PM. Ponenza [prepared for the CG of 30 May 1825], in 20 paragraphs, followed by four queries on the erection of a bishopric in Upper Canada. They are followed by archival notes and a Sommario. The contents of this ponenza are said to be confidential. The diocese of Québec, discovered by Cartier in 1546 [recte in 1534], had Laval as its first bp. (bp. of Petraea from 1657 [recte 1658-74], bp. of Québec from 1670 [recte 1674-88], and has now (1819) 500,000 Catholic inhabitants, of whom 200,000 are in Lower Canada, and (in 1825) 150,000 in Upper Canada, of whom 50,000 are Catholic. E. Burke was appointed bp. of Sion, vicar apostolic in Nova Scotia, in the CG of 19 August [recte May] 1817 [see Acta 033], replaced by Fraser in the CG of 29 November 1824 [see Acta 125].
The CG of 23 September 1817 [see Acta 035] deferred a new subdivision of the diocese, yet Plessis was appointed abp. in the CG of 23 November 1818 [see Acta 039]. At the same time, [A.] McDonell and [A.B.] MacEachern were appointed vicars general, suffragan and auxiliary bp.s in Upper Canada, and in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Iles-de-la-Madeleine. When the [English] Secretary of State for [War and] the Colonies, Bathurst, complained about Plessis's new title, the CG of 24 January 1820 [see Acta 046] allowed him not to use it, at the same time appointing Lartigue and Provencher vicars general, suffragan and auxiliary bp.s in Montréal and in the North, while Cape Breton [Island] was joined to MacEachern's jurisdiction.
Later, the CG of 24 February 1823 [see Acta 111], ruled out the erection of new bishoprics which had been suggested by Lartigue in 1821 and MacEachern [in his letter of 9 November 1819; see SOCG 256], on account of the British government's opposition, although the latter was mainly aimed at the appointment of an abp. In March [1825] McDonell went to Rome to ask for the erection of a bishopric in Upper Canada.
Plessis's letter to Poynter of 29 August 1824 [in SOCG 288] is transcribed, which shows that the government is not opposed to the erection of the new bishopric. Poynter, who had forwarded it to Gradwell, Rector of the English College in Rome and his own procurator, on 2 November 1824 [in SOCG 288], mentioned Stuart [recte C.J. Stewart], the new Protestant bp., and the fact that Bathurst, who knows that McDonell is "absolutely necessary to keep good order in Upper Canada," has disbursed in the past "large amounts of money" to him and has recently paid all his back dues.
To the Pro-Prefect [Della Somaglia]'s letter of 27 November [1824; see Lettere 177], Poynter answered on 21 December [1824] (Sommario, no. 1 [see SOCG 292]), and again on 8 February [1825] (Sommario, no. 2 [see SOCG 290]), repeating that Bathurst is not opposed to the erection of the new bishopric, but has asked the opinion of the Governor[-in-Chief of Canada, Dalhousie]. When McDonell arrived in Rome, on 25 March 1825 he was asked to state his case in writing. McDonell did so in his M [of April 1825] (Sommario, no. 3 [see SOCG 287]). Re Plessis's letter of 29 August 1824 (Sommario, no. 4).
In his M, McDonell, who does not seem to be current with some British political affairs, describes births, emigration from Scotland and Ireland, conversions, revenues of the future bishopric, a seminary being built, seven churches (there were two [in 1804]), seven priests (one in 1804), one student in Québec, four or five students with the Sulpicians in Montreal. The new bishopric will establish its see in Kingston, and a slight change of borders will be necessary. According to the writer, Plessis's letters to Poynter of 29 August 1824 and of 28 October 1824 [see SOCG 289] show that he is in favour of the erection of a new bishopric, although it is unclear whether McDonell is his candidate for the position.
The bp. fears that Upper Canada will experience the same difficulties of Nova Scotia, where, after Burke's appointment [as vicar apostolic in the CG of 19 August 1817 [see Acta 033], Canadian priests left, only few second-rate European priests arrived, the Scots and the Irish were not provided for, the Acadian and Indian missions were abandoned, and the vacancy that followed Burke's death [in 1820] continues to this date. The four queries are: [1] whether to erect the bishopric of Upper Canada and appoint McDonell; [2] where to establish the see of the new bishopric; [3] whether to write to Poynter and to Plessis on the union of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick; [4] whether to assign any income to McDonell. Archival notes [re Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, the United States].
The Sommario contains the following: [1] Poynter to PF [Della Somaglia], [London], 21 December 1824 [see SOCG 292]; [2] Poynter to PF [Della Somaglia], [London], 8 February 1825 [see SOCG 290]; [3] McDonell to PF, [Rome, April 1825; see SOCG 287]; [4] Plessis to McDonell, Québec, 29 August 1824 [see SOCG 291]. [In this item, the Ionian Islands, Naples, Hanover are also mentioned]. Bs: fol. 241v, 249v, 252v.
![[PM. Ponenza [prepared for the CG of 30 May 1825], ...]](/images/folder-80.png){kind=small}