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Duties of the religious orders according to the king’s report to sieur de La Jonquière, 1749.

251v

[...]There still remains

252

in each of the cities of Québec, trois Rivières and Montreal a Recollet Convent and a hospital managed by Ursuline Sisters, and a 4th in the city of Quebec named the hopital general.

At the latter are received the elderly and the disabled; and they are provided with everything, through the aid granted to the hospital by his Majesty.

There was another one in Montreal serving the same purpose, which was managed by brothers known as the Charron Brothers; but the upheaval that occurred in the affairs of the hospital put it beyond a State where it could support itself; and Sieur de La Jonquière will learn by way of a dispatch the decision to be made with regard to this house.

The Religious orders that manage the other three hospitals ought to assist first the officers and soldiers of the troops, the crew of his Majesty’s vessels and of merchant ships, and then the inhabitants and others in need.

Although the administration falls mainly to the Intendant, Sieur de la Jonquière must see to it that all is done according to regulations.

It is the Seminary of St Sulpice in Paris that is the seigneur of Montreal; there is a house where a certain number of Priests always reside, one of whom assumes the duties of curate; there is also a community of sisters of the Congregation established in this city whose principal objective is to teach the Peasant children from the countryside to read.

Finally in the city of Quebec there is a convent of Ursuline Sisters, whose duty it is to raise the daughters of Savage tribes, and where wealthy individuals in the Colony take their daughters to be raised as well.

Such is the situation in Canada regarding religion. His majesty has reason to be satisfied with the zeal displayed by the various orders in fulfilling the duties of their ministries; Sieur de la Jonquière must urge them to persevere in their laudable endeavours; and it is his Majesty’s intention to provide them with protection if they should ever be in need of it.[...]

Source: France. Archives nationales, Fonds des Colonies. Série B, lettres envoyées, vol. 89, fol. 251v-252, Roi de France, Memorandum of instructions to Sieur de La Jonquière, April 30, 1749.

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