under penalty of six _livres_. The
fire-brigade of the capital consisted, _ex officio_, of all the
carpenters, who were required to attend with axes, the citizens being
compelled to assemble with buckets. The _habitants_, while forbidden
to harbour English deserters, received due recompense for any of the
garrison billeted upon them. For the better regulation of prices, they
were forbidden to sell their produce to strangers--"_coureurs de
cote_"--but were required to bring it to market. Through
representations made by the English Government, France at length
consented to redeem the _billets d'ordonnance_ with which her moribund
administration had hopelessly flooded the country. The hand of the
new government was light, the civic burden easy. The days of the
_corvee_ were now passed, and harsh impressment no longer compelled
the _habitant_ to fight on short rations and without pay. Very soon
the French Canadian, as he felt the improvement in his condition,
ceased to feel resentment against his English conqueror.

That the military rule succeeding to the conquest of the country was
benevolent, that its quality of mercy was not strained, is shown by
the citizens of Montreal, who at the death of George II. "placed
themselves in mourning," and presented the following robust address to
the Governor:--

"To His Excellency General Gage the Governor of Montreal
and its dependencies.

"The address of the Officers of Militia and Merchants of
the City of Montreal.

"Cruel Destiny has thus Cutt short the Glorious Days of
so Great & so Magnanimous a Monarch! We are come to pour
out our Grief into the paternal Bosom of Your Excellency,
the sole Tribute of Gratitude of a People who never Cease
to Exhalt the mildness and Moderation of their New
Masters. The General who has conquered Us has rather
treated Us as a Father than a Vanquisher, & has left us a
precious Pledge (_gage_) by Name & Deed of his Goodness
to Us; What acknowledgments are we not beholden to make
for so many Favours?

"They shall be for ever Engraven in our Hearts in
Indelible Character. We Entreat Your Excellency to
continue Us the Honour of Your Protection. We will
endeavour to Deserve it by our Zeal & by the Earnest
Prayers We shall ever offer up to the Immortal Being for
Your Health and Preservation."

[Illustration: _A Perspective View of MONTREAL in Canada, 1760_
MONTREAL IN 1760]

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