Monsignor Plessis understood the necessity for dividing his vast diocese so that it might be efficiently administered. Already in 1817 New Scotland was detached with Monsignor E. Burke as apostolic-vicar. This did not suf fice. Soon the apostolic-vicarates were created of Upper Canada with Monsignor MacDonell as titular; of New Brunswick and Prince Edr ward's Island, with Monsignot MacEacherne, of the Northwest with Monsignor Provencher; of the district of Montreal with Monsignor Lartigue, Sulpician (1820). These divisions were completed after the death of Monsignor Plessis, by the creation pf the sees of Kings, ton (1826) ' • Charlottetown (1829) ; and of Mon treal (1836).
In the course of years the number of French Canadians kept on increasing. In 1831 it at tained 380,000. In less than 50 years, it had increased by nearly 280,000 souls. This prog ress was not of a nature to reassure the intol erant and exclusive set which existed on the side of the Anglo-Protestants. Already, about 1820, they had tried to abolish the constitu tion of 1791, which assured an independent ex istence to the province of Quebec, and wished to unite Upper and Lower Canada, with the scarcely veiled object of outnumbering the French Catholic population. This plan had failed, thanks to the firmness of Bishop Plessis and his clergy, who, rallying the forces of the country, victoriously opposed Protestantism. Unfortunately, after the death of the bishop, several influential members of the legislative body deserting the sure ground of legal resist ance, slipped upon the slope of . revolution, fanned the spirit of revolt by their indignant philippics, and provoked the troubles of 1837-38, when several hundred countrymen, led astray by their representatives, flew to arms. Neverthe less, let us say that the voice of the Catholic clergy was sufficiently powerful to keep the mass of the population in the path of duty. The result of this insurrectional movement was the union of the two Canadas. The Act of Union was passed by the Britannic Parliament 23 July 1840.
Before this act of despotism (consult Tur cotte, (Le Canada sous l'Union,> p. 60), which marks an important date in the history of Canada, several works had been created, several deeds accomplished which interest the Church. The seats of education had multiplied: the Col lege of Montreal (1767) founded by M. Curat teau, priest of Saint-Sulpice, and then (1806.
28) so prosperous under the direction of M. Roques•, the colleges of Nicolet (1804), of Saint-Hyacinthe (1811), of Sainte-Therese (1825), of l'Assomption (1832), of Sainte-Anne de la Pocatiere (1827). Mention should be made also of the formation of the Societe d'iducation of Quebec, to promote primary in struction, and the acceptance of Schools Law (1824), so favorable toward the same end. To this same period belongs the acknowledgment of the properties of the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice at Montreal by the government of Queen Victoria (1839). This act of justice allowed this venerable institut tion to follow the course of its charities and to cover the Montreal region with its intelligent liberalities.
To Monsignor Panet, who had replaced Monsignor Plessis (1825-32), succeeded Mon signor Signay. His episcopacy was marked by many misfortunes: cholera (1832), civil war (1837-38), two fires in Quebec (1845), typhus brought by the Irish driven from their country (1847). The 15 years which followed 1840 were more fruitful for the Canadian Church. Five communities of men, and 15 of women dedicated to the, ministry, to teaching or to charity, came from France to settle in Canada. The Oblate Fathers of the Immaculate Mary (1811), the Jesuits (1842), the clerks of Saint-Viateur, the Congregation of Sainte-Croix (1847), arid the Brothers of the Chrigian schools answered to the call of Monsignor Ignace Bourget, bishop of Montreal (1840-79). Then were founded the Sisters of Providence (1843), of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (1843), of Mercy (1848), of Saint Anne (1849). At the same time the Episcopal Sees were multiplied: To ronto with Monsignor de Charbonnel, S. S. (1842) ; Saint John, N. B. (1842). Quebec ele vated to the dignity of an archbishopric received as suffragan sees Montreal, Kingston and To ronto. The same year (1844) the bishopric of Arichat, N. S., transferred to Antigonish since 1886 was created : in 1847 the see of Bytown or ehtawa and of Saint John, Newfoundland. United in council at Quebec (1851), the bishops decided on the foundation of Laval University and asked the Holy See to establish the sees of Trois Rivieres and Saint Hyacinthe (1852). Let us mention also the foundation of societies for colonization, for temperance, of Saint-Vin cent de Paul and of an educational system for separate schools for Catholics.