[May 20.] His majesty gave his assent to both bills. The session was drawing near to the usual time of recess, and the greater number of the members were retired into the country. In this situation a bill was brought into the house of lords, “For making more effectual provision for the government of the province of _Quebec_, in North-America.” It passed through that house with little if any observation. When it came down to the house of commons, it met with a very different reception. The principal objects of the bill were, to ascertain the limits of the province, which were extended far beyond what were settled as such by the king’s proclamation of 1763—to form a legislative council for all the affairs of the province, except taxation, which council was to be appointed by the crown, and the office to be held during pleasure, and his majesty’s Canadian Roman Catholic subjects were to be entitled to a place in it—to establish the French laws and a trial without jury in civil cases, and the English laws, with trial by jury in criminal—and to secure to the Roman Catholic clergy, except the regulars, the legal enjoyment of their estates, and of their tythes from all who were of their own religion. The minority insisted, that the Protestant religion, by this establishment, enjoyed at best no more than a toleration. “The popish clergy,” they said, “have a legal parliamentary right to maintenance, the protestant clergy are left to the king’s discretion. Why are not both put at least on an equal footing, and a legal support provided for both?” The minority was uncommonly small; nevertheless the bill produced much greater uneasiness and discontent out of doors, than any of those for punishing the old colonies. The present policy of it is, among other things, to gain, through the influence of the priests, the assistance of the laity in subjugating the other provinces. [June 22.] It received the royal assent, when his majesty went to the house, at the close of the session; the business of which being ended, the ministry entertained the most sanguine expectations that the submission throughout America would be immediate, and that complete obedience and tranquility would be secured. The speech from the throne expressed similar sentiments. The triumphs and mutual congratulations of all who have supported the ministerial plan, within doors and without, are unusually great. These may be owing, not a little, to the assurances that governor Hutchinson has repeatedly given to many, that if the parliament would but act with resolution, and adopt spirited measures, a speedy submission would take place without any call for fighting.