Report on the situation of the Hospitallers and of their hospital, 7 September 1734.

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Report for the purpose of
making known the Situation in Which
the Community and hospital of the
hospitaller Sisters of Montreal find themselves.

The Community consists of Forty ordained and lay Sisters and six domestics.

Prior to the Fire of April 10 last, they were lodged on rüe St Paul in a vast three-floor building Approximately one thousand feet around, including the portion designated for the hospital and chapel, all of which was consumed, other than the exterior walls that were not so Damaged that they can't be serviceable with some repairs for a long time yet, except for the freestone casements

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that were all scorched in the fire with the exception of six chapel casements; Judging by the Dimensions of the building, the costs incurred for returning it to its Original state would be in the vicinity of Eighty thousand Livres, based on the approximate Estimation done by M. de Lery the chief Engineer.

The assets and revenues of the Community are distinct and separate from those of the hospital and each are administered by two different depositors who report to the Bishop in Quebec or to the Superior named by the bishop.

Adjoined to this report is a Statement of the revenues of the community that has been Examined and verified with respect to the Titles, and for which it Appears that the revenues are in the amount of Four thousand eight hundred Sixty Six livres, eleven Sols and six deniers, a part of which Sum is reserved for the sustenance and clothing

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of Forty Sisters, the keeping and feeding of six domestics, and for Providing for Unforeseen household expenses; the Statement of expenses is presented as accurately as possible, since only Two hundred Livres was reported for the nourishment and clothing of each Sister; this Statement is in the amount of 10620 # and is adjoined hereto; and up to the present it has only been with the aid and charity of the people and by their own efforts that they have been able to Sustain themselves, which they have not been able to do Without incurring debts that They cannot at all Reimburse at this time.

We had the Statement of these debts extracted from the Registers of the depositor; payable debts, from which receivable debts were deducted on the same Statement, amount to a total of 8341 # 17 sols 11 deniers.

Adjoined is another Statement of the furnishings and Utensils that were burned or lost, and for which it has not been possible to verify the loss with any accuracy;

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however, the resulting destitution of the Sisters following the Fire, their lack of the most essential items; the Scrupulous Exactitude with which they declared their losses; The description they provided of the few furnishings they have left; All of these circumstances lead us to believe that the Statement aforementioned is far from Inflated, and rather falls short of Reality.

Hospital

The Revenues of the Paupers of the hospital consist of annuities on the City [of Paris], land and redeemable annuities, allowances provided by the King; and income from their lands Totalling 5075 # 9 deniers According to the Appended detailed Statement, with Which Sum, the Sisters Are obliged

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to Maintain at all Times five Domestics and to provide subsistence and medication to all of the sick that normally number between 35 and 40 of both sexes, and who for the Most part are treated at no charge, Independently from the Maintenance of the Beds, Coverings and linen, for which the sum of 5075 # 9 deniers does not suffice to meet Essential expenses; but in comparison to the revenues of the Community, the Paupers are better placed and more at ease than the Sisters.

With Regard to the current payable debts They are essentially compensated for by the receivable debts.

As well, the Paupers lost fewer furnishings in the Fire than did the Sisters, as they were more attainable; the Statement of burned or lost furnishings Is joined to this report; the articles it contains were provided simply Upon the declaration of the depositor

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for the paupers; It was not possible to conduct a Thorough verification, but it can be presumed that it is close to the truth because of the low number of furnishings stated in it and the rapid Burning of the hospital.

dated at Quebec on the 7 ^of [September] 1734.
[signed]hocquart

Source: France. Archives nationales, Fonds des Colonies, Série C11A, Correspondance générale, Canada, vol. 61, fol. 146-148v, Hocquart, Gilles, Report on the situation of the community of Hospitaller Sisters of Montréal and of their hospital, September 7, 1734. Notes: Attached to the letter dated 9 October 1734

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