The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a Letter, dated the 9th of October 1774, from a Gentleman in Montreal, to his Friend in New York.

"I must beg Leave to trouble you to get the enclosed printed in Mr. Holt's Paper, as soon as possible, and send me an Account of the Charge, which shall be paid, together with the Postage of this Letter. The Paper contains the Resolves of all the English Inhabitants of Montreal, at a full Meeting, where they shewed their Abhorrence of the Quebeck Act which establishes the French Laws in this Province, and puts the Lives and Properties of every Person in it in the Power of the Governour; who, when the Act takes Place, will have a much greater Power than a Spanish Viceroy. The Canadians in general are greatly alarmed at being put under their former Laws, of which they had long severely felt the bad Effects; though the French Noblesse and Gentry, indeed, are very well pleased with the new Act, which restores the old, as they expect to lord it over the industrious Farmer and Trader, and live upon their Spoils, as they did before the Conquest. These latter, though greatly dissatisfied and alarmed at this Act, dare not complain, for Fear of the Displeasure of their Priests, who rule and govern this whole Country as they please. However, all the English in the Province (except a few Tools and Dependents of the Governour) are unanimous, and determine to struggle hard to obtain a Repeal of this abominable Act; which, if continued, would greatly hurt the Trade of New York, and the other Colonies joining on us. It has been said, that some Canadian Regiments would be raised and sent against you, but depend on it none will go willingly, except their Officers; and for the others, it will require a Regiment of Soldiers, to a Regiment of Canadians, to oblige them to go. Besides, they cannot, without ruining the Country, spare 2000 Men out of it."

You may acquaint the Printer with all the foregoing Particulars, that he may be able to undeceive the Publick, and contradict what has been said relating to this Matter in Mr. Gaine's Paper, &c.

At a general Meeting of the English Inhabitants of the Town of Montreal, to consult on the most proper and best Method to represent to his Majesty, and the Parliament, a true State of this Province, by acquainting them of the Share we have of the Trade, the landed Property we possess, the miserable State we found this Province in, and the flourishing State we have brought it to; the Recompence we are to receive by a late Act of Parliament is, to be deprived of those valuable Parts of our Constitution, the Trial by Jury, and the Habeas Corpus Act, and subjected to Laws made by a legislative Council, composed of People entirely dependent on the Governour, and agreeable to the despotic Laws of France; and that if such an Act takes Place, as we shall have no Security for our Property nor Religion (the Roman Catholick Religion being, by said Act, the established Religion of the Country) we must be reduced to the unhappy Necessity of living as Slaves, or abandoning the Country, and a great Part of our Property, and the Province must return to its former miserable Situation. There was the greatest Unanimity amongst the English, when the following Gentlemen, viz. Thomas Walker, Esq; Isaac Todd, Esq; Mr. James Price, Mr. John Blake, Mr. Alexander Patterson, Mr. John Porteus, were chosen a Committee to repair to Quebeck, to act in Conjunction with the English there on this alarming Occasion. They likewise entered into a very generous Subscription for the Expense that might attend their obtaining Relief."