6 2 
HISTORY OF THE [book hi. 
It has been stated that the first assembly met in 
1765 . At that time, none of the French Roman 
catholic inhabitants claimed a right, or even expres¬ 
sed a desire, of becoming members, either of the 
council or assembly: but in 1768 , the governor re¬ 
ceived instructions from the crown, to admit two of 
them into the council, and to declare others to be 
eligible into the assembly, on taking the oaths of 
allegiance and supremacy. The governor was di¬ 
rected also to include the names of certain per¬ 
sons of this description, in the commission of the 
peace. 
' i *t - v ' 
These instructions, and the measures which 
were taken in consequence thereof, gave rise to 
violent commotions and party divisions in the co¬ 
lony, which, being imbittered by religious contro¬ 
versy, continue to divide the inhabitants to the pre¬ 
sent hour. It were highly unbecoming in me (a 
stranger to the island) to flatter the passions of one 
party or the other; and I should readily consign all 
the circumstances to oblivion, but that it is my 
duty as an historian, to state, without prejudice, 
such particulars as may, in their consequences, 
affect the general welfare of the colony, that the 
errors of one age may serve as a lesson to the 
next. 
The opposition that was given by the British in¬ 
habitants to the appointment of any of the Roman 
catholic capitulants to seats in the legislature, arose* 
J believe, originally, from an idea that the royal in- 
