102 



TKANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



[Vol. 1. 



SLAVERY IN CANADA 

 Bv J. C. Hamilton, LL.B. 



{Read 3rd July. i8go.) 



Mr. Hamilton presented the results of a study of exist- 

 ing records, and stated the facts relating- to this subject 

 so appearing. 



He began with the origin of the institution of slavery in 

 Canada, 202 years ago, in the reign of King Louis XIV., 

 who was then busy aiding and advising his good friend and 

 brother, James II. of England, and in watching the move- 

 ments of William Prince of Orange, and preparing for war 

 with Germany. The Secretary of State, however, as soon as he found a 

 leisure moment, brought before his Majesty certain letters from high 

 officials in the Province of Quebec. There were two, dated loth August 

 and 31st October, 1688, from Mons. de Denonville, and one from Mons. 

 de Champagny, dated 6th November, 1688, to the secretary, their purport 

 being, to represent that working people (" gens d'industrie ") were so 

 extraordinarily scarce, and labor so dear in Canada, that all enterprise 

 was paralysed, and that it was thought the best remedy would be, to 

 ^allow the importation of negroes as slaves. 



The Attorney-General of Canada, then in Paris, assured his Majesty 

 that such was also his conviction, and that if permitted, some of the prin- 

 cipal inhabitants would purchase slaves as they arrived from Guinea. 

 His Majesty finally got to a consideration of the subject. Perhaps he 

 talked it over with King James, who visited Paris in December, 1688, 

 having " left his country for his country's good," and the result was a 

 royal mandate written early in 1689 stating that his Majesty had approved 

 of the proposal, that his royal subjects of Quebec should obtain negroes 

 to do their work. He added that he wished care to be taken, lest the 

 negroes, coming from so different a climate, might not endure the rigor 

 of Canada, and so the important project fail. 



The code 7ioir contains an ordinance of 13th November, 1705, making 

 negroes movable property, and providing for their humane treatment. 

 In 1709 an ordinance was issued by Raudot, intendant at Quebec, recit- 

 ng the king's permission, and that negroes and Panis (Pawnee Indians) 



