SESSIONAL PAPER No. 18 the Navy with those Materials from Lake Champlain makes that Article less valuable. The Lands have been tryed & found Equal to produce plentifull Crops of Hemp & Flax-Rope walks might be Established, in many Parishes of this Government, and an office at Trois Rivieres for buying of Hemp or Ropes. The Woods Abound with Pine Trees that would Afford great Plenty of Pitch, and all sorts of Gums; as also with Maple & Plane Trees, from which the Inhabitants, at the breaking up of the Frost, draw a great quantity of Syrup, and by boiling make a Coarse kind of Sugar for their own Use. Much more of this kind of Sugar might be made, should it be thought proper to Encourage it. STATE OF POPULATION The same Reasons mentioned above, which have hitherto prevented the progress of Husbandry, have also stoped the Encrease of people. The greatest part of the young men, allured by the Debauched and Rambling Life, which always Attend the Indian Trade in the Upper Countrys, never thought of settling at home, 'till they were almost wore out with Diseases, or premature old age. The Number of Regular Troops in this Government, will be seen by Annexed Return N° 1. The Number of Canadian Inhabitants with a Distinct Column of the Number of those that are able to Bear Arms, by the Return N° 2. The Number of Acres granted by Seigneurs, the property of the Lands, with the Number & Species of Cattle upon them, by the Return No 3. The Number of Christenings, Marriages, & Burials, since the latter part of the Year 1760, to April 1762, by the Return N° 4. DISPOSITION OF THE INHABITANTS The Inhabitants & Chiefly the Peasantry seem very happy in the Change of their Masters. They are protected in the free Exercise of their Religion; they begin to feel that they are no longer Slaves, but that they do Enjoy the Full Benefit of that Indulgent & Benign Government which Constitute the peculiar felicity of all, who are Subjects to the British Empire. None have hitherto, to my knowledge emigrated from this Government; And at present there seems no grounds to fear the emigration of any of them. The Gentry are the only People, who may perhaps Intend to Remove, if the Country should Remain Under the Government of Great Britain. In general, they Chuse not to Speak upon the Subject, as they still flatter themselves with tacit & Distant hopes of the Country being Returned to its former Masters. R. BURTON. 6-7 EDWARD VII., A. 1907 N° 1. A RETURN of the British Forces Quartered in the Government of Trois Rivieres April the 5th 1762. 44th Regiment-Captain William Hervey Major of Brigade; one Serjeant recommended; one Serjt one Drummer on Party. 46. Regiment-Captain Alexander Johnstone at Quebec, with leave of General Amherst, one Serjeant on Party. R. BURTON Colonel Drummers Effective Rank & File SESSIONAL PAPER No. 18 N° 2. RETURN of the Canadian Inhabitants settled in the Town & Government N.B. There are besides in this Government Three Indian Villages, J. BRUYERE. Secry RETURN of the Lands granted by the Seigneurs, those under Cultivation, their Natural property, & the Number of N° 3. From the Registers of the Secretary's Office at Trois Rivieres April 5th 1762 6-7 EDWARD VII., 1907 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 18 N° 4. RETURN of the Number of Christenings, Marriages, & Burials in the Government of Trois Rivieres from September 1760, to April 1762. Thus the Number of Births in this Government have during the above mentioned time, Exceeded that of Burials by 275— From the Registers of the Secretary's Office at Trois Rivieres-April the 6th 1762 Endorsed:-Colonel Burton Report of the State of the Government of Trois Rivieres in Canada April. 1762: in S J. Amherst's of June 15, 1762. No 20. J. BRUYERE. Secry GENERAL GAGE'S REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTREAL MONTREAL, March 20th, 1762. SIR, I have already Acknowledged the Receipt of a Copy of the Earl of Egremont's Letter to you of the 12th Dec', and I take this opportunity to return you my Answers thereto, Assuring you, that I have lost no Time in collecting the best Information of Every thing Contained in that Letter that I could possibly procure. I feel the highest Satisfaction, that I am able to inform you, That during my Command in this Government, I have made it my Constant Care |