Letter from Montreal, to a Gentleman in New-York

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I must beg leave to trouble you to get the enclosed printed in Mr˙ Holt' s Paper as soon as possible. The paper contains the Resolves of all the English inhabitants of Montreal, at a full meeting, where they showed their abhorrence of the Quebec Act, which establishes the French laws in this Province, and puts the lives and properties of every person in it in the power of the Governour, who, when the Act takes place, will have a much greater power than a Spanish Viceroy.

The Canadians, in general, are greatly alarmed at being put under their former laws, of which they had long severely felt the bad effects; though the French Noblesse and gentry, indeed, are very well pleased with the new Act, which restores the old, as they expect to lord it over the industrious farmer and trader, and live upon their spoils, as they did before the conquest. These latter, though greatly dissatisfied and alarmed at this Act, dare not complain, for fear of the displeasure of their Priests, who rule and govern this whole country as they please; however, all the English in the Province (except a few tools and dependants of the Governour) are unanimous, and determine to struggle hard to obtain a repeal of this abominable Act; which, if continued, would greatly hurt the trade of New-York and the other Colonies joining on us. It has been said that some Canadian regiments would be raised and sent against you; but depend on it none will go willingly, except their officers; and for the others, it will require a regiment of soldiers to a regiment of Canadians, to oblige them to go; besides, they cannot, without ruining the country, spare two thousand men out of it.