tween partial benefits and positive evils, until 

 it became the conquest of the English arms, 

 directed by the victorious genius of General 

 Wolfe in 1759; at which period the population 

 of the country may be estimated at 70,000. 

 A new epbch in the history of the province 

 now opens ; from this date its prosperity has 

 been progressive, and if not aided by every 

 powerful stimulus that might have been ap- 

 plied, yet it has never been retarded by its new 

 government, either from parsimony or par- 

 tiality to more ancient possessions. On the 

 termination of the successful enterprize against 

 Quebec, which placed the whole of the French 

 possessions under British dominion, the con- 

 <juerors lost no time in devising measures which 

 would make the change of allegiance from one 

 sovereign to another as little onerous to the 

 inhabitants as the nature of such a circum- 

 stance could permit, and endeavoured to frame 

 them in such a manner as to shew a liberality 

 that might be likely to attract their good-will. 

 This was in some degree effected, by allowing 

 their laws to remain unaltered ; securing to 

 them quiet possession of their lands under 

 their ancient tenures ; the free and undisturbed 

 use of their religion; the inviolability of all 

 religious property ; and by many other con- 

 cessions of importance, which rendered changes 



