population must necessarily be in a minority. With the French population, the right of imposing direct taxation, which would form an inherent privilege of the assembly, made the proposition unpopular. Had Hamilton possessed the instincts of a statesman, he would have understood that the settlement of a new constitution for Canada called for something more than the enunciation of a few philosophical principles gathered from Locke; that any change of condition should be framed to meet the true requirements of the province, and be approached with caution and reserve.

Hamilton did not take this wise course; on the contrary, he voted for the demand embodied in the constitution introduced by Grant for the immediate establishment of a house of assembly. This proceeding must have been one extremely objectionable to Haldimand. The sufferings undergone by Hamilton during his imprisonment and the fortitude he had shewn in this trying situation had pointed him out as deserving of consideration, and his want of prudence must have been a disappointment to those who had advocated his claims.

Hamilton's own letters shew that he felt he did not possess Haldimand's confidence. Before Haldimand's departure he wrote to lord Sydney* asking his protection, with the request that he should be given full instructions for his future guidance. Considering that Haldimand was in Quebec at the date of this letter, the proceeding does not suggest a favourable view of Hamilton's tact and temper. On the 2nd of December + he returned to the subject and he informed Sydney that he had received no instructions, but that a trunk full of papers had been delivered to him, for which he had given a receipt. These papers he had examined.

There are, however, such instructions on record, some passages of which could not have been pleasing to Hamilton, as he had committed himself to a policy in an opposite [Can. Arch., Q. 23, p. 389, 22nd Oct.]

+ [Can. Arch., Q. 24. 1, p. 24; B. 221, pp. 54, 60, 63, 14th November, 1784.]

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direction. Haldimand expressed his belief in the equity and sound policy of the Quebec act of 1774, adding that those who were petitioning against it were designing men, enemies to the tranquillity of the province. Hamilton was told that when necessary there should be an interchange of views between him and the commanding officer, and Haldimand traced the duties of the civil and military authorities with regard to the loyalists. Haldimand had consented to the priests remaining with the Indians, and he recommended that as vacancies arose in the seminary of Saint Sulpice they should be supplied by the elder missionaries. He had left the jesuits as he had found them; but many had engaged in schemes at variance with fidelity to the king's authority. He related what had taken place with the home government regarding the introduction of foreign priests, four of whom were expected from Savoy, who were to receive each £200 a year. Legislation was required respecting procedure in the courts of justice, the establishment of fees on a moderate scale, the registry of deeds; and definite arrangements had to be made relative to the seigniory of Sorel.

Nevertheless, Hamilton submitted to Haldimand a long list of queries which, had he possessed tact, he would personally have discussed. Many appear irrelevant, many uncalled for, and thus they betray a want of knowledge of that official tact and delicacy so necessary in a position of exalted trust.

Hamilton's application to Sydney created an unfavourable impression; for he was at once informed that, from the reasons that Haldimand had given for not communicating to him the measures proposed by the government, Sydney could see no ground for censure. Hamilton's letter, no doubt, worked its influence; for a few days after the expiration of three months' tenure of office he was recalled. On Haldimand's departure there was a division of the civil and military duties, and St. Leger was placed in

*[Can. Arch., Q. 24.1, p. 261a.]

command of the few troops left in Canada. At this date they amounted to 2,000 of all ranks. *

Haldimand left full instructions for the performance of the duties assumed by St. Leger, throwing upon him the responsibility of acting without reference to the lieutenantgovernor; to whom, however, under certain circumstances, he could communicate his instructions. But St. Leger's health was broken, and on the 18th of November he left Quebec for Montreal. In February he was again in Quebec; finally, finding himself unequal to the discharge of his duty, on the 11th of October he wrote from Montreal transferring the command to Hope. Hope reported the fact to Sydney, stating his intention of proceeding immediately to Quebec.

The phenomenon known as the "Dark days" occurred in October. On the afternoon of the 9th, between four and five, a sudden darkness was experienced, described as "partaking of a fiery yellow color." It was succeeded by squalls of wind, rain, thunder and lightning. What sometimes happens at that period of the year, there had been a severe frost the preceding night.

