M entitled "Memoria concernente il Canadà." A long and detailed description of the state of religion in Canada, with particular regard to the dispute between the Montréal Seminary and the [a]bp. of Québec [currently Panet] over Lartigue, bp. of Telmissus. Catholics are 500,000, tithes are paid to the c.200 parish priests according to a 1/26 rate, the clergy is good, Franciscans [Recollet] and Jesuits are extinct, goods of female monasteries in Québec and Montréal are subject to the King [currently George IV]'s approval, French ecclesiastical and civil laws are still in use.
The legal position of the Catholic church and of the [a]bp. of Québec vis-à-vis the British government is described as being very precarious in spite of the Treaty of [Paris of 10 February] 1763 and the War of 1812, as shown by Secretary of State for [War and] the Colonies Bathurst's letter to Sherbrooke, Governor of [Lower] Canada, of 5 June 1817, here fully translated (the letter mentions Plessis and Earl of Egremont [Wyndham]). The influence of the British government in the selection of the bp.s of Québec and of their coadjutors is explained at length, with special reference to Montgolfier, Briand, Denaut, Plessis (appointed through Ryland's influence), Signay (favoured by Dalhousie), Lartigue.
The Anglican church (20 ministers, many parishes, provided with 1/7 of the untilled land) is struggling to receive the same recognition as the Catholic church; there is a Scottish bp. in Québec [C.J. Stewart], and another is to be appointed in Upper Canada to counter [A.] McDonell's influence. The history, importance and legal titles ([22 October] 1811 instructions to Prevost [see C 43] mentioned) of the Sulpician Seminary of Montréal (established 1677) is insisted upon. They provide to the needs of their college (200 students), of the Iroquois, Algonquins and Ottawa, of the parish (22,000 souls), monasteries, hospitals, prisons and garrison of Montréal.
As for the dispute regarding Lartigue's role in Montréal and his relationship with the Seminary (described at length), the writer suggests that the bp. should limit his role to that of vicar general of the [a]bp. of Québec. PF notes.
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