of laborious ministers and flourishing congregations. "Ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."

ABSTRACT of the Statistics of the Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia, for 1845.

It may be mentioned that the population was generally estimated by allowing five for every family under pastoral inspection. This we think below the truth.

CHAPTER XV.

Relative Number and Position of the different Ecclesiastical Bodies in the Province.

No census, exhibiting the relative number of the various religious bodies, has been taken since 1827, at which time the population of Nova Scotia proper, exclusive of Cape Breton, was 123,848. By another census, taken in 1838, it appears that the population had increased to nearly 200,000; so that, if we include Cape Breton, it cannot now be much less than 250,000. The former census represents the Presbyterians as considerably the most numerous; then the. Episcopalians; after them the Roman Catholics and Baptists, about equal; and finally the Methodists, with a variety of smaller bodies. Since then, things have considerably altered. The Presbyterians, owing to their divisions, and other causes which we have already noticed, have not increased, as some of the others have done; still, it is believed that, taken unitedly, they constitute the largest body in the province. The Catholics rank next, and after them the Episcopalians, Baptists, and Methodists.

The Roman Catholics were first in the country. In the commission granted to De Monts in 1603 to colonize the province, a condition was inserted that he

should disseminate the Roman Catholic faith among the Indians; and so long as the French had possession, they attended to this object with the utmost care, and their labours were crowned with much success. At the present time, they consist principally of three classes-the French Acadians, or descendants of the original French inhabitants, the Highlanders, and the Irish. The first of these, notwithstanding the forcible expulsion of the Acadians in 1755, are still numerous in several parts of the country. Their principal settlements are in Cape Breton, where they comprise a large portion of the population; at Clare, and various parts of the western section of the province; in some parts of the county of Cumberland, and at Tracadie, Pomquet, and a few other places in the eastern part of Nova Scotia proper. Their exact number we have no means of ascertaining, but are disposed to estimate it at about 15,000. They are a simple and industrious people, remarkably inoffensive, but grossly ignorant and superstitious. They are mostly engaged in the fisheries, or in the coasting trade; and although necessitated to some extent to hold intercourse with their English neighbours, they preserve themselves remarkably distinct from them.

The Highland Catholics are to be found chiefly in the eastern part of the county of Pictou, in the neighbouring county of Sydney, and in Cape Breton. They have emigrated from the poorer parts of the Highlands of Scotland; and while ignorant and bigoted, have not always the industrious habits of their Lowland, or of many even of their Highland country

men.

The Irish Catholics do not require to be described.

They form a large part of the labouring classes in Nova Scotia, particularly in Halifax and the country towns and villages. Since the introduction of temperance among them, a decided improvement has taken place in their habits; so that many of them have become industrious and prosperous, while a few have occupied important stations in society, with credit to themselves, and advantage to the community.

The amount of the Roman Catholic population can only be guessed at. By some of themselves, it has been estimated at 70,000; but we doubt very much whether it exceeds 50,000, or one-fifth of the whole population. Their present bishop is the Right Rev. Dr. Fraser, a native of the Highlands of Scotland, who resides at Antigonish, and has for coadjutor the Right Rev. William Walsh, whose titles are, Bishop of Maximianopolis, and Coadjutor-bishop of Halifax. They have about twenty-five priests under them, of French, Highland, and Irish extraction. A semiof education was erected at Halifax a few years ago, under the title of St. Mary's Seminary, but is now closed. As to the fears that in some quarters are entertained in regard to the increasing influence of the Roman Catholics in the province, we regard them as groundless. Although at times courted by political partisans, yet, comprising not more than a fifth of the population, and that the poorer and least influential class, and having very few men in either branch of the legislature, and scarcely a single public officer of their persuasion, they are not likely to prove dangerous to the peace or liberties of the country.

nary

The Church of England is recognised, by the ancient laws of the province, as the Established Church. An act passed in 1758 enacted, "That the sacred