SKETCH XXV.

RELIGION AND ECCLESIASTIC INSTI

TUTIONS."

The Episcopal Church supported by Government— Clergy Reserves-Lieutenant-Governor's Authority to endow Parsonages and Rectories, and present Incumbents-Number, Stations, and Support of Episcopal Clergymen-Bishop-Dissenters protected by Law-Denominations of Dissenters.

THE episcopal form of religion, according to the establishment of the Church of England, is supported by the government of this province. The constitutional act provided for a reservation of lands equal to one seventh part of all the lands then granted, and to be granted. These reserves, altogether distinct and different from those of another seventh, called the crown reserves, were re

enacted in amendment of the old militia law, that nothing contained therein " shall extend, or be construed to extend to oblige any person to enrol himself in the militia of the province, unless such person is a natural born subject of his Majesty, naturalized by an act of the British parliament, or a subject of his Majesty, having become such by the cession of Canada, or a person who has taken the oath of allegiance; but that, in all cases, such persons as are not liable to be called upon for the defence of the province in case of invasion, shall be excluded from the rolls of the militia of the same, any thing in the before-mentioned act to the contrary notwithstanding."

quired to be specified in the patents, and are appropriated exclusively to the maintenance of a Protestant clergy in the province.

Under instructions from the crown, the lieutenant-governor is empowered to erect parsonages or rectories in the several townships; to endow them with any proportion of the lands reserved in respect of such townships, and to present incumbents, subject to the bishop's right of institution.

At present, these reserved lands are leased by government, as lessees apply for them, for twentyone years, at moderate rents, which go into the funds destined to support the clergy, and will eventually furnish a very ample support. The clergy reserves, and crown reserves, are leased on the same terms. The rent of a lot of 200 acres, taken in its uncultivated state, has been ten shillings a year for the first seven years, twenty shillings a year for the second seven years, and one pound ten shillings a year for the last seven years of the lease. Orders, I believe, have lately been issued for doubling the sums to be reserved on lots hereafter leased. Whether the raising of the rents will proportionably increase the income, or prevent applications for leases, is a question on which theoretic reasoners differ, but which will be determined by the experiment.

There is only one bishop for the two provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, and he resides at Quebec.

In Upper Canada there are six ministers of the church of England, situated at Cornwall, Kingston,

Ernest Town, and Fredericksburgh*, York, Niagara, and Sandwich. They severally receive £100 per annum from government, and £50 from the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts. They solemnize marriages; but there is no ecclesiastical court in the province.

Dissenters of all denominations are tolerated and protected by law. They are not subject to tithes, or civil disabilities, nor disqualified for offices, or a seat in the legislature. Their contracts respecting the support of public worship are legally enforceable. Ordained ministers of the Scotch, Lutheran, and Calvinist churches, upon producing satisfactory credentials in a court of sessions, are authorized to perform marriages, where one of the parties to be married is a member of their respective societies. Any denomination, holding the distinguishing Calvinistic doctrines, are included under the term Calvinist. As such, Presbyterian, Congregational, and Baptist clergymen, exercise the power of marriage.

The dissenting denominations are, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Methodists, Congregationalists, Moravians, Anabaptists, Roman Catholics, Quakers, Menonists, and Tunkers. Several of them are more numerous than the Episcopalians. The most numerous of all are the Methodists, who are spread over the whole province. They are followers of

* The rectory of Ernest Town and Fredericksburgh has become vacant by the return of the Rev. John Langhorn to his native place in England.

Wesley as to doctrines, and acknowledge the episcopal authority of the Wesleyan bishops. Next in number are the Presbyterians, who are of the Dutch Reformed Church, the Church of Scotland, and Scotch Seceders, or the Associate Reformed Synod. The Presbyterians appear to be increasing in numbers and respectability.

The Roman Catholics, who are comparatively few, are attached to the government, and grateful for the religious freedom which they enjoy, and by which they are distinguished from their brethren in Ireland.

Quakers, Menonists, and Tunkers, being conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms, are conditionally exempted from militia duties.

SKETCH XXVI.

PROFESSION AND PRACTICE OF LAW.

Licenses to practise under former Acts-Law Society established-Term of Apprenticeship requiredNumber of Apprentices allowed each Barrister.

In the early stages of the province, gentlemen were admitted to the bar by licence from the lieutenant-governor, specially provided for by two successive acts of the legislature. But in 1797, those who were then in practice were authorized to form themselves into a society, by the name of The Law

Society of Upper Canada, and to establish rules and regulations, under the inspection of the judges; and it was enacted, that no other person, except licensed practitioners from some other British province or dominion, shall be permitted to practise at the bar of any of his Majesty's courts in this province, unless he shall have been previously entered of, and admitted into, the said society, as a student of law, and shall have been standing in their books for five years, and have conformed himself to their rules and regulations, and been duly called and admitted as a barrister.

The society was accordingly organized, and the act still remains in force. Every barrister is now allowed to have four apprentices or clerks.

SKETCH XXVII.

PHYSIC AND SURGERY.

Quebec Ordinance requiring a Licence-Provincial Act, repealing former Laws, and establishing a Board of Examiners-Repeal of that Act-New Licence Law.

ONE of the ordinances of the province of Quebec prohibited the practice of physic or surgery by any person not licensed in the manner therein prescribed.

In 1795, an act of the legislature of Upper Canada, repealing, in general terms, all former laws on