B.007 – REPORT OF GENERAL MURRAY ON QUEBEC, 1762

B.007 – B.M , 21,667.

REPORT OF GENERAL MURRAY ON QUEBEC, 1762

1762/06/05 – Quebec – General Murray.

Has sent report (in obedience to dispatch of 12th December, 1761) on the Government of Quebec and dependencies, thus divided: 1. Return of His Majesty’s Forces. 2. State of the Fortifications. 3. State of the Government under the French administration. 4. Revenues and Expenses. 5. Church Government. 6. Indian Nations. 7. Nature of the soil and its produce. 8. Population. 9. Trade. 10. Character of the people; also, remarks as to errors of ancient system, and suggested improvements. (Page 1)

• Return of troops in the Government of Quebec, showing commissioned officers 96

• Staff officers 13

• Non-commissioned officers 92

• Drummers 56

• Rank and file effective 1,637

The return shows different regiments &c. (Page 2)

Royal Artillery, showing a total (officers and men) of 187. (Page 3)

Absent officers – nominal return. (Page 4)

General and Staff Officers – Quebec. (Page 6) – SN: 007001

Quebec.-State of the Fortifications

• -Detailed Acconnts of the fortifications of Quebec, referring to plans, points out disadvantages and proposed improvements-Plans (1 to 6) prepared by Capt. Holland transmitted. (Page 7)

• Fortifications of Jacques Cartier, of no use at the time, as it no where commands the main River. (Page 11)

• Fortification of Deschambeaux, May be fortified to very good ad­vantage; the only road from Lower to Upper Canada ; commands the rapids of the Richelieu, and some fortifications on the south ahore would render difficult the passes by land and water. (Page 11)

State of Government under the French administration.

1. The powers and jurisdiction of the various officers and courts. (Page 12)

• Tenure of land.

1. Fiefs. (Page 14)

2. Terre en roture. (Page 14)

• Militia, under French Government. (Page 15)

• Provisions, cattle, &c. Abuse from the intendant fixing the price for. (Page 15)

• High Roads, usefulness of the office of Grand Voyer, or Inspector of. (Page 16)

Courts of Justice

Their decisions not much respected; success depended more on the favour of the great than the justice of the cbause; the absence of the Governor, Bishop and intendant contributed to the disesteem in which the courts were held. Canadians mostly Norman and very litigious; encouraged by the system; suggests a short code. (Page 16)

Revenues and expense of Government, under French administration.

This contains very full details with explanatory notes. This contains very full details with explanatory notes.

• The returns for 1757. Receipts. (Page 17)

• Expenses, ordinary. (Page 21)

• Expenses King’s Domain. (Page 24)

• Expenses Governor General’s salary and perquisites. (Page 28)

• Expenses Intendants.(Page 29)

• Disposal of surplus. (Page 29)

• Moderation of expense to 1726, rapid increase to 1759. (Page 29)

• Manner of transacting the business. (Page 30)

• Revenue, new mode of collecting, and suggestions for best means of raising, with rates of duties, &c. III effects of the small salaries of French civil officers. (Page 32)

• Church Government-The Bishop-Chapter of Quebec. Parish of Quebec. (Page 34)

• Religious Orders. The Jesuits. (Page 36)

• The Recollects. Seminary, Quebec. (Page 37)

• Convent of the Hotel Dieu at Quebec. (Page 38)

• Convent of the Ursulines at Quebec. (Page 39)

• General Hospital near Quebec. (Page 40)

• Filles de la Congregation. (Page 40)

There is a brief statement of the affairs of each of these orders, under the several titles,
suggestions as to the policy to be adopted towards the religious orders, and how to conciliate the inhabitants

• Indian Nations within the Government. North Shore: Esquimauux, their customs, employment, &c. (Page 43)

• Montaignais (sic) or Monsonies (called by almost as many names as there are Villages). (Page 44)

• Hurons.(Page 45)

• South side: Miamies.(Page 46)

• Kanibas and Malocites. (Page 46)

• Nature of soil, and produce. Fertility ; inhabitants more givell to gun and fishing rod than to farming. (Page 47)

• Mines. Abundant Mineral resources. (Page 48)

• Suggestions as to growth of hemp and flax. (Page 48)

• Population. Remarks. 49.

• Trade, Statement of exports of Furs, for 1754, 1755, also imports to show that the value of trade was greatly understated. (Page 51)

• French East India Company. (Page 51)

• Fisheries, prospects of in future. (Page 51)

• Fisheries whale, seal and sea cow. (Page 52).

• Fisheries salmon. (Page 52)

• Lumber. (Page 53)

• Fur Trade of the future. (Page 53)

• Hemp and Flax. (Page 53)

• Potash. (Page 54)

• People, character of the Gentry, The Clergy, The Traders, The Peasantry. (Pages 55 to 57)

• Boundaries of Canada. No chart or map found to show the part of North America called by the French Canada. (Page 58)

• Papers referred to in report. None of those contained in this volume. List of them at (Page 60)

1763/05/31- Trois-Rivières – Lieut. Governor Burton

Report respecting the Government of Trois Rivières, to the Lords of Trade (Page 61)

• THREE RIVERS. Situation, extent and boundaries, nature of soil, climate and natural and improved productions. (Pages 61, 62)

• Rivers, Lakes and harbours. (Page 63)

• Settlements, towns, parishes and inhabitants, tenure of Land,&c. (Page 65)

• Priests, number, how licensed and supported. (Page 68)

• Trade, with estimated exports and imports. (Page 69)

• Number of Vessels Fisheries none. (PAge 70)

• Woodlands, plenty of pine, &c., for masts, &c., on the North side, but difficulties of river navigation. (Page 71)

• Oak on south side.(Page 71)

• Fur Trade, former prosecution, rules since conquest. (Page 71)

• Mines (Page 73)

• Civil Government, laws of commerce and courts. (Page 73)

• Revenues, Government, how raised, how applied. (Page 75)

• Forts, &c., and troops for garrisons. (Page 77)

• Hemp, what lands fit for. (Page 77)

• How forges and iron made, description of St. Maurice works. (Page 78)

• Return of Canadian inhabitants in Government of Three Rivers, in May 1763. (Page 81).

• Return of christenings, marriages and burials from March 1762 to March 1763. (Page 82)

• Return of acres granted, cultivated and chief crops. (Page 83)

GENERAL GAGE. Report respecting Montreal to the Lords of Trade

• Situation, extent and boundaries. (Page 84)

• Soil, climate, natural and improved productions, (Page 85)

• Rivers, Lakes and harbours. (Page 85)

• Settlements, towns, parishes, inhabitants and tenures. (Page 87)

• Priests, number, how licensed and supported. (Page 89)

• Trade, nature and amount. (Page 90)

• Vessels, number, tonnage, what built in the country. (Page 91)

• Fisheries, none in Montreal Government. (Page 91)

• Woodlands and their products (suggestions as to replanting timber) (Page 91)

• Fur trade (past system and proposed improvements). (Page 92)

• Mines, none in the inhabited parts, some at a vast distance do not pay. (Page 94)

• Civil Government, laws and Courts.(Page 95)

• Revenues, how raised and applied. (Page 97)

• Forts &c., what to be maintained and force necessary. (Page 99)

• Hemp, lands fit tor and methods of encouraging growth. (Page 99)

• Forges, none. (Page 100)