our said City of Quebec personally you be and appear to treat, do act and conclude upon those things, which in our said Assembly by the common council of our said Province by the favour of God may be ordained. In testimony whereof these Our Letters we have caused to be made Patent, and the Great Seal of our said Province to be thereunto affixed: Witness, Our Right Trusty and well beloved Sir James Henry Craig, K.B. Our Captain General and Governor in Chief, in and over Our said Province of Lower Canada, &c. &c. &c. at our Castle of St. Lewis, in our City of Quebec, in our said Province, the Seventeenth day of April in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten, in the Fiftieth Year of Our Reign.

HERMAN W. RYLAND, C.C. in Ch.

Quebec Gazette, April 19, 1810.

J. H. CRAIG, Govr.

J.H.C.

GEORGE THE THIRD by the Grace of GOD of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith; to our much beloved and faithful Legislative Counsellors of our Province of Lower Canada, and to our faithful and well beloved the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of our said Province, to an Assembly at our City of Quebec on the thirtieth day of June instant, to have been commenced and held, called and elected, and to every of you Greeting; Whereas for divers urgent, and arduous affairs, us the state and defence of our said Province concerning, our Assembly at the day and place aforesaid to be present, we did command, to treat, consent and conclude upon, those things which in our Assembly, should then and there be proposed and deliberated upon, and for certain causes and considerations, us to this specially moving, we have thought fit further to prorogue our said Assembly, so that you, nor any of you on the said Thirtieth day of June, at our said City to appear, are to be held or constrained, for we do will therefore, that you and each of you be as to us in this matter entirely exonerated. Commanding and by the tenor of these presents firmly enjoining you and every of you, and all others in this behalf interested, that on the Thirty-first day of August next, at our said City of Quebec personally you be and appear to treat, do, act and conclude upon those things, which in our said Assembly by the common council of our said Province by the favour of God may be ordained. In testimony whereof these Our Letters we have caused to be made Patent, and the Great Seal of our said Province to be thereunto affixed: Witness, Our Right Trusty and well beloved Sir James Henry Craig, K.B. Our Captain General and Governor in Chief, in and over Our said Province of Lower Canada, &c. &c. &c. at our Castle of St. Lewis, in our City of Quebec, in our said Province, the Twentieth day of June, in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten, in the Fiftieth Year of Our Reign.

HERMAN W. RYLAND, C.C. in Ch.

Quebec Gazette, June 28, 1810.

J.H.C.

SESSIONAL PAPER No. 30

By His Excellency

SIR JAMES HENRY CRAIG,

Knight of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over the Provinces of Lower Canada, Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and their several Dependencies, Vice Admiral of the same, General and Commander of all His Majesty's Forces in the said Provinces of Lower Canada, and Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and their several Dependencies, and in the Island of Newfoundland, &c. &c. &c.

A PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS in the afternoon of Sunday the twenty ninth day of July last, Hobart Spencer, upon the King's Highway, near Wolf's Cove, near the City of Quebec, was knocked down and robbed, by five unknown persons habited in jackets and trowsers-And whereas it is expedient that effectual measures should be pursued for discovering the perpretrators of all such daring outrages:-I do therefore, with the advice of His Majesty's Executive Council of the said Province, hereby enjoin all Magistrates, and all others, His Majesty's Subjects, to use their utmost endeavours, to discover the persons by whom the said Highway Robbery was committed, and each and every of them, in order that they may be dealt with according to law-And I do hereby promise, that any person (other than the person by whom the said Hobart Spencer was so knocked down) who shall give information so that the persons by whom the said Highway Robbery was committed, or any or either of them, may be apprehended and brought to justice, shall receive a Reward of FIFTY POUNDS, to be paid upon conviction of such person or persons; and if the person giving such information, shall have been an accomplice in the said Highway Robbery, I do hereby further promise, that such person shall receive His Majesty's Most Gracious Pardon. Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms at the Castle of Saint Lewis, in the City of Quebec, the second day of August, in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand eight hundred and ten, and in the fiftieth year of His Majesty's reign. J. H. CRAIG, Govr.

By His Excellency's Command,

Jno. TAYLOR, Dep. Sec'y.

Quebec Gazette, August 9, 1810.

By His Excellency,

Sir JAMES HENRY CRAIG, Knight of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over the Provinces of Lower Canada, Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and their several Dependencies, Vice Admiral of the same, General and Commander of all His Majesty's Forces in the said Provinces of Lower Canada, and Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and their several Dependencies, and in the Island of Newfoundland, &c. &c. &c.

A PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS in the morning of Saturday of the Fourth Day of August instant, JOSEPH LOIGNON the younger, at the Parish of Saint Nicholas, in the County of Dorchester, was cruelly assaulted and castrated by four Men, unknown; And whereas it is expedient that effectual measures should be pursued for discovering and bringing to justice the perpetrators of this inhuman Outrage, I do therefore, with the advice