Instructions to Governor Murray, Aug. 13, 1763

General James Murray was military governor of New France from 1760 to 1763. After the Treaty of Paris, 1763, he became the first civil governor of Québec from 1763 to 1766.

Document Summary:
This document commissions Murray as the captain general and governor-in-chief of the province of Québec and all dependant territories. It instructs Murray to establish a Council, and gives the Governor the authority to chose replacements and remove members except lieutenant-governors. It also:

• Requires holders of certain offices to take an oath of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth I of England and her heirs, which makes reference to the Protestant faith.
  
  
• Calls for a "General Assembly of Freeholders" (i.e.: a legislative assembly).
  
  
• Empowers Murray to make rules and regulations for "Peace, Order and good Government."
  
  
• Gives equal rights in money bills to the Council and the Assembly, with final authority to the governor.
  
  
• Indicates that judges appointed to the Bench have to be approved by the Council.
  
  
• Indicates that the Roman Catholic religion is to be respected.
  
  
• Requires French Canadian inhabitants to take an oath of loyalty on pain of banishment.
  
  
• Forbids the jurisdiction of Rome over the Québec Catholic Church.
  
  
• Encourages Murray to promote conversion to the Church of England.
  
  
• Sets terms for land grants.
  
  
• Instructs Murray to respect the lands and customs of Aboriginal ("Indian") peoples.