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with a particular authenticated Account of the Losses, which the
Inhabitants of Montreal suffered by Fire in May last.
Gentlemen of the Upper House of Assembly
I think it my Duty to lay before you a Letter, that I received a
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U. H. J.
Liber No. 36
Nov. 8
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few Days ago from Governor Murray, with a particular authenti-
cated Account of the Losses which the Inhabitants of Montreal
suffered by the dreadful Fire that in May last broke out in that
City. As I doubt not but the Account, given in the Letter, of the
unhappy Circumstances to which many of those unfortunate People
are now reduced, will excite the Compassion of the Gentlemen who
compose the Lower House as well as yours, and think the granting
some Relief to the Sufferers by a public Act would really be for the
Honour of the Province, and agreeable to the humane and generous
Sentiments of the Inhabitants, I recommend it to you to refer the
Matter to the Consideration of the Gentlemen of the Lower House,
and shall be glad if you jointly approve of my Proposal.
November the 8:th 1765. Hor:o Sharpe
Quebec 29. June 1765
Sir
I make no Doubt but your Excellency must have heard, some
Time since, of the melancholly Accident that happened by Fire on
the 8:th Day of May last to the Poor People of Montreal in this
Government. On the News reaching this Place, the Governor and
Council assembled to consider what was most proper to be done for
the immediate Relief of the unhappy Sufferers and thereupon it was
resolved, that two Members of the Council should go to Montreal,
as Commissioners to enquire into the Event of this dreadful calamity,
and to apply thereto such Assistance as to them should seem fitting:
And also to procure every necessary Information, in order to make
a true Report of the real Loss sustained by the Inhabitants, which
the Head of every Family has respectively attested upon Oath,
amounting in the Whole to £116,773...18..6 Current Money of this
Province, or £87,500..8.10 1/2 Sterling, Copy whereof accompanies
this under the Broad Seal of this Province & my Signature thereto.
It would be needless, Sir, to say any Thing upon this Occasion to
induce your Excellency & your Council to exert your Influence and
good Offices in so laudible a Work, as that of prevailing with the
Affluent in your Province, to contribute to the Relief of the miserable
Sufferers, who having lost almost all they were worth before, by the
Ravages of War and the none Payment of their Paper Money,
nothing remained to complete their Wretchedness but this unhappy
Accident. I cannot omit, on this Occasion, applauding, in the strong-
est Manner, the Behaviour of his Majestys new Subjects in this
Province; a seasonable Relief at this Time, must rivet their Affections
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p. 216
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