58 CHUECH OF ENGLAND IN THE PROVINCE. 



mouths, may both be related to the more recent and 

 successive upheavals which the shores of the Gulf as 

 well as of the River St Lawrence are believed to have 

 undergone. 



On the subject of emigration, to this province, Mr 

 David Wark, member of the Provincial Legislature for 

 the county of Kent who accompanied me during this 

 day s excursion drew my attention, among other impor 

 tant points, to the fact &quot; that extensive settlements are 

 now frequently met with, containing neither a church 

 nor a resident clergyman of any denomination.&quot; The 

 Church of England claims to be established in the 

 colonies ; but it has in reality no power, no peculiar influ 

 ence, and no funds. It has, in fact, in these colonies 

 less hold upon the people than either Presbyterians, 

 Baptists, or Roman Catholics, because its clergy have 

 hitherto been supported as missionaries, I believe, by 

 the Propagation Society at home. Being independent 

 of the people in pecuniary matters, they have not culti 

 vated them as the other sects have ; and till they are 

 disengaged from home dependence, and are thrown upon 

 the liberality of their own people, w T ill not compete on 

 equal terms with the rival denominations. It is in 

 human nature to value and esteem most that which we 

 ourselves contribute to uphold. 



The cause of this religious destitution of many large 

 settlements, Mr Wark finds in the fact that they are 

 composed of different denominations of Christians, none 

 of which is sufficiently numerous to support a clergy 

 man. The French population pursue a different course. 

 Instead of forming small detached settlements, or mixing 

 with other denominations, they extend their own settle 

 ments till each is able to erect a church, and support one 

 or more schools. This course is worthy of imitation. 

 u I know Presbyterian settlements not able to contri 

 bute half the support of a minister, which are capable of 



