NARRATIVE. 203 



portions of land are granted to those who apply for them, with an 

 expense of a few dollars for the title deed, and on condition that 

 a certain sum shall be laid out in building on the spot, within a 

 given period, and that the space allotted for the street shall not 

 be encroached upon. The public buildings, such as the Hospital', 

 the officer's quarters, the soldier's barracks, the Government 

 House, and the prison, have all been raised from the Colonial Fund, 

 formed by the duties of the port; and when this fund is sufficiently 

 increased, further improvements, which are projected, will be 

 carried into execution ; such as the continuation of a wall to keep 

 out the high tides, and a market-place, to be built in jM'= Carthy's 

 Square, three sides of which now constitute the officer's quarters, 



the goal, the officer's quarters, the flag staff, and all the houses of the merchants. The 

 group of figures in front, pourtrays the costume of a mulatto woman and her atten- 

 dants, dressed for a visit at the Government-House. 



' I cannot let this opportunity pass of paying a small tribute of gratitude to those 

 benevolent beings who first founded the orders of nuns that attend the hospitals in 

 France. The services of these charitable females are now extended to all the French 

 colonies, and Sir Charles M*^ Carthy permitted two to superintend the patients at 

 Bathurst. Perhaps, the superior management of our colonial hospitals, may render 

 them less necessary, and may have induced many to think them superfluous ; I have, 

 however, not only heard all those who have been under their care, speak in the most 

 thankful terms of their unwearied attentions, but I can add my own experience. The 

 aid of Sister Marcelline, at Bathurst, was invaluable to me, for after I had sat up eight 

 successive nights with Mr. Bowdich, I was prevailed on to accept her repeated offers 

 of assistance; and she unremittingly persevered in her good offices, during the 

 remainder of my poor husband's illness, although her own health evidently suffered 

 from the exertion. This kind hearted woman belonged to the order of St. Joseph, 

 and wore a bright blue robe, white forehead cloth, and black bib and veil, a costume 

 which admirably became her very handsome face. She told me, that the members of 

 her community professed only for a certain term; that those who went to the colonies, 

 were only such as had volunteered to do so, but that they had bound themselves to 

 remain there five years, after which, they were at liberty like the rest whose term of 

 profession was expired, either to renew their vows, or quit the veil, and even marry 

 if it suited their inclinations. 



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