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(N^o. 3.)

Quebec 11^th November 1774.

My Lord! — Soon after my Arrival here, I informed Your Lordship of the Gratefull Sense, The King's Canadian Subjects, in this Part of the Province entertained of the Acts of Parliament passed in their Favour during the last Session; those more remote have since, in all their Letters and Addresses, expressed the same Sentiments of Gratitude and Attachment to His Majesty's Royal Person and Government as well as to the British Interests.

The most respectable part of the English residing at this Place, notwithstanding many Letters received from Home, advising them to pursue a different Course, likewise presented an Address expressive of their Wish to see universal Harmony and a dutifull Submission to Government continue to be the Characteristic of the Inhabitants of this Province, and assuring me, that nothing should be wanting, upon their Parts, to promote so desirable an End; I believe, most of those, who signed this Address, were disposed to act up to their Declaration, which probably would have been followed by those, who did not, if their Brethren at Montreal had not adopted very different Measures.

Whether the Minds of the latter are of a more turbulent Turn, or that they caught the Fire from some Colonists settled among them, or in reality Letters were received from the General Congress, as reported, I know not; Certain it is however, that shortly after the said Congress had published in all the American Papers their approbation of the Suffolk County Resolves^[9] in the Massachusetts, a Report was spread at Montreal, that Letters of Importance had been received from the General Congress, all the British there flocked to the Coffee House to hear the News, Grievances were publicly talked of, and various Ways for obtaining Redress proposed, but that Government might not come to a true Knowledge of their Intentions, a Meeting was appointed at the House of a Person then absent, followed by several others at the same Place, and a Committee of four Named, consisting of Mr. Walker, Mr. Todd, Mr. Price, and Mr. Blake, to take Care of their Interests, and prepare Plans for Redress.

Mr. Walker, whose Warmth of Temper brought on him, some Time before my Appointment to this Command, the very cruel and every Way unjustifiable Revenge,^[10] which made so much Noise, now takes the Lead, and is not unmindful of his Friend Mr. Maseres upon the Occasion.

Their Plans being prepared, and a Subscription commenced, the Committee set out for Quebec, attended in Form by their Secretary, a Nephew of Mr. Walker's, and by Profession a Lawyer; immediately upon their Arrival here, their Emissaries having prepared the Way, an Anonimous Summons was posted up in the Coffee House for all the British Subjects to meet at a particular Tavern, and a Messenger sent round with a verbal Notice to such as might not have seen the written Summons; At this first Meeting a Committee of seven, consisting of Mr. John Paterson, since gone to London, Mr. Zachariah Macaulay, Mr. John Lees Senior, said to intend going Home this Fall, Mr. John Aitkin, their Treasurer, Mr. Randal Meredith, Mr. John Welles, and Mr. Peter Fargues, was appointed to prepare and adjust Matters with those of Montreal; several discreet People at this Place and Montreal declined attending those Meetings, as soon as they discovered what they aimed at.

There have been several Town Meetings since, as they are pleased to stile them, and Meetings of the joint Committees, at which, tis said, they have resolved to write Letters of Thanks to the Lord Mayor and Corporation of London,^[11] to some of the Merchants in the City, and to Mr. Maseres, for having taken the Province under their Protection, and praying a Continuance of their zealous Endeavours in so good a Cause; they intend a handsome Present in Cash to Mr. Maseres, with the Promise of a larger Sum, in Case he succeeds; Petitions are likewise to be presented to The King, to the Lords, and to the Commons,^[12] but of all this I speak doubtfully, as they have taken uncommon Pains to keep their whole Proceedings from my knowledge.

This much however is certain, that the Canadians feel some Uneasiness at these Proceedings; they are surprised that such Meetings and nocturnal Cabals should be suffered to exert all their Efforts to disturb the Minds of the People by false and seditious Reports, calculated to throw this Province into the same Disorders that reign in other Parts of this Continent; They express some Impatience and Indignation at being solicited to join in such Proceedings, and are not without their Fears, that some of their Countrymen, under the Awe of menacing Creditors, and others, from Ignorance, may have been induced to put their Hands to a Paper, which, they are assured, is intended to secure their Lands and Property, and take from the Governor the Power of seizing them to his own Use, or sending them and their Families up the Country among the Savages, or waging War, at his own Pleasure, upon the Bostonians; in short to relieve them from the Oppressions and Slavery imposed upon them by those Acts of Parliament; They are the more apprehensive these and such like Reports may have had Effect upon some weak and ignorant People, that from the Precision necessary in the Translation, the Acts themselves have not as yet been promulgated.

I have assured the Canadians, that such Proceedings could never affect the late Measures taken in their Favor, nor did I believe, they ever would succeed with Government upon any Occasion, so that they might remain in perfect Tranquility upon that Account; Notwithstanding my thorough Conviction, of the Assurances, I have given them, and that all these Town Meetings, all the Reports, breathing that same Spirit, so plentifully gone forth through the neighbouring Provinces, can for the present only excite a trifling and momentary Agitation, I cannot but Regret, such Examples should be set the People of this Province, and think, Government cannot guard too much, or too soon, against the Consequences of an Infection, imported daily, warmly Recommended, and spread abroad by the Colonists here, and indeed by some from Europe, not less violent than the Americans.

I am informed, all Persons from Boston for Canada are searched for Letters, and strictly examined, if they have any verbal Message from General Gage for me, so that I am not likely to hear from the General, before the Navigation opens next Summer.

I am with much Esteem and Respect

Your Lordship's

Most Obedient and

Most Humble Servant

GUY CARLETON

Earl of Dartmouth

One of His Majesty's

Principal Secretaries of State.

[8]	Canadian Archives, Q 11, p. 11.

[9]	These were adopted on Sept. 9th, 1774.

[10]	The chief documents dealing with the Walker outrage are given in the "Report on Canadian Archives," for 1888, p. 1.

[11]	"On the 22nd of June, the Lord Mayor, attended by several aldermen, the recorder, and upwards of one hundred and fifty of the common council, went up with an address and petition to the King, supplicating his Majesty not to give his assent to the bill." Cavendish "Debates," &c. Preface, p. IV.

[12]	These petitions were presented and are given immediately following this despatch.