On the following Saturday, the 15th, at three in the afternoon, there was again a period of darkness, followed by a similar storm. On Sunday, the 16th, the day was foggy until ten o'clock, when an easterly wind cleared the atmosphere. Within half an hour darkness succeeded, but it was dispelled by a rain storm. From five to ten minutes past noon the darkness became so great that it was necessary to suspend the services in church until candles were lighted. * State of troops, November, 1784, on Haldimand's departure.

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At two o'clock it became perfectly dark for a short time, and again at four and half past four, so that the candles were lit throughout the city. Each period of darkness was followed by a thunder storm.

A ship, the "Adamant," off the east end of the island of Anticosti, on the morning of the 16th, while sailing in clear weather observed a black cloud to the west. By noon the vessel was enveloped within it and experienced total darkness. It is stated that this obscurity extended from the east, at Fredericton, to the west, at Montreal.*

The peculiarity of the phenomenon remains unexplained. A medical man of Montreal, noticing the dark character of the rain water, collected by strained muslin some dark pulverized matter strongly impregnated with sulphur.

At the end of November, 1784, bishop Briand, owing to his sufferings from a painful malady, notified the lieutenantgovernor of the necessity of his retirement from the active discharge of his duty. For twelve years he had administered the diocese with loyalty to the government, enforcing his principles on the diocese. In July, 1781, during the strong feeling that prevailed as to the probability of a French invasion, Haldimand wrote to Germain "the bishop gave me a proof of his good disposition in writing a circular letter to the clergy, well worthy of the occasion." +

In stating this intention, Mgr. Briand recommended the appointment of a coadjutor as successor to M. d'Esglis, then in his seventy-fifth year.

The recommendation was sustained by the vicar-general, Bedard, superior of the seminary, also by its other members,

*

Quebec Gazette, 27th of October, 1785. [Trans. Lit. and Hist. Society of Quebec, Vol. II., p. 239.] The same phenomenon was reported on the 2nd of July, 1814. I am informed by Mr. Marmette, of the Archive branch, that these days are still mentioned in the parishes of Lower Canada as "L'année de la grande noirceur.”

† [Can. Arch., 6th July, 1781, B. 55, p. 54.] This circular letter is not included in the Mandements des Evêques de Québec. I am informed by Monseignore Hamel, of Laval University, who at my request kindly made search for it, that there is no record of it.

and by de Glapion, formerly superior of the suppressed order of the jesuits, all of whom advocated the appointment of M. Hubert. Born in Quebec, in February, 1739, he was in his forty-sixth year. For some time he had been connected with the seminary, and for the last twelve years first-secretary to the bishop. In 1781 he had applied to be appointed missionary to the Hurons, in the neighbourhood of Detroit.

During the performance of these duties information of his elevation reached him. The matter was referred to the home government, in order that the appointment might be made under the great seal of the province. For some unexplained reason, while approval was given to M. d'Esglis succeeding M. Briand, although the merit of M. Hubert was fully recognised, objections were made to the selection of him in preference to M. Montgolfier, and instructions were sent that the appointment must be first offered to M. Montgolfier, then superior of the seminary. On this reply being received, the latter wrote, expressing his gratitude for the honour done. him by the offer, but owing to his advanced age, he was seventy-four, and his want of experience, he must decline its acceptance. He asked that the recommendation of the clergy for the appointment of M. Hubert should have effect, and it was accordingly made.

*

In April, 1785, Mr. Ira Allen, on the part of Vermont, again appeared in Quebec, commissioned to obtain free trade with Canada. Vermont was not then a state of the union, indeed, was not received into the confederation until six years later, on the 4th of March, 1791. An act of the legislature had been passed the preceding October, for the purpose of obtaining free trade through the province of Canada, and commissioners were appointed to effect the desired result, viz., Messrs. Ira Allen, Jonas Fay, and major Joseph May.

*

July the 1st, 1785. Although M. Hubert's bull is dated the 14th of June, 1785, it only arrived on the 31st of May, 1786. His consecration took place on the following 19th of November. M. d'Esglis died in June, 1786, when M.

Hubert took possession of the diocese.