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Indiana University 
In the instructions issued to Governor Murray in December, 
1763, it was stated that it was the intention of the British 
ministry that an assembly should be called as promised in 
the Proclamation of 1763.^ British experience with English 
colonists in America had already revealed some weaknesses 
in the colonial system of government, however, and some of 
these defects were to be corrected in the proposed govern- 
ment for Canada. The instructions to Governor Murray 
stated that “the Members of several Assemblies in the Planta- 
tions have frequently assumed to themselves Privileges no 
ways belonging to them’’, particularly in claiming protection 
from suits at law during their terms of office, by adjourning 
themselves at pleasure without first obtaining leave from the 
governor, and by framing money bills without allowing the 
Council to alter or amend them, and these practices were not 
to be permitted in the government of Quebec.^ The provi- 
sion in the Treaty of 1763 that the inhabitants of Canada 
might “profess the worship of their religion according to 
the rites of the Romish church, as far as the laws of Great 
Britain permit”, was to be observed, but land was to be set 
aside to establish and maintain “Protestant” ministers and 
schoolmasters who should be licensed by the Lord Bishop of 
London. Thus while efforts were to be made to attract Eng- 
lish settlers to the new colony, the colonial officials were to 
hold them in check and keep them from developing such 
tendencies of independent action as had already appeared in 
the colonies along the Atlantic coast. It was also hoped that 
perhaps the French Canadians might in time become good 
“Protestants” as well as good Englishmen. 
Civil government was formally established in Canada 
on August 10, 1764, and on September 17 civil courts were 
established by ordinance.® It long remained a matter of some 
doubt as to just what extent English law was substituted 
for French law and custom, and the legality of any such sub- 
stitution being made by proclamation rather than by act of 
Parliament was ffnally questioned in Canada.' 
Influenced partly no doubt by the promises of liberal 
government, some English-speaking settlers soon appeared in 
3 Shortt and Doughty, op. cit., 1, 185. 
* Canadian Archives, M. 230, p. 1, published in ibid., I, 187. 
^bid., I, 192. 
® Canadian Archives, M. 230, p. 1, in ibid., I, 187. 
•Ibid., I, 192. 
