40 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



with pleasure, but the noblesse, and some of the 

 priests ; and scarcely any of them were willing 

 to bear arms in a quarrel between the British 

 government and the English colonies. The 

 language of the Canadians was, that they were 

 under the British government, and could not 

 pretend to decide on the claims or complaints of 

 any part of tlie empire ; that they would show 

 themselves to be dutiful and quiet subjects, by 

 an obedience to the government under which 

 they were placed ; but that it was totally incon- 

 sistent with their state and condition to inter- 

 meddle in the dissentions that had taken place 

 between the British government, and its ancient 

 subjects. In answer to the proclamation of the 

 governor for assembling the militia, and the exe- 

 cution of martial law, they replied that they 

 were ready to defend the province, but absolute- 

 ly refused to march out of it, or to commence 

 hostilities against their neighbors. 



The go\ernor of Canada next attempted to 

 avail himself of the pretence, and abuse of reli- 

 gion ; and to effect the purposes of war and 

 slaughter, by the influence of the priests. With 

 this view he applied to the bishop of Quebec, 

 and urged him to make use of his spiritual in- 

 fluence, and issue out an episcopal mandate for 

 the purpose, to be read by the parish priests af- 

 ter divine service. The bishop would not pros- 

 titute his sacerdotal character to the sanguinary 

 j)olicy of the governor ; but excused himself on 

 account of its not bemg consistent with the can- 

 ons of the Roman Catholic church.* The only 



• Smoliet's Hist. England, Vol, V. p. Z2%. 



