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Their spiritual instruction is equally neglected. There is not any where in the province, so far as I have been able to learn, a single individual capable of preaching the truths of the gospel in the French language.1 Surely the London Missionary Society should not overlook so important a station. From most of the protestant ministers of Canada, I am afraid, nothing can be expected but total apathy to such an attempt; and whoever undertakes it, must not only be thoroughly imbued with a knowledge and love of the truth, but have that conscientious ardour in the cause, which will bear him up under much difficulty and much opposition. It would be of importance that his talents and acquirements should be both respectable; for the Romish clergymen are in general men of education, and should they enter into controversy with him, he would in all probability have no auxiliary in the struggle. He must however be a man of much prudence; for the duties of such a situation would be both difficult and important, and humanly speaking, every thing would depend upon the manner in which they were performed. That the native Canadians would not be totally disinclined to listen to him, there is every reason to believe. While present in the Methodist chapel in Montreal, one of them came in and sat down

12 I have subsequently learned that there are some Methodist missionaries in Lower Canada, who preach in French; but I heard nothing of them when in the country. (1822.)

OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH.

223

beside me. I pointed out the text to him; he thanked me in a whisper, but said that he did not understand English. After sitting a few minutes he rose and went out, but it was in all probability his inability to understand the preacher, that prevented him from being as attentive an auditor as any one present.

The observance of the Sabbath, both in Montreal and Quebec, is such as might be expected from the general tone of manners and principles. I found a gentleman on the Sabbath forenoon very busily engaged in posting his books, and the following day no less busily engaged in conversation with his clergyman upon the affairs of the congregation; in which I understand he is a leading man! It would be most unjust to make an individual case the ground of a general decision, but I am sorry to say, that this is but too fair a sample of the prevailing system.

The poor Papists seem to be by far the most attentive to the external observance of the Sabbath. The churches are filled with them from an early hour, and if the weather be good, crowds of those who cannot get admission may be seen kneeling outside; crossing themselves and praying. Upon the whole I am constrained to say, with regard to all that I have seen of the religious aspect of Lower Canada, that it is very much the reverse of what as a Briton and a christian I should wish it to be.

LETTER XVIII.

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